Neil Aronson A Bangkok Thailand Travel Guide is a good first place to start when planning your visit to this complex and amazing city. In this article we aim to give you a starting point to plan your stay in this massive city of 10 million people. It can be overwhelming, especially for newcomers to navigate where to stay, what to do, and how to get around in Bangkok.
The good news is even though it is a a large city, it really is quiet simple to navigate as a visitor. My wife is Thai from Chiang Mai, so it helps being with a local, however I have visited many times on my own with relative ease.
If you are visiting on a short itinerary, your biggest issue is deciding what to do and what area to stay. That really depends on your personality. It is a modern city with great transportation and modern amenities, better than most.
Bangkok is often used by travelers as a jumping off point for travel to other parts of Thailand, such as Chiang Mai in the north, or the many fantastic islands and beaches to the south. So if you are reading a Bangkok Thailand Travel Guide then you are probably looking into a trip, so lets give you important information you need.
If you are planning to visit our home city, Chiang Mai, check our complete and updated Guide to Chiang Mai Province. Not just the city!
Bangkok Thailand Travel Guide Contents:
- Getting There And Around
- Is Bangkok a safe place?
- Popular Areas To Stay
- Top Attractions In Bangkok
- Best Day Trips
- Go Shopping
- Resources
Getting There And Around
First of all, Bangkok Thailand is huge. It is one of the most populous cities in Southeast Asia, with a population of over 10 million people. Similar to most of Thailand, the humid rainy season is May-October. During the winter dry season, it is still very warm, especially in the city among the concrete.
Airport
Bangkok Thailand has two main airports. The newer international airport Suvarnabhumi (BKK) is one of more modern ones in Asia. It is large but easy to navigate, and I have never had to wait in any long lines. Located east of downtown, about 40 minutes drive. But that depends on the time of day. Traffic around Bangkok can be epic.
Don Mueang Airport used to be the international airport before the opening of BKK. After renovations, it is now used at a regional airport for low cost airlines. So if you are traveling the region, you may use it.
Dozens of major airlines have service to Bangkok Thailand. Our favorite from the US is Korean Airlines through Seoul. Eva, Japan, and China Airlines are good as well. You can look up flights on our Book Travel page.
Flying into the international airport is one way to get there. Many people who are traveling around Thailand will take a train, bus, or local flight to get to Bangkok. The options for traveling cheaply around Thailand are many. 12Go is the best source for trains, busses, and local flights on Bangkok Airways.
Air Asia is probably the most popular regional airline, and can take you all over Southeast Asia.
Getting Around Bangkok Thailand
Bangkok isn’t a walkers’ city. It’s hot, humid, and polluted, so it’s best to take local transport between sights. The exceptions are Chinatown and the area around the Grand Palace, which have several attractions within walking distance. In Siam and Ratchaprasong, elevated walkways connect major shopping malls and BTS Skytrain stations, making it easier to go between hotels and different attractions in the area on foot.
If you just want to get to the end of a long street or need to reach the other side of a neighborhood, take a tuk tuk. These noisy three-wheeled vehicles are often hard to resist, but drivers sometimes trap tourists into stopping at tailor or gem shops (that pay them commissions). Refuse any unrequested stops.
Bangkok has an extensive public transportation system that includes buses, a Skytrain (BTS), an underground metro (MRT), and a network of water buses and taxis on the Chao Phraya River. Traffic congestion is a common issue in the city, so taking the ‘subway’ is recommended if possible.
Songthaew’s are a local favorite option. It is your budget option. Small red busses the will drop you off around town, less than 30 baht. Grab is a local Uber type rideshare company that is available in Thailand. Regular cabs are also readily available.
Boats are a great way to get around the famous Riverside area of Bangkok with its many historical monuments, temples and architecture. Several kinds of boats (express boats, river taxis and longtail boats) run up and down the Chao Phraya River, connecting with the local suburbs on the Thonburi side and along the river, while ferries can be used to cross the river at various points.
We recently took water taxis to get to Wat Pho, Wat Arun, and . It is really cheap and easy to hop on and off. There are piers all up and down the river, and especially at all the tourist spots. It is also a great way to see the city.
Is Bangkok a safe place?
Staying safe in the big, busy capital is paramount and while relatively safe for travellers, being cautious in Bangkok is essential.
Be wary of dangerous and reckless driving by motorbike taxis or the scams of unmetered taxis.
Tuk-tuk scams are also unfortunately a common occurrence where prices will be as little as TBH 10 but drivers will take you to endless ‘gem’ and souvenir shops and become rather pushy in wanting you to buy their goodies.
Lastly be wary of getting ripped off or robbed in one of the many notorious go-go bars and don’t drink any offered drinks.
