Bangkok has quickly established itself as the ultimate city for digital nomads and remote workers. It’s east to see why - cafe’s and coworking spaces aplenty to work from, cheap rents and beautiful condo building, a respectful and friendly culture, and a thriving community of nomads.
However, Bangkok is an enormous city and it can be daunting to understand where to base yourself either for a month or two and longer.
I’ve been in Bangkok now since a few years and have moved around a bit and seen different areas, so I thought I’d write this guide to share some tips and recommendations on where to stay in Bangkok as a digital nomad.
Quicklinks:
Quick Picks for Bangkok Stays
Phrom Phong - Is the area that is the most convenient for digital nomads, with it being centrally located and loads of malls, restaurants, cafes and coworking spaces can be found here.
Hotel pick: Kromo Bangkok, Curio Collection by Hilton
Thonglor & Ekkamai - Still centrally located, with many restaurants, cafes and bars - it is the heart of the trendy nightlife in Bangkok and digital nomad hotspot.
Hotel pick: The Sacha Apart Hotel Thonglor
Ari - This neighbourhood has become a hipster hotspot with a more residential vibe. In fact, when you walk the streets of Ari there isn’t much of a buzz as in the rest of Bangkok. Many boutique cafes and stores have opened up here too, and it’s also well connected with the Skytrain.
Hotel pick: Craftsmen Bangkok
What to look for in a Bangkok neighbourhood
After living in Bangkok for a while, I’ve learned that there are a few things to consider when picking a neighbourhood and a place to stay at:
Walking distance to the BTS or MRT - Going anywhere in Bangkok is much easier if you can take the BTS or the MRT, because traffic can be quite insane and sometimes you can get stuck in traffic literally for hours.
Cafes and coworking spaces nearby - As a digital nomad, it’s especially important to check where the places to work from are located.
Noise - Bangkok can be very noisy, especially along the main roads such as the Sukhumvit and Rama roads. If you are sensitive to noise, see if your accommodation is located along a noisy road or in a more quiet side street
Condo facilities - most condo’s have a pool and a gym, but the quality depends on the condo itself.
Bangkok neighbourhoods at a glance
Thonglor & Ekkamai - Cafes, coworking, nightlife
Phrom Pong & Asok - First timers, convenience, malls, restaurants
Phloenchit & Chidlom - Upscale, central, malls
Sathorn & Silom - Business district, cafes
Ari - Calm, local, leafy, hipster
On Nut & Phra Phanong - budget, up and coming, residential
Punnawithi - Up and coming, new malls, local, budget
Best areas in Bangkok for Digital Nomads
Thonglor & Ekkamai
Thonglor and Ekkamai are the heart of the digital nomad scene, as most of them are based in these two areas. This means it is also one of the most expensive areas in Bangkok, but you’ll find many restaurants, cafes and bars here.
I myself lived in Thonglor for 1.5 years and loved how there were so many restaurants, cafes, spa’s and things to do right on my doorstep.
Where to stay:
Luxury Hotel Pick: Madi Paidi, Autograph Collection
Mid-range Hotel pick: Staybridges Suites Thonglor by IHG - (read my hotel review here)
Serviced apartments: The SACHA Apart Hotel Thonglor
☕ If you’re in Thonglor and looking for a cafe to work from, check out my blog post here.
Phrom Phong
Phrom Phong is the area where a lot of the big malls are located (Emquartier, Emsphere) and a lot of expats live in this area too. It is very central, which means it is also more expensive than other areas. What’s also nice about this area is that there is a park nearby (Benjasiri park) and many restaurants and cafes can be found here.
Luxury Hotel Pick: Kromo Bangkok, Curio Collection by Hilton
Mid-range Hotel pick: Away Bangkok Sukhumvit
Serviced apartment: Oakwood Suites Bangkok
☕ Also check out my post on best places to work from in Phrom Phong.
Phloenchit & Chidlom
If you want to be in a fairly central location, with malls and parks (Lumphini park and Benjakitti park) within walking distance, then these two areas might be the place to be for you. It is also quite a fancy neighbourhood, with many luxury hotels situated here.
Luxury Hotel Pick: Sindhorn Midtown Hotel, Vignette Collection (read my hotel review here)
Mid-range Hotel pick: Moxy Ratchaprasong
Serviced apartment: Oriental Residence Bangkok
Sathorn & Silom
Sathorn and Silom are the business districts of Bangkok as most big companies are based here. What’s great about this neighbourhood is that you are close to the best spots in Bangkok: the Sukhumvit area, the river area and there are two parks just around the corner (Lumphini park and Benjakitti park).
