Bangkok Travel Guide — What to Pack & What to Do

we were here

One terrible night that started everything.

The night market at Asiatique was where we first tasted really good pad thai. A tuk-tuk driver called Som found us lost near Khao San Road and took us, via a very enthusiastic detour, to a restaurant he claimed was his cousin's. The pad thai cost ฿80. We ate two each.

The next morning we were up at 5:30am for the Grand Palace. The golden spires of Wat Phra Kaew caught the first light before the tour buses arrived, and for about 40 minutes we had the whole thing nearly to ourselves. Monks moved between the buildings in saffron. Incense hung in the air. None of us said anything. That's the Bangkok moment.

"Som the tuk-tuk driver charged us 600 baht for a thirty-minute journey that took ninety minutes. It was worth every single one."

We came back three months later with the first version of the Essential Travel PAC. James tested it on the Suvarnabhumi-to-Heathrow overnight flight. He slept six hours. He's never shut up about it since.

📍 Stay here

Silom or Sathorn — walkable to the river, close to BTS, avoid Khao San Road unless you're twenty-two.

🛺 The ride

Tuk-tuk from Khao San to Wat Pho. Negotiate hard, hold on tighter, tip well. Worth it every time.

🍜 The meal

Tom yum goong from a plastic stool on Th Phadung Dao. ฿60. Cold Chang beer. Perfect night.

🌅 The view

Wat Arun at dawn from across the river — sunrise turns the spires gold. Take the ferry (฿5).

🛍 The market

Chatuchak on a Saturday morning. Wear comfortable shoes. Budget four hours minimum.

things to do

The Bangkok schedule.

Temples by morning, markets by afternoon, sky bars by night. Bangkok doesn't do dull.

🏯

Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew

The centrepiece of Bangkok — arrive at opening (8:30am) and move quickly before the crowds. Dress code is strict: cover shoulders and knees. Sarongs available at the gate for ฿50.

🌃

Night Market Tour

Asiatique by the river is spectacular. Rod Fai Market at Ratchada is a photographer's dream. Talat Rot Fai Train Market on weekends is where locals actually eat. Book a food tour for the first night.

🚤

Chao Phraya River

Take the express boat from Sathorn pier to Phra Athit. ฿15 the whole way. Get off at every pier that takes your fancy. The river is Bangkok's original highway and still its most atmospheric.

🍳

Thai Cooking Class

Most start with a market tour — Blue Elephant and Baipai are the gold standard. You'll make four dishes, eat everything, and spend the flight home trying to remember the recipes. They give you a booklet. It helps.

things to see

Look up, look around.

01

Wat Arun at Sunrise

Cross the Chao Phraya on the ฿5 ferry from Tha Tien pier and watch Wat Arun catch the first light. The porcelain mosaic spires turn pink and gold. Get there before 7am.

02

Lebua Sky Bar

Yes, it's from The Hangover II. Yes, it's touristy. Yes, the cocktails are ฿600 each. The view over Bangkok at night makes it completely worth it — get there at sunset for the full effect.

03

Chatuchak Weekend Market

35 acres, 15,000 stalls, everything you can imagine. Go on a Saturday, arrive at 10am, and budget a full day. The vintage section near Section 7 is outstanding.

04

Wat Pho & The Reclining Buddha

Thailand's oldest temple complex contains a 46-metre gold reclining Buddha. The foot alone is 5 metres. Combine with a traditional Thai massage at the attached school — genuinely world class.

what to pack