Thailand’s most populous city is a kaleidoscope of colors, sounds, smells and experiences, so learning how to plan a trip to Bangkok is a bit of an adventure in itself. The city is more than a bit surreal and chaotic, as it is both ancient and new — doing your homework helps a lot. Traffic and skyscrapers create the sense that Bangkok is a wholly modern metropolis, but it’s also home to revered temples and monks who wear distinctive yellow robes. So let’s get into the nitty gritty of how to plan a trip to Bangkok.
When To Visit
Bangkok — and Thailand — is hot. It really doesn’t matter when you plan to go, according to Travel + Leisure. If heat and humidity drive you nuts, don’t go between March and May, when Bangkok is at its sweltering best. If rain isn’t your thing, then don’t plan on traveling from May to November, which is when it is most warm and humid, heavy with afternoon rain showers, and frequent thunderstorms. The best time to visit is from late November through January, when it is cooler — not cool, mind you, but tropically cool, and you’ll find comfortable humidity.
Getting Around (Even in Traffic Jams)
Traffic can be as bad as the heat and humidity, but there are plenty of public transit options. Taxis are inexpensive and plentiful and, according to Bangkok.com, the Skytrain (BTS) and the underground subway (MRT) connect most of the shopping, entertainment, and business neighborhoods well, while river boats and express boat taxis link visitors with the riverside historic districts. It also goes without saying that you should take a tuk-tuk, or motorized rickshaw, at least once while you’re in the city.
Tour to Get to What’s Good
With so many choices, figuring out where to start and what to do can get complicated. To cut through the complications and the chaos, why not plan a tour? According to Bangkok Attractions, there are several tours that can enhance your visit to the city. Plenty of sightseeing tours abound, and you can get a great overview of the city and its sights with LJ Biz Soft Adventure & Cultural Day Tours. To take in the Chao Phraya River, try an Apsara Dinner Cruise or enjoy a walking day tour to experience the back streets of the city by Expique. And if you want to explore a bit outside of the city (OK, 50 miles outside), try a Nok Thai tour to Ayutthaya, which used to be the nation’s capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Can’t Miss, Won’t Miss Spots
Know one thing when you are trying to plan a trip to Bangkok — if it’s your first time, there are a lot of places you’ll want to explore, and many options — it can be hard to choose where to go first. Try to consider what you are after and narrow attractions down: The Grand Palace is where you’ll want to go see the Wat Phra Kaew and Emerald Buddha as well as the royal gardens. Right next door to the palace is the Wat Pho temple and its Reclining Buddha (it also has a Thai massage school inside). Another great temple is Wat Arun, with its 67-meter-high pagoda. What Central Park is to New York City is what Lumpini Park is to Bangkok, and if you come early, you can catch locals doing yoga and tai chi in the park. Khao San Road is where you can get cheap and delicious eats, souvenirs and plenty of places to party. There are plenty of floating markets and open-air malls, but one of the most interesting ones is the Pak Klong Talad or the Bangkok Flower Market, which is open 24 hours and especially busy after midnight.
Come Hungry … and Save Room to Drink
Bangkok is one of the most edible cities in the world so make sure you eat — and eat at a variety of places while you’re in town. Khao San Road is where you should go if you’re looking for street food — but make sure the meats are well done. Another great place to try street food, according to Food and Wine, is malls. And Bangkok’s Chinatown is another great place to visit just to eat. Eater recommends 38 places including the following spots: Le Normandie, Somsong and Kanom Beung Bang Mae Prapa. For drinking, try Teens of Thailand for a trendy gin spot, or if whiskey’s your thing, try the highest whiskey bar in the world, Alfresco 64. If you’re not sure where to eat, try the Village of Love Food Tour to taste 15 different foods and bevies.
Jeanette Hurt is the award-winning writer and author of eight culinary and drink books, including The Cheeses of California: A Culinary Travel Guide, which received the 2010 Mark Twain Award for Best Travel Book, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Wine and Food Pairing. She's written for TheKitchn.com, Four Seasons Magazine, Wine Enthusiast, Entrepreneur.com, and dozens more publications.
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