Bangkok

Sukhumvit / New Phetburi

Hotels | Interesting Places | Shopping | Eating | Nightlife | Nearby Areas

Overview

Sukhumvit (สุขุมวิท) is one of the three longest roads in Thailand, leading from the centre of Bangkok right up to the Cambodian border in the East. But what concerns us here is the section from the inner city down to Sukhumvit 63 (Soi Ekkamai), where the Eastern Bus Terminal is located. Being the largest expatriate community in Bangkok, Sukhumvit becomes the most fascinating area, which is facilitated with a wide diversity of shopping complexes, street markets, international restaurants, luxury hotels, and apartment buildings.

For shopping lovers, Sukhumvit is a real paradise. Provided with all classes of shopping malls, shops, and small street vendors that sell souvenirs, clothing and fake brand-name items, you will never get bored walking around here. And if you are getting hungry, numerous authentic ethnic restaurants are lining up waiting for your decision. Although its cosmopolitan lifestyle is highly attractive, Sukhumvit Road obviously illustrates traditional Thai ways of life on both sides. For instance, abundant pavement vendors serving all kinds of food from rice and noodles, to snacks of all types are available around the clock in almost every lane branching off the road.

To find an accommodation here is also very easy. There are varieties of choices from small guesthouses to elegant five-star hotels to suit every pocket. Apart from these, its colourful night-time entertainments also draw large numbers of both foreign tourists and young Thais. At nightfall, people get together to enjoy their life in pubs and bars which are scattered all over the area.

Location

As Sukhumvit covers a large area, when speaking about it in Bangkok, people will need to know which of the four interesting parts you mean. They are:

Nana (นานา): The area covers Sukhumvit Soi 3 to Soi 19. Probably it is best known for the four-storey entertainment plaza near to the front of Soi 4 and yet, famous for its British-style pubs and restaurants serving varieties of international cuisines, especially Arabian dishes.

Asok (อโศก): This area has a significant number of condominiums and office buildings, and containing many lanes (sois) through which you can avoid the heavy traffic on Sukhumvit Rd. In each soi, there are restaurants and bistros offering all kinds of ethnic food. Moreover, you can also find British-style pubs with the real British atmosphere here.

Emporium (เอ็มโพเรียม): The Emporium Department Store is situated next to Soi 24. It provides you with many fabulous brand-name shops, cinemas, and restaurants. Soi 33, which is a narrow lane opposite the store, is lined with several popular restaurants and is gaining reputation for its upmarket entertainment establishments. There is a nightspot area in Soi 22. Meanwhile international restaurants can also be found easily in Sois 18 and 22.

Thong Lo (ทองหล่อ): With all kinds of entertainment ranging from pubs, restaurants, and karaoke lounges to funky boutique department store like Playground and traditional Chinese tea houses, Sukhumvit Soi 55, also known as Thong Lo, was given the name “the Beverly Hills of Asia” (according to the New York Times). This Soi is connected to Soi Ekkamai (Soi 63), which also has similar places of entertainment.

And to the north of Sukhumvit Rd. is the extension of Phetburi Rd. which, at night, is brightened with colourful neon signs and enlivened by people going out to enjoy themselves in dozens of entertainment places scattered along the street.

Easy access

BTS: Sukhumvit Line National Stadium-On Nut (Sukhumvit 79), covering most important parts of the road.
MRT: Sukhumvit Station (interchange with BTS Asok Station)
Phetchaburi Station (New Phetburi Rd.)

For taxi: ถนนสุขุมวิท - ถนนเพชรบุรีตัดใหม่
Map : Sukhumvit - New Phetburi

Interesting Places

Siam Society (Khamthieng House) Located in Sukhumvit Soi 21, the place was established in the year 1904 to be a library supplying English books in the fields of humanity, archaeology, history and sociology. There is also an ethnology museum named Ban Khamthieng, which is a well preserved Northern-style teak house, to demonstrate the northern people’s ways of life in the past. For taxi: สยามสมาคม (บ้านคำเที่ยง) สุขุมวิท 21

Queen’s Park Queen’s Park, also known as Benchasiri Park, is a nice small park (11.6 acres) in the heart of the city. Many amenities such as a health garden, a children’s playground, a skating rink, and basketball and ta-kraw courts are provided here. The park opens daily from 05.00-20.00 hrs. For taxi: สวนเบญจสิริ ข้างห้างเอ็มโพเรียม

Pridi Banomyong Institute
Pridi Banomyong Institute, located between Thong Lo Soi 1 and Soi 3, is an art and cultural stage, academic institution, as well as an art gallery displaying works of both Thai and international artists. Many interesting activities and exhibitions are arranged here.
For taxi: สถาบันปรีดี พนมยงค์ ระหว่างทองหล่อซอย1 และ 3

