Bangkok Tourist Information

Bangkok Travel guide & Tourist Information

Sitting midway between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator, Bangkok is a major Asian travel and business hub as well as the capital and centre of political, spiritual and cultural focus for Thailand.

Featuring both old-world charm and modern convenience, at times served up in an apparently chaotic manner Bangkok is a massive sensory assault, visitors are immediately confronted by the heat, the pollution and the irrepressible smile that accompanies many Thais.
Bangkok Is the only truly Asian Big City within South East Asia, the development of all the other major cities within the region was controlled by out side influences - colonialism. Thailand is the only country within South East Asia that was not under the yoke of the British, French, Spanish or Dutch, you can also include the two main Chinese cities in the region - Hong Kong (British) and Macau (Portuguese).  Because of this Bangkok has developed quite differently to to the other large cities, less homogenous an more individual.

The Capital city of Thailand was moved to it's current location after the 1767 sacking of Ayutthaya, the then capital of Thailand. In 1782 King Rama I moved the capital across the Chao Phrya river to Bang Makawk (olive plum riverbank). Upon completion of the Royal Palace, temples and other buildings which made up the capital the city was given it's new name - ‘Krungthep mahanakhon amonratanakosin mahintara ayuthaya mahadilok popnopparat ratchathani burirom udomratchaniwet mahasathan amonpiman avatansathit sakkathattiya witsanukamprasit’ a rough translation of this is ‘Great City of Angels, the Repository of Divine Gems, the Great Land Unconquerable, the Grand and Prominent Realm, the Royal and Delightful Capital City full of Nine Noble Gems, the Highest Royal Dwelling and Grand Palace, the Divine Shelter and Living Place of Reincarnated Spirits’

Visting merchants continued to call the city  by the locations original name of Bang Makok which in time was abbreviated to Bangkok, Thai people generally refer to the city as Krung Thep (City of Angels)

How to Get There and Around

The most common way of getting to Bangkok is by air. Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi (pronounced Suwanapoom) Airport is a major international transit hub which connects Asia and Australia with Europe and Arabia and has direct flight from all over Europe as well as Australia, China, Japan and Korea and the Indian sub-continent. Domestic flights from all over Thailand are split between Suvarnabhumi and the former international airport Don Muang. Most of the country can be reached from bangkok by air using budget airlines, the full service national carrier Thai also flys to most domestic destinations

If you are coming to Bangkok from within Thailand an alternative to air travel are the Bus and Train services. There are three Bus stations on the Outskirts of Bangkok, the northern Bus station (Mo Chit) serves the North -East (Isaan) and the North (Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai), the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) serves Eastern Thailand (Pattaya, Koh Samet and the Cambodian border) and the New Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai) which links Bangkok with southern Thailand (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui and the Malaysian border. Trains also provide a link between Bangkok and the rest of Thailand but the network is quite old and quite limited compared to the Bus network.

By far the easiest way to move around Bangkok is the public transit network consisting of the BTS Skytrain, the MRT Metro and the ART (Airport Rail Link) using these you can get around most of central Bangkok quickly and quite cheaply. Another useful an inexpensive way to get around is the Chao Phraya Express boat which travel up and down the river through Bangkok.

Taxis and tuk tuks which should be a convenient way to get to exactly where you want to go but due to the massive volume of traffic plying through Bangkok's streets it can often be slower than walking, if taking a taxi use a Taxi-Meter and insist he uses the meter, for short journeys a tuk tuk can be fun, but with the street level pollution, heat and noise the fun factor soon wears off. There is also a very comprehensive and confusing local bus service, unfortunately the bus stop have no more information than the numbers of the bus stopping there (no listed destination in thai or english). If you use this make sure you know exactly which colour and number bus you need (buses of the same number but a different colour can have different routes!)

