Top things to do in Bangkok
Attractions, tours and activities in Bangkok
Bangkok: the city's best neighbourhoods
Find a great area to stay in Bangkok
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Sukhumvit
5.3 miles from city centre
Business or pleasure? A cornucopia of neighbourhoods spiral off the largest road in Bangkok. Pass on Asoke – the main business district – and dive into the ‘sois’ (sub-streets) for true variety. Eat yourself silly in Phrom Phong, full of Japanese restaurants, or hang out with the fun, flush and fabulous in Thong Lo and Ekkamai's upscale eateries.
Places to stay from £3 per night
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Siam
2.2 miles from city centre
Commerce is at the heart of modern Siam. Siam Paragon and the Siam Centre are filled with cell-phone clutching fashionistas and tech-savvy tinkerers shopping for clothes, electronics and more. Bounce on over to the petite designer stores in Siam Square for a more boutique shopping experience – or head to MBK for souvenirs, electronics and more.
Places to stay from £9 per night
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Sathorn
3.3 miles from city centre
Sathorn is Bangkok's Financial District, its sights mainly confined to office blocks, hotels and embassies. However, it's not all abacus-flicking and bean counting. Arts aficionados should try out M.R Kukrit’s Heritage Home: the abode of a former Prime Minister, it’s a gem of Thai architectural style.
Places to stay from £5 per night
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Silom
2.5 miles from city centre
All roads lead to Silom, where a stroll between modern skyscrapers and historic temples reveals the district's many contrasts. Grasp (or gasp) at a snake in safe surroundings at the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute. At night, swing from the chandeliers in Soi Patpong, known for its naughty nightlife.
Places to stay from £3 per night
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Khaosan
0.6 miles from city centre
Khao San is a backpacker’s paradise. By day, this bustling street brims with stalls that flog t-shirts, pirate DVDs and crafts. By night, it’s an altogether different animal. Under the garish glow of neon lights, revellers cavort between happening hostels and booming bars. If you seek more serene pursuits, take a breather at Wat Phra Kaew temple.
Places to stay from £3 per night
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Riverside
1.7 miles from city centre
Pop a champagne cork and slither into thousand thread-count sheets in Bangkok’s capital of luxury living. Try Asiatique for dining and décor, or head to River City Shopping Complex for unique bric-à-brac. Then hop on a riverboat and pootle past the magnificent Wat Arun temple. At sunset, it’s a scene that never fails to take the breath away.
Places to stay from £6 per night
About Bangkok
Including tips for the best time to visit Bangkok
Bangkok is undeniably one of Southeast Asia’s most exuberant capital cities. The city centre is an enticing mix of old buildings, giant shopping malls and holy shrines, which take days to fully explore. Go in search of souvenirs in the Chatuchak Market, and visit the gleaming temples of Wat Arun and the Grand Palace’s Wat Phra Kaew, the latter regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.
After dark, Bangkok’s legendary nightlife kicks in. Take a walk down Khaosan Road, famous for its endless selection of busy bars, restaurants and street food vendors, all packed together beneath a jumble of blinking neon lights. Pad thai is the signature dish, but eats like mango sticky rice and ‘Gieow’ – a minced pork wonton wrapped in yellow dough – are also well worth trying.
Getting around in Bangkok is an attraction within itself, whether it’s balancing on the back seat of a tuk-tuk in Chinatown, or gliding among the floating markets on a long-tail boat. You can also travel by metro or on foot, and the airport is just over half an hour away by train or taxi.
Tonight
From £9 per night
This weekend
From £16 per night
Next weekend
From £15 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | THB 100 = £2.18 |
| Language | Thai |
| Average weekend price | £58 per night |
| Average weekday price | £57 per night |
| Typical stay | 2 nights |
Points of interest in Bangkok
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Bangkok
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Mo Chit Northern Bus Terminal
4.9 miles from city centre
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Khao San Road
0.6 miles from city centre
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Victory Monument
2.2 miles from city centre
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Chatuchak Weekend Market
4.3 miles from city centre
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Nana Plaza
3.4 miles from city centre
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Arab Street
3.4 miles from city centre
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Siam Paragon Mall
2.1 miles from city centre
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Baiyoke Tower II
2.4 miles from city centre
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Platinum Fashion Mall
2.3 miles from city centre
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Central World
2.4 miles from city centre
Bangkok reviews
What other travellers say about Bangkok
Visited the Ratchadamri shopping district, Chatuchak weekend...
