Welcome to our quick Bangkok travel guide for foreigners in which you will learn all the necessary things you need to travel to and around Bangkok safely.
As you know, Bangkok is one of the top tourist dentitions in the world. Bangkok is the capital and largest metro city of Thailand, with over 10 million people living in the city as of 2020. The place is famously known for its cultural attractions, called as Wat. Not only that, if you’re a nightclub person, the place also has so much more to offer in this area as well.
So let’s start off with the information you need to know
Best Time To Visit
Like all the major cities in South-East Asia, the city has a topical climate, so it’s warm all year round. The best time to visit the place would be around November to February, where the climate is a bit cooler.
The average temperature throughout the year is 30-35 degree Celsius. However, during the mid of April, there’s a festival called as Songkran, which is considered as the New Year of Thailand. The festival is one of the top ones in the world, which you don’t want to miss out.
Where To Change Currency?
The currency used in Thailand is Thai Baht (THB). In USD, 1 USD is equivalent to about 30.05 THB as the time of writing this article. The rate changes frequently, averaging around 29 to 31 THB per 1 USD.
You can perform the change right at the airport (Suvarnabhumi Airport) directly. But you tend to get a better rate outside the place. So be sure to check out first on the rate.
Best Areas To Stay
Some of the top and preferred places for foreigners, based on the overall convenience are:
- Sukhumvit area
- Siam
- Silom
- Pratunam
- China Town
These places are close by to restaurants, shops, transportation mode, and other necessary places.
Bangkok is one of the busiest cities in the world, so you can expect lots of traffic jam. We recommend you travel by metro – BTS or MRT skytrain or take a subway for convenient.
Top Places To Visit
Here are the top 3 places to visit in Bangkok and are considered as top landmarks you shouldn’t miss:
1. Grand palace and Wat Phra Kaew
Built in 1782, it served as the official residence of Thailand’s Royal Family until 1925. The place vast to explore and there are many things to admire. You could be spending at least an hour there.
One of the most important structures is Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It houses an emerald buddha statue, which is considered as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.
The place operates between 08:30am – 3:30pm daily, with an admission fee of 500 THB
2. Wat Pho
Wat Pho is located just south of the grand palace, so you can visit this place right after.
Believed to be founded in the 16th century, the temple was one of the oldest in the country, with many historical importances. The temple houses more than 400 glided Buddha images, the most famous one being the the reclining buddha statue, which is 46 m long. The place was also the country’s first public university and is condiered as the birth place of traditional Thai massage.
The place operates between 08:00am – 06:30pm daily, with an admission fee of 200 THB
3. Wat Arun
Wat Arun is located directly across the river from Wat Pho. The place is regarded one of the most beautiful in the country, with its located right at the riverside and has a stunning design.
You can easily get to the place by taking a quick ferry boat ride across the Chao Phraya river for 4 THB.
The place operates between 08:30pm – 06:00pm daily, with and admission fee of 50 THB.
Top 3 Things To Do In Bangkok
There are tons of great things you can do in Bangkok. But here are our top 3 picks:
1. Food Tour
Bangkok is widely regarded as the best street food city in the world, according to CNN
Here, you will find all kinds of food varieties and no matter where you go, you will see all these delicious food. The 2 most famous places are Yaowarat and China Town.
2. Explore Bangkok Markets
Just like street food, Bangkok is famous for its markets. From local food market to amazing floating markets, here you can’t get enough of it. The Chatuchak Weekend Market and Tor Kor Market are the 2 famous names that foreigners love to go to.
3. Admire The City With Chaophraya Cruise
The Chao Phraya river is an important river for Bangkok and Thailand. It was used as the main transportation river in the past and even today. The river cuts through the center of the city.
Besides transportation, the river can be used as a mean to explore the city. Some of the great attractions like Wat Pho, The Grand Palace, and Wat Arun can be explored in a unique way through a cruise.
Many evening cruise programs also include diner as well. So be sure to check out with your cruise provider.
Things To Look Out For When Visiting Bangkok
Although Bangkok is chill and vibrant place to travel to or live in, there are certain things to look out for when you’re in the city:
- Dress appropriately – There are certain places such as The Grand Palace and temples that have a strong dress code. In these places, you must dress in a formal manner – no shorts or short skirts are allowed, if you’re wearing long sleeves shirts, the sleeves should be rolled down, no sportswear is allowed and you must wear proper shoes.
- Beware of scams – airport, sex show, and taxi scams are the top 3 to be aware of.
- Get travel insurance
- Bring the right power adaptor – In Thailand, the power sockets are of type A, B, C, F and O. The standard voltage is 220V, 50Hz.