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Bangkok
กรุงเทพ
The metropolitan capital city with an abundance of food, culture and nightlife.
Recommended by us
The Grand Palace
Thailand's most visited site, and still worth the entry fee and the crowds. Go when it opens at 08:30, wear covered shoulders and knees, and allow two hours to do it properly.
Wat Pho
The Reclining Buddha is 46 metres long and gilded from head to toe. Next door is one of Bangkok's oldest traditional massage schools — book a session after the temple.
Wat Arun
Best seen from across the Chao Phraya — take the cross-river ferry from Tha Tien pier. The porcelain-covered prang catches the morning light and the evening sun differently.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
35 acres, 15,000 stalls, one weekend. Come Saturday or Sunday morning before 11am — by noon the heat and the crowds make it uncomfortable. Section 26 for antiques, Sections 2–3 for plants.
Bangkok Canal Tour: 2-Hour Longtail Boat Ride
A 4.7 from 6,287 guests — two hours on the klongs that most visitors never see. The longtail weaves past temple piers, riverside homes, and the occasional monk doing laundry.
Bangkok by Night: Temples, Markets and Food Tuk-Tuk Tour
A 4.9 from 3,941 guests. Bangkok after dark by tuk-tuk — temples lit up, street food stops, markets still buzzing. The night version is genuinely better than the daytime equivalent.
Get to Bangkok
Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang serve Bangkok. From either airport, the Airport Rail Link or metered taxi gets you to the city centre — compare buses, trains, and flights here.
eSIM for Thailand
Land with data already working and skip the airport SIM queue. We tested six plans — code THAIHOLIDAY saves 10%.
Travel insurance
Traffic, street food, and the odd tuk-tuk adventure — sort cover before you go. Medical costs in Bangkok's private hospitals add up fast without insurance.
Getting to Bangkok
Compare buses, trains, ferries, and flights to Bangkok.
Travel services
Arriving via Suvarnabhumi?
Wats, shrines & spiritual sites
Temples in Bangkok
Erawan Shrine
Wat Ratchanatdaram (Loha Prasat)
Wat Saket (Golden Mount)
Bangkok City Pillar Shrine
Fo Guang Shan Temple
Sri Maha Mariamman Temple
Tiger God Shrine
Wat Apson Sawan Worawihan
Wat Benchamabophit
Wat Bowon Niwet Ratchawarawihan
Wat Chana Songkram
Wat Hong Rattanaram Ratchaworawihan
Night markets, street food & shopping
Markets & bazaars in Bangkok
Asiatique The Riverfront
Khao San Road
Train Night Market Srinakarin (Talad Rot Fai)
Yaowarat
IconSiam
Jodd Fairs
Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market
Kwan Riam Floating Market
Nang Loeng Market
Ong Ang Walking Street, Bangkok
Or Tor Kor Market
Pak Khlong Talat Night Market
Museums, history & heritage
Museums & culture in Bangkok
Jim Thompson House
Lumpini Park
Ardel Gallery of Modern Art
Baiyoke Sky Tower
Bang Khun Thian District Museum
Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
Bangkok Butterfly Garden and Insectarium
Bangkok Local Museum, Samphanthawong
Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong)
Bank of Thailand Museum
Batcat Museum and Toys Thailand
Chao Phraya Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni) Museum
Crafts, communities & farms
Villages & countryside around Bangkok
Parks, shows, wildlife & more
More to explore in Bangkok
Things to do on the map
Tap a pin for details — 40 places in Bangkok plotted.
Which area to stay in
Sukhumvit
The go-to for first-timers. BTS and MRT stops on your doorstep, hundreds of restaurants on every soi, and easy connections to the rest of the city.
Silom & Sathorn
Business district feel with good transport links. Quieter than Sukhumvit, better for those who want a calmer base without sacrificing connectivity. Eastin Grand connects directly to BTS.
Rattanakosin (Old City)
Puts the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun within walking distance. Transport links are weaker and the streets are busier with tour groups, but the setting is hard to beat.
Riverside
The Chao Phraya riverbank is home to the Peninsula and other top-end hotels. Scenic and serene, with the express boat as your main link to the old temples upstream.
Banglamphu & Khao San
Budget guesthouses and hostels fill the lanes around Khao San Road. Lively at night and close to the old city, though the crowds and noise wear thin after a day or two.
