Bangkok
Bangkok
OVERVIEW
Bangkok, Thailand’s capital and most populous city is situated on the Chao Phraya River. Along the river, long-tail, junkyard and taxi boats can be seen drifting by its historic temples and towering skyscrapers. Nestled between the tall, concrete buildings you’ll find colourful temples, old Thai houses, exotic food stalls, bustling markets and a vibrant nightlife scene. The intriguing yet chaotic streets are a joy to explore and many are conveniently linked by the city’s skytrain and metro systems.
Bangkok was established in the 18th century after Ayutthaya, the former capital, was destroyed by the Burmese in 1767. In more recent years it has rapidly expanded into a fascinating mix of old, new, budget and luxury with no one area being classed as the centre. There are huge, modern shopping malls, ancient temples, roof top bars and restaurants and humble street stalls doted all around this contrasting and vibrant city.
GET THE GUIDE
Bangkok Travel Guide
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Bangkok has a tropical monsoon climate and generally remains hot and humid all year round. The daytime temperatures rarely fall much below 30ºC (86°F) and even at night the temperature doesn’t drop much, especially at the hotter times of the year.
March to May are the hottest months, with May to October being the rainy season and November to February being the cooler season. April to May and September to October tend to be the most humid periods.
The peak season is generally November to March where the city will be busier with tourists and prices slightly higher, but the weather will be more comfortable, especially between December and February.
May to October is regarded as low season due to the rain and humidity, but it can still be a good time to visit as there are some great hotel deals to be found. It rarely rains all day, with monsoon rains often being torrential downpours for a short period with some light rain and overcast days.
Average Temperature
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Average Rainfall
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TRANSPORT
Bangkok has a great transport system making it easy to navigate around this exotic city.
Metro (MRT) & Skytrain (BTS)
Bangkok’s MRT runs from 6:00 am till midnight and runs every 5–7 minutes with a one way fare costing between 16 and 41 baht.
Bangkok’s BTS runs from 6:00 am till just after midnight and runs every 3–6 minutes with a one way fare costing between 15 and 52 baht.
Taxis
Taxis are cheap and readily available but it is easy to be caught in a gridlock anytime of the day or night. An average taxi journey will cost around 50 baht, taxis will start the fare at 35 baht and then charge around 6 baht per km. Communication can be tricky so if you have a destination in mind print off the address in Thai beforehand.
Buses
There is an extensive bus network around Bangkok but there are many different types of buses so it can confusing for first time visitors. An average bus journey will cost between 7–19 baht.
Tuk-tuks
Although they are one of Bangkok’s iconic transport methods, they are almost always more expensive than a taxi and some of them end up taking you on a detour to a suit shop or jewellers in return for petrol coupons from the owners. They can be useful to nip through traffic at rush hour, but always ensure you agree a price before getting in and don’t be afraid to barter or walk away.
AVERAGE COSTS
The currency is Thai Baht (THB), note denominations are 20, 50 ,100, 500 and 1000.
ATM’s are widespread around the city however most charge 150–200 baht per withdrawal. Exchanging money around Bangkok is easy, there are numerous money exchange booth’s around the city which all have better rates than you can get at home with no added commissions or fees. Most major credit cards such as Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted.
Average Costs (in Thai Baht)
- Mid range hotel 3–4 star 900–1300
- Budget accommodation 400–800
- A three course meal for two in a mid-range restaurant 400–700
- street food meal for one 50–150
- Beer at a bar 70–100
- Beer at a Seven Eleven 30–50
- A regular coffee 70
- A bottle of water 7–15
- Taxi from airport 230–520
ATTRACTIONS
Bustling Bangkok is full of things to do, from modern shopping malls and markets to ancient temples and palaces. Below are just some of the most popular places to visit when in this contrasting city.
Grand Palace
A complex of glistening, ornate buildings, including Wat Phra Kaew, also know as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is one of the most popular attractions in the city. It was built in the 18th Century and within the grounds you will find Royal Halls, glittering gold temples, with some also covered in a mosaic of different coloured jewels. The entrance fee is 500 baht and it is open from 8:30 am till 3:30 pm. A strict dress code is in place, legs and shoulders should be covered and there is a booth at the entrance to provide clothing if required and also a changing room.
