Where to Stay in Bangkok With Kids: Best Areas for Temples, Food & Easy Sightseeing

If you're wondering where to stay in Bangkok with kids, you're not alone.

Bangkok is often the most overwhelming part of a Thailand family holiday. The city is huge, traffic can be intense, and choosing the wrong area can leave you spending hours in taxis when you'd rather be sightseeing. When we planned our trip with Joshua (aged 8), we found that where you stay has a much bigger impact on your experience than the hotel itself.

Quick answer: where is the best area to stay in Bangkok with kids?

For most families, I'd choose the Chao Phraya Riverside. It offers the best balance of sightseeing, transport, family-friendly hotels, restaurants and space away from Bangkok's busiest streets. The river boats make it easy to reach major attractions, and after a long day exploring, returning to a quieter riverside hotel feels like a genuine break from the city.

That said, the best area depends on your priorities. Some families want easy access to temples and cultural sites, some prefer shopping and restaurants, and others simply need a practical hotel near the airport before flying home.

This guide covers the best areas to stay in Bangkok with children, including the pros and cons of each neighbourhood, where we stayed, and which hotels I'd recommend depending on your budget and itinerary.

If you're still planning your Bangkok trip, read this alongside Bangkok With Kids: A 3-Day Family Itinerary That Actually Works

Just a quick note: some links in this guide are affiliate links. We only recommend hotels we'd genuinely stay in again ourselves

Best Area for Families: Bangkok Riverside

If you're visiting Bangkok for the first time with children, the Chao Phraya Riverside is the area I'd recommend most strongly.

This is where we were recommended and decided to stay, and I would make the same choice again.

The riverside combines many of Bangkok's biggest advantages:

• Easy access to major attractions

• Less traffic stress

• Family-friendly hotels

• River transport

• Space to walk

• Great views

• Plenty of dining options

The biggest benefit is transport. The Chao Phraya River isn't just scenic, it's one of the most useful transport routes in the city. Rather than sitting in traffic, you can use river boats to reach temples, shopping centres and attractions.

For children, the boats become part of the fun rather than simply a way to get around.

For more on this, see Bangkok Hop-On Hop-Off River Boat Review: The Cheapest Way to See Bangkok With Kids.

Why the Riverside Works So Well for Sightseeing

One reason I liked the riverside so much was how easy it made sightseeing.

Many of Bangkok's most popular family attractions sit directly on or close to the river, including:

• Wat Arun Temple

• The Grand Palace

• ICONSIAM shopping mall

• Asiatique

• Chinatown

• River dinner cruises

Instead of constantly booking taxis, we often travelled by boat. Not only was this usually quicker, but Joshua genuinely enjoyed it. Watching long-tail boats, commuter ferries and river traffic became part of the experience.

If you're planning your sightseeing, our guide to 12 Bangkok Attractions Worth Visiting With Kids will help you prioritise what is genuinely worth seeing.

Our Family Friendly Hotel Pick: Royal Orchid Sheraton

For our family, the Royal Orchid Sheraton hit the sweet spot.

The location was excellent, the river views were fantastic and the facilities made travelling with an energetic eight-year-old much easier.

What we particularly liked:

• Large family-friendly rooms

• Two swimming pools, with swim up bar and ice lollies on sale

• Riverside location

• Free boat shuttle to ICONSIAM shopping mall

• Good breakfast

• Easy access to boats and attractions

The hotel struck a nice balance between comfort and convenience without moving into luxury pricing. If you're considering staying here, read our full Royal Orchid Sheraton Bangkok Review

Alternative Family-Friendly Hotels on the Bangkok Riverside

While we'd happily stay at the Royal Orchid Sheraton again, it's not the only good family-friendly hotel on the river. Depending on your budget and travel style, these are three other options worth considering.

• Shangri-La Bangkok: If you want a classic luxury hotel that works well for families, Shangri-La is hard to beat. The riverside location is excellent, the pool area gives children space to unwind after sightseeing, and the hotel boat provides easy access to many of Bangkok's key attractions. It's a good option for families looking for a more traditional five-star experience without feeling overly formal.

• Anantara Riverside Bangkok: feels noticeably more resort-like than many Bangkok hotels. The grounds are larger, there's plenty of green space, and the atmosphere feels more relaxed than staying in the middle of the city. For families who want to combine sightseeing with some downtime by the pool, it's an attractive option. The resort setting can make Bangkok feel much less hectic, which is particularly useful if you're travelling with younger children.

• Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok: is often recommended because of its larger apartment-style rooms and suites. For families needing extra space, this can be a major advantage over standard hotel rooms. Many rooms include separate living areas and kitchen facilities, making longer stays more comfortable. Combined with river views, a good-sized pool and easy transport links, it offers strong value for families who prioritise space.

