Khao San Road

Khao San Road Review

Khao San, which means "Shining Rice," has been the heart of the international backpacking scene for decades. In the past few years it's made an attempt at trendiness with new outdoor bars, a glut of terrible Western restaurants, and hotels sharing the space with the ubiquitous low-budget guesthouses, some of which aren't actually budget anymore. The road is closed to traffic at night, making early evening the best time to stroll or sit back and people-watch. It has become popular with Thais as well, who frequent the bars and watch the farang (foreigners). Nightfall also marks the start of a busy street market, where you can find clothing, Thai goods, bootleg CDs, fake IDs, used Western books, cheap street food, and more. The frenetic activity can, depending on your perspective, be infectious or overwhelming. During Songkran, the Thai New Year in mid-April, Khao San turns into one huge wet-and-wild water fight. Only join the fun if you don't mind being soaked to the bone.