Wat Arun
A stunning Buddhist temple, also known as the Temple of Dawn, situated on the riverside of the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. It dates back to 1768, but the main central prang was extended to 79 metres high during the 19th Century, which is also when it was decorated with fragments of porcelain so they glisten in the sun. When it was first built this temple was home to the Emerald Buddha, before it was moved to Wat Phra Kaew in 1785. The entrance fee is 100 baht and it is open from 8:30 am till 5:30 pm.
Wat Pho
Also know as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, this is one of the largest temple complexes in the city. It is best know for the 46 metre long, 15 metre tall, huge reclining Buddha that is covered in glistening gold leaf. The complex also has the more Buddha images than any other Wat in Thailand. The Wat Po Thai Traditional Medical and Massage School is also located within the grounds, which is a great place to get a traditional Thai Massage, with prices starting at 260 baht for a 30 minute massage. The entrance fee to Wat Pho is 100 baht and is open from 8:00 am till 5:00 pm. It is about a 10 minute walk to Wat Pho from the Grand Palace.
Jim Thompson House & Museum
The former home of the American ‘Silk King’ Jim Thompson consists of six traditional Thai-style houses sitting at the edge of the Saen Saeb Canal. Jim Thompson helped revitalise the Thai silk industry and was so successful he was awarded for his extensive service to Thailand. His house was completed in 1959 after being built using all or parts of fine old houses that Thompson purchased and shipped from all over Thailand. He filed his home with an incredible collection of arts and antiques, mainly from items he had purchased in Thailand, usually for a small fee due to the lack of knowledge of such items at the time, save for museums and art experts. During the Easter weekend of 1967, whilst on holiday in Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands with friends, Thompson disappeared and despite an extensive search no clues were ever found about his disappearance. The beautiful collection of well-arranged treasures in his former Thai home now exists as a fascinating museum. The entrance fee is 150 baht and it is open from 9:00 am till 6:00 pm everyday.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
One of the largest markets in the world selling everything from a sofa to a pet, in fact, it’s probably easier to list what isn’t sold here. The market is divided up in 27 sections with over 8,000 stalls, ranging from clothes, food, antiques, home ware, plants and ceramics. Free maps are available from the information kiosks to help you find certain sections, but this is also a great place to wonder round and see what you stumble upon. It can get crowed and you don’t get much protection from the sun or the heat so plan accordingly. Many vendors will only accept cash so ensure you have enough before you arrive at the market. The whole market is open on Saturday & Sunday 9:00 am–6:00 pm so these are the best days to visit. Some of the market is also open on Friday (wholesale only) 6:00 pm–midnight and Wednesday & Thursday (plants only) 7:00 am–6:00 pm
Lumphini Park
This huge outdoor area gives a rare opportunity to connect with nature in the middle of this buzzing city. As you stroll round this green oasis you will see people enjoying a boat ride on the man-made lake, practising tai chi or taking part in an aerobics class with hundreds of participants. Keep an eye out for the water monitor lizards in or around the lake, which can come as quite a shock the first time you see one creeping out of the water, but fear not, they’re not dangerous to humans. The Silom and Lumpini MRT subway stations take you right opposite the park and it’s open from 4:30 am–9:00 pm.
Khao San Road
Head here at night to experience a unique and vibrant part of the city where you can shop, eat, enjoy a drink or party till dawn. There are numerous street vendors, restaurants and bars to choose from where you can sit and soak up the infectious atmosphere. If you’re lucky you may even be offered the local delicacy of a scorpion on a stick too — we politely declined! The road has become so popular that the fun now continues into nearby Soi Rambuttri as well. Due to the high number of budget accommodation options here, it is known as a backpackers haven, but no matter what type of traveller you are, it is worth heading here one evening to experience this distinct, energetic area of Bangkok.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Situated 62 miles (100 km) from the city is Thailand’s most popular floating market that will give you an insight into a previous way of life. A traditional long-tail boat or a paddle boat will take you along canals, past colourful stalls and hundreds of wooden boats selling fresh produce, souvenirs and Thai food. It can get very busy and chaotic when there are lots of boats on the canal at once and people are stopping to purchase products, but that all adds to the atmosphere and allows you take more photographs and take it all in. To get there you can take a taxi, public bus or an organised tour, but be prepared for an early start as it is open daily from 6:00 am-12:00 pm.
