Bangkok Travel Guide for First Timers and Tourists

Ready to discover everything in this Bangkok travel guide?

For many it’s the culture and food and for others it’s the affordable luxury hotel options and massive malls, but overall what draws most tourists and travelers to Bangkok for the first time is the hustle and bustle and the absurd amount of things happening all day and night.

Known as the “City of Angels” or “Krung Thep Maha Nakon” by the locals, Bangkok’s lively atmosphere is both its biggest draw and, for some, its most overwhelming aspect. The reason? Too much online information that is either too generic or else too detailed which is often the cause of confusion.

I first visited Bangkok in 2019 and visited numerous times since including living in Bangkok for 6 months. In contrast to most of the online information about Bangkok, in this travel guide I cover everything you need to know without going into unnecessary detail that would otherwise be confusing.

From the basics like things to do, food (obviously including Bangkok street food) and culture to the more planning aspects like where to stay in Bangkok, getting around and best time to visit, this guide covers everything you need to know for a trip to Bangkok.

Is Bangkok worth visiting?

Yes. Although this is just the short answer. Bangkok can be, and usually is an overwhelming city for most first time visitors. It’s a big city and there is just so many things to do in Bangkok and things happening all day and night. I would say definitely visit Bangkok wether that is for 2 days or more, but always have a plan and most importantly, plan accordingly to your travel style and taste.

Bangkok isn’t a place where you go and just wing it with no clear idea. It would be too confusing and overwhelming. Getting to know the city beforehand will help you plan your Bangkok itinerary according to your own taste and travel style. This way you’ll easily navigate the city, visit the interesting things to do in Bangkok and ultimately enjoy your trip to Bangkok. This Bangkok travel guide covers all the information you need.

Where to stay in Bangkok

Bangkok has a lot on offer when it comes to places to stay. From budget hostel all the way up to exclusive luxury resorts. I covered this topic in detail in my ‘Where to stay in Bangkok’ guide. But below is a quick overview.

However, rather than focusing solely on the hotel, also consider the location. Some of the cheaper hotel options are located in the Old part of Bangkok. This is the part of the city that is more traditional and where the temples and cultural sites are located. You’ll find fancy boutique hotels such as →Priya Boutique House or the more exclusive →Sala Rattanakosin Bangkok and more affordable places like →Baan Noppawong.

Alternatively, if you want more options staying in Modern Bangkok which includes Sukhumvit (and the neighborhoods within) or Silom opens the doors to more opportunity especially if you want easy access to restaurants, bars and nightlife. Places like →Carlton Hotel in Asoke and →The Salil Hotel in Thonglor. If you want convenience consider →Shangri-La on the banks of the Chao Phraya.

Cheap flights to Bangkok? Use Kiwi to check flights form various airlines with different prices. →click here to search

Is Bangkok expensive?

Bangkok is one of the most visited cities in the world because it not only caters to various tastes but also various budgets. Meaning, it can be cheap but if you want to splurge, the options are there.

From $10 a night hostels to $500+ luxury suites. A meal at a local restaurants will set you back $2 and a big bottle of Chang beer $3. But there’s also countless fancy restaurants and expensive cocktails from rooftop bars. In short, if you forget your western lifestyle and just stick to the basics, and as they, live like a local, Bangkok is by means expensive.

Transport in Thailand? Planning your journey and booking transport in Thailand is easy. →Book any route here including ferry+bus combos

When to go to Bangkok?

There is no perfect time to go to Bangkok because regardless of the month, compromising is always necessary. Let me explain. Or you can read this detailed guide here.

December to February is when you can expect the nicest weather with sunny days, the least chance of rain and comfortable temperatures of around 25℃. However, everyone else is chasing the nice weather so be ready to deal with busy tourist spots and less hotel options with higher prices. Advance booking for hotels and equally important is reserving any tours during this time.

March to June is less busy and hotels prices can be lower. The weather still holds up with rare rainy days. As the moths progress temperatures continue to climb and can reach highs of 40℃ along with higher humidity levels.

July to November is rainy season with September and October being the rainiest months. Expect less tourists and some really good luxury hotel deals. While rain is to be expected, it is usually in the afternoon in 1 hour or 2 hour bursts.

My favorite month is November because it is at the end of rainy season. Rain is less frequent, temperatures are nice and cool, the hoards of tourists still have a few weeks to arrive and outdoor nature activities are at their best after the wet months.

How to get around Bangkok

While Bangkok is known for it’s awful traffic, it also has one of the best public transport networks in the world. The futuristic skytrain and underground railways and the river boats allow to bypass the congested streets. And where these don’t reach, there is always tuk-tuks, taxis or motorbike taxis.

Primarily, the BTS Sukhumvit line (Green Line on map) connects all those neighborhoods in the Sukhumvit area including Thonglor, Ekkamai, Asoke and Nana. With an interchange to the Silom Line (dark green on map) in Siam (near all the malls).

The MRT underground train may not be as popular as the BTS due to route covering primarily local neighborhoods. But it is the only network that covers parts of Old Bangkok with stops like Sam Yot near Chinatown and Sanam Chai close the Grand Palace.

