Pack your Celsuis, cause you’re gonna need it! This city is fast paced, vibrant, colorful, and all around fun. There’s so much to do and see, so don’t be surprised if you can’t get to everything on your list, that just gives you an excuse to go back!
I absolutely loved Bangkok – The people, the food, the views, chef’s kiss… now that weather. If the term “sweating like a pig” was a person, it was me. Many of the locals claimed November and December to be the best time for holiday. I traveled in May, given it was my birthday month – the heat was like Houston on steroids, but somehow I survived. I recommend packing an umbrella or purchasing one upon arrival. Regardless of the time of year, it’s best to protect yourself from extensive periods of time in the sun, especially if you’re an all day adventurer like me.
Bangkok has two major airports, Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang International Airport. On initial arrival, I flew into Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is the main airport for international travelers. While flying into Don Mueang from the states is possible, I don’t advise it. I utilized Don Mueang for my travel within Thailand (i.e. Bangkok to Chiang Mai).
Flight prices can be a little scary, however, once you’re there, you’ll be surprised by how far the dollar stretches. From accomodations, to transportation, to food, everything is so much cheaper. For example, my meals (including appetizer, main course, drink, and mango sticky rice of course) typically averaged $8 USD. I live in Atlanta, where you can’t even park at the restaurant for $8, so this was music to my ears. I say all of this to say, don’t let the shock factor of flight prices stop you from making this trip. You’ll find at the end of it all, that you actually spend less than your average trip to Europe.
Now unlike cities in Europe, Bangkok isn’t necessarily walkable. You’ll need to get around by public transit, taxi, or Grab (equivalent to Uber/Lyft). It’s incredibly simple to set up a Grab account through the app once you’re there. The app even translates communication between you and your driver, which is beneficial; the amount of sign language and charades I played out there was embarrassing.
Bangkok, and truly all of Thailand, is a place where you’ll need to carry cash. You never know when you’ll want to purchase a banana roti on the street, or get a gift for someone at the market, most vendors only accept cash.
Ok, enough talking Regina, what did you actually do?
Wat Arun
Bangkok is filled with temples at every turn. Simply google ‘Temples in Bangkok” and you’ll have an extensive list to choose from. Personally, once you’ve seen a few, you’ve seen them all. I wouldn’t stress as much over which ones to visit if you’re pressed for time. Between the heat and crowds of people, I called it quits after only 2 in this city. One of the more popular ones, and the one I visited first, was Wat Arun. I recommend arriving to the temples as soon as they open to avoid at least a few tourists. The grandeur craftsmanship is truly something to marvel. I chose to admire the temples from the outside, but most all are open to visitors on the inside. Don’t forget to take your shoes off before entering!
Grand Palace
A must see when visiting Bangkok! This space is overwhelmingly gorgeous and captivating. There is plenty to see here, so allow yourself enough time to take in all of the exquisite details that it has to offer. *There are strict dress code restrictions to follow before entering the palace, and the staff will gladly turn you around otherwise (speaking from personal experience). Make sure that your shoulders are covered and all skirts/dresses are bellow the knees. There is a little souvenir shop close by, where you can purchase appropriate items worst case scenario – I now have clothes from Thailand with a story behind them.
Wat Sangwet Witsayaram
I stumbled upon this temple during one of my many neighborhood walks. I enjoyed visiting this temple in particular because it was essentially empty. Unlike the more well known and advertised temples, this one was free from the crowds. While you don’t have to visit this temple in particular, I recommend finding at least one secluded temple if you’re a picture girly like me. This picture actually features my unexpected purchase for the Grand Palace.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
The markets are where it’s at! From food, to clothes, to souvenirs, you can find it all. This market specifically is the largest in all of Thailand! If you can, plan your stay in Bangkok well enough to spend at least one weekend day in the city. Most vendors are only present and selling Friday-Sunday. It’s a great stop if you desire to bring items back for friends/family, all at affordable prices. Pack plenty of cash.
Dinner River Cruise
The dinner cruise was a great way to capture a view of the city at night. While the food was nothing to write home about, the entertainment and ease of the cruise made it worthwhile. There are a number of cruise lines traveling just about every day, so you have options to choose from. I booked my cruise through Viator. Do a little research, read reviews, and pick which cruise is best for you.
Central World Mall
My trip to the mall was not intentional. I’d originally made this stop for a low cost cash exchange, however, found myself aimlessly walking through the mall for hours. This mall is massive and sits at seven stories, with unique fashions, and even its own mini market on the inside. The mall also hosts a bank with super cheap cash exchange rates.
Tuk Tuk ride
Hang tight! These adventurous modes of transportation define the character of Bangkok. Fast, fun, electric, and exciting. It’s worth taking at least one for the experience. Ladies, hold onto your wigs at the turns lol.
China Town, Yaowarat Road
Another must see when visiting Bangkok in my opinion. This pocket of town is bustling with people, street food, and entertainment. I stayed at the Shianghai Mansion while there, which hosts guests and passerbyers each night for live music. This is an area worth seeing, even if just for a couple of hours.
7 Eleven
Don’t ask me why 7 Eleven made it to this list, just know that it did. You’ll find this corner store at just about every turn in all of Thailand. It’s super convenient for grabbing beverages and snacks. They carry a variety of full meals and unique snacks, including Hot Chili Squid Lays Chips which I tried. 7 Eleven Thailand is an experience!
More
There’s a number of things that I didn’t have time to do/see during this first trip to Thailand. Check out these options below and consider adding them to your priority list.
- Rooftop bars in the BKK center
- Railway Market
- Floating Market
- Boxing Match
For those with Bangkok already on the books, I hope that this itinerary helps to bring direction/shape to your plans. For the dreamer, I hope that it gets you excited about your future journey and motivates you to visit the beautiful country that is Thailand.
Until the next Runway, keep strutting through life, one adventure at a time.
