Bangkok is an incredible city, full of historical sights, vibrant night life, and some of the best street food you’ve ever eaten. Be prepared for lots of people, lots of traffic, hot days, and cheap food! It’s one of our favorite cities in Southeast Asia and definitely worth a visit.
If you’re planning a trip to Bangkok, this one-stop Bangkok travel guide will surely come in handy for you. It covers all the best hotels, neighborhoods, things to do, and places to eat and drink in Bangkok.
Jump down to our handy infographic ↓
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What to Do in Bangkok
With so many things to do in this huge city, you’re going to need to make some decisions. We like to get an overview of the temples and monuments before launching a bit deeper into exploring different neighborhoods and eating our way through the street food areas.
To start, you’ll definitely want to make a stop at Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, the Reclining Buddha, and Wat Saket. We highly recommend the Jim Thompson House for a peek into a traditional Thai wooden house.
If you have time, be sure to add a food tour of Chinatown, the floating markets, and/or take a cooking class to learn how to make some of your favorite traditional Thai dishes.
Want to plan ahead and book a few of the things we’ve mentioned to do below? It’s always a good idea to pre-book for popular tours. They sell out fast.
Where to Stay in Bangkok
Some of my favorite places in Bangkok are along the riverside. It’s a very convenient area for getting around and there are fantastic hotels in that area. Siam is the most central location for tourists looking to do the main tourist activities. Sukhumvit has a more local feel and is closer to some of the street food destinations for dinner.
We recommend the following hotels in Bangkok:
Chatrium Hotel Riverside
4.5-star luxury hotel on the river, with 5 restaurants and a full spa, plus free wifi.
Siam Kempinski
5-star hotel with a spa, located near the Siam Paragon Mall, incredibly great for walking.
Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit
Very nice 5-star luxury hotel with 7 restaurants, in Sukhumvit. Close to easy transit.
Travel Guide to Bangkok
Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited 70+ countries.
Great post! Off to Bangkok later this year so this will come in super handy.
xx Leesa & Kate
Travel inspiration? www.wanderlustchronicles.com.au
Thanks! I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic time. It’s a great city.
Great share!!I went to Bangkok 2 years back .It was really a memorable vacation.I loved shopping there.
Thanks! We loved it too.
BKK is awesome Laura. We spend 1-2 days there when traveling to Thailand. Great spot for fab food, massages and that distinct Bangkok flavor you cannot find anywhere else on earth. Pinned and Tweeted.
Ryan
I completely agree, Ryan. It’s really one of my favorite places to visit (mostly for the food, I have to admit!). Thanks for the pin and tweet!
Would I have to get a Passport?
Yes, you’d have to have a passport to visit Thailand.