Ultimate Guide to Visiting Wat Pho in Bangkok – The Temple of the Reclining Buddha

Wat Pho Temple (Wat Phra Chetuphon) is one of the many famous historical spots in Bangkok and I’m pretty sure it’s on your itinerary for the city as well. At least it should be! Thousands of people from all over the world come to visit this stunning temple in Bangkok each year, mostly to see its impressive Reclining Buddha statue and, if you’ll be one of them in the near future, this article is here to tell you everything you need to know! 

Below you’ll find lots of precious info about visiting Wat Pho Temple – when and how to visit, the cost of entrance, which tours to take, how to dress and more. Plus my best tips to keep in mind before going to Wat Pho temple, which will help you save precious time and energy!

All right, let’s go:

First of all, why should you visit Wat Pho?

Melissa in front of the spires at Wat Pho Temple
Portrait of Melissa petting a cat with a Wat Pho spire in the background

99% of people visit Wat Pho to see the Reclining Buddha, which is 100% a legit reason to visit because this IS the highlight of the temple! Aside from the impressive statue of the Reclining Buddha, the entire temple complex of Wat Pho is really pretty and it’s full of intricate decorations and golden Buddha images in the shapes of statues and paintings. If I think about it, this may just be my favourite temple in Bangkok, so a visit here is definitely worth it!

RELATED READ: Wat Pho, Wat Arun and the Grand Palace are said to be the three must-visit tourist sights in Bangkok, located very close to each other. If you want to read more about each of the other two, I recommend checking out my dedicated articles:

Everything you need to know about visiting Wat Pho, Bangkok

Quick info about Wat Pho

People entering the Wat Pho temple
monks praying inside wat pho temple

Wat Pho was once Thailand’s first public university with a focus on science, literature and, of course, religion. There are more than 1.300 inscriptions on marble talking about medical sciences around the temple complex (which is why visiting with a guide makes everything much easier to understand!). It is believed that Wat Pho was established in the 16th century and it was later used as a Royal Temple for King Rama I of the Chakri Dynasty.

Nowadays, Wat Pho is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in Bangkok and a famous traditional Thai massage and medicine centre. Moreover, Wat Pho has been a UNESCO Memory of the World (MOW) since 2008.

RELATED READ: For my complete list of unmissable highlights and cool activities in this city, I recommend checking my dedicated article: 5 Unmissable Tourist Places to See in Bangkok – A Complete City Guide

What to see at Wat Pho Temple complex

The Reclining Buddha

the reclining buddha's upper body and head

As I mentioned before, the most iconic site in the temple complex is the Reclining Buddha – a Buddha figure in the ‘Nirvana’ or enlightenment pose. Why is this so interesting, after all? That’s a legit question. First of all, the statue is massive – it’s 15 metres tall and 46 metres long.

The Buddha’s feet are 5 metres long and they’re decorated with painted images and ‘laksanas’ (characteristics) of Buddha. Second of all, the statue is covered in gold leaf, so you can imagine how impressive it looks in person, right? It’s kind of interesting to see how big the Reclining Buddha is, really, it looks like someone squeezed it into the place!

NOTE: Before entering the Reclining Buddha room, you’ll have to take your shoes off.

108 coins

person placing a coin inside one of the 108 vases

For 20 baht (0.65 US$), you can purchase a small bowl that contains 108 coins. As a meditative practice, you walk along the wall on the backside of the reclining Buddha and drop a coin in each of the 108 buckets. Why 108? 108 is a holy number in Buddhism and the coins you provide as this meditation is used for the upkeep of the temple. And you can also make a wish!

The rest of the temple complex

statues lined up against a wall at wat pho

Except for the famous Reclining Buddha, there are some other cool things to admire on the site. For example, there are 4 chapels with beautiful Buddha images, gold Buddha statues lined up, complex murals and some pretty cool and colourful stupas and Chinese statues in the courtyards. Visitors have access to all these with their entrance ticket and you can even book a guide on-site for 200 or 400 baht (6.40 or 12.80 US$).

Wat Pho massage – Traditional Thai Massage School

person giving a thai massage to a lied down person

Wat Pho is considered the first public university for teaching Thai Massage. They also teach Thai medicine in this temple and you can get a variety of traditional Thai massages here. Although you can search and find a better rate out and about, the historical significance of this school seems to draw in the tourists. 

