travel map bangkok

2024 BANGKOK TRAVEL GUIDE with Sample Itinerary & Budget

If backpacking were a college degree, Bangkok would have to be the 101 course.

Not only is Bangkok the the most visited city in the world, it also considered the global epicenter of backpacking culture. The famed Banana Pancake Trail, perhaps Asia’s most used travel route, often starts and ends in the Thai capital. No shock there, given that it sits at the heart of mainland Southeast Asia, boasts affordable prices, serves delicious local cuisine, and is home to some of the most hospitable people you’ll ever meet. Best of all, even during the pandemic, it remains tourist-friendly.

We have just arrived from our ninth — yes, 9th — Bangkok visit, and in this article, we’ll share with you all the tips and latest updates we’ve collected.

ESSENTIAL BANGKOK LINKS

Before we dive into the details, here’s a list of links to some of our recommended hotels, tours, attractions, and other must-haves, for easy reference in the future.

Top Bangkok Hotels Find Deals on Agoda! Top Day Tours on Klook Ayutthaya Day Tour Floating Market & Railway Market Tour Pattaya Day Tour Transportation Passes BTS Rabbit Card BTS One-Day Pass Internet Connection Data SIM Card Pocket Wifi

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?

UNDERSTANDING BANGKOK

Bangkok is the capital and the commercial, economic, and political center of Thailand. The name Bangkok is an exonym, something that foreigners use. Thais call it Krung Thep (meaning City of Angels), short for its official name Krung Thep Maha Nakhon , which is also a shortened version of its full, ceremonial name: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.

At first glance, Bangkok appears as your typical highly-urbanized metropolis, but a closer look reveals it remains very much in touch with its past. The city’s roots as the capital can be traced back to 1782, when King Rama I, after the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, ordered the people to move south and establish a new center at a more militarily strategic location along the Chao Phraya River. Many of Bangkok’s most visited attractions today were built under King Rama I, including the Grand Palace complex and the other temples that will be discussed in the guide.

Here are a few more facts you need to know:

• Language : Thai. For newly exposed non-native speakers, it can be quite intimidating, especially its lengthy words. It’s also a tonal language, i.e. the meaning changes with the tone. But many road and establishment signs are also written in Latin alphabet. English isn’t normally spoken. You’ll encounter taxi drivers and vendors who cannot speak English. But most younger locals can. And what the Thais lack in English fluency, they make up for with their friendly attitude toward tourists.
• Timezone: UTC+07:00 (ICT – Indochina Time), year round. No daylight saving time observed. Same time zone as Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Thailand, in general, is one hour behind the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia.
• Currency : Thai Baht (THB, ฿). TTHB100 is roughly USD 2.89, EUR 2.72, SGD 3.9, PHP 161 (as of December 2022).
• Modes of payment : Cash. Although some restaurants and hotels accept credit cards, smaller establishments prefer cash.
• Religion: Buddhism is the predominant religion, practiced by almost 93% of the population. Most others identify with Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Confucianism.

WHERE TO STAY IN BANGKOK

Best area to stay.

Bangkok is a vast city, and many of the key attractions are spread apart. Thankfully, there are also plenty of neighborhoods that are ideal places to stay. What’s best depends on why you’re in Bangkok in the first place.

• If you’re on a budget , SIAM and SILOM have a good selection of hostels and budget hotels, especially the areas around BTS National Stadium Station or MRT Ratchathewi in Siam and BTS Sala Daeng and MRT Si Lom in Silom. From any of these, most of the attractions easily accessible, ensuring savings on transportation. Cheap food spots are also scattered around these districts.
• If you’re backpacking or after Bangkok’s wild nightlife, the KHAO SAN area should be your top choice. Khao San Road is loud, but it is where backpackers from around the world congregate. The area also harbors countless hostels and other lodging options for budget travelers. It’s also easily accessible from the Grand Palace and the city’s popular temples.
• If you’re here to shop ’til you drop , the PRATUNAM and SIAM areas are ideal because of the many bargain centers and shopping malls around.
• If you wish to experience modern Bangkok, the SUKHUMVIT area has a lot of dining, shopping, and clubbing options, including many of its famed rooftop bars. It’s also where most expats are based, creating a more cosmopolitan vibe.
• If you’re a foodie , SILOM and CHINATOWN are home to some of the best but affordable food spots in the city. Silom is the business district with the Lumphini Park, Bangkok’s largest green space, at its center, ensuring a balance between quiet and chaos. The BANGLAMPHU area (near the Democracy Monument and Khao San Road) also has a great selection of Michelin-listed pocket-friendly restaurants.

All these areas are conveniently located because there are BTS/MRT stations nearby. Well, almost. The only exception is KHAO SAN / BANGLAMPHU, which is a 30-minute walk away from the nearest BTS Station (Sam Yot) . But Khao San is close to a pier, where you can board a boat to get to key attractions along Chao Phraya River. Other than that, tuktuk and taxi are the main transportation options to and from Khao San. That said, I can still recommend staying there, especially if you wish to have a taste of Bangkok’s backpacking culture.

If you prefer to stay somewhere easily accessible, the SILOM and SIAM areas are my top recommendations. Both have a number of BTS/MRT stations and offer a little bit of every thing that the other districts have to offer — good food, shopping, and nightlife.

Top Budget Hotels & Hostels in Bangkok

Here are some of the top-reviewed hostels and budget hotels on Agoda that won’t break the bank:

• Tamni , near Hua Lamphong Station & Chinatown. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Daraya Hostel , Siam. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Siam Eco Hostel , Siam. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Kinnon Deluxe Hostel , Silom. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• HOSTEL URBY , Chinatown. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Baan Kun Mhor Hostel , Chatuchak. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• LOBSUEK Hostel หลบศึก โฮสเทล, Khao San Area. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• VIX Bangkok @ Victory Monument. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Lub d Bangkok Siam Hostel , Siam. Check Rates & Availability! ✅

Top Mid-Range/Upscale Hotels in Bangkok

If you have a bigger budget, here are the top properties on Agoda:

• Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, Siam/Silom. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Carlton Hotel Bangkok , Sukhumvit. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Bangkok , Sukhumvit. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Old Capital Bike Inn , Khao San area. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• ASAI Bangkok Chinatown . Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Ago Hotel Chinatown. Check Rates & Availability! ✅

Search for more Bangkok Hotels

How to get to bangkok.

Bangkok is one of the busiest and most connected cities in the world. If you’re living in a major city, chances are, there’s a direct flight from where you are to Bangkok.

The city is served by two airports:

• Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) , the newer and bigger airport, serving most airlines, except a few low-cost carriers. It’s situated east of the city proper, roughly 1 hour away.
• Don Mueang Airport (DMK) , serving mostly AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air, and TigerAir Taiwan. It lies north of the city center, 45 minutes to 1 hour away, depending on traffic conditions.

Manila to Bangkok

If you’re flying from Manila, it’s easy to find direct, non-stop flights to Bangkok as multiple airlines operate this route. As of this writing, here are your options:

TO SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT (BKK)

• Philippine Airlines
• Cebu Pacific Air
• Thai Airways

TO DON MUEANG AIRPORT (DMK)

• Philippines AirAsia

Travel time: 3.5 to 4 hours.

For our most recent visit, we flew with Philippine Airlines for many reasons:

• 30 kg check-in baggage allowance. Most other airlines only provide 20kg. Although we had been to Bangkok many times before, this would be the first time we intended to go shopping here. Bangkok is a retail paradise, so bargain hunters can easily have a field day at any of their shopping centers. It turned out to be a great decision because we really did use almost the entire 30 kg.
• FREE rebooking. There were a lot of uncertainties about this recent trip. When we booked our tickets, we still weren’t decided yet on how long we wanted to stay in Thailand. It was a multi-city trip and we weren’t sure if we also wanted to visit Chiang Mai and Koh Samui. We wanted more flexibility, just in case. As of this writing, PAL doesn’t charge additional rebooking fees if the new flight is within 60 days after the original flight. (But double check first because airline policies change often these days.) Fare difference still needs to be settled, though.

HOW TO GET TO DOWNTOWN BANGKOK

Just in case you missed it, Bangkok has two airports: Don Mueang Airport (DMK) , located 25 km north of the city center, and the new Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) , 30 km west of the city center.

We’ll be creating a more detailed guide about this. But here’s a condensed rundown of the ways to get to downtown Bangkok from either airport.

Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok City Center

The AIRPORT RAIL LINK is the fastest way to get to the city proper because you’ll be dodging Bangkok’s infamous traffic jams. You can find the station at the basement of the airport’s passenger terminal. There’s a train every 15 minutes from 6am to 12 midnight (every 10 minutes within the peak hours).

It’s connected to the city’s BTS Skytrain at two stations: Makkasan (฿35) and Phayathai (฿45), the last station. Travel time: around 25 minutes.

Depending on where your hotel is located, you can switch lines.

• To SUKHUMVIT or SILOM Area: You can connect at either Makkasan or Phayathai Station. Find out the station closest to your hotel and transfer to either the MRT Blue Line at Makkasan Station (then to Petchaburi Station) or to BTS Sukhumvit Line (Light Green Line) at Phayatai Station.
• To SIAM Area: Alight at Phayathai Station and transfer to BTS Sukhumvit Line (Light Green Line). Catch a train bound for Kheha. Get off at Siam Station (or whatever station is closest to your final destination).
• To VICTORY MONUMENT Area: Connect at Phayathai Station and transfer to BTS Sukhumvit Line (Light Green Line). Catch a train bound for Kho Khot. Alight at Victory Monument Station.
• To KHAO SAN Area: Alight at Makkasan Station, transfer to MRT Blue Line at Petchaburi Station, and get off at Sam Yot Station. From here, take a cab, tuktuk or Grab to Khao San.

By Taxi or Grab

If you’re a group or if you have heavy luggage in tow, consider taking a cab or book a Grab car straight from the airport (especially if you’ll be staying Khao San area). If you opt for a taxi, always insist on using the meter.

Travel time: 45 minutes to 1 hour

TAXI RATES: Fare: around ฿400 Airport surcharge: ฿50 Highway toll fees: ฿75

GRAB RATES: ฿530 and ฿600, inclusive of toll fee or highway fee. This is based on the experience of our team.

Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok City Center

According to reports, the Don Mueang Airport was finally connected to Bangkok’s train network in August 2022. I say “according to reports” because we haven’t tried this ourselves yet.

From the airport, you can walk to the Don Mueang Station, along the SRT Dark Red Line . Board the train bound for Bang Sue and alight there, at the last stop. Transfer to the MRT Blue Line.

• To SILOM Area: Most stations in Silom are along the Blue Line, so just get off at the station closest to your hotel.
• To SIAM Area: Alight at Chatuchak Park Station and transfer to BTS Sukhumvit Line (Light Green Line) at Mochit Station. Catch a train bound for Kheha. Get off at Siam Station (or whatever station is closest to your final destination).
• To VICTORY MONUMENT Area: Connect at Phayathai Station and transfer to BTS Sukhumvit Line (Light Green Line). Catch a train bound for Kheha. Alight at Victory Monument Station.
• To SUKHUMVIT Area: The Sukhumvit area has a lot of stations that are either along the MRT Blue Line or the BTS Sukhumvit Line (Light Green Line). If the closest station to your hotel is along the Blue Line, it’s going to be easy because you’re already on the same line. If your hotel is closer to a Light Green line, alight at Chatuchak Park and transfer at Mochit Station. Then, board a train bound for Kheha.
• To KHAO SAN Area: Alight at Sam Yot Station (along the same Blue Line) and take a cab, tuktuk or Grab to Khao San.

If, for whatever reason, you do not like taking the train straight from Don Mueang Airport, you can also take the bus and the switch to BTS/MRT. And follow the steps above.

There are direct buses from Don Mueang Airport to select destinations around Bangkok.

• To MOCHIT BUS TERMINAL: Bus A1
• To BTS MO CHIT STATION: Bus A1
• To VICTORY MONUMENT: Bus A2
• To BTS RATCHADAMRI STATION: Bus A3
• To LUMPHINI PARK: Bus A3
• To KHAO SAN ROAD: Bus A4

Fare: ฿30-50 , depending on route

To see the complete list of stops, visit this page .

If you want a more straightforward journey, consider taking a cab or book a Grab car straight from the airport (especially if you’ll be staying Khao San area).

Travel time: 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic Fare: around ฿540 (including ฿50 airport surcharge)

If you opt for a taxi, always insist on using the meter.

POCKET WIFI AND DATA SIM CARD IN BANGKOK

Data Sim Card

This is the cheapest and most convenient option. Klook has two main options: TrueMove and dTac. Both offer:

• 15GB data for up to 16 days
• Internet connection anywhere in Thailand
• Inclusive of FREE call credits
• Pickup at Suvarnabhumi Airport or Don Muang Airport

✅ RESERVE TRUEMOVE DATA SIM HERE!

✅ RESERVE DTAC DATA SIM HERE!

Pocket Wifi

If your phone is locked to your home network or you have more devices to connect, you can rent a pocket wifi. You’ll find many wifi rental booths around Bangkok, but if you want to stay connected from the get-go, you can reserve one in advance via Klook and just pick it up at the airport, either at Don Muang Airport or Suvarnabhumi Airport.

If you’re coming from Manila, you can also get one at NAIA Terminal 3. Either way, they can accommodate up to five devices at one.

✅ RESERVE POCKET WIFI – BANGKOK PICKUP!

✅ RESERVE POCKET WIFI – NAIA PICKUP!

HOW TO GET AROUND BANGKOK

The Thais have their own address system and first timers in Bangkok can be easily disoriented. Wikitravel explains it really well: “Large roads such as Silom or Sukhumvit are thanon while the side streets branching off from them are called soi. Sois are numbered, with even numbers on one side and odd numbers on the other side. Thus, an address like 25 Sukhumvit Soi 3 means house number 25 on the 3rd soi of Sukhumvit Road.”

Although it is not as sweat-free as in Hong Kong or Singapore, commuting in Bangkok is quite easy. Vehicular traffic can get crazy during rush hour though. But if you’re used to the giant parking lot that runs across Manila called EDSA, you’ll be fine in Bangkok (or any other Southeast Asian city for that matter).

Getting around via public transportation means using one or more of these four modes:

• Train (BTS Skytrain/MRT) . Bangkok’s train system is fast and reliable, and will take you to many attractions throughout the city. I always find myself taking the train most of the time because many attractions are located close to a station. Also, it allows me to bypass traffic jams especially during rush hours. Although connected at a few stations, the BTS and the MRT are completely separate systems, run by different managements and use different tickets. The fares for both are similar, ranging from 16 to 52 baht. Most stations have a counter than can break your large bills and a ticket machine that accepts bills. For a more convenient journey on BTS, use a Rabbit Card (stored-value ticket) or a One-Day Pass (unlimited rides for 1 day).
• Boat . The two boat services operating in Bangkok are the Chao Phraya Express Boat, which plies up and down the Chao Phraya River and is popular among tourists for it stops at many of the city’s most popular landmarks; and the Saen Saep Express Boat, used mostly by locals who commute to work. The Chao Phraya boat is the best option for you if you intend to visit the Grand Palace complex (at Tha Chang) and Wat Pho (at Tha Tien), and Khao San Road (at Phra Athit) within one day! Both the Chao Phraya TOURIST BOAT and the cheaper ORANGE-FLAG BOAT will make a stop at these key tourist attractions. Fare: tourist boat, ฿50 single ride or ฿180 for day pass; orange-flag boat, ฿15 flat rate.
• Taxi/Grab . If my destination is too far from a train or boat station, I would just hail a cab. A ride costs more than in Manila but nowhere near the rates in Hong Kong or Singapore. The flagdown is 35 baht and the average ride within the city is probably around 100. You might encounter cab drivers who take advantage of tourists by not using the meter and then overcharging. If the driver refuses to use the meter, just get off the vehicle. Know that all cabs in Bangkok must use the meter. Many of these drivers wait for tourist passengers at the popular attractions like temples and Khao San Road.
• Tuktuk. I didn’t even bother. They are very expensive, even more expensive than cabs, and many (not all, but it’s hard to know) are involved in scams. If you really want to try for the heck of it, just agree on the price first.

THINGS TO DO IN & AROUND BANGKOK

Before we enumerate the many attractions waiting for you in Bangkok, allow us to introduce KLOOK PASS BANGKOK & PATTAYA . This ticket will give you up to 45% discount. The pass is valid for 30 days upon confirmation.

How it works is simple. With this pass, you’ll have access to a number of attractions. You get to choose how many and what these attractions will be. The first step is to choose how many attractions you want your pass to cover and purchase the pass. Once paid, you can go to the BOOKING section or your app or account, and redeem it. Say, if you purchase a 3-attraction pass, you can book up to 3 attractions from the list. Some attractions might also require you to reserve afterwards.

Here are the attractions in Bangkok and Phuket that you may choose from:

Mahanakhon Skywalk

Siam amazing park.

• Safari World
• SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World
• Madame Tussauds Bangkok
• Pororo Aquapark
• Sanctuary of Truth
• Dream World
• Frost Magical Ice of Siam
• Underwater World
• Ancient City Museum
• Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
• Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha
• Wat Pho & Wat Arun Walking Tour
• One More Thai Massage
• Chao Phara Princess Dinner Cruise
• Alcazar Cabaret Show
• Tiffany’s Show
• Bangkok Hop on Hop Off Bus

✅ CHECK RATES & GET PASS HERE!

How much you save depends on what you book. Regardless of the attractions you use it on, the price of the pass remains the same. So what we recommend is to use this pass on pricey attractions.

Here are examples on how you could save using this pass:

Grand Palace and Temples Tour

If you’re fit and you enjoy walking, you’ll be glad to know that many of the city’s key attractions are located within walking distance of each other. For example, Bangkok’s most popular temples and shrines, Chinatown, and even Siriraj Forensic Museum are easily accessible from the Chao Phraya River and can be easily visited in one day.

How to get there : If you’re from Silom, Siam or Sukhumvit areas, take the train to Saphan Taksin Station. Take Exit 2, and walk to the boat terminal. Buy a ticket and board a boat to either Tha Thien or Tha Chang. Boat fare is ฿50 if you board the tourist boat or ฿15 if orange-flag boat.

Here are the usual stops:

• Grand Palace. A complex of structures, pavilions, and courtyards including the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The entrance fee also includes admission to “Khon: Thai Classical Masked Dance”. Boat stop: Tha Chang Pier (No. 9). Opening hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (Ticket counters close at 3:30 PM). Entrance fee: ฿500.
• Wat Arun. Probably the most recognizable landmark in Bangkok with a 70m tall spire (called prang). Boat stop: Tha Thien pier (N8) and then cross the river on a smaller boat. Opening hours: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM Entrance fee: ฿100, inclusive of bottled water.
• Wat Pho. Famed for the enormous reclining Buddha that it houses. Boat stop: Tha Thien pier (N8) and then walk up the perpendicular road to Wat Pho. Opening hours: 8:00 AM-6:30 PM Entrance fee: ฿200, inclusive of bottled water.

Dress Code : The rule is to have your shoulders, knees, and heels covered. The following are not allowed:

• Shorts, short skirts, mini-skirts, tight fitting trousers
• Torn trousers/pants
• Sando, vests, sleeveless shirts
• See-through shirts

The management used to rent out pants to inadequately dressed tourists, but perhaps because of the pandemic, they only sell those now for ฿200 apiece.

Although it’s completely possible to pull this off DIY-style, it’s still much more recommended to join a guided tour so you have better appreciation of each site. These are historic and cultural landmarks that hold so much significance for the Thai people. You can book a guided tour on Klook, which includes all entrance fees, boat transfer fee, insurance, and the service of an English-speaking guide.

✅ CHECK ITINERARY & BOOK HERE!

Floating Markets & Railway Market

Aside from its ornate spires and temples, Bangkok is also best known for its floating markets. But the truth is, these boat-navigated markets are actually located outside the capital. Two of the most accessible are:

• Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Ratchaburi Province
• Amphawa Floating Market in Samut Songkhram

A visit entails boarding a small boat as you negotiate the market canals. Plenty of souvenir and food options around!

Another market that has been attracting throngs of tourists is the Marklong Railway Market. Yes, railway, because it’s set up along the train tracks. And when a train chugs along, watch and be amazed by how the vendors make way for it. You can also spend an hour chilling at a railway cafe.

Klook has tours that combine Maeklong Railway Market with either Damnoen or Amphawa Market — your choice. There are several departure times available so choose the most convenient for you.

✅ CHECK RATES & OPTIONS HERE!

At 314 meters tall, King Power Mahanakhon is one of Thailand’s tallest buildings, housing a hotel, residential units and tourist attractions. From the outside, it looks like a pixelated skyscraper, a design that easily captivates. Inside, a multimedia elevator will take you to the highest outdoor observation deck in the country, allowing a magnificent view of Bangkok and surrounding areas.

But most visitors are here for the Skywalk. Atop the building is an area with a glass floor that you may walk on, creating a nerve-wracking but pretty mind-blowing experience.

You need to wear the shoe covers provided onsite before you’re allowed to step on it. And mobile phones (and other loose items) are NOT allowed within the glass tray area. This means that you won’t be able to take a selfie while on the glass. If you’re after photos, best to visit with someone else. Or if you’re traveling alone, make friends with other solo visitors and just take photos of each other.

Location: 114 1 Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Road, Bang Rak, Bangkok Nearest Station: Chong Nonsi BTS Station Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Mahanakhon SkyWalk); Entrance Fee: Mahanakhon SkyWalk (Indoor & Rooftop) – Adult, ฿836; Child (3-15 y/o), ฿250; Senior (Above 60 y/o), ฿250.

Only a limited number of tickets are sold per day, so it’s best to book in advance. You can reserve online via Klook! You can also check out other Mahanakhon experience package options and choose the one that suits your preference.

✅ RESERVE A TICKET HERE!

Bangkok Nightlife

No Bangkok trip is complete without getting a taste of its (in)famous nightlife. We already mentioned Khao San Road , the backpacker mecca. It is crowded, loud, and wild. Thunderous music from nightclubs and the delicious smell of street food fill the air, while tourists fill every vacant seat, table and corner.

Aside from Khao San, Bangkok has several other nightlife districts! Most clubs and bars are safe, but as in any other major city, not all. Scams targeting tourists do exist at some establishments. You’ve probably heard about tourists entering a bar and then not being allowed to leave without paying a hefty price for a ridiculously overpriced drink.

If you want to try Bangkok nightlife and make sure you’re in good hands, you may join a guided tour. Klook has two main options: a bar hopping tour , more like a pub crawl, and a Hangover tour , where you get to visit the bars featured in The Hangover 2 movie (including a ping pong show)!

✅ JOIN HANGOVER TOUR HERE!

✅ BOOK BAR HOPPING TOUR HERE!

Dream World Bangkok

Bangkok has its fair share of theme parks, too! And on top of that list is Dream World , a 25-hectare adventure park featuring over 40 rides, shows, and other attractions, spread around four key zones!

Some of the most popular rides are the cable car, Sky Coaster (rollercoaster), Tornado, Vikings (pendulum ride), and Grand Canyon (water rapids)!

ENTRANCE FEE

• Dream World Visa (26 rides with unlimited time per ride EXCEPT Alien, Bump Car, and Haunted House, which can be enjoyed once only): ฿600
• Dream World Super Visa (includes all the rides for unlimited time): ฿1,000
• Children below 90cm : FREE

Opening Hours: Monday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday – Sunday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. The schedule might change, so it’s best to check updated opening hours before going. Location: 62 Moo 1, Rangsit-Ongkharak Road (Km.7), Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani How to Get to Dream World: From Victory Monument BTS Station, take Bus No. 523 or 538 to Dream World.

Dream World is very popular even among locals, so you might want to book your ticket in advance to skip the line. You may also add transfers.

✅ GET SKIP-THE-LINE TICKETS HERE!

The Siam Amazing Park is the largest theme park in Thailand and is home to the largest wave pool in the world (according to the Guinness World Records). You can also enjoy exhilarating rides including Southeast Asia’s first suspended looping coaster with five inversions and the 7-story water slides.

Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. The schedule might change, so it’s best to check updated opening hours before going. Entrance Fee: Adult, ฿1000; Child, ฿850; Children below 101cm, FREE. Location: 203 Suan Sayam Road, Khan Na Yao, Bangkok How to Get There: From Victory Monument BTS Station, head towards Ko Din Daeng Bus Stop via the circular skywalk, then take Bus No. 168 or 36ก to Siam Amazing Park.

Visitors must purchase their tickets at least one day in advance. You can book online via Klook! You can also choose the package — combine your ticket with an international lunch buffet or combine it with both lunch and shared transfer.

✅ GET DISCOUNTED TICKET HERE!

Ayutthaya Day Tour

Founded in the 1350s, Ayutthaya was Siam’s old capital before it was destroyed by the Burmese. Today, however, parts of its glorious past still shine through, especially at the Ayutthaya Historical Park, where four major temples stand up to this day: Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Ram, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, and Wat Ratchaburana – the Royal Palace and Wiharn Phra Mongkol Bophit. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

Lying about 80 km from Bangkok, it is easily accessible and can be visited on a day trip. You can do this independently by taking public transportation and then hiring a tuktuk to tour you around. (We’ll write a separate post about it.) But if you need a guide and you want someone else to take care of everything for you, you can book with Klook.

✅ SEE OPTIONS & RESERVE HERE!

Pattaya Day Tour

Pattaya is another popular day trip destination from Bangkok, thanks mainly to its proximity, just around 150 km and roughly 2.5 hours away. The closest major beach destination to the capital, it is best known for water sports, island tours, and beach activities. But it also harbors some cultural structures like Wat Phra Yai Temple and the Sanctuary of Truth.

Jump-Off Point: Bangkok Eastern Bus Terminal/Ekkamai Bus Terminal or Mo Chit Bus Terminal (Bus); Hua Lamphong Railway Station (Train) How to Get to Pattaya: By bus, go to Bangkok Eastern Bus Terminal, then take the bus bound for Pattaya. The travel time is about two and a half hours. The one-way fare is ฿130-200 per person. By train, go to Hua Lamphong Station and get on a train to Pattaya. The travel time is 2-3 hours, depending on the type of train. The fare is ฿30-฿300, depending on the ticket class. The train for Pattaya normally leaves early in the morning — around 6:00 AM.

If you want a convenient roundtrip transfer between Bangkok and Pattaya, you can just join a guided tour. Klook offers Pattaya Beach and Koh Larn Coral Island Full Day Tour from Bangkok. This covers roundtrip transfers, an English-speaking guide, a Sanctuary of Truth ticket, insurance, and bottled water.

✅ CHECK RATES OR RESERVE HERE!

Muay Thai Match

If you’ve ever wanted to witness a live muay thai match, there’s no better place to make that happen than Bangkok! The two common venues are:

• Lumpinee Boxing Stadium 6 Ramintra Road, Anusawaree, Bangkok
• Rajadamnern Thai Boxing Stadium 1 Ratcha Damnoen Nok Road, Bangkok

You can secure your slot in advance and get discounted ticket by booking online through Klook!

✅ GET LUMPINI STADIUM MATCH TICKET HERE!

✅ GET RAJADAMNERN STADIUM MATCH TICKET HERE!

Other Attractions:

• Siriraj Medical Museum . Not for the faint of heart! Also known as the Museum of Death, it houses a huge collection of artifacts gathered in the 120 years of the Siriraj Hospital’s service as a pioneer in the medical field in the country. These pieces are divided into seven smaller museums dedicated to parasitology, anatomy, and forensic science among others. It’s a must-visit for dark tourism enthusiasts and those who simply wish to learn more about these fields. How to get there : Board the SkyTrain to S6 Saphan Taksin Station, take Exit 2, and hop onto a Chao Phraya Express Boat to Siriraj Pier N10 or Tha Rot Fai Pier, both on the west side of the river. Walk a couple of blocks into the hospital complex. Follow the signs to Adulyadej Vikrom Building. The museum is on the second floor. More info : Siriraj Museum
• iconSIAM . Opened in 2018, this massive shopping mall is one of the largest in Asia. It is bursting with retail shops including luxury labels and budget-friendlier options, and the first Takashiyama Department Store in the country. But it’s best known for its indoor floating market, mimicking those in nearby provinces and showcasing local products and cuisine. Nearest Station: Charoennakorn Station (Sky Train Gold Line via Krung Thon Buri BTS Station) or Saphan Taksin BTS Station (then ferry from Sathorn Pier to IconSIAM) Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM.
• Bangkok Chinatown . Popular for its shops, especially near Charoenkrung Road. But there are also temples around the district. To be honest, it’s not as grand or as visually arresting as Chinatowns in other countries, unless you visit during the Chinese New Year, when the district really comes to life. How to get there: Take the Skytrain to S6 Saphan Taksin Station (BTS Silom Line), take Exit 2, and walk to the boat terminal. Buy a ticket and board a Chao Phraya Express Boat. Alight at the Ratchawong Pier (N5) and make your way on foot from Ratchawong Road to Sampeng Lane and Yaowarat Road.

WHERE TO SHOP IN BANGKOK

Here are some of the best areas to satiate your inner shopaholic! We’ll be creating a separate, more detailed article about these spots in another post.

• Pratunam . Bangkok’s most popular shopping district. Between its busy alleys are even busier blocks filled with indoor and outdoor stalls selling mostly apparel and accessories. Smack at the heart of the area stand two massive malls — Platinum Shopping Mall and the Paladium World Shopping — both filled to the brim with bargain finds. Most of these specialize in wholesale, they also sell in retail quantities. How to get here : Take the MRT to Ratchaprarop Station and walk south from there. It should take around 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can also take the BTS Skytrain System and get off at Chit Lom Station.
• Chatuchak Weekend Market . If your visit in Bangkok falls on a weekend, squeeze this into your itinerary. This retail paradise is a labyrinth made of shops, once popular only to wholesale traders but eventually became a favorite attraction among tourists. Here you’ll find almost anything you can think of: from souvenirs to flowers to clothes to furniture to street food! Prioritize this over Pratunam. We found that most of the items in Pratunam are also sold here at a cheaper price. (That said, I think Pratunam has a much more diverse selection when it comes to apparel.) Nearest BTS Station: Mo Chit Station, take exit 1.
• Siam Square . Made more popular to foreigners as the shooting location for the hit movie The Love of Siam, Siam Square does not disguise itself with pretenses of being culturally significant. It is a shopping and entertainment district. Yet, if you think about it, it somehow represents a generation — a younger, more industrialized, more fashionable Bangkok. Catering mostly to college students and young adults, Siam Square comprises several blocks harboring a wide array of stores — over a hundred of ’em — apparel stalls, boutiques, bookshops, record stores, restaurants, cafes, even cinemas. How to get here : Take the BTS Skytrain System and get off at Siam Station.
• Ratchada (Train Night Market) . The colorful rows of tent stalls of Ratchada (New Rot Fai Market) will absolutely fill your stomachs with its wide selection of affordable Thai cuisine and international dishes— snacks, street food, sweets, exotic delicacies, and milk teas! The market also offers affordable clothing, accessories, shoes, and many more! Nearest Train Station: Bangkok MRT Thailand Cultural Centre Station. Take Exit 3, then walk towards Esplanade Mall. Ratchada is located just beside the mall. ⛔️ Opening Hours: As of this writing, Ratchada Night Market remains temporarily CLOSED!

WHERE TO EAT IN BANGKOK

We’ll be creating a more detailed version of this article soon. But in the meantime, here’s a quick rundown of our favorite places to eat in Bangkok.

• Thipsamai , where we had the best pad thai of our lives. It’s said to be the first store to serve the now ubiquitous noodle dish. It uses thinner rice noodles coated in shrimp oil. Michelin bib gourmand awardee Address: 313 315 Maha Chai Rd, Samran Rat, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand Bestsellers: Pad Thai, ฿105; Pad Thai with prawns: ฿150 Open: 10AM – 12MN for takeaway only; 5PM – 12MN, dine in & takeout
• Jeh O Chula (Jay Oh) , for the best affordable tom yum noodle soup! It’s crazy popular that queuing can take up to 2 hours, unless you arrive early. We arrived past 4pm, just in time for the opening. But barely 5 minutes after we arrived, the line grew quickly. If you could, reserve a table via Klook. Those who book with Klook have a separate line, which is much shorter. Reserve here! ✅ Michelin bib gourmand awardee Address: 113 ซอย จรัสเมือง Rong Muang, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand Bestsellers: Tom yum mama (spicy tom yum noodle soup), plain ฿150, with meatballs, squid, shrimps and crispy pork belly, ฿300; salmon salad, ฿300. Open: Daily 4:30PM-12MN
• Polo Fried Chicken , another Michelin-recognized establishment just across Lumphini Park in Silom area. It started out as a humble street stall but grew to become a proper eatery serving only a few Thai favorites. Address: 137/1-3,9 10 Sanam Khli Alley, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand Bestsellers: Fried chicken half, ฿130; som tam (papaya salad) with salted egg and dried shrimp, ฿80; pork larb/laap (spicy sour minced meat salad), ฿80. Operating Hours: Daily 7am-8:30pm
• Moo Yang Mae Sumontha , a hidden stall inside Chatuchak Market serving moo yang (grilled pork). But its version is roasted honey glazed, which is incredibly tender, succulent, and properly cooked. Address: 587 โครงการ 22 ซอย 4 /2ตลาดนัด จตุจักร 10 Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd, Chatuchak, Bangkok Bestseller: Roasted honey glazed pork, ฿60 per 100g. Open: Weekends 8AM-6PM
• Kuang Heng Chicken Rice , established 1932. If you get hungry while shopping around Pratunam, this is the place to refill that empty tummy! It’s located just next to Platinum Mall and across the street from Palladium. Address: 930 Phetchaburi Rd, Makkasan, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand Bestsellers: Hainanese chicken and deep-fried chicken, ฿50 (single); chicken/pork satay, ฿80 per 10 sticks. Open: Daily 7am-10pm
• Jay Fai , with one Michelin star and featured on the Netflix series Street Food . It’s so incredibly popular that we still haven’t been able to try it. It doesn’t accept reservations beforehand, so you need to show up and fall in line early to be considered for the waitlist. We attempted three times but the waitlist was always full by the time we arrived. Nevertheless, I’m adding it to this list so you could try it for yourself. Address: 327 Maha Chai Rd, Samran Rat, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand Bestsellers: Hainanese chicken and deep-fried chicken, ฿50 (single); chicken/pork satay, ฿80 per 10 sticks. Open: Wednesday-Saturday, 9am-9pm Closed: Sunday-Tuesday

USUAL PRICES IN BANGKOK

Below is the list of the prices of common items that you will need for a comfortable budget stay in Bangkok! Bear in mind that the figures are in Thai Baht.

FAST FOOD & CONVENIENCE STORE

• Bottled water (500ml): ฿6-12
• Bottle of softdrink (550ml): ฿20
• 7-Eleven rice meal: ฿40-55
• Big Mac (McDonald’s): ฿128

STREET FOOD

• Grilled meat: ฿10-30 per stick
• Pad thai: ฿50-60
• Noodle soup: ฿50-70
• Rice meals: ฿50-100

ENTRANCE FEES

• Grand Palace: ฿500
• Wat Pho: ฿200
• Wat Arun: ฿100
• Siriraj Medical Museum: ฿200
• Mahanakhon Skywalk: ฿836
• Dream World Bangkok: ฿575
• Siam Amazing Park: ฿650

TRANSPORTATION

• BTS/MRT fare: ฿16-52
• Taxi flagdown rate: ฿35
• Grabcar within the city: ฿100-280, depending on distance/traffic conditions

TOURS (with Transfers)

• Maeklong Railway Market + Damnoen/Amphawa Floating Market: ฿1356
• Ayutthaya: ฿1690
• Pattaya + Koh Larn: ฿2239

SAMPLE BANGKOK ITINERARY

Here’s a sample itinerary that you may use. We stayed much longer, but if you have only an extended weekend to spend in Bangkok, here’s something to consider.

Note that this itinerary assumes that you’re a party of 2 , splitting some of the costs, and that you’re staying at a hotel in Siam, close to BTS National Stadium Station. Feel free to adjust here and there to match your hotel location, flight schedule, and your travel preferences.

DAY 1: MAHANAKHON SKYWALK & JEH-O-CHULA 01:00 PM – Arrival in Bangkok – Pickup Data SIM Card & Rabbit Card 02:30 PM – Train to Phaya Thai Station ฿45 – Transfer to BTS to Siam, ฿25 03:00 PM – Walk to your hotel, check in, freshen up 04:00 PM – Train to BTS Chong Nonsi Station, ฿28 04:15 PM – Mahanakhon Skywalk, ฿836, Book here! – Chill and wait until sunset 07:00 PM – Train to BTS National Stadium, ฿28 07:15 PM – Walk to Jeh-O Chula 07:30 PM – Eat tom yum set at Jeh-O Chula, ฿350/pax, Reserve here! ! 09:00 PM – Walk or train to Siam, ฿22 09:30 PM – Back to hotel, lights out

DAY 2: DIY TEMPLES TOUR & KHAO SAN ROAD 07:00am – Wake up call 08:00am – Train to BTS Saphan Taksin Station, ฿37 08:30am – Walk to Sathorn Pier 08:45am – Board orange-flag boat, ฿15 09:15am – Get off at N9 Tha Chang Pier 09:30am – Grand Palace Complex, ฿500 10:00am – FREE Tour at Temple of Emerald Buddha 11:00am – Lunch, ฿100 12:00pm – FREE shuttle to Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre 01:00pm – Khon Performance (included in Palace ticket) 01:45pm – Walk to Wat Pho 02:00pm – Wat Pho, ฿200 03:30pm – Boat to the other side of the river, ฿5 03:45pm – Explore Wat Arun, ฿100 05:00pm – Boat to the other side (Tha Thien*), ฿5 05:15pm – Boat to N13 Phra Arthit, ฿15 05:40pm – Walk to Khao San Road 06:00pm – Dinner & drinks at Khao San, ฿400 09:00pm – Taxi/grab to Silom, ฿100/pax *Note: Tha Thien/Tha Tian Pier is temporarily closed for renovation, as of Dec 2022. For now, you may walk all the way back to Tha Chang and catch the boat to Phra Arthit Pier.

Day 4: SHOPPING, DEPARTURE A: If this falls on a weekend 08:00am – Wake up call, check out, leave bags 08:40am – BTS to Chatuchak Park Station, ฿42 09:00am – Shop at Chatuchak Market 11:00am – Lunch at Moo Yang Mae Sumontha, ฿120 11:30am – Continue shopping 02:00 PM – BTS back to hotel, ฿42 02:20pm – Back to hotel, pick up bags 02:50pm – BTS to Phaya Thai Station ฿25 – Transfer to ARL to Suvarnabhumi Airport, ฿45 03:30 PM – Flight check in 06:45 PM – Flight out B: If this falls on a weekday 08:00am – Wake up call, check out, leave bags 08:40am – BTS+ARL to Ratchaprapop Station 09:00am – Platinum + Palladium Malls 11:30 AM – Lunch at Kuang Heng Chicken Rice, ฿120 12:30pm – Continue shopping in Pratunam 02:00 PM – ARL+BTS back to hotel 02:20pm – Back to hotel, pick up bags 02:50pm – BTS to Phaya Thai Station ฿25 – Transfer to ARL to Suvarnabhumi Airport, ฿45 03:30 PM – Flight check in 06:45 PM – Flight out

If you follow this Bangkok itinerary, prepare to shell out ฿5000 (USD 144, EUR 136, SGD 195, PHP 7950) , excluding airfare and hotel but including a bit of allowance for wiggle room and to make up for any possible price adjustments and incidental expenses.

If you spend TH฿600 per night per person on accommodations, the same itinerary will cost you TH฿6800 (USD 197, EUR 185, SGD 264, PHP 10,800) , excluding airfare but with some allowance to cover adjustments and incidental expenses.

(If you’re coming from the Philippines, it doesn’t include the PHP1650 travel tax yet.)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BANGKOK

What are the covid-19-related travel requirements in thailand.

But if your next destination is a country that requires an RT-PCR COVID test (like India and China), travel insurance is mandatory . It must cover the full length of intended stay in Thailand + 7 extra days.

Is Bangkok safe?

My only frustration with Bangkok is that it has more than its share of scams targeting tourists, so always be careful.

What are the common Bangkok scams?

Khao San Road is also rife with scams. You’ll find tourist agents selling all sorts of transportation tickets that turn out to be less than what they promise. For example, you’ll find plenty of “direct buses” to Siem Reap, but most of them are not really direct as they involve switching vehicles at one point during the trip. Worse, some of these buses stop at “travel agencies” that will sell you fake visa.

Patpong is also notorious for scams. You’ll be invited by barkers to a sexy club to see a “pingpong show” or other mind-blowing presentations, to say the least. They’ll say the show is free but you must order a drink. The catch is, the drink is ridiculously overpriced.

As in any other city, be careful and vigilant. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

When is the best time to visit Bangkok?

Bangkok could’ve been a year-round destination if it weren’t for the bouts of rain and flooding problems, which is why it is best to avoid the wettest months.

Rainy season is from May to October, but the wettest months are September-October. We have tried traveling to Bangkok in January, July, August, September, October, and November, and we can tell you that the precipitation level can definitely affect your overall travel experience. We’ve been stranded in some sites because of torrential rains and flooding and ended up wasting much of our time.

What is tipping policy in Bangkok?

When eating at sit-down restaurants, a tip of 10% of the bill should be fine. You can also just round off your bill. For example, if your bill is ฿135, you can leave ฿150. Same with cabs. If the meter is ฿105, round it off to ฿110 or ฿120. At hotels, you can give ฿20-50 to the porter who carries your luggage to your room, depending on the number of pieces. For a massage, tip ฿50. For full-day tour guides, at least ฿200 is alright.

Where to exchange money in Bangkok?

What is the power socket used in bangkok.

Do I need a visa to visit Thailand?

To see the complete list of countries, visit this: List of Visa-Free and Visa-on-Arrival Countries

However, visitors must have the following upon entry:

• a valid passport (with at least 6 months validity)
• return or onward ticket
• at least 10,000 baht per person or 20,000 baht per family or equivalent in other currencies, cash.

It will also help to have a hotel reservation .

Note that if you’re not arriving by air, you’re only allowed to enter Thailand twice per year.

Do I really need 10,000-baht show money at the immigration?

Our team has been in and out of Thailand recently but none of us were asked how much we carry. But it would help to just comply, just in case.

The amount should be 10,000 baht per person or 20,000 baht per family.

It doesn’t need to be in baht. It can be any currency as long as it has the equivalent value.

Updates Log

2024•1•5 – Removed travel insurance for test-requiring next destination as it no longer applies 2022•12•21 – First up

More Tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️

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I stumbled upon your travel blog website and I’m absolutely loving it! Your posts are so informative and inspiring, and they’ve given me some great ideas for my own travels. I especially enjoyed your recent post on Travel blog, and I can’t wait to see where you’ll take us next!

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the world, and keep up the amazing work! I’ll definitely be following along on your adventures.

Thank you so much for preparing this blog, Yosh!!! I cannot imagine the length of time it took you to lay out this information, so thank you! I appreciate it a lot now that I am in charge of our Thailand itinerary – it’s crazy!

Glad it was helpful. And yes, it takes us days (sometimes, weeks) to produce just one travel guide. But it’s always worth it!

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Bangkok Tourist Attractions Map PDF

Printable Map of Bangkok Attractions, Walking Tours Map

Home / Bangkok Tours / Attractions Map

Bangkok Tourist Attractions Maps | City Tours Map

Thailand’s capital city is located in the Chao Phraya River of Central Thailand. Bangkok is one of the most visited cities in the world because of its red-light district, Buddhist temples, Grand Palace, as well as the nightlife adventures in Khaosan Road. The busy city is also known for its wide variety of shopping centers and markets.

The best way to explore the busy streets of Bangkok is through the Skytrain (BTS) or the Metro (MRT). You must also have a copy of the Bangkok Metro Map to make getting around the city much faster and easier. You can also get a copy of the Bangkok Transport Map if you want to find the best location to shop, dine and explore. Plus the map will give you information on other available mode of public transportation such as the Tuk Tuk, Taxi, Car and Chao Phraya Express Boat.

To better guide you in exploring what the city has in store for you, grab a copy of the BangkokTownTourist Sightseeing Map. The map is essential in discovering Bangkok’s top attractions including Chatuchak Market, Grand Palace, National Museum & Wang Na Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho or Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Wat Suthat, Wat Traimit, the very famous Khao San Road and the list goes on.

For visitors who enjoy it more by walking around, you can get a copy of the BangkokWalking Tour Maps. There’s a walking map designed to visit the city’s famous landmarks, temples, day tours and night tours and food tours to enjoy the best food of Bangkok. All these at your own pace and with your interests in mind and if it’s not enough you can create one for yourself and explore Bangkok like a local.

If you are the type of traveler who gets tired easily and cannot walk for a long period of time, it is still possible to explore the beauty of the busy city with the help of the Hop on Hop off Bus Tour. If you are interested to know more about the bus and where to catch them, you can get our free printable copy of the Bangkok Hop on Hop off Bus map.

• Interactive Bangkok Attractions Map
• Top Rated Bangkok Attractions

Bangkok Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour Map

Bangkok metro map, bangkok transport map, bangkok tourist map, bangkok walking tour map.

Top Bangkok Attractions Skip-the-line Tickets & Tours

Madame Tussauds at Bangkok Admission Ticket

Art In Paradise 3D at Bangkok Admission Ticket

Erawan Museum at Bangkok Admission Ticket

Halfday Join Tour The Erawan Museum (Ticket only)

Muang Boran : Thailand's Ancient City of Samut Prakan Admission Ticket

Madame Tussauds in Bangkok Admission Ticket

Ayothaya Floating Market Admission Ticket with Transfer(Optional)

Erawan Museum in Bangkok Admission Ticket

Bangkok Printable Tourist Map

Bangkok Map: The Attractions

Grand Palace

Khaosan Road

Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchaworamahawihan

Wat Phra Kaew

Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan

Wat Benchamabophit Dusit Wanaram Ratchaworawihan

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Maps of bangkok.

All major maps of Bangkok, including major tourist attractions, hospitals, BTS and MRT. These maps will make planning a trip within Bangkok easier.

Map of 80+ Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Bangkok

A map of the main tourist attractions you should see while in Bangkok. Temples, museums, theaters, parks, monuments, shopping malls, etc.

Bangkok top tourist attractions city travel maps

City centre top 10 must-see places to visit including sukhumvit, silom, sathorn, wat pho - bangkok top tourist attractions map.

Maps of best attractions in Bangkok

Bangkok maps will guide you to the best destinations in this fascinating city. Besieged by visitors from all over the world the capital of Thailand never sleeps. Tourists can enjoy wonderful markets and shops, local food, pubs, massage parlors and a stunning complex of temples and royal palaces. The city is full of contrasts - the ancient Buddhist temples are loated next to large modern shopping centres, dilapidated shacks surround glass skyscrapers, street food stands set up next to entrances of luxurious restaurants. Bangkok is a blend of past, present and future, a city full of mysteries and entertainment for the most demanding. It is also a kind of vacuum chamber where a newcomer from the West can taste Asia and all its exotic, yet at any time if in need of a break scape to McDonald's or an air-conditioned hotel. With the help of our maps you will be able to make to most of your trip. You can find the detailed locations of the must-see sights including Wat Arun, Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, Chatuchak & Floating Markets, Chinatown (Yaowarat), Wat Pho, Chao Phraya River & Waterways, Soi Cowboy Red Lights District (Sukhumvit - Asoke), Jim Thompson’s House - just click on a selected map to access a high resolution version that can be downloaded and printed or saved onto your mobile device.

