The Silom area of Bangkok is a great area to stay if you’re visiting the city, and there’s surprisingly plenty to see and do around this area. I’ve shown the list below in an order that makes it possible to get around in a day as a walking tour. If you want to do this, then assume a starting point of Saphan Taksin BTS (skytrain) station, and follow the directions below. You can check out our in depth Bangkok travel guide that can help you in your travel.
Lebua Sky Bar
Lebua Sky Bar is part of the Lebua Hotel – it featured in the rooftop scene of the very popular film The Hangover Part II. This is only open from 6 pm to 1 am, so you won’t be able to visit in the daytime. They have a strict dress code, so no jeans, shorts, flip flops, etc. It’s also very expensive, but worth a visit at least once. This building is known as State Tower.
Location: Junction of Silom Road and Charoenkrung Road – entrance on Silom Road.
Walking Tour: To get to it from Saphan Taksin BTS station, leave the station and turn left into Charoenkrung Road. Walk straight ahead and you’ll see it on the right hand side of the road. You can’t miss it, as it’s one of the tallest building in Bangkok. It’s right at the junction with Silom Road.
Assumption Cathedral
When I visited Assumption Cathedral recently it was been cleaned up, so the image above isn’t great. I’ll take another photo once the scaffolding and netting has been taken down. Assumption Cathedral is the main Roman Catholic church of Thailand.
Location: Off Charoenkrung Soi 40
Walking Tour: Keep walking straight ahead after passing State Tower, and turn left into Charoenkrung Soi 40. The cathedral will be to your left around 200 meters down the road. Further on is Oriental Pier and Mandarin Oriental Hotel, one of Bangkok’s best 5-star hotels.
Grand Postal Building (Old Bangrak Post Office)
Bangrak post office was situated in this building until recently, but it’s now been completely renovated and is used for weddings and other functions. It’s a really beautiful building, so is worth taking a look.
Location: Next to Charoenkrung Road Soi 32.
Walking Tour: After visiting Assumption Cathedral, walk back up to Charoenkrung Road and turn left. You’ll see the Grand Postal Building on your left after walking for a few minutes.
Holy Rosary Church
Holy Rosary Church was built by the Portuguese in 1786. It’s a Roman Catholic church that’s located next to the Chao Phraya River. If you take a boat along the river you’ll be able to see this church.
Location: Soi Yotha (near River City Shopping Center)
Walking Tour: After visiting the Grand Postal Building carry on walking along Charoenkrung Road for a few minutes until you come to Si Phraya Road, where you need to turn left. Then turn right towards River City Shopping Center, walk passed it, and you’ll come to Holy Rosary Church.
Chinese Temple
I came across this very small Chinese Temple while walking around the area. As you’ll be in the general area, it’s worth popping in to have a look.
Location: Charoenkrung Road Soi 39.
Walking Tour: After Holy Rosary Church, walk back to Charoenkrung Road, turn right and then take the next left into Charoenkrung Soi 39. The temple will be a few meters in, to your left.
Bangkokian Museum
Not many tourists visit this museum, and I think they are missing out. It’s set in three old houses and gives you an idea of how Thai middle class people lived in years gone by. The houses are very well preserved and looked after. See our Bangkokian Museum post for details of opening times.
Location: Charoenkrung Road Soi 43
Walking Tour: From the Chinese Temple, walk back onto Charoenkrung Road, turn right and continue ahead to Charoenkrung Road Soi 43. Turn right into this, and you’ll see the museum on your right after you’ve walked under the flyover.
Bangkok Seashell Museum
A seashell museum may seem like an odd thing to find in a city center away from he sea, but Bangkok has one. If you have young kids, then this may be a great place to take them.
Location: Silom Road at junction with Siolm Soi 23 – next to the flyover.
Walking Tour: Come out of the Bangkokian Museum and turn right. Walk ahead a few meters and you’ll come to Mahesak Road. Turn right and walk all the way down to Silom Road. When you get to Silom Road, turn right and you’ll see the Seashell Museum on your left about 100-150 meters away. If you want to skip this museum, turn left at Silom Road and head towards Sri Mahamariamman Temple.
Sri Mahamariamman Temple
This is a major Hindu Temple in Bangkok that is very busy every day of the week. It’s open from early morning until late evening every day. The annual Navaratri Hindu Festival takes place every year around this temple. It’s one of the most colorful religious festivals that I’ve ever seen and attracts tens of thousands of people.
Location: Junction of Silom Road and Pan Road.
Walking Tour: From the Seashell Museum, walk back the way you came and keep walking for about 5 minutes. You’ll see the temple on your right.
Massage Break: If you want to take a break and have a massage, there are lots of places you can get one around this area. My favorite is on Pan Road. Walk up Pan Road for a few minutes until you see Family Mart on your left. The massage shop is next to it on the opposite side of the small lane. There are only two massage therapists that work here and they are both excellent.
Soi 20 Street Food & Market
Opposite the temple on the other side of Silom Road is the very popular Soi 20 market. This is busy all day long and is a great place to stop for some excellent street food.
Location: Silom Road Soi 20
Walking Tour: Just cross Silom Road from the temple.
