Bangkok Guide
Travel to Bangkok and let yourself fall in love with all it offers
Bangkok is the capital of Thailand; a city with over 11 million inhabitants. We decided to spend 6 days in Bangkok and the rest of the trip in Ayutthaya, Pattaya (read our mini guide here), Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. It is, without a doubt, one of the best trips we have ever done; we fell in love with the vibrant culture, incredibly friendly people and delicious food we found in the northern region of Thailand.
So, we're going to show you all the places you can't miss in Bangkok, as well as all the useful information about them to make it very easy for you to organize your trip to this city.
MUST SEE PLACES IN BANGKoK
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GRAND PALACE
The Grand Palace is one of the most incredible places in all of Bangkok. It consists of a complex of buildings that served as the official residence of the King of Thailand from the 18th century until the mid-20th century. Not all of them can be visited, the most well-known ones are:
One of the buildings you can't miss is the Wat Phra Kaew temple, which houses the famous Emerald Buddha. It is one of the most revered and important temples in all of Thailand. Only the king can approach the Buddha statue, which is responsible for changing its 3 pieces of clothing depending on the 3 seasons: summer, winter, and the rainy season. You can also visit the 6 pairs of guardians at the temple entrances who protect the Emerald Buddha figure, strolling through the library of sacred texts (Phra Mondop), seeing the various chedis or stupas, viewing the Amarindra Hall from the outside within Phra Maha Montian where the current king was crowned, etc.
✽ Entrance: You can buy tickets online, at the palace ticket office or hire a private guide to explain the entire history to you. It costs 500 Bahts (about 13€). It is open every day from 8:30am to 4:30pm (ticket purchase closes at 3:30 pm).
Bangkok: Half-Day Temple and Grand Palace Private Tour
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WAT PHO
Wat Pho, also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is located a 10-minute walk from the Grand Palace. The Reclining Buddha is a statue covered in gold leaf, about 46 meters long and 15 meters high, that will leave you speechless. The Buddha's feet are adorned with 108 symbols, and around it, you will find bronze bowls for leaving coins, used by the monks to maintain the temple.
But don't just focus on the Reclining Buddha, there is much more. Take a stroll around the entire complex and walk around the numerous stupas/chedis that are there.
✽ Entrance: You can buy tickets online or at the entrance gate. It costs 100 Baht (less than 3€). It is open every day from 8am to 6:30pm.
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WAT ARUN
Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, is one of the most impressive and beautiful temples in Bangkok, not only because of its location on the banks of the Chao Phraya River but also because of its architecture, which gives it a different aesthetic from other temples in the city.
The temple is notable for its five towers (Prang Phra) adorned with seashells and small colorful Chinese porcelain mosaics that gleam when the sun's rays fall on them, especially at sunrise and sunset. We recommend you going to the Wat Pho Pier to have the amazing sunset views of the last photo from the other side of the river (click here to find the Google Maps exact location).
✽ Entrance: The entrance fee is 100 Baht (less than 3€) and it is open every day from 8am to 6pm.
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WAT TRAIMIT
Wat Traimit is also known as the Temple of the Golden Buddha. It is located in Chinatown, a very popular neighborhood that we will talk about below. This temple is also highly revered for having a solid gold Buddha figure that measures 3 meters tall and weighs 5 tons.
✽ Entrance: The entrance fee to see the Golden Buddha is 40 Baht (approximately 1€), and if you want to enter the museum area, you must pay 100 baht (less than 3€). Tickets can be purchased at a stand located right next to the temple stairs. You can visit it every day from 8am to 5pm every day.
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WAT BENCHAMABOPHIT
Wat Benchamabophit is a Buddhist temple characterized by being entirely built of white italian marble, that's why it is also known as the Marble Temple. For us, it is one of the most beautiful temples in Bangkok, decorated with traditional Thai architectural style.
It is an active temple, meaning there are monks living within it, whose residences are located on the other side of the canal, separated from the temple area. If you visit this temple early in the morning, you may find them performing their morning prayers.
✽ Entrance: The entrance fee is 20 baht (0,5€), and the visiting hours are from 6am to 5pm.
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WAT RATCHANATDARAM
Also known as Loha Prasat or the Metal Palace, it stands out for its unique architecture with 37 metal spires representing the 37 virtues leading to enlightenment.
This architecture is inspired by two similar temples found in India and Sri Lanka, however, they are now practically in ruins, making Loha Prasat the only one in good condition and considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
✽ Entrance: The entrance fee is 20 baht (0,5€), and you can visit it every day from 8am to 5pm.
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KHAO SAN ROAD
Surely you have heard of this famous street in Bangkok. You can stroll around during the day, but we recommend you don't miss it at night as it has an incomparable atmosphere: bars and clubs with music offering all kinds of drinks, food stalls where you can taste various typical Thai dishes, the famous stalls selling fried bugs and scorpions, massage centers, clothing and souvenir shops, etc.
Additionally, it is well-known among backpackers as the best place to find budget accommodation, besides being in the old area of Bangkok and close to the Grand Palace and other temples in the city. We stayed there for 2 out of the 6 days we were in Bangkok and we definitely recommend it!
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CHINATOWN
Bangkok's Chinatown district is one of the largest and oldest Chinatown's in the world. We recommend that you go and walk around during the day through Sampeng Market, which is a street that crosses almost the entire neighborhood, full of shops with all kinds of products. Don't miss Yaowarad Street either, with its numerous gold shops and various street food stalls, where you can eat a variety of dishes at very reasonable prices.
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WAT PAKNAM BHASICHAROEN
Wat Paknam is also known as the Temple of the Giant Buddha, and that's because they built a copper statue of Buddha, painted in gold, almost 70 meters tall. It is located in a part of the Chao Phraya River delta, about 10 km from Khao San Road. In addition to the statue, you can visit its white stupa, which inside is a museum, and you can climb up to have a good view of the city.
✽ Entrance: Admission is free, and we recommend you don't miss it; it's one of the least touristy temples, and we loved it.
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WAT SUTHAT
Wat Suthat is a very important Buddhist temple, as it is one of the 10 royal temples of the city of Bangkok. It is located in the old area of Bangkok. It was commissioned by Rama I, the first king of the current dynasty, to shelter a 13th-century bronze Buddha sculpture from Sukhotai. In front of the temple, you will find the famous red Giant Swing that has become an emblematic image of the city.
✽ Entrance: The entrance is 20 baht (0,5€), and you can visit it daily from 8:30am to 9pm.
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Other places you can visit:
WAT SAKET: We didn't have time to see it, but if you can, don't miss it. It is known as the Golden Mount Temple of Bangkok and it is also one of the oldest and most revered temples in the city. It is located on top of a hill in the city center. To get there, you will have to climb over 300 steps amidst trees, gardens, and small shrines and Buddha statues, which will make the ascent more bearable as you go along. Entrance to the temple is free; you only have to pay a very small fee (50 baht) to enter the Chedi. It is open from 7am to 7pm.
LUMPHINI PARK: It is the lung of Bangkok and the city's first public park, with 100 years of history. It was commissioned by Rama VI, which is why you will find a large statue of this king at the southwest entrance of the park. For many years, city residents have flocked to the park to escape the city's heavy air, as it is a perfect place to disconnect, exercise and take a walk. In fact, you'll see that it's bustling with life, from people practicing Tai Chi to others meeting up to play board games, read books, etc.
SHOPPING MALLS: Whether you want to go shopping or not, we recommend to have a walk around them, or at least in that area. Let's start with one of the most famous one: Siam Paragon. In this one you can find the most luxurious items at the ground floor, and you can find cheaper options as you go up. It has easy access from the central BTS station, so a lot of people just gather near the fountain outside at the plaza and take some pictures. We also visited MBK Center, one of the oldest shopping centers in Bangkok and known for the budget shoppers. Just get lost along its 7 floors and have a look at the food court with a lot of Thai food options outside the mall. You can also check CentralWorld or ICONSIAM.
CHATUCHAK MARKET: We couldn't see it because the days it was open didn't fit our schedule; it's only open on weekends and holidays. But we recommend you to include it in your plans if you can. It's one of the largest markets in Thailand, with over 15.000 stalls. Bargaining is common practice, and if you're good at it, you can find very good prices. The stalls are divided into sections (clothing, souvenirs, household items, etc.) and food and beverage stalls. It is located north of Bangkok and can be reached by Skytrain at Mo Chit Station (Sukhumvit Line) or by metro at Chatuchak Park Station.
ROOFTOPS: Bangkok is known for its vibrant nightlife, and what better way to experience it than at one of the many stunning rooftops bars overlooking the city's skyline. The neighborhoods of Silom, Lumphini and Sathon are the most expensive and exclusive in Bangkok, being part of the financial district, embassies and incredible skyscrapers. We recommend that you go up to one of them depending on your budget, whether it's for a beer or to enjoy a menu with incredible views of the city.
We booked at the RedSquare Rooftop Bar to live the experience, and it's highly recommended. These are the views that we had with an infinity pool.
MUAY THAI FIGHTS: Bangkok is considered one of the cities with the best Muay Thai fights of all the world. For those who are not clear about what it is, it's a typical combat sport from Thailand where basically anything goes to defeat the opponent; almost any part of the body can be struck or used to strike. The best fighters congregate there and compete in stadiums like Lumpinee and Rajadamnern.
Useful information to know before traveling to Bangkok
DRESS CODE: When you prepare your luggage for traveling to Bangkok, take into account the dress code, specially when visiting temples, where you need to cover knees and shoulders - both men and women - in nearly all of them. In some temples they allow you to cover with a scarf, but there are some that are very strict (as the Grand Palace) and a scarf is not enough, you need long pants or long skirt and any shirt that covers your shoulders. Tank tops, transparent shirts, dresses that expose the back, etc., are not allowed. And perhaps it is common sense, but just in case you had to remove hats, caps or sunglasses before entering to temples too.
Another important rule to consider is that you always have to take your shoes off before entering temples, as shoes are considered to accumulate the bad energy of the street. You will find a specific place to leave them at the entrance, and don't worry, no one will take them!
In addition, be careful if you book a table in a rooftop in skyscrapers, as some of them ask for an elegant dress code and they don't accept flip flops, sportswear or backpacks.
MONEY: The official currency of Bangkok is the Thai Baht (THB), and its symbol is ฿. Our main recommendation about this topic is to bring cash to Thailand, although it is a very touristy destination, in Southeast Asia there are still many establishments that don't accept cards. In our case we always exchange a little amount at the airport to pay the taxi or anything we may need until we are settled, and then we exchanged the rest of our money in SuperRich Thailand (the green one, there is another company called SuperRich and its color is orange, however, both companies have good ratings). We also use Revolut card to withdraw more cash if needed (the first 200€ per person are free of charge).
TRANSPORT: Setting aside buses (at least when we went, they were very old), the best options for getting around Bangkok are essentially the following means of transportation: Skytrain, metro, boat, taxi and tuktuk.
Let's start with the Skytrain, also known as the BTS, an elevated train, so it is a good option to avoid traffic jams. The price of a single journey can vary from 0,4€ to 1,10€, depending on the distance traveled, so despite being quite expensive for locals, it is very cheap compared to European prices.
Another option to move around is taking the Metro, also known as the MRT, and as it goes underground it is slightly cheaper than the BTS. The MRT system comprises two fully operational rapid transit lines (Blue and Purple) and one fully operational monorail line (Yellow).
A boat can be ideal if you want to visit attractions near the river such as the Royal Palace. The schedule for Bangkok boats is approximately from 6am to 7pm with a frequency of between 10 and 20 minutes. The river ferry is operated by Chao Phraya Express Boat Company, and you can find the schedule and the map on their website.
Take a taxi in Bangkok is also a comfortable and quite cheap option. Our recommendation would be to download Grab app and book with them, as the price and destination (in case the driver doesn't speak English) is set from the beginning.
And we wanted to end with the famous motorbikes called tuk-tuks. It is good alternative to taxis, specially for short trips, and, from our point of view, it is a must to ride in one of them, such an original experience. In this case, you have to ask for the price before riding, as the fares depend on the distance traveled, the time of day, traffic and a little bit to the mood of the driver (just kidding, or not, who knows). Negotiating is necessary, as the driver will give you an overcharge when you see that you're a tourist.
SAFETY: We felt totally safe in Bangkok the 6 days that we stayed, taking public transport, tuk-tuk, visiting all the places we've already mentioned, etc, and we didn't feel danger or fear at any moment. However, one thing that you have to be careful is with the traffic, as it is chaotic with a lot of cars and motorcycles everywhere. And, of course, as all big cities, you also have to be aware of your belongings to protect them from the pickpockets when you are in crowded places, and of course, be alert to scams involving excessive charges at bars on Khao San Road or Bangkok's red district.
Where to stay in Bangkok?
Where to stay in Bangkok was a question we asked ourselves many times before deciding on the area, as it is a very large city and a good location can save you a lot of time and money on transportation. You will find that in almost every area there is a lot of hotel accommodation available, with budgets to suit all tastes, from shared dormitories for 5€ per night to luxury hotels for 150€ per night.
The best area to stay would be the Sukhumvit neighborhood, the area with the most accommodation options, the most popular and central, therefore, it is very well connected. The Skytrain passes through there and it has access to the metro and bus. It is also one of the most modern, international areas with the most skyscrapers in Bangkok. There you will find all kinds of shops, restaurants, shopping centers, street stalls and even the most well-known red-light district in Bangkok.
Our next recommendation would be the Siam neighborhood, very close to Sukhumvit. It is the shopping hub par excellence of Bangkok, where you will find MBK and Siam Paragon, some of the shopping centers we have mentioned earlier.
The Rattanakosin neighborhood is known as the old city of Bangkok, therefore, if you stay there you will have numerous temples, palaces and places to visit nearby. The downside of this area is that it doesn't have as much nightlife and is not as well connected by public transport (the Skytrain doesn't pass through there and the metro only passes through its southern end).
Another area we recommend is around Khao San Road. It is the area with the cheapest accommodation, where many backpackers head. It is also located in the old city, therefore, you will have several temples and sites to visit within walking distance. You will also not lack leisure options, restaurants, nightclubs, street vendors and food stalls, among others. The best way to get around from there is by taxi or tuk-tuk as the Skytrain or metro doesn't pass nearby either. We stayed some nights at Chillax Heritage Hotel Khaosan and we totally recommended it, not the cheapest one but very clean, nice bedroom and an infinity pool on the rooftop.
Finally, from what we have read, the Bangkok riverside area would also be a good area to stay, with the charm of the views of the banks of the river that crosses the city, the Chao Phraya. It would be close to some of the tourist attractions such as Wat Arun or the Royal Palace. There are also many restaurant options in the area where you can enjoy views of the riverbanks.
Travel insurance
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Find all the places mentioned:
* We would like to point out that no company, hotel or restaurant has paid us to mention them in this blog. We simply recommend what we booked and paid for ourselves, considering that we enjoyed it enough to recommend it.
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