How to get to Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok

Map of Bangkok with the three main attractions marked on the map

Wat Pho Temple is located on the river banks, next to the riverboat pier, very close to the Grand Palace, across the river from Wat Arun and right behind Wat Phra Kaew, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

Wat Pho address: Maharat Road, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand. Find it on Google Maps here.

The closest MRT station to Wat Pho is Sanam Chai on the blue line. The temple is only a 7-minute walk away from the station. You can also get there by boat if you get on at Tha Tien pier. There are different ways to get to Wat Pho, depending on where you’re staying in the city. I’ll talk about the most popular options below:

GETTING TO WAT PHO FROM SIAM:

GETTING TO WAT PHO FROM SUKHUMVIT:

GETTING TO WAT PHO FROM KHAO SAN ROAD:

Grab is Southeast Asia’s version of Uber, where you can order on-demand taxis for cheaper and less hassle than regular taxis.  When using Grab, the price of the fare will show before you order a taxi, you can pay in cash or card through the app, and the taxi picks you up and drops you off at a location of your choice. 

TOP TIP #1: Use the Grab App to price check how much a trip should cost when you are getting a regular taxi. This way you’ll have a reference when haggling with Taxi drivers and will protect you from getting ripped off. 

TOP TIP #2: If you’re visiting the Grand Palace first, it’s best to take a tuk-tuk ride to Wat Pho next. The entire ride is very short and also pretty fun! Another very good option is walking.

Wat Pho opening hours

portrait of girl around the world in between two spires at wat pho
Melissa walking between the colourful spires of Wat Pho temple

Wat Pho temple is open every day from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM. The massage service is available until 6:00 PM.

Best time to visit Wat Pho Temple

AIM FOR: Getting to Wat Pho first thing in the morning when it opens. This way you will miss both the harsh midday heat and the overwhelming crowds that come hand in hand with so many of the popular temples in Bangkok (usually from 10:00 AM on).

Personally, we arrived at Wat Pho at 7:30 AM and they let us into the temple complex early. It was so nice to get the site completely to ourselves. We stayed for 1h30’ before heading to Wat Arun (15min away), so we got to see both these sites while they were still uncrowded. An excellent tip if you want to avoid the long lines and it’s definitely worth it to wake up so early in the morning!

AVOID: Visiting on weekends or public holidays. It also gets pretty busy in the afternoons.

RELATED READ: To read more about visiting Wat Arun, read my dedicated blog post: A Complete Guide to Visiting Wat Arun Temple in Bangkok, Thailand

Wat Pho entrance fee

landscape of the wat pho grounds

Entrance fee: 200 Baht (6.40 US$). 

The fee includes a small water bottle as well. Your ticket allows you to visit everything in the temple complex without any extra fees. The massage is paid for separately (I mentioned the prices above). If you want to book a guide at the gates, the prices are 200 to 400 baht and they speak very good English.

You can purchase tickets on arrival at the gates or pre-book them online here with hotel pick-up included!

Best Wat Pho tours

monks walking through wat pho towards the main temple
tile details at of spires at wat pho

In case you don’t want to waste precious vacation time trying to organise your itinerary around Bangkok, I wholeheartedly recommend booking an organised tour. This way you’ll have the entrance covered and a knowledgeable local guide will tell you all kinds of interesting information about the sights you’re visiting. If you ask me, the best idea would be to book a multi-temple tour (Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which will save you a lot of time. Here are the best ones I selected for you:

Find more Wat Pho tours

Wat Pho Temple dress code

Melissa walking through wat pho
Melissa going through a doorway with a huge spire in the background

Like most places of worship, the temples in Bangkok have a strict dress code for those wishing to visit. The most important thing to remember is to cover your knees and shoulders and to take off your shoes before entering the Reclining Buddha room. If you would like to check out the complete list of guidelines for visitors, you can find a breakdown on Wat Pho’s official website here.

RELATED READ: Where to Stay in Bangkok – 6 Best Areas and Hotels

The most important things to bring with you to Wat Pho

Of course, I couldn’t NOT share with you a useful packing list for Wat Pho (or any other temple or attraction in Bangkok, really):

BONUS #1: What to visit near Wat Pho in Bangkok

Melissa walking through a doorway while visiting the grand palace

When planning your itinerary for the city, you’ll quickly realise that there are many other beautiful landmarks located within walking distance of the Grand Palace. Here are the best nearby attractions:

Picture of canon camera on a deck in nature.