When to Travel to Bangkok and the Climate

Bangkok is a year round destination but the best time to visit is November through to February when it is dry but thanks to the North-East monsoon has cool breezes which keep the temperatures more tolerable. March through to May is also dry but with little wind the temperature starts to rise. June to October is the monsoon season with the majority of rain coming in august and September which often leads to flooding in October, a good month to avoid unless you want to capture some different images of Thailand
Throughout the year the day time temperature is around or above 30 C with the night-time temperature never dropping lower than 21C.

Where to stay

Bangkok is an ever expanding city and accordingly it has accomodation to suit all tastes and budgets spread all over the city. Everything from five star hotels to backpacker hostels including guesthouses, B&Bs and apartments.

Sukhumvit

This area is on the BTS skytrain line with easy access to the city. This exclusive district is popular with expats and Bangkok's upper classes and is filled with quality hotels, restaurants and night clubs. This area is also home to Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza two of Bangkok's more notorious night spots.

Sukhumvit is relatively close to Suvarnabhumi airport (40 minutes by taxi) aa well as a number of popular attractions such as the Erawan monument, Ancient city and the Crocodile farm.

China Town
At the heart of the historic city of Bangkok this area is a maze of old shop houses, narrow streets, markets and temples. Being the centre of the Chinese community this area also has a lot of gold shops.

During the Chinese New Year the area is filled with parades and dragon dances.

Being close to the river and many major temples this is a popular place to stay for people looking for something a bit different.

Silom
By day this is Bangkok's conservative financial and business district, but at night these two quiet streets transform into the massive and bustling Patpong night market surrounded by loads of theme bars offering a range of sex shows. This area has easy access to the BTS skytrain and the main railway station.

Pratunam

This is Bangkok's garment district with hundreds of fashion stores selling both wholesale and retail. As well as clothes this is a great place to buy electronics at the Panthip Plaza. The streets are lined with markets stalls and street food is everywhere.

Riverside

This area is about 1 hour from the international airport but gives easy access to the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and Wat Po temples. Hotels on the west bank have shuttle boats to take you across the river. This area is also very convenient for tours to Katchanaburi and the River Kwai.

Siam Square

This more modern part of Bangkok is a shopping heaven with many glitzy shopping malls such as Central World, Gaysorn Plaza and the MBK shopping mall. With the skytain intersection here this is the nearest thing Bangkok has to a city centre.

Khao San Road

Just on the northern edge of of “Old Bangkok” Khao San road is Thailand original backpacker hub with a plethora of budget hotels hostels and guesthouses. Khao San road and the neighbouring Banglamphu markets provide everything a backpacker is looking for. Being close to the Chao Phrya river it's quite convenient for most of Bangkoks tourist attractions. There's no skytrain here but plenty of tuk tuks and taxis.

Things to Do and Sightseeing

Being an old, yet at the same time a modern city there is a huge number of things to do and see here.

With a huge number of massive shopping malls, markets and street stalls selling almost anything Bangkok is a shoppers paradise.

Wat Po in Bangkok is the home of Thai Massage, this is very popular with the locals as well as tourists so there are many inexpensive massage shops in every shopping centre and on many streets.

As for sightseeing there is so much to see here that one visit will never be enough, a great way to start would be a river cruise which is an expensive way of seeing many of the more famous attractions of Bangkok. Bangkok is full of Thailands cultural heritage, with the royal palace and a huge number of buddhist temples. But if you head a short way out of Bangkok there is even more. Within the distance of a day trip is the bridge over the river Kwai and the Tiger temple as well as the floating market in Samut Songkram. Alittle closer on the outskirts of Bangkok are the Ancient City (Muang Boran), the Erawan Museum and the Bangkok Crocdile farm – all well worth a visit.

Bangkok Pro and Cons

To have an Easy Holiday we believe it is important to say what we think is good and what we think is not so good about Bangkok. So this is what we think you should know.

