Bangkok
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Bangkok, Thailand • Asia

Bangkok

Glittering temples, floating markets, rooftop bars, and legendary street food - Bangkok is a high-energy base for any group adventure in Southeast Asia.

#Street Food#Temples#Nightlife#Markets#Budget FriendlyBackpackersCouplesFoodiesSolo TravelFamily
5 Attractions
4 Restaurants
4 Hotels
2 Itineraries

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Quick facts

Best time to visit

The cool, dry season from November to February is the best time to visit Bangkok, with comfortable temperatures around 30°C, low humidity and little rain - peak season, so book ahead. March to May is brutally hot (often 35-40°C). The southwest monsoon brings heavy afternoon downpours from June to October, peaking in September; rain is intense but usually short, and prices and crowds drop.

Daily budget
$100
Time zone
Indochina Time (ICT), UTC+7
Language
Thai (English widely spoken in tourist and business areas)
Currency
฿ (Thai Baht (THB))
Emergency
191 Police · 1669 Ambulance · 1155 Tourist Police
Power
Type A, B, C · 230V / 50Hz

About Bangkok

Bangkok - Krung Thep, the "City of Angels" - is Thailand''s electric, intoxicating capital, where gilded temple spires rise above tuk-tuk traffic and the scent of grilling satay drifts past glass skyscrapers. It is a city of glorious contradictions: saffron-robed monks collect alms at dawn a block from rooftop bars that don''t close until sunrise, and a 200-baht street-food feast can be every bit as memorable as a Michelin tasting menu. Most journeys begin in Rattanakosin, the historic royal island cradled by the Chao Phraya River, where the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun form one of Asia''s great temple clusters. From there the city sprawls outward into the canalside neighbourhoods of Thonburi, the frenetic markets of Chinatown (Yaowarat), and the malls and skytrain hubs of Siam and Sukhumvit. Bangkok rewards the curious and the hungry. Ride a long-tail boat through the khlongs, haggle at the 15,000-stall Chatuchak Weekend Market, get a bruising-but-blissful Thai massage, and eat everything - boat noodles, mango sticky rice, crab omelettes, and som tam pounded fresh at a roadside cart. It is hot, loud, affordable and endlessly alive, and it remains one of the world''s best-value city breaks.

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Things to Do in Bangkok

5
Historical

Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew

The dazzling former royal residence and Thailand's holiest site, home to the revered Emerald Buddha. Expect gilded spires, mirror-mosaic walls and dress-code guards - go early to beat the heat and crowds.

2-3 hours From ฿5004.8
Religious

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)

The porcelain-encrusted Khmer-style prang towering over the Thonburi riverbank. Climb the steep steps for views, or admire it best at sunset from a Chao Phraya rooftop bar across the water.

1 hour ฿2004.7
Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Bangkok
Religious

Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha)

Home to the colossal 46-metre gold Reclining Buddha and the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. Quieter than the Grand Palace next door, with a serene complex of stupas to wander.

1-2 hours ฿3004.7
Chatuchak Weekend Market Bangkok
Shopping

Chatuchak Weekend Market

One of the world's largest markets - over 15,000 stalls selling everything from vintage clothing and handicrafts to plants, art and street food. A sweaty, joyful maze; go early and stay hydrated.

Half day Free entry4.6
Yaowarat (Chinatown) Street Food Bangkok
Food

Yaowarat (Chinatown) Street Food

After dark, Bangkok's Chinatown erupts into a neon-lit feast - grilled seafood, bird's-nest soup, dim sum, mango sticky rice and toasted-chestnut carts line Yaowarat Road. The city's best street-food crawl.

2-3 hours Free (pay per dish)4.7

Where to Eat in Bangkok

4
Sorn restaurant food Bangkok

Sorn

Southern Thai Fine Dining $$$$4.8

A three-Michelin-star ode to southern Thai cooking - fiery, precise and built on rare heirloom ingredients. Book weeks ahead for one of the city's great meals.

Jay Fai restaurant food Bangkok

Jay Fai

Michelin Street Food $$$4.5

The goggle-wearing "street-food queen" cooks her famous crab omelette and drunken noodles over charcoal in an open-front shophouse. One Michelin star, hours-long queues - and worth it.

Thip Samai restaurant food Bangkok

Thip Samai

Pad Thai $4.4

A pad thai institution near the old city since 1966, serving the egg-wrapped "superb" version with prawns. Cash only, perpetual line, glorious results.

Err Urban Rustic Thai restaurant food Bangkok

Err Urban Rustic Thai

Modern Thai $$4.3

A stylish Rattanakosin spot reinventing Thai comfort food and drinking snacks, with craft cocktails and a relaxed courtyard near Wat Pho.

Where to Stay in Bangkok

4
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok hotel Bangkok

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Luxury $480/night4.9

A legendary riverside grande dame open since 1876, beloved for impeccable service, the Authors' Lounge and a storied literary past.

The Siam Hotel hotel Bangkok

The Siam Hotel

Boutique $520/night4.8

An art-deco riverside retreat of antiques, palms and pool villas - intimate, design-led and blissfully calm away from the centre.

lebua at State Tower hotel Bangkok

lebua at State Tower

Luxury $260/night4.6

The golden-domed tower behind the famous Sky Bar (of "The Hangover Part II"), with sweeping suites and jaw-dropping skyline views.

Lub d Bangkok Silom hotel Bangkok

Lub d Bangkok Silom

Hostel $18/night4.3

A bright, design-forward flashpacker hostel steps from the BTS and Patpong, with a buzzing common area and private and dorm options.

Bangkok Itineraries

2
3-day trip

3 Days in Bangkok: Temples, Markets & Street Food

easy $220 total

A first-timer's greatest hits - the riverside temples, a market morning, and the city's legendary food, without rushing.

View day-by-day plan
5-day trip

5 Days in Bangkok & Beyond

moderate $450 total

The classic three days plus a floating-market morning and a day trip to the ancient capital of Ayutthaya.

View day-by-day plan

Bangkok Budget Guide

CategoryBudgetMid-RangeLuxury
Flights$600 - $1,400$600 - $1,400$600 - $1,400
Accommodation$14/night$50/night$200/night
Food$8/day$28/day-
Activities$20/day$20/day$20/day
Local Transport$5/day$5/day$5/day
Daily Average$35$100$320

Local currency: Thai Baht (THB)

Bangkok Travel FAQ

Everything you need to know before you go: best time to visit, visas, getting around, safety and more.