Bangkok is a city of extremes: sacred temples beside shopping malls, tiny alley noodle shops beside rooftop bars, crowded canals beside elevated trains. The heat and the traffic can wear you down, but the city rewards a smart plan with some of the best street food, the most vivid temples and the warmest hospitality in Southeast Asia.
ChapterStart on the river
The Chao Phraya River is the city's old main street. Public express boats run along it and are the best way to reach the historic sights while avoiding traffic. The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha, are the most spectacular, and also the busiest and most formal. Dress codes are strictly enforced, with shoulders and knees covered, and you should go early to avoid the heat. If a stranger tells you the palace is closed, ignore them, as it is a common scam.
Sightseeing & tours · Grand Palace, Bangkok
Wat Pho, nearby, has the huge Reclining Buddha and the country's most famous school of traditional Thai massage. Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, sits across the river, reached by a short ferry, and is beautiful at sunset.
Arts & culture · Wat Pho, Bangkok
ChapterTemple manners
Cover your shoulders and knees, take off your shoes before entering a temple building, and never point your feet at a Buddha image or sit with your back to it. Speak quietly and dress respectfully. Thais have deep reverence for the monarchy, and it is illegal as well as offensive to insult it, so avoid commenting.
ChapterNeighborhoods
Chinatown, known as Yaowarat, comes alive at night when its main road fills with street food stalls selling seafood, noodles, desserts and more. The Old City, around Phra Athit Road, has riverside cafés and bars. Jim Thompson House, a museum of Thai architecture and silk, is a calm retreat. Lumphini Park, the city's green lung, is lovely in the early morning when locals exercise, with large monitor lizards roaming the lake.
Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of the largest markets in the world, is a vast labyrinth of stalls. Go early on a weekend, and bring cash and water.
Shopping · Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok
ChapterWhat to eat
Eating is the point of Bangkok. Pad Thai, tom yum, som tam, papaya salad, khao man gai, chicken rice, and boat noodles are staples. Mango with sticky rice is the dessert of choice. Street stalls and small restaurants often serve better food than hotel restaurants, and the busiest ones are usually the best. Ask for the spice level you want, as many dishes can be adjusted. Drink bottled or filtered water, and use ice from reputable places.
ChapterGetting around
The BTS Skytrain and MRT subway are fast, cool and efficient, and they avoid the road traffic that can paralyze the city. Express boats and canal boats offer scenic alternatives. Tuk-tuks are fun for a short ride, but agree the price first. Metered taxis are fine, and ride-hailing apps are widely used.
ChapterBeyond the city
Ayutthaya, the ruined former capital, is about an hour and a half away by train or boat and makes a great day trip, best done by bicycle. Floating markets such as Amphawa are lively in the evening, while Damnoen Saduak is very touristy. The Maeklong Railway Market, where vendors pull back their awnings as a train passes, is a curiosity.
ChapterWhen to go
The cool season, from November to February, is the most comfortable, with lower humidity and temperatures. March to May is very hot. The rainy season, from June to October, brings daily downpours, but also lower prices and greener scenery, though heavy rain can cause flooding.
Check current details: Tourism Authority of Thailand.
