Things to do in Bangkok: top sights and where to go
Bangkok keeps its great temples together on the old royal island of Rattanakosin: the Grand Palace with the Emerald Buddha and Wat Pho with the Reclining Buddha are five minutes apart on foot, and Wat Arun faces them across the Chao Phraya by a short ferry. Give day one to the temples, the river, the Golden Mount and the Golden Buddha in Chinatown; on day two see Jim Thompson House, Lumphini Park and the view from MahaNakhon or Baiyoke Sky — and Chatuchak market if it falls on a weekend.
Sights
Bangkok itineraries
Bangkok travel guide
Before you go: the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun, rooftop views, Chatuchak market, the airports, areas, money and weather.
Bangkok on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- 3–4 days: temples, markets, views
- When to go
- November–February: drier, a little cooler
- Visa
- Depends on your passport — many are visa-exempt
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Arrival card
- Online TDAC before you fly
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Currency
- Thai baht (THB); cards in malls and hotels
- Airport
- Suvarnabhumi (BKK) ≈ 30 km — rail link ≈ 30 min
- Getting around
- BTS and MRT, river boats, Grab and Bolt
- Temples
- Cover shoulders and knees, shoes off
- Weekend
- Chatuchak market runs Saturday–Sunday
- Time zone
- UTC+7 all year
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Grand Palace”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Wat Pho”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Wat Traimit”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Chatuchak Weekend Market”Things to do in Bangkok
The top things to do in Bangkok are the Grand Palace with the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho’s Reclining Buddha and Wat Arun across the river, the Golden Mount, Wat Traimit in Chinatown, the Jim Thompson House, the MahaNakhon and Baiyoke Sky viewpoints, Lumphini Park and Chatuchak Weekend Market. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| Rattanakosin | Grand Palace, Wat Pho | ½ day |
|---|---|---|
| Thonburi | Wat Arun | 1 h |
| Old town | Golden Mount | 1 h |
| Chinatown | Wat Traimit | 40 min |
| Centre | Jim Thompson, Lumphini | 2–3 h |
| Viewpoints | MahaNakhon, Baiyoke Sky | evening |
| North | Chatuchak | ½ day, Sat–Sun |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries for 1–3 days, with places in a sensible order.
Bangkok airport to the city
Bangkok has two airports: Suvarnabhumi (BKK), ≈ 30 km east, for most international flights, and Don Mueang (DMK) in the north for budget airlines. From Suvarnabhumi the Airport Rail Link reaches Phaya Thai in ≈ 30 minutes; a taxi to the centre takes 40–60 minutes.
| Airport Rail Link | Phaya Thai, change to BTS | ≈ 30 min |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi, Grab, Bolt | Centre | ≈ 40–60 min |
| Transfer | Pattaya | ≈ 1.5–2 h |
Airport taxis add a surcharge and expressway tolls on top of the meter — that is normal.
Where to stay in Bangkok
Where to stay in Bangkok: Sukhumvit and Silom for the BTS, restaurants and malls; the riverside for temple views and boats to the Grand Palace; or Banglamphu near Khao San Road for budget stays by the old town, though without a metro.
| Sukhumvit | Metro, cafés, nightlife | ≈ 40 min to the palace |
|---|---|---|
| Silom, Sathorn | Metro, Lumphini, business | Quieter at night |
| Riverside | Temples, boats, views | Pricier |
| Khao San, Banglamphu | Budget, old town | Noisy, no metro |
Bangkok weather by month
Bangkok is hot all year, ≈ 31–35 °C by day. The best time to visit is November to February, when it is drier and evenings are fresher. March to May is the hottest stretch; June to October is the rainy season with short downpours.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 32° | 33° | 34° | 35° | 34° | 33° | 33° | 33° | 32° | 32° | 32° | 31° |
| Night | 22° | 24° | 26° | 27° | 27° | 26° | 26° | 26° | 25° | 25° | 24° | 22° |
| Rain | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 16 | 6 | 1 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: January–February and November–December
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 22°
- rain 2 days
Dry, ≈ 32° — a great time.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 24°
- rain 2 days
Dry and warm.
- day ≈ 34°
- night ≈ 26°
- rain 4 days
Hotter, ≈ 34°.
- day ≈ 35°
- night ≈ 27°
- rain 6 days
Peak heat; Songkran.
