Bangkok
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38°
Time
4:48 PM
Bangkok
Dynamic, exotic and richly cosmopolitan, Bangkok is one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant travel destinations. As a city of contrasts, this cultural epicentre entices millions of travellers each year to its bountiful markets, luxury hotels, stunning scenery and tantalising cuisine. Where ancient and modern coincide, Bangkok’s glorious golden temples and world-class skyscrapers await. Revel in the frenetic pace as you soak up the sights, shop until you drop then tuk-tuk around town for a zesty slice of Bangkok’s indulgent and risqué nightlife.Find your trip
Home to the famous Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand, the Grand Palace is a spiritual hub and glorious architectural feat. Get in early to bypass the bustle and crowds, and remember to show respect by wearing long pants – no shorts allowed!
Wat Traimit, also known as "The Temple of the Golden Buddha", is a Royal temple located in the Chinatown area of Bangkok. It is famous for being home to the world's largest solid gold Buddha image. The image is more than three meters tall, weighs about five and a half tons and is most likely some 700 to 800 years old. This is a good place to kick off your visit to Chinatown.
Directly adjacent the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew is known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and is the most sacred Buddhist temple in the country. It houses the magnificent statue of the Emerald Buddha, carved from a single piece of jade.
Directly adjacent to the Grand Palace, Wat Pho is known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, as it is home to the largest reclining image of Buddha in the nation, at an impressive 46 metres long and 15 metres high, and adorned with mother of pearl and gold plating. Not limited to this one attraction, Wat Pho temple is home to over 1,000 images of the Buddha, towering statues, buildings, and stupas. It is also home to the renowned Thai massage school for monks, and visitors can have this exceptional service on the grounds.
On the west bank of the Chao Phraya River sits one of Thailand's most distinctive landmarks, the Buddhist temple Wat Arun. The temple gets its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun, hence its common name The Temple of Dawn. Its five spires or prangs are covered in porcelain mosaics and seashells giving Wat Arun a gleaming iridescence when the rising sun illuminates it at dawn. Linger in the mythical gardens, climb the steep white stairs, and soak up the romantic views at sunset. Take a taxi or a river ferry at Tha Tien Pier on Thai Wang Road across the Chao Praya River to the Thonburi area.
Thailand’s revered King Rama IV built this temple’s large golden chedi atop the ruins of previous temple buildings. The chedi is layered with centuries of gold leaf. Visitors can take the easy winding stairs that encircle the mount to the viewpoint at the top. A small entrance fee allows you to enter the terrace and the temple area where you will have a 360-degree view of Bangkok.
Found in Siam Paragon Mall in the Siam shopping district, Sea Life is Bangkok’s modern, sleek aquarium complex is the largest aquatic centre in South East Asia. Kids and adults alike will enjoy Ocean World’s 30,000 aquatic creatures from 400 different species. Marvel at this remarkable underwater world and dive with the sharks if you dare!
Expansive, lush green Lumphini Park is Bangkok's green lung–a magnificent sprawling park with gardens, ponds, lawns, and stages in the heart of the city's bustle. Named after Buddha's Nepalese birthplace, it is replete with karaoke singers, tai chi artists, joggers, and kite flyers. Join the throng and take a break from Bangkok without having to leave the city.
Home to the famous Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand, the Grand Palace is a spiritual hub and glorious architectural feat. Get in early to bypass the bustle and crowds, and remember to show respect by wearing long pants – no shorts allowed!
Wat Traimit, also known as "The Temple of the Golden Buddha", is a Royal temple located in the Chinatown area of Bangkok. It is famous for being home to the world's largest solid gold Buddha image. The image is more than three meters tall, weighs about five and a half tons and is most likely some 700 to 800 years old. This is a good place to kick off your visit to Chinatown.
Also known as Bangkok’s Chinatown, this is a bustling, frenetic, neon artery featuring an impressive trail of Chinese and oriental-inspired eateries and restaurants. Savour some of the best dim sum lunches in all of South East Asia.
Just a short stretch away from Yaowarat, sizzle the taste buds with the region’s hallmark Indian fare - not to mention a spicy array of Pakistani and Punjabi delicacies.
For a more modern, cosmopolitan air, check out the Siam shopping district and indulge in delectable choices of Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Western and European fare. Choose from restaurants, laid back buffets, or casual food court dine-ins.
Variety is indeed the spice of life, a mantra that Sukhumvit Rd has taken to heart, offering a seasoned selection of local and international food options. Enjoy quality Thai alongside European, American, Mexican, Indian, Middle Eastern or Japanese. The menu is endless along Sukhumvit.
