| Hotel | District | Access | Starting price (to be checked) | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sukhothai Bangkok | Sathorn | MRT Lumphini, about 10 min on foot | from about 8,000 THB | quiet gardens and ponds |
| Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok | Siam | BTS Siam, 4 to 5 min on foot; Siam Paragon | from about 10,000 THB | shopping on foot |
| The Peninsula Bangkok | Khlong San (river) | free river shuttle | from 12,000 THB++ | rooms on the river |
| Mandarin Oriental Bangkok | Bang Rak (river) | Saphan Taksin BTS or shuttle | from about 15,000 THB | historic palace |
| Shangri-La Bangkok | Bang Rak (river) | next to Saphan Taksin BTS | about $210 to $225 | two pools, spa |
By the river: Mandarin Oriental, Peninsula, Shangri-La
The Mandarin Oriental, in Bang Rak, is the river's historic palace: outdoor pool, garden, renowned restaurants and spa. It is about 10 minutes' walk from Saphan Taksin BTS, or a river shuttle takes you. Limit: palace pricing, book ahead. The Peninsula Bangkok, on the Khlong San bank, offers rooms with Chao Phraya views, an outdoor pool, a fitness centre and a free river shuttle to Saphan Taksin station (about five minutes by boat according to Booking). Limit: no metro station on foot. The Shangri-La Bangkok is next to Saphan Taksin BTS station, with two pools, a large spa and the Thai restaurant Salathip; reviews mention long corridors between wings and a pool that closes early. To compare other waterside hotels, read riverside hotels in Bangkok.
Quiet, or in the heart of the shopping
The Sukhothai Bangkok, on South Sathorn Road, plays the gardens-and-ponds card; it is about 10 minutes' walk from Lumphini Park and Lumphini MRT station, on a busy avenue. The Siam Kempinski has a covered walkway into the Siam Paragon mall, four or five minutes' walk from Siam BTS: the handiest if you want to do everything on foot, at the price of a mall that is very busy by day.
How to choose
- Couple, romantic mood: the river, with a dinner on the water; see the Chao Phraya dinner cruise.
- First visit: the Siam Kempinski, where the two BTS lines cross.
- Business trip: Shangri-La or Sukhothai.
- Treat yourself without a palace: our selection of the best hotels in Bangkok by budget and where to stay in Bangkok.
- Arriving at the airport: a private transfer avoids changing trains.
Booking well
Palaces often show "++" prices (10% service and 7% VAT on top). Compare cancellation terms, ask about the state of the pool and spa before booking, and book early for Christmas, New Year and the cool season from November to February; see the best time to visit Bangkok.
FAQ
Which palace is the most central in Bangkok? The Siam Kempinski, in Siam, four or five minutes' walk from the BTS.
Which palace is the most affordable? Of these five, The Sukhothai starts from about 8,000 THB, to be checked.
Are the riverside palaces linked to the metro? The Shangri-La touches Saphan Taksin BTS; Mandarin Oriental and Peninsula use a shuttle or a walk.
Do I need to book far ahead? Yes in high season, from November to February and over the holidays.