However, to experience the historic side of Bangkok and visit the major temples and tourist attraction it would be best to use the river boats. The boats are cheap, start from the early morning and have stops near important areas like Wat Arun, close to the Grand Palace and you can hop on a boat from Phra Arthit near Khaosan or from Saphan Taksin down in Silom.

Things to do in Bangkok

There’s countless things to do in Bangkok that could keep you entertained for months. But for the sake of this Bangkok travel guide, and because most tourists are only spending a few days in Bangkok, I will give you my opinion about what are those things that shouldn’t be missed on the first visit.

Culture

Allow a day in Bangkok to explore the temples and historic side of the city. The most popular temples in Bangkok are Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) and Wat Pho (Temple of Reclining Buddha) both on opposite sides of the Chao Phraya river which a frequent and cheap ferry crossing service. A less famous temple I love is Wat Pak Nam and the massive 20 meter Buddha and Wat Saket for its amazing sunset views. The Grand Palace is an unmissable tourist spot in Bangkok and is home to Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

Food

Going for street food in Bangkok isn’t just about the food but also the overall experience. Make your way to the bustling streets of Chinatown. There’s a never ending of dining options. From carts, to small street stalls and sit down restaurants. Walk down the neon lit street of Yaowarat. It’s busy and chaotic and most places, at least the best places, often have a line. It’s inconvenient yeah, but also part of the experience.

Dive into a Bangkok culinary experience

Savor Bangkok’s legendary street food during as you wizz your way through the alleys and backstreets on the famous 3 wheeled tuk-tuk. Sample sizzling roadside favorites like charcoal-fried noodles. You also experience attractions like the flower market. →book it here

Malls

Shopping and going into malls isn’t something I would recommend to anyone while on vacation. There’s countless more interesting things to do than being stuck in a massive building that is probably very similar to what you have at home. However, I am mentioning malls not to go shopping, but for their practicality. Mainly to beat the heat in Bangkok especially during the hotter months when it can be unbearable. There’s countless malls along Sukhumvit and even more in Siam. But my favorite is the gorgeous Icon Siam along the Chao Phraya River. Another advantage of malls is to try the local cuisine in a clean and air conditioned place.

Nightlife

Bangkok is just as busy at night as it is during the day. And its pretty just as diverse too. Head towards Khaosan if you’re young and want cheap beers, loud music, a wild night and no idea what happened the previous night the following morning. For something milder, Thonglor has some really nice bars and hangout spots such as The Commons. There’s also red light districts like Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy in Asoke.

Take a day trip

For anyone visiting Bangkok for the first time I always recommend spending 2 or maybe 3 days. That’s because Bangkok, with all that’s going on can be an overwhelming city. 3 days is perfect balance so explore the city and some of the nearby regions before the busy city life gets too much. I would recommend that after visiting the temples on day 1 to visit a →floating market and the train market to see what the local way of living is like (although both these have become rather touristy over the years). And if spending an additional day, visit the →Old City Ayutthaya with its gorgeous ancient temples, massive trees growing roots out the walls and engulfing a Buddha.

Where to go after Bangkok

Without going into much detail, you have 2 options where to go after Bangkok – either North for the culture and lush landscapes or South for the beaches. If both interest you, fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, or possibly take the overnight sleeper train (train #9), it’s an experience and traveling at night means you’ll save time. Plan to spend 3, maybe 4 days in Chiang Mai and visit nearby →Chiang Rai for it’s gorgeous temples.

From Chiang Mai fly to Koh Samui or Phuket, unless you have enough time to visit both. I like to plan my trips where I spend a minimum of 3 days in each place, unless of course there is really no reason to spend more than 1 night in a particular destination. You can plan route and book transport on the →12Go platform.

Questions and answers

How many days for Bangkok is enough?

If it’s your first time visiting Bangkok I would consider spending no more than 3 days, maybe 4 max. Bangkok is a big city and can often be overwhelming. 3 days is enough to experience the most important things like temples, culture, food, do a day trip outside the city and possibly even doing shopping at the malls.

How much should I budget for a trip to Bangkok?

Bangkok caters to various budget in all aspects. I’ve visited Bangkok on a budget of $30 a day but have also been with a budget of $100 a day. $30 a day is just about doable and will cover the cost of a bed in a hostel, cheap street food and possibly maybe a beer and not much more. A more reasonable budget would be $50+ per day as it would be more comfortable.

Which area in Bangkok is the best to stay?

There is 3 main areas to stay in Bangkok: Rattanakosin (around Khaosan and temples), Sukhumvit (Thonglor, Ekkamai, Asoke, Nana) and Silom/Sathorn (Lumpini, Icon Siam, Riverfront). Personally I like the Silom/Sathorn area because it meets between modern and old Bangkok and offers a host of amenities from cheap street food to fancy restaurants and budget hostels of luxury riverfront properties and amazing rooftop bars. Also getting to the temples is easy via the river boats or take the BTS skytrain to go to Siam or Sukhumvit.

Conclusion

This Bangkok travel guide covers the basics to get you started on your adventure in Thailand. If you’re visiting Bangkok for the first time consider staying 3 days because often is the case with anyone unfamiliar with Bangkok that it may be overwhelming. 3 days strikes the balance to experience before it gets too much.

If you need any further detail, just drop a comment below and will respond to the best of my knowledge.