The Ratchaprasong District is at the heart of Bangkok and is popular with visitors to Bangkok and locals alike. It’s where you’ll find shopping malls, shrines, and some popular photography spots.
Why is this popular spot referred to as the heart of Bangkok? That’s because it’s where Ratchadamri, Ploenchit, and Rama 1 roads intersect. In fact, a photo of the traffic of this intersection from the elevated R Walk is a must for everyone, at least once.
From he Ratchaprasong intersection you can follow the traffic past Centralworld and you’ll find the just as busy Pratunam Intersection. The busy streets of Ratchaprasong offer great opportunities for street photographers catching snaps of pedestrians or the commotion caused by vendors and busy bus stops.
What Can Be Found in the Ratchaprasong District?
The Ratchaprasong District features 9 major shopping malls with an astounding 5500 shops, restaurants, and spas. You’ll also find another 9 luxury hotels. Of course, it’s not all commercial, eight famous and popular shrines are also in the Ratchaprasong District.
One of the features of the area makes getting around convenient for everyone. Everywhere is accessible by foot via elevated walkway. The Ratchaprasong Walk, or R Walk for short, connects Chidlom and Siam BTS stations and extends down Ratchadamri Road to Platinum Fashion Mall.
Shopping in Ratchaprasong
Since the area is a center of lifestyle and shopping, we’ll start with the area’s major shopping options.
Centralworld
Centralworld is the largest of the shopping malls in the area and the 11th largest shopping complex in the world. It’s also host to Centralworld Square, the largest outdoor activity square in downtown Bangkok. The area of Centralwaorld Square measures 6000 square meters.
You can come here for generally anything that you might want or need to buy. Electronics, food, clothes, sports gear, and more.
Apple at centralworld
Centralworld is also home to the largest Apple Store in Southeast Asia.
Amarin Plaza
Amarin Plaza is a shopping mall and office complex at the center of the Ratchaprasong District. Here you’ll find shops for fashion, furniture, jewelry, and Thai handicrafts.
It also features a spa and you can find a well known tattoo parlor here too.
Erawan Bangkok
The Erawan Bangkok is a 5 storey shopping mall with direct access to the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok Hotel. It’s a boutique shopping complex offering a selection of luxury lifestyle brands.
On the ground floor you’ll find some eateries offering up tasty dishes. The top floor is dedicated to beauty and wellness with everything from spas and aromatherapy to massage and colonic hydrotherapy.
Gaysorn Village
Formerly Gaysorn Plaza, the Gaysorn Village shopping complex has been expanded to include an office tower block. The complex features the Gaysorn Atrium Gallery, Gaysorn Cocoon, and Gaysorn Walk.
The mall has five levels and provides shopping and dining options totaling 100 shops.
Platinum Fashion Mall
The Platinum Fashion Mall is a maze of fashion. Shops here offer clothing and accessories for retail sale and wholesale purchase.
You won’t find luxury brands here, or likely any brand you’ll recognize. But you will find unique designs from independent labels and designers.
The Platinum Fashion mall is 7 floors broken into Zones 1, 2, and 3. The floors from the basement up are named Ginza, Soho, Oxford, Nathan, Camden, Orchard, and… Food Center.
Seems they couldn’t decide on a globally recognized dining street.
Palladium World Shopping Mall
Palladium World Shopping Mall, like Platinum Fashion Mall, is packed with fashion and accessory products for sale. With a bazaar-like layout of long alleyways with tightly packed shops, you can find bargains on basics such as shoes, shirts, and beachwear.
The Market
The Market is Ratchaprasong District’s newest mall. The goal of the mall is to be able to offer a little bit of anything to everybody.
Like many of the Ratchaprasong malls, it’s ideal for tourists and locals alike. You can buy some streetwear at a shop on the first floor and then have a market shopping experience on a different floor.
The Market offers fashion, food, and wellness.
Big C
You’ll probably see Big C’s all over during your travels in Thailand. The Big C Ratchadamri is massive and offers everything you’d expect in a large supermarket. It’s perfect for tourists needing to stock up on toiletries, buy some extra clothing, or snacks and drinks for the hotel room.
8 Sacred Shrines of Ratchaprasong
The Ratchaprasong District isn’t purely commercial. There are important cultural locations to see here too. Primarily eight shrines, some of which are the most sacred in Thailand.
Erawan Shrine
One of the most popular shrines, if not the most popular in the area; the Erawam Shrine is located at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel. This shrine is one of Thailand’s most sacred and attracts large crowds.
The shrine itself features the 4 facers of Brahma. The front face is Career, the left face is Romance, the Back face Money, and the right face is Health.
The shrine also has a troupe of Thai dancers who will perform as you pray with a donation..
The Erawan Shrine is accessible between the hours of 06:00-11:00.
Indra Shrine
The Indra Shrine honors the God of Thunder, who is the bringer of daylight and champion of the earth, wind, and sea. The Indra Shrine is located adjacent to Amarin Plaza, the shrine is popular for Buddhists praying for health, prosperity, and protection.
This shrine is open for worship 24 hours a day.
Narayana Statue
The Narayans Statue is the image of the God of Protection, and makes its home at the front of the Intercontinental Hotel.
The statue at the Intercontinental Hotel is of Narayana standing on the shoulders of the bird-like Garuda. In addition tot he importance of Vishnu, the Garuda is one of the cultural symbols of Thailand.
