Sightseeing in Bangkok > Chinatown > Grand Palace & Wat Pho > Khao San Road > Museums & Historic Buildings > Bangkok's Red Light Districts

Whether you like it or not, millions of tourist come to Bangkok to indulge in the sex industry. It plays a large part in tourism and ultimately the economy. Because anyone visiting the red light districts needs a place to stay, eat and play.

There are 3 red light districts located in central Bangkok:

1. Patpong
2. Nana
3. Soi Cowboy

But many tourists without the intention of paying for sex with a prostitute still walk through the lanes of Bangkok's red light districts, just to see what it's like. So you will often find couples, older couples and even groups of foreign ladies giggling at older lecherous foreign men with a bar girl on their laps.

As seedy as a red light district may sound, in Bangkok they are relatively safe. A police presence is always close by. Just watch your wallets and purses though. All of the nefarious acts of flesh peddling mostly takes place inside go go bar establishments. And contrary to popular beliefs, ladies working in the sex industry within all 3 red light districts are not sex slaves or underage.

Patpong is located in the district of Silom which doubles as the commercial business district by day. It is a very popular area with many businesses and restaurants catering to foreign visitors, especially Japanese nationals working in Thailand. Take a look at Soi Thaniya and you'll find many hostess and karaoke clubs and their Japanese clients. You'll feel like you're in Tokyo.

Most of Patpong's sex business takes place on two lanes that run between Silom road and Surawongse road called Patpong Soi 1 and Patpong Soi 2. You'll find the ever popular night market (6pm to 1am) on Patpong Soi 1 with many stalls selling overpriced souvenirs and all kinds of fake and pirated merchandise.

For female travelers you won't get the feeling that Patpong is a "Mens Only" atmosphere. Patpong has been totally commercialized so you'll find both men and women wandering around. Matter of fact just back in 2004 the Thai government has deemed Patpong as an "Official Entertainment Zone".

Most consider Patpong has a tourist trap as supposed to a seedy red light district. In a way it's true. The sex shows that take place along Patpong Soi 1 has a reputation for inflating drink bills. Yet it is still popular with tourist, both men and women.

How to get to there: Take the BTS Sky Train to Sala Daeng station or the MRT train to Silom station. By taxi just say "Patpong" and  the driver will understand you.

Hotels near Patpong/Silom
Here's a list of hotels in the Silom district and within walking distance to Patpong red light district. This is a very conveninet location because it's near two trains stations, MRT and BTS. There are many restaurants here and shopping centers to keep busy in the area. Plus Lumphini Night Bazaar and Lumphini Park is not far away.

Right in the heart of central Bangkok, in the Sukhumvit district lies two more red light districts called Nana and Soi Cowboy. Both are connected by Sukhumvit road and are about a 15 minute walk from each other.

The Sukhumvit district is a commercial zone where many expats live. As a result there are many restaurants, stores and shops catering to and operated by foreigners. There are many popular upscale bars and disco clubs in the area as well, especially along Sukhumvit Soi 11.

You will also find many hotels priced from moderate budget to many 4 to 5 star business hotels.

Nana Entertainment Plaza
The epicenter of Nana's red light district is a small 3 story building lit up in a burst of neon lights. And it's named Nana Entertainment Plaza (NEP) Each floor is packed with go go bars, ladies and touts dragging and tugging visitors each and every way. The building has an open courtyard in the middle lined with beer bars and a few places for shooting pool.

Unlike Patpong, the business of prostitution is even more apparent in the Nana red light district. Thai prostitutes openly ply their trade between NEP and Soi Cowboy along Sukhumvit road. And many hotels along the area have a policy of allowing guests to bring prostitutes back to their hotel rooms.

How to get there: BTS Sky Train Nana station. Most taxi drivers will know where you want to go if you say "Nana Soi 4". If you want to play it safe have someone from your hotel write it down in Thai.

Soi Cowboy
Soi Cowboy is the smallest red light district, matter of fact it's actually just a red light strip. Soi Cowboy is only one lane long and you can walk the length of it in less than 10 minutes. Even though it is the smallest it has the most popular line up of go go bars with an even longer established history. Which makes it the favorites of expats living in Bangkok.

How to get there: BTS Sky Train Asok station. Alternatively you can use the MRT and get off at Sukhumvit station, be sure to use exit #2, it's much closer to Soi Cowboy. Soi Cowboy is a famous address so any taxi driver will know where it is.

Hotels in Nana and Soi Cowboy/Sukhumvit District
Sukhumvit is an area where you can find the best international and local restaurants as well as places for shopping and adult nightlife/entertainment. And since the Sky Train runs above Sukhumvit road you'll have good access to most commercial and shopping destinations in the city. Sukhumvit is definitely one of the most popular areas to stay in for tourist of all budgets.