Bangkok Travel Guide

Getting Oriented

Bangkok is enormous. You'll want to pick a neighborhood base and use the BTS Skytrain to move. The city's tourist core runs along the Chao Phraya River (Old City, Chinatown, Khao San Road) and along the BTS Silom/Sukhumvit lines (modern Bangkok, hotels, rooftop bars, malls). These two zones are 30 minutes apart by train.

Where to Stay

Sukhumvit (BTS line)

Modern Bangkok — malls, good restaurants, easy metro access to everywhere. Best for first-timers who want logistics to be easy. Nana and Asok stations are the practical picks.

Silom / Sathorn

Business district that's also got great restaurants and the night market at Patpong. Good base for Chao Phraya river boat access.

Old City / Rattanakosin

Walking distance to the Grand Palace and temples. Romantic, atmospheric, no Skytrain nearby. Good for one or two nights if you want the temple experience concentrated.

Khao San Road area

The backpacker strip. Cheap guesthouses, chaotic, loud, fun. Not everyone's taste but the energy is real. Base yourself here if you're on a tight budget and want to meet other travelers.

What to Do

The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew

Non-negotiable. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is on the Grand Palace grounds — it's the most sacred site in Thailand. Get there at opening (8:30am) before the cruise ship crowds. Dress code strictly enforced: cover shoulders and knees, no sleeveless, no shorts. Sarongs available to rent at the gate. Cost: 500 baht (~$14).

Wat Pho

Five minutes walk from the Grand Palace. The giant reclining Buddha (46 meters long) is one of the most impressive things you'll see in Thailand. Also the original Thai massage school — get a massage here afterward. Cost: 200 baht.

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)

Across the river from Wat Pho by ferry (5 baht). The porcelain-encrusted spires are extraordinary. Climb the steep central prang for a view across the Chao Phraya. Best photographed from the Wat Pho side at sunrise.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

One of the world's largest outdoor markets — 15,000 stalls, everything from vintage jeans to live lizards. Saturdays and Sundays only, 8am–6pm. Mo Chit BTS station. Go early before the heat kills you.

Chinatown (Yaowarat)

Best at night when the street food stalls come out. Seafood, roast duck, dim sum, mango desserts. Take the MRT to Hua Lamphong or a Grab.

Rooftop bars

Lebua State Tower (where The Hangover Part II was filmed), Octave at Marriott Sukhumvit, Vertigo at Banyan Tree. Dress code usually applies. Order one cocktail, take 200 photos, move on.

Bangkok Street Food — What to Order

• Pad thai — best from carts near Wat Pho or Chatuchak
• Khao man gai — poached chicken on rice with ginger sauce. Breakfast or lunch staple. Remarkable for how simple it is.
• Boat noodles — tiny bowls of pork or beef broth, intensely dark and rich. Order 4–5 bowls like the locals do. Noodle alley near Victory Monument.
• Mango sticky rice — season peaks March–June
• Grilled pork skewers (moo ping) — morning market staple, 10–15 baht each
• Tom yum goong — the spicy prawn soup. Any local restaurant.

Getting Around Bangkok

BTS Skytrain: The fastest way to move between Sukhumvit, Silom, and Siam. Single ride 16–59 baht depending on distance. Get a Rabbit Card for convenience.

MRT: The subway. Covers different areas — connects to Chatuchak, Chinatown (Hua Lamphong), and MBK mall.

Grab: Use it. Cheap, reliable, no negotiation. Most Bangkok taxis are fine too — insist on the meter.

Chao Phraya Express Boat: River ferries that connect Old City temples to Chinatown to Silom. 15 baht. Slower than the Skytrain but more atmospheric.

Avoid: Tuk-tuks for actual transportation (use for fun once). Private taxis without meters. Anyone who approaches you outside a temple with a "helpful" offer.

Day Trips from Bangkok

• Ayutthaya — ancient capital, ruined temples, 90-min train. Do it as a day trip or overnight.
• Floating Market (Damnoen Saduak or Amphawa) — tourist but legitimately atmospheric. Book a tour from your hotel.
• Kanchanaburi — Bridge on the River Kwai, WWII history. 2–3 hours each way. Overnight recommended.

Gear We Recommend for Thailand

Eight travel essentials that make a Thailand trip smoother — from lightweight daypacks to reef-safe sunscreen that won't get confiscated at the temple.

Practical Bangkok Notes

• Airport: Suvarnabhumi (BKK) is 45 minutes from city by Airport Rail Link (45 baht). Do not take the taxi queue — use the metered exit. Expect 300–500 baht to Sukhumvit with traffic.
• Heat: Bangkok is hot year-round. Start mornings early (temples before 10am), rest midday, resurface at 4pm when it cools slightly.
• SIM card: Get a tourist SIM at the airport — AIS or DTAC offer 30-day data plans for 300 baht.
• Currency: ATMs everywhere. Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn Bank have lower fees. Carry cash — many markets and street food stalls don't take cards.

Related Reading

• Thailand Travel Guide (Pillar)
• Chiang Mai Travel Guide
• Thailand Islands Guide
• Thailand on a Budget