Bangkok travel guide

Grand Palace

Begun in 1782 when Bangkok became the capital, the compound is a dazzle of gilded spires, glass-mosaic gables and giant guardian demons, and at its heart sits the Emerald Buddha, only about 66 centimetres tall but the most sacred image in Thailand, its robes changed by the king with the seasons. The cloister walls around it are painted with the whole Ramakien epic. It opens daily from 8:30 AM, ticket sales stop at 3:30 PM, and the dress rule is the strictest in the city: covered shoulders, and long trousers or a skirt below the knee. Arrive at opening, before the tour groups and the heat.

Wat Pho

The gold reclining Buddha fills its hall so completely that you can never see all 46 metres at once, and the soles of its feet are inlaid with mother-of-pearl in 108 auspicious symbols. Along the wall behind it, 108 bronze bowls ring as visitors drop in coins for luck, and the temple’s school still teaches traditional Thai massage. It is a short walk south of the palace and stays open until 7:30 PM, so it works well as a late-afternoon stop, and you can book a massage on site.

Wat Arun

The Temple of Dawn’s central spire, some 70 metres high, is studded with flowers made of broken Chinese porcelain and seashells that glint when you climb its steep lower terraces. It looks its best from the far bank around sunset, when the spire stands dark against the sky. From Tha Tien pier beside Wat Pho, a small ferry crosses the river in a couple of minutes.

Chao Phraya river boats

The express boats that run up and down the river double as a cheap river tour, swinging between piers past temple spires, old trading houses, grand hotels and long-tail boats racing by. They are also the easiest way to reach the old town without sitting in traffic. Look for the flag colour on the boat: each one stops at a different set of piers, and the small cross-river ferries are separate.

Golden Mount (Wat Saket)

The hill is man-made, the remains of a huge chedi that collapsed on soft ground in the 1800s, and the gold chedi now on top is said to hold a relic of the Buddha. A spiral stair of about 300 steps winds past trees and rows of bells you can ring for luck, up to one of the few wide views over the old city’s rooftops. Late afternoon is cooler.

Jim Thompson House

After the Second World War an American, Jim Thompson, revived Thailand’s hand-woven silk trade, then joined six old teak houses into one home by a canal, facing the weavers’ community on the other bank. It is still filled with his collection of Buddhist sculpture, Chinese porcelain and paintings, and the story ends in a mystery: in 1967 he went for a walk in Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands and was never seen again. You can only see inside on a guided tour; buy tickets at the counter, open daily 10 AM to 5 PM.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

With around 15,000 stalls in numbered sections, this is one of the largest markets in the world, and an easy place to lose half a day among vintage denim, hand-thrown ceramics, potted orchids and coconut ice cream served in the shell. Note the section number where you came in, because the lanes look alike. It is mainly a Saturday and Sunday market; go early, before the covered lanes heat up, and carry cash.

Lumphini Park

King Rama VI gave this royal land to the city in the 1920s, and his statue still stands at the gate of what became Bangkok’s first big public park. Come at dawn to see crowds doing tai chi under the trees, or at dusk when outdoor exercise classes start up by the lake, which you can also cross in a paddle boat. Large monitor lizards live around the water and are harmless if left alone.

Chinatown (Yaowarat)

Bangkok’s Chinese community has lived here since the 1780s, when it was moved off the land chosen for the Grand Palace, and at night Yaowarat Road becomes a canyon of red and gold neon over gold shops and roaring woks. Stalls fry noodles, grill seafood and ladle out sweet bird’s-nest soup, and the longest queues point to the best cooks. Arrive around 6 PM, walk the whole strip once, then go back to the busiest stalls.

Or Tor Kor Market

Run by the government’s marketing organisation for farmers, this covered market has some of the best-looking fruit in Bangkok: pyramids of mangoes, mangosteens and rambutans, and in season, durian opened for you to taste. Its cooked-food counters sell curries to take away, and it is a good place to try mango sticky rice. It sits across the road from Chatuchak and is far calmer than its neighbour.

