Things to Do in Bangkok
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Bangkok, Thailand, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Bangkok. Full name has over 160 letters, officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the longest place name anywhere, we'll just say Bangkok, sensibly, like everyone else does. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Bangkok: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the queue. Seven main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
Bangkok's Grand Palace complex houses the Emerald Buddha, a small but highly significant statue kept in Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha), surprisingly modest in size for how much reverence it commands, Thailand's most sacred single object. The wider palace complex, official royal residence from 1782 to 1925, is a properly dazzling collection of gilded spires, intricate mosaics, and ceremonial halls.
The dress code here is strictly enforced, shoulders and knees fully covered, closed-toe shoes, no exceptions, sarongs are available to borrow at the gate if you turn up underdressed, but it costs time you'd rather spend inside. Watch for the well-known 'palace is closed today' scam near the entrance, it's essentially never true, the palace has only closed to the public a handful of times in its entire history.
Hours Daily, roughly 8.30am–3.30pm, last entry around 3.15pm
Address Na Phra Lan Road, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
The Khlongs (Canals) & a Longtail Boat Ride
Bangkok's many canals earned it a historic nickname comparing it to Venice, many have since been filled in for roads, but plenty remain, particularly on the Thonburi side of the river, where wooden stilt houses and small temples still line the waterways much as they have for generations. A longtail boat trip through the khlongs is a properly different, quieter side of the city than the traffic and skyscrapers suggest.
Combine it with a stop at Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, its distinctive spire covered in porcelain fragments catching the light beautifully from the water, especially near sunset.
Best time Late afternoon into sunset
Getting there Boats depart from several piers along the Chao Phraya River
Street Food
Bangkok's street food scene is one of the best in the world, and a huge part of why so many visitors fall for the city. Chinatown (Yaowarat) comes alive after dark, stalls selling everything from grilled seafood to mango sticky rice packed along the main road and side alleys. Jay Fai, a Michelin-starred street stall famous for crab omelette, has become a proper pilgrimage destination, expect a long wait if you go without a reservation.
Most street food meals run cheap, and the quality-to-price ratio here is honestly hard to beat anywhere else. Follow the crowds and the queues, a busy stall is almost always the better bet than an empty one.
Best time Evening, particularly in Chinatown
Address Yaowarat Road, Chinatown, Bangkok
Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
Home to a 46-metre-long gold-plated reclining Buddha statue, so large the temple hall was built specifically to contain it, hard to appreciate the scale until you're standing next to the giant feet, inlaid with mother-of-pearl designs depicting auspicious symbols. It's also considered the birthplace of traditional Thai massage, and the on-site massage school offers properly excellent, affordable treatments.
It's included in the Grand Palace ticket if visited the same day, and considerably less crowded than the palace itself, worth combining both in one morning.
Hours Daily, roughly 8am–6.30pm
Address Adjacent to the Grand Palace, Phra Nakhon
Chatuchak Weekend Market
One of the largest markets in the world, spanning roughly 35 acres with an estimated 15,000 stalls, clothing, antiques, plants, pets, food, more or less anything you could think to buy, spread across an overwhelming maze of covered lanes. It's only open Saturdays and Sundays, plan your Bangkok itinerary around that if it's a priority.
Go with a rough plan rather than trying to see everything, it's easy to get lost and lose hours, and the market's sheer scale means most visitors only manage to properly explore a fraction of it in a single visit.
Hours Sat–Sun, roughly 9am–6pm
Getting there Mo Chit BTS or Chatuchak Park MRT station
Rooftop Bars
Bangkok's skyline is properly dramatic after dark, and its rooftop bar scene has become a proper attraction in its own right, Sky Bar at Lebua (of Hangover 2 fame) is the most famous, though considerably pricier and busier than some of the equally good, less crowded alternatives elsewhere in the city.
Dress codes apply at most of the higher-end rooftop venues, smart casual at minimum, worth checking individual bar policies before turning up in flip-flops and getting turned away.
Best time Sunset into evening
The Chao Phraya Express Boat
A public ferry running the length of the river through central Bangkok, one of the cheapest and most scenic ways to see the city, temples, riverside hotels, and everyday Bangkok life all visible from the water for a fraction of what an organised river cruise costs.
It's also a properly practical way to reach several major sights, the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho are all a short walk from riverside piers, worth building into your route rather than relying purely on taxis or the BTS.
Hours Daily, roughly 6am–7pm
Best time to visit Bangkok
November through February is the best window, cooler and drier, comfortable enough for the amount of walking involved in temple-hopping and market browsing alike.
March through May gets properly intense, some of the hottest weather anywhere in Southeast Asia, plan outdoor sightseeing for early morning if travelling then. The rainy season (June through October) brings afternoon downpours most days, workable if you plan around them and don't mind the humidity.
Getting around Bangkok
The BTS Skytrain and MRT subway cover much of the city efficiently and cheaply, the fastest way to avoid Bangkok's often severe traffic. The Chao Phraya Express Boat is the practical option for the older riverside temples, which sit outside the rail network. Tuk-tuks are fun for short hops but agree a price firmly before getting in, they're rarely the cheapest option despite appearances.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bangkok worth visiting?
- Yes, easily, the Grand Palace and Wat Pho alone justify the trip, and the street food scene is genuinely one of the best in the world.
- How many days do you need in Bangkok?
- Three days covers the main temples, markets, and food scene comfortably; many visitors use it as a jumping-off point for the rest of Thailand.
- Is Bangkok expensive?
- Generally affordable, street food and local transport are genuinely cheap, though rooftop bars and higher-end hotels can add up quickly.
- What is Bangkok famous for?
- The Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha, its extraordinary street food scene, and holding the Guinness World Record for the longest official place name of any city.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