Public transport rail lines with BTS (Sky Train), MRT Metro Blue & Purple (Tube, Subway, Underground), ARL (Airport Link), SRT, BRT - Bangkok top tourist attractions map

You can view, download or print a full, high resolution (detailed, large) version of this image by clicking on the plan itself

Explore most famous locations, best historical sights, buildings & landmarks in a week guide - Bangkok top tourist attractions map

Detailed 3d bird's eye aerial view of street plan with English directions to tourism sites & spots - Bangkok top tourist attractions map

Great things to do with kids & family - 3-day visitor trip itinerary planner including Dusit Zoo, Temples, Erawan Shrine & Victory Monument - Bangkok top tourist attractions map

Map of Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, National Museum, Chinatown, Wat Arun, Floating & Chatuchak Market shopping, Lumpini Boxing Stadium, Ekamai, Asoke, Ari - Bangkok attractions map

Chao Phraya River Express Boat & Ferries transit network with major points of interest - Bangkok top tourist attractions map

Khlong Saen Saep Express Boat tour service, route, stations & must-do highlights - Bangkok top tourist attractions map

Main district neighborhood areas with Suvarnabhumi & Don Muang Airports - Bangkok top tourist attractions map

Most popular central districts including Siam Square, Yaowarat, Phahurat, Rattanakosin & Khao San Road - Bangkok top tourist attractions map

What to do, Where to go, What favourite sightseeing destinations & travel hotspots to see - Bangkok top tourist attractions map

Map of top 10 attractions in Bangkok

The typical top ten attractions are listed below. You can find the detailed locations of these places on the maps above.

• Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn), Riverside
• Grand Palace & Wat Prakeaw, Old City
• Floating Market, Damnoen Saduak
• Chinatown (Yaowarat), Chinatown
• Wat Pho, Old City
• Chao Phraya River & Waterways, Riverside
• Chatuchak Weekend Market, Chatuchak
• Khao San Road, Old City
• Soi Cowboy red-light district, Sukhumvit (Asoke)
• Jim Thompson's House, Siam

What are some interesting facts about Bangkok?

Longest name - Bangkok currently holds the Guinness record for having the longest name of a place. Apparently 'Bangkok' is just the short version because the city's ceremonial name is 'Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit'. This means 'The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (of Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn.'

It's HOT! - Several years ago, Bangkok was named the hottest city in the world by the World Meteorological Organization. It may not be the hottest city in the world every single day but you can be sure it's pretty consistent. Touring the Grand Palace (a large complex of palaces and temples) at 10 in the morning is almost unbearable due to the scorching heat. When exploring the city, be sure to keep hydrated and bring an umbrella.

Underwear is a must - We all know underwear is pretty essential, but not as much as in Thailand and Bangkok, where leaving the house with no underwear on can very well land you in jail. Going bare-chested in public is illegal too.

Bangkok is home to the world's largest airport control tower - It is located at Suvarnabhumi Airport and is 132.2 meters tall.

Monkey Buffet - One of the country's most unusual festivals is the annual Monkey Buffet, held in front of the Pra Prang Sam Yot temple in Lopburi province. More than 600 monkeys are invited to feast on over two tonnes of grilled sausage, fresh fruit, ice cream and other treats. The locals see it as a thank you to the monkeys which inhabit the village and bring thousands of tourists there each year.

Bangkok has an elephant building! - There is a building that is made up of three towers intended to look like an elephant which is Thailand's national animal. This unique landmark is located in the Chatuchak district.

The city is sinking - Due to heavy (literally) development, Bangkok is sinking at a rate of 2-5 cm per year. This combined with rising sea levels may make the city a bit more Venice-like in the not-so-distant future.

Bangkok was once the 'Venice of the East' - There was once an abundant system of canals in the Bangkok area and many of the original buildings stood on stilts. As Bangkok grew larger, however, most of the canals were filled and paved.

Floating markets - The Bangkok area is home to several very popular floating markets including Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Taling Chan Market, Bang Ku Wiang Market, and Amphawa Floating Market. Visitors can find boats selling fresh tropical produce, coconut juice, and delicious local food cooked right on the small boats!

Bangkok's busiest tourist area is Khao San Road - Khao San Road is located in the district of Rattanakosin about a block from the Chao Phraya River. This backpackers' haven is known for cheap accommodations, a plethora of shops, and a chill bar scene great for people watching. Khao San Road also has some of the most diverse and budget friendly food options in Bangkok.

Bangkok was home to the legendary American art collector Jim Thompson - Jim Thompson dedicated much of his life to revitalizing Thai silk and introducing it to some of the world's most renowned fashion empires. According to Time magazine 'he almost singlehanded(ly) saved Thailand's vital silk industry from extinction.' The American businessman mysteriously disappeared into Malaysian jungle in 1967. Sources say that he went for a walk one day, never to return, and his disappearance still remains a great mystery. His elegant and artistic former house in Bangkok remains one of the city's popular tourist attractions.

Soi dogs - The word soi means side street and most major roads will have numbered sois along its length. You will also notice an abundance of stray dogs which many refer to as 'soi dogs.'

Water bottles - Many Thai believe that leaving bottles of water along the front of a building will discourage soi dogs from urinating there. You can see shopfronts at the end of the day with a row of plastic water bottles on the sidewalk.

Erawan Shrine - The popular Erawan Shrine downtown was built to appease angered spirits that were causing delays and accidents during the construction of what is now the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel.

Street water fight - Every April Bangkok hosts the world's largest street water fight during the Thai New Year holiday known as the Songkran Festival.

Golden Buddha - The 5.5-ton Golden Buddha at Wat Traimit in Bangkok is the not only the largest solid gold Buddha in the world, but also the most valuable (moneywise) religious object.

Thais love their king - No doubt. The nation's adoration for him is particularly apparent in Bangkok where pictures and posters of the royal power can be found in almost every other street. Take note that it's also illegal to say anything bad about the king or to even laugh at a picture of him. In the cinemas, a short tribute clip to the king is played before a movie starts and everyone is expected to stand up and pay respect.

Land of smiles - Bangkok lives up to Thailand's nickname as the 'Land of Smiles'. As peace-loving people with ready smiles, Thais exude pleasant auras and generally seek harmony over social conflict. A lot of tourists like going back to Bangkok simply because of the charm and warmth of its people. While it has its share of crimes, Bangkok remains to be one of the friendliest cities in the world.

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Explore with Ease: Your Comprehensive Bangkok Map Guide

Exploring a bustling city like Bangkok can be overwhelming without a reliable guide. That’s where a detailed Bangkok map can be your best friend, helping you navigate through the city’s vibrant neighborhoods, bustling streets, and iconic landmarks with ease.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, having an interactive or printable Bangkok map handy can make all the difference. With its colorful streets, bustling markets, and hidden gems, Bangkok has so much to offer. With a map in hand, you can be sure that you won’t miss out on any of the city’s must-visit attractions.

Key Takeaways

• A detailed Bangkok map can be essential for exploring the city.
• Interactive and printable map options are available for convenience.
• The Bangkok Metro map can help you get around the city more efficiently.
• A Bangkok street map can be useful for exploring on foot.
• A tourist attractions map can help you discover hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path experiences.

Understanding Bangkok’s Layout: A Detailed Bangkok Map

Before exploring Bangkok, it’s important to understand the city’s layout. A detailed Bangkok map is an essential tool to navigate through the labyrinthine streets and vibrant neighborhoods of this bustling city. The capital of Thailand covers an area of 1,568.7 square kilometers and is divided into 50 districts, each with its own unique character and charm.

A Bangkok city map is the best resource to gain an overview of the city’s layout and identify landmark areas. The districts are grouped into five main regions, namely the Old City, Riverside, Sukhumvit, Silom, and Chinatown. The Old City, also known as Rattanakosin Island, is the historic heart of Bangkok and home to some of the most iconic temples and palaces. The Riverside area, along the Chao Phraya River, is dotted with luxurious hotels and shopping centers. Sukhumvit is the commercial and residential hub of Bangkok, while Silom is a financial district with a vibrant nightlife scene. Chinatown is a must-visit for its food, architecture, and cultural offerings.

A detailed Bangkok map allows visitors to plan their itinerary according to their interests and preferences. With the right map in hand, tourists can easily navigate the city and avoid getting lost. Moreover, understanding the city’s layout and the location of key areas help visitors save time and money spent on transportation.

Where to Find the Best Maps: Interactive and Printable Options

When it comes to exploring Bangkok, having a reliable map is a must. Luckily, there are many options for obtaining an interactive or printable map of the city.

Interactive Bangkok Map

One of the most convenient ways to access an interactive Bangkok map is through online resources. Many travel websites and apps offer interactive maps that allow visitors to zoom in on specific neighborhoods, search for landmarks and attractions, and even get directions.

Another option is to download a mobile app specifically designed for navigating Bangkok, such as Google Maps, Maps.me, or CityMaps2Go. These apps often provide real-time traffic updates and public transportation information, making it easy for visitors to explore the city on the go.

Printable Bangkok Map

For those who prefer a physical copy of a Bangkok map, tourist information centers and hotels are the best places to look. These establishments often provide free or low-cost printed maps that highlight popular attractions, transportation options, and other useful information.

Alternatively, visitors can print their own maps from online resources or pdf files available on official tourism websites. This option is especially convenient for those who prefer to plan their itinerary in advance and have a hard copy of the map on hand.

Navigating the City: Using the Bangkok Metro Map

The Bangkok Metro map is an essential tool for getting around the city efficiently. The metro system is extensive and connects many of the most popular tourist destinations in the city, including the Chatuchak Weekend Market, the Grand Palace, and Chinatown.

To use the Bangkok Metro, visitors can purchase single journey tickets or reloadable cards. The cards offer a discount on each journey and can be topped up at machines located in each station. It is important to note that the Metro system operates from 6:00 AM until midnight, so visitors should plan their journeys accordingly.

Tips for Using the Metro System Effectively

• Plan your route ahead of time using a Bangkok Metro map to avoid getting lost or confused.
• Avoid rush hour, as the Metro system can get crowded during peak times.
• Be aware of the no food or drink policy on the trains.
• Stay alert and keep an eye on personal belongings to avoid pickpockets.

Using the Bangkok Metro map is a convenient and affordable way to navigate the city, allowing visitors to visit many of Bangkok’s most popular tourist attractions with ease.

Exploring Bangkok on Foot: Using a Bangkok Street Map

While the Bangkok Metro is a convenient way to get around the city, exploring by foot is an excellent way to soak up the vibrant atmosphere and see some of the hidden gems that this city has to offer. For those looking to take a stroll, a Bangkok street map is the perfect tool to ensure you don’t get lost in this bustling metropolis.

A Bangkok street map is essential for understanding the layout of the city’s streets and alleys. The map will often provide details on the street names and numbers, which will make it easier to navigate the area. Tourists can also use this map to locate nearby attractions, restaurants, and other points of interest.

With so many streets and alleys in Bangkok, street vendors and local shops often have a unique character that can be easily missed. With a street map, visitors can discover hidden gems and experience the city’s authentic culture, from street food markets to art galleries and street performers.

It’s important to note that Bangkok’s narrow streets can be overwhelming at times, with traffic jams and crowds being a common occurrence. With a Bangkok street map in hand, you can find hidden alleys and shortcuts that lead you to your destination quicker. This map will also help you avoid getting lost in the maze-like streets of Bangkok.

Overall, a Bangkok street map is an essential tool for exploring the city on foot. It’s perfect for those who want to discover Bangkok’s hidden gems and experience the city’s authentic culture. With its detailed information on street names and numbers, nearby attractions, and traffic shortcuts, a Bangkok street map is a reliable guide for newcomers and seasoned travelers alike.

Unveiling the Hidden Gems: Bangkok Tourist Attractions Map

One of the most exciting things about exploring Bangkok is discovering its hidden gems – the lesser-known attractions that offer unique experiences. This is where a Bangkok tourist attractions map comes in handy.

The map highlights popular tourist spots, including historical sites, cultural centers, and unique markets. But it also contains hidden gems that may not be as well-known but are equally fascinating. With the help of this map, visitors can set out on an adventure to explore the city’s best-kept secrets.

Some of the highlights on the Bangkok tourist attractions map include the charming neighborhoods of Phra Khanong and Ari, which offer a glimpse into local life, and the ancient city of Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s just a short drive from Bangkok.

Visitors can also use the map to explore the city’s diverse culinary scene, from the famous street food stalls to upscale restaurants. The map includes recommendations for well-known dishes like pad thai and green curry, as well as lesser-known local delicacies.

Whether it’s uncovering hidden temples, exploring off-the-beaten-path markets, or trying new foods, the Bangkok tourist attractions map is an essential tool for any traveler looking to experience the authentic side of the city.

Landmarks and Points of Interest: A Comprehensive Bangkok Map

When exploring the vibrant city of Bangkok, it’s essential to have a comprehensive Bangkok map guide that includes all the landmarks and points of interest. Luckily, there are numerous tourist maps of Bangkok available that provide detailed information on must-visit places and iconic attractions.

One of the most popular landmarks on the map is the Grand Palace, a stunning complex of ornate buildings that served as the residence of the King of Thailand until the mid-20th century. Nearby is the Wat Phra Kaew temple, which houses the Emerald Buddha, a sacred and meticulously-crafted statue made of jade. Other temples worth visiting include Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, and Wat Pho, which holds the massive Reclining Buddha statue.

For those interested in history, the Jim Thompson House is a must-visit attraction. The house was owned by an American businessman who popularized the silk trade in Thailand and mysteriously disappeared in the 1960s. Today, the house serves as a museum that showcases traditional Thai architecture and art.

Bangkok is also known for its bustling markets, and one that should be on every visitor’s list is the Chatuchak Weekend Market. With over 15,000 stalls selling everything from antiques to clothing to street food, the market is a shopper’s paradise. Another popular market is the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, where vendors sell their wares from boats on the canal.

Other notable landmarks on the comprehensive Bangkok map guide include the iconic Wat Chanasongkhram Ratchaworamahawihan, the impressive Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall, and the breathtaking Wat Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram temple.

In conclusion, a comprehensive Bangkok map guide is crucial for anyone wanting to explore this vibrant city. By using a tourist map of Bangkok, visitors can easily navigate their way to all the must-visit landmarks and points of interest, ensuring a memorable and fulfilling trip to Thailand’s capital.

Making the Most of Your Visit: Ultimate Bangkok Map Guide

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, having a detailed Bangkok map is essential for exploring the vibrant capital of Thailand. With so many attractions, landmarks, and hidden gems to discover, planning your itinerary and getting around the city can be overwhelming without a reliable map.

To make the most of your visit, it’s important to use the available maps effectively. Here are some practical tips and recommendations for using a Bangkok map to optimize your experience:

• Start with a detailed Bangkok map: Before you begin your adventure, make sure you have a comprehensive map that includes all the important areas, districts, landmarks, and attractions. A detailed Bangkok map will help you understand the layout of the city and plan your itinerary effectively.
• Use a Bangkok tourist attractions map: To ensure you don’t miss any of the must-visit places in Bangkok, use a tourist attractions map that highlights the most famous landmarks, temples, palaces, markets and other iconic attractions. This type of map can also lead you to off-the-beaten-path experiences and hidden gems that are not as well-known.
• Create an itinerary: Once you have a detailed Bangkok map and a tourist attractions map, use them to create an itinerary that includes all the places you want to visit. Organize your itinerary based on location, so you can maximize your time and minimize travel time between different areas.
• Consider transportation options: With the help of a Bangkok map, consider transportation options to get to each location on your itinerary. The city’s efficient and affordable public transport system includes the metro, buses, and the famous tuk-tuk, which can help you avoid traffic and get to your destinations faster.
• Use landmarks to navigate: While exploring Bangkok, use the landmarks and attractions on your map as reference points. This will help you navigate the streets and alleys of the city more effectively and make sure you don’t get lost.
• Stay flexible: While a detailed Bangkok map and a well-planned itinerary are helpful, it’s important to stay flexible and spontaneous. Bangkok is a city filled with surprises, from lively street performances to bustling markets and cultural events. Allow yourself time to explore and discover new experiences.

By using a detailed Bangkok map, a tourist attractions map, and following these practical tips, you’ll be able to make the most of your visit to this vibrant city. There’s no better way to immerse yourself in the local culture and discover the rich history, traditions, and flavors of Thailand than by exploring Bangkok with confidence and ease.

In conclusion, having a comprehensive Bangkok map guide is essential for navigating the city with ease and confidence. By utilizing a detailed Bangkok map, visitors can better understand the layout of the city, plan their itineraries, and explore its vibrant culture and attractions.

Whether using an interactive or printable map, visitors can easily access the information needed to navigate and discover Bangkok’s hidden gems. The Bangkok Metro map is particularly useful for efficient and convenient transportation, while a Bangkok street map can help visitors explore the city on foot.

For those looking to experience Bangkok’s must-visit landmarks and attractions, a tourist map of Bangkok provides detailed information on iconic places such as the Grand Palace and Wat Arun. By using a comprehensive Bangkok map guide, visitors can make the most of their visit and optimize their time to fully immerse themselves in the city’s unique atmosphere.

What is the importance of having a reliable Bangkok map while exploring the city?

Having a reliable Bangkok map is essential for navigating the vibrant capital of Thailand. It helps visitors find their way around the city, locate key areas and districts, and discover the best tourist attractions.

Where can I find a detailed Bangkok map?

Detailed Bangkok maps can be found online, at tourist information centers, and in some hotels. They provide a comprehensive overview of the city, including streets, landmarks, and transportation options.

Are there interactive and printable options available for Bangkok maps?

Yes, there are interactive and printable Bangkok maps available. Online resources offer interactive maps that allow users to customize their experience, while printable maps can be obtained for convenience.

How can I effectively use the Bangkok Metro map?

The Bangkok Metro map is crucial for navigating the city’s efficient metro system. It provides information on different lines and stations, helping visitors plan their routes and purchase tickets for easy transportation.

What are the benefits of using a Bangkok street map for exploring the city on foot?

Using a Bangkok street map allows visitors to navigate the bustling streets of the city while exploring on foot. It helps locate important landmarks, find specific streets, and discover hidden gems along the way.

What is a Bangkok tourist attractions map?

A Bangkok tourist attractions map highlights the must-visit places in the city, including famous temples, palaces, markets, and other iconic attractions. It helps visitors plan their itinerary and uncover off-the-beaten-path experiences.

What landmarks and points of interest can be found on a comprehensive Bangkok map?

A comprehensive Bangkok map includes landmarks such as famous temples, palaces, markets, and other points of interest. It provides a wealth of information for visitors to plan their sightseeing and explore the city’s culture.

How can I make the most of my visit to Bangkok using a map?

To make the most of your visit, use the Bangkok map to plan your itinerary, organize sightseeing routes, and maximize your time at each location. The map will help you navigate the city efficiently and optimize your experience.

Why is it important to have a comprehensive Bangkok map guide?

A comprehensive Bangkok map guide is important as it provides visitors with detailed information on navigating the city, discovering tourist attractions, and exploring hidden gems. It ensures a successful and enjoyable visit to Bangkok.

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Bangkok throughout the year

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Looking for day-by-day itineraries in Bangkok?

Get inspired for your trip to Bangkok with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Check them out here:

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Q&A about Bangkok

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LouiseBlakemore

Book a boat and take a ride around the khlongs. We did this on our own so we were able to stop and take pics and chat with locals. Walk. Walk. Walk. This is the way to see the city, and it's safe.

deepak4ualways

The place has some of the biggest and crowded malls where you can get all sorts of products like electronics, clothing, etc. A definite place for shopaholics.

Bangkok is popular for its culinary diversity among many. Which you see will be a true fact once you step out walking. There are mouth-watering food stalls everywhere you go.

A large bustling city with many very varied neighborhoods each offering something different for people of all tastes and pockets. Exciting and vibrant with a lot of great cultural sites for those that like history and culture. Foodies will be spoiled for choice with everything from fantastic cheap street food and food courts to top-end restaurants as well.

Bangkok is a busy city. It's also very friendly and an excellent place for food lovers. No need to mention the nightlife. They wrote songs about it and have made hit movies catering to bizarre imaginations and sometimes a not-so-bizarre reality, that is Bangkok at night. Mostly though, it's a safe and friendly place.

Bangkok, the other City of Angels that never sleeps. Bangkok is full of things to do and see from ancient monuments to great restaurants. Easy to get around by Skytrain, underground, tuk-tuk, taxi or a trundling ancient bus. Bangkok is a must-visit city that caters for all tastes and lifestyles.

What is the best way to get there?

Bangkok is served by two airports, the Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Don Muang Airport (DMK). The latter is a hub for low-cost carriers including Air Asia and Nok Air and mainly offers domestic and regional flights.

Do I need a visa?

Thailand has many bilateral agreements in place with other nations that allow visa-free travel. To see if your country is on that list please  check here .

If your country is not listed, you will need to apply for a visa at your nearest Thai embassy. You can  check here  for more information on types of visas.

When is the best time to visit?

November through January: Bangkok is hot and steamy no matter what time of year you visit, however, the very best time to visit is late November to mid-January. Known as the “cool season,” the temperatures sit around 90 Fahrenheit (36 Celsius).

The ferry on the Chao Phraya river is also convenient — if and only if — you are heading somewhere close to the river.

motorcycle taxi

Motorcycle taxis are cheap, fast but can be scary for the uninitiated. Tuk Tuks are used by both tourists and locals alike; please bargain before jumping on.

skytrain and subway

The BTS Skytrail and the MRT subway provide another inexpensive way to get around town. Both train systems are limited and only cover portions of the city, so definitely map out your route before setting out. Also note that these two lines of public transportation run separately and don't share a ticketing system. However, they do have a few connecting stations—which is helpful if you need to cross from one to the other.

The easiest way into the city is through a metered taxi. Do not use the limo or taxi services offered by touts. They can tend to swarm around you once you have cleared customs. These touts will charge rates that can be as much as 200% to 300% of normal metered taxi rates.

For more detailed information on getting around, you can refer to  this article .

On the ground

What is the timezone.

Indochina Time

What are the voltage/plug types?

220 Volts / 50 Hz. Plugs are Type A, B, C, F (https://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/)

What is the local currency?

Are atms readily accessible, are credit cards widely accepted.

Yes and no. Cards are accepted very widely but if you intend to visit street stalls or use tuk tuks/motorcycle taxis, it is useful to have cash on hand.

Is it easy to find a bank?

How much do i tip, restaurants.

Waiters get the loose change left in the plate unless there's a special service reward of 20 baht in the hand.

Get the fare rounded up to the next even number.

Only massage therapists get a substantial tip between 50-100 baht.

Hotel porters

Porters and others giving small services may get a standard 20 baht gratuity.

Are there local customs I should know?

The king is very highly regarded in Thailand, as evidenced by the pictures displayed everywhere. Do not say or do anything disrespectful of the king or the royal family, even to the extent of stomping on a Thai coin or banknote which has been dropped and is rolling/blowing away. (It bears an image of the King's head, and is highly insulting to be touched by your feet.)

Royal Anthem

Before each performance at movie theatres, the Thai Royal Anthem - known as Phleng Sansoen Phra Barami (เพลงสรรเสริญพระบารมี) or sometimes more simply as "Kha Wora" is played. It is mandatory to stand up during the playing of this Thai royal anthem.

Hailing taxis

When hailing taxis, it is common to keep your hand horizontal, fingers facing down. Holding your hand with fingers up is considered rude.

Temples and Monks

When visiting temples, dress conservatively. Women particularly should wear long skirts or trousers and cover their shoulders and knees. Many temples state as you enter that photography is not permitted. Even if there is no sign, please be respectful and consider whether it is appropriate to be taking flash photographs in a place of worship. Even more so if monks are present worshipping.

Always remove your shoes when entering temples (the same rule applies when entering a person's home), and do not sit with your feet towards the Buddha. Sit either cross-legged, or with your feet tucked behind you.

One of the most important points of etiquette often overlooked by some travellers is basic personal hygiene. Thai people take their personal hygiene and appearance very seriously. Since Thailand is a hot, humid, tropical country, showering frequently is essential.

Loud or abusive expressions of anger and temper tantrums should be avoided at all costs. Many things in Thailand often don't go according to plan, and visitors are advised to take a very calm attitude to various nuisances. Try to remain calm and smile despite your annoyance, and in the end you will probably get what you want.

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© Kiszon Pascal/Getty Images

Same same, but different. This Thailish T-shirt philosophy sums up Bangkok, a city where the familiar and the exotic collide like the flavors on a plate of pàt tai.

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Bangkok and beyond.

Bangkok Thailand | A Travel Guide for First Time Travelers

Bangkok, the world’s most visited city. A city many fall in love with… or not. A city known for its amazing cuisine, culture and traffic.