Here’s our camera gear that we take all around with us, perfect for Bangkok too. It has everything you’ll ever need!

CAMERA: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

EVERYDAY LENS: Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM Zoom Lens

WIDE ANGLE LENS: Sigma 10-20mm f3.5 EX DC

PORTRAIT LENS: Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG

GOPRO: GoPro HERO8 Black

TRIPOD: Benro Mach3 Tripod Ser 2 Alum 4 Sect

NV FILTER: Hoya 82mm Variable Density Screw-in Filter

CAMERA BAG: Manfrotto MB MA-BP-BFR Advanced Befree Camera Backpack

HARD DRIVE: LaCie 4 TB

RELATED READ: If you want to read more about our photography gear, I recommend checking out my dedicated article: What’s in my Camera Bag – All My Travel Blogging Gear

This was my complete guide for everyone visiting the Reclining Buddha Temple in Bangkok! I have told you everything you need to know above, from ticket prices to the different ways of getting there – and much more!

xoxo,

Melissa

Want to know more about travelling to Bangkok?

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A Complete Guide to Visiting Wat Pho Temple

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A Complete Guide to Visiting Wat Arun Temple in Bangkok, Thailand

Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn or Wat Chaeng among locals, is one of the highlights of Bangkok and an unmissable place to visit during your trip to Bangkok. It’s located right on the riverside of Chao Phraya and it has incredible architecture.

If you’re planning a visit soon, you’re in the right place! The complete guide below will tell you everything you need to know before visiting Wat Arun in Thailand, from opening times to ticket prices, tours, how to get there and more.

Are you ready?

First of all, why should you visit Wat Arun Temple?

Melissa sitting on the stairs of one of the sides of Wat Arun Temple in Bangkok
portrait of Girl Around the World in front of the tiles at Wat Arun

It isn’t hard to see why Wat Arun is considered one of the prettiest temples in Thailand and one of the main attractions in Bangkok! Standing majestically on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the temple is an impressive sight at both sunrise and sunset when Wat Arun shines golden in the light.

Wat Arun dates back to the 17th century and its beautiful prang (main spire) was only added when King Rama II ruled the country. The central spire of Wat Arun stands over 70 meters high with four smaller spires found at each corner of the main paragon. The surface of the temple is covered with over one million broken pieces of Chinese porcelain tiles (how awesome is that?!) which shine as they catch the light. If you listen closely, you will hear the little bells that dangle from the top of all 5 spires, gently chiming in the breeze.

Named after the Hindu Goddess Aruna, the word “Arun” in Sanskrit translates to “the light of dawn”. It is believed that Wat Arun was built by General Taksin in 1768, who arrived at the temple during daybreak after returning from battle. For a time, it acted as the king’s royal temple and was home to the Emerald Buddha before the statue was moved to the Grand Palace.

You can normally climb the stairway of the main temple but we were unlucky when we went as climbing was not allowed due to reconstruction. The steps to the top are known to be quite steep, but the railing is there to help keep you steady. All in all, it’s a must-visit!

RELATED READ: Ultimate Guide to Visiting Wat Pho in Bangkok – The Temple of the Reclining Buddha

Everything you need to know about visiting Wat Arun, Bangkok

What to see inside Wat Arun Temple

Melissa on her knees praying in front of a monk in Wat Arun

Did you know that Wat Arun is not just one temple, but a temple complex? And quite a gorgeous one, I must admit. You’ll find the Main Temple (also known as the holiest of all temples), the Ordination Hall and Phra Prang. Plus other beautiful buildings, murals and statues that are waiting to be discovered.

I 100% encourage you to visit the rest of the temple complex. So many tourists simply visit the main temple and then leave, but I loved walking around and exploring the smaller temples on the Wat Arun grounds and was lucky enough to receive a blessing from a monk there.

As I was exploring the grounds, I heard chanting from inside a smaller temple. I slipped off my shoes and slowly peered inside. A solo monk sat on a raised area, inviting people forward for blessings. The monk saw me watching from the doorway and beckoned me forward, motioning for me to sit before him with my hands in prayer high by my forehead.

As he recited a blessing, he gently sprinkled holy water across my head and shoulders. The monk then directed me to put my arm out before him and lightly tied a sai sin (blessed bracelet for good luck and protection) around my wrist. He was so deft, effortlessly tying the string not too loose or too tight, without ever coming in contact with my skin.

It was such a special experience, both to witness and to have for me.

