Bangkok City

ℹ️ Top Things to Do in Bangkok

Sightseeing in the temples

Built in 1782, the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew Temple (500 THB entrance fee) was the king’s home for 150 years. The architecture, colours and sculptures of the palace and temple are incredible. The temple houses the most important Buddha image in the country: The Emerald Buddha. After seeing the palace, I suggest you continue with two nearby temples: Wat Pho (100 THB entrance fee), next to the Grand Palace, which contains the famous 46-meter reclining Buddha that you will surely have seen in several photos. And finally, the Wat Arun (50 THB entrance fee), located on the other side of the river, with its original stupa covered in chinese porcelain. It can be observed without crossing the river.

Hang out through the markets

Bangkok means markets. There are countless of them. One of the most famous and largest in the world is the one that takes place every weekend: the Chatuchak Market (Saturdays and Sundays). It is a huge market with countless stalls selling anything from clothing to animals. Bargaining is advisable.
During the week you can visit The New Rot Fai Market Ratchada night market. Opens from 17:00.

Walk through a park

The largest park in Bangkok is Lumphini Park (BTS Sala Daeng / MRT Silom). Every morning at 8am and every afternoon at 6pm the country’s anthem plays and everyone stops, it is interesting to witness it. Also, from 5pm large groups of people meet to dance, do fitness, run (It seems like there is a marathon!), practice yoga and tai chi, etc.
Other interesting parks are Benchasiri Park and Benjakitti Park. The latter is linked to Lumphini Park by a half-abandoned skywalk creating one of the best running routes in Bangkok.

Dinning in Chinatown

Chinatown (MRT Chinatown) is a neighbourhood that changes a lot during the day and the night. During the day they open the huge Sampeng Market, where they sell everything wholesale. At night –except on Mondays–, its streets are sidewalks and are taken over by street restaurants that prepare some of the best dishes in the city. The stalls and restaurants are scattered with a wide range of Thai and Chinese food, as well as fruit and, curiously, chestnuts.
The main street in Chinatown is Yaowarad Road. If you go during the day, be sure to visit the famous Wat Traimit temple (Golden Buddha).

Be amazed with the Malls

Thais love Shopping Centers. When they have free time, they go there to have fun. They are gigantic and have air conditioning. The most famous are: The IconSiam, the Central World, the MBK and the Siam Paragon. All except IconSiam are in the Siam area. In that area there are 6 or 7 connected by the skywalk, a raised platform above the street but below the skytrain, which allows you to walk during the hours from one to another without stepping on the street.
The most spectacular nowadays is IconSiam, on the banks of the river, one of the most impressive in the world.

Experiencing the river

At the different stops along the river you can take one of the taxi boats (20 Baht or less) and go to another part of the city. Besides being a useful and cheap transport, the boat trip is an experience in itself. I suggest you take it early in the morning or during sunset, since otherwise it is very hot. If your budget is high, you can always book one of the cruises that offer romantic dinners at night while they cruise the river.

Have a drink in Khao San Road

Khao San Road and its surroundings (Rambuttri Road and Pra Athit Road) are the tourist ghetto of Bangkok. It is a couple of streets full of hostels (generally cheap), bars, restaurants, massage shops, tattoo shops, clothing stores, books… Anything! Even insects. Probably the biggest backpacker neighbourhood in Asia, or at least the most crowded. Even if you don’t stay here, it’s worth stopping by one night to take a look and have a beer in its bars. If you want to eat, it better not be on Khao San Road. How many Thai people have you seen eating here? Well…

Watching a Muay Thai fight

Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand, although it is not the most popular. As in most of the world, the most popular is soccer. Muay Thai is a martial art, a contact sport, such as boxing or karate. In Bangkok there are two stadiums where you can see the best Muay Thai. One is at the Lumphini Stadium, which is on the outskirts of Bangkok, and the other is the Ratchadamnoen Stadium, near Kkao San Road. Tickets for tourists usually cost 2000 THB (ring side). On Sundays you have the chance to watch Muay Thai for free in the Channel 7 studios.

Party in Bangkok

In Bangkok city you will be able to find many party options. Any day of the week you can find places with a good atmosphere to have a few drinks. From bars/clubs full of foreigners, to others with almost no one. In Khao San Road you will find many places to go out such as: The Club, Lava Club or, the most thai, Brick Bar. If you want a less touristy atmosphere, then you can go to the Thong Lor area where the children of middle- and upper-class thais usually go. One place that foreigners living in Bangkok often go is RCA. There are several clubs in which both Thais and foreigners meet, most of them residents. The most popular is Route 66.

🏨 Where to stay in Bangkok

Best Areas & Neighborhoods:

Do not make the mistake of thinking that there is only one Bangkok… Each neighbourhood of the city is a small world itself and with a population of between 8 and 10 million inhabitants, it can give the feeling that there is more than one Bangkok: that of backpackers looking to party, that of centuries-old temples, that of huge and modern shopping centers, that of skyscrapers with their luxurious bars and that of the labyrinthine streets of Chinatown and its food stalls.

Silom/Sathorn

Best for:  Classical traveler

Accommodation available: Hostels and 4 and 5 star hotels

Advantages:
✔️ Good connections via public transportation
✔️ Lots of restaurants and coffee shops
✔️ Lumphini Park
✔️ Decent nightlife
✔️ Patpong Market

Khao San Road

Best for:  Backpackers

Accommodation available: Hostels and 3 star hotels

Advantages:
✔️ Cheap area
✔️ Lots of restaurants and coffee shops
✔️ Near the main temples and the Grand Palace
✔️ Good backpacker nightlife
✔️ Many travel agencies for backpackers

Siam Area

Best for: Shopping and dessert lovers

Accommodation available: 4 and 5 star hotels

Advantages:
✔️ Good public transportation
✔️ Best shopping area in Bangkok
✔️ Lots of sweet drinks and desserts
✔️ University student’s area

Chinatown

Best for: Asian street life lovers

Accommodation available: 3 and 4 star hotels

Advantages:
✔️ Best street food area
✔️ Daily markets
✔️ Near some interesting temples
✔️ Good public transportation

Riverside

Best for: Luxury tourist

Accommodation available: 5 star hotels

Advantages:
✔️ Amazing river views
✔️ 5 star luxury hotels
✔️ Near IconSiam megamall
✔️ Fun river transportation

Sukhumvit

Best for: Expat life lover

Accommodation available: 4 and 5 star hotels

Advantages:
✔️ Good quality hotels
✔️ Lots of modern restaurants
✔️ Expats life area
✔️ Good public transportation

🧭 Itinerary to visit Bangkok

It can be done in one or two days: