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City guide · First time · Central Thailand
Bangkok for first-timers
From the immigration line at Suvarnabhumi to the train out of town: where to sleep, how the river works, what to eat and exactly where, the scams that are still running, and what a day really costs.
By Dylan Harris · I was in Bangkok in September 2023 · Updated October 2026
How long
3 or 4 full days
Plus a day trip if you can
Airports
BKK and DMK
Check which one you land at
Best months
Nov to Feb
Hot from March, wet from June
Visa
30 days, free
Plus a free arrival card online
Money
Baht, cards often OK
About 33.5 to $1
Daily budget
$40 to $120
Hostel to nice hotel
Bangkok is too big to see and too good to rush. Pick a base near the river and let the city come to you.
Most first trips go wrong in the same two places: a hotel that looked central on a map and isn’t, and a day spent sitting in traffic between sights that a boat would have joined in twenty minutes. Fix those two and Bangkok is one of the easiest big cities in Asia to be new in. The food alone is worth the flight.
This page runs in the order you’ll need it: before you fly, the airport, where to stay, how to move, what to eat, what’s worth a morning, nights, scams, a three-day plan, day trips, costs and getting out. The table near the end lists every place on the page with a map link.
The ten-second version
- Fill in the free arrival card on tdac.immigration.go.th, and only there.
- Stay by the river near a BTS station. Saphan Taksin is the sweet spot.
- Use the river boats for the old town and the BTS or MRT for everything else.
- Book cars in Grab or Bolt. Skip any tuk-tuk that offers a tour for 20 baht.
- Nobody at the Grand Palace gate needs to tell you it’s closed. It isn’t.
- Eat street food where the queue is local and the wok is hot.
- Do sights before 11 am, rest through the heat, and go out after dark.
01 · Before you fly
Things to know before you go to Bangkok
Four things to sort at home. None takes long, and each one saves you money or a queue on arrival.
Visa
30 days free, plus an arrival card
Since September 15, 2026, Americans get 30 days visa-free for tourism. Fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card in the three days before you land. It’s free. Sites that charge for it are middlemen.
Money
Bring a card that refunds ATM fees
Thai ATMs charge foreign cards about 220 to 250 baht ($7) a withdrawal, on top of your bank’s fee, so take out the maximum each time. Malls, hotels and 7-Elevens take cards. Street food wants cash. I use a Schwab Investor Checking debit card, which refunds ATM fees (my referral link).
Phone
Load an eSIM before takeoff
Install an Airalo eSIM at home and switch it on when you land. The airport SIM desks work too, but the queue after a long flight is the last thing you need.
The best time to visit Bangkok
Bangkok is hot all year. What changes is the humidity and the rain. I was there in September: an hour of rain most afternoons, then steam.
| Months | Temperature | Rain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov to Feb | 25 to 32 °C (77 to 90 °F) | Almost none | The best of it. Book early for Dec and Jan |
| Mar to May | 30 to 36 °C (86 to 97 °F) | Rare, then storms | Properly hot. April is the peak |
| Jun to Oct | 27 to 33 °C (81 to 91 °F) | Daily downpours | Cheaper and greener. Sept is the wettest |
Watch the calendar · Songkran
Thai New Year runs April 13 to 15.
The whole city turns into a water fight, centred on Khao San Road and Silom. Brilliant if you want in, a soaking if you don’t. Hotels fill and many locals leave town. Loy Krathong, in November, is the calm one: candles floated on the river.
Pack
- Long trousers or a skirt past the knee and something with sleeves. The Grand Palace turns people away for shorts and bare shoulders.
- Sandals you can slip off fast. Temples want shoes off.
- A light layer for the BTS and the malls. The air con is set to arctic.
A little history
1782
the year King Rama I moved the capital across the river from Thonburi and founded the Bangkok you’ll walk around.
168
letters in the city’s full ceremonial name, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and onwards. Thais just say Krung Thep.
