Siam Square and neighbouring Ratchaprasong form Bangkok's shopping hub. Around BTS Siam station, the interchange between the Sukhumvit and Silom lines, you'll find Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery.
Siam Square and neighbouring Ratchaprasong form Bangkok's shopping hub. Around BTS Siam station, the interchange between the Sukhumvit and Silom lines, you'll find Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery. Skywalks connect them, so you hardly need to step onto the streets.Siam Square itself comprises low-rise blocks with small shops, tutoring centres, and eateries, frequented by students from the nearby Chulalongkorn University and more affordable than the malls. Near National Stadium is the MBK Center, offering hundreds of small stalls for clothing and electronics.At the Ratchaprasong intersection stands the Erawan Shrine, where devotees daily lay flower garlands and dance groups perform for donations; next to it is CentralWorld. A short walk from National Stadium is the Jim Thompson House, a complex of old teak houses belonging to the American silk merchant. It's a convenient spot in heat or rain, as almost everything is air-conditioned and covered.
Sights in Siam Square / Ratchaprasong
Discover the most important sights and attractions
1Jim Thompson House
The residence of American silk trader Jim Thompson on Khlong Saen Saep, just minutes from the BTS National Stadium station. He had old teak houses assembled into a single residence and displayed his collection of Southeast Asian art within. Thompson developed the Thai silk industry into an export business and disappeared in 1967 in the Malaysian Highlands; his case remains unsolved to this day. The house is only open for guided tours, daily 10 AM to 5 PM.
Art centre at the intersection opposite MBK, opened in 2008 and connected to National Stadium BTS Station via a skywalk. Features rotating exhibitions of contemporary Thai and international art across several floors, along with bookstores and cafés. Free admission, closed on Mondays.
The alleyways opposite BTS Siam Station are on Chulalongkorn University land: small shops, tutoring schools, hairdressers, dessert places. The clientele is predominantly young and Thai, unlike in the surrounding department stores.
Royal Temple, founded in 1857 by King Mongkut (Rama IV.), located between Siam Paragon and CentralWorld and barely visible from the street. Inside, a quiet courtyard with an ordination hall and chedis. A memorial shrine holds the ashes of members of the Royal Family from the lineage of Prince Mahidol. Keep shoulders and knees covered, remove shoes outside the halls.
The shrine for the four-faced figure of Brahma stands at the Ratchaprasong intersection, a few steps from Chit Lom BTS Station. It was erected in 1956 at the then-state-owned Erawan Hotel to avert misfortune attributed to a poorly chosen foundation stone date. To this day, it is constantly in operation: incense, flower garlands, wooden elephants, and performances by classical dancers, paid for by devotees as thanks. In August 2015, 20 people were killed here in a bomb attack; the shrine was restored. Do not photograph worshippers.
Japanese restaurant on Ratchadamri Road, located on the ground floor of a hotel with its own street entrance. Features a sushi counter and Teppan seating, catering to the upscale segment. Reservations are recommended in the evening; just a few minutes from BTS Ratchadamri Station.
Korean cuisine on Phaya Thai Road, north of Siam, in an area with several Korean restaurants. Tabletop grilling and stew dishes, plus the usual side dishes. Open for lunch and dinner, near Ratchathewi BTS Station.
Gegessen wird hier überwiegend im Gebäudeinneren: Foodcourts in den Untergeschossen der Kaufhäuser, Restaurantetagen weiter oben, Hotelküchen an der Ratchadamri. Die Straßenküche ist im Vergleich zu anderen Vierteln schwach vertreten — was es gibt, liegt in den Siam-Square-Gassen und rund um die Chulalongkorn-Universität, wo für Studenten gekocht wird.
Department Food Courts
In Siam Paragon, MBK and CentralWorld are large food courts with Thai and Asian stalls, plus supermarkets offering ready meals. Air-conditioned, affordable, and a reliable quick meal in the district.
Student Kitchens around Chulalongkorn
Around the university and Sam Yan, eateries and stalls serve students: rice dishes, noodle soups, curries over rice, at prices well below department store prices.
Siam Square
In the alleys behind the station, you'll find small eateries, bubble tea shops, dessert places, and Korean takeaways, catering to a young Thai audience.
International Restaurants on Ratchadamri
Hotels and department store upper floors host upscale Japanese, Italian, and Chinese restaurants. Reservations are recommended, some with a dress code.
Sweets and Coffee
Cakes, ice cream, mango with sticky rice, Thai iced tea, and coffee chains in department stores. Prices are above street level.
Consumption, Shrines, and Protest
Siam and Ratchaprasong form Bangkok's commercial heart. Over just a few hundred meters, large shopping centers stand side-by-side, linked by elevated walkways spanning the intersections. Siam Square itself is located on land belonging to Chulalongkorn University, whose campus extends to the south.Shrines at the IntersectionsBetween the department stores are shrines where people pray continuously. The most famous is the Erawan Shrine at the Ratchaprasong intersection, erected in 1956 for the four-faced figure of Brahma near the former Erawan Hotel to avert misfortune attributed to an incorrectly chosen date for the foundation stone laying. It remains active to this day: flower garlands, incense, wooden elephants, and performances by classical dancers paid for by devotees as a thank you. Other shrines for Trimurti, Ganesha, and Lakshmi are located nearby. This blend of Brahmanic practice, folk belief, and consumerism is part of daily life in Bangkok.In August 2015, a bomb detonated at the Erawan Shrine, killing 20 people. The site has since been restored.Political HotspotThe Ratchaprasong intersection is a recurring site of political protests. In 2010, a weeks-long occupation by the Red Shirt movement ended here with a military crackdown and many casualties; CentralWorld partially burned down at the time. Protesters also gathered here in 2020. Maintain distance from political assemblies. For current information, please refer to the German Federal Foreign Office.Jim ThompsonAlong Khlong Saen Saep stands the Jim Thompson House, the residence of the American architect and silk merchant who developed the Thai silk industry into an export business after World War II and disappeared in the Malaysian highlands in 1967, his case remaining unsolved. He had old teakwood houses reassembled to form a single residence and housed his art collection within.Prayers are offered at the Erawan Shrine and neighboring shrines. Photography is common, but avoid photographing those who are praying.At Wat Pathum Wanaram, the temple between the department stores, the usual rules apply: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off.
Exploring on Site
Siam is a central transport hub in Bangkok: Here, the two BTS lines intersect, and skywalks lead from the station in multiple directions. Large parts of the district can be explored on the first floor without crossing the street.BTS Siam: Interchange station between the Sukhumvit Line and Silom Line, on two levels with transfers at the opposite platform.Other Stations: Chit Lom and Ratchadamri for Ratchaprasong and the Erawan Shrine, National Stadium for Jim Thompson House and the BACC arts centre, Ratchathewi to the north.Skywalk: Elevated walkways connect the stations with department stores. Covered and the most pleasant route when it rains.MRT: No station directly in the district. Transfer to the Blue Line, for example, at Sala Daeng/Si Lom or Asok/Sukhumvit.Canal Boat: On Khlong Saen Saep, boats stop at the Hua Chang pier near Jim Thompson House and Ratchathewi station. Fast and loud, often quicker than the road during rush hour.Taxi: Traffic around Ratchaprasong is usually heavy. The BTS is generally faster.On Foot: From Siam station to the Erawan Shrine, it's about ten minutes via the skywalk.