For us, we considered all options but the Royal Orchid Sheraton remained the best overall balance of location, facilities and value, but any of these hotels would make a solid base for exploring Bangkok with kids.

Alternative Area for Families: Sukhumvit

Sukhumvit is one of Bangkok's main commercial and hotel districts, located east of the historic riverside area. It offers easy access to shopping malls, restaurants, cafés and public transport, making it convenient for families who prefer modern facilities over sightseeing-focused locations. Most of Bangkok's major temples and cultural attractions aren't within walking distance, but they're easily reached by taxi, Grab or public transport, typically in 20-40 minutes depending on traffic.

Advantages include:

• Huge choice of restaurants and cafés

• Shopping centres such as Terminal 21 and EmQuartier

• Plenty of international food options

• Modern family-friendly hotels

• Easy public transport connections

• Parks and indoor attractions nearby

If your children aren't particularly interested in temples and river sightseeing, Sukhumvit can be a practical base. However, for first-time visitors wanting to experience Bangkok's iconic attractions such as Wat Arun, the Grand Palace and the river boats, I'd still choose the riverside.

Recommended Family Hotels in Sukhumvit

If you prefer Sukhumvit's shopping, restaurants and modern city feel over the riverside, these family-friendly hotels are worth considering:

• Grande Centre Point Terminal 21 – Probably the most family-friendly hotel in Sukhumvit thanks to its direct connection to Terminal 21 shopping mall. Having restaurants, a food court, shops and transport all in one place makes life much easier with kids. The large pool and family rooms are an added bonus.

• Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit – A modern hotel with spacious rooms, a good-sized pool and an excellent location for restaurants and shopping. It works particularly well for families with older children who want the convenience of having lots within walking distance.

• Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 – A reliable option for families looking for good value. The rooms are practical, the facilities are family-friendly and the location provides easy access to Sukhumvit's restaurants, shopping centres and public transport links.

For our family, we'd still choose the riverside for a first visit to Bangkok because it makes sightseeing much easier and feels more connected to Bangkok's iconic attractions. However, if your priority is shopping, restaurants and modern hotels, Sukhumvit is probably the strongest alternative family area in the city.

Alternative Area for Families: Siam

If your family prioritises shopping, indoor attractions and convenience, Siam is another area worth considering.

Located in the heart of Bangkok, Siam is home to some of the city's biggest shopping centres, including Siam Paragon, Siam Center and MBK Center. This area works particularly well if you're visiting Bangkok during the hotter months or rainy season, as many attractions are indoors and connected by walkways.

Advantages include:

• Easy access to shopping malls

• SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World

• KidZania Bangkok

• Large food courts and international restaurants

• Excellent public transport connections

• Central location for exploring different parts of the city

The downside is that Siam feels much more like a modern city centre than traditional Bangkok. If temples, river boats and cultural attractions are your priority, the riverside remains a better choice.

Recommended Family Hotels in Siam

• Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok – One of Bangkok's most family-friendly luxury hotels, with large pools and direct access to Siam Paragon.

• Chatrium Grand Bangkok – Spacious rooms, excellent family facilities and easy access to shopping and attractions.

• Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square – A reliable mid-range option in the centre of the action.

Alternative Area for Families: Silom

Silom sits between the riverside and Sukhumvit and can work well for families who want a blend of sightseeing and city convenience.

The area offers easy access to:

• Lumpini Park

• The river

• Chinatown

• Shopping malls

• Public transport

For families, the biggest attraction is Lumpini Park, one of Bangkok's largest green spaces. After several busy sightseeing days, having somewhere for children to run around can be a welcome break from the city's crowds and heat.

Advantages include:

• Close to Lumpini Park

• Easier access to Chinatown

• Good transport connections

• Plenty of restaurants

• Generally cheaper than riverside luxury hotels

The downside is that it lacks the atmosphere of the riverside and the convenience of Sukhumvit's shopping and dining scene.

Recommended Family Hotels in Silom

• Shangri-La Bangkok – Technically located between Silom and the riverside, making it one of the best family options in the area.

• Holiday Inn Bangkok Silom – Good value, family rooms and a large pool.

• Pullman Bangkok Hotel G – Modern rooms and a convenient location for exploring multiple parts of the city.

Best Area Near Bangkok Airport

Not every family needs to stay in central Bangkok. If you're arriving late, departing early, or finishing a longer Thailand itinerary, staying near Suvarnabhumi Airport can make a lot of sense.