1932
the year a bloodless revolution ended absolute monarchy. The Democracy Monument marks it on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.
1999
the year the BTS Skytrain opened, on the King’s birthday, and Bangkok finally got above its traffic.
02 · Landing
Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang to the city: the first two hours
Long-haul flights land at Suvarnabhumi (BKK). Budget airlines like AirAsia mostly use Don Mueang (DMK), 30 km north. Check your ticket. Here’s the order things happen at either one.
01
20 to 60 min
Immigration
Have your passport, your return or onward ticket, and the TDAC confirmation on your phone. Lines at Suvarnabhumi swing from twenty minutes to an hour depending on how many long-haul flights land at once.
02
10 min
Cash
Skip the exchange desks in the arrivals hall. Go down to the basement by the Airport Rail Link, where the booths (SuperRich and others) give city rates. Change $100 to $200, or use a bank ATM and take the maximum in one go.
03
0 or 20 min
Data
If your eSIM is installed, switch it on. If not, the AIS, True and dtac desks in arrivals sell tourist SIMs with a month of data. Bring your passport.
04
30 to 60 min
Into the city
For the Riverside, take the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai and a Grab from there, or a Grab all the way. Official taxis leave from the rank on level 1: take a queue ticket, insist on the meter, and expect a 50 baht airport surcharge plus tolls.
Rail Link: 45 baht Grab: about 400 to 600 baht Meter taxi: about 300 to 500 baht
05
The rest of day 1
Drop the bags and find the river
Don’t plan anything. Check in, shower, sleep if you need to, then walk to the nearest pier and take any boat a few stops and back at sunset. Dinner on the street. Bed early. The jet lag is real.
Airport to the city, every option
| Option | Cost | Time | Good for | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Rail Link (BKK) | 15 to 45 baht | 26 min to Phaya Thai | Light bags, daytime, Sukhumvit and Siam | Tap a contactless card at the gate |
| Grab or Bolt (BKK) | About 400 to 600 baht with tolls | 30 to 60 min | Late arrivals, groups, the Riverside | Grab or Bolt |
| Meter taxi (BKK) | About 300 to 500 baht all in | 30 to 60 min | When the apps are surging | Rank on level 1, queue ticket |
| SRT Red Line (DMK) | About 20 to 40 baht | 15 min to Krung Thep Aphiwat | Light bags, then MRT anywhere | Station across the footbridge |
| Grab or Bolt (DMK) | About 250 to 450 baht | 30 to 50 min | Most people landing at Don Mueang | Grab or Bolt |
03 · Where to stay
Where to stay in Bangkok: by the river, near a BTS station
Bangkok is huge and its traffic is famous. Where you sleep decides how much of your trip you spend in a car. Pick the river and a train line and the city shrinks.
My pick
Riverside
Charoen Krung and the Silom end of the river. Boats north to the temples, the BTS east to everything else, and Chinatown a short ride away.
Sights
Old town (Banglamphu)
Walk to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho and eat well at night. No BTS, so anything east means a boat, the MRT or a Grab.
Food
Chinatown (Yaowarat)
The best street food in the city outside your door, and an MRT station on the Blue Line. Loud and hot by day, magic after dark.
Nightlife
Sukhumvit
Hotels, malls and bars along the BTS, and easy for everything modern. Far from the temples, and parts of it are seedy.
Budget
Old town or Chinatown hostel
Dorm beds from about 300 to 500 baht ($9 to $15), private rooms from about $25. Easy for meeting people, close to the night food.
Where I’d book
Small hotel near Saphan Taksin
A private room for about $40 to $80, a pool more often than not, and both the pier and the BTS a few minutes’ walk away.
Splurge
Mandarin Oriental
Bangkok’s grand riverside hotel since 1876, with its own boat across the river. Expect $500 and up a night. A drink on the terrace costs less.