The Narayana Statue is also open 24 hours.
Goddess Lakshmi Statue
The statue of the Goddess Lakshmi, goddess of Wealth and Fortune is found at Gaysorn Village. Worshippers at this statue are seeking good luck in wealth and fortune, and success in business negotiations.
Located on the 4th floor rooftop of Gaysorn Village, which is open from 10:00-18:00.
Trimurti Shrine
The Trimurti is the fusion of the God of Creation, God of Protection, and God of Destruction; thus creating the God of Love.
Perhaps needless to say, but the shrine is visited for those looking for love.
Located in front of Centralworld at the end of Centralworld Square, this shrine can be visited 24 hours a day.
Ganesh Shrine
Ganesh is the God of Success and is most easily recognizable by its elephant head on a human body. He is the son of the God of Destruction and Goddess of Compassion and is revered as a Grand Teacher and bestows knowledge on all aspects of life.
The Ganesh Shrine can be found in the Centralworld Plaza and is accessible 24 hours a day. It’s a popular shrine with worshippers seeking success and accomplishment.
Umathevi Shrine
The Umathevi Shrine honoring the Goddess of Compassion can be found in front of Big C Centre. She is revered for seeing past the hermit form of the God of Destruction and standing by him out of love. For that reason she is worshipped for her strong devotion to love of family.
This shrine is also accessible 24 hours a day.
Jatulokbal Shrine
The Jatulokbal Shrine is visited by individuals facing danger or who hold dangerous jobs. Located on the 4th floor of Gaysorn Village, the shrine can be visited between 10:00-18:00.
Try a Khlong Taxi
We’ve looked at the shopping and the shrines. There’s also a unique center of transportation here, accessible from the Pratunam Center Pier.
Are you aware of the canal taxis that ferry passengers throughout Bangkok? That’s right, there’s more than just taxis, motorbikes, and the trains. For a particularly unique experience, catch a Khlong Saen Saeb canal taxi at the Pratunam Pier.
The Khlong Saen Saeb boat service will take you to a canal pier just off the Chao Phraya River to the west; and to the quieter suburbs of eastern Bangkok, which offer their own off the beaten path surprises.
Klook.comRatchaprasong Hotels
So we know where to shop, see some sacred shines, and learned of a canal boat service. But where to stay? There are plenty of accommodations in the area for a variety of budgets. We’ll look at nine of the district’s premier hotels.
Anantara Siam Bangkok
The Anantara Siam Bangkok boasts luxurious rooms with traditional Thai architecture. Stepping into the Grand Lobby will immediately communicate that this is a hotel about Thai elegance.
The Anantara Siam Bangkok is also known for its restaurants, with 5 to choose from you’re guaranteed a great meal.
Centara Grand at Centralworld
A hotel that’s a popular choice for large gatherings and events because of its space for conferences and conventions.
The 55 storey hotel offers stunning city views from not only the restaurants but the guestrooms too. Be sure to visit the rooftop Red Sky Restaurant and Bar or the CRU Champagne Bar.
Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok
The hotel bills itself as a refined retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. And that description isn’t inaccurate.
In addition to luxurious accommodations and a spa, it’s also connected to the Erawan Shopping Mall.
Holiday Inn Bangkok
One of the more wallet friendly accommodations in our list, the Holiday Inn Bangkok. You get all the basics of a swimming pool, business center and lounge, 24 hour fitness center, and restaurant selection as well as Beer Republic; which boasts the largest beer selection in Bangkok.
InterContinental Bangkok
The Intercontinental Bangkok Is a 5 star hotel with direct access to the BTS skytrain at Chidlom Station.
Guests can take advantage of the spa, swimming pool and other facilities. For a bite to eat or a drink, the hotel offers eight different options, including the Humidor Cigar Bar for cigar aficionados.
Novotel Bangkok Platinum Pratunam
The hotel name might be a mouthful, but it is descriptive of its location directly next to Platinum Fashion Mall in Pratunam.
The room designs are modern and the hotel also offers a free tuk-tuk service. There are 2 bars and 2 restaurants in the hotel as well as a business center and kid’s club.
Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong
Another Bangkok 5 star hotel is The Renaissance Bangkok, which has a modern and upscale feel to the common spaces and rooms.
Hotel guests can make use of the fitness center, an indoor pool, or day spa. As should be expected of this class of hotel, multiple restaurants are available as dining options, offering everything from Chinese delicacies to appetizing tapas.
The St. Regis Bangkok
The St. Regis Bangkok is located at the outer edge of the Ratchaprasong District near Ratchadamri BTS station.
The décor is traditional Thai, but with a touch of modern accents. There are 43 floors and it offers everything you can expect in a top tier hotel, including its well known 24 hour butler service.
Waldorf Astoria Bangkok
The name Waldorf Astoria communicates everything about this hotel. Enjoy the luxury spa and outdoor pool with floating cabanas.
Guests can enjoy the service of a personal concierge to assist with special requests and personalized excursions. With 3 restaurants, a champagne bar, The Loft bar, and Peacock Alley for afternoon tea, there isn’t shortage of food and drink options for guests.
Ready For Ratchaprasong?
There you have it, an overview of the shopping, shrines, transport, and hotels of Bangkok’s busy Ratchaprasong District. Will you be staying, shopping, or sightseeing here?
