NOTE: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read full disclosure here.
Bangkok, Thailand is a beautiful city full of ancient history, amazing food, and some of the friendliest people you will meet in southeast Asia. In this brief guide, I will share with you some of my travel tips and favorite must see places from my journey in Bangkok, Thailand.
Travel Tips:
1. Tips About Money – The currency in Thailand is the Thai Baht. You can order some of these notes from your bank prior to travel, or upon arrival. However, here’s the main tip – Ask the bank for SMALL notes like $50 or $100 baht. Cash is king in Bangkok, and you will need to have baht notes on you as you shop and travel throughout the city. Larger notes are harder to break or negotiate with.
2. Watch out for the Taxi Drivers – If you choose to take a taxi instead of the BTS (Bangkok Mass Transit System), the taxi drivers will tell you they do not have change. This is a big problem in Thailand. Take small notes, and do not let the drivers get over on you.
3. Check the Taxi Meters – Be sure to check the taxi meters before taking a ride as well. Some taxi drivers will tell you their meters do not work. Be careful and negotiate with the taxi driver.
4. Hotel Limo Please! – Depending on where you stay, your hotel may provide some transportation in service vans. The locals call these “limos”, but they are not the long black car limos some of us are used to. Check with your hotel to see how they can assist you with transportation, or try taking their local train called the BTS. It’s super easy to navigate, but very crowded late afternoon.
5. Carry an Umbrella – Bangkok has three seasons – hot, hotter, and super hot. As you walk the streets of Bangkok, you will notice many women carrying umbrellas even if it’s not raining outside. This is because the local women do not like the sun, and use an umbrella to protect themselves from the heat.
6. Tuk Tuk for Two! – If you’re in Bangkok, your trip would not be complete without taking a ride in a tuk tuk. Tuk tuks typically only fit two passengers. You should also bargain the price down before riding. Also, keep in mind pollution is pretty bad in Bangkok, so I recommend taking one early in the morning or later in the evening when less cars are on the road.
7. Passport – Do not leave your hotel without it, or at least a photocopy of your passport. This is an actual law in Thailand that requires all travelers to carry an ID with them at all times. Sometimes you may be randomly checked. My husband was checked randomly in the BTS station. Travelers who do not have proper identification could be detained.
8. Drinking in Thailand – We were told the drinking age in Thailand is 20 years old. Travelers should only drink in appropriate places, and not public places such as parks, temples, or near patrol stations. Violators can face up to 6 months of imprisonment, and a fine.
9. Pack Toilet Tissue! – During one of our tours, my girlfriend and I needed to take a restroom break. We walked to the bathroom together, looked in the stalls only to find no toilet tissue. We checked the next stalls, nothing. Thankfully I always pack baby wipes with me, but boy I would have been devastated without them! In speaking with our guide, he said toilet tissue is only in hotels or very western type places. Therefore, don’t leave home without tissue or wipes!
10. Watch Out for Rainy Season! – As stated earlier, always carry an umbrella with you or even a poncho. Rainy season in Bangkok is no joke, and runs between July – October. Houston, Texas is the only other place on earth where the raindrops are like golfballs. You will thank me for this tip later!
11. Photos & Drones – Don’t be the tourist who is detained or fined for too many photos. When you visit certain places, be sure to read the signs to make sure you’re allowed to take photos. There were a few places I ran across where photos were not allowed. Some of these were: Monks (if you want to, ask first), certain Buddhas, some historical homes or temples, military posts, and drones are heavily regulated. You will need a permit to operate your drone.
(I couldn’t resist not taking a quick picture! 🙂 )
12. Gestures & Greetings – During our travels, we learned from the locals that they do not shake hands, they “wai”. A wai is performed by placing your hands together and performing a slight bow. Also, do not point to items with your feet. The feet are the lowest part of the body, and when used in gestures, are considered disrespectful.
13. Boats & Life Jackets – Riverboats are very common in Bangkok, however, one of our guides warned us to not get in a boat that did not have a life jacket. Bangkok has a growing pollution problem with its rivers and canals. Waste from humans and factories can be found in these water sources. So it is the last place any one should want to take a swim.
14. Don’t Forget Your Pants! – Thailand is a modest country. If you plan to visit Bangkok, Thailand, you will need to pack long pants and a shirt with sleeves. Shorts and tank tops are not allowed in certain places. This applies not only to females, but to males as well if you plan to visit certain restaurants or temples.
15. Pedestrians Do NOT Have the Right Away – If there’s one thing we learned very quickly in Bangkok, as a pedestrian, you do not have the right away at crosswalks. Motorbikes and cars do not slow down, and some have been hit. So please be careful!
