กรุงเทพมหานครTemples, street food and skyline nights in a capital that never slows down.
Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon to Thais) is Thailand's capital and its beating heart: a sprawling river city of around ten million people where gilded temple spires rise beside glass towers, and a meal on a plastic stool might be the best you'll ever have.
Founded as the capital in 1782 on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the city grew around the royal palace and a web of canals, which earned it the nickname “Venice of the East”. Today you'll get around by river boat, Skytrain, subway, motorbike taxi and tuk-tuk, often in a single afternoon.
Its charms are sensory: incense and jasmine garlands, sizzling woks, the hum of traffic, and people famous for their warmth. Give yourself at least three days to taste its range. A week lets you slip out to Ayutthaya and the floating markets.
- Currency
- Thai baht (฿ · THB)
- Language
- Thai, with English in tourist areas
- Time zone
- UTC+7 · no daylight saving
- Plugs
- Types A, B, C, F, O · 230 V
- Entry
- Many nationalities can visit visa-free. Check current rules.
- Airports
- Suvarnabhumi (BKK) · Don Mueang (DMK)
Top things to do in Bangkok.
50 places we chose and described by hand. Open any of them, with photos, hours and directions, in the catalogue below or in the app.
Places to visit
- Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew Old City (Rattanakosin)
Thailand's most sacred royal complex, home of the Emerald Buddha.
- Wat Pho Old City (Rattanakosin)
A 46-metre gilded Reclining Buddha and Bangkok's original massage school.
- Wat Arun Thonburi (west bank)
The Temple of Dawn: a riverside prang that glows at sunset.
- Golden Mount (Wat Saket) Old City (Rattanakosin)
Climb 344 steps for a golden chedi and a sweeping view of old Bangkok.
- Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple) Dusit
Italian marble, Thai roofs and a serene courtyard of Buddha images.
- Jim Thompson House Pathum Wan
A tranquil teak-house museum from the American who revived Thai silk.
- Lumphini Park Pathum Wan / Silom
Bangkok's green lung: lakes, joggers, monitor lizards and dawn tai chi.
- Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha) Chinatown (Yaowarat)
A 5.5-tonne solid-gold Buddha hiding at the edge of Chinatown.
- Erawan Shrine Ratchaprasong
A bustling Hindu shrine amid the malls of Ratchaprasong.
- Giant Swing & Wat Suthat Old City (Rattanakosin)
A towering red teak swing once used in Brahmin ritual, beside a grand royal temple.
- Bangkok Art and Culture Centre Pathum Wan
Free galleries, design shops and cafés in a spiralling art hub.
Restaurants
- Raan Jay Fai Old City (Rattanakosin)
Michelin-starred street food, wok-cooked over charcoal by a legend in ski goggles.
- Thipsamai Pad Thai Old City (Rattanakosin)
Legendary pad thai, wrapped in a silky egg net, served since the 1960s.
- Somtum Der Silom
Fiery Isaan (northeastern) cooking and a menu full of papaya salads.
- Krua Apsorn Dusit
Old-school home-style Thai, known for its crab omelette and curries.
- Chote Chitr Old City (Rattanakosin)
A tiny old shophouse serving banana-blossom salad from family recipes.
- Yaowarat Street Food (Chinatown) Chinatown (Yaowarat)
Bangkok's legendary after-dark food crawl beneath glowing neon signs.
- Or Tor Kor Market Chatuchak
An immaculate fresh market where top produce meets ready-to-eat dishes.
- Gaggan Anand Lang Suan / Ploenchit
Playful, boundary-pushing progressive Indian tasting menus.
Activities
- Thai Cooking Class Various (Silom, Sukhumvit, Riverside)
Shop at a market, then cook your own pad thai, tom yum and curry.
- Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Ratchaburi (day trip)
Paddle among fruit-laden boats at Thailand's best-known floating market.
- Maeklong Railway Market Samut Songkhram (day trip)
Watch a train squeeze through a market as awnings retract seconds before it passes.
- Thonburi Canal Tour Thonburi (west bank)
Longtail-boat rides through hidden waterways and past wooden stilt houses.
- Tuk-tuk Street Food Night Tour Old City & Chinatown
Zip through Old Bangkok by tuk-tuk, eating at local favourites.
- Traditional Thai Massage Old City (near Wat Pho)
Stretch, press and pull the way Thai therapists have for centuries.
- Muay Thai Lesson Various (Sukhumvit, Ari, Old City)
Train like a fighter: pads, kicks and plenty of sweat.
- Ayutthaya Historical Park Ayutthaya (day trip)
The ruins of Siam's former capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Chao Phraya River Cruise Riverside
See temples and skyline from the water on a sunset or dinner cruise.