Neilson Hays Library & Cafe
Neilson Hays Library has a large collection of English books and also regularly displays art work. There is also a cafe and art gallery in the grounds. It’s a very good place to stop for a coffee. See Silom Cafes.
Location: 195 Surawong Road, near junction with Silom Soi 20 (Pradit Road)
Walking Tour: Walk to the top of the market and you’ll reach Surawong Road. Turn right and you’ll see the library on your right hand side.
Chinese Cemetery
There’s a very interesting Chinese cemetery on Silom Soi 9. It’s pretty dilapidated these days, but gives you a glimpse into the past of this area. There are many dogs wandering around in here, so take care.
Location: Silom Road Soi 9
Walking Tour: Leave Neilson Hays Library and turn right onto Surawong Road. Keep walking for around 5 minutes until you come to Decho Road. Turn right into that and keep walking until you come to Silom Road. Cross Silom Road and turn left. The next road on your right will be Silom Road Soi 9. The cemetery is around 100 meters down this road on your left. There is a car park at the front, with the cemetery at the back. You can also see this cemetery from the BTS skytrain. If leaving Chong Nonsi station heading to Sala Daeng, stand on the left hand side and you’ll see the cemetery behind the first row of shophouses.
Lalai Sap (Silom Soi 5) Market
This is an extremely popular market that gets insanely packed at lunchtimes when the office workers flood the area. It’s open very early morning until late afternoon Monday to Friday. You can get a whole range of goods here, with food and clothing being the most popular. This is a local market, so you won’t find any inflated tourist prices here.
Location: Silom Road Soi 5 – next to Bangkok Bank Head Office
Walking Tour: Head back to Silom Road from the Chinese Cemetery and turn right. Walk straight ahead, passed the huge intersection, and then for another 1-2 minutes. Silom Road Soi 5 runs alongside Bangkok Bank, which is a huge building that you can’t miss. It will be on your right hand side.
Patpong Night Market
This market opens from around 5 pm onwards and is located in one of Bangkok’s major adult entertainment areas. The market is very touristy and you can expect to pay tourist prices here. The area is packed with bars and restaurants and probably isn’t a place to take your kids. There is also a street market on Silom Road along this area.
Location: Patpong Soi 1
Walking Tour: From Lalai Sap Market, continue walking down Silom Road until you come to CP Tower on your right. Patpong Market is directly opposite.
Soi Convent Street Food
This is a major street food area at lunchtimes and evenings. Many local people eat here and the food is generally good quality. There are also a few bars and restaurants on this street.
Location: Soi Convent, off Silom Road
Walking Tour: Carry on walking from CP Tower and you’ll come to Soi Convent on your right.
Massage Break: Another of my favorite massage shops is on Soi Convent. It’s called Nuen Ruad and is located at 42 Soi Convent, opposite BNH Hospital. It’s in an old wooden house at the end of a lane. The massages here are always excellent. It’s about a 5 minute walk from Silom Road.
Sala Daeng Shopping Area
The area around Sala Daeng BTS station is a major shopping area, with the main attraction being the newly renovated Silom Complex.This is an up-market shopping mall that’s directly connected to the BTS skytrain system. On the opposite side of Silom Road there is Thaniya Steet, which has a mall selling mostly golfing equipment. Thaniya Street is also home to many Japanese bars and restaurants.
Location: Area around Sala Daeng BTS station
Walking Tour: From Soi Convent, keep walking along Silom Road. You’ll see the BTS station right in front of you. Silom Complex is at the right hand side a few minutes walk away. Take your time to explore this area, as there is lots to see and do. It’s especially lively during the evening.
Bangkok Snake Farm
If you have kids they’ll probably love it here. And if you’re an adult you’ll probably also love it. It was here that I got to hold my first python. The two main attractions here are the venom extraction and the snake shows. There are many deadly snakes on display, and a few tame ones as well. See Bangkok Snake Farm for full details.
Location: 1871 Rama 4 Road
Walking Tour: Continue waling along Silom Road until you come to a major junction and turn left into Rama IV Road. The snake farm is about 5 minutes walk away and will be on your right hand side.
Wat Hua Lamphong
This is an interesting temple to visit because, as well as the temple, there is an attached building run by Ruamkatanyu Foundation where you can donate money to buy coffins for people that can’t afford them. You make a donation at the desk and they give you a piece of paper on which you write a message. You then glue this onto one of the coffins that are on display.
Also, there are some cows in the temple grounds. If you donate money for these you can save them from being sent to slaughter.
Location: Next to Sam Yan MRT station on Rama IV Road.
Walking Tour: After leaving the snake farm, cross the main road and then turn right and walk along Rama IV Road. You’ll come to Sam Yan MRT station, and the temple is right next to that.
Chamchuri Square
Right across the road from Wat Hua Lamphong you’ll see a very tall building. This is Chamchuri Square. It has a shopping mall at the lower levels with a large selection of cafes and restaurants. After all that walking you deserve a rest. So sit down and relax.
Location: Rama IV Road at Sam Yan MRT station
Walking Tour: From the temple, head to Sam Yan MRT station and you can use the subway to walk under the road. You’ll come out inside the shopping mall.
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