In the heart of the city center, bordering with Ratchathewi, you will find the Pathum Wan district. This neighborhood covers the entire area that goes from the BTS stop called National Stadium, up until Ploen Chit, going down south to also include Si Lom and the metro stations from Lumphini as far as Hua Lamphong. Pathum Wan is considered the actual center of the city. Here’s where you’ll find the biggest and must luxurious shopping malls in the country; as well as the most famous and fanciest hotels. This city center offers a multitude of stores selling upscale fashion, gadgets, and furniture. Cutting-edge performances and exhibits draw sophisticated crowds to Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre, and in stark contrast, Lumpini Park has a running track, playgrounds, and a lake.
The neighborhood has in fact a smaller population than Ratchathewi. There are no more than 50 thousand inhabitants, spread across a total of a little more than 8 square kilometers.
Pathum Wan is connected to almost every zone of the city. If you land at Suvarnabhumi Airport just take the BTS that connects the airport to the Ratchathewi district, and get off at the last stop (Phaya Thai) and then take the connection going to Siam or Ratchaprarop and walk for 15 minutes to arrive in front of Central World. Another interesting zone to stay in is the area covering the SkyTrain stations of Siam and Chidlom, in the northern part of Pathum Wan to the metro station of Sam Yan in the south.
Apart for shopping and feasting, Pathum Wan offers some of the most luxurious apartments that Bangkok has to offer, Lang Suan offers a quiet upscale neighborhood and Pathum Wan neighborhood is populated by lots of students, so in the recent years, various low-cost restaurants have sprung up.
When it comes to daily activities or choice of food, Pathum Wan neighborhood you’ll truly have no shortage of options. Lumphini is a park beloved by the local population as well as tourists from all over the world. Considered the green lungs of the city, the park, which spreads across 58 hectares, offers nearly 3 kilometers of trails, two artificial lakes, a forest, and two gardens (one of palms and one of bamboo). During the months of December and January, every Sunday there are free open-air concerts.
As you’ve no doubt noticed, rent prices vary depending on the area and proximity to the SkyTrain. The area that includes Pathumwan and Lumphini Park is definitely the most expensive.