When we first decided to travel around Southeast Asia, Bangkok was the first on our list. Although we had an idea of what to expect, we were amazed at all that Thailand’s capital city had to offer.

Bangkok is one of Asia’s top major cities with high-rise skyscrapers, sky-train, luxury hotels and malls. In this huge chaotic but fascinating megacity, we had never expected to find that the Thai culture would be so present and ingrained. With wats and shrines scattered all over the city, the royal palace and loads of great street food.

“ We wrote this post back in 2019 after our first visit to Bangkok. Since then we made multiple trips to the Thai city and also lived there for several months straight. Fast forward to 2024 and we’re back in Bangkok and writing posts about everything Bangkok “

This blog post will provide an excellent travel guide to a first time stay in the Thai capital city.

We will provide some useful travel tips for planning a trip to Bangkok. We will share our Bangkok travel experience including our experience with traveling around the city, the best tourist attractions, Thai food, and Bangkok’s nightlife.

This guide will help you get a glimpse of the city before traveling to it.

Related: Best Time to Visit Bangkok

Things to do in Bangkok and 3 day itinerary

#1 boat trip along the chao praya river and temples’ sightseeing ..

Chao Praya River is the heart of Bangkok, and a boat trip along its’ banks is a must. The river is home to the most touristic spots in Bangkok including the temples of the Grand Palace  and  Wat Phra Kaew (located on the same grounds),  Wat Pho  and  Wat Arun .

From Tha Tien pier (Wat Pho) take a cross river ferry to Wat Arun for 4 Baht per person one way. These 3 temples bear an admission fee ranging from 500 baht (for the Grand Palace) to 50 baht (for Wat Arun).

Always wear appropriate clothing when visiting temples. Cover knees and shoulders and no shoes inside temples.

#2 Take a stroll around Lumpini Park

Lumpini Park is a fresh breath of air in Bangkok. Bangkok’s residents come here to jog, cycle around the lake or just to have a nap. Lumpini Park is a great place to get away from it all and chill for a couple of hours. You can also consider taking a packed lunch with you and enjoying some fresh air under the shade of the trees. The park is also home to some wildlife including the monitor lizard.

The park closes at 9 pm.

Bus number 15 (which passes in the vicinity of Khao San Road) stops in front of one of Lumpini Park’s gates, near the food stalls, located outside the same park.

#3 Shop till you drop at Chatuchak Weekend Market

Chatuchak market is a massive area loaded with stalls selling just about anything. Prices are not so cheap so there is room for some bargaining to be done which is a common practice throughout Southeast Asia. The weekend market is open on Friday from 18:00 to 24:00, Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 18:00.

To get to the market we got bus number 44 from the road of the Democracy Monument.

#4 Get lost in MBK shopping mall

MBK shopping mall is a huge complex spread over 8 floors where you may find just about anything including clothing, electronics, food, etc. Particularly relevant to those wanting to buy a mobile phone, the fourth floor is dedicated entirely to mobile phone retailers. We bought a new mobile phone at a very favorable price (after some bargaining) from this complex.

Other shopping malls near MBK include Siam Paragon, a high-end mall and CentralWorld which is more mid-range.

Bus numbers 47 and 15 go through the street of the Democracy Monument (which monument is located near Khao San Road) to MBK, Siam Paragon and the CentralWorld area.

These activities can easily fit within 3 days allowing time to enjoy Bangkok’s nightlife .

Dive into Bangkok culture after dark

Discover Bangkok’s enchanting nightlife on a tuk-tuk tour. Glide through the city’s illuminated streets, marvel at ancient temples and modern skyscrapers, and explore bustling markets and palaces. Indulge in street food delights as your local guide unveils the city’s secrets. → book it here

#5 Other interesting places

A  floating market  (there are quite a few around Bangkok)

The teak wooden house of Jim Thompson . An American businessman who helped revitalize the Thai silk industry, and who later on went missing never to be heard of.

A sightseeing boat trip through  Bangkok’s canals  ( klong ) .

Mahanakhon Skywalk  is a rather new attraction in Bangkok offering some spectacular viewpoints having a glass skywalk and a rooftop bar.

A river cruise along the Chao Praya River .

Nightlife in Bangkok

You might be tempted to just chill out after a long day sightseeing around Bangkok but certainly, it’s not a good option. Bangkok has countless things to do at night such as night markets, clubs and bars and the infamous red-light districts.

Khaosan Road

The famous Khao San Road is particularly busy at night with plenty of tourists, street food vendors, bars thumping all kinds of different beats or even live bands and comedy shows. Thais promoting laughing gas and alcoholic buckets, massage parlours, vendors selling fried insects and souvenirs and restaurants, all this in a rather short street making it rather chaotic but also entertaining.

Khao San is a must-see while in Bangkok, we loved the lively atmosphere and spent a couple of nights here.

Soi Rambuttri

If you fancy somewhere quieter, Soi Rambuttri might be more suitable. Rambuttri is just parallel to Khao San Road, with plenty of restaurants and bars, and also live music. It is family-friendly and perfect for chilling out while people watching over a cold beer.

Bangkok Red Light Districts

Bangkok’s nightlife is infamous for its red-light districts, mainly Nana Plaza ,  Soi Cowboy  and  Patpong . Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy are about 20 minutes walk from each other in the Sukhumvit area. Not much to add to this as when we visited everywhere was closed due to the upcoming general election.

Patpong is a small night market selling fake branded items and souvenirs located in Silom. Prices are higher than elsewhere so it is recommended to haggle hard. The night market is lined up with bars and Thais luring tourists inside the bars.

A guy lured us into a bar and just out of curiosity and not knowing what to expect we went in. Not for long as we immediately left because once inside we felt uncomfortable.

The bar had a ping pong show. This is an amusement show of girls shooting ping pong balls out of their vaginas. The guy lures in unknowing tourists and states the show is free, just need to buy a few drinks. But after exiting the bar and doing some research, we learned that tourists are made to pay thousands of baht as the show isn’t free after all.

At night time Yaowarat Road home to Chinatown, is particularly busy with lots of people visiting the area and jam-packed with cars. We had visited the area twice, on a Sunday and Tuesday with Sunday being extremely busy. Some of the restaurants here actually have people queue waiting to be seated. The area is a hot spot with Chinese tourists and with all the cluster of bright Chinese shop signs and lined-up street stalls, this makes for some amazing pictures and selfies.

After multiple visits to Chinatown, (and in fact, Chinatown is our favorite area in Bangkok especially when it comes to food options), we have written this Chinatown foodie guide .

Sky bars and nightclubs in Bangkok

Sky bars in Bangkok are a popular tourist attraction and there are quite a few to choose from. Expect to pay higher prices if visiting any. The city also has a good selection of nightclubs for those wishing to dance the night away. Sky bars and nightclubs are scattered mostly around Siam Square and also in Silom, Sukhumvit and Pratunam.

Food in Bangkok

Being a foodie kind of traveler, one of the main attractions to us in Bangkok is the food. No need to worry about where you’re gonna eat. Here you’ll find a food stall practically on each corner, or dozens in one street!

Street food dishes are usually small in size as many Thais eat small portions multiple times a day. Mostly, the stalls are run by women who prepare just a handful, if not just one main dish. This is the reason why these women chefs give you one of the most amazingly combined dishes that are so precise in what is in each dish and will leave you wanting more.

Mostly, these stalls sell Asian food, although you do find sweet pancakes or deep-fried chicken stalls. We savored amazing street food  near the  Wang Lang market  and  Yaowarat China Town . Here you will find anything from smoothies to cream-filled sponges.

Bus number 53 passes from Phra Arthit Road (close to Khao San) and goes to Yaowarat.

Food to try

The most popular dish among foreigners is the amazing  Pad Thai , which is noodles with either pork, chicken or seafood. Thipsamai Pad Thai is around 15 minutes walk from Khao San Road and is Bangkok’s most famous Pad Thai eatery.

Food in Thailand, especially the eateries catered for the locals are always amazing . Other famous dishes such as  Tom Yum soup  (coconut milk soup with shrimps), stewed pork leg, Khao Pad (fried rice), Tom Kha Gai (chicken coconut soup) are a must try. These are just a few amongst a vast range of other great dishes.

One of our favourite dishes is the crispy pork, either with noodles or rice, with the pork being the best we have had anywhere else. Prices vary for each dish but are generally around 60 to 100 Baht per dish. A dish of fried pork is usually around 100 Baht.

A word of advice, do not miss the tasty and cheap street food of Bangkok. Pad Thai is the most popular Thai dish among foreigners. Although this dish is amazing, don’t miss out on all the other great dishes to be explored. As a general rule, always ask for the price beforehand if this is not displayed. If something looks good just go for it.

Having said that, when in Bangkok, we occasionally opted for some tasty Western food (we recommend checking reviews first). There’s a huge number of restaurants to choose from but comes in as more expensive than local food.

Map of Central Bangkok

The map highlights Bangkok’s major districts (each district is shown in a different colour). It also pinpoints the places of interest mentioned in this post.

Credit for map of central Bangkok: Globe-trotter, based on work from OpenStreetMap.org contributors; license:  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ .

Bangkok Major Districts :  Hotspots

Rattanakosin :  Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, Bangkok National Musuem, Thipsamai, Raan Jay Fai (the last 2 being top eateries in Bangkok)

Siam Square: MBK, Siam Paragon, Central World, Jim Thompson House, Erawine Shrine

Thonburi: Wat Arun, Wang Lang Market

Sukhumvit :  Nana Plaza, Soi Cowboy

Silom:  Lumpini Park, Patpong, Mahanakhon Skywalk

Is Bangkok worth visiting?

Still not decided whether or not to visit Bangkok? Below is our take.

Our answer is a definitive yes.

Bangkok is one of Thailand’s main highlight destinations. It is the main hub for international flights into Thailand and at some point, you will surely pass through Bangkok.

So, there is no reason for not spending a couple of days here. The chances are that if coming to Thailand you will end up hearing loads of great things about the Thai capital, and it would be disappointing not having experienced it firsthand.

“ Our recommendation would be to have your stay in Bangkok on flexible days. The city may be overwhelming to some, apart from the fact that it is very busy and for this also polluted. So you may either love it or hate it. Also, temperatures can go quite high, especially from March to June “

Why is planning a trip to Bangkok important?

With all the different activities, means of transport and great locations to lodge in or around, a trip to Thailand’s capital city must be planned out accordingly.

If you are into cultural stuff, there are loads of temples to be explored. Nightlife? What city doesn’t have nightlife? Food, hmm you’ll probably need to do some in-depth plan on that. You’ll be overwhelmed by the variety and vast range of different street food stalls you’ll find. High end luxury hotels, sky bars, cabaret shows, ping pong shows, river cruises, river markets and to get a lifelong souvenir, there are loads of tattoo studios to choose from.

“ Having said that, we do not think that planning should take up a lot of your time. That is why we have written this post. By drawing from our own experience we want to make planning a trip to Bangkok easy. The map included in this post should provide a good understanding of Bangkok’s city centre layout “

Travel itinerary planner – Bangkok

“ We understand that planning a trip, especially for the first time, can get quite frustrating and confusing. We have been there. For this reason, we will try, as much as possible, to simplify the travel planning process through our 4 step approach “

1. Set a travel budget

First things first, it is important to set the budget upfront and split this into daily amounts. Setting a budget is particularly relevant for long term travelers. It should be noted that as per other destinations in Thailand, Bangkok can be explored on both a tight and (obviously) not so tight budget.

From our own travel experience in Thailand, around 1/4 of our daily budget was spent on lodging expenses, another 1/4 for food and drinks and 1/4 for transportation costs. The remaining 1/4 should cover any unseen expenses or splurge a little. Please note that this is just a rough average and is calculated on the same standards for each expense category.

2. Choose the location of accommodation

Before deciding on where and in which area your accommodation is going to be, do some research on places of interest and activities and identify those which interest you the most. (The map in this post highlights Bangkok’s major districts which include Khao San Road, Ratanakosin, Yaowarat, Siam Square, Silom and Sukhumvit and its places of interest)

Ask yourself, what are your likes and dislikes? Surely, not all there is, is good for you. So just point out whatever is fit for you and skip on the rest. We do suggest choosing accommodation which is close to some of your favourite spots. This will save you both time and money. Keep in mind that Bangkok is a busy city and in some areas, at particular times it gets quite busy, (so the supposedly 30-minute drive, might end up a 1-hour drive at the least).

While in Bangkok, we chose to stay close to Khao San Road. Although close enough (a 5 minutes walk), the area of our accommodation was quiet. Khao San Road is close to some major tourist attractions, to Chao Praya River and has good bus connections although it is not connected to the Skytrain (BTS).

Other districts that are good for staying in while in Bangkok are Siam Square and Sukhumvit, which are in proximity to one another. Siam Square is Bangkok’s shopping paradise whilst Sukhumvit is most popular for its nightlife.

Check this other post if you want more information on the best area to stay in Bangkok or this if you want the most convenient place to stay in Bangkok .

3. Day-by-day trip planning (or at least a rough plan)

When the decision is made of what to see and do in your time, the next step is to start planning out your days and allocating rough time frames for each activity. On this point, do allow some extra time in between activities and do not cram everything together. Remember Bangkok can be quite hot, especially between March and June.

In our case, since we visited Bangkok during March (one of the hottest months), we opted to do the sightseeing early morning to avoid the heat and the crowd. In the afternoon, we opted to visit malls (Siam Square is particularly famous for its big shopping malls which include Siam Paragon, Central World and MBK), Lumpini Park situated in Silom district (which is close to Siam Square) or relax and chill out in the various cafeterias.

We do suggest getting an idea of the location of the preferred places of interest to efficiently plan out your day.

4. Choose the mode of transport

After deciding on what place you will be lodging, start checking out what means of transportation you prefer to be using, this also depends on what budget you have. In Bangkok city, you will be spoilt for choice in deciding the mode of transport which includes the following; the metered taxis, Grab taxis, tuk-tuks, buses, boats, the sky train (BTS), the underground train (MRT) and the motorcycle taxis.

Read these 2 posts for how to get from the airport ( Suvarnabhumi Airport or Don Mueang Airport ) to the city centre .

Getting around – Bangkok’s public transportation

Metered taxi.

While many claim that taxis in Bangkok are expensive and overcharge, that isn’t really true. The taxis in Bangkok are regulated and most often will accept a ride by meter. Just make sure you let the driver know that you want a ride by meter and not a fixed price and most will accept.

Grab taxi Bangkok

GRAB is pretty much the UBER of many destinations in south east Asia, including Bangkok. Many tourists prefer using GRAB for its convenience of getting a car to pick them if in places where taxis may not be so frequent.

We also used to rely a lot on GRAB because we also used to think taxis would just be more expensive. That was far from the reality. The same ride by GRAB is always more expensive than a taxi. Sometimes x2 or x3 the taxi price. I suggest trying both.

Tuk-Tuks are an experience that everyone should try in Bangkok. Some are banged up, others are like a modified car complete with leather seats, flickering neon lights and blasting load music.

However, tuk-tuks aren’t a way to get around for long distances are they are more expensive than taxis and Grab.

Motorcycle taxis

The motorcycle taxis are identifiable through the red vest the driver wears. These motorbike taxis are commonly used by locals that live in neighborhoods branching off the main road and need to reach the main road to catch the bus or to go to the BTS station. A 1 km ride is generally around THB15. But for longer rides a price must be negotiated with the driver.

Skytrain (BTS)

If your accommodation is anywhere near a BTS sky train station, that would also be a good ‘traveling around Bangkok’ option. The Sukhumvit area in Bangkok is entirely connected by the BTS which connects popular areas such as Ekkamai, Thonglor, Asoke, Siam and more.

Bangkok Buses

Personally, we would recommend using buses for shorter distances and mostly within the old part of Bangkok which because it doesn’t have a rapid transit system.

Also, if your hotel is located along a road branching off Sukhumvit, buses are cost affective way to get to the BTS. There are several types of buses which have different fare costs. If the bus has open windows (no air condition), is noisy, and somewhat banged up, those buses cost between THB8 and THB10. If the bus is blue and has air condition the fare is THB20.

The bus routes aren’t that straightforward. But if you search directions on google maps, you’ll can choose how to get there by bus which show you all the options, times and schedules.

Transitbangkok is also a useful website providing a guide to Bangkok’s buses.

Some bus stops include an information board including the name of the stop, bus numbers going through that stop, the different bus types and other useful information such as where there is a skytrain station and an extract of the bus route

Chao Praya Riverboats

Boats travel through the Chao Praya River and the city’s canal, Saen Saep Canal. Through the Chao Praya River, boats with different coloured flags operate on different schedules and stop at different piers (refer to the picture below for information on the different flag colours and the respective pier stops).

Useful pier names – Attraction

Tha Chang – Grand Palace

Tha Tien – Wat Pho

Phra Arthit – closest to Khao San Road

Sathorn (Taksin) central pier – Saphan Taksin BTS station

Note: Each pier has a sign including the pier name and number.

This is Wat Arun pier board which gives information on the pier stops of the tourist boat (blue flag). It shows that the orange flag boat does not stop at this pier and therefore from Wat Arun one should take a cross river ferry to Tha Thien. The board also shows the price and service time of the no-flag boat.

We opted mostly for the red flag (although this flag is referred to as orange) boats which cost 15 Baht per trip. The red flag boats are the cheapest and most frequent but tend to be the most crowded. We noted that the river bank is quite closed (one cannot walk along the river bank as access is closed due to hotels/other buildings along the bank) and access to the pier is only possible through certain areas which are sometimes not so obvious.

The blue flagged boat (refer to Wat Arun Pier board above) is the Tourist boat which is not so frequent and more expensive when compared to the orange/red flag.

Suvarnabhumi airport to Bangkok city centre

The airport rail link from Suvarnabhumi airport into Bangkok city centre is a great option at a reasonable price.

Identify the route, (in this case we used the blue line), and buy a coin from the automatic machines which are situated underground. The cost for a trip from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city centre (we stopped at Phaya Thai) was 45 Baht per person.

From there, we then got a Grab taxi to our accommodation close to Khao San Road, for 125 baht. There are cheaper bus options that will also take you to Khao San either directly from the airport – the S1 bus – or from Phaya Thai station, bus route 59. At the airport, the S1 bus is located on the first floor, outside, next to the other buses.

Bangkok has 2 airports; Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang . Suvarnabhumi Airport serves the full service airlines whilst the other serves the low cost carriers .

Is Bangkok Tour Package worth Considering?

We are kind of ‘do it yourself’ travelers who prefer to research first and then plan sightseeing accordingly. We choose to visit hot spots when they are not so crowded with tourists and therefore we rarely take on package tours.

However, we have visited quite a few destinations in Asia, so we sort of know how things work. With that said, for anyone visiting Bangkok for the first time and that isn’t familiar with the Asian dynamics, I would think doing a tour or 2 in Bangkok is quite a good idea. At least a tour will take away a lot of the confusion.

We also do tours sometimes if we just want to relax and can’t be bothered spending more time researching than actually doing the activity. In that case we use → Viator where can see a list of interesting activities and tours with having to stress over a plan.

Or you may like this guide the best day trips from Bangkok .

Useful Thailand Travel Tips

Sim card thailand.

Sim cards may be bought directly at the Suvarnabhumi airport. Prices may be higher here, but it saves a lot of hassle. So unless having planned out everything for your arrival, (especially the means of transport to your accommodation), the airport would be the best option.

We bought the DTAC 30 Days Happy Tourist Sim Card for 899 Thai Baht at the airport. The sim card included 12 GB of data valid for 1 month (whilst the sim card is valid for 12 months).

After 1 month, we topped up with 350 Thai Baht for 7.5 GB of data through DTAC mobile application. The DTAC Thailand sim card provided us with good network coverage throughout Thailand’s major areas.

Best Currency Exchange Rate for Thai Baht

The best currency exchange rate would be in Thailand. Don’t exchange beforehand as the rates in your country wouldn’t be as good as what you find in Thailand.

The airport has loads of currency exchange kiosks but their rates aren’t so good. The best way would be to only exchange enough to get you to the accommodation and exchange the rest elsewhere. The more touristy streets generally have the best rates as they have more competition. These foreign exchange kiosks are just small aluminum boxes set up along the streets. Before exchanging any money always ask if there is an additional fee.

Always Ask the Price Before Buying

If getting a short distance tuk tuk or just grabbing some quick street food, always ask the price first. This is a practical way to not pay a higher price, as well as barter, especially for tuk tuks.

Drink Plenty of Water

Bangkok is a hot humid city, so drink loads of water especially if out and about.

>> We have recently visited the River Kwai Jungle Rafts from Bangkok and wrote about our experience and all you need to know. Read our review of the River Kwai Jungle Rafts .

>>> And if you plan to visit  Ayutthaya or Kanchanaburi from Bangkok , we will find all you need to know about getting there in these 2 posts; Bangkok to Ayutthaya and Bangkok to Kanchanaburi .

HEY, just so you know…

This article contains affiliate links. That means that if you purchase anything from the links, I may get a small commission. Affiliates do not affect the final price and help cover the costs to maintain this website and keep it free for everyone.

3 thoughts on “Bangkok Thailand | A Travel Guide for First Time Travelers”

I just returned from Bangkok and found this travel guide incredibly helpful! The tips on navigating the streets and haggling at markets were particularly useful. Can’t wait to share my own experiences with others!

Loved this guide! I’m planning a trip to Bangkok for the first time and this was super helpful. The tips on navigating the streets and avoiding scams were especially useful. Can’t wait to try all the delicious street food

Yes definitely try the food in Bangkok. Especially anything with pork is delicious.

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——— ABOUT US ———

We're Jackie and James, now in our late 30's, we've been traveling on and off for 5 years now. After living our entire lives on a tiny island named Malta, we set off to explore Asia on a budget while writing detailed guides about awesome destinations. We hope our travels help you realize that traveling doesn't have to cost a fortune.

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Bangkok Tourism Guide

The insider's guide and essential travel planner.

A s a gateway to Thailand’s many beautiful islands and beaches, Bangkok has become one of the world’s most visited cities . The Thai capital is a vibrant and frenetic place , offering non-stop action and constantly dazzling visitors with a variety of sights, sounds, and scents. It can be overwhelming, as it assaults the senses with majestic temples, flavorful cuisine and pungent street food, an exhilarating nightlife, and reinvigorating massages. It’s an exuberant and exotic destination with much to explore, from busy roads lined with food stalls and huge shopping malls, to towering skyscrapers topped with rooftop bars offering stunning views and signature cocktails. This is your illustrated guide to planning your most memorable experiences, with insider tips to help you find the real city.

BANGKOK HIGHLIGHTS - 5 REASONS TO GO

1. Fairytale architecture in magnificent temples with some of the world’s most monumental Buddha images. 2. The world’s highest and most spectacular rooftop bars . 3. Some of the world’s biggest street markets . 4. One of the world’s best cuisines and the most varied street food . 5. A world-(in)famous nightlife for all tastes.

First time in Bangkok?

Helpful insider tips to plan the perfect days in the city:.

The Best Neighborhoods Know where to stay

Top 10 Attractions What you must see and do

Bangkok in 1, 2, or 3 Days Suggested itineraries

Bangkok Tours The most popular tours and activities

Top 25 Rooftop Bars The world's most spectacular rooftops

Transportation Know how to get around Bangkok

Advance planning -- know before you go.

WHEN TO GO : Bangkok is a year-round destination, but its tropical climate is more pleasant at different times of the year. No matter when you go, it will be hot and humid, but the cooler days are between November and January (December is the coolest, with average high temperatures reaching 26°C/79°F). Take an umbrella between May and November, as that’s the unpredictable rainier season, but it will still be warm and the rains rarely last more than one or two hours at a time. The highest temperatures happen between March and May, with April being the hottest and most uncomfortable month (the average high is 35°C/95°F). The peak tourist season is December and January. In April you’ll catch the Thai New Year celebrations, while in May you’ll see candlelight processions around important temples, marking Buddha’s Enlightenment. Another major event is the Golden Mount Fair in November, with performances and processions at the foot of the Golden Mount .

VISAS : Citizens from the United States, Australia, and most of Europe can enter Thailand without a pre-arranged visa. You’ll be allowed to stay for 30 days, but those wishing to stay longer can acquire a 60-day tourist visa from a Thai embassy or consulate prior to arrival. You should do that about one month before your departure date.