Not So Good -  The massive number of vehicles on the road in Bangkok, either passing through,  bringing goods and people into or out of the city or circulating around the city's road network means that there is often heavy congestion and long waits in traffic.
All these vehicles as well as industry in Bangkok has led, as in many big cities, to fairly high pollution levels and a permanent smog cloud over the city.
Because of it's location in the tropics Bangkok is always going to be a hot place but with it's mass of concrete buildings and it's smog blanket Bangkok can become stiflingly hot and humid.  Due to this most shopping and eating areas are air-conditioned leading to the vicious circle of energy use - energy production - pollution

Prices - Being both economically and physically the centre of Thailand everything comes through Bangkok, this means that the prices here are as low or lower than any of the other tourist destinations in the country.  Bangkok has everything, if you're on a tight budget you can find low cost accommodation and plenty of good cheap food, if you want to live the life of luxury Bangkok can provide this too - at a price.

Shopping- Bangkok has over 150 shopping malls, including two of the 50 largest in the world, add to this the hundreds of weekly and daily markets and street stalls then this city is truly a shoppers paradise. The shopping malls carry everything from clothes and sporting goods to electronics and jewellery with many thing in between that you didn't realise you wanted, until now!  Some of the malls and markets specialise in electronics or clothes but many have a truly eclectic mix of shops and stalls, and the food outlets are often strategically placed to entice the unwary shopper.

Good - With the addition of the BTS Skytrain and the Airport Rail Link to the already excellent metro Bangkok's public transport system has removed the need for road travel.  Add to the train systems the very useful river ferry network and if you really need to the mindbogglingly complex but very efficient bus service everywhere in the City is in easy reach at quite low prices.
Not only is Bangkok the political and commercial capital of Thailand it is also the major repository of the Nations history and culture.  there is so much to see here that even after two or three visits you would still would not have seen all that Bangkok has to offer.

Bangkok Rail link train from Suvarnabhumi Airport

Today for first time I have tried the Rail link train from Suvarnabhumi Airport to thecity center. We have already covered this topic, however it is important to keep the information updated and add some new tips.

All the details about this great service that started in 2012 can be seen on our previous post about the new train to get from and to Suvarnabhumi Airport,

The service is absolutely the best way to get from the airport but even more importantly it is the best way to get from Bangkok city center to Suvarnabhumi Airport, when people arrive in Bangkok there is not really any rush to get to the hotel, it is booked and it is there, it won't go away. So if traffic is jammed it will be just a waste of valuable holiday time but at the same time the opportunity to see real Bangkok form the car windows and take few pictures.

The real problem is when people are trapped in the traffic on the way to the airport, the flight won't wait for you. Here the train between Bangkok and the airport is the best solution. Direct, no traffic jams, runs every hour, every half hour for some lines, from 6:00 am to midnight, it is comfortable and very easy to use. It arrives right inside the airport. It is safe and in case of any emergency the airport knows about it and can handle the situation.

From Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok city center with the Rail Link Train

Once you have got your luggage to the exit look for the signs to Floor B (basement), follow the signs, also there are a lot of signs for the train link itself. Once arrived on floor B, after the coffee bar there is a huge area with the Thailand Railways logo, everything is automatic and easy, however it is better to check with the information counter which line is the best solution for you.

There are three options from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok downtown

Phaya Thai Express - for me the best, even if the most expensive, directly from the terminal to Phaya Thai Station. This station is part of Bangkok's mass transport system and is the connection point with BTS the sky train, so easily in few minutes by foot and escalator you will pass from the Rail Link system to the Sky Train system that has two lines and connects to Bangkok's main center. The station is very close to Siam Plaza that is also the exchange station between the two sky train lines.

Distance is 28 Km from airport terminal to station
Travel time an amazing 17 minutes
Opening time from 6:00 till 24:00 hrs
Frequency every 60 minutes
First train from Suvarnabhumi Airport at 6:30 hrs, last depart at 23:30 hrs
Price just 90 Thai Baht per person per way

Makkasan Express -for those that stay in hotels in Sukumvith area or like to start their stay in Bangkok with shopping at the famous Pratunam (water gate) market, where you can find any kind of merchandise at incredibly cheap prices. It is a little over half the distance to Phaya thai, the express option skips all the other stops between Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Bangkok City Air Terminal (BCAT). That is what has been created at Makkasan Station, here you can also do flight check in. The station is the connection point with Bangkok Subway or MRTA, The subway runs more in a North/South direction while the Sky Train East/West.

