Pratunam district in Bangkok

Pratunam (Pratunam) is the main shopping and popular tourist area of Bangkok (Pratunam on the map). It can even be said that this area is one big marketplace, but unlike the Siam district with its sparkling shopping malls, Pratunam is more characterized by trading from street markets, in budget shopping malls, and in small shops. But for cheap shopping and wholesale, it is worth going to the markets of this area, because prices here are sometimes even lower than at the famous Chatuchak market. This is just the perfect place to stay in the last days before flying home to buy souvenirs and Thai products. The main shopping areas here are: Indra Sqaure (mainly merchants and buyers from India); Pratunam Market (a huge mixed street and market under the roof); market in the Baiyoke Sky tower, Pantip Pratunam (a large electronics store). By the way, in walking distance from the center of the district there are also the best shopping centers already on the territory of the Siam district: Central World Plaza, MBK, Gaysorn, Siam Paragon, Big-C hypermarket.

• Khao San Road Tourist Area
• Sukhumvit District
• Siam District
• Silom district
• Chinatown District
• Thonburi District

For tourists, this area is very comfortable and convenient: lots of transport, well-developed infrastructure, inexpensive shopping. From the Suvarnabhumi Airport, the ARL airport metro leads here, the BTS skytrain line runs, and there is also the Pratu Nam pier for canal boats, from which two lines of scheduled boats start at once. In travel agencies on the street, you can easily find excursions around Thailand and the city, tickets for tourist buses and transfers to any place in the country. You can eat in one of the many cafes on the street, or in the food court on the third floor of the Indra Square shopping center.

There are different categories of hotels in the area, and there are a lot of them, you can easily find accommodation for any budget. The highest hotel in the city Baiyoke Sky is here. It is around Baiyoke Sky that the entire infrastructure is concentrated (trade, travel agencies, currency exchange, transport), and it is best to choose a hotel within walking distance from it. In the northern part of the district (this is the area above the airport metro line on the map and near the Victory Monument ring, it is better not to settle, there is almost nothing tourist there.

It is best to search and book hotels in the Pratunam area in the following most popular hotel search engines around the world:

• 🛌 Hotels in Pratunam on Yandex.travel

Map of Pratunam district with attractions, hotels, transport

How to get to Pratunam district

Urban public transport in the Pratunam area is very well developed. There are city and airport metro stations, boat docks along the canals (klongs), a huge number of buses. Here are ways to get here/from here to different places in the city:

• From Suvarnabhumi Airport

  A taxi ride on the counter from Suvarnabhumi Airport will cost 250-400 baht (7.5 USD, see the currency of Thailand and the exchange rate), the time will take 30-60 minutes. It is better to order a taxi at the counter when exiting the terminal on the ground floor (follow the Public taxi signs), or using the Grab-taxi app, an Asian replacement for Uber. See more about Grab-taxi in Thailand and how to use it.

  But it is much faster and cheaper to get to Pratunam by airport metro ARL. It takes only 26 minutes to drive, the fare costs no more than 45 baht. At the airport, the ARL station is located on the lowest level, there are signs leading there. The trains make seven stops along the way. To get to the Pratunam district, you only need two of them:

  • Stop Ratchaprarop (designated A7). This is practically the center of the district. Most hotels are within walking distance from here.
  • Phaya Thai stop (designated A7). It is the terminus, also in Pratunam district. There are also many hotels within walking distance nearby, but not as many as near Ratchaprarop.

  See more details, how to get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pratunam here...

• From Don Mueang Airport

  A taxi ride on the counter from Don Mueang Airport will cost from 350 baht, in time 40-60 minutes. It is also better to order a car at the counter in the arrival terminal, or using the application. In addition, you may need to pay 50 baht for driving on a toll road.

  But there is also a more budget–friendly way - by bus. It is best to take the A3 express bus. It departs directly from the terminal exit every 30 minutes from 7 to 23 o'clock, costs 30 baht. It passes through the area right along the main street Ratchadamri Road.

  You can also get there by regular city buses in general for a mere penny – from 7 baht. Bus number 504 goes along the main street Ratchadamri Road, and routes A1, A2, A4, 59, 29, 510, 187, 538 through the ring and the Victory Monument metro station. Simple city buses (not A1-A4) do not depart from the Don Muang terminal itself, but from a bus stop on the main road. From the exit from the terminal to it a couple of minutes on foot.

  See more details, how to get from Don mueang Airport to Pratunama here...

• From Hua Lamphong Railway Station

  If you arrive in Bangkok by train, the easiest way is to get from Hua Lamphong station by taxi, which will cost from 150 baht. It is cheaper to get there by metro with transfers. To do this, you need to take the underground subway to Silom MRT station right here at the station, take the skytrain there and get to Phaya Thai.