The level of healthcare in Bangkok is high, so if in need of any medical assistance be sure you are in good hands. There are many hospitals throughout Bangkok meeting international standards though prices can be steep – make sure you have a valid travel insurance.
Popular Areas To Stay
Since it is a large city, choosing the right area to stay in is important. Each area provides a different vibe and things to do. Depending on what you want to do while in Bangkok Thailand, will determine where you want to stay. The BTS train runs through the city, but not through all areas.
Without a doubt, I always book hotels through Agoda. Not just in Thailand, but all over the world. Easy to use, great service if you need it, and rewards program.
Sukhumvit
Home to the upmarket business center of the city and many of the most popular nightlife venues. Terminal 21 shopping mall is right in the heart of Sukhumvit and next to the Asoke BTS station, making it easy to get anywhere. This area was the last location we staying in, at the Hilton Bangkok Grande Asoke, which is amazing by the way.
This area is also just a couple of BTS stops from Siam and Siam Square, another shopping mecca. The small sois of Siam Square are alive with record stores, bookstores, cafes, and bars. Siam Square has the best shopping in Bangkok and is full of amenities, like cinemas, massage parlors, and salons. The Nana and Asoke areas along Sukhumvit are particularly popular for nightlife.
Sukhumvit is arguably the best area to stay for Bangkok hotels, nightlife, and has it all when it comes to dining and clubbing! Much of the action centers around Soi 11, Bangkok’s famous party street, a favorite with both ex-pats and visitors, with its extensive selections of restaurants, clubs, and bars. Our Hilton Hotel is next to the infamous ‘Soy Cowboy’, which is a short alley with bars and bar girls. Some great live music here too.
To get there take the BTS Skytrain to Asok, Nana or Phrom Phong station, or the MRT (subway) to Sukhumvit station.
Recommended Hotel: Hilton Bangkok Grande Asoke – Another 5-star hotel, and where we most recently stayed. The location is amazing, right across the street from the BTS station and Terminal 21 shopping mall. The interior is very nice and staff is amazing. The room was perfect, and make sure you get breakfast included, it is worth staying there just for that. Also ask for a room facing the mall if you want a good of the city action. Even the public bathroom is nice, as pictured!
Khao San Road
Khao San Road is a 1 km stretch of shops, bars, restaurants, and street vendors and is home to the backpacker scene – though it is adding more mid-range hotels and boutiques every year. (Banglamphu is the name of the surrounding neighborhood.) People either love it or hate it but it is well worth a visit. It’s centrally located and close to many of Bangkok’s top attractions (like the Grand Palace).
Highlights here include the cavernous Lava Gold Club and the roof top Gazebo, recently voted as one of the best bars in the world, with live bands, sheesha pipes, and plenty of good cheer.
Banglamphu is an old part of town, and you do not need to walk far from Khao San before you are surrounded by traditional shophouses, local homes, temples, and restaurants that have been here for generations.
Banglamphu’s close vicinity to Bangkok’s most prominent attractions has kept development at bay, and the area is still refreshingly free of modern malls and skyscrapers. Some of the old shophouses have recently been converted into neat boutique guesthouses, hotels, and cozy cafes.
The Khao San/ Banglamphu area does not have a Skytrain or Subway MRT, so the best way to get to/ from Khao San Road is by ferry (walking distance to the river), taxi, Grab car, bus, or by one of Bangkok’s iconic Tuk-Tuks.
Mid Range: D&D Inn — Situated in the lively Khao San Road area, D&D Inn offers budget accommodation with easy access to the bustling street life of this popular backpacker destination.
Budget: Baan Chart Hotel — Tucked away in a quiet street but still close to the action of Khao San Road, Baan Chart Hotel provides affordable rooms with a relaxed atmosphere.
Bangkok Old Town
Old Town, Rattanakosin is a historic area, bordered by the Chao Phraya and canals which served as moats for the old city. Bangkok’s most revered historical attractions are located in Rattanakosin.
The area is home to a plethora of Buddhist temples, palaces, monuments, and museums. The Old City area is relatively small and ideal for walking to explore the area. Here, you’ll find the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), and Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha).
To get there, take the river ferry (Chao Phraya Express) to the Tha Tien or Tha Chang piers, or the MRT subway to Sanam Chai station.
Recommended Hotel: Aurum The River Place — Stylist hotel also across the river from Wat Arun. Boasting lovely views of the Chao Phraya River from the rooftop garden, it is just a 5-minute walk from the famous Wat Pho. It offers free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Aurum The River Place is a 7-minute walk from the Flower Market and a 15-minute walk from the Grand Palace.