Major Cineplex Get off the BTS at Ekkamai station you will see Major Cineplex situated right on Sukhumvit road. This is the movie centre where the latest blockbusters are shown. For taxi: เมเจอร์ ซีนีเพล็กซ์ เอกมัย

Museum of Sciences (Bangkok Planetarium) This place is excellent for families with children to spend time together. The museum displays various branches of science, including astronomy, and has interesting performances. It is situated on Sukhumvit Road between Soi 40 and 42 (next to Ekkamai Eastern Bus station). For taxi: ท้องฟ้าจำลอง เอกมัย

Shopping

Street Shopping Along the sidewalksfrom Sukhumvit Soi 1 to Soi 20, you can go shopping for souvenirs from Thailand, clothes, bags, suitcases, pirated DVD, or fake brand-name products such as T-shirts at low prices. For those who love bargaining this should be good fun. Street vendors can be found all day but there are more in the evening. Beauty salons, massage parlours, tailor and antique shops are also located along the ways. For taxi: สี่แยกนานา

Nana Square A shopping centre, situated on the corner of Sukhumvit Soi 3, provides many brand-name clothings, accessory shops, restaurants, and a low-priced international food court. For taxi: นานาสแควร์ สุขุมวิทซอย 3

Sukhumvit Arcade Located on Sukhumvit Soi 7 (near BTS station), here is another shopping spot where you can find nice souvenirs from Thailand, tailor shops, barber shops, and ticket agents. For taxi: สุขุมวิทอาเขต

Occupational Incentive Project
On the sidewalk next to Sukhumvit Soi 7 is the Royal shop (Occupational Incentive Project) under the initiation of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn selling handicrafts, books, cards, daily products, snacks, tea and fresh coffee at reasonable prices.
For taxi: ร้านภูฟ้า สุขุมวิทซอย 7

Times Square It is both an office building and a famous shopping plaza, located in Sukhumvit Soi 14, where you can find brand-name items, boutiques and shoes outlets at reasonable prices. For taxi: ตึกไทม์สแควร์

Emporium A luxurious mall with brand-name shops is outstanding to the eyes on Sukhumvit Road adjacent to Soi 24. It is an ideal place for shopping lovers. For taxi: ห้างเอ็มโพเรียม

J Avenue
J Avenue, located in Soi Thong Lo 15 (Sukhumvit 55), is a new lifestyle shopping centre where you can hang out all day or enjoy shopping in a supermarket selling numerous types of exotic foods. There are various nice and trendy shops and restaurants to serve you.
For taxi: เจ อเวนิว ซอยทองหล่อ

Playground
Another upscale shopping area is situated in the middle of Sukhumvit Soi 55. The store is a perfect combination of a coffee shop, a CD store, great bookstores, chic fashions, and trendy products
For taxi: ห้างสรรพสินค้าเพลย์กราวน์ ซอยทองหล่อ

Eating

Dining on this diverse culture street is full of choices ranging from international cuisines in authentic ethnic restaurants to basic local meals. Places to eat are scattered in many of its lanes. The luxurious ones with good ambiences can be quite expensive. To be more specific about locations, let’s head for Nana (Sukhumvit Soi 4) for the Middle East restaurants or Sukhumvit Soi 33/1 for authentic Japanese meals. But if you want to try fabulous fusion food, Thong Lo (Sukhumvit Soi 55) is recommended.

Nightlife

Nana Entertainment Plaza Nana Plaza (NEP), located on Sukhumvit soi 4, is another night-time entertainment centre full of rousing go-go bars. This is a red-light district for adults only. For taxi: นานา เอ็นเตอร์เทนเมนท์พลาซ่า

Soi Cowboy Located between Sukhumvit Soi 21 and 23, here is another famous nightlife spot in Bangkok. The Soi consists of a wide variety of pubs and bars for you to choose. Soi Cowboy is always fully packed with night owls both Thais and foreigners. For taxi: ซอยคาวบอย

Soi Thong Lo (Sukhumvit 55) Soi Thong Lo (Sukhumvit 55) and Ekkamai (Sukhumvit 63), upmarket neighborhoods in Bangkok, have recently attracted both high-class Thais and expats with its rising of trendy pubs, bars and karaoke lounges. For taxi: ซอยทองหล่อ

Nearby Areas

Best Bangkok Sightseeing Tours
Palaces & Heritage Buildings
Cultural Shows
Thai Temples
Do-it-yourself Tours
Kid/Family Activities & Zoos
Museums & Arts
View Points
Thai Boxing

South & West of Bangkok
Rose Garden Riverside
Samphran Crocodile & Elephant Show
Thai Human Imagery Museum
Floating Market (Damnoen Saduak)
Samut Songkhram Homestay
King Rama II Memorial Park

Tiger Temple
River Kwai Bridge (Death Railway)

East of Bangkok
Samutprakan Crocodile Farm & Zoo
The Erawan Museum
Ancient City or Muang Boran