• From Khao San district

  There is no metro in Khaosan district, and unfortunately we could not find direct bus services. Therefore, you need to get there either by taxi (from 120 baht), or by transport with transfers. The easiest way is to walk to the Phanfa Leelard Pier, which is located near the temple of the Golden Mountain, and there take a regular boat along the canal to the Pratu Nam pier. See more about boats on Bangkok canals here...

What to see in Pratunam district

There are no attractions and tourist attractions in the Pratunam area, with the exception of the Bayok Sky Tower and its observation deck. On foot you can get to several interesting places in the Sim area, while the rest will have to be reached by public transport (see all the sights of Bangkok).

Here is a list of attractions and entertainment that can be reached from Pratunam on foot, indicating their opening hours, the cost of visiting and the way to get there:

• Tower Baiyoke Sky 2 (Baiyoke sky)

  

  The observation deck of the Baiyoke Sky Tower, also known as Baiyoke II, is located on the top floor of the Baiyoke Sky II skyscraper Hotel. Until recently, it was the tallest building in Thailand, the tallest hotel in Asia and the third tallest hotel in the world. Its height is 304 meters, 84 floors. But a few years ago, the palm tree in Bangkok was "taken away" from him by the King Power MahaNakhon skyscraper, which also has an observation deck. Nevertheless, Bayok Sky is still a very interesting and exciting place to visit, because it is located very conveniently in the heart of the city, and besides, the cost of visiting compared to the new observation deck in MahaNakhon is more than twice lower, and the pleasure is hardly less. In addition, this pleasure is complemented by a pleasant bonus that you will receive in the bar on the 83rd floor. Read more about the observation deck of the Baiyoke Sky Tower here...

  🕐 Working hours: Daily from 10:00 to 22:00.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: 450 baht (13.5 USD), this price includes any free drink in the bar on the 83rd floor. Children up to 120 centimeters are free of charge. However, if you stay at this hotel for at least one night, you will be able to go upstairs for free. A room for two costs from 2000 baht, You can book a room at the Bayok Sky Hotel at Trip.com , payment by Mir card is possible.

  🚶 How to get there: located in the area of Pratunam and Sukhumvit, from them it is quite possible to get to it on foot (Bayok Sky 2 Tower on the map of Bangkok). The closest to the tower is the BTS Phaya Thai station (15-20 minutes on foot), and in the immediate vicinity (10 minutes on foot) the airport express station Ratchaprarop. From Khao San Tourist Area you can get here by city bus No.59 (but you have to walk a little), or take a boat along the canal from the Panfa Leelard pier at the temple of the Golden Mountain to the Pratunam Pier Pier, and again It's a little bit on foot.

• Shrine of Penises (fertility) Chao Mae Tuptim

  

  An interesting place to visit, although it should not be included in the mandatory program. You can visit it if you are somewhere nearby. The beauty of it is that this place is very rare and unique, and few tourists come here. The shrine of Penises, the shrine of Pregnant Women or the shrine of Fertility is not really a place of admiration for the male reproductive organ, but a place where people come to ask for offspring and fertility, or to pay tribute to the Buddha for helping. And this place can't be called a temple, it's just a shrine.

  According to legend, this place appeared after a woman who could not get pregnant for a long time asked a small temple for offspring a few years ago. After the offspring appeared, she brought a male figure to the temple. Gradually, the territory of the temple was filled with figures of penises and now women come to him every day to get the hope of having children. Read more about the Shrine of Penises (fertility) Chao Mae Tuptim here...

  🕐 Opening Hours: 24/7. In 2026, the shrine is pretty much abandoned. We don't recommend visiting it right now.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: The square in which the temple is located is located on the territory of the hotel "Nai Lert Bangkok Hotel (Swissotel)" on Wireless Road in the center of Bangkok. To get to the temple, you need to go through the lobby or courtyard of the hotel, then go through the underground parking lot. The temple will be on the left side. penis shrine on the map of Bangkok.

• Erawan Shrine

  

  It is one of the most important places of pilgrimage and worship in Bangkok, despite its small size. The shrine is a statue of the 4th Brahma, a Hindu deity. Every day a huge number of people come to this place, dance shows and chants are often held here. Tourists can freely come here, sit on the benches and watch the rituals, and if desired, you can light incense yourself, present offerings in the form of flowers, or bathe in sacred water. In general, this place is very atmospheric and interesting, and definitely worth a visit, especially if you are staying in the area of Pratunam or Sukhumvit. Learn more about the shrine of Erawan here...

  🕐 Opening Hours: 24/7.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: Located next to the BTS Chidlom Station subway station next to the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel. See the position of erawan shrine on the map of Bangkok.

