Bangkok

Q: What are the best things to do in Bangkok?

Top picks include the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Chinatown (Yaowarat), a canal boat tour, the Chatuchak weekend market and a floating-market day trip.

Q: How many days do you need in Bangkok?

Three to four days covers the temples and Grand Palace, Chinatown and the markets, a river or canal trip and a floating-market day trip.

Gilded temples, riverboats, night markets and world-class street food

Browse Bangkok

Find hotels in Bangkok Book tours & experiences

Thailand’s electric capital runs on gilded temples, riverboats, night markets and some of the best street food on earth. Our local picks below cover the best things to do, eat and book – filter by category and budget to explore.

Bangkok at a glance

Ideal stay: 3 to 4 days
Best time to visit: November to February
Highlights: the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun
Where to stay: Riverside, Sukhumvit or Silom
Local picks: a growing set of hand-chosen tips
Getting around: BTS Skytrain, MRT metro and river boats

Where to stay in Bangkok

Compare live hotel prices on the map, then browse our hand-picked hotels by budget below. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Luxury

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

A riverside legend on the Chao Phraya since 1879, the benchmark for Bangkok luxury with butler service, heritage suites and a famous riverside setting.

Check prices & book

The Peninsula Bangkok

A consistently top-ranked riverside hotel with sweeping Chao Phraya views and one of the most photographed pools in the city.

Check prices & book

Capella Bangkok

An all-suite riverside hotel opened in 2020, with contemporary design, a fine spa and an acclaimed restaurant.

Check prices & book

Mid-range

AVANI+ Riverside Bangkok

A modern riverside hotel with skyline pool and rooftop bar, offering strong value a short shuttle-boat ride from the action.

Check prices & book

Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road

A design-led hotel in the embassy district near Lumphini, with a neighbourhood feel and an easy walk to the BTS.

Check prices & book

Josh Hotel

A retro-cool boutique hotel in the local Ari district, popular with design-minded travellers wanting a more residential base.

Check prices & book

Budget

Lub d Bangkok Silom

A Thai-born boutique hostel with private rooms and dorms, sharp design and a sociable vibe steps from the BTS.

Check prices & book

Ibis Bangkok Riverside

A reliable, well-located budget hotel on the river with a pool, good for value and easy boat connections.

Check prices & book

Bed Station Hostel

A stylish, highly rated budget hostel near Ratchathewi BTS, handy for Siam shopping and the airport link.

Check prices & book

Prefer a self-catering flat or house? Browse Bangkok rentals on Vrbo →

Bangkok Street Food Tour

An evening street-food walk, often through Chinatown’s Yaowarat, sampling grilled seafood, noodles, curries and Thai-Chinese sweets with a local guide who knows the best stalls.

Chao Phraya River & Canal Boat Tour

A boat trip along the Chao Phraya River and the old Thonburi canals, passing riverside temples, stilt houses and everyday life on the water.

Charoen Saeng Silom

A Michelin-listed street stall near Silom famous for slow-braised pork leg over rice (khao ka mu), open mornings only until it sells out.

★ 4.4

Chatuchak Weekend Market

One of the world’s largest markets, with some 8,000 stalls across 14 hectares selling everything from clothing and crafts to plants, art and street food. Weekends only.

Floating & Railway Markets Day Trip

A popular day trip west of the city to the Damnoen Saduak floating market and the Maeklong railway market, where stalls fold away as the train passes through.

Fortune Town IT Mall

Located in the heart of Rama 9, IT Mall, Fortune Town is one of my favorite places to buy proper IT equipment in Thailand. While a lot of shops in Bangkok sell…

Jay Fai

Bangkok’s most famous street-food kitchen, run by a goggle-wearing chef awarded a Michelin star, celebrated for her crab omelette and wok-fried seafood. Expect a wait.

★ 3.6

$$$

Jim Thompson House

The teak home and art collection of the American who revived Thai silk, now a museum set in a lush garden, offering a calm and atmospheric window into traditional Thai design.

Lumphini Park

Bangkok’s central green lung, with lakes, shaded paths, outdoor aerobics and resident monitor lizards, a favourite escape for locals at dawn and dusk. Free to enter.

Nang Loeng Market

One of Bangkok’s oldest fresh markets, near the government district, beloved for old-school Thai food including famous slow-cooked beef noodles.

Talat Noi

A characterful riverside old quarter of narrow lanes, vintage shops, street art and hip cafes, one of the most atmospheric neighbourhoods to wander on foot.

The Grand Palace

The dazzling former royal residence built in 1782, a complex of gilded halls and spires that also houses Wat Phra Kaew and the Emerald Buddha. Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered; entry is 500 baht, and it is best visited early to beat the heat and crowds.

Thipsamai Pad Thai

A Bangkok institution near the Golden Mount, serving its celebrated egg-wrapped pad thai since 1966, with queues most evenings.

★ 4.2

W Market

W Market — at the W District in Phra Khanong — is one of Bangkok’s coolest night markets, a colourful, arty open-air spread of street food and stalls just off Sukhumvit. Splashed…

★ 4.3

Wang Lang Market

A bustling riverside local market near Siriraj Hospital, easy to explore on foot and packed with made-to-order Thai dishes, snacks and desserts at local prices.

Before you go

Things we recommend sorting before any trip. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Travel medical insuranceSafetyWing's Nomad Insurance works like a subscription: pay by the month, cover in most countries worldwide, and you can sign up even after your trip has started.Check prices on SafetyWing

Data the moment you landAn Airalo eSIM gets your phone online in 200+ destinations before you even leave the airport - no SIM swap, no surprise roaming bill. Use code UNLIMITED4YOU for 15% off your first Unlimited eSIM (through Sept 30, 2026).Get an eSIM on Airalo

Book your trip to Bangkok

Find the best hotels and book tours and experiences, all in one place.

Find hotels in Bangkok Book tours and experiences

Bangkok travel FAQ

What are the best things to do in Bangkok?

Top picks include the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, Wat Arun across the river, eating your way through Chinatown (Yaowarat), a canal boat tour, the Chatuchak weekend market and a floating-market day trip.

How many days do you need in Bangkok?

Three to four days lets you cover the temples and Grand Palace, Chinatown and the markets, a river or canal trip and a day trip out to the floating and railway markets.

What food is Bangkok known for?

World-class street food and Thai classics like pad thai, tom yum, green curry, boat noodles and mango sticky rice, best eaten in Chinatown, at markets and at legendary stalls like Jay Fai.

When is the best time to visit Bangkok?

The cool, dry season from November to February is most comfortable; April is very hot, and the May-to-October rainy season is cheaper with shorter downpours.