Bangkok is a mixture of natural views and jingles that reward the travelers from all over the world who are ready to get lost in Bangkok city. Full of continuous activity, courage, character and some of the best dishes in the world, this travel Bangkok guide will help you plan a trip of a lifetime.
It's a game of riddles with tall skyscrapers, colorful taxis, motorcycle and busy passers-by. When you visit Bangkok, you will find that this diverse city can offer you a combination of the old and the new. It may be a noisy metropolis, but at dawn, you can see Buddhist monks in yellow robes filling the streets. Come to Bangkok, and find a wide range of activities from historical and religious to shopping, galleries and tourist centers.
Regardless of when you plan a trip to Bangkok, it gets hot throughout the year. Note that three seasons are defined here. In the monsoon season, which is from May to November, the climate is hot and humid, with a wet bottom. Heavy rains fall periodically, sometimes with intense storms. The best time to visit Bangkok is from late November to mid-January. Meanwhile, the climate is tropical and humid, but comfortable. The shortest time is from March to May when the city reaches the highest temperatures.
Bangkok receives more visits than any other city in the world, and it does not take long to understand why. Bangkok is a city that contrasts with activities on every corner. In the volatile markets admire the glittering temples. During your stay, do not miss the serene temples of the city, including Wat Pho and Wat Arun, two of the most sacred places in the city.
Take the tuk-tuk along lively Chinatown or take a boat with a long tail. Food is another attraction in Bangkok, from local dishes served in simple street kiosks to haute cuisine and romantic rooftop restaurants. The luxury centers compete with several stores and markets where you can pamper yourself without spending too much. Extravagant hotels and luxury apartments with surprisingly affordable services welcome you with the same Thai hospitality. And no visit to Bangkok would be completed without witnessing its wonderful nightlife. Bangkok always surprises, whether in nightclubs, cabarets or exotic hot spots.
Bangkok’s reputation for excess precedes it. Sleazy, energetic, and the gateway to what many see as the world's greatest and most incredible backpackers’ paradise, it’s a city that on the surface seems like it’s just all play: toxic buckets of alcohol on the streets, fried insects to test your stomach further, and a dubious assortment of clubs where anything goes and dreams simply become a reality.
Take the Grand Palace. Only a short walk from the all-night party that is the notorious Khao San Road, the palace is nevertheless a place of silent reverence, home to golden temples, giant gemmed warriors guarding the gates and the tiny, venerated Emerald Buddha (remove your shoes, and be careful never to point the soles of your feet towards the idol).
Khao San Road itself is home to a plethora of backpacker essentials: endless bars, affordable food and accommodation, hippie-focused clothing lines, tattoo parlors and even a hefty assortment of fake degree certificates (worryingly, you can even buy one declaring yourself a qualified pilot). Try the Pad Thai for 20 baht. Nearby you can watch locals viciously assault each other in the kick boxing ring, try your hand at producing your own Thai Cuisine in one of the many cookery schools, or indulge in the affordable luxury of a Thai massage (look for the blind massage school, which is both a bargain and great cause) or a herbal spa day. Don't miss the excellent street food KSR has to offer either, whether its for breakfast, lunch or post-party snack!
It wouldn’t be Bangkok without the Chao Phraya River. Access has become so vital that the city is lined with canals which is a great way to see the backstreets, and houses hover over the water on a delicate looking stilted support. Take a walk through the scented riverside markets before hopping on the bargain-basement boat trip through the heart of the city with your camera always ready.
It’s true: in Bangkok you can do pretty much anything you want to but what you should do is explore a city that’s so much more varied and cultured than it’s ever given credit for. Then, perhaps, go to one of those parties.
Unlike the rest of Thailand, Bangkok is real. The people and area's are what you would expect to see in Bangkok. The food is delicious and the multitude of area's to visit are endless for any traveler.
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The World Meteorological Organization said in a report that Bangkok is among the hottest metropolitans in the world. Only 14 degrees north of the equator, Bangkok is warm in all seasons with temperatures above 30 ° C (86 ° F).
The best time to visit is a cold season that lasts from November to February. It is the steepest and most challenging moment. In daytime temperatures are around 30 ° C, but in daylight (70 ° F) they are cooled to 20 ° C. March and April are hot and hot - 35 ° C (95 ° F) on average, but do not be surprised if the temperature increases to about 40 degrees Celsius (around 100 degrees F). It could not be the best season to go to the Bangkok, so you should plan going to air-conditioned shopping places and find a lodge with a pool. Then, the rainy season is from May to October. Expect immense rains that cause floods throughout the city.
