Top places to visit in Bangkok

• Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

  floating-market · 3.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The most famous floating market in Thailand — vendors in wooden boats laden with tropical fruits, vegetables, and freshly cooked food weaving through narrow canals at dawn. An iconic Bangkok day-trip.

• Asiatique The Riverfront

  market · 4.4 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A mega night market in a converted colonial-era dockyard on the Chao Phraya, combining shopping, dining, and entertainment. Over 1500 shops and 40 restaurants across two historic warehouses. The Ferris wheel and river views add to the…

• Siam Paragon

  mall · 4.5 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Bangkok two massive luxury shopping malls facing each other across Siam Square — the epicentre of Bangkok's consumer culture. Siam Paragon houses Thailand only bowling alley with a luxury film cinema, aquarium (Sea Life), and high-end…

• Chatuchak Weekend Market

  market · 4.4 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  The largest outdoor market in the world — 35 acres, 15,000+ stalls, 200,000+ daily visitors. Chatuchak sells everything from antiques and handmade crafts to exotic pets, designer fashions, and street food. A complete Thai sensory…

• Wat Arun

  temple · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Bangkok most distinctive skyline feature — the Temple of Dawn on the Chao Phraya riverbank. Its 82m central prang (tower) is covered in porcelain mosaic tiles and shell fragments, creating a sparkling effect in sunlight and at sunset. Best…

• Wat Phra Kaew - Grand Palace Temple

  temple · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · entry ฿500 (≈ ₹1,420), Free for Thai citizens; foreigners THB 500

  The Grand Palace has been the ceremonial heart of Thailand since 1782, when King Rama I founded Bangkok as the new capital of Siam after the fall of Ayutthaya. Within its whitewashed walls stands Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald…

• Wat Pho

  temple · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · entry ฿300 (≈ ₹850), Thai nationals free with Thai ID; foreigners THB 300

  Home to the magnificent 46m-long gold-covered Reclining Buddha and over 1000 Buddha images, Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) dates to the 16th century and is Bangkok oldest and largest temple complex. Also the birthplace of…

• Yaowarat Gold Street Heritage Bangkok

  gold-district · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · free entry

  Bangkok Chinatown's extraordinary Gold Street — a concentration of goldsmith shops that has made Bangkok one of the world's great gold trading centres, with 200-year-old goldsmith families and remarkable Thai-Chinese gold culture.

• Wat Traimit Solid Gold Buddha

  temple · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Home to the world largest solid gold Buddha — 3 metres tall and 5.5 tonnes, discovered in 1955 beneath stucco that had hidden it for centuries. Housed in a modern tower temple in Chinatown.

• Terminal 21 Asok

  mall · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  A wildly creative shopping mall where each floor is themed as a different world city (Tokyo, Istanbul, San Francisco, etc.) with appropriate architectural decor. The food court on the top floor (Pier 21) is one of Bangkok cheapest and…

• Silom Road Night Market

  market · 3.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Silom Road area transforms at night with one of Bangkok most vibrant evening street food scenes. Vendors sell pad thai, green curry, and grilled seafood from 6pm. The nearby Patpong market (covered) also offers designer-brand…

• Suan Luang Rama IX Park Bangkok

  royal-park · 4.7 rating · about 2.5 h · entry ฿10 (≈ ₹28)

  The largest public park in Bangkok — 80 hectares dedicated to King Rama IX with botanical gardens, themed water features, orchid gardens, and memorial structures celebrating Thailand's beloved late monarch.

Things to do

• Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew Guided Tour Cultural · 3 h · from THB 1,200 per person
• Wat Arun — Temple of Dawn Cultural · 2 h · from THB 86 per person
• Bangkok Erawan Shrine Four-Faced Brahma Visit Heritage · 1.5 h
• Bangkok Ayutthaya UNESCO Day Trip Ancient Siam Heritage · 8 h · from THB 1,000 per person
• Bangkok Chao Phraya River Local Ferry Experience Sightseeing · 3 h · from THB 17 per person
• Bangkok Amphawa Floating Market Weekend Day Trip Heritage · 8 h · from THB 860 per person
• Bangkok Overnight Train to Chiang Mai Sleeper Sightseeing · 13 h · from THB 520 per person
• Bangkok Tuk Tuk Night Photography Food Tour Heritage · 4 h · from THB 1,000 per person

Day trips and tours

• Bangkok Grand Palace & Wat Pho Day Tour 8 h · from THB 870
• Ayutthaya & Bang Pa-In Palace Day Trip 10 h · from THB 1,100
• Floating Market & Damnoen Saduak Day Trip 9 h · from THB 630

Where to stay in Bangkok

• Sukhumvit about THB 3,500 per night

  Vibrant district with hotels, restaurants, and BTS access

• Silom about THB 3,000 per night

  Business and entertainment district with nightlife

• Chinatown about THB 2,000 per night

  Historic area with traditional markets and street food

Hotels

• Capella Bangkok 5-star · THB 22,000 to THB 85,000 per night
• Mandarin Oriental Bangkok 5-star · THB 18,000 to THB 65,000 per night
• Kimpton Maa-lai Bangkok By IHG 5-star · THB 6,000 to THB 18,000 per night
• Chakrabongse Villas 5-star · THB 12,000 to THB 28,000 per night
• Peninsula Bangkok 5-star · THB 15,000 to THB 55,000 per night
• The Sukhothai Bangkok 5-star · THB 10,000 to THB 32,000 per night