17 April 2024
Visited the Ratchadamri shopping district, Chatuchak weekend market, Chinatown (Yaowarat), Wat Arun, Silom and Thong Lo among other places. Food is cheap and available almost 24 hours a day, although the 10% service charge mandated by many restaurants and establishments in return for basic service felt exorbitant, a sentiment that is apparently shared by the locals as well. Public transport-wise, buses tend to be old and unwelcoming for inexperienced travelers, whereas the MRT and BTS services are clean and comfortable. Grab rides are near indispensable for medium-distance travel. Oftentimes it was a challenge to communicate with service crew, as many struggled with basic English, even at the airports and tourist hotspots. Overall, an eye-opening experience but will bring a Thai phrasebook next time.
1) seafood paradise
16 April 2024
1) seafood paradise 2) Shopping attractive 3) Traffic lights make even a short distance a suffering 3) Big language barrier at almost all age/education levels 4) Signage and directions are not tourist-friendly, almost everything in Thai language 5) Very fancy malls, but high prices except in sale season
The grand palace is a must to see, with wat pho.
16 April 2024
The grand palace is a must to see, with wat pho. It’s really easy to get around Bangkok, you can get a taxi everywhere. Be careful with the tuk tuk, negotiate they are pretty expensive, the taxi meters are the cheapest ones. In the street you can get amazing pad Thai, and local food.
Bangkok is a very interesting destination but unfortunately...
15 April 2024
Bangkok is a very interesting destination but unfortunately we were only there for one night, we would have liked to stay for at least another day. We used a Tuk Tuk, We went on a traditional boat through the canals. An experience!
The people are very friendly.
12 April 2024
The people are very friendly. The BTS (train) is the best way to get around in Bangkok, this is due to heavy traffic. Local restaurants are really good. Try to avoid the local scouts who like to sell you stuff/tours etc. You can book your tours before you leave your country, the price is pretty much same. Try a cooking class, there are many places that offer classes.
We stayed in ok budget hotel.
12 April 2024
We stayed in ok budget hotel. If you go Bangkok to spend all time outside you don't ned to spend too much on hotel. There are much better and more expensive hotels as well as some cheaper (not sure I would recommend). One we stayed in had advantage of being walking distance from the Grand Palace and some Wats, as well as the river for nice boat travel. Center is big and crazy. Definitely recommend going up King Power Mahanakhon observation deck (314m high). The best way of the whole city. Trains are great but freezing cold. Eat Thai bananas, they are much better than those we get in Europe. And, of course, all Thai food is fab.
Popular places to stay in Bangkok
Stay in some of the best accommodation Bangkok has to offer
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Bedtime storeys near ICON SIAM Bangkok, Thailand
From £226 per night
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Eastin Grand Hotel Phayathai Ratchathewi, Bangkok
From £154 per night
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Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok - SHA Extra Plus Certified Siam, Bangkok
From £202 per night
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Thanabhumi Khaosan, Bangkok
From £22 per night
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SILQ Hotel & Residence, Managed by The Ascott Limited Sukhumvit, Bangkok
From £116 per night
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Other accommodation in Bangkok
Choose from a wide variety of places to stay in Bangkok
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Apartments
From £6 per night
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Resorts
From £21 per night
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Villas
From £14 per night
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Cottages
From £12 per night
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Serviced Apartments
From £9 per night
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Holiday Homes
From £28 per night
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Guest Houses
From £4 per night
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Hostels
From £3 per night
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Motels
From £12 per night
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B&Bs
From £8 per night
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Homestays
From £8 per night
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Self Catering Accommodation
From £7 per night
