Travel guide
Bangkok travel guide
Planning a trip to Bangkok
Bangkok is one of the cheapest big cities for travelers who eat street food and use the train network, and one of the easiest to overspend in if you live in rooftop bars and taxis. A day here can be very frugal or quite comfortable depending on a few choices.
Best time to go
November to February is cooler and drier and the most pleasant for walking. March to May is very hot. June to October is the rainy season: showers are usually short and heavy rather than all-day, and prices are lower. Plan sightseeing for the morning in any season.
Where to stay
Stay near a BTS Skytrain or MRT station. Sukhumvit and Silom/Sathorn are convenient and have many mid-range hotels, Riverside is scenic with ferry access, and the Old Town (Rattanakosin) puts you close to the Grand Palace and temples. Khao San Road is cheap but loud.
Getting around
The BTS Skytrain and MRT metro avoid the traffic and are inexpensive. Chao Phraya river boats are a cheap way to reach the Old Town. Ride apps such as Grab give you a fixed price; if you take a taxi, insist on the meter. Tuk-tuks are fun once but are priced for tourists.
How to spend less
- Eat at street stalls and food courts in malls, where a full dish costs very little.
- Use the BTS and MRT for most trips and save taxis for late nights.
- Visit temples such as Wat Pho in the morning, and cover shoulders and knees to avoid renting a wrap at the gate.
- Compare hotel prices across weekdays and weekends. Rates can swing noticeably.
Common mistakes
Accepting a stranger's tip that the Grand Palace is closed today and a tuk-tuk detour is needed is a long-running scam, so check opening hours on the official site. Also expect Thai ATMs to charge a flat fee per foreign-card withdrawal, so take out larger amounts less often.