04 · Getting around
How to get around Bangkok: boats, trains, then Grab
Road traffic is the thing to avoid. The BTS and MRT run above and below it, the river runs beside it, and a car only makes sense at night or in the rain.
The one thing to learn · The river
The Chao Phraya is Bangkok’s best road
The orange-flag express boat runs north from Sathorn Pier about every 15 to 20 minutes from 6 am to 7 pm, for about 18 baht a ride, paid to the conductor. These five stops are the whole old town.
CEN
Sathorn
Change to the BTS at Saphan Taksin. The start of everything.
N5
Ratchawong
Walk up into Chinatown and Yaowarat Road.
N8
Tha Tien
Wat Pho. The cross-river ferry to Wat Arun leaves here.
N9
Tha Chang
The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew.
N13
Phra Arthit
Banglamphu, Khao San Road and the old town at night.
The blue-flag tourist boat stops at the same piers with English commentary and costs more. Fine if the orange one is packed. Don’t let anyone at the pier sell you a private longtail by mistake.
Every way to get around
| How | Cost | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| BTS Skytrain | About 17 to 65 baht a ride | Siam, Sukhumvit, Silom, Chatuchak. Tap a contactless card |
| MRT subway | About 17 to 45 baht a ride | Chinatown, Wat Pho (Sanam Chai), Hua Lamphong, Lumphini |
| Orange-flag boat | About 18 baht | The old town, temples and Chinatown from the Riverside |
| Grab or Bolt car | About 100 to 250 baht across town | Evenings, rain, anything off the train lines |
| Motorbike taxi | About 20 to 60 baht | Short hops in traffic. Orange vests, helmet on |
| Meter taxi | 35 baht flag, cheap after that | Fine if the driver uses the meter. If not, get out |
| Tuk-tuk | About 100 to 300 baht, agreed first | Once, at night, for fun. Never for a tour |
Coming in 2027 · One fare
The government revoked the short-lived 20-baht flat fare in June 2026. A unified fare of about 17 to 45 baht a trip, covering transfers between the BTS and MRT, is due from January 1, 2027. Until then, each line charges separately, so a BTS-to-MRT trip means two fares.
05 · Eat
What to eat in Bangkok, and exactly where
Bangkok eats all day and late into the night. Many of the best places do one dish and close when it runs out, so the times matter as much as the addresses.
Breakfast · Jok
Jok Prince, Charoen Krung Soi 42
Silky rice porridge with pork balls, ginger and an egg, cooked over charcoal in a shophouse near the river. A Bib Gourmand for years and still cheap.
About 50 to 80 baht · Map
Lunch · Roast duck
Prachak, 1415 Charoen Krung
Roast duck and red pork over rice, served since 1909 in a plain room across from Robinson. Order the duck and a plate of the crispy pork to share.
About 100 to 200 baht · Map
Lunch · Khao man gai
Go-Ang Pratunam, Phetchaburi Soi 30
Poached chicken on rice cooked in chicken fat, with ginger-soy sauce and a cup of broth. The staff in pink shirts move the queue fast.
About 60 to 100 baht · Map
Anytime · Pad thai
Thipsamai, 313 Maha Chai Road
The famous one, near the Golden Mount. Get the version wrapped in a thin omelette, and the fresh orange juice. The queue moves, and it’s worth one visit.
About 120 to 300 baht · Map
Lunch · Boat noodles
Boat Noodle Alley, Victory Monument
Tiny bowls of dark, spiced pork or beef noodle soup, a few bites each. You order five or six and stack the bowls. It’s a canalside lane off the roundabout.
About 15 to 25 baht a bowl · Map
Dinner · Som tam
Hai Somtam, Convent Road
Green papaya salad pounded to order with grilled chicken, sticky rice and larb, in a busy room off Silom. Ask for it mild if you’re new to Isaan heat.
