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Bangkok travel guide

Golden temples, rooftop bars and the best street food anywhere

Wat Arun at dusk. Photo: Mastertongapollo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

12h 15mflight from London
BKKnearest main airport
31° in Aprwarmest month
25° in Deccoolest month

Bangkok is a huge, energetic city of gold temples, river boats and endless street food. The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun are the classic sights, all close to the Chao Phraya river.

Most trips start or end here. Two or three days is enough for the temples, markets and a rooftop bar before heading north or to the islands.

Good forFoodTemplesShoppingNightlife

What Bangkok is known for

  • Temples

    The Grand Palace and the Reclining Buddha.

  • Street food

    Chinatown's stalls and night markets.

  • Rooftop bars

    Skyline views from the top floors.

  • River boats

    Express boats on the Chao Phraya.

Top things to do in Bangkok

  1. 1

    The Grand Palace

    The royal palace and the Emerald Buddha. Strict dress code.

    Find tours and tickets
  2. 2

    Wat Pho

    The giant Reclining Buddha and a famous massage school.

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  3. 3

    Wat Arun

    The Temple of Dawn, best at sunset from across the river.

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  4. 4

    Chinatown

    Yaowarat Road's food stalls at night.

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  5. 5

    Chatuchak Weekend Market

    Thousands of stalls, open at weekends.

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  6. 6

    A canal boat tour

    Explore the khlongs of Thonburi by long-tail boat.

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See all tours and tickets in Bangkok

Where to stay in Bangkok

Find a hotel in Bangkok

Best time to visit Bangkok

Best value: Mar. November to February: hot but drier and less humid. March to May is very hot, and June to October is rainy.

  • Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
  • PeakBusiest, highest prices
  • QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
26.2 C26°J28.8 C29°F30.2 C30°M30.7 C31°A29.5 C30°M28.4 C28°J27.8 C28°J27.6 C28°A27.2 C27°S26.9 C27°O25.9 C26°N25 C25°D
Bar height is the average temperature in Bangkok, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 12h 15m from London to BKK, and flights from most UK airports.

The BTS Skytrain and MRT metro beat the traffic. River boats are cheap and scenic. Use the Grab app for taxis.

Find flights to Bangkok (BKK)

Shows the cheapest fares for next month on Aviasales, our flight partner. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you. Flight times are straight-line estimates for a direct flight from Heathrow.

Good to know

  • Cover shoulders and knees at temples.
  • Ignore anyone who says a sight is closed today: it's a classic scam.
  • Insult to the monarchy is a serious crime.
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Bangkok FAQ

How many days in Bangkok?

Two or three days.

Is Bangkok safe?

Generally yes. Watch for scams and traffic.

More places in Thailand

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