AREA GUIDES
Bangkok is a huge, sprawling city, consisting of many different areas with none of them being classed as the centre. Below is a guide to some of the most popular areas to visit.
Sukhumvit
This is one of Bangkok’s most modern areas with incredible shopping malls, luxury hotels, spas and a huge number of restaurants and trendy bars & clubs. Sukhumvit is a buzzing area come day or night, although even more so at night due to its huge variety of options from swanky rooftop bars to red-light districts. There aren’t many traditional tourist attractions in this area, but you will still find plenty to do. It’s very easy to get to as both the Skytrain (BTS) and metro (MRT) have stops in this area, with the Skytrain having many stops along the main Sukhumvit Road.
Silom
Silom is the financial hub of Bangkok, but there is also plenty here for tourists too. Lumphini Park is located here, which is one of the biggest expanses of green spaces in the city, whilst at the other end of Silom Road lies the Chao Phraya River. There are many shops, markets, food stalls, restaurants and bars, as well as Bangkok’s most famous red light district Patpong, that is also a popular night market. You will find both luxury hotels and more budget friendly accommodation options doted around Silom. This area is also very easy to get to with the Skytrain (BTS) and metro (MRT) connecting via a walkway.
Rattanakosin (Old City)
This area of Bangkok contains many of the main tourists attractions including the Grand Palace and Wat Phra kaew (Temple of Emerald Buddha), Wat Pho (Temple of Reclining Buddha), Wat Saket (Golden Mount), Wat Suthat (Giant Swing) and the Democracy Monument. This area is also where you will find the famous Khao San Road, which at night turns into a bustling area of night markets, street food and cheap bars. This area is not accessible via the Skytrain or metro, but if you catch a river taxi or boat you can access this area within walking distance of the river and you can get around via taxi, tuk tuk or bus. Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) is located just across the Chao Phraya River and is easy to access via the ferry at Tha Tien Pier for only 3 baht per person each way.
Siam
This is the main shopping hub of Bangkok and contains the most popular shopping malls in the city, such as MBK Center, Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Central World and Siam Discovery Center. As well as hundreds of shops, you can also find restaurants, cinemas, Siam Ocean World, an ice rink and Madame Tussauds within these malls. Siam Square is also located here, which offers more shopping, entertainment and restaurants. You will also find Jim Thompson’s House and the popular Erawan Shrine in Siam. There is a Skytrain (BTS) interchange at Siam, connecting the two train lines, which makes this the easiest way to travel to the area.
Chinatown
This is one of Bangkok’s most authentic areas and is best explored on foot due to the many narrow lanes and alleyways. You will find beautiful temples, gold shops, wooden shop-houses, markets and many street food stalls that see the area become even more bustling at night. There are lots of photo opportunities and a buzzing energy you can’t ignore that makes this area a great place to wonder round. You can reach this area via river taxi getting off at Ratchawong Pier or via the metro (MRT) — although the nearest metro station, Hua Lamphong, is a 15 minute walk from Chinatown.
INTERESTING FACTS
- All of the temples pictured on the Thai baht coins are located in Bangkok and it’s possible to see them all in one day.
- The largest solid gold buddha in the world is located in Wat Traimit in the Chinatown area of Bangkok. The buddha weighs 5 and a half tons.
- Bangkok’s annual mean air temperature is 28C, making it the hottest city in the world.
- There are over 400 wats (temples) in Bangkok
- Bangkok is known as Krung Thep in Thai, which is actually an abbreviated version of it’s full name – Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.
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