Blog > Bangkok Travel Guide
Bangkok Travel Guide
13 September 2024
We have received quite a few requests for travel tips to Bangkok, so that we put together this blog with some recommendations and practical tips for staying a few days in Bangkok. Further questions and answers regarding Thailand you can find in our Q&A section by clicking the following link: Q&A – About Thailand in general.
How to get to/from the airport?
The best way to travel between the city and BKK airport is via Airport link, a modern, clean and safe express train which runs between the airport and Phaya Thai BTS Station in the city. At the airport go down to Level 1 and follow the signs for “Airport Link”. It takes under 30 minutes and costs THB 45 for the ride. At Phaya Thai station (the last station of the airport link) you can change into the BTS to get to different places throughout the city. If your destination in Bangkok is nowhere near a public transport station, taking a taxi would be your best bet.
Where to stay?
It is recommended to choose a hotel near Sukhumvit and near a BTS station. Sukhumvit is a main road that runs through Bangkok city (and across all of Thailand). BTS (Bangkok Transportation System) is the most important public transport in Bangkok. The different neighborhoods are usually named after the respective BTS station. The city center in Bangkok stretches along Sukhumvit, roughly between the BTS stations “National Stadium” and “Phra Khanong”.
Hotel recommendations
There are endless Hotel choices available in Bangkok, depending on budget and expectations. The following hotels in the center along Sukhumvit and close to BTS stations are all good choices:
- Eastin Grand Hotel Phaya Thai (BTS Phaya Thai, great for quick travel to and from the airport)
- Novotel Ploenchit (BTS Ploenchit)
- Ibis Sukhumvit 24 (BTS Phrom Phong, next to EmQuartier, a cozy little but upper-scale shopping mall with outdoor space and a stylish rooftop bar/restaurant)
- Renaissance Bangkok (BTS Chitlom)
- Radisson Blu Plaza (close to BTS Asok)
- Hotel Nikko (BTS Thonglor)
How to get around in Bangkok?
The best way to get around the major parts of the city is the BTS network. Very inexpensive, modern and fast way to get around. Recommended to have small cash with you to buy tickets from the vending machines.
There is another similar rail line system called Metro (symbol “M”), which is not interconnected with the BTS system, but intersects with the BTS at certain stations to make changing over quite easy. This Metro line is also modern and cheap and totally okay to use.
For “in the streets” transportation, public taxis are the way to get around. They are very plentiful and cheap in Thailand and very safe to use. Strongly recommended to download the “grab” app, register your credit card and simply order taxis with your phone without worrying about cash and negotiations.
Motorbike taxis for short to medium distances are another way to get around very quickly if you have the nerves. You can also order them via grab app, or simply stop one if you see one. In the latter case it’s best to have small cash with you. Prices are usually cheap and official motorbike taxis usually won’t rip you off.
Driving a tuktuk taxi is quite fun, but be careful: there are no standards for tuktuk taxis, so you have to negotiate. They are significantly more expensive than taxis. Don’t let them rip you off. And don’t let them throw you out at some jewelry store where they try to persuade you into buying gems or other jewelry.
What to do and see in Bangkok?
This depends largely on your personal preferences. Here are a few suggestions:
- Sightseeing: Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Temple Wat Arun, Dusit Palace (If you want to visit palaces or temples, check entry conditions in advance. In some cases you have to wear long trousers and shoes)
- Shopping malls: There are thousands. The best are Icon Siam, Siam Paragon, Central, Terminal 21, EmQuartier, Siam Square (you can also walk around outside, this is perhaps the closest thing to our European “city center”)
- Night markets (markets with stalls, bars and music): The One Ratchada, Jodd Fairs Rama 9, Asiatique Riverfront, Train Night Market Srinagarindra
- INSIDER TIP: There is a river taxi on the Chao Phraya River in the form of a hop-on/hop-off boat (costs THB 35 to hop on). Just taking an hour’s ride up and down the river is really chill and you get to see some interesting sights on the way. Just take the BTS to “Saphan Taksin” station, walk down and to the end of the pier (Central Pier station) and get on the next taxi boat. Get off whenever you want. Don’t let them talk you into a private tour (for 1000+ Baht)
What dining and nightlife options are there?
Clubs and Bars: Some suggestions
- Thonglor (side street Sukhumvit 55, BTS Thonglor): Modern, upper-scale nightlife district with cool bars and restaurants (mostly Thais tend to go out here) Highly recommended:
- J.Boroski (very hidden, seedy cocktail bar, no menu, you tell the bar tender what you like and he mixes a customized cocktail for you)
- HOBS House of beers
- She Bar
- Beer Belly
- theCommons (cool hangout spot, more for lunch during the day)
- Sukhumvit 11 (BTS Nana): A nightlife mile with lots of bars and restaurants, also discos (Levels, Climax). Sukhumvit 11 is a bit more “trashy” than Thonglor, you’re gonna see more of the lower-key tourists and hookers here, but still totally safe. Highly recommended:
- Havana Social (Cuban dance bar, great drinks, great music, great atmosphere)
- Above Eleven (rooftop bar)
- Iron Fairies (Sukhumvit 39, BTS Phrom Phong, then walk, cool atmosphere with live music)
- O’Malley’s Irish Pub (BTS Sala Daeng, then walk)
Rooftop bars:
- Escape Bangkok (EmQuartier Shopping mall, not quite as high but cool atmosphere, beach vibe and DJ, highly recommended)
- Tichuca Rooftop Bar (cool vibe and atmosphere)
- Octave (Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit, BTS Thonglor)
- Above eleven (Fraser Suites Sukhumvit, BTS Nana, then walk)
- Hi-So (Hotel SO/ Bangkok, best to go by taxi) ($$$)
- Vertigo (Hotel Banyan Tree, best to go by taxi) ($$$)
- Sky bar (Lebua tower, bar from the movie Hangover II), NOT RECOMMENDED (too overpriced and touristy)
- INSIDER TIP: River Vibe Bar & Restaurant (in the River view Guest House), very low-key but sensational view over the Chao Phraya River, good for sunset (a little bit further from the center; go there either with BTS to “Saphan Taksin” and then with taxi; or with metro to “Hua Lamphong” and then walk) You could combine it with “Viva Aviv” (cool hidden riverfront restaurant in the River City Bangkok mall, you can walk here from River vibe bar: So: sunset and a few drinks in the River vibe bar, then something to eat in Viva Aviv, from there take a taxi back)
Are there no-go areas in Bangkok?
Not really. There are a few red light districts with a very mixed clientele roaming around. The most famous are “Nana plaza” and “Soi cowboy” (you can find them on Google maps). But walking around these areas is still totally safe.
Best wishes to all,
Kan & Mario