Entertainment
- Khao San Road Old City (Banglamphu)
The world's most famous backpacker street, buzzing until the small hours.
- Train Night Market (Rot Fai Ratchada) Ratchada / Huai Khwang
Retro stalls, street food and live music in a sprawling night market.
- Rajadamnern Muay Thai Stadium Old City (Rattanakosin)
Watch Thailand's national sport in one of its most historic stadiums.
- Sky Bar at Lebua Silom / Bang Rak
Cocktails on a 63rd-floor open-air terrace, seen in a Hollywood film.
- Vertigo & Moon Bar Sathorn
An open-air rooftop grill and bar on the 61st floor of Banyan Tree Bangkok.
- Asiatique The Riverfront Charoen Krung / Riverside
A riverside night bazaar with a Ferris wheel, restaurants and stage shows.
- Saxophone Pub & Restaurant Ratchathewi (Victory Monument)
Live jazz, blues and reggae in a beloved music pub since 1987.
- MahaNakhon SkyWalk Silom / Sathorn
Thailand's tallest observation deck, with a glass floor and rooftop bar.
Hotels & stays
- Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok Bang Rak / Riverside
The legendary riverside grande dame, open since 1876.
- The Peninsula Bangkok Thonburi / Riverside
Riverside luxury with private shuttle boats and sweeping river views.
- Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok Siam / Pathum Wan
A resort-like garden hotel in the middle of the city's shopping district.
- The Siam Dusit / Riverside
An art-deco boutique hotel with a private pier and antique-filled spaces.
- Riva Surya Bangkok Old City (Banglamphu)
A boutique riverside hotel steps from Khao San Road.
- Centara Grand at CentralWorld Ratchaprasong
A big city-centre hotel with rooftop views and a skywalk to the BTS.
- Lub d Bangkok Siam Siam / Pathum Wan
A social hostel with dorms and private rooms beside BTS National Stadium.
Shopping
- Chatuchak Weekend Market Chatuchak
One of the world's largest markets: around 15,000 stalls of everything.
- ICONSIAM Thonburi / Riverside
A riverside mega-mall with an indoor floating market and luxury brands.
- MBK Center Siam / Pathum Wan
A classic Bangkok mega-mall packed with small stalls and bargains.
- Terminal 21 Sukhumvit (Asok)
An airport-themed mall where each floor is a different world city.
- Siam Paragon Siam / Pathum Wan
Luxury shopping, a gourmet food hall and a big aquarium.
- Platinum Fashion Mall Pratunam / Ratchaprasong
Wholesale-priced clothes and accessories in a giant Pratunam mall.
- Pak Khlong Talat (Flower Market) Old City (Phra Nakhon)
A fragrant 24-hour wholesale flower and produce market by the river.
Explore all 8,262 places in Bangkok.
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From the Thailand Guide app’s catalogue: OpenStreetMap places with traveller notes from Wikivoyage and photos from Wikimedia Commons. Photos marked “Representative” show the same kind of place, not this exact one. Neighbouring islands and day-trip areas may be included. “Open now” uses listed hours in Thailand time; confirm hours and access before travelling.
Best time to visit Bangkok.
The best time to visit Bangkok is November to February. Bangkok is hot all year. The cool, dry season from November to February is the most comfortable, and the busiest. March to May is scorching, with April the hottest month. From roughly June to October the rainy season brings short, heavy downpours that usually clear within a couple of hours, and September and October are the wettest.
Approximate long-term monthly averages in °C and millimetres of rain. These are planning notes, not a weather forecast.
Bangkok travel tips.
The wai
The prayer-like greeting shows respect. Return a wai from adults, though you don't need to wai shop staff or children. A smile works everywhere.
Respect the monarchy
Thais hold the royal family in deep reverence. Stand for the royal anthem in cinemas, and never criticise or joke about the monarchy. Insulting it is a serious crime.
Temple etiquette
Cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes before entering halls, and point your feet away from Buddha images. Women should not touch monks or hand objects directly to them.
Heads and feet
The head is the most sacred part of the body and the feet the lowest. Avoid touching people's heads and never point your feet at people or sacred objects.
Keep your cool (jai yen)
Shouting or showing anger means losing face. Staying calm and smiling is the fastest way to solve almost any problem.
Eating
Dishes are shared and eaten with a spoon in the right hand and a fork in the left. Chopsticks are for noodle dishes.
Plan Bangkok on your phone.
Save places, see what is open now, check the weather and air quality, and browse all twenty guides in the free Thailand Guide app. Works offline.