Luxury Hotel Pick: The Standard Bangkok
Mid-range Hotel pick: ASAI Bangkok Sathorn
Serviced apartment: Ascott Sathorn
Riverside & Talad Noi
If you want to stay a little closer to the main temples and cultural activites in Bangkok, such as China Town, then staying at the Riverside is definitely a great option. Staying in the area called Talad Noi will also give you a lot of options for cafes, restaurants and scenic street art spots. Plus, staying at the riverside will give you amazing sunset views over the Chao Phraya river.
Luxury Hotel Pick: Mandarin Oriental Bangkok (Right next to the river)
Mid-range Hotel pick: Dear Sunday Hometel Bangkok
Ari
In recent year, Ari has gained the reputation of a hipster neighbourhood, with new cool cafes appearing here and there. It is a more quiet and residential neighbourhood, while still being pretty central and located on the Green BTS line.
Luxury Hotel Pick: Craftsmen Bangkok
Mid range Hotel Pick: Josh Hotel
Serviced apartment: Baannueng at Aree 5 Hotel
On Nut, Phra Khanong & Punnawithi
These three stops on the Sukhumvit BTS Green Line are the more ‘up and coming’ neighbourhoods in Bangkok and many new condo’s, restaurants and malls are popping up here. The advantage is that it is generally much cheaper to stay here than in the popular neighbourhoods of Thonglor and Phrom Phong.
For coworking, there is True Digital Park (shown in the picture) which includes a coworking space that is well known among remote workers, and cafe’s such as Bartels are also great to work from.
Where to stay:
Luxury Hotel Pick: INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit
Mid-range Hotel Pick: Hotel Amber Sukhumvit 85
Serviced apartment: Marriott Executive Apartments
Areas to avoid (in my personal opinion)
These areas I wouldn’t necessarily in my very personal opion:
Asok - it is very central but it is a huge intersection here with two big roads coming together and there is so much traffic.
Nana - it’s very touristic, including a lot of the types of tourism you want to avoid.
Chinatown - it is very far and also very touristic - I wouldn’t recommend it for digital nomads in particular. However, there is a lot of culture and temples to be found here.
Hotel, Serviced Apartment or Condo?
Whether you should stay at a hotel, serviced apartment or a condo, depends on how long you intend to stay in Bangkok.
Staying a few weeks
If you’re staying just a few weeks in Bangkok, opt for a hotel or serviced apartment. Bear in mind that condo/ Airbnb stays of less than 30 days is illegal in Thailand. While Bangkok has seen an increase in prices, it is still relatively cheap, so staying a one or two weeks in a hotel won’t cost you your liver.
Staying 1 or 3 months
If you’re staying a few months, it might be easier to get a serviced apartment, however, it is also possible to rent a condo apartment for just a few months. You can find some posts on this Facebook group for instance that mention if 1 or 3 months is okay for the rental period.
Staying more than 3 months
If you’re staying longer than 3 months, getting a condo might be the best and cheaper option. While the majority of leases are 6 months or 1 year, you can also find condo apartments for several months. Check out my post on How to find an apartment in Bangkok to find out more.
Handy Travel Resources
Get a travel insurance so that you can travel stress free. I always use SafetyWing which is designed specifically for digital nomads and I think is great value for money. Get the Nomad Essential plan for a shorter stay and the Nomad Complete plan if you’re planning to be in Thailand longer term.
You can use my unique code TNDSAFETY to get 8 weeks Electronics theft coverage for free when you get your first SafetyWing plan.
Get an eSim to stay connected while you’re traveling. I use the Saily app, which I think is the easiest and most reliable. You can use TND10 to get 10% off your first plan!
Get a Wise card to avoid ATM transaction fees and pay in a local currency with a Wise card - you can get one here.
FAQ
What is the best neighbourhood in Bangkok for digital nomads?
Thonglor and Ekkamai, for the cafés, coworking and community. Ari is the best pick if you prefer a calmer, more local feel. If you want to be super central, stay in Phrom Phong.
Can I rent a condo for one month in Bangkok?
It is definitely possible to rent a condo for a month. You can either check Airbnb options or check out Facebook groups such as this one, to find condo’s that allow a shorter stay. Another option is to look for serviced apartments that usually offer a discount for longer term stays.
Which visa do digital nomads use in Thailand?
A lot of nomads use the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), which gets you five years in Thailand. Read my DTV guide for the latest requirements.
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