RELATED READ: 5 Unmissable Tourist Places to Visit in Bangkok – A Complete City Guide

How to get to Wat Arun, Bangkok

Map of Bangkok with the three main attractions marked on the map

Wat Arun is centrally located, on the West bank of the Chao Phraya River, which divides Bangkok in two. Its location is right on the opposite side of Wat Phra Temple. By far, the easiest way to reach it is by ferry. You can catch a ferry from Tha Tien Pier, which will drop you right in front of Wat Arun and vice-versa on return. The terminal is small and surrounded by food stalls, restaurants and souvenir shops. You really can’t miss it if you stick to the riverside.

NOTE: The ferry can get pretty full around midday, so you may need to stand, but the journey is so, so short (literally 5min) so it isn’t too inconvenient.

There are other options to get to Wat Arun by road, but I really wouldn’t recommend it (unless, of course, you are staying on the West side of the river). It’s far by road and the journey length really doesn’t make sense when getting a boat is so cheap and easy!

Boat price: 4 baht/person, each way (0.13 US$)

Leaving: Every 5-10 minutes or once the ferry is full from Tha Tien Pier

Journey duration: 5 minutes

Wat Arun address: 158 Thanon Wang Doem, Wat Arun, Bangkok Yai, Bangkok 10600

Co-ordinates: 13.743704, 100.488877

Wat Arun opening hours

Wat Arun Temple is open every day, year-round, from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. The last admission is at 4:40

PM.

RELATED READ: Visiting The Grand Palace, Bangkok – Guide and Useful Tips

Best time to visit Wat Arun Temple

Landscape of Wat Arun Temple in Bangkok
Looking up at the stairway up Wat Arun

AIM FOR: If you want to avoid the crowds, the best time to visit Wat Arun is in the morning. Most tourists head to the Grand Palace first, so heading to Wat Arun early is a nice way to get it all to yourself.

Around 10:00 AM Wat Arun starts to get busier and by midday, it’s all hot and crowded. You’ll find yourself dancing around the central spire searching for a spot of shade. After 3:00 PM the temperatures cool down a bit and the crowds die down too (the last admission is at 4:40 PM), so the late afternoon is another good time to visit. In short, aim for sunrise or sunset.

AVOID: Peak hours between 10:00 AM and 3:30 PM

TIP: Head to the East side of the river for jaw-dropping sunset views over the temple. As the sun begins to sink, the sky turns red and the temple almost lights up before plunging into a dark silhouette.

HOW LONG TO SPEND AT WAT ARUN

At least 1 hour, ideally 2 hours. During our visit, it took about two hours to slowly wander around Wat Arun and its grounds.

Wat Arun entrance fee

The Wat Arun grounds (which include a few smaller temples) are free to enter and explore, but you will need to purchase a ticket at the entrance to access the main temple.

Wat Arun ticket price: 50 baht (1.60 US$)

Best Wat Arun tours

Melissa facing the opposite way on one of the sides of Wat Arun
Statue made out of tiles in Wat Arun

Here’s an idea: instead of losing precious vacation time trying to organise your itinerary to the main highlights of the city such as the Grand Palace with its Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho Temple and Wat Arun as well, why not book an organised tour with a local guide? A combo tour is great for saving time and seeing as much as possible in a short given time. Here are my hand-picked recommendations for combo tours for Wat Pho, Wat Arun and the famous Grand Palace.

Find more Wat Arun tours

Best restaurants with a view of Wat Arun

Girl Around the World on the balcony of a hotel room facing a river overlooking Wat Arun

Here are the best spots for sipping a drink and admiring an amazing view of the temple, especially at night:

RELATED READ: Where to Stay in Bangkok – 6 Best Areas and Hotels

Wat Arun dress code

Melissa placing her shoes at a stand for shoes in front of Wat Arun

Like many religious sites, there is a dress code to abide by when visiting Wat Arun. Visitors must cover their shoulders, chest and knees. Men should wear pants and shirts with sleeves (no tank tops) and women should wear pants or skirts that pass their knees. If in doubt, just keep in mind that this is a place of worship and dress modestly.

However, if you find you don’t have clothing that fits the requirements, don’t stress too much. You can cover up by renting a sarong at the entrance for 20 baht (there is also a 100 baht deposit).

RANT: One of my personal pet peeves that I saw happen around Wat Arun (sorry, but I just have to call this out) was women covering their legs and shoulders to get past the entrance and then altering their clothes for photos once inside. I am serious. I actually saw women changing their outfits to be more revealing, I am guessing ‘for the gram’.

