Travel guide · Thailand
Bangkok travel guide
Gilded temples, river boats, street food and rooftop bars
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Bangkok is a sprawling, humid megacity on the Chao Phraya River where gilded temples, canals and street-food stalls sit beside glass malls and rooftop bars. The old royal island of Rattanakosin holds the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, with Wat Arun across the river, while modern Bangkok stretches east along the BTS Skytrain through Siam, Silom and Sukhumvit. Getting around mixes skytrain and metro with river boats, taxis and tuk-tuks, and eating well costs very little: some of the city's best cooking happens at street carts and market stalls. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are November–February.
Key facts
- Country
- Thailand
- Best time to visit
- November–February
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- BKK, DMK
- Mid-range daily budget
- $90–$180 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Grand Palace, Street food, Buddhist temples and Chao Phraya River
Why visit Bangkok
- The Grand Palace, Wat Pho's 46-metre Reclining Buddha and Wat Arun face each other across the Chao Phraya River.
- Street food is celebrated and inexpensive, from Chinatown's Yaowarat Road to the stalls outside BTS stations.
- Chao Phraya Express boats and longtail boats turn getting around into sightseeing along the river and canals.
- Rooftop bars, night markets and the vast Chatuchak Weekend Market keep the city busy late into the night.
- Ayutthaya's ruined capital, the floating markets and Kanchanaburi's Death Railway are all day trips.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 20 things to do.
Palace · Rattanakosin
Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
The walled royal palace, begun in 1782 when Bangkok became the capital, combines gilded throne halls with Wat Phra Kaew, the temple of the Emerald Buddha, Thailand's most sacred image.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Art
Religious site · Rattanakosin
Wat Pho
One of Bangkok's oldest and largest temple complexes holds the 46-metre gold-leafed Reclining Buddha, whose feet are inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and more than a thousand Buddha images in its cloisters and halls.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Architecture
Religious site · Thonburi
Wat Arun
The Temple of Dawn's central prang, decorated with broken porcelain and seashells in floral patterns, rises about 70 metres on the west bank of the Chao Phraya.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Views
Market · Chatuchak
Chatuchak Weekend Market
One of the world's largest weekend markets spreads thousands of stalls over 27 sections, selling clothes, ceramics, plants, antiques, vintage, handicrafts and food.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Iconic
- Free
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Experience · Chao Phraya River
Chao Phraya Express Boat
Express boats run up and down the river from Sathorn pier, next to BTS Saphan Taksin, stopping at piers for Chinatown, Wat Arun, Wat Pho and the Grand Palace (Tha Chang).
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Kids
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Neighbourhood · Chinatown
Chinatown and Yaowarat Road
Bangkok's Chinatown fills Yaowarat Road with neon signs, gold shops and, after dark, dozens of street-food stalls selling grilled seafood, peppery rolled-noodle soup, dim sum and Chinese desserts.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- After dark
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Where to stay
Rattanakosin (Old Town) is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 9 areas.
$$$ · Best for culture, first-timers and couples
Rattanakosin (Old Town)
The royal island of palaces, temples and museums on the Chao Phraya
$ · Best for budget, nightlife and solo travellers
Banglamphu and Khao San
Backpacker street, guesthouses and old-Bangkok lanes near the river
$$ · Best for food lovers, culture, budget and nightlife
Chinatown (Yaowarat) and Talat Noi
Neon signs, gold shops and the city's best night-time street food
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples, culture and food lovers
Riverside (Charoen Krung and Bang Rak)
Grand river hotels, galleries and old trading-port streets
What to eat
- Pad thai — Stir-fried rice noodles with egg, tofu, shrimp, bean sprouts and garlic chives, finished at the table with lime, chilli flakes, sugar and crushed peanuts.
- Tom yum goong — A hot and sour soup of river prawns, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves and chilli, served clear (nam sai) or creamy with evaporated milk (nam khon).
- Som tam — Shredded green papaya pounded in a mortar with chilli, lime, fish sauce, tomatoes and peanuts; from Isan in the north-east and usually eaten with sticky rice and grilled chicken (gai yang).