16. Be Careful With Food & Drink – Cross contamination is a risk here, and the lack of clean water can affect your body. Therefore, if you’re brave enough to try the street food here, be sure to pack something for your tummy in case you become ill.
Recommended Places to See or Things to Try:
1) Custom Tours – If you’re having a hard time finding an itinerary on Trip Advisor or Viator that meets your needs, I recommend setting up a custom tour. You will be paired with someone local who will personally take you around this amazing city, and will map out all logistics for you! We used Explorenique (visit their website here). Our guide’s name was Geng, and we felt like we met our long lost friend who personally took great care of us during our stay.
2) Chatuchak Market – This is one of the world’s largest markets! It’s only open Wednesday – Sunday, so be sure to visit their website for the market schedules here. If you decide to take the BTS to get here, be sure to get off at the Mo Chit station.
3) Long Boat River Tours – These are truly a lot of fun, a great way to see new and old Bangkok, and local neighborhoods. Remember to take a long boat and not one of the smaller boats. If you have a great guide, you may have the opportunity to feed some fish like we did, and learn a lesson in giving.
4) Visit a Floating Market – It’s true, this is one of the most touristy things you could do in Bangkok, but it’s worth the visit. If you decide to visit a floating market, my recommendation would be to do so on a weekend, or make it a half-day trip. There are about 5 floating markets located in Bangkok, and one of the only floating markets open during the week is the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
5) Checkout the MBK Shopping Center – One of the most legendary shopping malls in Bangkok. This mall is great for souvenir shopping, fashion on various scales, and has an awesome food court located on the sixth floor. If you visit some of the non-chain local venders, you can bargain with them on goods. Also, if you’re not brave enough to try some of the local Thai street food, your next best bet is to visit the food court on the sixth floor. It is full of local cooks, with better food safety standards. To buy food in their food court, you will need to purchase a food court card on the sixth floor and add money to it. Then when you walk up to one of the food stalls, and simply use the card to pay. The card only lasts for 24 hours and any un-used funds can be refunded back to you.
6) Dusit Zoo – The oldest zoo in Thailand is a great half-day to full day activity if you want to see all of the exhibits. Here you will have the opportunity to see a few endangered species, animal shows, or even take a paddle boat ride.
7) Thai Massage – You cannot come all the way to Thailand, and not experience a Thai massage! During this experience, you will be pulled, stretched, or even walked on! Sometimes these massages can be painful, but the therapist will adjust the pressure if you ask them to. My advice would be to research your massage parlors in advance, and stay away from any shady districts.
8) Grand Palace – If you’re interested in visiting some of the famous temples, or seeing some of Bangkok’s iconic structures, take a trip to the Grand Palace. I recommend visiting in the morning, and for an extra kick of fun, why not travel by boat? The dress code at the palace is very strict, so if you plan to visit, be sure to have pants, your shoulders covered, and avoid any tight clothing.
9) Visit Sky Bar – Sky Bar is one of the world’s highest rooftop bars, and it also made an appearance in the movie – The Hangover 2. The drinks here are a bit pricey, so I recommend grabbing a drink or two, take in the amazing views, and visit somewhere else for dinner.
10) Elephant Sanctuary – Visit one of the many elephant sanctuaries in or near Bangkok! Here you can feed, care, ride, or even adopt an elephant for a day. We ran out of time on our trip and did not get a chance to visit, but this is definitely on my to-do list when I visit again in the future!
11) The Night Market – If you’re out late one night, take time to grab a late bite at one of Bangkok’s night markets. Late Night market food is pretty trendy here. One famous place and dish where many line up after 10:30 PM is Jeh O Chula for their famous Tom Yum Noodle soup! If you’re willing to try instant noodles, this bowl of seafood heaven will not disappoint!.
Closing Thoughts on Bangkok, Thailand
We absolutely loved the time we spent in Bangkok, Thailand! So much so, that we hope to go back one day. If I ever have the privilege to visit Thailand again, I would love to return to Bangkok, but also take time to explore the cities of Chiang Mai and Phuket. I would also encourage anyone visiting this wonderful country to take the time and learn a few phrases in the local language. English is an acceptable language in the city, but taking time to embrace the local culture could go a long way. Thailand is known as “The Land of Smiles”, and the people of Thailand truly taught me that. The smiles of the people of Thailand were full of gratitude, and there were many times we learned from our local guide Geng to enjoy these moments and to not only smile, but smile with our hearts and minds. Thank you Thailand for teaching me to “Wander More, and to Wonder Less …”
Leave a Reply