Watthana District

Watthana covers 12.565 square kilometres and had 84,967 registered residents in 2017. Its three khwaeng occupy the northern side of a long central stretch of Sukhumvit Road, but they do not form one neighbourhood: the experience changes considerably between Asok, Phrom Phong, Thonglor and Ekkamai.

District boundaries and area names

Bangkok residents usually describe this part of the city by BTS station or neighbourhood rather than by district. Sukhumvit Road also acts as a rough administrative divide with Khlong Toei district, while everyday area names cross both sides of the road.

The khwaeng run west to east. Khlong Toei Nuea reaches from the railway boundary to Sukhumvit Soi 31, Khlong Tan Nuea continues to Soi 63, and Phra Khanong Nuea reaches to Soi 81. Each name has a southern counterpart in Khlong Toei district. Phra Khanong Nuea is also separate from Phra Khanong district, and Phra Khanong BTS sits here in Watthana.

Use the narrower guides when choosing a hotel or home:

• Asok for the BTS-MRT interchange, offices, and short-stay convenience
• Phrom Phong for malls, Benchasiri Park, and a polished residential base
• Thonglor for destination dining, bars, and long side streets
• Ekkamai for the Eastern Bus Terminal and a more mixed local-residential rhythm
• Nana for hotels, nightlife context, and lower-Sukhumvit access near the western edge

The district page is useful for the wider administrative picture. The area pages are better for street-level decisions.

Getting around Watthana

The BTS Sukhumvit Line is the district’s main east-west route. Asok, Phrom Phong, Thong Lo, and Ekkamai stations place the central corridor within easy reach of Siam and the eastern Sukhumvit neighbourhoods.

At Asok BTS and Sukhumvit MRT, travellers can change between the BTS and MRT Blue Line. That makes western Watthana especially useful when an itinerary includes both Sukhumvit and places such as Silom, Chinatown, or Chatuchak.

Rail access becomes less convenient farther inside the north-south sois. Before booking, check the real walking route to the station rather than accepting a neighbourhood label. Some addresses marketed as Thonglor or Ekkamai require a motorcycle taxi, local shuttle, or slow road journey.

Shopping, dining, and evenings

Watthana’s shopping anchors include Terminal 21 at Asok, EmQuartier and Emsphere around Phrom Phong, and Gateway Ekkamai. These are practical reference points as well as shopping destinations.

Dining ranges from street-level noodle shops and Japanese businesses to tasting menus and hotel restaurants. Thonglor and Ekkamai support later evenings, while Phrom Phong is strongest for mall-linked dining and Asok for convenience. Venue turnover is high, so choose the area first and verify individual businesses before travelling.

Staying or living in Watthana

Watthana suits visitors who want central rail access, broad food choices, and an easy base for evenings. It also suits residents who value international services and do not mind paying a premium for a shorter commute.

The main tradeoffs are traffic, construction, noise, uneven pavements, and the distance from some sois to rail. Compare the weekday commute, supermarket access, flood-prone walking points, and late-night route before choosing a long-term home. For a quieter or better-value base farther east, compare On Nut and Phra Khanong.