BOOKINGS : You should book your hotel about three months in advance for the most popular luxury or boutique hotels , especially if you’re staying in December or January. Not only will you have a better chance of getting the preferred room, you’ll also have the best rates. If you’re interested in a tour , book it one week before. If you’re wondering where you should book your room, see our guide to the best neighborhoods to stay in Bangkok .

HOW MANY DAYS IN BANGKOK ? Although many people stay in Bangkok for just two or three days, before or after the Thai beach resort experience, it’s not uncommon for visitors to extend their time to as much as one week or more. You can see the main sights in just two days, but, with its many rooftop pools and bars, spas and massages, Bangkok is also a city for relaxation and pampering, not meant to be rushed. For the full experience, plan at least five days in the city.

WHAT’S NEW IN BANGKOK IN 2022?

The COVID-19 pandemic has put many projects on hold around the world, including in Bangkok, but there are still new attractions in the city to enjoy in 2022. Despite the devastating effects of the pandemic on the travel industry, Bangkok has inaugurated two major new hotels, both located in the same compound on the riverfront. Those are the luxurious Capella Hotel and the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok . Also new is Paradise Lost, a tropical-inspired and eco-friendly rooftop bar at the design hotel Siam@Siam . Then there’s the city’s ever-expanding transport network. After the new stations of the MRT (the underground metro), which now offer faster connections to popular neighborhoods like Chinatown and the Old City (and they are some quite beautiful stations, especially Wat Mangkon Station, which is decorated with traditional Chinese motifs), come new stations for the BTS Skytrain, although these are on the northbound Sukhumvit line, outside the typical tourist areas. The MRT has also introduced Thailand’s first underground museum, at the Sanam Chai station. It’s a free and very informative exhibition, with artifacts unearthed during the station’s construction, mostly related to the area’s ancient palaces.

OFFICIAL BANGKOK TOURISM OFFICE

BangkokTourismGuide.com has everything you need to plan your visit to Bangkok. Written by tourism experts, it offers complete and unbiased information, and is entirely independent, not associated with any local business, organization or institution. It’s an insider’s guide which you may print, creating a guidebook to take around the city with you. In case of any last-minute doubts when you arrive, look for the official tourism office at Suvarnabhumi Airport, open 24 hours on the arrivals floor. In the center of the city, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has a tourist office on 1600 New Phechatburi Road, close to the Phetchaburi station of the MRT subway and the Makkasan station of the Airport Rail Link.

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Covid-19 Pandemic in Bangkok and Thailand - Travel Advisory

Ultimate 3 Days in Bangkok – A Local’s guide to The Perfect Bangkok Itinerary

Written By: Stella Saintis

City Guides , Thailand

Updated On: January 8, 2023

Spending three days in Bangkok and figuring out the perfect Bangkok Itinerary?  Well, we have got you covered. 3 days in Bangkok is just the right amount of time to explore Thailand’s capital before moving on to see the rest of the country.

Bangkok is the most exciting city in Southeast Asia and makes for an excellent first stop on any Thailand itinerary. We have gone back to Thailand many times during our 20 years of travel and are always drawn to Bangkok. Thailand has a strong tourism infrastructure, and while Bangkok can be overwhelming at first, once you have spent some time in the city, you will fall in love with it as we have.

Table of Contents

Ultimate Bangkok Itinerary in 3 Days

To help you in your plan your trip to Bangkok, we’ve partnered with local Bangkok resident, Stella Saintis to create this Bangkok Itinerary. Between our experience as tourists and her local expertise, this Bangkok travel guide will help you make the most out of your 3 days in Bangkok.

• Day 1 in Bangkok –  Chao Phraya River – Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Khaosan Road
• Day 2 in Bangkok – Chatuchak Weekend Market, Jim Thompson House, Bangkok Art & Cultural Center, Erawen Shrine, Neon Night Market, Soi 11
• Day 3 in Bangkok – Sampeng Lane Market, Golden Buddha Temple, Lumphini Park, Thai Cooking Class, Rooftop Bar
• Day 4 – Optional Bonus Day Trip

Hi everyone, I’m Stella. As a resident of the Bangkok, I feel that three days in Bangkok gives you enough time to see and do a lot of the top attractions that the city has to offer. If you follow this Bangkok travel guide, your trip to the city will check off all the top attractions. So sit back and relax because we are going to help you make the most of your time in Bangkok and plan an itinerary to the land of smiles. Bangkok is a huge city, but it is not impossible to see and do a lot during your brief stay.

Three Day Bangkok Itinerary

Bangkok is a huge sprawling metropolis. There are so many things to in Bangkok, that it is important to make sure you make the most of your time there. When putting this day by day Bangkok itinerary together, I wanted to give you a good balance of seeing the top attractions as well as experiencing the culture and food that Bangkok has to offer. This Bangkok itinerary shares the best things to do in Bangkok for first-time visitors.

• Fun fact: in Thai, Bangkok is known as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon which is actually a shortened version of its longer name that is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest place name.

Here is an interactive map (Just click on it to open in another window) that will help you see what kind of distances you will be covering as well as where everything is in relation to each other.

Day 1 in Bangkok

There are many places to base yourself in Bangkok. We recommend Banglamphu (which is famous for the backpackers street known as Khao San Road. It is also a great base for day 1 in Bangkok as it is close to the Chao Praya River and most of the top things to see on your Bangkok Itinerary are located here. From the Emerald Buddha to the Reclining Buddha, day 1 has it all.

Make your way to the Chao Phraya river either to The Taskin Bridge or in Banglamphu near Khao San Road and board either a tourist boat or the local boat. Both stop at the attractions along the Chao Phraya.

The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew

Begin your Bangkok itinerary at  the Grand Palace first thing in the morning. We recommend going early as it gets busy fast. This is one of the top Bangkok attractions, so it makes the perfect place to start your Bangkok adventure.

Inside the grounds sits the famous Wat Phra Kaew aka Temple of the Emerald Buddha. You are allowed to go in and see it but no pictures are allowed. Wat Phra Kaew is still a working temple and The Emerald Buddha (which is actually made of jade), is Thailand’s most sacred Buddha.

My favorite things about the Grand Palace are all the golden statues and jeweled mosaics that are simply breathtaking. The buildings are gorgeous and the grounds are meticulously landscaped.

Tips for Visiting the Grand Palace

Dress Code: Make sure to dress properly when visiting – covered shoulders and legs – since there are sacred temples located inside the palace complex there is a strict dress codea. You will not be allowed in if you are not dressed properly. If you are not prepared, the Grand Palace does offer clothing to borrow.

We recommend a guided tour of the Grand Palace. We had visited it several times before, but it wasn’t until we had a tour that we appreciated its history and understood its significance. P

• Hours:  8:30 am – 3:30 pm
• Cost:  500 baht; includes ticket to Vimanmek Mansion and Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall (valid within 7 days of purchase)

How to get to the Grand Palace

• The Grand Palace is easily accessible by taxi, tuktuk, Chao Phraya River Express or Grab Taxi app. It is easy to get around from the Grand Palace along the Chao Phraya River to see the rest of your sites on this 1 day itinerary.
• Or take the skytrain to Saphan Taksin Station. This stop is at the Chao Phraya River. You can then hop on the Chao Phraya Express which stops at the Grand Palace Complex.
• There are local water taxis that can take you to the Grand Palace as well.
• See our video on how to navigate the Chao Phraya River.

Wat Pho and Reclining Buddha

The Thai word for temple is ‘wat,’ and your next stop is Wat Pho. From the Grand Palace, walk just behind to find one of the most famous Thai temples in Bangkok. Wat Pho houses the famous Reclining Buddha. It is a massive golden statue that takes up the entire temple.

Located just behind the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, you’ll be able to see two of the most famous Buddhas in Bangkok at one time. At 46 metres (150 feet) long and 15 metres (49 feet) tall, the reclining Buddha is one of the largest in the world.

At the back of the grounds is a famous Thai massage school. If you feel tired from all of the walking, why not stop by for a foot massage? They are rumored to be the best and are quite affordable.

Tips for Visiting Wat Pho

Dress Code: Again, I should note that proper dress is required when visiting this temple. All temples in Thailand have a strict dress code that everyone follows. Visitors should have their shoulders and legs covered. I recommend having a light shirt to throw on and a long skirt or pants is best. They do provide a cover-up at this temple for visitors who are not dressed appropriately.

• Opening Hours:  8:00 am – 6:30 pm
• Cost:  100 baht (with a free bottle of water!)
• Accessible via  taxi, tuktuk, or Grab Taxi

After visiting the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, you will probably be hungry. Grab lunch at one of the restaurants along the banks of the river that offers a view of Wat Arun, your next destination.

I recommend The Deck, which has great drinks and food.

Wat Arun – Temple of the Dawn

After lunch we continue the rest of day 1 of our three day Bangkok itinerary across the river at Wat Arun. It takes no time to ride a ferry across the river from Wat Pho and the Grand Palace to Wat Arun Temple. Wat Arun is better known as the Temple of the Dawn. Plus The ferry ride is just 3 baht! (about 10 cents)

You may recognize this temple’s central spire as it is famous in the skyline of Bangkok along the river. I loved visiting simply because I got to see another stunningly beautiful Thai temple. Be sure to keep an eye out for the row of golden buddhas.

• Opening Hours:  8:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Cost:  100 baht
• Accessible via  taxi, tuktuk, or ferry

Hire a Longtail Boat

At the end of this Bangkok guide, we give information for an extra day to take a day trip out of the city to explore the floating market. But if you don’t have time, hiring a long tail boat to explore the back canals of the Chao Phraya. Known as Klongs, these Bangkok Canals are what gives the city its name, “The Venice of the East.”

Here you can see smaller markets without having to go a long way out of the city. is a really special experience. It takes you off the main river through the locks and into the residential neighborhoods of Bangkok that are located on the water.

Plus, there is a small floating market where you can feed the fish, buy a beer, and experience what they are like without having to go out of the city. You can hire a private longtail boat anywhere along the Chao Phraya. Cost for entire boat is 1000 baht. You can book in advance as well.

5. Khaosan Road (Khao San Road)

From Wat Arun, take the ferry back across the river and grab a taxi (or walk ) over to Khao San road. No trip to Bangkok would be complete without spending at least some time in this famous Backpackers hangout.

There are plenty of souvenir shops and a lot of street food and Thai food stalls. Khao San Road is my favorite place to eat Pad Thai and people watch. Make sure to have a Thai massage here. There are many to choose from and they are cheap. After all of the walking, you may also opt for a foot massage or even a fish massage.

Khao San Road is a popular street for backpackers to hang out and stay in Bangkok. It is also a great place for bar hopping and partying. You’ll want to spend the evening here to get a vibe for this quirky spot.

After your message, you can grab a bite to eat for dinner at one of the many restaurants on Khao San Road, you can’t go wrong. Or try some of the street food options available. They are cheap and delicious eats.   Keep an eye out for the vendors selling up fresh bugs! Be brave and give it a try – I once had an entire meal of just bugs!

If you want to take a break before experiencing Bangkok’s nightlife make you’re way to Wat Saket (Golden Mount) to watch Sunset. It is just a 20 minute walk from Khao San Road and offers a beautiful view of Bangkok as the sun goes down.

Bangkok Nightlife

Those looking to party in Bangkok should stay in Khao San road for the evening. There is also a lot of accommodation around Khao San Road. This road draws lots of tourists every night and is a great introduction to the party vibe of Bangkok. Plus, you’ll probably meet a lot of fellow travelers to get recommendations for your travels around Thailand.

It is most popular with backpackers and budget travelers due to the large number of cheap hostels in the area and affordable drinks at the numerous bars. The most famous drinks on Khao San Road are known as ‘buckets’ and essentially are a pail filled with your choice of alcohol and mixer. Bottoms up!

• Opening Hours:  24 hours, though most bars are open in the evenings
• Cost:  Free to walk around; one of the cheaper places to drink and shop in Bangkok
• Accessible via  taxi/tuk tuk/Grab Taxi app

You have now finished day one in Bangkok. It is time to head back to your hotel and rest up.

Day 2 in Bangkok

On the second day in Bangkok, check out some more famous cultural sights, and markets of Bangkok.

Note: 2 days in Bangkok is a good amount of time for most people, so if you decide to move on after today, you will have seen most of the city highlights.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

If your visit happens to span a weekend, I highly recommend checking out this famous Chatuchak weekend market. This is a great places to start day 2 of your Bangkok Itinerary.

The sheer size of this market is part of what makes it such a popular destination in Bangkok. Shoppers can find just about anything here, at crazy cheap prices. The best time to visit is earlier in the day on the weekends, before the crowds and infamous Bangkok heat hit.

If you get hungry while shopping, there are small food stalls located in one section of the market where you can grab some Pad Thai or Green Curry. They also have places to get a Thai massage if you need to relax (and enjoy some AC!)

• Opening Hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
• Cost: Free to walk around! Only spend on what you want to buy (and everything is super cheap)!
• Accessible via BTS Mo Chit, MRT Mo Chit, or taxi/tuk tuk/Grab Taxi app

Jim Thompson House

After shopping, take the BTS Skytrain down to another famous landmark. The Jim Thompson House is a great place to visit, especially for those interested in Thai architecture and art.

This museum is a tribute to the man, Jim Thompson, an American who came to Thailand and started a textile business to promote Thai silk. His business is still thriving to this day. Many people come to visit his house as it is an excellent example of different Thai architectural styles.

During the tour, the guide tells visitors all about the life of Jim Thompson and his mysterious death in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia (they never found his body!).

While the house is lovely, my favorite part was the jungle-like garden outside. It made me completely forget the noise and chaos of the city.

• Opening Hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Cost: 200 baht
• Accessible via BTS National Stadium or taxi/tuk-tuk/Grab Taxi app to Jim Thomspon house

Bangkok Art and Culture Center

Just down the road from the Jim Thompson House is the Bangkok Arts and Thailand Cultural Centre. This is a great location for those interested in seeing contemporary art exhibits or cultural events. If you are wanting to add some cultural experiences to your Bangkok trip planner, this is a good place to start. There are also cafes, bookshops, craft shops, and art galleries.

The exhibition and events regularly change, so be sure to  check their website  in advance for an up to date look at what is being offered. 

• Opening Hours:  Closed Monday, Tuesday-Sunday open from 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
• Cost:  Free!
• Accessible via  BTS National Stadium

Bangkok Malls – Siam Paragon and MBK Center

You are now in the heart of downtown and a trip to Southeast Asia wouldn’t be complete without exploring some of its megamalls. Bangkok has some of the largest malls in the world.

One of my favorite places to escape the heat is Siam Paragon. This massive mall has an entrainment complex, movie theater, luxury brand names and it even had luxury indoor car dealerships. Grab an iced coffee and follow the maze of indoor walkways to the different shopping centres.

Located between the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center and your next destination, are some of the biggest malls in South East Asia You can spend as long as you like in the malls. Once you have taken advantage of that air conditioning and finding deals at the MBK Center, continue walking to Erawan Shrine.

Erawan Shrine

This Hindu shrine is a major landmark in the middle of Bangkok. And one of the many shrines and temples you’ll find in the city. Erawan shrine is dedicated to the god of creation, was originally built in 1956 to ward off bad luck for a hotel that was built nearby, but now draws hundreds of people every day.

It is interesting to see how the throne is incorporated into the life of locals, who stop by during breaks, or on their way to and from work. You can also sometimes catch a traditional dance performance by the dancers hired by worshippers to give thanks for their prayers.

• Opening Hours:  6:00 am – 11:00 pm
• Cost:  Free
• Accessible via  BTS Skytrain to Chit Lom

Neon Night Market

The Neon Night Market is one of the best places to visit in Bangkok at night. No trip to Bangkok would be complete without exploring it at night and the Neon Night Market is the perfect place to do so.

You might be feeling hungry for dinner by now. While there are a multitude of restaurants in the malls downtown, I recommend walking up the Neon night market. This is also a great place to grab authentic Thai street food and many other Thai dishes food dishes like Pad Thai. But you’ll also find seafood, grilled cheese, octopus, ribs, and MUCH more!

There are also a few bars and place to buy beers and drinks, including a ‘galaxy cocktail,’ which is a glittery concoction that looks too fancy to even drink.

• Opening Hours:  5:00 pm – 12:00 am
• Cost:  All food and drinks are very affordable (few hundred baht).
• Accessible via  BTS Chit Lom

Sukhumvit Soi 11

If you want to continue your night out, head down to Soi 11, and the rooftop bar Above Eleven. It offers fantastic views of the city. While it may not be the towering rooftop in other hotels, its s open-air design is the perfect place to end the night. 

Just around the corner, you can also find the Havana bar down a small alley off Soi 11. It’s a secret speakeasy with a Cuban theme that you can only access by plugging in code inside a phone booth. 

Ask the guy selling Cubano sandwiches in front of the phone booth for the password.

There are plenty of other bars and nightclubs in the area so stay out late and go bar hopping. This area makes for a fun night out in Bangkok!

• Opening Hours:  Most bars stay open until about 2:30 am
• Cost:  Drinks cost from 90-180 baht depending on the bar.
• Accessible via  BTS Nana, or taxi/tuktuk/Grab Taxi app

Going out late at night is one of the best things to do in Bangkok. There’s a reason  the Hangover  chose Bangkok for its sequel. It’s party central. If you would like to explore another popular late-night area check out a Soi Cowboy.

Located just off the BTS, this street is one of a few red light districts in Bangkok. You may have heard of its ‘ping pong’ shows but we recommend skipping these as ther e is a very real problem in Bangkok with human trafficking.

Instead, walk through the street to see the red neon lights and make your way to Soi 11 which is a popular late night hang out full of bars and clubs (see above). 

• Hours:  Most bars stay open until about 2:30 am
• Cost:  Drinks are from 90-180 baht depending on the bar.
• Accessible via  BTS Asoke, MRT Sukhumvit, or taxi/tuk tuk/Grab Taxi app

It’s been a long day, but you have now spent 2 days in Bangkok. Are you ready for your final day in the city?

Day 3 in Bangkok

Now that you have spent 2 days in Bangkok you are probably feeling very comfortable. It is now time to delve in to a few more local experiences.

The final day 3 Bangkok Itinerary takes you to Chinatown, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Bangkok. You will then walk to Lumpini Park (for a bit of green) and the Sala Daeng area for a cooking class and famous rooftop bar.

 Bangkok is an exciting city and three days is enough to get a taste of its energy. So, let’s get started with your final day in the City of Angels.

Sampeng Lane Market

On your last day in Bangkok, we will start in Chinatown! Take the MRT to Hua Lamphong station and walk down the popular Yaowat road to the Sampeng Lang Market (also referred to as Soi Wanit 1 by some). This tiny walking street in Chinatown offers a unique shopping experience.

What makes this market appealing is the fact that shoppers can find just about anything here,  including fabrics, electronics, toys, beauty supplies and much more.

The maze of streets that make up this market means you may get lost at some point, but that’s part of the fun! Plus, The street is really narrow and it can get congested. But if you want a shopping experience that is completely different from what you are used to, I recommend checking it out.

Try and give yourself time to really immerse yourself in this Chinatown staple. The best part is that everything is sold at wholesale prices.

• Hours:  8:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Cost:  Free! Just depending what you want to spend while shopping.
• Accessible via  MRT Hua Lamphong or taxi/tuk tuk/Grab Taxi app
• Read our post on how to  Bargain like a pro.   When shopping at markets, you will have to barter over the price. In Bangkok, we recommend never accepting the first price they say. So have some fun and start talking them down. It’s a tradition!

Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha Temple)

After walking, and maybe shopping, on Sampeng Lane, visit the famous Wat Traimit, or the Golden Buddha Temple. Inside this temple sits the largest solid gold Buddha statue in the world!

This temple is made up of four floors. The Golden Buddha is located on the 4th floor of the temple. Underneath on the 2nd and 3rd floors are the Chinese Cultural Center. The museum sheds light on the history of the Chinese in Bangkok as well as information on the discovery of the Golden Buddha.  I found it very interesting, and suggest you get the ticket that includes all the levels.

• Hours:  8:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Cost:  100 baht for just the Chinese Cultural Center. 40 baht just to see the Golden Buddha. 140 baht for both (which I recommend!)

Lumphini Park

After visiting the temple, take the MRT a few stops to Lumphini Park. This is the biggest park in the city and offers a welcome respite from the chaos of the city. The park has many paths and walkways that are great for some peace and quiet after a busy day Chinatown. The small lake in the center offers visitors the option to rent paddle boats for a small fee.

You can also buy fish food to feed the fish who inhabit the lake. Make sure to keep an eye out for the giant monitor lizards that roam freely – they don’t attack, but it is wise to keep your distance.

If you are staying in Bangkok for a few more days and are in the mood for an exercise class, you can join Thais of all ages and dance along to music in one of the popular aerobics classes in the evenings.

• Hours:  4:30 am – 9:00 pm
• Cost:  Free! Boat rides are 40 baht (with a 40 baht deposit that you get back once you return within the time frame of 30 minutes). For 20 baht more you can get a bag of bread to feed the fish.
• Accessible via  BTS Sala Daeng, MRT Lumphini or MRT Silom, or taxi/tuk tuk/Grab Taxi app

Thai Cooking Class

After wandering the lovely Lumphini Park, it is time to eat! Walk over or take the BTS to the Silom Thai Cooking School for their afternoon class.

Haven’t you always wanted learn how to make your own Pad Thai? We’ve taken a few cooking classes in Thailand and when back home in Canada, it helps us relive our Thailand memories.

Thai food is some of the best in the world, and this cooking school offers classes on how to cook all of the most popular dishes. 

Popular Thai Dishes

• Pad Thai – Stir friend noodles with peanut sauce
• Pad Kra Prao
• Pad Woon Sen – stir-fried glass noodles
• kway toew – noodle soup
• Pla Kapung Neung Manao – Steam Lime Fish
• Tom Yum Goong – Spicy Shrimp Soup
• Som Tam – Spicy Green Papaya Salad
• Panang Curry
• Green Curry
• Kai Med Ma Muang – Chicken with Cashew Nuts

Silom Thai Cooking School offers classes every day of the week. What I liked most about them was that they include a market tour in order for guests to see the actual ingredients used in the dishes.

At the end of the class, you get a cookbook with all of the recipes and many more to take home with you!  I took the cooking class here THREE times while I was living in Bangkok – it was that good!

• Hours:  Morning class 9:00 am – 12:20 pm (includes market tour), Afternoon class 1:40 pm – 5:00 pm (includes market tour), Evening class 6:00 pm.- 9:00 pm
• Cost:  1000 baht per person; night class offered for 900 baht
• Accessible via  BTS Chong Nonsi or taxi/tuk tuk

If you want to book a Thai Cooking class in advance you can check out a list of classes around the city  here . Read this full Thailand food guide: 9 Massively Tasty Thai Dishes

Visit a Rooftop Bar

After your cooking class, you have a choice to end the day at many of the nearby rooftop bar. Bangkok has many to choose from and you can usually find thatm at the top of a luxury hotel. There is nothing better than watching the sun set over Bangkok. Here are a couple of my favourite places for rooftop bars in Bangkok.

The Sky Bar, at the top of the Lebua Hotel, is one of the most popular rooftop bars in Bangkok. Part of its fame comes from the scenes filmed there in the movie The Hangover 2. Fans of the movie will immediately recognize the large golden dome. The view at this bar, which claims to be one of the highest in the world, is spectacular, particularly at sunset.

• Hours:  4:00 pm – 1:00 am
• Cost:  Drinks cost between 300 and 850 baht, with most cocktails costing 650/690 baht.
• Accessible via  BTS Saphan Taksin or taxi/tuk tuk/Grab Taxi

Banyan Hotel

If you prefer walking (which you might after the meal from the cooking school), head to the Banyan Hotel for an equally magnificent view of Bangkok.

At the top of this hotel, the Moon Bar offers equally stunning views of the city. It was voted one of the top rooftop bars in the world, and makes a great place to watch the sunset and the lights of Bangkok to come on.

