In contrast to the bright lights, busy streets and huge population of some Asian cities, Bangkok feels much more relaxed. With easy-to-use public transport and friendly locals, it is a great introduction to Southeast Asia.
Bangkok first appeared on maps as an important trading centre during the 15th-century Ayutthaya period and remains an important commercial city today. One moment you can be shopping in a modern mall, and the next you can find yourself in a local market or a small shop by the road.
Gold-covered chedis and Buddhist temples stand alongside shopping malls and modern skyscrapers, creating the mix of old and new that makes Bangkok so interesting.
Things to See and Do in Bangkok
Try Thai Food
If you are visiting Thailand for the first time, Bangkok is a great place to discover Thai food and start your culinary journey.
On a guided food tour, you can visit Bang Rak, one of Bangkok’s well-known areas for food. Start at a local market, where you can see fresh produce, smell local spices and try fruits you may not have seen before.
A local guide can take you to small restaurants and street food stalls to try some local favourites. Popular dishes include crispy roast duck and mango sticky rice, which you can find in many parts of the city.
Explore the City
Bangkok is too large to explore on foot alone. The city is made up of 50 districts and is divided by the Chao Phraya River.
One of the best ways to see the city is by taking a local boat along the river. You can stop at Wat Pho, home to the famous Reclining Buddha, before continuing to the Grand Palace, with its beautiful temples and grounds.
You can also visit Soi Ban Bat, an area known for local craftsmen who make traditional monks’ alms bowls.
Cruise Through Bangkok’s Hidden Klongs
Central Bangkok is busy with motorcycles, tuk-tuks, and taxis moving between the high-rise buildings. But once you cross to the other side of the Chao Phraya River, life feels very different.
Step aboard a private long-tail boat and cruise through Bangkok’s network of klongs, or canals. These waterways were once an important part of daily life and were known to European traders as the “Venice of the East.” People used them to move goods around the city.
The klongs are still part of life in Bangkok today. You may see boats carrying crops and building materials, as well as old wooden houses built on stilts along the water. A cruise along Khlong Luang offers a different view of the city and its riverside communities.
Cycle Through Bangkok’s Green Lung
From above, Bang Krachao looks like a large green area surrounded by the Chao Phraya River. Locals often call it Bangkok’s “green lung.”
The area is covered with trees, canals and small roads, making it a very different side of Bangkok. After taking a local ferry across the river, you can explore Bang Krachao by bicycle with a local guide.
The area has long been home to local communities, including descendants of Mon people who settled here generations ago. You can cycle through quiet paths, see houses on stilts, and pass banana and coconut trees along the way. There are also several local temples to visit.
Taste Thai Home Cooking
Join Angsana Anderson for a Thai cooking class in her Bangkok kitchen, where she uses family recipes passed down through the years.
The class starts with a visit to a local market to choose the ingredients. Back in the kitchen, Angsana shows you how to prepare several Thai dishes and explains the ingredients and cooking methods along the way.
You can learn how to make curry paste and work with ingredients such as banana flower and pomelo. One of Angsana’s traditional recipes is wun maprao, a coconut jelly served inside a coconut shell.
Khlong Lat Mayom
When you travel outside central Bangkok, it does not take long to reach quieter areas that feel more like the countryside. With a private car and driver, you can explore local markets and see a different side of life around Bangkok.
After passing fish farms and coconut gardens, visit Maeklong Railway Market, where vendors set up their stalls right next to the railway tracks. When the train approaches, they quickly move their goods and umbrellas out of the way. Once the train has passed, everything goes back to normal.
You can also take a boat to Tha Kha Floating Market, where local sellers use long-tail boats to sell fruit, vegetables and cooked food. Some even cook noodles and omelets directly from their boats.
Explore Bangkok at Night with a Local Guide
Bangkok comes alive at night with bright lights, busy streets and plenty of street food. A local guide can show you some of the places that locals enjoy.
Start with a drink at Park Society Bar and enjoy the city views. Then take a tuk-tuk to Silom, where you can find plenty of street food, including roast duck, pad Thai and ba mee moo daeng.
When to Visit Bangkok
Bangkok is warm throughout the year, but there are some differences between the seasons. December to March is generally cooler and more comfortable. April is usually hot and humid, while the rainy season runs from May to November.
The rainy season can still be a good time to visit, especially if you prefer fewer tourists and lower hotel prices.
Festivals, Events and Seasonal Reasons to Visit
- Chinese New Year is a special time to visit Bangkok’s Chinatown. The streets are decorated with red lanterns and banners, and the celebrations usually take place between late January and February. You can see dragon parades, fireworks and plenty of street activities.
- The Bangkok International Festival of Dance & Music takes place in September. The festival brings together performers from Thailand and around the world, with shows ranging from opera and jazz to other styles of music and dance.
- Songkran, the Thai New Year, takes place from April 13 to 15. Traditionally, scented water is poured over people at temples as a symbol of washing away the past and starting the new year. Today, Bangkok is also famous for its huge street water fights. If you have a water gun, you can join in!