Search only in this Site



















































Bangkok - Tourist Useful Information
Frequently Asked Questions:

star For an Overview, a guided tour of Bangkok see This Page

What is the weather in Bangkok ?

Here are the average temperatures and precipitations:

Month
 Max (C)
 Min (C)
 Rain (mm)
January
 32
 22
 10
February
 32
 24
 28
March
 33
 26
 31
April
 34
 27
 71
May
 33
 27
 190
June
 33
 27
 152
July
 32
 26
 157
August
 32
 26
 188
September
 32
 25
 320
October
 32
 25
 231
November
 31
 23
 58
December
 31
 21
 10

As you can see from the chart, it is quite hot (and humid) in Bangkok during all year, at day and at night. Bangkok is close to the equator and it has a tropical climate, it is one of the hottest cities in the world.
There are mainly 2 seasons in Bangkok: the dry season from November to May and the rainy season from May to October.
April is (relatively) the hottest month, December is the coolest month, September receives the most rain. When it rains it can be quite intense (monsoons) and there can be floods.

What is the best time to visit Bangkok ?

If you like extremely hot weather, all year can be good to visit Bangkok, when it rains you can always go to a big mall or to another indoor place. If you don't like rain, avoid the rainy season (May to October) and visit in the dry season (November to May). April is the hottest month, but the famous Songkran water festival is held in April, it is an interesting event for tourists. September is very rainy.
Take into consideration that there is a difference in hotel prices between the highly touristic season (little rain) and the rainy season.

When is school vacation in Thailand ?

In April, which is the Thai summer season.

Are shops open during the week-ends and feasts in Bangkok ?

Yes, the big malls in Bangkok are open 7 days a week and also during feasts. Small businesses may be closed.

How big is Bangkok ?

Population: There are about 12 million people in Bangkok, it is the capital of Thailand and the largest city. (Greater Bangkok area has 15 million inhabitants).
Size: To get an idea:
From the big Palace (or Khaosan road) to the center of town (MBK mall) it is about 5 Km. Usually, you need to use some kind of transport to get from one tourist attraction to the other.

How much does it cost to visit Bangkok ?

Bangkok is relatively a cheap tourist destination. All South East Asia countries are a cheap tourist destination. Bangkok is a big city and accommodation is usually more expensive than other places in Thailand. 
At a Worldwide Cost of Living survey 2012 - City rankings (Mercer Consulting), Bangkok was found to be in position 81. (for reference - Tokyo is in position 1 and San Francisco is position 90).
Here is a list of common prices in Bangkok in 2013:
Big Mac meal at Mac Donald's: 150 baht.
Pad-Thai for take away: 30 baht.
Small natural orange juice from street vendor: 20 baht.
Beer in a cafe or club: 100 baht.
Breakfast: 100 baht.
Individual room in a guest house with air condition and bathroom: 800 baht. Individual room in a guest house with fan and no bathroom - 400 baht.
Internet cafe, one hour: 40 baht.
Air conditioned bus in town: 15 baht.
Non air conditioned bus: 7 baht.
Public boat on the river: 15 baht.
Taxi in town: around 80 baht.
Night train (sleeping coach)to the north or south of Thailand: about 800 baht.
One day organized trip out of Bangkok: 250 to 700 baht.
Massage one hour: 300 baht.
T-shirts from street vendors: 100 to 200 baht.
Use this Currency Converter to get the prices in your local currency.

What is the best way of transport in Bangkok ?

