Everything I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Bangkok, Thailand — Bangkok Travel Guide

Thailand’s capital and largest city, Bangkok, is the most visited city in the world. The giant metropolis is a playground of infinite scale. But for someone who’s never been to Southeast Asia before, it can be a lot to take in. My first time here, I was completely overwhelmed.

Because of how spread out it is, Bangkok can be a tough city to approach. When I was researching before my first visit, I felt like the recommendations I was seeing didn’t line up with each other, and I couldn’t figure out where I should go or stay.

Over time and having now been to Bangkok several times, I’ve learned how to best enjoy the city. Today, I love Bangkok’s incredible mix and depth of culture, and it’s the most dynamic city I’ve ever visited by a large margin.

Whether you’re coming for the first time, or you’re coming back to enjoy it again, I put together this guide of all the things I wish I had known about Bangkok before my first visit.

You can view all my Bangkok photos in the Gallery

How Long Do I Need In Bangkok?

I’m probably not the best person to answer this question since I live in Thailand and therefore I’m not in a rush. What I can say is that you’re very unlikely to get bored, even if you stay for a week or two in Bangkok. There’s so much of everything, and it’s an incredibly fun city. But if you’re traveling onward, perhaps three or four days will suffice. I’d recommend at least a few days as a minimum.

Two Quick Notes About Bangkok

This city is BIG and it is BUSY. It’s possible, perhaps even likely, that you’ll get stressed out by the fast pace of it all from time to time. It’s overstimulating, and the always-hot always-humid weather certainly doesn’t help. (Most indoor places, including the subways, have air conditioning though.)

Take it at your own pace. In this guide, I’ve tried to include both cool and exciting things you can (and totally should) do, along with a few other more chill spots to calm down and unwind.

The other thing is, Bangkok has tons for you to do no matter what interests you. I’d recommend keeping this in mind when planning. For example, there’s an abundance of nightlife, culture, food, shopping, arts, cafes, local secrets, and even parks. Depending how much time you have, check out the stuff in this guide and focus on what sounds coolest to you.

After visiting Bangkok somewhere around ten times, I’ve gained a sense of familiarity and freedom to just follow my mood. I don’t focus on just the “Must-See Tourism” anymore, though it is certainly cool and unique, but rather I just go to hang out and have fun.

Because this city is really, really fun.

The Best Things To Do In Bangkok

I’ve broken this list down to the tourist hotspots, overstimulating (but fun) attractions, chill stuff in town, and hidden, quiet gems.

Because there are so many things to do, I will try my best to be succinct.

Must-See Tourism

Let’s start with the sites you’ll hear mentioned in every Bangkok travel guide ever.

Did you really go to Bangkok if you didn’t visit these places?

• Grand Palace — home to the Emerald Buddha and full of beautiful buildings and art. Spectacular and unique Thai architecture that makes the enclave feel like another world entirely. Make sure to wear appropriate clothing (pants and covered shoulders). Located near the river in Central Bangkok.
  • Tip: The entrance fee is 500 baht (around $15 USD) for non-Thai people — and totally worth it. The ticket also includes a few nearby attractions, including a free Thai Dance performance at the nearby royal theater. Showtimes and more information on what’s included here.
  • Note: Near many of these attractions, especially the Grand Palace, tuk-tuk drivers will come up to you and tell you that unlucky you, the place is closed today, you should come on a tour with me instead (that is extremely overpriced and doesn’t even go anywhere cool). Just ignore them and keep walking — it’s a scam.
• Wat Pho — giant reclining Buddha and a huge temple complex with lots of pretty buildings, especially the huge mosaic chedis. Located right next to the Grand Palace, and a 10-minute walk from Sanam Chai MRT station.
  • Dress accordingly here too (to avoid repeating this a million times — basically, just wear pants and covered shoulders for temples and the Grand Palace. Carrying a pair of pants in a backpack works if you don’t want to wear them all day).
• Wat Arun — “The Temple Of Dawn” is a spire-filled temple across the river from Wat Pho. There is a boat shuttle between the temples for around 5 baht.

The Over-Stimulus Package

These places will razzle and dazzle you, and they’re extraordinarily fun — until they wear you out.

• Chinatown (also known as Yaowarat) — during the daytime, even the tiniest alleys are jam-packed with markets; at night, the busy street’s fluorescent chaos makes for quite a scene. Great street food day and night, but please be kind to your stomach. Take the MRT to Wat Mangkon – a beautiful Chinese temple that’s also worth checking out – and walk a block south to get to the center of the action.
  • Nearby: Pharuhat Market, Bangkok’s Little India.
  • Nearby: Sampheng Market, an endless expanse of little trinket shops.
  • Nearby: Khlong Ong Ang, a laid-back canal with great street art, restaurants, and shops.
• Siam — home to some giant, super fancy malls. I love just wandering around the beautiful decorations without even buying anything. Many Thai people get dressed up to go to the mall as if for a night out! The fanciest mall in Siam is Siam Paragon, but they’re all pretty cool with different aesthetics. The malls are connected with a lovely Instagrammable mezzanine called Siam Square, right next to the Siam BTS station.
  • Tip: Bangkok’s malls get very crowded on weekends — go during the week to avoid the crowds.
• Chatuchak Weekend Market — the largest market in Thailand, with over 15,000 shops. Only open Friday night and during the day on Saturday and Sunday. Close to Mo Chit BTS station or Kamphaeng Phet MRT.
• ICONSIAM — go to the malls at Siam first; otherwise, this place will make them look bad. Thailand’s largest, most ornate mall is like Disney World mixed with Las Vegas. An over-the-top delight to the senses in every way, that could not possibly be more elaborate.
  • Tip: the food court on the ground floor is superb, with a huge selection of fantastic food at reasonable prices.
  • They have a free outdoor water & light show along the river every day at 6:30pm, plus an additional 8:00pm show on weekends.
  • You can get there in a few different ways. Charoen Nakhon BTS station connects to the mall, but the best way to go is by water: Take BTS to Saphan Taksin and go to the pier, where there is a free shuttle boat.
• Khao San Road — see “Where To Stay” below

Chill Out In The City

These places are central and easy to get to, but offer a quiet break away from the chaos.

• Lumphini Park — kind of like Bangkok’s tropical version of New York’s Central Park, located at the end of Silom Road — Si Lom and Lumphini MRT and Sala Daeng BTS stations are all here.
• Benjakitti Park — my personal favorite place in Bangkok, just south of Sukhumvit. They recently expanded it to include a beautiful wetlands area with raised walkways which are also very Instagrammable. The easiest way to get there is to walk south on the main road from Sukhumvit MRT, then turn right (west) at the lake.
• Sukhumvit — Sukhumvit is basically Bangkok’s main “downtown” area. Check out Terminal 21, a travel-themed shopping mall, during the day. At night, relax on a rooftop bar with an incredible view of the city. Several BTS stations are here (Terminal 21 is connected to Asok station), and Sukhumvit MRT.
  • Nearby: Korea Town, located near Asok BTS between Sukhumvit Soi (street) 10 and 12, with some good food and shops. I recommend Arirang, right on the corner in front, for a great selection of both Korean barbeque and traditional dishes.
  • Nearby: The area around Sukhumvit Soi 3, near Nana BTS station, has tons of great Middle Eastern and African food. If you’re feeling curious, I’d recommend Taye Ethiopian Restaurant. Or get adventurous – who knows the next time you’ll see a Yemeni restaurant.
• Jay Fai’s Restaurant — if you’ve seen the Bangkok episode of Street Food Asia, perhaps you’ll recognize this place. Yes, it’s real, and yes, you can eat there. Pros: It’s extremely delicious, authentic Thai food, and you can watch the legend herself as she cooks it. Cons: Due to Jay Fai’s recent fame, this will surely be the most expensive meal you have in Thailand (up to around $30 per dish), and you will likely have to wait between 2-3 hours. Located near Wat Saket. (Here it is on Google Maps, in case you can’t find it.)
  • For the record, Jay Fai’s restaurant was famous in Thailand before she was on Netflix. Her food really is that good.
• Wat Saket — also known as “The Golden Mountain”, this temple is located quite centrally and has a good view from the top. It’s a great place to watch the sunset over the city. The nearby canals are quiet and have plenty of canalside cafes, and can provide a nice break from the chaos. The easiest way to get there would probably be to take the MRT to Sam Yot and then walk 20 minutes (or take Grab or public transit) to the north.
• Jim Thompson House — take the BTS one stop past Siam to National Stadium (or just walk an extra 5-10 minutes) to visit the Jim Thompson House. JT was an American architect who revived the Thai silk industry after World War II, and his house compound is a beautiful mix of western and Thai styles located along a quiet canal.

