A Comprehensive Guide to Traveling Bangkok – Thailand’s Vibrant Capital

Bangkok is an enchanting mega-city with mouth-watering street food, energetic nightlife, ancient sites with paramount historical significance in the continent, and lively street markets. If you’re planning your first journey to this dynamic city, read on for some practical info.

I. Preparing for Your Bangkok Adventure

A.  Best time to visit Bangkok

From November to April, the temperatures range between 25℃ and 30℃, and the city remains drier and cooler. This can make your sightseeing in the city more enjoyable as the other months are painfully hotter. However, this is also the peak tourist season and might result in larger crowds and elevated prices. Visiting between April and October will cost you less. During these months, you will have high humidity and more downpours, but you might find airfare and hotels for cheaper.

B. Before you go

One thing to keep in mind is that when visiting places, like Bangkok/Thailand and Asia in general, where you will be doing a lot of things for the first time, you will face unfamiliar risks in day-to-day life. So it is great to have travel insurance to mitigate the damages/losses if something goes wrong. I ended up going on a trip to the hospital to get some stitches in the middle of the night on my second day in Bangkok and was very grateful to have travel and medical insurance from Safetywing. Two of my friends lost all their belongings as their ferry sank in the South Thailand Sea, Whatever the provider, please do get some travel/medical insurance. I would also recommend getting an e-sim from a company like Airalo, whose services I used for 10 weeks in Thailand, to save precious time you would otherwise waste getting a local sim which isn’t that much cheaper.

C. Packing Essentials for A Trip to the City

Whether you decide to visit Bangkok during the peak tourist season or the hotter and more humid months, dresses made of cotton fabrics are the most comfortable choice. I remember walking out of Bangkok airport on the last trip with jeans on, and immediately regretting it. Please remember to dress modestly, covering the shoulders and knees, when you visit temples and palaces, or you will not be allowed in most of them. Sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses will protect you from the scorching sun. It’s smart to develop the habit of carrying a day bag with the aforementioned items.

I would suggest packing light while you visit the city and Thailand in general unless you’re going high up in mountains in the north of the country. In 10 weeks in Thailand, I never needed anything more than a light sweater which I never used outside of Pai, even as I visited the country in the (relatively) coldest time of the year.

II. Discovering Bangkok’s Neighborhoods

Sukhumvit:

This part of the town is full of trendy cafes and international restaurants. Terminal 21—a high-end shopping center recreating many world-famous cities, Octave Rooftop Bar & Lounge where you can have a 360-degree view of the city’s skyline, Baan Kamthieng House Museum, Museum of Science & Planetarium, Benjakitti Park, Emporium—the deluxe shopping mall with top brands and a cinema complex etc.—are the main attractions of this district.

Silom:

This part of the city offers an assorted mix of attractions and experiences. The beautiful Hindu Temple and its stunning flower garlands are one of them. Bangkok Snake Farm is a must-visit place, where you can see how antivenom is produced. But this neighborhood is also known for its nightlife, with a variety of entertainment options. 

Chinatown

Bangkok’s Chinatown bustling neighborhood with a rich history and cultural heritage. Yaowarat Road weaves through Chinatown and is probably the best place to start exploring the historical part of the city. Chinatown also boasts a wide range of street food for the adventurous. 

Old City

Rattanakosin Island, or Bangkok’s Old City, is full of must-visit attractions. Start by visiting the Grand Palace, the stunning architectural complex that was once the official residence of the Kings of Siam and Thailand. Among several impressive buildings in the Grand Palace, I found the Temple of the Emerald Buddha the most interesting. In Wat Pho, you can see the giant reclining Buddha. Interestingly this complex also hosts an ancient Thai massage school, something both practiced and taught by Thai monks for centuries. 

III. Getting Around the City

A.  Public Transportation Options.

The Skytrain (BTS):

The BTS Skytrain is one of the most popular ways to go places in Bangkok. Its two lines will take you to most of the city’s central areas, including Sukhumvit, Siam Square and Silom and you can use it to avoid the city’s notorious traffic jams.

