Thailand’s cosmopolitan capital Bangkok can be a chaotic, complex and confounding city – until you cruise the Chao Phraya River, discover the Old City and its glittering pagodas and gleaming spires, and explore the quiet canals. For many visitors Bangkok is little more than a shopping stop punctuating a beach holiday. Yes, there’s cheap accommodation and dirt-cheap street food, but there are also beautiful boutique hotels, heady cafés and buzzy bars, and brilliant restaurants serving inventive Thai food – not to mention new art and design destinations, a rejuvenated riverside, and a rapidly gentrifying Chinatown. Go now.
Bangkok Itineraries
One Day
Itinerary
Two Day
Itinerary
Stay in Bangkok
Where to Stay in Bangkok – Hotels for Foodies
The best Bangkok hotels for foodies range from atmospheric Shanghai Mansion, slap bang in the centre of Chinatown, to the sleek Como Metropolitan, home to Nahm, Bangkok’s number one Thai restaurant. Heading to Thailand to …
Our Home Away from Home in Bangkok
Breathtaking Bangkok city vistas, a colossal swimming pool, and a soi crammed with street food stalls were all bonuses. Space for both of us to spread out and set up office, fast reliable Internet access, …
Book Bangkok Accommodation
Eat in Bangkok
Most Sustainable Bangkok Restaurants – From Farm-to-Table to Nose-to-Tail
The most sustainable Bangkok restaurants range from farm-to-table eatery Haoma, serving vegetable-driven cuisine created from just-picked greens grown in their garden to casual nose-to-tail joint 100 Mahaseth, offering Isaan-style food that makes use of every …
Bangkok Street Food Stalls Are Not Going Anywhere For Now – Street Food Ban Lifted
Bangkok street food stalls are not going anywhere for now so street food lovers around the world can breathe a deep sigh of relief, cancel those direct flights to Phuket and Chiang Mai, and start …
Drink Bangkok
Explore Bangkok
Bangkok Parks and Gardens — A Breath of Fresh Air in the Big City
One of the first things we like to do after arriving in a city following a long-haul flight is stretch our legs and get some fresh air, which generally sees us heading to the nearest …
Experience Bangkok
Book Bangkok Tours
Absorb Bangkok
Reflections on Bangkok’s Compelling Traffic Gridlock
Why do travellers find transportation so fascinating? After all, for holidaymakers a trip away is a temporary retreat from the rituals of work – the dreaded daily commute, the tiresome crowded train rides, the slow …
Shop Bangkok
Bangkok’s Best Boutiques
I love shopping Bangkok’s boutiques because I love Thai fashion. Take homegrown brands such as FLYNOW, Theatre, Wonder Anatomie, Tipayaphongpoosanaphong, and Palette – they’re fresh, quirky, colourful, and fun. And even when Thai fashion is …
Kicking Back in Bangkok: Chatuchak Weekend Markets
My favourite thing to do on a weekend in Bangkok is kick back at the sprawling Chatuchak Market or JJ Market, as it’s also known locally. Banjo-plucking cowboys, lipstick-wearing coffee pourers, puppy-hugging hipsters, Birkenstock-clad tourists, …
Festivals & Events in Bangkok
Bangkok Local Knowledge
Local Knowledge: Chef Bo from Bangkok
We first met Thai-born chef Duangporn 'Bo' Songvisava, better known as Chef Bo and her Australian chef husband Dylan Jones — protégés of the legendary master of Thai cuisine, David Thompson, at Nahm London — after eating …
Footpath Feasting: From Street Food to Soul Food
As travel and food writers we have to eat out every day, sometimes two or three times a day. In Bangkok one of those meals will involve street food. That means we've eaten a lot of …
Bangkok Resources
Bangkok Essentials
WHEN TO GO
Nov–Feb The temeratures in Bangkok don’t vary much, it’s the humilidity and change of rain that varies, this is the best time to travel and it’s crowded.
Mar–Jun Weather This shoulder season is less crowded but the chance of rain is higher.
Jul–Oct Wet season commences and while it’s a little less crowded, the storms
can be ferocious.
Health
Bangkok has excellent healthcare facilities, in fact it’s where most people in Southeast Asia head for medical treatment if they can afford it and is a medical tourism destination. It’s still of great importance that you get full medical insurance for your visit. Recommended Vaccinations
Visas
Nationals of most countries can get a free tourist visa on arrrival in Thailand, it’s the length of the visa that varies and can range from 15 days to 90 days. Overstaying visas incurrs daily fines and rules can change overnight so be aware. Some visas can be extended, check the Thai Immigration website.
Insurance for Bangkok
CURRENCY
CURRENT EXCHANGE RATES
$1.00 USD = 32 THB
$1.00 AUD = 23 THB
€1.00 EUR = 36 THB
£1.00 GBP = 41 THB
The Thai currency (THB) is called the ‘Baht’, and it’s the only currency used in the country. In touristy areas they may acccept USD but and give change in THB but you’ll suffer an unfavourable exchange rate. It is, however, easy to change most major currencies into THB.
LANGUAGE
THAI IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THAILAND.
ELECTRICITY
ELECTRICITY IN THAILAND IS 220 VOLTS. 50 CYCLES/SEC.
LOCAL TIME
CURRENT BANGKOK TIME
Bangkok’s Time Zone is (GMT+7)
Bangkok has never utilised daylight saving.
WEATHER
CURRENT BANGKOK WEATHER
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TEMPERATURE
°C | °C -
HUMIDITY
% -
WIND
m/s -
CLOUDINESS
% -
SUNRISE
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SUNSET
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SAT 19°C | °CCloudiness%Humidity%
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SUN 20°C | °CCloudiness%Humidity%
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MON 21°C | °CCloudiness%Humidity%
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TUE 22°C | °CCloudiness%Humidity%
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WED 23°C | °CCloudiness%Humidity%
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THU 24°C | °CCloudiness%Humidity%
TRANSPORTATION
AIR/LAND/SEA
There are direct international flights to Bangkok from most major international destinations. Domestic flights cover all major tourist destinations. Around Bangkok, the BTS Skytrain and MRT Metro are the most efficient means of travel. Quality of taxi services vary wildly, use Grab Taxi, but that can’t stop the traffic jams. Only tourists use tuk-tuks, locals and expats use motorbike taxis.
Bangkok Daily Costs
Budget
Daily Budget Up To:
US$30
- Guesthouse dorm room: US$3–10
- Cheap restaurants, street food: US$0.5–3
- BTS Daily Ticket: US$3:60
Mid Range
Daily Budget From:
US$31–200
- Air-con hotel room: US$20–45
- Good local restaurant meal: US$5–15
- Medium distance taxi ride: US$4:50
Luxury
Daily Budget From:
US$201+
- Boutique hotel or resort: US$80–500
- Degustation meal without drinks: US$50+
- Private airport transfer: US$80+