Speed issue: The sky train, the underground (MRT), the speed boat in the "Khlong Saen Saeb" canal and moto-taxis are fast because they don't depend on car traffic. Regular Taxis and Buses can be very slow when the roads are jammed (when it rains for instance). Tuk-tuk are a little bit faster than taxis. The boats on the big Chao Phraya River are slow but they bypass car traffic, the problem is that the river doesn't pass in the center of Bangkok. 
Comfort issue: Taxis are comfortable and air-conditioned (You need to like Thai music on the radio).
Sky Train and MRT(metro) are comfortable and air conditioned. Tuk-tuks are not comfortable for long distances, you get all the pollution of the city in the face.
A ride in Taxi-motos is scary.
A boat on the Chao Phraya River is comfortable. A ride on the Khlong Saen Saeb canal can be tough because the polluted water sometimes splash on the passengers.
Buses are fine, although being stuck in a traffic jam in a non air conditioned bus can be unpleasant.
Security issue: Surprisingly, I (almost) didn't see any near accidents in Bangkok, drivers of all kind of vehicles are very concentrated in the driving. You, as a tourist, should be prudent because some standards are not like in western countries. For instance, while riding a bus in town, branches of trees can hit the open windows and reach you, the bus also doesn't always stop exactly at the bus station and you may need to run between cars in order to get on it. Just be prudent.
Price issue: All way of transports in Bangkok are cheap compared to western countries. Examples of prices of typical rides in town:
Bus or boat: 7 to 15 baht.
Skytrain or underground : 25 baht.
Taxi: 70 baht.
Tuk-tuk and moto taxi: just depends on your negotiation skills.
Note: It takes time to move from one way of transport to the other. Transport in Bangkok is not very efficient but it has improved considerably in the last years.

How to get from the Khaosan road to center Bangkok (and other destinations in town) ?

The Skytrain doesn't reach the khaosan road so you'll have to use other means of transport to reach the center of town: A fast way, that bypass traffic is to use the public boat transport on the Khlong Saen Saeb canal:
  1.  Walk (20 minutes) or take a tuk-tuk (about 40 baht) to the first station of boats on the Khlong Saen Saeb canal, it is near Wat Saket, the golden mount.
  2. Take the boat for about 10 minutes (10 baht) till the station near Siam center.
  3. Walk 4 minutes to the MBK mall or Siam.
  4. From there, you can take the Skytrain to other destinations.
Remark: the boats operate only till dark (about 19:00)

You can use buses if traffic is fine:

To MBK and Siam malls: bus 47 and 15
To World Center mall: bus 2, 511, 15
To Sukhumbvit area (Nana, Asok): bus 2 and 511
To Silom area (Pat-Pong): bus 47 and 15
To Chatuchak Market (week-end market): buse 3 and 524
To the Grand Palace: Just walk, it is close to the Khaosan

What are the driving distances from Bangkok to other cities in Thailand ?

Chiang Mai
701 km
Chiang Rai
830 km
Phuket
 898 km
Surat Thani (for Ko Samui...)
 644 km
Pattaya
 136 km
Ayutthaya
 88 km
Kanchanaburi
 129 km

What is the Flight time to Bangkok ?

From Europe: Around 11 hours.
From the U.S: Around 17 hours.


How can I reserve a flight ticket to Bangkok ?

You can reserve a flight ticket here, on TripAdvisor.

How can I get from the Airport to Center Bangkok ?

The main airport of Bangkok is : Suvaranabhumi International Airport.
The airport is situated 25 Km from the city (see Map).
You can arrive to the city by train, bus or taxi.
The train is very efficient, it will get you to the city in less than 30 minutes and will bypass any traffic jam. There are two types of trains: one is express and will get you to the center in 15 minutes (a little bit more expensive). The last station of the train is Phaya-Thai (see Map) where you have a connection to the Sky-Train. (To get to the Khao-San area you'll have to continue from Phaya-Thai with a Taxi). The train doesn't operate at night.
From the airport, you can also take a Taxi to the center, it will cost you less than 300 Baht if there is no traffic and the driver uses the taxi-meter.

Where are the Bus and Train Central Stations in Bangkok ?