Bangkok’s business core is a culinary cornucopia. Take a long lunch at the Soi Lalais lunch market, sup fresh seafood by the Saladaeng intersection, Indonesian near Convent Road, Japanese by Soi Thaniya, or traditional Thai around Soi Pipat.
Elegant and cool, reserved and unassuming, delight yourself with the artistic vibe of Eat Me Restaurant. Savour its decadent modern, international and regional plates, with sizzling meat and poultry, sumptuous seafood and hearty vegetarian options.
Suda Restaurant is one of the oldest traditional Thai-Chinese family-run restaurants on Sukhumvit Road, and is conveniently situated underneath the Asoke SkyTrain station. The family owners have an eye for the freshest ingredients and one favourite is their pork satay. As a bonus, their prices are not much higher than what you find at most street vendor stalls, so it’s very popular with the locals as well. Visiting early evening should assure you immediate seating. If you are a group, please call and book beforehand.
With its walls lined with delightful artwork and homely Thai ambience, Baan Khanitha produces excellent signature Thai dishes. The recipient of 10 consecutive ‘best Thai restaurant’ awards. Indulge in delectable hallmark dishes of spicy river prawn soup with glass noodles, and prawns with tamarind sauce, roasted duck, mango and sticky rice.
Also known as Bangkok’s Chinatown, this is a bustling, frenetic, neon artery featuring an impressive trail of Chinese and oriental-inspired eateries and restaurants. Savour some of the best dim sum lunches in all of South East Asia.
Just a short stretch away from Yaowarat, sizzle the taste buds with the region’s hallmark Indian fare - not to mention a spicy array of Pakistani and Punjabi delicacies.
A custom tailor serving you in a relaxed atmosphere. Take your pick from pants, blouses, suits, overcoats and much more.
Bangkok is known for its inexpensive clothing and talented tailoring industry. There are tailor shops throughout the city, but it is best to ask around for reputable places. Some tailor shops will take your money, but will not deliver quality products.
Antique sales in Bangkok are strong, but antiques are not always what are sold. The word antique could actually mean that it was made to look old yesterday. That being said, Thailand antiques, whether old or young, display intricate craftsmanship and make for great gifts and decoration. There are antique stores around the city, especially in the more touristy areas of Siam, Silom, Sukhumvit and Khaosan Road.
The ‘grand-daddy’ of Bangkok’s big shopping centres yields a market feel in indoor air-conditioned comfort, with floor upon floor of shops selling just about anything, and is topped with a movie theatre. An entire floor is devoted to mobile phones and digital cameras. Ample clothes, bag and furniture stores spread across the remaining levels. Tourists can apply for a special Tourist Discount Card (MBK) at the information desk, which entitles you to between 5–30 percent discounts on selected merchandise and in some restaurants.
Holding centre stage in the heart of the Siam shopping district, Paragon is modern, sleek and spacious. With names like Armani, Chanel and Maserati on hand, the Paragon is decidedly high-end, but its monumental cinema screens, delectable food court options and Asia’s largest aquarium will keep you sheltered from the heat.
The emporium is a high-class centre located on Sukhumvit Road at the Phromphong Skytrain station. With a variety of high and mid-end stores, this happening hub is popular with foreign residents and wealthy locals for beauty, fashion, threads and more.
Set side-by-side and connected by a sky walk on the fourth floor, these sister malls are yet two more fabulous shopping centres in the Siam shopping district. Siam Centre is geared toward the teenager crowd with frequent singing and fashion shows and a live radio broadcasting booth where up-and-coming pop stars cut their tunes. Discovery is more upscale, with many artsy furniture stores and upscale clothing stores.
In the heart of the Siam shopping district, Pantip Plaza is a mecca of all things IT. From video games, to computers, software to movies, anything you need to increase your tech connections can be found here.
A custom tailor serving you in a relaxed atmosphere. Take your pick from pants, blouses, suits, overcoats and much more.
Bangkok is known for its inexpensive clothing and talented tailoring industry. There are tailor shops throughout the city, but it is best to ask around for reputable places. Some tailor shops will take your money, but will not deliver quality products.
If you are looking to avoid holiday crowds, you should visit Bangkok in November and early December. However, note that Bangkok is generally very busy. Rainfall is highest in September and October but the climate is hot and humid throughout the year, making Bangkok the perfect year-round destination.