Where to stay in Bangkok
Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok
The Peninsula Bangkok
Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn
InterContinental Bangkok By IHG
Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel
COMO Metropolitan Bangkok
Grande Centre Point Sukhumvit 55 Thong Lo
Monomer Hostel
Naga Residence
The Quarter Ladprao by UHG
Adelphi Forty-Nine Hotel
Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel
Browse Stays in Bangkok
Tours in Bangkok
8 hours Bangkok Customized Private Day Tour Pick up from Hotel
Bangkok Backstreets Food Tour with 15+ Tastings
Bangkok Cultural Experience
Bangkok Day Tour: Food, Temple & Tuk-Tuk
Bangkok Floating Markets and Boat Tour
Bangkok Food Tour by Tuk Tuk - Hotel-pickup & Dinner
Bangkok Green Oasis Nature Bike Tour
Bangkok Market Tour & Thai Cooking Class with Boat Ride with Aoy
Bangkok Street Food Variety Cultures Local Tasty
Bangkok Temples Tour
Hands-On Thai Cooking Class Bangkok with Local Chef (Small Group)
Hands On Thai Cooking Class & Market Tour in Sathon, Bangkok
Looking for more? Browse every Bangkok tour and activity on Viator.
Search ViatorRetreats in Bangkok
When to go
Nov–Feb Cool and dry — the most comfortable time for walking between temples. Expect clear skies and manageable crowds outside the Christmas and New Year peaks.
Mar–May Temperatures climb past 35°C, making long days outside draining. Songkran water festival runs mid-April — festive but chaotic for getting around.
Jun–Oct Heavy afternoon downpours most days, though mornings are often clear. Prices drop noticeably and hotels have availability — reasonable if you plan around the rain.
Events & Festivals
All events →Bangkok Art Biennale
29 Oct 2026 – 28 Feb 2027
Bangkok Art Biennale 2026 runs 29 Oct 2026–28 Feb 2027, placing art in temples, malls, and parks citywide. Many venues are free to enter.
Constitution Day
10 Dec 2026
10 December marks Thailand's first constitution (1932), ending absolute monarchy. Falls in cool, dry high season — banks close but attractions stay open.
New Year's Eve in Bangkok
31 Dec 2026
CentralWorld countdown and ICONSIAM riverside fireworks on 31 Dec 2026, plus rooftop bars with skyline views. Where to celebrate New Year's Eve in Bangkok.
Chinese New Year in Thailand
6–7 Feb 2027
Bangkok's Yaowarat Road, Chiang Mai's Tha Pae Gate, and Phuket — three ways to celebrate Chinese New Year in Thailand. Lion dances, fireworks, and street food.
Bangkok Design Week
18–28 Feb 2027
Bangkok Design Week 2027 runs 18-28 Feb across four old-town districts — 400+ mostly free installations, exhibitions, and night markets. Free shuttle links the districts.
S2O Songkran Music Festival
13–15 Apr 2027
April at S2O LAND, Ratchada, Bangkok. Electronic dance music meets Songkran water fights. International DJs, massive water cannons, and 30,000+ revellers.
Bangkok Pride
28 May – 1 Jun 2027
Bangkok Pride festival along Silom Road — one of Southeast Asia's largest. The parade is free to join. Thailand legalised marriage equality in 2025.
Itineraries Featuring Bangkok
2 Weeks Thailand on a Budget: The Backpacker Route
2 Weeks in Thailand: The Ultimate First-Timer Itinerary
3 Days in Bangkok: The Perfect City Break
7 Days Bangkok to Chiang Mai: The Classic Thailand Route
From the blog
Bangkok guides & reading
Chut Thai: The Styles of Thailand's Traditional Dress
Chut Thai explained — Queen Sirikit's 8 royal styles (Chakkri, Siwalai, Chitlada), the older sinh and sabai, and where to rent one near Bangkok temples in 2026.
Bangkok Airport Arrival: What to Expect at Suvarnabhumi (BKK)
Step-by-step Suvarnabhumi (BKK) arrival guide — TDAC, immigration, baggage, eSIM, taxis vs train, scam warnings. What happens once you land.