This is so ridiculous to me. Beyond ridiculous. This should be obvious, but just to clarify – it is not okay to hitch up your skirt or unbutton your blouse for an Instagram picture when visiting a religious site. Wat Arun is not the place to go for a sexy photo shoot. It’s disrespectful and quite frankly, it makes you look daft. Save the ‘oh la la’ for the poolside, ladies.

Packing list for Wat Arun

Remember to bring:

What to visit near Wat Arun Temple in Bangkok

Golden Stupa at The Grand Palace in Bangkok

Except for the Temple of Dawn, there are some other unmissable attractions to tick off your list on the banks of the Chao Phraya River:

BONUS #1: My best tips for visiting the Temple of Dawn

Wide angle photo with Melissa on the bottom stairs of Wat Arun
Portrait of Melissa leaning on the tiles at Wat Arun

I just couldn’t miss the opportunity to give you the most precious tips I found out when I visited Wat Arun, am I right? Here goes:

BONUS #2: Recommended camera gear for visiting Bangkok

Picture of canon camera on a deck in nature.

Here’s our camera gear that we take all around with us, perfect for Bangkok too. It has everything you’ll ever need!

CAMERA: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

EVERYDAY LENS: Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM Zoom Lens

WIDE ANGLE LENS: Sigma 10-20mm f3.5 EX DC

PORTRAIT LENS: Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG

GOPRO: GoPro HERO8 Black

TRIPOD: Benro Mach3 Tripod Ser 2 Alum 4 Sect

NV FILTER: Hoya 82mm Variable Density Screw-in Filter

CAMERA BAG: Manfrotto MB MA-BP-BFR Advanced Befree Camera Backpack

HARD DRIVE: LaCie 4 TB

RELATED READ: If you want to read more about our photography gear, I recommend checking out my dedicated article: What’s in my Camera Bag – All My Travel Blogging Gear

You have reached the end f my complete travel guide for Wat Arun Temple (Temple of Dawn) in Bangkok. This gorgeous temple on the banks of the Chao Phraya River is one of Thailand’s treasures, a place full of history, with superb architecture! I truly believe this is one of the unmissable spots that should be part of your Bangkok itinerary for sure.

If you want to visit some other unforgettable attractions located in Bangkok such as Wat Pho or the Grand Palace, I recommend clicking here to find all my posts about Bangkok.

xoxo,

Melissa

Want to know more about travelling to Bangkok?

Pin me for later!

A Complete Guide to Visiting Wat Arun in Bangkok
An Ultimate Guide to Visiting Wat Arun in Bangkok

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5 Unmissable Tourist Places to Visit in Bangkok – A Complete City Guide

Heading to Bangkok soon? Phew, there are SO many places to visit in Bangkok, you won’t even believe it! Scroll down to find my complete list of the best things to see in Bangkok, as well as the best places to stay, what and where to eat and more!

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and one of the most exciting destinations in Southeast Asia for sure. It has everything you can dream of: a rich history, incredible gastronomy, awe-inspiring temples and buildings, exciting nightlife and everything else in-between, catering for ALL types of tourists out there. From the Grand Palace to Wat Pho and Wat Arun temples, museums, street food and souvenir markets, your list of fun things to do in Bangkok will be ever-growing.

Map of Thailand with Bangkok's location marked on the map

Okay, enough talking and let’s get going. Here is my hand-picked list of the top things to do in Bangkok, plus many useful tips that will help you properly enjoy this special city:

Top 5 places to visit in Bangkok, Thailand

1 – The Grand Palace / Wat Phra Kaew

Golden building at the Grand Palace Bangkok
Melissa walking down a walkway leading into a spire in The Grand Palace Bangkok

RELATED READ: Visiting The Grand Palace, Bangkok – Guide and Useful Tips

The Grand Palace is, without a doubt, one of the most famous places to visit in Bangkok, if not all of Thailand. This tourist hotspot housed the kings of Thailand from the 18th to the 20th century and it’s located on the banks of Chao Phraya River.

While you’re there, make sure you enter the Temple of the Emerald Buddha to see the… well, the Emerald Buddha, of course – Wat Phra Kaew – one of the most sacred Buddhist relics in the world. Visiting the Grand Palace is definitely a must-do for all first-time visitors!

Grand Palace entrance fee: 500 baht ($16,5).