About 60 to 150 baht a dish · Map
Night · Kuay jap
Nai Ek Roll Noodles, Yaowarat Soi 9
Peppery broth with rolled rice noodles and crispy pork belly, open late in the middle of Chinatown. The meal that makes the walk down Yaowarat make sense.
About 80 to 120 baht · Map
Lunch · Pork noodles
Rung Rueang, Sukhumvit Soi 26
Pork noodle soup where you pick the noodle, the broth (clear or tom yum) and the size. Fast, cheap, and a short walk from BTS Phrom Phong.
About 60 to 90 baht · Map
Dessert · Mango sticky rice
Mae Varee, Thong Lo
Ripe mango, sweet sticky rice and coconut cream, packed to take away at the foot of BTS Thong Lo. Best from March to June, when mangoes are in season.
About 150 baht · Map
Markets and food courts
When you’d rather wander and point than hunt down an address.
Market · Fancy
Or Tor Kor
Bangkok’s cleanest fresh market, next to Chatuchak. Perfect fruit, curries by the bag and a food court.
MRT Kamphaeng Phet · Map
Food court · Cheap
Pier 21, Terminal 21
A mall food court with street prices and air con. Good on your first day, when you want to point and pay.
BTS Asok · Map
Market · Local
Wang Lang
A narrow market by the hospital on the Thonburi bank. Lunch with nurses and students, one boat stop from the Grand Palace.
Wang Lang Pier · Map
Night · The big one
Yaowarat Road
Chinatown’s main road fills with stalls from about 6 pm. Seafood, toast, noodles and fruit. Go hungry, and graze.
MRT Wat Mangkon · Map
How to eat street food without getting sick
- Eat where the queue is local and long. Fast turnover means fresh food.
- Pick stalls that cook to order over high heat.
- Ice in restaurants and at busy stalls is factory-made and safe. Tap water isn’t.
- Go easy for the first two days while your stomach adjusts.
- Carry small notes. Nobody wants to break a 1,000 at 9 pm.
Want someone to show you?
A night food tour, then a cooking class
A Chinatown food walk by tuk-tuk or on foot runs about $40 to $90 with ten or so tastings (compare tours on GetYourGuide). For a class, Silom Thai Cooking School starts with a market walk and runs about 1,000 to 1,500 baht. Both are good on your first or second night.
Free guide · First 24 Hours in a New Country
Your first night in Bangkok, planned before you board.
The night before, hour by hour after landing, and the traps. Free with the monthly letter.
06 · See and do
The best things to do in Bangkok
Most of the big sights sit within a mile of each other in the old town, all reached by the same boat. Do them before lunch. By 2 pm the heat wins.
Must
Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
The royal palace and the Emerald Buddha in one gilded compound. 500 baht, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm last entry. Go at opening, dressed for it.
Tha Chang Pier · Map
Must
Wat Pho
The 46-meter reclining Buddha, and the galleries of seated ones I photographed. 300 baht, 8 am to 6:30 pm. The massage school here is the real thing.
Tha Tien Pier · Map
Worth it
Wat Arun
The Temple of Dawn, its spire covered in broken porcelain. 200 baht, 8 am to 6 pm. Cross by the little ferry from Tha Tien, then see it lit up from the other bank.
Ferry from Tha Tien · Map
Old town
Golden Mount (Wat Saket)
About 300 steps up an artificial hill to a gold chedi and the best free-ish view of the old town. About 100 baht. Late afternoon is best.
Near Thipsamai · Map
Old town
Bangkok National Museum
Thai history from the Sukhothai kings onward, in a former palace by Sanam Luang. About 200 baht. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Near Tha Chang · Map
Siam
Jim Thompson House
Six teak houses from the American silk trader who vanished in Malaysia in 1967. Guided tours only, about 200 baht, 10 am to 5 pm.
BTS National Stadium · Map
Silom
Lumphini Park
Lakes, joggers at dawn, outdoor gyms and monitor lizards the size of dogs. Free. Everyone stops still for the anthem at 6 pm.
