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Bangkok | The Ultimate Travel Guide

When to go, where to stay and what to do in this exotic destination of beauty and chaos.

Stephanie Yip
Stephanie Yip

Updated

Fact checked
Floating market in Bangkok

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Exotic and enchanting, the Thai capital of Bangkok is a rich mix of beauty and chaos.

Along the banks of the Chao Phraya river, ornate temples share the skyline with shopping malls and business towers, while throughout the city the streets bear the inescapable smell of hawker food.Night markets rife with shopping opportunities, live entertainment and food outlets kick off until the wee hours of the morning, as do the clubs, which are an infamy of the city.

Venture out of city centre and you'll discover colourful floating markets, extensive weekend markets, ancient temples complexes and local beach resorts.

Flights to Bangkok operate daily from Australia's major cities on both budget and luxury airlines, making it both a convenient and budget savvy holiday destination.

Hotels

Hotels in Bangkok to suit every style and budget.

Hotels

Flights

Flight deals and must-know information when flying into the Thai capital.

Flights

Things to do

Temples, floating markets, shopping pursuits and more.

Things to do

Best time to go

The best times to see Bangkok for sightseeing and beach breaks.

Best time to go

Travel insurance

Travelling to Thailand? Find suitable cover for your trip away.

Travel insurance

Travel deals

Latest deals on flights, hotels, activities and more.

Travel deals

Latest Bangkok travel deals

Hotels.com Hotels.com

Extra 8% off on hotel bookings

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Otel.com Otel.com

Extra 9% off hotel bookings

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Luxury Escapes Luxury Escapes

Up to 70% off holidays

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Kiwi.com Kiwi.com

Asia flights from $411 return

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Getting around in Bangkok

Finding a taxi or tuk tuk, which is a small open air vehicle, never takes long as they're abundant throughout the city. Bangkok itself is walkable in certain areas but those areas can be far apart when you are trying to see the city's attractions.

Public transport does a good job of getting you close to the attractions but sometimes you will need a tuk tuk to get to your destination from the station.

Car rentals are not ideal within the city but you can use a car if you want to get to another major city.

Buses, trains and planes also provide affordable transport options to other major touristic cities.

Bangkok public transport

  • Types of transport. Public transportation in Bangkok includes the SkyTrain (BTS), the subway (MRT) and buses (BMTA). They are all separate forms of transport, but the BTS and MRT connect at two stations.
  • Paying for transport. On the SkyTrain, a single trip costs THB15 and goes up depending on how many stops you are traveling. You can also buy a one-day pass for THB150, which gives you unlimited trips. The Standard Rabbit Pass is excellent for those looking to stay for long periods.
    • If you want to use the MRT, you will need to use cash to buy tokens. The tokens start at THB15 and increase depending on how many stations you are travelling.
    • If you take a bus, you will have to pay once you've boarded. The bus fare ranges from THB7-22 depending on the distance you're travelling. You cannot use the same cards or tokens to pay for these different forms of transport.
  • Getting to and from the airport. The Railway Link connects passengers from the Suvarnabhumi International Airport to the city. You buy tokens with cash and fares start at THB15. The BMTA bus has several routes running from the airport to the city for THB24-35.
  • Best apps for getting around. The Bangkok Transport Map app, which you can access online, finds the best route for your journey, calculates the journey time and allows you to search for the closest stations.

Taxis and rideshare

Taxis. You can hail a taxi from the side of the road, and you can also pre-book a taxi from the airport. Pre-booking is not typical as taxis are abundant around the city and it is easy to find a metered taxi. Tuk tuks are similar to taxis but are open air and you can easily hail one from the side of the road. You need to negotiate tuk tuk prices prior to leaving as they do not have meters.

Rideshare. You can book a ride with Grab throughout Bangkok. Uber does not operate in the city.

Airport transfers in Bangkok

Get from the airport to your Bangkok accommodation with ease when you book an airport transfer.

Private transfer from Bangkok Airport to hotel
Private transfer from Bangkok Airport to hotel

Viator

View details
Private transfer from BKK and DMK Airports to Bangkok
Private transfer from BKK and DMK Airports to Bangkok

Viator

View details

Bangkok car hire rental companies

Renting a car to drive in Bangkok is not ideal. Bangkok has some of the worst traffic in the world and it is very hectic. You can rent a car in Bangkok to get to another destination in Thailand if you wish to drive.

Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar, Sixt, Thai Car Rental Association, BizCar, National, Chic Car Rent, Thai Rent a Car and ASAP Car Rental. Use DriveNow to compare prices and find the best deal.

Frequently asked questions about Bangkok

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