Until you eat at Bangkok Street, the noodles mix with your sweat in the middle of the exhaust cloud, you did not eat Thai Food. It can be an intense mix: the primary flavors are spicy, sour, sweet and salty, and not meat and potatoes. But for enterprising gourmets who do not require white tablecloths, there probably is not a better culinary destination in the world. And with the immigration that brings every Thai and international regional cuisine to the capital, it is also a really different experience. And, perhaps best of all, Bangkok should become one of the most lucrative destinations for gourmets in the world.
The language barrier may seem enormous, but it does not prevent anyone from continuing to communicate with Thais. The cultural base of the capital is visible in almost every aspect of daily life and enjoys the entertainment of its inhabitants (known in Thai as sù nûk). Everything that should do in Bangkok should be something. Ordering food, exchanging money and trading in the markets usually means a sense of joy, maybe a little flirting and a smile. It is a language that does not require words and is easy to learn.
In the streets, there are many areas with many bars (Kao San Road and Silom, the nightlife of the most popular cities). It will never be difficult to find good bars and clubs. Some of the most favorite and visited bars are Brick Bar, Smalls and Whisgars.
Jams are inevitable if you are in a car or taxi. Taxi fares start at 35 baht, and stays there for the first kilometre. Thereafter price per km starts at 5.5 per KM and increases based on distance. A surcharge applies in traffic jams (2 baht per minute when moving under 6 km per hour).
Public transport availability is increasing and the BTS (Skytrain Aerial) and Metro (MRT) operate from 6 am to midnight; however, they require separate tickets and are rarely connected (prices start from 0.50 US dollars).
You can rent colorful taxis and Tuk-Tuk for an exceptional offer.
The Cost of the Hostel: The beds in the hostel start from 90-THB, but the best hostels in the best places can cost up to 675-THB (which is a significant rip off). You will find a good selection of 6-8 single beds (including air conditioning) 225-THB. The private rooms in the hostel start from 500-THB. The best option is the private rooms in small guest houses, especially in the pedestrian area of Kao San Road, which begins at 300-THB, although there is a hotel in the centre of the city, I believe in numbers on the street, especially if you get cheaper rooms and you find more travelers on Kao San Road.
Low Hotel Prices: Cheap hotels start at 400-500-Baht per night and include hot water and bathrooms. The quality is completely different, look at the comments on the internet. Most hotels offer free Wi-Fi and air conditioning. Many hotels also offer free breakfast. For Airbnb, you can rent a full apartment for THB-1250. Although this is not an economical option, the Aloft Hotel is one of the favorite places to buy Starwood points. Note: In this city, it is recommended a separate room in a hotel or a guest house in a budget hotel room.
The Average Cost of Food: In Bangkok, you can eat from street vendors for only 30-baht per meal (soup, stuffing, fried rice, catfish, etc.). Buy a bag of fresh fruit and 20-TB Thai iced tea or grilled chicken, rice and catfish, for THB-150. Healthy restaurants start from THB-50 for food and Western dishes begin with 100-THB and leave as high as you want. If you eat in the city centre, expect a western breakfast or lunch between 150 and 200-THB. Many shopping centers have important (and famous) eating courts, where you get a lot of food, from 40-baht. As in the rest of Thailand, if you eat in the street markets, like the local ones, you will have to spend more than 200-baht a day on food (and maybe even in the vicinity). In the detailed instructions at the end of this article, you will find specific restaurant suggestions and additional information about the local market. For drinking, going to bars can be expensive. The cheapest beer costs around 60-baht and cocktails sometimes cost two or three times. While 7-Eleven beer is drunk on the street, THB will be 30 for one boat.
Transportation Costs: Though the city buses can be jam-packed, they are suitable and cheap. For 10-THB on buses without air conditioning and 15-THB on buses with air conditioning, you can travel anywhere in the city. SkyTrain and Metro cost 15 to 50-THB in each direction. You can buy a daily ticket for 120-THB. Taxi charges will be approximately 70-100-BAHT within the city. The route from the airport to Khao San Road, the charges will be almost 300-500-BAHT. Besides, there is a rail line for the express flight from Suvarnabhumi Airport, which takes only 15 minutes without a transfer between the Bangkok city and the airport, and it will cost you only 150-BAHT per trip.