• Hours:  5:00 pm – 1:00 am
• Cost:  Drinks cost between 300 – 900 baht.
• Accessible via  MRT Lumphini, or taxi/tuktuk/Grab Taxi app

Bonus Day 4 – Day Trip Floating Markets

If you are planning on 4 days in Bangkok, I’ve added a bonus trip that should not be missed. Plus, if you continue reading, there are more Thailand travel tips below to extend your Bangkok itinerary with tours and recommendations.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Bangkok is famous for its floating markets, but they are farther out of the city. If you have your heart set on a Bangkok itinerary that includes one, the Damnoen Saduak floating market located 90 minutes outside of the city. You can book a half day tour to full day  tours with Get Your Guide , t hey have plenty to choose from.

Amphawa Floating Market

This is my favourite of the two as it is less touristy and more authentic.

To get to Amphawa take a van from the southern bus terminal in Bangkok. It will drop you near the entrance. Be sure to enjoy some fresh seafood while strolling the many stalls. I also encourage you to take a boat tour to see more of the surrounding area.

If you want to avoid the hassle of taking a bus or haggling over prices, consider booking one of these reputable tours:

• Damnoen Saduak Floating Market 6 Hour tour
• Damnoen Saduak Floating Market & Maeklong Train Market Tour
• Bangkok’s Must-See Weekend Floating Markets Private Day Trip
• Damnoen Saduak Tour and Authentic Thai Cookery Class

Resources to Help ou Plan your trip to Bangkok

Suggested Bangkok Tours

A great way to get acquainted with any city when you first arrive it so take a city tour. It is also a good way to see many sites in a short amount of time.

We use  Get Your Guide  for our city tours around the world and like them because they are easy to book, cancel within 24 hours for a full refund, and you can often book last minute.

Some suggested Bangkok Tours we recommend are

Bangkok Flexi Walking Temple Tour  – See the top Bangkok temples in one tour including the Grand Palace once home to the Kings of Siam and home to the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho, home to the reclining Buddha, and Temple of the Dawn aka Wat Arun. Check  out this page  for more details.

Private Airport Transfer – Even though it is easy to get from the Airport to downtown Bangkok, we often love being picked up at the airport by a private transfer after a long flight. A driver will be waiting for you at arrivals with your name and will take you directly to your hotel. Find out all the details   here. 

Bangkok by Night Tuk Tuk Tour   – You must take a tuk tuk at least once when you travel to Thailand. And a night tour is a good option to see the night markets, try the street food and feel safe exploring Bangkok at night. especially if you are a first time visitor to Bangkok. with the comfort and safety of a guided tour and check out the Bangkok skyline, Wat Pho and the Flower Market at night

Getting Around Bangkok

To get to Bangkok from the Airport, you can take the Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi Airport, via Makkasan Station, to Phaya Thai station in central Bangkok.

If you take a taxi, be sure to hire from the offical taxi stand and don’t be talked into anyone approaching you at the exit.

Visitors have a range of options to choose from for getting around Bangkok.

BTS Sky Train 

The BTS sky train  has frequent stops with access to many of the most popular tourist destinations. It is relatively cheap, and train cards can be topped up in stations very easily. The BTS train has two lines, the Sukhumvit line and the Silom line. Pay close attention to the direction and line you are getting on when changing at connecting stations. 

If you plan your route well and take public transportation, either the BTS or MRT where needed, you can see a lot of what Bangkok has to offer in a short amount of time.

The MRT  is the underground system in Bangkok. It uses a different card from the BTS, but it is possible to purchase single rides without one.

For a more traditional feel, try  a  tuktuk . These three wheel taxis are a fun way to take in the sights and sounds as you cruise to your destination. You’ll find tuk-tuks all around Thailand.

Taxis are another option for getting around. In Bangkok, you can take a car or a motorcycle taxi. The latter is much cheaper, but not for the faint of heart, as weaving through Bangkok traffic can be hair-raising. 

Tips for Hiring Tuk Tuks and Taxis

Always make sure to agree to a price BEFORE getting in a taxi or  tuktuk . Negotiating is encouraged, as drivers will often inflate the price for visitors. Have a set price in mind and don’t fall for the ‘tourist price.’ I was often shocked by what tourists would pay for a taxi.

Sometimes taxi drivers will refuse to take passengers; they may hear your destination and decide they don’t want to drive there. It is not personal, although it can get frustrating. Other drivers may refuse to turn on the meter. Keep trying until you get a taxi for a price that works for you.

Thailand also has a ride sharing app, much like Uber or Lyft, called  Grab taxi . Just download the app and call a ride on demand, with a price displayed. You an call a car or even a motorcycle taxi using the app (the later usually being much cheaper and good for single riders).

Suggested Bangkok Hotels

If you are looking for places to stay in Bangkok, be sure to check out the guide below. Stella wrote an in-depth guide about  where to stay in Bangkok.

• Banglamphu  – Home to the Grand Palace and Khao San Road.
• Bangrak  – For those on the hunt for amazing food.
• Chinatown  – One of the oldest areas of Bangkok.
• Sukhumvit  – A modern and cosmopolitan area in central Bangkok.
• Siam  – For those looking to shop ’til they drop.

Suggested Hotel Near Banglamphu (Khao San Road)

Riva Surya Bangkok – One of the higher-end hotels in this backpacker dominated area. Features elegant rooms, a pool, and a view of the river. Check out Availability & Prices – Trip Advisor  /  Booking.com

Okura Prestige – This Japanese brand hotel is near the Ploen Chit BTS stop. The 35th-floor infinity pool has stunning views. Check out Availability & Prices – Trip Advisor  /  Booking.com

Chao Phraya River

We also once stayed at the Sheraton Centre Royal Orchard on the Chao Phraya River and loved the location. It had free shuttles to the MTS Skytrain and we could easily explore all the Bangkok things to do in the River. Getting to downtown Bangkok from Khao San Road, Sukhumvit or the Chao Pryaya River is easy by using public transportation. Once you get into Bangkok it is cheap and easy to get around the city via taxi, tuk tuk, Skytrain or subway.

When to visit Bangkok

There is really no bad time to visit Bangkok. It is hot all year round and being a major city, there is something to do any time of the year.

• There are three main ‘seasons’ in Bangkok. The hottest season, which runs from March to June, with April typically being the hottest month.
• If you are looking to cool off,  visit during ‘Songkran Festival celebrated all around Thailand to ring in the Thai New year. The holiday is celebrated with a three-day-long water fight – the perfect way to beat the heat! This usually takes place in April.
• The rainy season runs from July through October. Expect rain on most days. Thunderstorms can appear suddenly and unleash huge amounts of water that leave the streets completely flooded.
• The most comfortable season in the city is between November and February. The city is still very hot, but there are some days when the temperature dips into the 70s.

You now know what to do in Bangkok for 3 days, but that shouldn’t stop you from returning.

To really take in the culture and vibe of the city, you will need far more than 3 days in Bangkok, but to see its highlights and its most famous sites, you can do it. We’ve returned to Bangkok again and again and always found something new. Bangkok tourism is growing each year and the city is becoming more modern with each skyscraper built.

And that is the end of your Bangkok Itinerary proving that the main attractions and sites of Bangkok can be seen in 3 short days. You did it!

For more Bangkok things to do, check out  Stella’s city guide  with a list of everything oyu can see and do in the city.

• Lonely Planet Bangkok
• Hidden Secrets of Bangkok

Check out more guides to help you plan your time in Bangkok

• Where to Stay in Bangkok
• Things to do in Bangkok

Did you enjoy this Bangkok Itinerary? Why not Pin it on Pinterest to plan your future vacation to Thailand and Southeast Asia?

You May also want to check out these Thailand Travel guides

• Thailand Travel Tips
• Top Chiang Mai Attractions
• Amazing Things to Do in Thailand
• Thailand Travel Guide
• Sea Kayaking in Thailand and Island Camping with John Gray’s Sea Canoe
• Rock Climbing in Railay, The Thailand Adventure Continues
• Best Things to do in Koh Samui
• Best Things to do in Krabi, Thailand
• Best Things to do in Phuket, Thailand

Enjoy These Thailand Cultural Experiences

• Everything You Need to Know About a Muay Thai Holiday in Thailand
• Muay Thai Kickboxing – Rawai Muay Thai in Thailand
• Thailand’s Songkran Festival, The Worlds Largest Waterfight
• Exploring Thailand by Train
• Tea Terraces in Thailand – Journey Through Doi Mae Salong
• The Importance of Responsible Tourism in Thailand

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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About Stella Saintis

Stella is the author of Stella's Out . As a traveling teacher, she lived in South East Asia for 2 years including Thailand. She now lives in Honduras here she documents her adventures on a budget. Follow her to prove that you can still have a lot of fun and travel without a lot of money Follow Stella at StellasOut.com / Facebook / Instagram /

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10 thoughts on “Ultimate 3 Days in Bangkok – A Local’s guide to The Perfect Bangkok Itinerary”

Excellent information. Very helpful for my coming up trip. Is there hop on hop off buses? Which hotels are close to hop on hop off stops

Really interesting post, I’ve never heard about the neon market.

I like that you have catered to all types of travelers. There are temples, shopping, art, gardens, and even cooking lessons. Just my type of holiday

Atlast I found a really helpful Bangkok travel guide. Being a backpacker and budget traveller I like the tourist spots which have no entry fee. This blog clearly mentioned those free places and provides an in depth guide to reach there and what to explore there. Thanks a lot for sharing such information.

Wow. Very comprehensive post and a lot to choose from.

For us, Bangkok is really one of those places that is, at first hard to love.

We found it overwhelming at first, so very big. I remember finding the sex industry there too in your face.

Warmed to it the next time, mostly because we stayed in a residential area and got to know the communities in the laneways.

By the last time, it really grew on us. Slowing right down, just walking tiny local areas. Getting lost. Just sitting beside the canal…

We would add – see a traditional puppet show. We loved the free one at The Artists House in the Klongs so much, we saw it twice. Spend time with locals and bask in the glow of the smiles of new local friends. Magic ?

Lumphini Park is amazing. Wish Bangkok had more parks like this.

Awesome itinerary! I might try doing these on my next Bangkok trip!

Thanks for your sharing. Really Bangkok such a wonderful place and the golden Buddha temple is one of my best place in Bangkok.

I’m glad to know that you’re a side hustle millionaire from travel blogging and you love doing what you do.keep up the good work my friend. 🙂

Loved visiting Bangkok, wish we stayed longer as there is so much to do and see!

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Travel Happy

The Best Map Of Bangkok

Bangkok can be a bewildering place to find your away around, especially if you’re peering at a badly drawn guidebook map. Get yourself a decent map and spend more time enjoying the sights rather than trying to find them

Big blogger Jason Kottke mentioned his frustration with finding a decent map of Bangkok on his visit here last year:

Good maps of Bangkok seem hard to come by. Before we left, we looked in several bookstores and decided on The Rough Guide to Bangkok. We’d never used a Rough Guide before but our usual (excellent) guidebook series, DK Eyewitness Guides, did not have a Bangkok-specific book, only a general Thailand guide. What a mistake…I’ve wanted to throw the RG right into the river about 10 times in the past few days. Meg promises me that once we get home, I can ritually set fire to it and cleanse ourselves of its crappiness. On one of our last days here, we happened upon the Eyewitness Guide for Thailand and while it’s thick and heavy, the Bangkok section would have been perfect for our needs. Argh! Oh well…one of the difficulties in traveling is that you never know what you’re really going to need until you get to where you’re going, and that goes double for maps.

It’s an opinion with which I can only concur – even for the well-travelled, more touristy parts of Bangkok, it can be a nightmare to match what’s on the paper in front of you with what you can actually see around you. Having lived here for nearly a year now and gone through endless free maps, guidebook maps, wholly impractical folds-out-to-cover-a-coffee-table maps, I have found a map that does actually do what you want it to do: the Groovy Map!

Check Hotel Availability And Pricing

Destination, check-in date, check-out date.

Written specifically for tourists and arriving on nicely laminated paper, the Groovy Map unfolds to a manageable size and does a great job of chopping the geographical wheat from the chaff. Points of interest, restaurants, shopping, embassies and hospitals are all clearly marked and cartographically colour-coded, alongside the routes of the Skytrain and the MRT, as well as the riverboats too. All of this info is condensed onto one side of the map, with the reverse covered in personal recommendations about where to go and what to see. They cover everything from backpacker staples like Khao San Road to the most chi-chi of establishments. With a map, you don’t want a lot of information – you want the best information, efficiently organised to let you look at it and understand it rapidly – and that’s precisely what the Groovy Map does.

There’s no advertisements or paid listings – everything mentioned has been checked out by the Guide’s staff. The Bangkok map comes in Bangkok by Day and Bangkok By Night favours, as well as a combined Bangkok Day & Night edition, which is the one I’ve got. You can order them on Amazon but you can find Groovy Map in the airport and every bookshop in Bangkok – at Asia Books and Kinokuniya, the giant English-language bookshop located in Siam Paragon and Emquartier malls.

Bangkok Holiday Essentials

• Where To Stay In Bangkok: See our guide to the best areas and the best hotels to stay in Bangkok .
• Things To Do In Bangkok: Check this huge list of Bangkok activities that you can book online.
• Flights To Bangkok: Find the cheapest flights to Bangkok and flight times from scores of airlines with Skyscanner .
• Bangkok Packing List: Don’t forget to take any of the essentials with our comprehensive Packing List For Thailand .
• Travel Insurance: World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Claim online anywhere in the world.

Groovy Map has a very good website which lets you browse previews of the maps and buy online if you like, although shipping costs are high. The maps have just been updated too. For the small price you pay, this map will save you so much time and effort, even if you have a guidebook already – trust me, I’ve been there…

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24 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Bangkok

Written by Meagan Drillinger Updated Mar 20, 2024 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Bangkok is everything you'd expect from the capital of Thailand: it's noisy, crowded, colorful, exciting, infuriating, and simply magical. Bangkok is a microcosm of what makes Thailand so special. Centuries-old temples and ancient sites sit side by side with 21st-century shopping malls that have a kitschy, yet high-end ambience. Bangkok can be overwhelming, but it's also a fascinating city that represents Southeast Asia's tension between the developed and developing worlds.

Bangkok also serves as a gateway to many other parts of Thailand . From here, you can hop a short flight to Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, and other popular destinations. You can also board a train or hop on a bus for little money, and visit national treasures such as Ayutthaya , Lopburi, and many other gems around the country.

Discover the best things to do in this bustling city with our list of the top attractions in Bangkok.

1. Admire the Beauty of the Grand Palace

3. wat arun, 4. wat traimit, temple of the golden buddha, 5. wat suthat, 6. giant swing, 7. national museum & wang na palace, 8. stock up on authentic souvenirs at chatuchak market, 9. shop by boat at the damnoen saduak floating market, 10. discover khao san road, 11. jim thompson house, 12. walk around lumpini park, 13. shop at terminal 21, 14. experience street food stalls, 15. take a river cruise, 16. step inside the temple of the emerald buddha, 17. pass through wat mahathat, 18. explore chinatown, 19. ride the skytrain, 20. shop at iconsiam, 21. take a muay thai lesson, 22. visit kalayanamit, 23. indulge at a spa, 24. check into a luxury hotel, where to stay in bangkok for sightseeing, tips and tours: how to make the most of your visit to bangkok, map of tourist attractions in bangkok, best time to visit bangkok, thailand.

If you only visit one major historical tourist attraction in Bangkok, this should be the one. The royal compound lives up to its name, with spectacular structures that would put the most decadent modern monarchs to shame.

Built in 1782, the grand palace was the royal residence for generations and is still used for important ceremonies and accommodating heads of state. Dress modestly when visiting the Grand Palace, which basically means covering your arms and legs and avoiding any sloppy attire.

To avoid any hassle and to make the most of your visit, take the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew Tour . This is a half-day sightseeing tour, either morning or afternoon, with pickup from your hotel and a local guide to put what you are seeing in context. Without a guide, it's easy to miss important features or not fully understand the relevance of what you are seeing, and the hotel pickup makes the whole experience that much simpler.

Location: Na Phra Lan Road, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon

• Read More: Exploring Bangkok's Grand Palace: A Visitor's Guide

Located immediately south of the Grand Palace precinct, Wat Pho makes an excellent addition to your palace tour, provided your feet are up for more walking.

The temple was built by King Rama I and is the oldest in Bangkok. It has long been considered a place of healing, and was famous centuries ago for its pharmacy and as Thailand's first "university"-both established by King Rama III. You can get a Thai or foot massage at the traditional medical school on the premises, but the prices are significantly higher than what you will find at massage parlors elsewhere in the city.

Today Wat Pho is best known for the Temple of the Reclining Buddha , where you'll find a statue so big (45 meters long and 15 meters high), it cannot be viewed in its entirety but only appreciated in sections. The soles of the feet, inlaid with a myriad of precious stones, are particularly beautiful. Look also for the long earlobes signifying noble birth, and the lotus-bud configuration of the hand to symbolize purity and beauty.

Address: 2 Sanamchai Road, Grand Palace Subdistrict, Pranakorn District

Wat Arun is something of a triumphant complex, dating back to the time of ancient battles between the former Siam and Burma. Having fallen to the Burmese, Ayutthaya was reduced to rubble and ashes, but General Taksin and the remaining survivors vowed to march "until the sun rose again" and to build a temple here. Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn, was that temple. It is where the new king later built his royal palace and a private chapel.

If you climb to the top of the prang just before sunset, you will be rewarded with an unforgettable view as the sun sinks over the Chao Praya River. Even if you don't plan on doing any climbing, sunset is really the time to take in this place in all its glory.

Address: Arun Amarin Road, Bangkok

Sheer luck (or lack thereof) makes this attraction special. During the 1950s, the East Asiatic Company purchased the land around the temple.

A condition of the sale was the removal of a plaster statue of Buddha, but the statue proved too heavy for the crane being used. The cable parted and the figure was dropped, being left overnight where it fell. It happened to be in the rainy season, and when next morning some monks walked past, they noticed a glint of gold shining through the plaster. The coating was removed, revealing a 3.5-meter Buddha cast from 5.5 tons of solid gold.

All attempts to trace the origin of this priceless statue have so far failed, but it is assumed to date from the Sukhothai period, when marauding invaders threatened the country and its treasures, and it became common practice to conceal valuable Buddha figures beneath a coating of plaster. No one knows how it came to Bangkok, but here it stands, available for the admiration of visitors from all over the world.

Wat Suthat, adjacent to the Great Swing , is one of the oldest and most beautiful of Bangkok's Buddhist temples. Three kings had a hand in its construction: it was begun soon after the coronation of Rama I (founder of the Chakri dynasty) in 1782, continued by Rama II, and completed 10 years later by Rama III.

Apart from its delightful architecture, the temple boasts some exceptionally interesting wall paintings. Wat Suthat is less popular than some of the other temple complexes in the city, so you'll enjoy a more peaceful and intimate experience here.

Address: Bamrung Muang Road, Sao Chingcha, Phra Nakhon

In the center of the busy square in front of Wat Suthat stands one of Bangkok's most eye-catching sights: the 27-meter-high teak frame of the so-called Giant Swing. Built in the 1700s to be used as part of traditional Brahmin (Hinduist) ceremonies, the swing was later damaged by lightning and became just decorative.

This used to be the focus of a religious ceremony held every year in December after the rice harvest. Teams of three took turns to balance on a dangerously narrow board and be swung 25 meters or more off the ground "up to Heaven," at which point they would attempt to catch a bag of silver coins in their teeth. King Rama VII banned the contest in 1932, following a number of fatal accidents.

History buffs will want to devote at least half a sightseeing day to the national museum. Until the mid-1970s, this was Thailand's only museum, which explains why its collection is so big and diverse.

Fortunately, just about every exhibit is labeled in Thai and English and guided tours are also offered in English, so you won't miss out on any of the country's fascinating ancient and contemporary history.

King Rama I's Wang Na Palace, located within the grounds of the museum, remains essentially as it was, and stands as a testament to Thai history. Visitors can see regalia, religious and ceremonial artifacts, ceramics, games, weaponry, musical instruments, and the Viceroy's throne, as well as an impressive collection of Buddha figures arranged according to period.

Address: Na Phra That Road, Bangkok

This sprawling semi-outdoor weekend market is the largest in the world and one of the top things to do when visiting Bangkok. Shoppers can find everything from jewelry and religious icons to pet supplies, paper lamps, and delicious street food here. Chatuchak Market is home to over 15,000 stalls offering just about anything you can dream up-even better, any souvenir you might want is probably available here at a much cheaper price than anywhere else in Bangkok.

This is a great place to mingle with locals and immerse yourself in everyday Thai life, so arrive early and clear your schedule for the rest of the day if you want to do this place justice.

The market is adjacent to the Kamphaengpecth Station (MRT), about a five-minute walk from Mochit Skytrain (BTS) Station and Suan Chatuchak (Chatuchak Park) Station (MRT)

For an even more interesting market experience, you can arrange a tour to Damnoen Saduak, a famous floating market located in Ratchaburi (about 1.5 hours outside Bangkok). The popularity of floating markets once earned Bangkok the nickname "Venice of the East."

Keep in mind that floating markets are now highly touristic enterprises, so don't expect an exclusive morning of shopping by boat – but you will be able to buy fresh and delicious foods and interact with locals in an authentic way.

The best way to reach the market is to join a tour such as the Floating Markets Cruise Day Trip from Bangkok , which takes about six hours and includes pickup right from your hotel and transport in an air-conditioned coach.

This is Bangkok's infamous backpacker district, a neighborhood jam-packed with guesthouses, food vendors, clothing stalls, and travelers from every corner of the globe. You'll need to tap into your patience when hanging out here, because while it is colorful and exciting in its own way, the crowds and scents and blaring music can test even the calmest soul.

All that said, Khao San Road is also a great place to pick up a few pairs of baggy fisherman pants, the perennial staple of every backpacker's wardrobe when trekking through Thailand; browse the treasures in a used bookstore; and dig into some delicious Indian food from a neighborhood restaurant.

The historic home of a "self-made American entrepreneur" who disappeared while traveling in Malaysia now stands as a relic of an older time in Bangkok. Jim Thompson settled in Thailand after spending time there as a serviceman around the end of WWII and quickly became a well-known name in the Thai silk industry.

Thompson was awarded the Order of the White Elephant, an important honor given to foreigners who have made significant contributions to Thailand. Thompson's home has been turned into a museum offering insights into his life and business, as well as the history of the city and the Thai silk industry.

Address: 6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road, Bangkok

Lumpini Park provides visitors with a green oasis amid the traffic and chaos of Bangkok. Hang out on one of several lawn areas, enjoy the shade of a Chinese pagoda, or take a boat out on the lake. Lumpini Park is a great place to spend an afternoon enjoying the contrast of the tranquil park with the skyscrapers rising all around it.

Note that the park has been the site of anti-government protests that have occasionally turned violent in the past, so be sure to check on the current political situation before visiting. Keep an eye out for the massive Asian water monitors as well-they can often be found taking a stroll around the lake.

Location: Rama IV Road, between Ratchadamri and Witthayu (Wireless) roads

Don't let the airport-like name fool you. This shopping mall is one of the best places to visit in Bangkok if you're looking for a mix of local and international brands, as well as plenty of unique buys.

Terminal 21 is unique in more ways than one – even by Thailand's shopping standards. Every floor of the mall has been themed to a different international city. Enter at the level of the BTS station and you'll be in Paris; go up a floor and it's Tokyo; another floor and you're staring at the iconic red phone booths of London. The Caribbean, San Francisco, and Istanbul also figure into the design theme.

Other malls of note include the high-end Siam Paragon , and adjacent Siam Discovery , which has more moderately priced chains; fun cafés; and the super luxurious Virgin Active Siam Discovery , self-dubbed "the largest gym in Southeast Asia." Here, visitors can rock climb, try anti-gravity yoga, or visit the unique "Sleep Pod" rooms for the ultimate in relaxation.

To really experience Bangkok, you have to try the local cuisine. You haven't really "done" the city without chowing down on grilled meats and fish, spicy noodles, fresh fruit, and curries. If you think you know Thai food, you're in for a surprise. Whatever you've tried before is nothing like the dishes you'll find here.

You'll have no trouble at all finding vendors to tempt you with treats all around Bangkok and help you live through a quintessential Thailand experience, tucking into a delicious (if mysterious) meal, surrounded by the chaos and heat of the city.