Distance is 20 Km from airport terminal to station
Travel time 15 minutes
Opening time from 6:00 till 24:00 hrs
Frequency every 30 minutes
First train from Suvarnabhumi Airport at 6:00 hrs, last depart at 23:30 hrs
Price just 50 Thai Baht per person per way

City Line - same kind of train, clean, modern, comfortable and with aircon. This service stops at eight stations on it's way, including the two above, really depends where your hotel is or if you have a specific destination. Also for those not in a rush, like to save the penny or as me that didn't understand which train to take and the automatic ticket machines only issue tickets for this service. The City Line Train is also very useful to move in a cheap and comfortable manner in Bangkok as it serves areas that are not covered by Subway or Sky Trains. This service is the Commuters favorite one, not only because it is cheap but because it stops in many areas.

The eight stations from airport to town are:
- Lat Krabang - where you can connect with  the railway system (SRT) Eastern Line
- Ban Thap Chong - close to the motorway and another SRT Eastern Line station
- Hua Mak - near the motor way and SRT Eastern Line station
- Ramkhamhaeng - best for the Ramkhamhaeng Univeristy in Bangkok, largest open Univeristy in Thailand.
- Makkasan - here is Bangkok City Air Terminal, where can do the check in directly
- Ratchapraop - if you like shopping and like to see the huge wholesale market of Pratunam this is your station.
- Phaya Thai - the terminal, from here you can go everywhere in Bangkok, so if you are not sure which station is better for your hotel. just get here and you will easily find the way to the hotel.

Distance is 28 Km from airport terminal to last station (Phaya Thai)
Travel time 30 minutes
Opening time from 6:00 till 24:00 hrs
Frequency every 60 minutes
First train from Suvarnabhumi Airport at 6:00 hrs, last depart at 23:00 hrs
Price  depends which station you like to go so from 15 Thai Baht to 35 Thai Baht

From Bangkok city center to Suvarnabhumi Airport with the Rail Link Train

To make your way to the airport the Rail Link is best solution, you will be sure about the time you will reach the airport with no doubts. No fears of getting trapped in Bangkok's infamous traffic, in a comfortable and relaxing way you will be inside the airport and at a cheap price.

To get back to the airport I think best are the two express lines, less then 20 minutes, which gives you more time to spend seeing Bangkok. 

How to make the tickets

At every station there are automatic machines that sell tickets, simply insert the money (coins or banknotes) and the machine will return your change and token (a plastic coin).
Next to the machine there is a map, this shows you a line with the station names, check which direction you have to take and look at the two digit number in the circle, that is the price to pay. Follow the easy instructions.

Remember that tickets office are just there to change big bills into coins and to sell Express line tickets.

Whichever train you take it is surely much better than taxis and traffic.

Sky train and traffic

More on tours in Thailand at www.easydaythailand.com

New, Fast, Easy way to get in and out of Bangkok Airport!

Travelling to Bangkok?  Many of you have been here before or perhaps this is your first trip to this exotic Asian city and I want to make the experience easier, perhaps more enjoyable and even less expensive.  Let me first explain a bit about your arrival to Bangkok Airport, Suvarnabhumi especially if this is your first time. Suvarnabuhmi  is a big airport with a spread out terminal divided into either international or domestic flights.  That is not to say that it not an easy place to get around, well designed with signs in Thai and English, as well as some other Asian languages, but its mire size can be some what imposing to the first time visitor. 

I will assume you are flying in from overseas, so you will arrive on the international side of the airport and need to clear immigration and customs.  After what seems like a very long walk (they do have moving side walks to make it easier) you will reach immigration.  Be prepared for long lines at immigration and be sure to have all relevant paperwork filled out, along with you travel documents and passport (this being the most important).  If you are travelling as a family, immigration will want to see all of you at the same time.  After clearing immigration with at least a thirty day visa in your passports you will proceed to baggage claim on the lower level.  Once you have all of your luggage, you must pass through customs, usually no problem. 