Note: Transportation in Thailand is relatively easy to do because you do not speak Thai. Make sure you have a map and the name of the place where you are going to write, and you will find ways to help some residents.
Recommended Budget: 1080-baht or $30 US dollars (Note: this is the approved budget, if you stay in a hostel, eat a little, cook most of your meals or eat cheap food, and use transport down, you can save a lot, but if you stay longer or eat more often, expect it to be higher).
Given its size, Bangkok is surprisingly safe, with violent crimes such as raids and unusual robberies, but, you have to be careful. One of the most significant dangers is that the high-speed motorcycles on the sidewalks that pass through the traffic lights connect the passengers of the bus and run too fast, especially when driving. If you rent a bicycle, you must be insured if you are injured. You can become the best racer in the world, but you will meet many of the best runners in the world in Thailand.
Bangkok has more than one portion of scammers, and many people in the tourism industry are not shy about overcharging negligent visitors. It is advised to abandon all the offers of someone who seems to be a friend of the locals so as not to please the advice of the tourist communities. Never enter the tuk-tuk when someone tries to make a tuk-tuk. Most people in Bangkok do not go directly to strangers.
You cannot talk about the evil king. Tourists and locals are arrested and punished for longer if they catch. Be careful when talking about politics and it is better not to do it at all.
Bangkok is known for its chaotic and crowded streets, low rates, crazy nightlife and endless traffic. Most travelers like it or hate it. Little by little, it reveals its secrets to those who spend time there. You will see that this seemingly ugly city is lovely. Here you cannot do much for travelers, but if you stay a little, you see, this is not a city of activity; it's a friend, food, drink and life.
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It is also called as the "Venice of the East." Bangkok was a city of waterways and tiny canals, and still you can view a number of ancient bridges and piercing currents. You can also swim alongside the Chao Phraya River to see what you have missed. The Klongs Thonburi Hotel offers panoramic views of old wooden houses and colorful flower pots. The charges will be approx 100-THB.
This palace was built by King Rama I in the three years before the 18th century ends. It is the official house of the current King (though it is there and not live) for ceremonies. It is also the place where the Wat temple Phra Kaeo, which turned out to be the 15th century Emerald Buddha, where the Queen of Thailand wore dresses three times a year. Also, you will find Wat Po with the renowned golden Buddha sculpture. The entrance fee is 500-THB for Grand Palace and 100-THB for Wat Po.
Visiting the flower market of Bangkok will be an awesome experience for you. The tourists visiting the Bangkok for the first time must visit this flower market which is full of colors and natural fragrances. You can visit the market 24/7, but after 12-AM midnight it is bustling, so if you do not want to miss your sleeping time, go there and see the pretty women working on flower bouquets.
Exchange rate fluctuations can have a considerable impact on your trip budget. If your home currency has appreciated in value in the recent term over the currency of your destination you are likely to find the place inexpensive.
Select your home currency from the drop down to compare it to the currency in use in Thailand.
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Do you know of anything else about the enviroment that makes you happy to come to Bangkok? If it's a city or neighbourhood are there any climatic, or microclimatic features that you could tell others about. If the location is a building or place, then can you describe it maybe as "sun-lit", or "cold in the mornings". We'd love you to contribute - why not let us know in the drop box below
Graphic showing average weather in Bangkok in Celcius and Centimeters (Change to Farenheit and Inches)
Month | Temp °C | Rainfall Cm | Temp °F | Rainfall Inches |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | 25.9 | 8.2 | 78.6 | 3.2 |
Feb | 27.6 | 26.4 | 81.7 | 10.4 |
Mar | 29.1 | 35.6 | 84.4 | 14 |
Apr | 29.9 | 85.3 | 85.8 | 33.6 |
May | 29.6 | 186.4 | 85.3 | 73.4 |
Jun | 29.1 | 162.6 | 84.4 | 64 |
Jul | 28.7 | 193.2 | 83.7 | 76.1 |
Aug | 28.5 | 203.1 | 83.3 | 80 |
Sep | 28.1 | 312.6 | 82.6 | 123.1 |
Oct | 27.8 | 248 | 82 | 97.6 |
Nov | 26.9 | 55.8 | 80.4 | 22 |
Dec | 25.6 | 6.5 | 78.1 | 2.6 |
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