MRT Lumphini · Map
Chinatown
Wat Traimit
A five-and-a-half-tonne solid gold Buddha, found by accident in 1955 under a plaster shell. About 100 baht. Start a Chinatown walk here.
MRT Hua Lamphong · Map
Thonburi
ICONSIAM
The giant riverside mall, worth it for the indoor floating market on the ground floor, called SookSiam. Free shuttle boats from Sathorn Pier.
Free boat from Sathorn · Map
The honest take
What’s overrated, and what to do instead
Khao San Road is a backpacker strip, not Thailand. Walk it once at night for the spectacle, then eat on Phra Arthit Road one block over. The Grand Palace is worth it, but crowded by 10 am, so be at the gate at 8:30. The big floating markets near the city are mostly staged. Chatuchak or a railway market is the better morning.
Weekend only
Chatuchak Weekend Market
More than 10,000 stalls on Saturday and Sunday, from about 9 am to 6 pm: clothes, plants, ceramics, vintage and coconut ice cream. Go early, before the heat, and drink more water than you think you need. MRT Chatuchak Park or BTS Mo Chit. Map.
Plan around the week
Bangkok runs on a weekly rhythm
Mon
The temples and palace are open. Many street stalls in tourist areas take the day off, and the National Museum is shut.
Tue to Thu
The quiet middle. Best days for the Grand Palace, and the Chatuchak plant market runs Wednesday and Thursday.
Fri
Bars fill from 6 pm. The Amphawa floating market starts its weekend in the late afternoon.
Sat and Sun
Chatuchak, Amphawa, Koh Kret and Chinatown all at full volume. Temples are busiest. Book the weekend early.
07 · Nights
Bangkok at night: where to go after dark
Bangkok wakes up at sunset, when it’s finally cool enough to walk. These are the nights worth having. Sukhumvit’s go-go bars are not on the list.
Rooftop
A drink above the river
Sky Bar at Lebua is the famous one, with a dress code and cocktails around 1,000 baht. Get there by 6 pm for the sunset.
Market
Jodd Fairs
A night market by MRT Rama 9 with grilled seafood, cheap beer and the mountain of pork ribs everyone photographs. Busiest after 8 pm.
Fight night
Muay thai at Rajadamnern
The oldest stadium in town, near the old town. Tickets from about 1,500 to 2,000 baht. Sit with the gamblers for the noise.
Old town
Phra Arthit and Soi Rambuttri
The calm side of Banglamphu: bars with live music, tables on the street, cheaper beer than Khao San next door.
Chinatown
Soi Nana, Chinatown
Not the Sukhumvit Soi Nana. A lane of small cocktail and wine bars in old shophouses, a few minutes’ walk from Yaowarat.
River
A dinner cruise, or just the ferry
The big buffet boats are about $40 to $70. The cheaper move is the cross-river ferry at dusk for a few baht, then dinner at Wang Lang.
08 · Scams
Common scams in Bangkok, and how to avoid them
Bangkok is a safe city. These cost you money and an afternoon, not your passport. They’ve been running for decades because they work on tired people, so read them now.
| The scam | How it goes | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The palace is closed | A friendly man near the Grand Palace says it’s shut today for a ceremony, then waves down a tuk-tuk for you. | It’s open daily, apart from a few royal events listed on the official site. Walk past to the real gate. |
| The 20-baht tuk-tuk tour | A driver offers a whole afternoon of temples for almost nothing. | He’s paid in fuel vouchers to stop at gem and tailor shops. Say no thanks and use Grab. |
| The gem bargain | A stranger, often a ‘student’ or ‘teacher’, tells you about a one-day government gem sale. | There is no such sale. The stones are worth a fraction of the price. Walk away. |
| No meter | A taxi quotes a flat fare, often several times the meter, especially at night and near hotels. | Ask for the meter before you get in. If they won’t, wave down the next one or book in the app. |
| Fake arrival card sites | Search results and ads point you to lookalike TDAC sites that charge $20 to $50. | The real one is tdac.immigration.go.th and it’s free. |
| The bill at a show bar | A tout in Patpong or Nana promises a free show, then the bill arrives in thousands. | Don’t follow touts upstairs. If it happens, pay for your drinks only and call the tourist police on 1155. |
| Bracelets and pigeon feed | Someone ties a string bracelet on your wrist, or pours seed in your hand, then asks for money. | Keep your hands to yourself and keep walking. A firm ‘mai ao’ (don’t want) works. |
09 · Fitting in
Thai etiquette and the ten phrases worth learning
Men end polite phrases with khrap, women with kha. Get that right and people light up.