2 – Go temple hopping

Melissa posing in the courtyard of Wat Pho Bangkok
Looking up into the highest point of Wat Arun Bangkok

There are literally thousands of temples to see in Bangkok! Most of the tourists’ flock to the more popular ones (Wat Pho and Wat Arun, of course), but there are some smaller, lesser-known temples too, all of them worth discovering if you have the time. These are always less crowded and you’re much more likely to have them all to yourself.

Here’s my checklist of Bangkok temples:

The entrance fees to these temples differ, ranging from 50 to 100 baht per person (1,60 – 3,30$).

RELATED READ: A Complete Guide to Visiting Wat Arun Temple in Bangkok, Thailand

3 – Visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market

hundreds of stalls at Chatuchak weekend market seen from above

Chatuchak Market is another one of the most famous tourist attractions in Bangkok and a must-visit for all your souvenir shopping! It’s actually one of the largest weekend markets in the world and the biggest market in Thailand as well. Chatuchak Market hosts more than 15.000 stalls, so make sure you don’t get lost while you’re searching for those handicrafts, Thai silk dresses and ceramics. By the way, you should also take this as an opportunity to indulge in some yummy food here at some of the many food stalls!

RELATED READ: Guide to Visiting Wat Pho in Bangkok – The Temple of the Reclining Buddha

4 – Airplane Graveyard

Inside of a cockpit of an abandoned airplane at the airplane graveyard bangkok

For a unique experience, the aeroplane graveyard is one of the more adventurous sites to visit in Bangkok. Here you’ll find the carcasses of three abandoned aeroplane bodies – two of them are small, but the other one belongs to a huge 747 that you can enter and explore. If you’re feeling creative, this location is a photographer’s paradise! As this “graveyard” is further out of the city, it’s less visited by tourists than other attractions! 

By the way, you will most probably need to pay a fee to enter the plane, as there’s a local family living there. They usually ask for 200 to 300 baht/person (6,50 – 9$).

5 – Floating Market

river with dozens of merchant boats at a floating market in bangkok

Visiting a floating market in Bangkok is a unique experience where you get an insight into the history of Bangkok back when the city heavily relied on water transport. There are a few different floating markets to choose from where you can take boat tours to explore the different stalls and produce.

Some great ones are Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Amphawa Floating Market and Taling Chan Floating Market.

BONUS: Extra things to do in Bangkok

Melissa looking down from one of the edges of wat arun temple in Bangkok

The list above included the 5 must-visit Bangkok attractions for just a couple of days, but the city has so much more to offer! If you have more time on your hands before heading over to other destinations in Thailand, below are some cool places and activities that I recommend you add to your list. Just mix and match the most exciting ones for you:

Best tours of Bangkok by type of traveller

Girl Around the World posing in front of Benchamabopit Temple in Thailand
person holding a fried scorpion on a stick in front of khao san road in Bangkok

Yep, indeed, there are tons of Bangkok tourist places and your bucket list might be super long in the end. In case you don’t want to spend endless hours planning the perfect Bangkok itinerary for your trip, a great idea would be to book some organised tours. Here are my best recommendations:

Find more Bangkok tours

Where to stay in Bangkok

Girl Around the World sitting on the balcony facing the park at Hotel Indigo Bangkok
Melissa sitting in front of the infinity pool at Hotel Indigo Wireless Road Bangkok

RELATED READ: What you’ll find below is just a quick round-up. For an in-depth look at the best areas and hotels in the city, I recommend checking out my complete article: Where to Stay in Bangkok – 6 Best Areas and Hotels

To be completely honest, choosing the best place to stay in Bangkok can be quite an overwhelming task! There are tons of accommodation options here, from high-end hotels to hostels, apartments and more. With so many different neighbourhoods to stay in this gigantic city, the easiest way to go about it is to filter accommodations by area, depending on what you want to visit during your trip.

In order to make things easier for you, I’ve made a hand-picked selection with some of the best places to stay in Bangkok in each of the most popular areas for tourists:

Historic Old Town – Sala Arun Bangkok

Sukhumvit – Hotel Indigo Bangkok – this is where we stayed!

