Bangkok's Silom district is an electrifying place that changes its face not only street by street, but also hour by hour. The most interesting part can be found for less than a kilometre around the main Silom Road from Lumpini Park towards the river. Don't forget to explore the adjacent perpendicular streets of Patpong, Sala Daeng and Thanyia.

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While during the morning and early afternoon Silom Road is the cosmopolitan centre of Bangkok with the headquarters of many banks and multinational companies and the adjacent streets functioning as one big restaurant, during the evening and night Silom transforms into a vibrant district of food, dance, sex and eroticism.

You will also often come across the split name Si Lom.

Long nights in Patpong

During the day, the relatively unassuming Patpong Lane (sometimes spelled Pathpong) running perpendicular to Silom Road transforms at the stroke of dusk into one of Bangkok's sex tourism hubs. Local restaurants and bars turn into a parade of sex workers and prostitutes fill the street.

Numerous go-go and ping-pong shows are the order of the day in the many clubs here.

Nights at Pathpong usually last from about 8pm until 5am.

But Pathpong is not just about sex tourism. Roughly in the middle of the street, night markets are held every night offering lots of food and various handicraft souvenirs, spices and much more.

Patpong is referred to as the largest "red light district" in Bangkok and is gradually expanding from this alley to the surrounding streets.

Great food at Sala Daeng

On the other side from Silom Road, don't miss a visit to Sala Daeng Road, Sala Daeng 2 and Convent Road, which are known for great street-food. Eat at really cheap places for locals quietly until 50 thb, but there are better and still cheap eateries with English menus.

What makes Sala Daeng Sala Daeng, however, are the numerous street stalls selling small delicacies that you just can't miss without noticing.

Accommodation Silom

The Silom Road area is one of the most popular for accommodation due to its easy accessibility and many entertainment options.

You will find cheap modern and clean hostels with prices as low as around 6 usd for a bed in a mixed room, as well as good quality very cheap hotels.

With prices around 35 usd per night in a 2 bed room we would recommend for example:

The Siam Heritage Hotel **** on Surawong Road
Silom One Hotel *** right on Silom Road by the subway station

You will also come across well known hotel chains. Right on Silom Road you can stay at the Ibis Styles Bangkok Silom *** or Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park *****.

Transportation to Silom Road

Silom Road is very easy to get to from all parts of Bangkok. Right on the main street you will come across two metro stations:

Sala Daeng - dark green BTS line
Silom - blue MRT line

In addition, on Silom Road or the perpendicular main Rama IV Road, you can take advantage of the many bus lines with direct connections to areas not served by the metro:

Old Bangkok (Wat Pho and Grand Palace): metro blue line, buses 47, 507
Old Bangkok (Khaosan Road): 15, 47, 507
Hua Lamphong Station: metro blue lines, buses 4, 46, 507
Chinatown: 4, 507
Si Phraya: 45
South Bus Station: 507
Mochit Bus Station: 77
Asiatique Waterfront: 15