Off The Beaten Path

Not as many tourists know about these places, and they’re a little harder to get to, but they’re worth the trek to take a deep dive into Bangkok’s unique, authentic culture.

• Wat Paknam — home to the largest Buddha statue in Bangkok, towering 226 feet high and 130 feet wide. Go inside the pagoda and climb to the top to see a sublime glass chiedi. This temple is a little out-of-the-way, but is totally worth it. It’s about a 15-minute walk from Bang Phai MRT station
  • Nearby: Khlong Bang Luang Floating Market. When I went here during the pandemic, it was almost entirely closed, except for a tasty restaurant along the water. It’s a picturesque, quiet place to eat and relax along the canal, but there are better floating markets, if that’s what you’re looking for. It’s a 15-minute walk from Bang Phai in the opposite direction from Wat Paknam.
• ChangChui — this is such a cool place: an artsy market with neon lights and shops and even a retired airplane that now holds a time-bending luxury restaurant called Na-Oh. I’d recommend going to ChangChui in the early evening to see the lights and grab a tasty dinner. The easiest way to get there is on the dark red commuter rail line from Bang Sue, taking it to Bang Bamru station. It’s also a short taxi ride from Taling Chan Floating Market
• Taling Chan Floating Market — a busier floating market with many restaurants and shops on boats. Morning is best, as the shopkeepers start to pack up and go home in the afternoon. It’s a neat place, but kind of tough to get to. Take the MRT to Bang Khun Non and then take a taxi or songtaew the rest of the way. It’s cool, but I’d say it’s only worth the effort if you’ve got plenty of time.
• Charoen Krung — this large district along the river is home to many chic cafes and restaurants, flaunting gorgeously designed interiors. Great for relaxing away from the chaos a bit. Check out these cafe recommendations that my girlfriend sent me – you’ll see Thai people enthusiastically taking photos in all of them. Getting around is easiest by taking the BTS to Saphan Taksin and then taking boats or taxis.
  • Nearby: Asiatique The Riverfront is a cool riverside night market with a big ferris wheel. During the pandemic, a lot of Asiatique is still closed, but it’s a charming place by the water nonetheless. Free boat shuttle available from Saphan Taksin dock.
  • Nearby: Warehouse 30 art galleries, a very chill spot with cool shops and galleries.
  • There are some incredibly fancy hotels in this district, if you’re looking to splurge.

Other Recommendations — I like this video of 25 things to do in Bangkok, which also includes stuff that isn’t location-based, such as getting a massage. There’s a lot of overlap between his recommendations and mine, and I appreciate Matt’s combination of enthusiasm and information.

Speaking of which, if you like massages, go to Unchan Health Massage, located on the third floor of the CP Tower in Silom. It is a must-stop every time I visit, and the best massage place I’ve been to in all of Thailand.

Ayutthaya Day-Trip From Bangkok

The old capital of the kingdom of Siam (present-day Thailand), Ayutthaya is full of historic shrines and temples. It makes for a fantastic day-trip from Bangkok.

You can take a train to Ayutthaya (about an hour north of the city) and then explore for the day. Trains depart from Hua Lamphong and stop at Bang Sue Junction – both have MRT stations nearby for transfer. Without air-conditioning, the train ticket costs around 20 baht (less than $1 USD); with air conditioning, it’s over 10x as much, but comes with a meal too. The ride is approximately the same duration.

As you exit the train station in Ayutthaya, you’ll find many drivers ready to take you around. Expect to pay around 600-900 baht (around $20-30 USD) for a few hours. They’ll take you to all the shrines and temples, which are a really fascinating site to see. I recommend wearing pants, as you’ll need them to get into some of the temples.

You can take the train back, or alternatively, I’ve heard you can take a cruise down the Chao Phraya River to return to Bangkok by the evening.