20 Thai Dishes: What to Order and What Is in Them (2026)
Twenty Thai dishes explained, including tom yum, pad Thai, som tam, massaman, khao soi and mango sticky rice, with ingredients and dietary notes.
Sak Yant Tattoos in Thailand: Meanings, Hygiene and What to Ask
Sak Yant tattoos in Thailand: spiritual meanings, consent, hygiene checks, aftercare and questions to ask before accepting a traditional blessing.
Bangkok Airports: Suvarnabhumi (BKK) vs Don Mueang (DMK)
Bangkok has two airports 40km apart. Suvarnabhumi (BKK) for full-service carriers, Don Mueang (DMK) for budget. The complete comparison.
Bangkok BTS & MRT Guide: Lines, Fares, Stations & Tourist Tips
BTS Skytrain, MRT Blue Line, Yellow Line, Pink Line, and Airport Rail Link — stations, fares (17-65 THB), Rabbit card, and routes to major Bangkok attractions.
Bangkok Nightlife: Rooftop Bars, Night Markets & Clubs
Bangkok nightlife by area — Khao San buckets, Thonglor cocktail bars, Sukhumvit rooftops, Chinatown street drinking, and Jodd Fairs night market.
Bangkok Street Food Guide: Where to Eat by Neighbourhood
Yaowarat to Ari — a neighbourhood breakdown of Bangkok's best street food with specific stalls, dishes, prices from 40 THB, and practical finding tips.
About Bangkok
Last updated August 2026
Thailand’s capital hits you with heat, noise and the smell of charcoal-grilled satay the moment you step outside the airport. More than ten million people live in greater Bangkok, alongside more than 400 temples and floating markets older than most European cities — the city earns its reputation as one of Southeast Asia’s most intense and rewarding destinations.
What to See & Do
Start where most visitors do: the historic core along the Chao Phraya River. The Grand Palace and neighbouring Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha Temple) are non-negotiable — plan two to three hours and dress conservatively (long trousers, covered shoulders). Across the river, the porcelain-studded spires of Wat Arun catch the afternoon light beautifully. Nearby Wat Pho houses a 46-metre reclining Buddha and is the birthplace of Thai massage — book a session at the on-site school.
For markets, Chatuchak Weekend Market sprawls over 15,000 stalls every Saturday and Sunday. On weekdays, try Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market for a less touristy canal-side experience. Beyond the city, day-trippers head to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and the railway-straddling Mae Klong Railway Market.
Evening options range from rooftop cocktails with Mahanakhon views to street food along Khao San Road and the neon glow of China Town’s Yaowarat Road — one of the best places in the city for late-night noodles and seafood.
Where to Stay
Hotels range from $15 backpacker beds on Khao San to $400+ riverside suites. The average sits around $118/night. Top-rated properties include Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok (9.2 on Agoda) in the Siam shopping district and The Peninsula Bangkok (9.2) on the Thonburi riverbank. For value with quality, Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn (9.1) connects directly to the BTS Skytrain; for lower prices, compare the cheap hotels in Bangkok guide.
Sukhumvit suits first-timers — it’s walkable, packed with restaurants, and connected to both BTS and MRT. Silom and Sathorn work for business travellers. Rattanakosin (the old city) puts temples within walking distance but transport links are weaker.
Getting There
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) handles most international flights. The Airport Rail Link reaches central Bangkok in 30 minutes for ฿45. Don Mueang (DMK) serves domestic and budget carriers — grab the A1 bus to BTS Mo Chit. From elsewhere in Thailand, trains arrive at Hua Lamphong or the newer Bang Sue Grand Station.
Best Time to Visit
November to February is cool and dry — the most comfortable time for temple-hopping and walking. March to May brings serious heat (35°C+). The monsoon runs June to October with heavy afternoon downpours, though mornings are usually clear and prices drop significantly.
Getting Around
The BTS Skytrain and MRT Metro cover Sukhumvit, Silom and the main shopping areas. For riverside temples, the Chao Phraya Express Boat is cheap and scenic. Taxis are metered (flag fall ฿40) — insist the driver uses it. Grab is reliable for ride-hailing. Tuk-tuks are fun once but overpriced for regular use.
Insider Tip: The Chao Phraya Tourist Boat is a tourist trap at ฿200. Take the regular Express Boat (orange flag, ฿18) instead — same route, same views, a fraction of the price.