We actually moved to an airport hotel on our final night before flying home, and it was one of the best decisions we made. Rather than dealing with Bangkok traffic and an early morning transfer, we could relax, repack and enjoy a much less stressful departure day.

Why Stay Near the Airport?

• Early morning flights

• Late-night arrivals

• One-night stopovers

• Reduced transfer stress

• More space for repacking before flying home

Our Choice: Summit Windmill Golf Residence

We stayed at Summit Windmill Golf Residence and would happily stay there again for the same purpose. The apartment-style rooms gave us far more space than a typical airport hotel, and being just 20-30 minutes from the airport made departure day significantly easier.

If you're considering an airport stay, read Summit Windmill Golf Residence Bangkok Review, where I share exactly what worked well and who the hotel suits best.

Areas I'd Avoid for a Family Trip to Bangkok

These areas aren't necessarily bad, but they wouldn't be my first recommendation for families visiting Bangkok for the first time.

Khao San Road

Khao San Road is famous with backpackers but can feel chaotic with children. It's busy, noisy and lacks the family-friendly facilities you'll find elsewhere in the city.

Nana

While well connected and centrally located, Nana is known more for nightlife than family travel. There are better areas for families wanting restaurants, attractions and a more relaxed atmosphere.

Patpong

Patpong is an interesting area to visit briefly because of its markets, but I wouldn't choose it as a family base. Accommodation is often aimed at business travellers or adults rather than families.

Airport Area (Unless You're Flying)

Hotels around Suvarnabhumi Airport are excellent for arrivals and departures but aren't practical for sightseeing. Unless you're flying the next morning, I'd choose Riverside, Siam, Sukhumvit or Silom instead.

My Family Ranking

If I were visiting Bangkok with kids again, my order would be:

1. Riverside (best overall)

2. Sukhumvit (best modern family district)

3. Siam (best for malls and indoor attractions)

4. Silom (good all-round compromise)

5. Airport Area (only for flight nights)

For a first family trip, the combination I'd personally choose is a riverside hotel for sightseeing, followed by Summit Windmill Golf Residence on the final night before flying home.

Final Verdict: Where Should Families Stay in Bangkok?

If it's your first time visiting Bangkok with kids, I'd stay on the Chao Phraya Riverside.

After researching different areas and spending time in the city ourselves, it offered the best combination of sightseeing, transport, family-friendly hotels, restaurants and a calmer atmosphere than many other parts of Bangkok. Being able to travel by boat rather than sitting in traffic made a huge difference, and attractions such as Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, ICONSIAM and river cruises were all easy to reach.

For most families, I'd recommend:

• Riverside for sightseeing, temples and first-time visits

• Sukhumvit for restaurants, malls and modern hotels

• Siam for shopping, indoor attractions and convenience

• Silom for a balance of parks, transport and city access

• Airport Hotels only for arrival or departure nights

Our own approach worked really well. We stayed riverside at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Bangkok for sightseeing, then moved to Summit Windmill Golf Residence before our flight home. It gave us the best of both worlds: easy access to Bangkok's highlights followed by a stress-free departure day.

FAQs: Where to Stay in Bangkok With Kids

What is the best area to stay in Bangkok with kids?

For most families, the Chao Phraya Riverside is the best area to stay in Bangkok. It provides easy access to major attractions, river transport, family-friendly hotels and a calmer atmosphere than many other parts of the city.

If you're planning your sightseeing, see 12 Bangkok Attractions Worth Visiting With Kids

Is Riverside or Sukhumvit better for families?

It depends on what you're looking for. The Riverside is better for temples, sightseeing, river boats and a more traditional Bangkok experience. Sukhumvit is better for shopping, restaurants, malls and modern hotels. For a first family visit, I'd choose the Riverside.

Is it worth staying near Bangkok Airport with kids?

Only if you're arriving late or flying early the next day. For sightseeing, stay in the city. For convenience before a flight, an airport hotel can remove a lot of stress from travel day.

We stayed at Summit Windmill Golf Residence before flying home and found it worked perfectly as a final-night hotel. Read our Summit Windmill Golf Residence Bangkok Review for the full breakdown.

Which Bangkok hotel did you stay at with your family?

We stayed at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Bangkok on the riverside and thought it struck an excellent balance between location, facilities and value for families. The free boat shuttle, riverside location and family-friendly facilities made sightseeing much easier.

For more details, see Royal Orchid Sheraton Bangkok Review

How many nights should families spend in Bangkok?

We found three nights was the right amount of time. It gave us enough time to visit the main attractions, enjoy the river, take a dinner cruise and explore at a comfortable pace without feeling rushed. If you're planning your route, see: Bangkok With Kids: A 3-Day Family Itinerary

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About Plan Family Escapes

We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.

Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.