"Visitors to Thailand need a valid passport and in some cases a visa to enter the country. Nationals of 57 countries are allowed to be in the country from 14 to 90 days without a visa. Nationals of other 21 countries including China, India and Saudi Arabia are granted a visa on arrival, while the remaining need a visa in advance. Check the website below for further information: www.thaiembassy.com/visa/thailand-visa.php"
Bangkok’s first airport now serves mainly short-haul flights for budget airlines on domestic routes. It lies 25 kilometres north of central Bangkok. There is a 500 metre walkway that connects the International and Domestic terminals, with a free Thai Airways shuttle bus available.
Suvarnabhumi International Airport is a major international gateway to Asia. This immaculate, shining Suvarnabhumi Airport is the newest of Bangkok’s airway hubs. It is located in Samut Prakan Province, just 30 kilometres east of Bangkok. Suvarnabhumi — pronounced soo-WAHN-ah-poom, means ‘golden land’ in Thai — and this new airport welcomes thousands of visitors daily who are anxious to see the country’s golden attractions. Getting into Bangkok is easy with regular shuttle bus and airport taxi service. The recently opened Suvarnabhumi Airport Link provides direct train service into the terminal city station. Airport Express also provides four main direct bus services to various inner city hotels. A 24-hour public bus service is also provided from the Bus Terminal at the Transport Centre. Taxis can be found on Level 1 of the terminal. Alternatively, take a shuttle bus (Express route) to the Transport Centre taxi stand.
The Skytrain (BTS) is an extensive, modern air-conditioned monorail network. It is composed of two lines that reach the popular destinations of Bangkok. One line stretches east to Sukhumvit Soi 77 at the On Nut terminus all the way north to Jatujak Park and the Northern Bus Terminal at the Mo Chit terminus. Its other line runs from National Stadium at MBK Shopping Centre south across to the west side of the Chao Praya River at the Wongwan Yai terminus. Individual ticket fares are available, as well as a continuous top-up card. Tuk Tuk Bangkok’s iconic transport, the three-wheeled mini taxis known as tuk-tuks, are not as common for transport these days. Producing new tuk-tuks has been banned by the government due to the pollution they produce. However, these three-wheeler ‘mobile lawnmowers’ are a true adventure ride. Let your locks flow in the breeze as you absorb the sights, sounds and frenetic chaos of Bangkok’s bustling roads in these hair-raising open-air carts. Price depends on distance, time of day (peak hour afternoons) and the mood of the driver. A common offer by tuk-tuk drivers is a ride around the city for a good price as long as you stop off at an over-priced tailor or jeweller afterward. Be wary of these offers. Bus Bus lines are a very common form of transport for locals getting to work and around the city. For visitors from foreign countries, it is less ideal as the lines follow major traffic arteries that are often clogged with traffic. The bus routes aren’t laid out in English, so find a Thai speaker to help out with getting from here to there. The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority does have a website in English for bus numbers that reach popular tourist attractions. www.bmta.co.th Envisioned as a key rail artery from the city districts to Bangkok’s major airline hub, commercial airport link services connect Suvarnabhumi Airport and Makkasan area in downtown Bangkok. The express service is a 15-minute non-stop journey between the City. Alternatively, the commuter rail service is expected to make stops at eight different stations along the network, connecting with both the subway and Skytrain services. www.bangkokairporttrain.com MRT The underground MRT train line runs north to south and covers the eastern edge of the city that the Skytrain doesn’t serve. Its northern terminus is Bang Sue Station in the Northern Bus Terminal/Jatujak Park area. Its southern terminus takes passengers to the edge of Chinatown (Yaowarat) at Hua Lamphong Station. www.bangkokmetro.co.th
Taxis are readily available all over the city. Make sure the driver shows a working meter prior to the ride. Avoid touts offering a taxi service for a fixed fee, which is illegal and unsafe.
Generally, post offices are open from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm, though some refuse international parcel shipments after 3.30 pm. Many shopping centres and stores will send purchases from their locations during their business hours. Main Post Office:
Thailand pharmacies are exceptional with most pharmacists speaking excellent English. In tourist areas, many stay open until midnight or 1 am. Bangkok pharmacies will generally sell most medicines over the counter without prescription. The Southeast Pharmacy (directly across from Nana complex):
If you are looking to avoid holiday crowds, you should visit Bangkok in November and early December. However, note that Bangkok is generally very busy. Rainfall is highest in September and October but the climate is hot and humid throughout the year, making Bangkok the perfect year-round destination.
"Visitors to Thailand need a valid passport and in some cases a visa to enter the country. Nationals of 57 countries are allowed to be in the country from 14 to 90 days without a visa. Nationals of other 21 countries including China, India and Saudi Arabia are granted a visa on arrival, while the remaining need a visa in advance. Check the website below for further information: www.thaiembassy.com/visa/thailand-visa.php"