Seven Days In Bangkok: An Itinerary

To see everything in this guide at a reasonable pace, I estimate you’d need around seven days, but don’t fret if you have less than that. Here’s how I’d do it, visiting clusters of attractions to save time and energy on transportation:

• Day One: Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun. Take a break in the afternoon by going to see the Thai Dance show, included with the Grand Palace ticket (good for one week).
• Day Two: Peruse the malls of Siam, then visit the Jim Thompson House. Chill out in Lumphini Park, then take the MRT to Samyan Mitrtown for an underground space adventure. Go to Chinatown for the evening, just a few stops further.
• Day Three: Explore Benjakitti Park in the morning, then walk around Sukhumvit and/or Silom in the afternoon. Get a massage, if that interests you. Chill at a rooftop bar in Sukhumvit in the evening.
• Day Four: Cafe-hop during the day in Charoen Krung, then go to ICONSIAM in the early evening to walk around and catch the lights show on the veranda. Take the free shuttle ferry from ICONSIAM to Saphan Taksin, then another from Saphan Taksin to Asiatique The Riverfront to ride the Ferris wheel.
• Day Five: Go to Wat Paknam, then Taling Chan Floating Market, then ChangChui. Party at Khao San Road in the evening.
• Day Six: Morning/afternoon at Chatuchak Weekend Market, then go to eat at Jay Fai’s restaurant and watch the sunset from Wat Saket.
• Day Seven: Day-trip to Ayutthaya.

Note: The order of these days can be adjusted as necessary. Chatuchak Weekend Market is only open on the weekends, for example, so make sure to put “Day Six” on a Saturday or Sunday.

Over the course of these seven days, you’re sure to find what you love most in Bangkok.

Extra Days?

For any additional days in your itinerary, follow your bliss and do what you love most. This guide only scratches the surface of a place with infinite possibilities to dive deeper.

For example, you could spend an entire week in ICONSIAM and not get bored. I love Sukhumvit’s rooftop bars, on the other hand, and there are hundreds of them. And don’t even get me started on how infinitely artsy Charoen Krung is.

If you’re a shopaholic, you might as well pack your bags and move here permanently.

Where To Stay In Bangkok

There’s lots of great choices, and you can choose depending on what you’re looking for.

My personal preference is, without a doubt, Sukhumvit. It’s the most lively part of the city with a great mix of shops, malls, food, and nightlife. I highly recommend checking out one of the many excellent rooftop bars to enjoy. Sukhumvit is also full of hotels, many of which are incredibly nice, and the transit in this area is super convenient.

Siam is a good choice too. Compared to Sukhumvit, it’s more shopping and less nightlife. The malls have good food courts, usually on the ground floor.

Silom is Bangkok’s business district, and there are some great places here too. Silom Road has some fantastic multicultural restaurants and shopping, but the alleys don’t offer as much as other parts of town. The same is true of nearby Sathon, which is largely residential. Both are a bit quiet now due to the pandemic, but are a more chill option.

Chinatown (Yaowarat) is great to visit but I don’t think I would stay there; it’s just so crazy and intense. Still, the MRT is quite convenient, and you can get delicious food at any hour.

Central Bangkok — this area means you’re probably staying on Khao San Road. Khao San is one of Bangkok’s tourist hubs, full of backpackers and super cheap hostels and hotels. There’s tons of nightlife and bars, but Thai people don’t really go here — it’s all tourists. Still, if you’re looking to make friends with some fellow travelers, this would definitely be the best place. Khao San is also conveniently nearby a handful of main attractions in Central Bangkok, but due to its distance from the train lines, it’s less convenient to get everywhere else.

Charoen Krung is artsy, quiet, and a bit harder to get around, but it’s loaded with fantastic cafes, shops, and hidden gems. Exploring this district is incredibly rewarding — countless modest storefronts hide elaborately decorated, themed interiors. Some of the nicest hotels in Bangkok are located along the riverside in Charoen Krung, with incredible views of the city.

Hotels In Bangkok

It’s no secret that Thailand is a relatively inexpensive country for Westerners, and you can get a huge bang for your buck in Bangkok. You can find solid 4-star hotels in the range of $20-40 USD per night, and anything over $50 USD per night is bound to be superb.

Personally, I like to splurge on super-fancy rooms in Bangkok, since it’s one of the cheapest places in the world to do so. When in Rome, right? Bangkok is fantastic for every budget. I have never paid less than $50 for even the cheapest hotels in the U.S., which really puts things in perspective.

Bear in mind that an average hotel room is still fairly small in size. Conveniently, most listings on Agoda — a great hotel search engine and booking site throughout Southeast Asia — also display the square footage of the room. An average, basic hotel room is around 30 square meters (300 square feet).

• Tip: If you want more space, do a search on Agoda and then select the “Entire Apartment” and “Entire House” result filters under “Property Type.”

There are great options to choose from for every budget in every area of town. I’d recommend picking an area to stay in first and then finding a specific hotel.

