A city of temples and towers
We start Bangkok on the water — a long-tail through the Thonburi canals while the city is still waking — and reach the Grand Palace and Wat Pho by the time they open rather than at the height of the coach-tour rush. Evenings go to the street kitchens of Chinatown, not a hotel buffet.
As Thailand's largest city and one of Asia's most-visited, Bangkok is where the majority of our trips here begin. That scale is part of its appeal: the Grand Palace and temples centuries old sit only streets from glass office towers, floating markets and some of the region's busiest shopping malls.
What sets Bangkok apart is connectivity. It is served by two international airports — Suvarnabhumi, roughly 31.5 km out, and Don Muang, about 23 km from the centre — and from either, a short flight or road transfer reaches every other Thailand destination in our range, Pattaya, Phuket, Krabi, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui among them. On a multi-centre trip, this makes it the logical place to start or end.
Getting around the city itself usually means a taxi, the BTS Skytrain or a local bus. Three to four nights suit couples, families and solo travellers about equally, giving enough time for temples, an evening river cruise, some shopping and a single full-day excursion, all without rushing.
What fills the days here
Wat Arun & Wat Pho
A classic half-day route pairing the riverside Temple of Dawn with the reclining Buddha temple beside it.
The Grand Palace
The former royal residence, and Thailand's most photographed heritage site.
Chao Phraya dinner cruise
An evening cruise past illuminated temples and the modern skyline.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Among the biggest markets anywhere, and worth setting aside a whole morning for.
Floating markets
Shopping and street food, both served straight from the boat.
Safari World & Dream World
A full-day wildlife park and theme park option for family trips.
Also worth building in: Madame Tussauds for a quick stop, Sea Life Ocean World beneath Siam Paragon, and the Siam Niramit show for an evening of Thai culture and performance.
The practical bits
| Details | |
|---|---|
| When to come | November to February is coolest; March to May very hot; May to October wet in short bursts |
| Getting in | Suvarnabhumi Airport (about 30 km) or Don Mueang (about 23 km) |
| Getting about | Skytrain and river boats for the centre, car and driver for anything further |
| Moving on | Flights and road transfers to every other stop on our Thailand routes |
| Money | Thai Baht |
Our trips that pass through Bangkok
6D/5N Bangkok & Pattaya
The same route in reverse, for anyone who would rather see temples before heading to the beach.
8D/7N Bangkok, Pattaya & Phuket
A longer combination taking in the capital, the coast and an island in a single trip.
Any Bangkok stay can be reordered or lengthened with time in Hua Hin, Chiang Mai or Koh Samui. Share your dates and group size and we will put together a day-by-day plan along with hotel choices.