Manners and tipping
- Never criticize the King or the royal family, even as a joke. It’s a serious crime here.
- Stand still when the national anthem plays, at 8 am and 6 pm in parks and stations, and before films.
- Feet are low, heads are high. Don’t point your feet at people or Buddha images, and don’t touch heads.
- Shoes off at temples and homes. Women shouldn’t touch monks or hand things to them directly.
- Tipping is small and welcome: round up for drivers, 20 to 50 baht for a massage, 10 percent at sit-down restaurants without a service charge.
- Smile and keep your voice down. Losing your temper loses you the argument.
| English | Thai | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Sawasdee khrap / kha | sa-wat-DEE krap / kaa |
| Thank you | Khop khun khrap / kha | kop-KOON krap / kaa |
| How much? | Tao rai? | tao-RAI |
| Not spicy | Mai phet | my PET |
| A little spicy | Phet nit noi | pet nit NOY |
| Delicious | Aroi | a-ROY |
| The bill, please | Check bin | check BIN |
| I don’t want it | Mai ao | my OW |
| No problem | Mai pen rai | my pen RAI |
| Where’s the toilet? | Hong nam yoo tee nai? | hong NAHM yoo tee NAI |
10 · Itinerary
3 days in Bangkok: the itinerary
One area a day, so you’re on a boat or a train, not in a car. Swap days around for the weekend markets.
Day 1
The old town by boat
- Morning: orange boat to Tha Chang, the Grand Palace at 8:30.
- Lunch: Wang Lang market, one ferry stop across.
- Afternoon: Wat Pho, a massage, then the ferry to Wat Arun.
- Night: Phra Arthit Road for dinner and a beer.
Day 2
Chinatown and the river
- Morning: Wat Traimit and the lanes of Sampeng market.
- Lunch: roast duck at Prachak.
- Afternoon: hotel pool, or Jim Thompson House if it’s raining.
- Night: Yaowarat Road, Nai Ek, then Soi Nana’s bars.
Day 3
Modern Bangkok
- Morning: Chatuchak on a weekend, Or Tor Kor on a weekday.
- Lunch: boat noodles at Victory Monument.
- Afternoon: Lumphini Park as it cools down.
- Night: a rooftop at sunset, then Jodd Fairs.
11 · Day trips
The best day trips from Bangkok
Bangkok is a good hub. Three of these are full days, and one is a lazy half.
1.5 hours north
Ayutthaya
The old capital, burned by the Burmese in 1767. Temple ruins, a Buddha head in tree roots, and bikes for rent by the station. Trains from Krung Thep Aphiwat.
1.5 to 2 hours west
Maeklong and Amphawa
The railway market, where stalls fold back for a train eight times a day, then Amphawa’s weekend canal market. Better than the staged one at Damnoen Saduak.
2.5 to 3 hours west
Kanchanaburi
The Bridge on the River Kwai, the war cemetery and the Death Railway along the cliffs. Long for a day trip. It’s better as a night on the way to somewhere else.
A short one · Half a day
Koh Kret, the pottery island
A car-free island in the river north of the city, settled by the Mon people and known for its terracotta. Rent a bike, loop it in an hour, and eat fried flowers and Mon curry. Best on weekends. Grab to Pak Kret, then the 2-baht ferry. Map.