Where to eat

• Yaowarat Chinatown Night Food Chinese, Street Food, Seafood · about THB 300 per person
• Thipsamai Pad Thai Thai, Street Food, Noodles · about THB 200 per person
• Chatuchak Weekend Market Food Zone Thai, Street Food, Market · about THB 150 per person
• Or Tor Kor Market Thai, Hawker, Street Food · about THB 200 per person
• Wang Lang Market Thai, Street Food, Market · about THB 120 per person
• Kinlom Chom Saphan Riverside Seafood Thai, Seafood, Street Food · about THB 600 per person
• Guay Tiew Kua Gai Chinatown Chinese, Thai, Noodles · about THB 180 per person
• After You Dessert Cafe Thong Lo Dessert, Cafe, Thai · about THB 400 per person

Getting to Bangkok

Airport: Bangkok (Don Mueang International Airport) (DMK), Bangkok (BKK)

How visitors arrive in Bangkok

• Flight to Suvarnabhumi By air from International · common

  Suvarnabhumi is the main airport and used by all full-service airlines. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Flight to Don Mueang By air from International · common

  Don Mueang mainly serves budget carriers such as Nok Air and AirAsia. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train to Krung Thep Aphiwat By train from Across Thailand · common

  Most intercity trains end at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (Bang Sue). Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Long-distance bus By road from Across Thailand · common

  Buses use the Eastern, Northern/Northeastern and Southern terminals depending on direction. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Cruise ship By ferry from Laem Chabang · possible

  Cruise ships dock at Laem Chabang or Khlong Toei; the guide notes not many people come this way. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Airport Rail Link to the city

  Commuter train from Suvarnabhumi into the city that avoids road traffic and connects to the MRT and Skytrain. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Official public taxi queue

  Follow the public taxi signs to the official queue on the first floor and keep the booth slip in case of complaints. Avoid touts in the arrivals hall. Source: suvarnabhumi.airportthai.co.th

• Express bus S1 to Khao San Road

  Express bus S1 runs from Suvarnabhumi to Khao San Road; city buses leave from the transportation centre. Source: suvarnabhumi.airportthai.co.th

• Don Mueang airport buses unconfirmed

  From Don Mueang, buses A1 and A2 serve Skytrain stations and Victory Monument; A3 and A4 serve central areas. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Do not get into cars with white licence plates; they are not licensed to carry passengers. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang are on opposite sides of the city, so check which airport your flight uses. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Metro

  BTS Skytrain · MRTA Thailand

• Train
• Tuktuk
• Ride Hail

  Get Grab

• Taxi
• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Tuk-tuk "free tour" scam

  Grand Palace / Wat Phra Kaew area

  Driver offers ฿20 city tour, takes you to gem/tailor commission shops instead of the temples.

  How to avoid it: Use Grab or hotel taxis. If you want a tuk-tuk, negotiate to a specific destination first.

• "The temple is closed"

  Around Grand Palace + Wat Pho

  Strangers near the entrance tell you the temple is closed for a ceremony and offer to take you to a "lucky Buddha" attraction (commission shops).

  How to avoid it: Grand Palace & Wat Pho are always open during posted hours. Walk directly to the official entrance.

• Generic tourist overcharge

  Major tourist zones

  Tourists are quoted significantly above local price.

  How to avoid it: Verify prices upfront. Use registered taxis/apps.

Best time to visit Bangkok

• Jan 33°C
• Feb 36°C
• Mar 37°C
• Apr 37°C
• May 35°C
• Jun 34°C
• Jul 34°C
• Aug 33°C
• Sep 33°C
• Oct 33°C
• Nov 30°C
• Dec 31°C

More in Thailand

• Pattaya
• Phuket
• Chiang Mai
• Krabi
• Surat Thani (Koh Samui)
• Sukhothai

Frequently asked questions about Bangkok

How many days do you need in Bangkok?

A typical trip to Bangkok is 4 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Bangkok?

The highest-rated places in our Bangkok guide are Wat Arun, Wat Phra Kaew - Grand Palace Temple, Wat Pho, Suan Luang Rama IX Park Bangkok, Wat Traimit Solid Gold Buddha.

Where should I stay in Bangkok?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Bangkok: Sukhumvit, Silom, Chinatown.

How do I get around Bangkok?

Ways to get around Bangkok covered in our guide: Metro, Train, Tuk-tuk, Ride-hailing app.

What scams should I watch out for in Bangkok?

Scams reported to us for Bangkok include Tuk-tuk "free tour" scam; "The temple is closed"; Generic tourist overcharge. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Bangkok?

Average daytime highs in Bangkok run from 30°C in Nov to 37°C in Mar.

Which airport is nearest to Bangkok?

The nearest airport to Bangkok has the code BKK.