The main train station is called "Hua Lamphong" and is located near China town (see Map), the MRT (metro) gets there.
Buses: There are several central stations, depending on the destination:
Ekkamai Bus Station, for eastern long distance destinations like Pattaya and Ko-Chang (see Map).
Mochit Bus Station, for northern long distance destinations like Chiang-Mai (see Map).
Sai Tai Bus Station, for southern long distance destinations like Phuket (see Map). (Difficult to reach this station at the west side of the river).
Victory Monument, for close destinations around Bangkok, like Amphawa floating market (see Map).
There are also buses picking-up people from the hotels to different destinations, tickets are sold in the travel agencies.

Do I need a Visa in order to visit Thailand ?

The procedure for getting a Visa for Thailand changes from time to time and it depends on the passport you have. You can get information on this site of the Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As to 2013: Many western countries receive a Visa on arrival, free of charge,  for 30 days if arriving by air and only 15 days if entering by land. This type of Visa is not expandable in Thailand (but you can exit Thailand and re-enter). If you intend to stay more than 30 consecutive days, you need to do a Visa in advance in one of the Thai consulates around the world.

How can I reserve an hotel for Bangkok ?

You can reserve an hotel for Bangkok here, on TripAdvisor.
See here the possible zones where you can stay in Bangkok.
You can reserve an hostel for Bangkok here, on HostelWorld.

Where are the Nightlife zones in Bangkok (for bars and dancing clubs) ?

The main nightlife zone is in: (see Map)
  • Sukhumvit street between Nana and Asok SkyTrain stations.The little streets that are on both sides of Sukhumvit are numbered and called "Soi". From Nana to Asok stations, all the "Soi" on the left side (impair numbers) are very animated. Soi 11 has many cool, dancing clubs. Soi 4 (Nana station) is a "red light street" and also "Soi Cowboy" between Soi 21 and 23 (Asok station).
Another area for bars and dancing clubs: (see Map)
  • Khaosan and Rambuttri streets, the backpacker zone.
Other animated zones at night, but less for dancing clubs: (see Map)
  • Pat-Pong (a red light district).
  • China Town (for restaurants)

Where are the Red Light Districts in Bangkok ?

There are three main zones: (see Map)
  1. Pat-Pong
  2. Nana Plaza
  3. Soi Cowboy
Pat-Pong area is very touristic, it is composed of two narrow parallel streets: Pat-Pong 1 and Pat-Pong 2 and it has also a night market, it is located in the Silom district. Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy are at one skytrain station from each other on Sukhumvit street. Nana Plaza is near Nana skytrain station (Sukhumvit street Soi 4) and Soi-Cowboy is near Asok station (Sukhumvit street between Soi 21 and 23). The "Soi" are the little numbered streets that are on both sides of Sukhumvit.

What can I do and visit in Bangkok during the day ?

One day trips outside of Bangkok:
Also, don't forget to :

Do Thais speak English ?

Thais who deal with tourists do speak a certain level of English. It is not always easy to understand Thais speaking English because of the special accent and they will not always understand you while trying to pronounce Thai words because in Thai the intonation in the speaking is important.
If you will try to converse in English with locals who are not in the tourist business, it will all depend on their level of education. Young Thais in Bangkok do speak English although they are much better at writing and reading than at oral speaking.
In Bangkok most of the important signs are written in English (like signs in the metro, names of the streets etc).

How can I find a good Restaurant in Bangkok ?

For restaurants in Bangkok you can look at this TripAdvisor Restaurant guide.
Note: Bangkok is known for its very developed street food eateries.

Is it easy to exchange Money in Bangkok ?

Yes, very easy. There are offices and banks all over the city with no commissions. At the airport the money exchange is open 24 hours a day and the rates are about the same as in the city. There are also plenty ATMs from which you can withdraw money and you can pay by credit card in most places.

Can I pay in Bangkok in foreign currency like with the Dollar ?

No. The expected currency is the Thai Baht. You can also pay by credit card. Use this Currency Converter to know the rates.

What is the cheapest way to make International phone calls ?

The cheapest way to make International calls will be using a free Wi-Fi network in a café and a software like Skype. The second cheapest option is to buy a local SIM from one of the cell phone operators. Internet cafés will let you do International calls with a phone for a good price. Usually the most costly option will be using your SIM from your own country.