Surprisingly, some of the best street food in Bangkok is on Khao San Road – both in the little stalls lining up the street and in the small shacks and restaurants just off the main road selling pad Thai, pad see ew, and mango sticky rice.

The Chao Phraya River is Bangkok's heartline. Known as the "river of kings," this major waterway will allow you to discover some of the city's most stunning temples and monuments from a completely new angle.

In the evening, you can jump on a dinner cruise to see the lit-up city skyline as you sail along the Grand Palace and Wat Arun and under the Rama VIII Bridge.

During the day, take advantage of Bangkok's many ferries and express boats, which depart from Sathorn Pier and will stop right at the ports of major tourist attractions, including Wat Arun and Ratchawongse. Local canal boats (khlong Saen Saep) are used by the locals to commute to work and are a great way to see the real Bangkok, as the boats zigzag through small canals and behind residential buildings.

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, or Wat Phra Kaew, is located on the grounds of Bangkok's Grand Palace. It is regarded as one of the most sacred Buddhist temples in the Kingdom of Thailand. The temple itself is simply spectacular, as is the Buddha statue itself, which is carved out of bright green jade.

For such a massive reputation, significance, and shrine, the statue itself is rather small. But it has been sitting on its perch since 1784. Hundreds of thousands of tourists and pilgrims pass through the gates to the temple every hear in order to view the statue.

Prior to taking up residence here at the Grand Palace, the Emerald Buddha traveled for centuries across Southeast Asia, from India and Sri Lanka to Cambodia and Laos. It was one of the most important treasures for King Rama I, who reigned from 1782 to 1809. In fact, when the capital of Thailand was moved from Ayutthaya to Bangkok, it was partly done so that this statue had a permanent home.

Not far from the Grand Palace is one of the most important temples in Thailand: Wat Mahathat. Not to be confused with the temple of the same name in the historic city of Ayutthaya, Bangkok's Wat Mahathat is deeply significant to the culture and history of Thailand – in fact, it is the final resting place of King Rama IX.

The temple was constructed before the city of Bangkok was founded. Built in 1782, today it is home to one of the largest schools of Buddhism, dedicated to the Mahanikai school, Thailand's largest monastic order.

The temple complex is rather large and may appear confusing, as it is home to several school buildings and offices, but if you press on towards the center, you'll find the temples, which are packed with golden images and statues of Buddha. In fact, it has one of the largest collections of Buddha's image than most other temples in Bangkok.

Of Bangkok's many colorful and diverse neighborhoods, Chinatown stands out as one of its most exciting. In fact, Bangkok's Chinatown is one of the largest Chinatowns in the world, and, as it so happens, one of the best.

The main artery of Chinatown is Yaowarat Road. This energetic thoroughfare and its side streets are slammed with restaurants, food carts, gold stores, cafés, herb shops, fruit stalls, and so much more. If you've come to Chinatown to eat, then you'll want to wait until the sun sets, when the entire neighborhood explodes with food stalls overflowing with mouthwatering treats.

Chinatown is slowly revamping, as well. Today you'll find more "fine dining" dim sum houses and swanky hotels than before. Still, the energy is always swirling and chaotic, but it's always one of the most beautiful parts of Bangkok.

Bangkok is famous for many things, and one of them, unfortunately, is the traffic. To go a short distance can sometimes take upwards of half an hour. Fortunately, visitors to Bangkok have a very easy, convenient, and time-efficient option: the Bangkok Skytrain.

Bangkok's BTS Skytrain is truly a game changer. It opened in 1999 and has quickly become the most popular way to get around the city. Travelers love it for its speed, cleanliness, air-conditioning, and price.

The Skytrain does not go everywhere in the city, but it does cover two of the most important areas: Sukhumvit and Silom. Silom will take you from the National Stadium through Silom and Sathorn and out to Bang Wa in the suburbs. Th Sukhumvit line will run from Mo Chit in the north to the eastern province of Samut Prakan.

You can purchase individual tickets, or use a Rabbit Card, which is a pre-paid card that can be loaded as often as you need it.

The BTS Skytrain is absolutely better than sitting in Bangkok traffic, but just be aware that it does not go everywhere in the city, and it stops running at midnight.

Bangkok loves its luxury shopping centers, but none is as popular (or large) as the riverfront ICONSIAM. Perched on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the 750,000-square-meter mega-mall is a destination in its own right.

The mall is divided into three main sections: ICONSIAM, ICONLUXE, and Siam Takashimaya. Inside each section are further zones that have been designated to highlight parts of Thailand's culture and design. SookSiam, for example, has brought together art, culture, tradition, and food from its many different provinces. It houses more than 3,000 local businesses from all over Thailand.

The facility also has seven dining zones, outdoor park space, and retail devoted to fashion, beauty, health & fitness, Thai crafts, and more. Visiting ICONSIAM is so much more than a day of shopping. It really is a Bangkok (and Thailand) experience.

Address: 299 Charoen Nakhon Rd, Khlong Ton Sai, Khlong San, Bangkok 10600

Official site: https://www.iconsiam.com/th

Thailand's national martial art, Muay Thai, is famous around the world. Also known as "Thai boxing," the combat sport is known as the "art of eight limbs" because it uses combinations of shins, knees, elbows, and fists.

It's a complicated and challenging sport, but those who practice are devoted to the art. If you're coming to Bangkok, it is the perfect place to get your feet wet in the sport and learn from those who have mastered it.

Many gyms across Thailand, but in Bangkok in particular, offer May Thai training. It is a mecca for May Thai fans, where you will find the best stadiums, gyms, and gear. Bu you'll also find gyms suited to beginners, as well.

Gazing across the Chao Phraya River at Wat Arun, another beautiful, sprawling temple complex may catch your eye. What you're looking at is Wat Kalayanamit. This historic temple was founded in 1825 by a nobleman and a friend of King Rama III.

The most eye-catching structure from across the river is the ordination hall, inside of which sits a massive Buddha image. It is one of the largest images of Buddha in the city. The temple is a combination of both Chinese and Thai architecture, including chedis, pavilions, and statues.

Though not one of the most-visited temples by tourists, it is certainly beautiful and worth a visit because of its historic architecture, the massive Buddha statue, and a 13-ton bell in the bell tower, which is the largest bronze bell in Thailand. It is still an active temple, as well, with monks that live on the site.

One of the many things Thailand is famous for is its affordable spa culture. Whether it's a casual pop-in for a stretchy Thai massage or a full-on day of bliss at a luxury spa, Bangkok has a facility to fill whatever you're looking for.

A traditional Thai massage is the best introduction into Thai spa culture. This style of massage has been around for more than 2,000 years. It's a dry massage, meaning it does not use oils. Instead, the therapists use stretching and rocking techniques to improve flexibility, relieve tension and promote blood circulation.

Thai massage can be used to help alleviate many ailments, from headaches and back pain to flexibility and joint stiffness. You can find affordable Thai massage parlors all over the city of Bangkok. Most massages will be less than 300 Thai baht.

Or you can check into some of the more high-end options for entire menus of treatments, body scrubs, and wraps. Clinique La Prairie, for example, has opened a new treatment center in Bangkok in The St. Regis Bangkok . This wellness center combines both wellness programs with nutrition and medicine to help patients achieve a more well-rounded, balanced life.

Speaking of high-end and luxury, if you can swing a stay at one of Bangkok's many luxury hotels it will be a game-changing experience. Bangkok has no shortage of opulent five-star hotels, from the historic and classic Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok to the sleek, chic, newer Capella Bangkok .

Bangkok has plenty of budget-friendly options and hotels across the spectrum, but there is something about a luxury hotel stay in Bangkok that truly makes the experience magical. Many five-star hotels in Bangkok have world-renowned restaurants, like the two-Michelin-starred Le Normandie by Alain Roux at the Mandarin Oriental. Others have fabulous spas, gorgeous pools, and rooms with spectacular views.

Whether on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, or overlooking Lumpini Park, Bangkok has dozens of five-star hotels that will make your visit a trip to remember.

Bangkok is a big city with many areas where visitors can stay and still have good access to sightseeing, shopping, and dining. Many of the top-end hotels are in the historic Riverside area. Not far away, budget-minded travelers and backpackers often frequent the Khao San Road area, which lies in close proximity to some of the major sites, including the Grand Palace, Wat Phra, Wat Pho, and museums.

Sukhumvit is a more modern area with good shopping and easy access to other parts of the city on the Skytrain. This is a good place to find mid-range hotels. Below are some popular hotels in these key areas:

Luxury Hotels:

• One of the best hotels in Bangkok is the ultra-posh Mandarin Oriental in Riverside, with a great location, beautiful pools, and several restaurants, including the Riverside Terrace overlooking the Chao Phraya River.
• Still luxurious but more affordable is the SO/ Bangkok , with great rooms and amenities in a decent location.
• For luxury accommodation in Sukhumvit, the popular boutique hotel, Ariyasomvilla , is a good choice with a variety of room styles, all tastefully decorated. This is a modern hotel with old-world charm in a tranquil setting with a lovely pool and grounds.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• A more reasonably priced option in Riverside is the Chatrium Hotel Riverside , overlooking the river. This hotel has a beautiful infinity pool and several restaurants.
• The Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers offers well-appointed rooms and world-class service at a very affordable price. There's also two outdoor pools and five on-site restaurants to enjoy here.
• Also popular is the Glow Pratunam , with a convenient location and decent prices.

Budget Hotels :

• For location, it's hard to beat the Adamaz House , just a short walk off Khao San Road and close to some of the city's most important attractions. The hotel has basic but clean rooms.
• The Phranakorn-Nornlen is a very popular budget to mid-range hotel with a good location and a bed-and-breakfast feel.
• Located in Sukhumvit is the Smart Suites , with budget prices and quality rooms.
• Consider a Tour: To spare yourself the trouble of bargaining for everything and trying to find a taxi that will actually take you where you want to go, a guided tour might be the most practical option. It will save you both time and aggravation-and you'll also get the benefit of having a knowledgeable guide along for the adventure. To see the most famous temples, including the reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, take a Private Guided Temples Tour .
• Be Prepared to Bargain : This applies as much to taxi rides as market shopping. Taxi drivers in Bangkok are notorious for overcharging, so agree on a price before getting in. You can also insist that they use their meter, but then watch it carefully to make sure it's not jumping around, as some have been rigged to run faster than they should.
• Take Advantage of Public Transportation : Even with an honest cabbie, rides can get expensive in Bangkok's traffic. Bangkok has a good public transportation system, with both above-ground and underground trains covering a good portion of the city. Buses can take a while because of traffic jams, but trains provide a quick, easy, and cheap way to get around. The system is user-friendly, very affordable, and takes little time to figure out, so take advantage of it while you're in town.
• Be Prepared for the Brutal Heat . There's no sea breeze here to help with the burning temperatures, and no break from the humidity when you're walking the streets of Bangkok. So if you're out for the day, plan on mixing some indoor shopping along the way for some air-conditioned relief. Stay hydrated at all times and wear plenty of sunblock. Choose cotton and linen clothing and grab an umbrella or hat when you're at Chatuchak Market for some extra sun protection.
• Watch Out for Scams: As mentioned above, taxi drivers often try to overcharge or insist that their meters don't work. Use your judgment and walk away from anyone who doesn't seem trustworthy. Another scam to watch out for involves a driver or supposed tour guide who agrees to take you one place and starts making stops along the way, usually at a gem store or a tailor. Drivers get a commission when they bring in tourists, but these places are often overpriced and not worth visiting. Insist that the driver takes you to your original destination, or tell them you're leaving. This will usually get things back on track, but if it doesn't, you'll find another cab quickly enough.

Bangkok's weather is tropical all year-round, which translates to long, hot days no matter what time of the year you arrive. If you'd like a bit of a break in temperatures (high 20s instead of high 30s Celsius), December and January are the best time to visit Bangkok weather-wise . But overall, you will not be disappointed with the weather if you visit Bangkok between November and March. Because Bangkok is still very much a tropical destination, the weather can often have a mind of its own. The heavy monsoon rains taper down in early November, and the holiday crowds don't arrive till late December, so you'll see slightly cooler, drier weather and smaller crowds. Bear in mind, however, that the time between November and January is high season, so hotel rates and airfare will be at their highest.

If your plan is to head south to the islands after a stop in Bangkok, arriving between November and April guarantees the best beach and water conditions. In Bangkok, where everything's air-conditioned, and many of the attractions are at least partially indoors, there's no such thing as "the worst time to visit." For example, arriving during the wettest months might seem inconvenient, but it guarantees shorter lines at the main attractions and lower prices almost everywhere.

If you want a peek into local culture, the two major Thai festivals occur in April and November. April is the Songkran festival , which is Thailand's most famous festival. It's the traditional Thai New Year festival, and it's a time when the entire country erupts with celebration. November hosts the Loi Krathong, which is the time to thank the Water Goddess for her abundance, as well as ask forgiveness for the human pollution of the bodies of water. It's a beautiful festival held all over the country, marked by thousands of lanterns that are released into the night sky. In December, all the major shopping areas in Bangkok get decked for Christmas, even though it's not traditionally celebrated in Thailand.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

Bangkok & Beyond: No visit to Bangkok is complete without a proper tour of the Grand Palace, the former residence of kings and now a massive museum. For tips on what to see inside the palace, take a look at our article, Exploring Bangkok's Grand Palace: A Visitor's Guide . Ready to explore outside Bangkok? Find out how to get to popular Ayutthaya in our article, From Bangkok to Ayutthaya: Best Ways to Get There .

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Under the shadow of the Bangkok’s skyscrapers you’ll find a heady mix of chaos and refinement, of frenetic markets, snail’s-pace traffic jams and hushed golden temples, of dispiriting, zombie-like sex shows and early-morning alms-giving ceremonies. A first-time visitor to Bangkok will be blown away by the sights, sounds and smells bursting from the city. Return travellers come back to stay in the capital for that very same reason.

Places to visit in Bangkok

Top things to do in bangkok, best time to visit bangkok, where to stay in bangkok, where to eat in bangkok, traditional massage and spas in bangkok, going out in bangkok, bangkok travel advice, a brief history of bangkok, around bangkok.

One way or another, the place is sure to get under your skin. With our Bangkok travel guide we’re confident you’ll enjoy every challenge Thailand’s capital city throws at you.

Travel ideas for Thailand, created by local experts

5 days  / from 1180 USD

Chiang Mai Safari Adventure

The perfect trip for some family fun and adventure, lovely Chiang Mai with its lush valleys and national parks ticks all the boxes. Expect majestic cliff-top temples, sprawling national parks and exciting safari adventures.

12 days  / from 2750 USD

Thailand's Islands and Highlands

Experience the best of Thailand as you discover glitzy Bangkok's temples, markets and waterways. Compare the bustling, lively capital with the glorious rolling hills and lush interior of mountainous Chiang Mai before heading south to beach bliss and unexpected cultural delights in hedonistic Phuket.

12 days  / from 2450 USD

Thailand Discovery

A great way to discover Thailand, take in the Central Plain and Bangkok, the north with Chiang Mai and the south at the lively resort of Phuket.

Ratanakosin

Any Bangkok city guide worth their salt will tell you that the place to start is Ratanakosin, the royal island on the east bank of the Chao Phraya, where the city’s most important and extravagant sights are located.

They include: the Grand Palace and adjoining royal temple, Wat Phra Kaeo; the Wang Na (Palace of the Second King), now the National Museum; Wat Pho, which predates the capital’s founding; Wat Mahathat, the most important centre of Buddhist learning in Southeast Asia; the National Theatre; the National Gallery; and Thammasat and Silpakorn universities.

Banglamphu and the Democracy Monument area

Immediately north of Ratanakosin, Banglamphu’s most notorious attraction is Thanon Khao San, a tiny sliver of a road built over a canal in 1892, whose multiple guesthouses and buzzing, budget-minded nightlife have made it an unmissable way-station for travellers through Southeast Asia.

There is plenty of cultural interest too, in a medley of idiosyncratic temples within a few blocks of nearby landmark Democracy Monument, and in the typical Bangkok neighbourhoods that connect them, many of which still feel charmingly old-fashioned.

Chinatown and Pahurat

When the newly crowned Rama I decided to move his capital across to the east bank of the river in 1782, the Chinese community living on the proposed site of his palace was obliged to relocate downriver, to the Sampeng area.

Two centuries on, Chinatown has grown into the country’s largest Chinese district, a sprawl of narrow alleyways, temples and shophouses packed between Charoen Krung (New Road) and the river.

For fifteen years between the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767 and the founding of Bangkok in 1782, the west-bank town of Thonburi stood in as the Thai capital.

Its time in the spotlight was too brief for the building of the fine monuments and temples, but some of its centuries-old canals, which once transported everyone and everything, have endured. It is these and the ways of life that depend on them that constitute Thonburi’s main attractions.

The most popular way to explore these old neighbourhoods is by boat, but joining a bicycle tour of the older neighbourhoods is also very rewarding.

The spacious, leafy area known as Dusit has been a royal district since the reign of Rama V, King Chulalongkorn (1860–1910). The first Thai monarch to visit Europe, Rama V returned with radical plans for the modernisation of his capital, the fruits of which are most visible in Dusit, notably at Vimanmek Palace and Wat Benjamabophit, the so-called “Marble Temple”.

Dusit is also the venue for the spectacular annual Trooping the Colour, when hundreds of Royal Guards demonstrate their allegiance to the king by parading around Royal Plaza. Across from Chitrlada Palace, Dusit Zoo makes a pleasant enough place to take the kids.

Downtown Bangkok

Downtown Bangkok is central to the colossal expanse of Bangkok as a whole, but rather peripheral in a sightseer’s perception of the city. In this modern high-rise area, you’ll find the main shopping centres around Siam Square.

Travel further east, you’ll find yet more shopping malls around the noisy and glittering Erawan Shrine, where Rama I becomes Thanon Ploenchit, an intersection known as Ratchaprasong. It’s possible to stroll in peace above the cracked pavements, noise and fumes of Thanon Rama I, by using the elevated walkway that runs beneath the Skytrain lines.

The city outskirts

A handful of places that make pleasant half-day escapes, principally Chatuchak Weekend Market, the cultural theme-park of Muang Boran, the upstream town of Nonthaburi and the tranquil artificial island of Ko Kred.

Thinking of travelling to Bangkok? Start planning by learning about how to get to Thailand .

A Bangkok city guide boiled down into nine brilliant things to do

• The Grand Palace

Admire the Reclining Buddha and the lavish architecture, and leave time for a relaxing massage.

The National Museum

The central repository of the country’s artistic riches.

Thanon Khao San

Legendary hangout for Southeast Asia backpackers; the place for cheap sleeps, baggy trousers and tall tales.

The canals of Thonburi

See the Bangkok of yesteryear on a touristy but memorable longtail-boat ride.

• Jim Thompson's House - An elegant Thai design classic, can be discovered on a guided tour including a weaving community visit.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

Eight thousand open-air stalls selling everything from triangular pillows to secondhand Levis.

63rd-floor sundowner

Fine cocktails and jaw-dropping views, especially at sunset, at The Sky Bar and Distil.

• Thai boxing - Witness a fight in style with a VIP ticket to Rajadamnern Stadium or try it yourself by taking a class .

The climate of most of Thailand is governed by three seasons: rainy (roughly May–Oct), caused by the southwest monsoon; cool (Nov–Feb); and hot (March–May).

The cool season is the most clement time to visit Bangkok, although temperatures can still reach a broiling 30°C in the middle of the day. Bear in mind, however, that it’s also the busiest season, so forward planning is essential.

If your time in Bangkok is limited, you should think carefully about what you want to do in the city before deciding which part of town to stay in. Traffic jams are so appalling here that easy access to Skytrain, subway or river transport can be crucial.

In this travel guide on where to stay in Bangkok , we explore its various districts, picking out accommodation options that are notable in one way or another, from the best value for money to those with the prettiest views.

As you’d expect, nowhere in Thailand can compete with Bangkok’s diversity when it comes to food: it boasts an astonishing fifty thousand places to eat, almost one for every hundred citizens.

The best gourmet restaurants in the country operate from the downtown districts, proffering wonderful royal, traditional and regional cuisines that definitely merit a visit.

At the lower end of the price scale, one-dish meals from around the country are rustled up at the food courts of shopping centres and department stores, as well as at night markets and street stalls, which are so numerous in Bangkok that we can only flag the most promising areas.

Chinatown naturally rates as the most authentic district for pure Chinese food; likewise neighbouring Pahurat, the capital’s Indian enclave, is best for unadulterated Indian dishes.

From the best pad thais to eating insects , here’s the lowdown on where to eat in Bangkok .

Thai cookery classes in Bangkok

8/91 Soi 54, Thanon Ngam Wongwan. Thorough, four-hour classes in a quiet, suburban house in northern Bangkok. B2200, including transfers from central hotels. Closed Sun.

233 Thanon Sathorn Tai (BTS Surasak). In a grand building, courses that range from B3300 for a half-day to a five-day private course for professional chefs for B90,000.

Klong Toey. A chance to experience the slums of Klong Toey and spend a morning learning to cook. B1200, including a market tour and free transfers from next to Phrom Pong BTS station. Closed Sun.

You can also book a Thai cooking class that includes a trip to Bangkok's largest market, Khlong Toei, to choose and buy your own ingredients before cooking them up.

Bangkok has a good reputation for shopping, particularly for antiques, gems, contemporary interior design and fashions, where the range and quality are streets ahead of other Thai cities. Silk and handicrafts are good buys too, though shopping for these in Chiang Mai has many advantages. As always, watch out for fakes: cut glass masquerading as precious stones, old, damaged goods being passed off as antiques, counterfeit designer clothes and accessories, pirated CDs and DVDs, even mocked-up international driver’s licences (though Thai travel agents and other organizations aren’t that easily fooled).

Downtown is full of smart, multi-storey shopping plazas like Siam Centre, Siam Paragon and Central World on Thanon Rama I and Emporium on Thanon Sukhumvit, which is where you’ll find the majority of the city’s fashion stores, as well as designer lifestyle goods and bookshops. The plazas tend to be pleasantly air-conditioned and thronging with trendy young Thais, but don’t hold much interest for tourists unless you happen to be looking for a new outfit.

Shopping centres, department stores and tourist-oriented shops in the city keep late hours, opening daily at 10 or 11am and closing at about 9pm; many small, upmarket boutiques, for example along Thanon Charoen Krung and Thanon Silom, close on Sundays, one or two even on Saturdays. Monday is meant to be no-street-vendor day throughout Bangkok, a chance for the pavements to get cleaned and for pedestrians to finally see where they’re going, but plenty of stalls manage to flout the rule.

If you're into shopping but not that much into haggling or doing the research, you can take a private driver and guide to take you to the best malls and plazas in Bangkok. The guide will help you haggle and find the best deals for your desired items and having a private car means never having to worry about dragging your shopping bags around the public transport.

Shopping for everyday stuff

You’re most likely to find useful everyday items in one of the city’s numerous department stores: seven-storey Central Chidlom on Thanon Ploenchit (daily 10am–10pm), which boasts handy services like watch-, garment- and shoe-repair booths as well as a huge product selection (including large sizes), is probably the city’s best. For children’s stuff, Central Chidlom also has a branch of Mothercare, as do the Emporium and Siam Paragon shopping centres. Meanwhile, the British chain of pharmacies, Boots the Chemist, has scores of branches across the city, including on Thanon Khao San, in Siam Paragon, in Central World, in Emporium and a late-night branch at the Thanon Suriwong end of Patpong 1.

The best place to buy anything to do with mobile phones is the scores of small booths on the third floor of Mah Boon Krong (MBK) Shopping Centre at the Rama I/Phrayathai intersection. For computer hardware and genuine and pirated software, as well as digital cameras, Panthip Plaza, at 604/3 Thanon Phetchaburi, is the best place; it’s slightly off the main shopping routes, but handy for Khlong Saen Saeb boat stop Tha Pratunam, or a longer walk from BTS Ratchathevi. Mac-heads are catered for here, including authorized resellers, and there are dozens of repair and secondhand booths, especially towards the back of the shopping centre and on the upper floors.