Silom/Sathon
This is Bangkok’s Wall Street (through the day). After nightfall, the people and environment changes considerably. The skyline is lined with skyscrapers boasting the names of local and international financial institutions, law firms, and corporations. You are close to Lumphini Park.
The small sois between Silom Road and Surawong Road becomes alive with people, street life, sidewalk stalls, and street food vendors. Tourist and locals come here to see the infamous Patpong red-light district. It’s filled with go-go bars and brothels.
Go food exploring along Charoen Krung Road. Bang Rak is an old part of Bangkok and is home to some classic Thai restaurants that have been there for generations.
This area is home to King Power Mahanakhon. Bangkok’s tallest building at 320m has an open-air observation deck, a bar, and a skywalk with a dizzying transparent glass floor.
Sri Mahamariamman Temple is another popular attraction in Silom. It was built in 1879 by Vaithi Padayatchi, a Tamil Hindu immigrant.
Take the BTS Skytrain to one of three stations: Sala Daeng (for Patpong), Chong Nonsi (closest to Silom Road and King Power Mahanakhon Tower’s Skywalk), or Saphan Taksin (for the riverfront and the Chao Phraya Express boats).
You may also take the MRT (subway) to the stations of Silom and Lumphini. By river boat, the pier is Taksin, outside the Saphan Taksin station of the BTS Skytrain.
Recommended Hotel: Banyan Tree Bangkok — This hotel is famous for its rooftop restaurant and bar with stunning city views. It’s a five-star hotel that combines luxury with a touch of Thai hospitality.
Siam & Ratchaprasong
Siam is famous shopping in Bangkok and has the city’s highest density of shopping malls – MBK, Siam Paragon, Central World, Siam Discovery, Siam Center, and Central Chitlom are all here. I worked for the Sea Life Center over 10 years ago!
Visit Jim Thompson`s House. Get a feel for how it was to live in old Bangkok and visit the lovely Jim Thompson House, a traditional Thai house/ museum. Jim Thompson was the man who made Thai silk world-famous, and his house is today a museum.
Visit Erawan Shrine, which is a statue attracting thousands of daily visitors hoping for good fortune.
Take the BTS Skytrain to one of three stations: Siam, Chit Lom, or National Stadium.
Chinatown (Yaowarat)
Chinese merchants moved to the east bank of the Chao Phraya River in the early 1780’s, making Chinatown the oldest neighborhood in Bangkok Thailand. The neighborhood was defined by trade then and still is today.
These days, Chinatown isn’t set as a tourist attraction. It is a genuine Chinese neighborhood where people work and live. The streets of Chinatown are vivid and hectic – packed full of people, market stalls, and a concentration of gold shops. One of the best places for street food.
Visit The Sampeng Market. The narrow lanes surrounding Sampeng Square form Chinatown’s biggest and most popular market. Here you will find every trinket known to man. Navigating these narrow lanes can be challenging, but just go with the flow, have fun, and enjoy the craziness. You can make a good deal on Chinese goods like tea, spices, and pottery.
To get to Chinatown, take the river ferry (Chao Phraya Express) to the Ratchawong pier or the MRT (subway) to Hua Lamphong station.
Riverside/ Thonburi
This area in Bangkok Thailand comprises the entire west bank of the Chao Phraya River – across the water from the city’s center. If you’re sensitive to breathing polluted air then staying in Thonburi can make a noticeable difference on allergies. On this side of the river there’s a slower, more relaxed Bangkok that gives visitors a glimpse into traditional Thai culture.
Canals make their way through the relatively isolated neighborhoods. Vendors sell noodles from old Thai long tail boats and locals prefer to bicycle through the sois. The most popular tourist activity is to hire a long tail boat and explore the waterways and floating markets.
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok: A legendary luxury hotel located along the Chao Phraya River, known for its elegance, impeccable service, and historical significance.
Top Attractions In Bangkok
Wat Arun
Wat Arun, meaning “Temple of the Dawn,” is named for the Hindu god Aruna, God of Dawn. And fittingly, this 270-foot temple is glorious to behold at dawn or sunset.
The temple is covered from top to bottom with mosaics, pieced together by Chinese porcelain. To experience it, visitors can pay a small admission price to climb inside the temple’s central prang, but keep in mind that the steps are steep and the stairway is very narrow.
The best way to get there is to take the Water Taxi to the Wat Arun Pier. It is a popular place for Asians to dress up and do a photoshoot.
Wat Pho
The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, known as Wat Pho in Thai, is a Buddhist temple complex which is most known for its gold-plated “Reclining Buddha” sculpture. The Buddha measures 151 feet long and is 50 meters tall, making it the largest reclining Buddha statue in Thailand.
Like Wat Arun it is touristy, but a most see once. And like Wat Arun it is easy to get to by water taxi.