- day ≈ 34°
- night ≈ 27°
- rain 15 days
Rains begin.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 26°
- rain 17 days
Afternoon downpours.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 26°
- rain 18 days
Rainy season.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 26°
- rain 20 days
Downpours.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 25°
- rain 21 days
The wettest month.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 25°
- rain 16 days
Rains easing.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 24°
- rain 6 days
Drier — the season opens.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 22°
- rain 1 days
Dry, ≈ 31° — the best time.
Bangkok has no beach: the nearest is in Pattaya, ≈ 2 hours away.
Things to do in Bangkok at night
Bangkok at night means rooftop bars and viewpoints, Chinatown’s street food on Yaowarat Road, night markets and river cruises past the lit temples.
- MahaNakhon — the glass floor at sunset.
- Yaowarat — Chinatown’s street-food strip after dark.
- River cruise — Wat Arun lit up from the water.
- Night markets — Jodd Fairs and others for food and shopping.
What to eat in Bangkok
Bangkok is a street-food capital: pad thai, tom yum, green curry and mango sticky rice. The best spots are Chinatown’s street kitchens in the evening and the big mall food courts.
- Pad thai — stir-fried rice noodles with shrimp.
- Tom yum — hot and sour soup.
- Mango sticky rice — in season, in spring.
- Boat noodles — small, rich bowls by the canals.
Bangkok ticket prices
Lumphini Park and Chatuchak are free. You pay for the Grand Palace (500 baht), Wat Pho, Wat Arun, the Golden Mount, Wat Traimit, the Jim Thompson House and the viewpoints.
| Wat Arun | 51 | 1 h | ≈ 200 baht |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wat Pho | 50 | 1 h | ≈ 300 baht; children under 120 cm free |
| Grand Palace | 49 | 2 h 30 min | 500 baht; children under 120 cm free |
| Jim Thompson House | 38 | 1 h | 250 baht; ages 10–21 150; under 10 free |
| Mahanakhon SkyWalk | 37 | 1 h 15 min | 500–1,200 baht depending on time |
| Golden Mount | 37 | 1 h | climb ≈ 100 baht |
| Wat Traimit | 36 | 40 min | hall ≈ 40 baht, museum ≈ 100 |
| Baiyoke Sky | 32 | 1 h | 450 baht incl. a drink |
Free — 2 places: Lumphini Park, Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Tips
- Arrive at the Grand Palace at opening — by noon it is hot and crowded.
- Walk and take the river ferry between the palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun — faster than a taxi.
- Ignore strangers saying the palace is “closed today” — it is a ruse to steer you to a shop.
FAQ
Is Bangkok worth visiting?
Yes, for golden temples, superb street food, rooftop views and markets — and it is the gateway to Thailand’s islands.
Do I need a visa for Thailand?
It depends on your passport: many nationalities are visa-exempt for a set number of days, and all visitors fill in the online TDAC arrival card. Check the official rules for your passport.
What to do in Bangkok in one day?
The Grand Palace and Wat Pho in the morning, the ferry to Wat Arun at midday, and Chinatown plus the MahaNakhon viewpoint in the evening.
How do I get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city?
By Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai in about 30 minutes, or by taxi in 40–60 minutes.
What is the weather like in Bangkok in December?
Dry and warm: about 31 °C by day and 22 °C at night — the best time.
What should I wear to the temples?
Clothes covering shoulders and knees, nothing see-through; shoes come off inside the halls.
Where to stay in Bangkok?
Sukhumvit or Silom near the BTS, or the riverside for temples and views.
When is Chatuchak Market open?
The main market runs on Saturdays and Sundays; only some sections open on weekdays.
How much is the Grand Palace ticket?
500 baht; children under 120 cm go free. The ticket covers the Emerald Buddha temple and museums.
What day trips can I take from Bangkok?
Ayutthaya’s ruins, the floating markets and Pattaya’s beaches are all within 1.5–2 hours.
Sources and fact-check
- Grand Palace — official website royalgrandpalace.th
- Wikipedia, “Bangkok”; “Wat Pho”; “Wat Traimit”; “Chatuchak Weekend Market”; Bangkok climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Thailand Immigration Bureau — entry rules and TDAC
Day trips from Bangkok
- Pattaya · 100 km
- Koh Samui · 467 km
- Chiang Mai · 583 km
- Krabi · 662 km
- Phuket · 691 km