Having clothes tailor-made

Bangkok can be an excellent place to get tailor-made suits, dresses, shirts and trousers at a fraction of the price you’d pay in the West. Tailors here can copy a sample brought from home and will also work from any photographs you can provide; most also carry a good selection of catalogues. The bad news is that many tourist-oriented tailors aren’t terribly good, often attempting to get away with poor work and shoddy materials (and sometimes trying to delay delivery until just before you leave the city, so that you don’t have time to complain). However, with a little effort and thought, both men and women can get some fantastic clothes made to measure.

Choosing a tailor can be tricky, and unless you’re particularly knowledgeable about material, shopping around won’t necessarily tell you much. However, don’t make a decision wholly on prices quoted – picking a tailor simply because they’re the cheapest usually leads to poor work, and cheap suits don’t last. Special deals offering two suits, two shirts, two ties and a kimono for US$99 should be left well alone. Above all, ignore recommendations by anyone with a vested interest in bringing your custom to a particular shop.

Prices vary widely depending on material and the tailor’s skill. As a very rough guide, for labour alone expect to pay B5000–6000 for a two-piece suit, though some tailors will charge rather more (check whether or not the price you’re quoted includes the lining). For middling material, expect to pay about B3000–5000, or anything up to B20,000 for top-class cloth. With the exception of silk, local materials are frequently of poor quality and for suits in particular you’re far better off using English or Italian cloth. Most tailors stock both imported and local fabrics, but bringing your own from home can work out significantly cheaper.

Give yourself as much time as possible. For suits, insist on two fittings. Most good tailors require around three days for a suit (some require ten days or more), although a few have enough staff to produce good work in a day or two. The more detail you can give the tailor the better. As well as deciding on the obvious features such as single- or double-breasted and number of buttons, think about the width of lapels, style of trousers, whether you want the jacket with vents or not, and so forth. Specifying factors like this will make all the difference to whether you’re happy with your suit, so it’s worth discussing them with the tailor; a good tailor should be able to give good advice. Finally, don’t be afraid to be an awkward customer until you’re completely happy with the finished product – after all, the whole point of getting clothes tailor-made is to get exactly what you want.

Gem scams are so common in Bangkok that TAT has published a brochure about it and there are several websites on the subject, including the very informative w2bangkok.com/2bangkok-scams-sapphire.html, which describes typical scams in detail. Never buy anything through a tout or from any shop recommended by a “government official”/“student”/“businessperson”/tuk-tuk driver who just happens to engage you in conversation on the street, and note that there are no government jewellery shops, despite any information you may be given to the contrary, and no special government promotions or sales on gems.

The basic scam is to charge a lot more than what the gem is worth based on its carat weight – at the very least, get it tested on the spot, ask for a written guarantee and receipt. Don’t even consider buying gems in bulk to sell at a supposedly vast profit elsewhere: many a gullible traveller has invested thousands of dollars on a handful of worthless multicoloured stones, believing the vendor’s reassurance that the goods will fetch at least a hundred percent more when resold at home.

If you’re determined to buy precious stones, check that the shop is a member of the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association, by visiting their website which has a directory of members (w thaigemjewelry.or.th ). To be doubly sure, you may want to seek out shops that also belong to the TGJTA’s Jewel Fest Club (wjewelfest.com), which guarantees quality and will offer refunds; see their website for a directory of members.

Thai massage sessions and courses are held most famously at Wat Pho, while luxurious and indulgent spa and massage treatments are available at many posh hotels across the city, as well as at the following stand-alone places.

Divana Massage and Spa 7 Soi 25, Thanon Sukhumvit t 02 661 6784, w divanaspa.com; map. Delightful spa serving up Thai massages (100min for B1150), foot, aromatherapy and herbal massages, as well as facials and Ayurvedic treatments. Mon–Fri 11am–11pm, Sat & Sun 10am–11pm.

Nicolie Sun Square, a small shopping arcade on the south side of Thanon Silom between soi 21 and 23 t 02 233 6957, w nicolie-th.com ; map. Superb Thai (B1600/90min) and other massages, as well as facials and scrubs, in a soothing environment decorated with Asian objets d’art. Daily 11am–10pm.

Pian’s Soi Susie Pub, which runs between the east end of Thanon Khao San and Thanon Ram Bhuttri t 02 629 0924; map. Uninvitingly clinical-looking but highly rated a/c massage centre, offering Thai massages (B200/hr) as well as foot, oil and herbal massages; you can also study Thai massage here. Daily 7.30am–12.30am.

Returning visitors to Bangkok will notice that its drinking and nightlife scene has thoroughly grown up in the past ten years, leaving notorious Patpong – and its neon-light sex bars – behind. Visit Bangkok now and you’ll find it offers everything from ‘illegal’ microbreweries (strictly speaking small-batch brewing is verboten) and rooftop cocktail bars to achingly cool clubs and dance bars, hosting world-class DJs.

Drinking and nightlife

The high-concept bars of Sukhumvit and the lively, teeming venues of Banglamphu, in particular, pull in the style-conscious cream of Thai youth and are tempting an increasing number of travellers to stuff their party gear into their rucksacks. During the cool season (Nov–Feb), an evening out at one of the seasonal beer gardens is a pleasant way of soaking up the urban atmosphere (and the traffic fumes). You’ll find them in hotel forecourts or sprawled in front of dozens of shopping centres all over the city, most notably Central World Plaza.

Among the city’s club nights , look out for the interesting regular events organized by Zudrangma Record Store at venues such as Cosmic Café , which mix up dance music from all around Thailand and from all over the world. Getting back to your lodgings should be no problem in the small hours: many bus routes run a (reduced) service throughout the night, and tuk-tuks and taxis are always at hand – though it’s probably best for unaccompanied women to avoid using tuk-tuks late at night.

As long as you keep your wits about you, you shouldn’t encounter much trouble in Thailand. Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are two of the main problems, but the most common cause for concern is the number of con-artists who dupe gullible tourists into parting with their cash.

Personal safety

On any bus, private or government, and on any train journey, never keep anything of value in luggage that is stored out of your sight and be wary of accepting food and drink from fellow passengers as it may be drugged.

Drinks can also be spiked in bars and clubs; at full moon parties on Ko Pha Ngan this has led to sexual assaults against farang women, while prostitutes sometimes spike drinks so they can steal from their victim’s room.

Gay and lesbian Bangkok

Buddhist tolerance and a national abhorrence of confrontation and victimisation combine to make Thai society relatively tolerant of homosexuality, if not exactly positive about same-sex relationships.

Although excessively physical displays of affection are frowned upon for both hetero-sexuals and homosexuals, Western gay couples should get no hassle about being seen together in public.

Thailand’s gay scene is mainly focused on mainstream venues like karaoke bars, restaurants, massage parlours, gyms, saunas and escort agencies. The bars, clubs and café-restaurants located around the east end of Thanon Silom and especially in the narrow alleys of Soi 2 and Soi 4, are the most notable of Bangkok’s gay nightlife venues.

Thailand’s sex industry

More than a thousand sex-related businesses operate in the city, but the gaudy neon fleshpots of Patpong and Sukhumvit’s Soi Nana and Soi Cowboy give a misleading impression of an activity that is deeply rooted in Thai culture. The overwhelming majority of Thailand’s prostitutes of both sexes (estimated at anywhere up to 700,000) work with Thai men, not farangs (Europeans).

The farang sex industry in Bangkok is a relatively new development, having started during the Vietnam War, when the American military set up seven bases around Thailand. Sex tourism has since grown to become an established part of the Thai economy.

Despite its ubiquity, prostitution has been illegal in Thailand since 1960, but sex-industry bosses easily circumvent the law by registering their establishments as clubs, karaoke bars or massage parlours, and making payoffs.

Inevitably, child prostitution is a significant issue in Thailand, but NGOs such as ECPAT say numbers have declined over the last decade, due to zero-tolerance and awareness campaigns.

Bangkok is a relatively young capital, established in 1782 after the Burmese sacked Ayutthaya, the former capital. A temporary base was set up on the western bank of the Chao Phraya River, in what is now Thonburi, before work started on the more defensible east bank.

The first king of the new dynasty, Rama I, built his palace at Ratanakosin, within a defensive ring of two (later expanded to three) canals, and this remains the city’s spiritual heart. This remains the best place to start your exploration, where the city’s most important and extravagant sights are located.

Initially, Bangkok was largely amphibious: only the temples and royal palaces were built on dry land, while ordinary residences floated on thick bamboo rafts on the river and canals.

A major shift in emphasis came in the second half of the nineteenth century, first under Rama IV (1851–68), who as part of his effort to restyle the capital along European lines built Bangkok’s first roads.

Modern Bangkok

Since World War II, and especially from the mid-1960s onwards, Bangkok has seen an explosion of modernisation. Most of the canals have been filled in, replaced by endless rows of cheap, functional concrete shophouses, high-rises and housing estates.

The benefits of Thailand’s economic boom since the 1980s have been concentrated in Bangkok, attracting migration from all over the country and making the capital ever more dominant.

Every aspect of national life is centralised in the city, but the mayor of Bangkok is not granted enough power to deal with the ensuing problems, notably that of traffic.

The Skytrain and the subway have undoubtedly helped, but the competing systems don’t intersect properly or ticket jointly, and it’s left to ingenious, local solutions such as the Khlong Saen Saeb canal boats and side-street motorbike taxis to keep the city moving.

Visiting Bangkok's outskirts isn’t particularly popular as it harbours few attractions. However, there are a handful of places that make pleasant half-day excursions.

• Mainly Chatuchak Weekend Market (which has over 8,000 stalls), the cultural theme-park of Muang Boran (explore one of the world's largest museums with your private transport here ), the rather more esoteric Prasart Museum, the upstream town of Nonthaburi and the tranquil artificial island of Ko Kred.
• If you want to go a little further, visit Ayutthaya for the day: there's excellent private tours that leave from Bangkok and take in no fewer than five UNESCO -sited temples.
• If you’re travelling with children, you may want to visit the Mahanakhon SkyWalk where you can scale Bangkok’s highest building for panoramic views, or visit Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World to experience sharks and rays swimming over your head in the under-ocean tunnel.

Top image © Chatchai Somwat/Shutterstock

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Bangkok Travel Guide ‪.‬ 4+

With offline city & metro map, gonzalo martin, designed for ipad.

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SPECIAL FEATURES - AUGMENTED REALITY - AR - STOP CARRYING BOOK GUIDES!!! - 100% OFFLINE TRAVEL GUIDE - OFFLINE METRO MAP - ZOOMABLE 100% REGIONAL OFFLINE MAPS: Bangkok, Bang Pa-In, Ko Chang, Ko Samet, Phuket - PICS GALLERY - GPS CAPABLE - INTERACTIVE POINTS OF INTEREST on the maps showing public bus stops, restaurants, pubs, hotels, hospitals, museums, theatres, and many others. - DAILY BASED ITINERARIES - BUDGET BASED HOTELS & RESTAURANTS - WHERE, WHAT & HOW TO SHOP - NIGHTLIFE ACTIVITIES - CITY TIPS, MOVING AROUND, COMMUTING - SAFETY TIPS ------------------------------------------ PRODUCT DESCRIPTION Stop carrying heavy city tours guide in your pocket. TRAVEL LIGHT!!! With this Travel Guide you have a full city guide in your iPhone & iPod Touch. This tourist guide is built to be used offline. No connection to Internet required, meaning no extra charges in your phone bill!! AUGMENTED REALITY, unlike other tourist guides you will be able to discover the city with the best iPhone tool - AR - Just click on the AR button, turn yourself 360° and view on the screen where the best spots are and how to find them. You can also scroll up and down to view the closest and furthest attraction. Slide through the tutorial for more tips. After many requests, we bring to you your own steps with a GPS feature. Do not get lost, just take a look where you are standed. It is a very practical city guide since it is designed to be used by itineraries. There are 4 different itineraries for the city depending on the duration of your journey. We also provide tips and advices to travelers, how to get into the city, how to move around, where to shop, where to go at night, most popular places, safety tips, etc... Unlike other guides, this Travel Guide provides you with interactive zoomable OFFLINE MAPS (x6 zoom + GPS capable) of the region showing the attractions, public bus stops, restaurants, pubs, hotels, hospitals and many other useful points of interest. You cannot get lost!. With this guide, you will not only visit the city but also move around its region. Tourist info for must see attractions such as Sukhumvit district, Jim Thompson House, Siam Square, Rattanakosin district, Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, Patpong, Wat Arun, Silom district, Khet Bang Rak, Wat Saket, Government House, Khet Dusit, Vimanmek Palace, Chitrlada Palace, Phuket, Bang Pa-In, Ko Chang and Ko Samet among others. The travel guide is made based on travelers advices. Unlike other city guides, we can guarantee we have already visited these places and would like to give you a fancy and practical tool to make your visit a more enjoyable one. This app contains IAPs for you to enjoy and discover the best out of your visit.

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181 Ratings

This app was very helpful when my family and I needed to get around Thailand. I hoped that you find this comment useful!!!!😁

Developer Response ,

Thank you very much. We are very happy that you enjoyed the app.

Good Bangkok Travel Companion

I went three weeks to Thailand, where I've spent two in Bangkok. Offline maps were useful as Bangkok is a big city and it is handy to have the maps in your smartphone, and they don't get crumpled! I liked the Augmented Reality Feature, specially when I went to Vimanmek Palace and Silom District. Language aid is also very helpful.

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05 Jun 2024 - 6 min read

Bangkok MRT: Your Ultimate Guide to Exploring the City Like a Local

Bangkok, Thailand's bustling capital, is a city that thrives on movement. With its vibrant street life, historical landmarks, and sprawling shopping districts, navigating efficiently becomes key to experiencing it all. Thankfully, Bangkok boasts a reliable and affordable rapid transit system known as the MRT (Metropolitan Rapid Transit). This comprehensive guide will equip you with everything you need to know to conquer Bangkok's MRT like a seasoned pro.

Bangkok MRT Line

J-Alone / Shutterstock.com

The Bangkok MRT currently comprises three operational lines, each with its own distinct color for easy identification:

Exploring MRT Stations: With a total of 69 stations spread across the three lines, you'll likely find yourself stepping into an MRT station at least once during your Bangkok adventure. Each station is well-equipped with amenities like ticketing machines, information booths with multilingual staff, restrooms, and convenience stores. Signage is also available in English, making navigation relatively straightforward.

Bangkok MRT Ticketing and Fares

Tossapon Nakjarung / Shutterstock.com

The Bangkok MRT operates on a single-journey fare system. You can purchase tickets from two main sources:

MRT fares are distance-based, meaning the cost varies depending on your travel distance. Fares typically range from 16 baht (approximately USD 0.50) to 65 baht (approximately USD 2.00).

Before diving headfirst into the MRT network, planning your route is a wise move. Several resources can help with this:

Bangkok MRT Operating Hours

Bangkok's MRT Blue Line whisks you around the city daily from 6:00 am to midnight. Weekdays offer an even earlier start, with the first train departing the starting point at 5:30 am and reaching other stations just before 6:00 am. Weekends and public holidays see a slightly delayed start, but rest assured, the first train reaches all stations by 6:03 am at the latest.

Planning to catch the last train? Departures from the first station begin winding down just after 11:00 pm, with the final train arriving at the end of the line around 12:30 am.

Transferring to the MRT Purple Line? Be sure to factor in transfer time! Aim to catch the Blue Line at least one hour before the last departure to ensure a smooth connection. The Purple Line operates with slightly different hours: weekdays from 5:30 am to midnight and weekends/public holidays from 6:00 am to midnight.

Bonus Tip: Download the MRT app or check their website for real-time updates on train schedules and any potential delays.

Bangkok MRT Map

Don't worry about navigating Bangkok's MRT! Maps are readily available to guide your journey. With these maps readily available, navigating the Bangkok MRT becomes a breeze. Simply plan your route beforehand using the station map, then confirm your train's direction on the platform display before boarding. No more second-guessing or worries about getting lost!

Bangkok MRT Route Guide

Bangkok's MRT burrows beneath the bustling streets, following the major arteries of Rama IV and Ratchadapisek Roads. While future expansions are planned, the current Blue Line offers a taste of the city's vibrant core, connecting 18 stations from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue.

During peak hours (7:00 am to 9:00 am and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm), trains arrive every 5 minutes, keeping you moving seamlessly. At other times, trains run every 7 minutes, ensuring a smooth and efficient journey. Each MRT stop unlocks a unique corner of Bangkok. Let's delve into some highlights:

How to Buy a Bangkok MRT Ticket?

PhakornS / Shutterstock.com

Conquering Bangkok's MRT is a breeze with this guide to purchasing tickets and choosing the best payment method for your needs.

Ticket Vending Machines:

Ticket Office:

Single Journey Tickets:

MRT Card (Stored Value Card):

EMV Contactless Cards (Credit/Debit):

With a variety of payment options available, exploring Bangkok with the MRT is as convenient as ever! Choose the method that best suits your travel style and needs.

Flight to Bangkok

Thai VietJet Air

Start from US$ 22.07

Khon Kaen (KKC) to Bangkok (BKK)

Tue, 18 Jun 2024

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Start from US$ 26.81

Hat Yai (HDY) to Bangkok (BKK)

Fri, 5 Jul 2024

Start from US$ 28.57

Nakhon Si Thammarat (NST) to Bangkok (BKK)

Tue, 25 Jun 2024

Bangkok's MRT is a reliable, affordable, and efficient way to navigate the city. With its extensive network of lines and stations, it's easy to reach major attractions, shopping districts, and local neighborhoods. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor, the Bangkok MRT is a must-use tool for exploring the vibrant metropolis.

Book your flights to Bangkok and secure your accommodation at the best prices. Explore a wide range of activities, tours, and attractions to make the most of your Bangkok trip. Traveloka is your one-stop shop for planning a seamless and unforgettable Bangkok adventure. Let us help you create memories that will last a lifetime!

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Capella Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand

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Situated along the bustling Chao Phraya River, Capella Bangkok's spacious suites offer sweeping views out over the water from their floor to ceiling windows. Each suite features a balcony from which guests can take in the busy sights and sounds of river life.

Dining is a highlight of the Capella experience, with the choice of Michelin starred restaurant Cote by Mauro Colagreco, Phra Nakhon for authentic Thai, Stella for pastries and cocktails, and the Tea Lounge for an afternoon refreshment. Stop by the Greenhouse where organic herbs and vegetables are grown to be used in the restaurants and reduce the hotel's environmental footprint.

If wellness is a focus, the Auriga Spa offers a wide range of treatments, or you can take part in yoga, Tai Chi, and Muay Thai during your stay. Speak with the staff on arrival to learn about the wide range of specially curated cultural activities available.

A sophisticated, yet unassuming luxury hotel, Capella has the attributes to please most guests.

OUR RATING: Deluxe

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All suites and villas are river facing and guests can take advantage of their very own balcony or terrace area. Rooms are well appointed with premium amenities, spacious layout, floor to ceiling windows, and well stocked mini-bar. All have desk space and separate bath and shower. Nightly turndown service is provided and as an added bonus, guests receive a complimentary ironing service for five items during their stay.

With a prime spot on the Chao Phraya River, Capella Bangkok is conveniently positioned to explore many of Bangkok's main attractions. River taxis are available to transport guests to nearby shopping centres and city transport hubs.

Food and drink

Cote, is Capella's showpiece restaurant, led by covated chef Mauro Colagreco, who has won numerous accolades and world acclaim. His take of contemporary French and Italian cuisine was awarded a Michelin star in 2022. Pre-booking advised. In addition to Cote, the hotel's resident Thai restaurant Phra Nahkon, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Lastly, the main bar, Stella, is open late into the evening for creative cocktails and has been recognised as one of Bangkok's best.

Tour ideas in Bangkok

Our itineraries are there to spark ideas for how you could include a stay at Capella Bangkok as part of your trip. Treat them simply as suggestions, because every aspect of the trip we create for you will be yours to define.

Luxury Thailand

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Thailand's highlights & Siem Reap

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Thailand for families: elephants & island escape

12 days from $3,245pp

Thailand family adventure

14 days from $4,495pp

Location & places nearby

Places & hotels on the map, alternative places to stay nearby.

Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favorite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can’t be bettered.

Anantara Bangkok Riverside

Ariyasom Villa

AVANI Riverside Bangkok Hotel

Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok

Experiences while staying here.

The following activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences of the area where you’re staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident’s eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can also suggest outdoor pursuits and activities, such as cooking classes, that will introduce you to the traditions of the area’s inhabitants.

Experience the secret garden of Bang Kra Jao by bicycle

Just across the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok lies the city's secret garden — Bang Kra Jao. Only accessible by boat, you must cross the river on a small ferry to reach this beautiful area full of small villages, temples and tropical flora.

Experience the Songkran Festival

The Songkran Festival celebrates the New Year. They are colorful and lively celebrations, with music, traditional dance and, of course, water, which symbolically cleanses the body from the sins of the previous year.

Street food walking tour of old Bangkok

You and your guide will walk through the narrow streets to experience many local sights with various food tastings along the way. Try things like ‘kafae boran’, a classic Thai coffee, or the popular Thai dessert, 'Khanom Thua Paep' (mung bean rice crepe).

Bangkok and nearby places

• Ayutthaya 45 miles away
• Amphawa 43 miles away
• Kanchanaburi & The River Kwai 70 miles away
• Khao Yai National Park 83 miles away
• Koh Samet 102 miles away
• Koh Munnork 113 miles away
• Phimai 169 miles away
• Phanom Rung 173 miles away
• Koh Kood 199 miles away
• Sukhothai 233 miles away

14 Nights - Bangkok to Benoa (Bali)

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10 Night Marvelous Mediterranean - Barcelona to Rome Cruise

10 Nights - Sirena - Departed from Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Excellent travel and the Cruise was wonderful.

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10 Nights - Sirena - Departed from Miami

Gastro intestinal breakout meant ALL shows cancelled, tables not set nicely, sanitation going on constantly, restroom doors had to be propped open, etc. 2 of my group got the crud, it was not pleasant as rooms were really small. Shower was super small. We missed an excursion, too windy. Excursions were just ok for the price. Oceania is not all that luxurious. I know they can’t help the illness. My husband and I didn’t get to sit together on one flight, aisle to aisle but when you think we ordered flight 8 months in advance, we get to sit together.

24 Night Islands and Amazon Adventure Cruise

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8 Night Joie de Vivre Journey Cruise

8 Nights - Sirena - Departed from Civitavecchia, Italy

One excursion was canceled due to weather.

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Budapest Airport celebrates expansion with Ryanair’s new routes

Recording a solid 18% growth in passenger traffic so far this year, the start of June has seen significant expansion of Budapest Airport’s route map. Adding to the Hungarian gateway’s destinations, Ryanair has launched several new routes in the first few days of the month, seeing the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) operate a network of 66 destinations from Budapest throughout the S24 schedule.

Launching three routes on Sunday, Budapest celebrated Ryanair’s expanded services to Portugal, Germany, and Italy:

Operating twice-weekly flights to Faro, the new service joins the airline’s existing Portuguese services to Lisbon and Porto, providing passengers with greater access to Portugal’s stunning Algarve region.

Commencing twice-weekly flights to Frankfurt-Hahn and offering convenient access to Germany’s financial hub and rich cultural offerings, this new route becomes Ryanair’s third German destination from Budapest, complementing its services to Berlin Brandenburg and Nuremburg.

A new twice-weekly service to Trieste sees the ULCC now operate 74 weekly services to 14 Italian destinations from Budapest. Significantly boosting travel options to and from this popular European country, the latest destination is known for its stunning architecture and picturesque coastal views offering a unique blend of Italian and Central European influences.

Yesterday welcomed Ryanair’s fourth new route this month, introducing a twice-weekly link to Skiathos and its ideal Mediterranean tranquility. Marking the airline’s ninth Greek route from the airport, Ryanair now offers a total of 27 weekly flights to various Greek destinations.

This month’s new routes join the launched S24 services to Milan (daily) and Tirana (three-times weekly), further expanding Ryanair’s network from Budapest Airport.

Máté Ritter, Head of Airline Development, Budapest Airport, says: “It’s fantastic to report a remarkable 18% growth in passenger numbers while continuing to expand our route map. The new routes launched by Ryanair significantly enhance our connectivity and provide our passengers with more travel options. These developments underscore Budapest Airport’s commitment to continuously improving our services and strengthening connections for all passengers.”

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