Boat noodles

Kuay teow ruea were once handed down from boats on the canals, which is why the bowls are tiny: a few bites of noodles in a dark, spiced pork or beef broth, traditionally deepened with a little blood. They are so cheap that people order one after another and stack the empty bowls into towers. Shops cluster along the canal beside Victory Monument.

Street food staples

Thailand’s everyday lunch is pad kra pao, meat stir-fried with holy basil and chilli, often topped with a fried egg crisp at the edges. Watch a vendor pound som tam, green papaya salad, in a clay mortar with lime, fish sauce and chilli, or try khao man gai, poached chicken on rice cooked in its stock, with a ginger and fermented-soybean sauce. Ask for “mai phet” if you want less chilli.

Harder: Mid-April

The hottest weeks of the year. Songkran, the Thai New Year, turns the streets into a water fight from 13 to 15 April.

Best: November to February

Cool, dry weather with plenty of sun, good for long days on foot, though crowds and hotel prices peak.

Harder: September to October

The wettest months, with heavy downpours most days, but fewer visitors and lower hotel prices.

How do you get around Bangkok?

• MRTThe old MRT cards stopped working in June 2026. On the Blue and Purple lines, tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay credit card at the gate; the Airport Rail Link takes contactless cards too.
• BTS SkytrainThe BTS Skytrain still does not take bank cards. Buy a single ticket from the machines, or a Rabbit card if you will ride it often.
• Changing linesThe BTS and MRT are separate systems, so switching between them means leaving one gate line and paying again on the other.
• Airport railThe Airport Rail Link runs from Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai in about half an hour, and since November 2025 every station takes contactless cards at the gates.
• Arrival cardEvery foreign visitor must fill in the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card online in the three days before arrival. Use the official immigration site; paid look-alike sites exist.
• Visa-free staysSince 15 September 2026, visa-free stays are 30 days for most nationalities that used to get 60. Check your passport’s rule before booking a long trip.
• River boatsFor Wat Arun, get off the river express boat at Tha Tien pier and take the small cross-river ferry.
• Help lineThe Tourist Police answer 1155 around the clock, in English and other languages, for scams or lost property.

Do you need cash in Bangkok, and do you tip?

• Cards in citiesHotels, malls, supermarkets and chain restaurants usually take cards.
• Cash for small spendsStreet food, markets, river boats and most taxis want cash, so keep small notes handy.
• ATM feesThai ATMs charge a flat fee per withdrawal, so take out larger sums less often.
• TippingTipping isn’t expected. Many hotels and sit-down restaurants add a service charge and VAT to the bill; elsewhere, leaving the small change is a kind gesture.

Useful phrases

• Hello (male speaker)Sawasdee khrap (สวัสดีครับ)
• Hello (female speaker)Sawasdee kha (สวัสดีค่ะ)
• Thank you (male speaker)Khob khun khrap (ขอบคุณครับ)
• Thank you (female speaker)Khob khun kha (ขอบคุณค่ะ)
• How much is this?Tao rai? (เท่าไหร่)
• Yes / NoChai (ใช่) / Mai chai (ไม่ใช่)

Local manners

• FeetNever point your feet at people, Buddha images or shrines.
• ShoesTake shoes off before entering homes, some shops and temples.
• TemplesCover shoulders and knees at temples. The Grand Palace is strictest: no shorts, sleeveless tops or tight leggings, and Wat Pho turns away shorts.
• HeadDon't touch anyone's head, even children; it is considered rude.
• WaiReturn a wai greeting warmly, but a handshake is fine too.
• VapesE-cigarettes are illegal in Thailand, and tourists are fined or arrested for carrying them. Leave vapes at home.
• Royal familySpeak respectfully of the King and royal family; insulting the monarchy is a serious crime.

Useful apps

• Grab: Food Delivery, Taxi RideRides, food delivery and payments across Bangkok
• Google MapsNavigation, transit directions and offline maps
• Bolt: Request a RideAffordable car rides around Bangkok
• Google TranslateTranslating Thai menus, signs and conversations
• Traveloka: Book Hotel & FlightBooking hotels, tours and transport tickets

Download links for these are in the Bangkok guide in the Journey app.

Before you book

Check your government’s travel advice before you book.