Trains start running from 6 a.m. and go until midnight. Tickets are available at stations or you can travel via a Rabbit Card, which is essentially a rechargeable smart card.

The Metro (MRT):

The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) serves Bangkok in the Metropolitan Region. It has two lines. The Blue Line is the most useful for tourists as it can take you to attractions such as Chinatown, Wat Pho and the Grand Palace. The MRT system is a fast, comfortable, and cheap way to move around the city. You can use this service via single-journey tickets, day passes, MRT cards, or tickets purchased from MRT vending machines.

Boats:

You can go to certain places in Bangkok using the water transport system, which serves passengers by crossing or taking you along the Chao Phraya River and through certain canals. Among them, the Chao Phraya Express is the most popular way to travel by boat in Bangkok. You can get tickets at any port for the local/express boats that are a bit rough around the edges (like we did) or a pay little bit extra for tourists boat that are nicer and stop longer in the interesting places.

B.  Utilizing Tuk-Tuks, Taxis and Ride-Sharing Services

Tuk-tuks, taxis, and ride-sharing services are also options. Like many major Asian cities, tuktuk/taxi scams aren’t uncommon of in Bangkok. So, be careful and reject any unwanted help, and remember it is a good idea to discuss the price before getting in. Tuktuks are expensive in the city from my experience and a lot of them have drivers who are more interested in taking tourists to certain attractions rather than getting you to a certain location you want to get to. I would suggest using taxis that have meters, or even better, ride-sharing services from Grab or Bolt, to avoid scams. I only used Grab taxis and scooters the whole time I was in Bangkok and found it very convenient and reliable. Remember that scooters often travel faster than clunky cars in heavy traffic, and don’t forget to have your helmet on.

IV. Experiencing Thai Culture

Immersing yourself in Thai culture can give you a profound understanding of the place and the people. Taking part in festivals (and timing your trip for certain festivals like the Chinese New Year or the Songkran Festival), observing traditional dance events or religious observance events, etc. are all good ways to get yourself in the mix. Tasting local food is my favorite way to know a culture and there’s no excuse to not do it with all the amazing food options that Bangkok (and Thailand in general) has to offer. Look for authentic local eateries and street food vendors to experience traditional Thai dishes, and don’t just limit yourself to the classic pad thai. Although it is hard to avoid if you like staying out late like me and are a bit lazy, please don’t limit your Thai food experience mostly to what is available in the nearest 711.

V. Entertainment and Nightlife

No article about Bangkok is complete without discussing it’s nightlife, the notoriety of which is why it is often featured in Hollywood and international movies as the craziest of all cities. After having been to over 50 capital cities, I have to say the movies are not entirely wrong.

A.  Popular Areas for drinking/partying

Khao San Road:

The most famous “party street” of Bangkok, is a popular nightlife destination with an exuberant atmosphere, street food, and bars. People selling scorpions on sticks and grilled crocodile meat (still cannot get over this) are some of the wild things for sale along with tonnes of buckets (of hard liquor). Just be careful or you may need stitches on your chin, like I did.

Sukhumvit Soi 11:

This region has tacky beer bars and sexy go-go clubs. It is adjacent to the infamous red-light districts of Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy.

W District (Phrakhanong):

Synonymous with nightlife, W District also has vibrant nightlife, bars, clubs, and restaurants.

B.  More Traditional Thai Performances and Cultural Shows

Siam Niramit:

This show offers a spectacular performance that showcases Thailand’s cultural heritage. Cutting-edge sound and light systems highlight hundreds of dancers and musicians.

Muay Thai Live:

The Legend Lives: Thailand’s national sport is showcased via this show. One thing you have to do in your time in Thailand is at least go to one Muay Thai fight. Although not always cheap, the spectacle is worth the price.

Thai National Theatre:

Go to this venue to enjoy traditional Thai dance and music performances.

Final Words

Hope this guide was helpful to you for planning your trip to Bangkok. You can also check out my video of my first day in Thailand/Bangkok where I explore quite a few of these locations to see more of what the city looks like. If you are traveling around Thailand.