12 · Costs
How much does Bangkok cost?
Bangkok can be very cheap or very not, often on the same street. Prices in baht, with dollars at about 33.5 baht to the dollar.
A bed
$9 to $80
A dorm from 300 baht to a good small hotel by the river. Splurges start around $150.
Street food
50 to 120 baht
A plate of noodles, rice or a bowl of soup. A sit-down Thai meal is 200 to 500.
Getting around
100 to 300 baht
A day of BTS, MRT and boats, plus one Grab home at night.
Sights
200 to 500 baht
Each of the big three. A full temple day runs about 1,000 baht.
A massage
300 to 600 baht
An hour of Thai massage at a neighborhood shop. Hotel spas charge five times that.
A beer
70 to 400 baht
A big Chang from a 7-Eleven, or a rooftop cocktail at the top end.
A day in Bangkok
$40 to $120
About $40 in a hostel, on street food and trains, with one sight. About $75 in a small hotel with a sit-down dinner, a massage and a Grab or two. About $120 with a pool, a rooftop drink and a food tour.
Four days in Bangkok runs about $160 to $480 per person, before flights.
13 · Leaving
Leaving Bangkok: the airport and the train
However you go, leave more time than the map says.
Timing
Leave three hours for BKK
Suvarnabhumi is big and its security lines can be slow. Leave the Riverside about three hours before an international flight, two for Don Mueang.
Getting there
Rail Link by day, Grab by night
The Airport Rail Link from Phaya Thai is the fastest way when traffic is bad. After about 10 pm, or with big bags, take a Grab.
Leftover cash
Spend it, or claim your VAT
Spend coins at a 7-Eleven. If you shopped big, claim back the 7 percent VAT at the airport: keep the forms from shops showing the VAT refund sign.
Going north instead?
Take the night train to Chiang Mai
The sleeper leaves Krung Thep Aphiwat at 18:40 and reaches Chiang Mai the next morning, about 940 to 1,040 baht for a second-class berth. It’s the second leg of my Thailand in 14 days route, with the berths explained.
Plan your trip · What I use · Some are affiliate links
Entry
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card, free on the official site
Data
Airalo eSIM for Thailand
Beds
Booking.com or Agoda for small hotels, Hostelworld for dorms
Food tours
GetYourGuide or Viator for Chinatown walks
Trains
12Go for Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai and the south
Every place
Every place on this page
Screenshot it. Each name opens in Google Maps.
| Place | What | Where | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Palace | Palace and temple | Old town, Tha Chang Pier | 8:30 am, 500 baht |
| Wat Pho | Temple, massage | Old town, Tha Tien Pier | 8 am to 6:30 pm, 300 baht |
| Wat Arun | Temple | Thonburi, ferry from Tha Tien | 8 am to 6 pm, 200 baht |
| Golden Mount | Temple, view | Old town | Late afternoon |
| Bangkok National Museum | Museum | Old town | Closed Mon and Tue |
| Jim Thompson House | Museum | Siam, BTS National Stadium | 10 am to 5 pm |
| Lumphini Park | Park | Silom, MRT Lumphini | Dawn or dusk |
| Wat Traimit | Temple | Chinatown | Morning |
| ICONSIAM | Mall, indoor market | Thonburi, boat from Sathorn | Afternoon |
| Chatuchak Weekend Market | Market | BTS Mo Chit | Sat and Sun, early |
| Or Tor Kor | Market | MRT Kamphaeng Phet | Morning |
| Wang Lang Market | Market | Thonburi, Wang Lang Pier | Lunch |
| Pier 21 | Food court | BTS Asok | Anytime |
| Jok Prince | Rice porridge | Charoen Krung Soi 42 | Breakfast |
| Prachak | Roast duck | Charoen Krung | Lunch |
| Go-Ang Pratunam | Chicken rice | Pratunam | Lunch |
| Thipsamai | Pad thai | Old town | Evening |
| Boat Noodle Alley | Boat noodles | Victory Monument | Lunch |
| Hai Somtam | Isaan food | Silom | Dinner |
| Nai Ek Roll Noodles | Kuay jap | Chinatown | Night |
| Rung Rueang | Pork noodles | Sukhumvit Soi 26 | Lunch |
| Mae Varee | Mango sticky rice | Thong Lo | Afternoon |
| Yaowarat Road | Street food | Chinatown | After 6 pm |
| Sky Bar, Lebua | Rooftop bar | Riverside | Sunset |
| Jodd Fairs | Night market | MRT Rama 9 | After 8 pm |
| Rajadamnern Stadium | Muay thai | Old town | Evening |
| Soi Nana, Chinatown | Bars | Chinatown | Night |
| Koh Kret | Island | Nonthaburi | Weekend |
Questions
Bangkok FAQ: questions people ask before their first trip
Is Bangkok worth visiting?