Airbnb

There are thousands of Airbnb rooms and apartments for rent in Bangkok. However, since fantastic, cheap hotels are everywhere, Airbnb is not my first choice when visiting the city. It won’t save you much money (if it does at all), isn’t as convenient, and you probably won’t get as nice of a space.

Getting In And Out Of Bangkok

The blue line train (SRT) goes to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), which is where you’ll most likely be flying into. Go to the bottom floor of the airport and follow signs to the Airport Rail Link. Ticketing self-service machines are in Thai and English. Transfer available for MRT at Makkasan or BTS at Phaya Thai.

If you fly into the city’s second, older airport, Don Muang (DMK), the dark red line train is at the southernmost point in the airport. If you’re in the international terminal, first go to the domestic; then, walk through and continue. If you’re in the domestic terminal, go in the opposite direction as the international terminal. Follow signs for State Railway Of Thailand, in dark red. On the second floor, you will come to a walkway over the road that leads to the station. Trains depart fairly frequently, which you can take to Bangkok Central Station (Bang Sue) and transfer to MRT.

Getting Around Bangkok

Bangkok has two main metro systems, the MRT and the BTS Skytrain. These are quite convenient for most of the city, except for (ironically) Central Bangkok, where you’ll need to take taxis, tuk-tuks, boats, and buses. The train lines are super clean, cheap, fast, efficient, modern, and safe. The ticketing machines are in Thai and English.

The dark red line is a modern commuter rail that is also quick, clean, and easy to use. This is great for going to Chang Chui (Bang Bamru station), and ticketing machines are also in Thai and English.

The river and canals have public transportation boats which run around every twenty minutes and are extremely cheap.

I’d recommend staying somewhere near the BTS or MRT, or both (i.e. where they intersect). I recommend taking the train whenever possible, but when needed, you can take boats, taxis, tuk-tuks, songtaews, and buses from the nearest train station.

• If you can take a public transit boat, this will almost certainly be the fastest and cheapest option, plus you might get some great views of the city along the way. Note: boats stop running around sunset (6 or 7 pm), depending on the line. The shuttles to ICONSIAM and Asiatique The Riverfront are free and run a little later, until around 10pm.

• Other than boats, taxis are probably the best bet; just make sure the meter is on when you start the ride. There’s usually a 35 baht base fare, but most short rides don’t get much higher than 50-80 baht total (around $2 or $3 USD).

• Tuk-tuks cost more than taxis and sometimes, perhaps usually, will rip you off. But they’re also quite fun to ride in, and are definitely worth trying out once or twice. You can ask the driver to give you a price before you start the ride to avoid surprises. Prices are negotiable before you start driving; not after.

• Songtaews are red pickup trucks with covered seating areas in the back (see below). They cover fixed routes in different sections of the city and are usually quite cheap (fixed pricing, no negotiating). They’re harder to use if you don’t speak Thai, but you can flag one down (hail it the same way as a taxi) and tell the driver where you’re going; they will tell you if it’s on their route or not.

• Buses — to be honest, I’ve never rode the bus in Bangkok. I imagine they’re pretty easy and cheap as well. Bus schedules and maps just give me more of a headache, personally.

Renting A Car Or Motorbike In Bangkok

I advise against renting a car or motorbike in Bangkok. Even if you’re an experienced driver, the city’s roads are incredibly dangerous. There’s so much traffic that driving is almost always slower than subway or boat anyway, and parking will be a constant struggle, especially if you rent a car.

Public transit in the city is good, cheap, and fast, and I’d recommend it over renting your own vehicle.

Grab App: Ridesharing In Thailand

The Grab app is another way to quickly hail a ride for a fixed price (no negotiating) to get where you want to go. Grab is owned by Uber and offers ridesharing, food ordering, and more. Just type in the place you want to go and select your ride. This is probably the easiest way to get around, especially if you don’t speak any Thai, but expect to pay slightly more (10% or so) than a normal taxi.

Final Thoughts

Bangkok is a giant city that has it all, from busy urban chaos to subtle arts and culture. It’s easy to get strung-out in the uproar and the heat, so make sure to chill out too and enjoy some of Bangkok’s cooler areas. Take it at your own pace and, most importantly, have fun!

Enjoy & take some photos for me,

Andrew

P.S. Do you know and love Bangkok already? Did I miss any of your favorite spots? Let me know in the comments!

View all Bangkok photos in the Gallery