Chinatown – Shanghai Mansion

Siam – Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel

Khao San Road – Riva Surya Bangkok

Book a place in Bangkok

Best places to eat in Bangkok & what to eat

When it comes to food, Bangkok is bursting with endless choices! Thai cuisine is extremely flavourful and interesting, and indulging in some traditional dishes HAS to be one of the best things to do in Bangkok! If you feel me, here’s my list of some must-try dishes during your visit to Bangkok, together with the food places where you can try them:

PAD THAI

Pad Thai is possibly the most popular dish from Thailand. It’s basically stir-fried noodles with shrimp, bean sprouts, tofu and egg, topped with crushed peanuts. The most famous place to have Pad Thai in Bangkok is Thip Samai which happens to be one of the oldest restaurants to serve this dish, dating back to World War II. The original place can be found at Maha Chai Road.

Plate of Pad Thai

TOM YUM

Tom Yum is a signature Thai dish; this sweet and sour soup is made with lemongrass, fish sauce, lime juice, kaffir lime leaves and some chilli to give it a bit of a kick. For a good street food restaurant that serves it, try Tom Yum Goong Banglamphu. For a less, spicy version of this dish, look out for Tom Kha Gai, which is made with coconut milk instead.

Tom Yum Soup with eating sticks on top

PANANG CURRY

A bit less spicy than the other curries in Thailand, Panang curry is a tourist favourite in the country. A good place to have Panang Curry is Krua Apsom – so good, in fact, the Thai royal family often visits!

a pan with panang curry and a dish of jasmine rice on the side

MANGO STICKY RICE

A must-try dessert when visiting Thailand! It’s a simple and easy to find dish in Bangkok, made up of rich, sticky coconut rice, condensed milk and sweet mango slices. It’s insanely indulgent. A well-known place for making amazing mango sticky rice is Kor Panich.

plate of mango sticky rice

Getting around Bangkok

Okay, now that you know what to do in Bangkok and which places to visit during your trip, how do you actually get around Bangkok? There isn’t one single way to get from point A to point B, but several! Here are the best options for travellers:

tuk tuks on the road at the chinatown of bangkok

SKYTRAIN (BTS)

Probably the easiest and most convenient way to travel around the centre of the city. One-way tickets start at around 15 baht (0,50$) per person. By the way, the so-called “sky train” is one of Bangkok top tourist attractions actually and taking a ride around the city with this special means of transport is an unmissable activity – as odd as this may sound!

SUBWAY (MRT)

In case you prefer not to be up above, then let’s try something down below. The MRT covers a larger area than the Skytrain and you can even change between the two at Silom or Asoke station.

TUK-TUK

In all honesty, this is a must-do for first-timers in Bangkok, at least for fun! A tuk-tuk is a three-wheeler commonly found in most Asian countries. Okay, they’re not extremely comfortable and they’re super loud as well, but they have their own, authentic charm. Compared to other means of transport, all tuk-tuk ride fares must be negotiated right when you set foot in the vehicle, so this is a touristic experience in itself! 

MOTORCYCLE TAXI

These ones are pretty similar to the tuk-tuks, but they’re… motorcycles. You can find tons of them outside Skytrain or MRT stations and they’re extremely affordable, making them great for short distances. Don’t forget that the ride price must be negotiated beforehand, just like for the tuk-tuk! Work on your haggling skills!

TAXI

Cheap and convenient, especially after midnight, when there’s no public transportation operating. Insider tip: when you enter a taxi in Bangkok, make sure the driver turns on the meter and doesn’t try to negotiate a fixed fee instead; they have a bad reputation for ripping off tourists! Starting fare is 35 baht.

CHAO PHRAYA RIVER EXPRESS BOAT

How about you go from one attraction to the other by boat instead of train or taxi? There are boats departing every 20 minutes (5 minutes during rush hours) that can take you to all the main attractions in the city for small fees.

Round-up of my Bangkok city guide

If you were looking for a complete guide to Bangkok, Thailand – now you have it! In this article, I have covered your most burning questions about the best tourist places to go in Bangkok and tours, as well as some excellent hotels, unmissable dishes to try and how to get around the city. 

Bangkok offers endless activities and things to do for all types of travellers out there – and I mean all! Regardless if you’re a backpacker ready to raid some food markets, a culture lover with a list of beautiful temples to see or a luxurious traveller who wants to stay in a superb hotel and go on a shopping spree, followed by a night out clubbing, rest assured that Bangkok is THE place to do all this and more!
But as wonderful as it may be, Bangkok is not the only amazing destination in Thailand. If you want to further discover this unforgettable country, I recommend checking out all our adventures and articles about it here.

xoxo,

Melissa

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