Saphan Khwai BTS Station

This is a commuter station, not a destination, and that's exactly why I like it. Saphan Khwai sits on the BTS Sukhumvit Line in the Phaya Thai area of northern Bangkok, well above the stretch of the city most visitors ever see. If your hotel or apartment is up here, it's your lifeline. If it isn't, you'll probably only ever pass through it on the way somewhere else.

From the platform you're a straight run down to Siam, Asok and On Nut, with the Silom Line available once you change. Street level is ordinary Bangkok in the good sense, with local markets, food vendors, the everyday shops that keep a neighborhood running rather than anything staged for tourists. Worth a wander if you've got an hour and want to see how the city works away from the malls.