At this point you exit into a large lobby and are faced with getting ground transportation into the city since the airport is located in the western suburbs of Bangkok, about 26 kilometers from the center city area.   Now here is where my recommendation comes into play; just follow the signs to the Skylink station, by far the quickest, easiest, most comfortable and by far the least expensive method for getting into Bangkok.  Your other options are taking an expensive taxi (possibly getting scammed by one of Bangkok’s less scrupulous cab drivers), which could mean a long uncomfortable ride depending on time of day and traffic patterns, plus many of the taxis have limited space for large families or large amounts of luggage.  You definitely do not want to take one of the bus services, not with any sort of luggage, or multiple family members.  The local buses are definitely out of the question and the airport express bus will cost you more and take you far longer to get into the city, plus these are not very comfortable.

To get to the Skylink station you proceed to the B1 level after exiting customs, it will be in the center between the Domestic and International sides of the airport, so again assuming you just arrived from overseas, it will be to your right once you get to the B1 level (also quite easy, both elevators or moving side walks down are available).  Once at the entrance to the Skylink station, you will want to stay to you left to get to the express trains.  I would not recommend using the City Line service since it is a local type train and can get very crowded with locals and is pretty much like any subway cab in many other cities.  The express trains are much nicer, larger seats and more room for families and luggage, plus the express train gets you there faster since it is a direct run to a single station in downtown Bangkok.  There are two express trains and you should choose the best for your situation, depending on where you are staying in downtown Bangkok, although the two stations are not really that far apart.

The Makkasan Station is located closer to the center of Bangkok near Sukumvit area and the PhayaThai Station is a little further east, close to the Siam Shopping complex.  It might be best to ask you hotel which station is closer.  I mention these stations because they give there names to the express lines, i.e., if you want to go directly to Makkasan Station, you get on the Makkasan Express and to get to PayaThai Station you take the PhayaThai Express, logical.  Both trains will cost you 90 baht  per person one way or 150 baht round trip; travel time is under 20 minutes to PhayaThai Station and under 15 minutes to Makkasan Station.  Both trains run every 30 minutes and start very early in the morning and run until midnight.

Once at either station, you make you way to street level, a sometime daunting task if you can’t find the escalators down or the elevator, but both stations were designed with airport passengers in mind, so just ask if you have difficulty.  At street level, hail a taxi to your hotel, unless of course you chose a hotel right near the station.  I recommend you ask your hotel several questions when making the booking, before paying:

1. Do they have an airport pickup service, eliminates all of this?
2. Which station is closer, Makkasan or Phaya Thai to the hotel?
3. Do they have a pickup service at either of these stations, again eliminates the need for a taxi?
4. Direction from the station to the hotel to help prevent the Bangkok taxi driver from scamming you, something many of them will attempt.  To this end be sure and ask the approximate fair from the station to the hotel and then be sure the drive engages the meter.

Ok now you are ready to leave Bangkok and head home or your next destination and my recommendation is when you leave the hotel, take a taxi to the Makkasan Skylink train station.  I recommend this station because it is the city airport terminal and you can even check in for your flights there, including your luggage.  After checking in, buy tickets on the Makkasan Express train if you didn’t buy round trip tickets on arrival.  The express train leaves every 30 minutes and will get you to the airport in less than 15 minutes.  Once at the airport, you arrive back in the B1 level station, from there you go to the fourth floor for either domestic or International flight departures.   Since you were able to check in at Makkasan station, you can go directly to the gate,  if you failed to checking at Makkasan Station, then you will have to check in at the airport.

As you can see, the whole experience is quite easy and eliminates many of the hassles of getting to and from the Bangkok airport, no long traffic delays on the way, a common experience in Bangkok; fair inexpensive rate with no chance of getting scammed by the train operator; comfortable seating with plenty of room for you, your family and luggage  The train cars are air conditioned, a very important fact in Bangkok.