Yes. It has some of the best food in the world, temples you can’t see anywhere else, and it’s cheap and easy to get around once you know about the river and the trains.
How many days do you need in Bangkok?
Three or four full days covers the old town, Chinatown, a market and a night out. Add a day for Ayutthaya or the railway market.
Is Bangkok safe for tourists?
Yes. Violent crime against visitors is rare. The real risks are scams, traffic and the heat, and pickpockets in crowded markets.
Where should I stay in Bangkok for the first time?
By the river near BTS Saphan Taksin. You get boats to the temples and the Skytrain to the rest of the city. The old town is the second choice.
Do Americans need a visa for Thailand?
Not for a short trip. Since September 15, 2026, Americans get 30 days visa-free for tourism. You must fill in the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card online in the three days before you land.
How do I get from Suvarnabhumi airport to the city?
The Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai costs 45 baht and takes about 26 minutes. A Grab or a meter taxi costs about 300 to 600 baht with tolls and takes 30 to 60 minutes.
Is Grab or a taxi cheaper in Bangkok?
A metered taxi is usually cheaper, if the driver uses the meter. Grab and Bolt cost a bit more but the price is fixed, which avoids arguments.
What is the best month to visit Bangkok?
November to February, when it’s driest and least humid. April is the hottest month, and September is usually the wettest.
What should I wear to the Grand Palace?
Long trousers or a skirt below the knee and a top that covers your shoulders. No ripped jeans. You can buy cover-ups outside, but it’s easier to dress for it.
Is the Grand Palace worth it?
Yes, once. It’s the most impressive sight in the city and the most crowded. Arrive at 8:30 when it opens and give it two hours.
Is street food in Bangkok safe?
Mostly, yes. Choose busy stalls that cook to order over high heat, drink bottled water, and ease in over the first couple of days.
Can I use credit cards in Bangkok?
In malls, hotels, 7-Elevens and most restaurants, yes. Street food, markets, boats and tuk-tuks want cash, so carry small notes.
How much money do I need per day in Bangkok?
About $40 a day on a budget, $75 in comfort, and $120 or more if you want nice hotels and rooftop drinks.
Do I need to tip in Bangkok?
It isn’t expected, but it’s appreciated. Round up taxi fares, leave 20 to 50 baht after a massage, and about 10 percent at sit-down restaurants without a service charge.
Is Khao San Road worth it?
Once, at night, for the spectacle. It’s a backpacker party street. Stay or eat a block away on Phra Arthit Road or Soi Rambuttri.
What should I avoid in Bangkok?
Anyone who says the Grand Palace is closed, cheap tuk-tuk tours, gem shops, taxis that won’t use the meter, and paying for the arrival card.
What is the best day trip from Bangkok?
Ayutthaya, the old capital, about 1.5 hours away by train. The Maeklong railway market and Amphawa make a good second choice on a weekend.
Where to next
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