5 Places To Avoid On Trip To Bangkok

Bangkok is one of most visited city in the world. The luxury bars, cheap shopping centers are its major attractions. Yet for all its charms and attractions, it isn’t without its places to avoid. Whether they’re due to popularity, seediness, scams or danger, here’s a list of places you may want to avoid if you’re heading to Bangkok.

* Khaosan Road

Khaosan Road has been the premier backpacker haven in Bangkok and Thailand for several years now. Any night of the week will see its streets full of travellers sporting large backpacks and dime-a-dozen elephant pants. The trouble is, it’s been done to death. The role the internet has played with popularising travel and the improving language skills of Thai people means there’s no need for a backpacker-centred street anymore. Instead of meeting fellow countrymen, getting bad travelling tips you could just as easily find online and drinking the same buckets and lager, head to the trendy areas of Bangkok such as Ekkamai and Thonglor, and rub shoulders with the locals instead.

* Patpong

To many people, Bangkok has a seedy reputation that’s unjustified and unwarranted, but places like Patpong only serve to cement it further. A street covered in garish neon lights, scantily clad workers and more scam artists than you could shake a stick at, it won’t add anything meaningful to your trip and, whilst it may have a scattering of market stalls and shops to look in, avoiding it will probably save you a few thousand baht that would be better spent elsewhere.

* Nana Plaza

Make no mistake about it – Nana Plaza is basically a three story complex devoted to go-go dancers, bar girls and “ladies of the night”. If you’re into that sort of thing, it might be the first place on your list, but if you’re not then there’s simply no reason to come here. Instead, leave it to the sexpats and head elsewhere for nighttime entertainment that won’t leave you cringing and feeling a little sad.

* Soi Cowboy

Named as such because of the cowboy-hat wearing American who opened a bar here, Soi Cowboy is pretty much a watered down version of Patpong. It still has the go-go bars and the overly-friendly staff, but they aren’t quite as pushy and it’s generally a little less seedy – though still far from being rated U for universal. You’ll find plenty of similar places in Pattaya and Patong in Phuket, so you’d be wise to give this a miss in favour of some of Bangkok’s better, more wholesome attractions.

* Grand Palace

Don’t get us wrong – the Grand Palace is undoubtedly a beautiful place, but all that beauty is hard to take in if you’re being elbowed and shoved by tour groups and over-zealous travellers. It’s hot and sweaty on the best of days, and there’s an awful lot to take in – so save the entry fee and take in one of Bangkok’s quieter but still beautiful temples instead. Walking around the grounds and taking in the sights from a distance is also a great way to see a wider picture and admire the beauty of the palace without fighting other travellers for space.