The complex also houses the most Buddha’s in all of Thailand. Along with the famous reclining Buddha, Wat Pho features a whopping 394 Buddhas that can be found spread out between four different chapels on-site.
Grand Palace
The Grand Palace will probably be on the itineraries of most first-time travelers to Bangkok. That’s because the complex once served as the residence for multiple Thai kings, their royal courts, as well as multiple branches of government, including defense and treasury departments.
See It From The Sky
Go to the top of the King Power Mahanakhon Building. Bangkok’s tallest building at 320m has an open-air observation deck, a bar, and a skywalk with a dizzying transparent glass floor. The glass-bottomed SkyWalk observation deck on the 78th floor to take in its uninterrupted 360-degree views.
INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit – is fortunate to have Sky-high LUZ Bangkok Tapas Bar. Commanding the hotel’s two upper-most floors, the 33rd and 34th levels, with panoramic views of the Bangkok skyline, LUZ has quickly gained a reputation as “the place to be” since its September 15, 2023 debut.
Bangkok Art & Culture Center
The Bangkok Art & Culture Centre (BACC) is a relatively new mixed-use arts space. Many liken its contemporary architecture to the Guggenheim, and the artwork inside – which ranges from painting to performance – pushes the aesthetic envelope just as much as the pieces in the famed New York City museum.
Jim Thompson House
The architecture of the Jim Thompson House, along with its late owner’s enigmatic history, is what draws visitors here. Travelers also enjoy its charming grounds and the in-house cafe.
Best Day Trips
Close to Bangkok is the old capital of the Kingdom of Siam. This historic city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to the summer palace and tons of breathtaking and unique temples. Since it is so close to Bangkok, it’s a very popular day-trip destination for tours. Lots of companies offer trips but it’s so easy to get to that I would simply go on your own by train. The journey takes about 1.5 hours each way.
Damnoen Saduak Market- Maeklong Railway Market Tour
Located east of the city, these are two of the most famously photograhed places. Going by tour is the best option. Damnoen Saduak is the most popular floating market in Thailand.
It this one is located 100km (62 miles) southwest of the city. It’s a maze of narrow canals (called khlongs), crossed by small wooden boats mainly paddled by female vendors wearing traditional farmers’ shirts and conical straw hats.
Close by is Talad Rom Hoop, also known as ‘Train Umbrella Market’, for a unique market experience. The market literally sits on the railway track and every day customers and shopkeepers make way for the Bangkok-Maeklong train to pass.
Go Shopping
Chatuchak Weekend Market
The Chatuchak Weekend Market is one of the biggest street markets in the world. It sprawls more than 35 acres and contains somewhere in the neighborhood of 15,000 shops and vendors.
The popular Suan Lum Night Bazaar is found on Ratchada Road, close to the Lad Phrao station of the MRT underground metro and the The Bazaar Hotel, opening at around 4pm in the afternoon and only closing at midnight. It has literally thousands of stalls selling everything from clothing to jewelry, to handicrafts and home décor and souvenirs.
Take a night market tour with Viator.
Also for the later hours of the day (opening daily, except Mondays, at 8pm), is the Saphan Phut Night Market, by the Memorial Bridge, popular with young Thais hunting for fashion and second-hand items.
Even more famous is the Patpong night market, with neon-lit stalls of cheap souvenirs and fake goods set up each evening by the bars that make up Bangkok’s most famous red-light district.
Asiatique The Riverfront: A large open-air mall and entertainment complex on the Chao Phraya River, offering shopping, dining, and cultural performances.
Siam Paragon and Siam Center: High-end shopping malls in the Siam Square area, offering luxury brands, entertainment, and dining options. Easy to access from Sukhumvit and the BTS Station.
Terminal 21 Asok is a creatively designed shopping destination nestled in Bangkok’s bustling Sukhumvit area. Opened in 2011, it’s named for its location on Soi Sukhumvit 21 and designed like an airport terminal—complete with departure-style signs and staff dressed as flight attendants.
We hope out Bangkok Thailand Travel Guide helps you plan your visit. For more detailed information check out our Central Thailand Guides.
Do not forget Travel Insurance when visiting Bangkok Thailand. For why, and options, visit our guide. We Recommend Three Great Options here.
Resources
Agoda is the best place to book cheap affordable hotels in Thailand, especially near national parks. They also book flights as well.
Expedia is my favorite place to book flights, hotels, cars, and more. Their group includes Hotels.com and Vrbo for vacation rentals.
Viator is the top choice for activities. Book everything from a waterfall tour to scuba diving, jungle trekking to cooking classes.
12Go is the top transportation source for Asia. From busses to trains to regional flights.