- Khao man gai — Hainanese-style poached chicken over rice cooked in chicken fat, served with a clear broth and a ginger, garlic and fermented-soybean sauce.
- Boat noodles — Small bowls of dark, rich noodle soup with pork or beef, deeply spiced and once sold from boats on the canals; diners stack up their empty bowls.
- Mango sticky rice — Sweet sticky rice soaked in coconut cream, served with ripe mango and crunchy toasted mung beans; at its best during the mango harvest from about March to June.
When to go
The best time to visit Bangkok is November to February, the cool, dry season, when humidity drops and evenings are pleasant for markets and rooftop bars. March to May is very hot, peaking in April around Songkran, and June to October is the rainy season, with afternoon downpours and lower prices; September is usually the wettest month.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Cool season | November–February | Dry, sunny and less humid, with Loy Krathong and Chinese New Year; peak season and the highest prices. |
| Hot season | March–May | Intense heat, often above 35°C, with Songkran in April and the mango harvest; plan indoor breaks at midday. |
| Early rainy season | June–August | Hot, sunny mornings broken by short, heavy afternoon storms; quieter temples and lower hotel prices. |
| Late rainy season | September–October | The wettest weeks, with long downpours and occasional street flooding, easing by late October. |
Getting there and around
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is about 30 km east of the centre; the Airport Rail Link reaches Phaya Thai in about 26 minutes, with a change to the BTS there, and metered taxis from the official rank take 30–60 minutes depending on traffic. Don Mueang (DMK), used by many low-cost airlines, is about 25 km north and linked by the SRT Red Line and the A1 bus to BTS Mo Chit.
Bangkok's traffic is notorious, so rail and river are the fastest ways around: the BTS Skytrain and MRT metro cover the centre, Silom and Sukhumvit, while boats on the Chao Phraya reach the old town and Chinatown. Taxis, ride-hailing apps, tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis fill the gaps.
Plan your days
Three days covers the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Chinatown, Chatuchak (at a weekend) and a rooftop evening. Four or five days adds Jim Thompson House, a bike ride in Bang Krachao and a day trip to Ayutthaya or the floating markets; many travellers use Bangkok as the hub for the beaches and the north.
Practical information
- Currency
- THB
- Language
- Thai
- Plugs
- Type A, B, C and O sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz; many sockets accept both flat and round pins
- Tap water
- Do not drink tap water; bottled and filtered water is inexpensive and sold everywhere.
- Emergency number
- 191 police; 1669 ambulance; 1155 Tourist Police
- Tipping
- Tipping is not traditional but is appreciated: round up taxi fares, leave small change at casual restaurants and tip massage therapists.
Bangkok is generally safe for visitors, but well-known scams target tourists: the 'Grand Palace is closed' trick, cheap tuk-tuk tours to gem shops and unmetered taxis. Traffic is the bigger everyday risk — watch for motorbikes even on pavements — and the heat and humidity can cause exhaustion, so drink plenty of water.
Flights to Bangkok
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Bangkok?
Three days covers the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Chinatown, Chatuchak (at a weekend) and a rooftop evening. Four or five days adds Jim Thompson House, a bike ride in Bang Krachao and a day trip to Ayutthaya or the floating markets; many travellers use Bangkok as the hub for the beaches and the north. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Bangkok?
The best time to visit Bangkok is November to February, the cool, dry season, when humidity drops and evenings are pleasant for markets and rooftop bars. March to May is very hot, peaking in April around Songkran, and June to October is the rainy season, with afternoon downpours and lower prices; September is usually the wettest month.
+What is Bangkok known for?
Grand Palace, Street food, Buddhist temples, Chao Phraya River, Rooftop bars, Night markets, Thai massage and Tuk-tuks. The Grand Palace, Wat Pho's 46-metre Reclining Buddha and Wat Arun face each other across the Chao Phraya River.
+Is Bangkok expensive?
Bangkok is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $90–$180 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Bangkok?
No. Traffic is heavy and parking difficult; use trains, boats, taxis and ride-hailing apps in the city. For day trips to Ayutthaya, the floating markets or Khao Yai, hire a car with a driver or join a tour.