• Jim Thompson House Museum

  

  Jim Thompson House is one of the most famous and visited museums in Bangkok. It is impossible to determine the theme unambiguously, since architecture, nature, history, and culture are mixed here.

  In the old house of American businessman Jim Thompson, the furnishings that were during his lifetime have been recreated, and works of art are on display. There is a small beautiful garden around the house. After buying a ticket, you will need to wait a little (usually no more than 20 minutes) for the next group to gather, after which you will be shown around the house and told in detail about its history and the life of a businessman. Guided tours are available only in English and French. Honestly, without the guide's story, visiting this place is not interesting at all, and if you do not perceive spoken English or French well, you will not get much pleasure from visiting the museum house, so you can skip it. Learn more about the Jim Thompson Museum here...

  🕐Working hours: from 09:00 to 18:00, seven days a week.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: 200 baht (6 USD), up to 22 years – 100 baht, children under 10 years - free of charge.

  🚶 How to get there: The house museum is located in the Pratunam district in the central part of Bangkok at Soi Kasemsan 2 Song, the entrance is from the same street (museum on the map). A 10-minute walk from the museum there are two skytrain stations: National Stadium (the nearest, 5 minutes walk), Ratchadewi (a little further), and Siam. You can also take a regular Golden Line boat along the canal to Ban Krua Nua pier (see learn more about Bangkok's water transport).

• Museum of the Human Body

  

  The Museum of the Human Body (Human Body Museum) is not a traditional museum for tourists, but, as one might say in our way, a departmental museum, since it is located on the territory of a medical university and a hospital. However, anyone can visit it.

  The museum is not for the faint of heart, as its exhibits are human bodies and organs located in two spacious and well-lit halls. Each exhibit is described in detail by an information plate with diagrams in Thai and English. In general, this museum somewhat resembles another Siriraj Medical Museum in Bangkok, but much more modest and simpler. Learn more about the museum here...

  🕐 Working hours: Monday-Tuesday from 10:00 to 16:00; Saturday and Sunday – closed.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge, you can leave donations in the box before entering

  🚶 How to get there: The museum is located in the center of Bangkok next to the Siam station of the skytrain (Museum of the Human Body on the map). From the metro station you need to go to the university complex and enter the territory through the gate on the east side. Next, you need to go to the appropriate building (it is better to ask the direction of the guard at the gate), enter the main entrance and take the elevator through the guard to the ninth floor, where the two halls of the museum are located. There are no obstacles to visiting the museum, everyone is allowed to enter.

• Sea Life Aquarium Bangkok Ocean World

  

  Bangkok Oceanarium Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World (formerly called Siam Ocean World) is the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia. It features more than 30,000 sea creatures and plants from all over the underwater world, among which there are extremely rare representatives. Many of them are almost impossible to meet in natural conditions for ordinary tourists.

  In addition to just the inhabitants, there is also a whole range of exhibitions and interactive entertainment: unusual types of aquariums, fish massage, interactive panels, a 4D cinema and much more. You can see how large bloodthirsty sharks, simple fish, penguins and other inhabitants are fed at certain times. For an additional fee, you can go scuba diving yourself and swim with sharks, watch the inhabitants from a boat with a transparent bottom. There is only one drawback in visiting the Bangkok oceanaruim – a somewhat high cost. It is worth allocating at least 2 hours for a visit.

  🌐 Website: visitsealife.com

  🕐 Working hours: daily from 10:00 to 21:00, last entry at 19:30.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: entrance tickets to the aquarium are sold in several types according to different programs. The cheapest standard ticket, including only a visit to the aquarium, costs from 1190 baht for adults / 990 baht for children. When buying tickets on the official website, a discount is provided.

  🚶 How to get there: the aquarium is located in the Siam Paragon shopping center in Siam district (oceanarium on the map of Bangkok). The most convenient way to get there is by BTS subway to Siam Station. The Bayok Sky Tower area can be reached on foot in 20 minutes.

• Suan Pakkad House Museum (Suan Pakkad)

  

  Initially it was a family residence, but in 1952 Prince Chumbhotongsom Paribatra and his wife decided to open it to the people, and formed a museum. In fact, this is a museum-estate with a well-groomed green area, an old wooden house and even older buildings adjacent to it (a total of 8 houses). The oldest building is over 450 years old.

  For some reason, almost none of the tourists knows this place, although it's safe to say that it's no less interesting here than in the famous Jim Thompson House Museum. Inside there is a collection of works of art, furniture, utensils, musical instruments, historical artifacts. Learn more about the Xuan Pakad Museum here...

  🕐Working hours: from 09:00 to 16:00.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: 100 baht (3 USD, see Thailand's currency and exchange rate).

  🚶 How to get there: located in the Pratunam area near the BTS Phaya Thai elevated station (house museum on the map).