Which Electric Plug is used in Thailand ?

The voltage in Thailand is 220 Volt and the plug is usually a 3 flat socket but the best is to be equipped with an International plug adapter when you travel. Just remember that the adapter will not convert the voltage, so make sure your electronic device is also suitable for 220 Voltage. 

Where can I dance Salsa in Bangkok ?

Look at This Site, it tells you the active clubs for the week. The main Salsa club is "La Rueda" at the street: Sukhumvit soi 18.
In Bangkok you can dance Salsa almost every day of the week. At "La Rueda" the evening usually begins at 20:00 with a lesson of one hour and after that comes the party. Going to Salsa in Bangkok is a good way to meet local people and expatriates.

Is it safe to visit Bangkok ?

Bangkok is pretty safe. (All south East Asia as tourist destination is relatively safe). Bangkok is a big city but there is not a special rate of violence of any kind, Thai people are usually calm and kind. It is also safe for women to go in the streets of Bangkok at night, no special problem with that.
The risk for a tourist may be with accidents of many kinds, for instance driving a motorcycle without experience (In Bangkok, tourists can not rent a moto but in many places in Thailand, yes). Getting on and off a bus in Bangkok may be dangerous because the bus doesn't always stop completely, crossing the streets in general may be hazardous. The solution: beeing very careful, after a few days in Bangkok you will get more familiar with the environment.
Another issue for the tourist may be light stomach problems because of food, usually it is just because you are not used to the local diet and not because of hygiene problems, but anyway you should try to avoid these problems by eating and staying in clean places and washing your hands frequently.

Do I need any vaccination before visiting Thailand ?

Only your doctor can give you the most up to date information as to the current medical risks in each part of the world.
Whether you are travelling or not, you should be up to date with the routine vaccinations, like the Tetanus.
See this site: Disease Control and Prevention Center for recommendations.
A lot of travellers who are just staying in main cities (like Bangkok) and not in rural places, choose not to do vaccinations for Thailand.
Again: stay in clean places, eat in clean places, wash your hands frequently and protect yourself from mosquitoes.

Can I drink tap water in Thailand ?

No. You should buy mineral bottles, they are cheap.

Where can I find a doctor or a dentist in Bangkok ?

Bumrungrad is a private international accredited hospital with all the services including dentistry. Prices are high for Thailand but normal by western standards. It is situated in the center of town near Nana Skytrain station.
For dentists in Bangkok you can also see threads in TripAdvisor forum: thread1, thread2, thread3.

How long does Bangkok exist ?

At least 500 years. You can read more about the history of Bangkok here.

Where can I find a Map of Bangkok ?

Look here.
Also, when you arrive at Bangkok airport, look around you, there are stands with excellent free maps of Bangkok.

Where can I see Videos with Bangkok scenery ?

Video: KhaoSan road in the afternoon
Video: Khaosan road at night
Video: Rambuttri street
Video: Sail on Chao Phraya river
Video: Sail on Khlong Saen Saeb Canal
Video: Bus ride from Khaosan road to Bangkok center
Video: Ride on the Sky-Train of Bangkok
Video: Visit in the Grand palace
Video: Visit at Wat Arun
Video: Visit at Wat Saket
Video: A walk in China town
Video: A visit at the Snake farm
Video: Video of Erawan shrine Bangkok
Video: Video of a Muay Thai Box fight in front of the MBK mall
Video: Video: Bachata demo at La Rueda Salsa Club Bangkok
Video: Songkran Water Festival   (recommended !)
Video: A visit at Damnoen Saduak floating market
Video: Train Market filmed from the train (recommended !)
Video: Bangkok main railway station
Video: A flight from Laos to Bangkok Airport

Where can I get more Information about Bangkok ?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
star Visit the pages Bangkok- What to expect in your visit, to get a taste of Bangkok atmosphere and more information.



star Don't forget to visit the pages in this site with the special tours of
 Tel-Aviv , and Barcelona.