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Bangkok

Thailand travel guide

What to see in Bangkok

Golden temples, markets and rooftop bars: the country’s gateway and its street-food capital.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 10 must-see places
  • Best time: from November to February
  • Stay in Sukhumvit
  • Typical food: Pad thai
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0

Bangkok highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Grand Palace

    The royal complex with Wat Phra Kaew and the Emerald Buddha.

  2. Wat Arun

    The Temple of Dawn on the banks of the Chao Phraya, with a porcelain façade.

  3. Chatuchak Market

    One of the largest open-air markets in Asia (weekends).

  4. Chinatown · Yaowarat

    A neon-lit street of Cantonese-Thai street food.

  5. Wat Pho

    The Temple of the Reclining Buddha and the classic school of Thai massage.

  6. Lumphini Park

    The green lung of the centre, with lakes and monitor lizards.

  7. Asiatique

    A former river port turned into a promenade, with markets and a Ferris wheel.

  8. Jim Thompson House

    A teak house-museum about Thai silk and the man who revived the industry.

  9. Khao San Road

    The historic backpacker strip; handy by day for nearby markets and temples.

  10. ICONSIAM

    A riverside mall with crafts and a regional food hall.

Where to stay in Bangkok

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

  • Recommended areas

    Sukhumvit · Chao Phraya Riverside · Old Town Rattanakosin

Day trips from Bangkok

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to Bangkok

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Bangkok are from November to February. If you can, avoid April (intense heat).

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar with warnings
  4. Apr with strong warnings
  5. May with warnings
  6. Jun with warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with warnings
  9. Sep with warnings
  10. Oct with warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings
  • from March to May

    Intense heat

    From March to May temperatures reach 35–40 °C with high humidity; April is the toughest month.

    What to do: Visit temples at sunrise, rest at midday and drink plenty of water.

  • from June to October

    Rainy season

    It’s usually heavy afternoon downpours, not whole days of rain. Everything is greener and there are fewer tourists.

    What to do: Plan outdoor visits for the morning and save the afternoon for museums, covered markets or a massage.

Typical food of Bangkok

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Bangkok from your kitchen).

Pad thai
Photo: Takeaway · CC BY-SA 3.0

Pad thai

The stir-fried rice noodles of Bangkok’s street stalls, with prawns, tofu, egg, bean sprouts and peanuts in a tamarind sauce. It became the national dish in the 1940s.

  • Serves 2
  • 30 min

Ingredients

  • 200 g flat rice noodles
  • 200 g peeled prawns
  • 100 g firm tofu, diced
  • 2 eggs
  • 100 g bean sprouts
  • 2 spring onions (or garlic chives)
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 3 tablespoons of tamarind paste
  • 2 tablespoons of fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of palm or brown sugar
  • Roasted peanuts, lime and chilli powder

How to make it at home

  1. Soak the noodles in warm water for 30 minutes until pliable.
  2. Mix the tamarind, fish sauce and sugar.
  3. In a very hot wok with oil, stir-fry the garlic, tofu and prawns. Push them to one side.
  4. Add the drained noodles and the sauce and stir-fry until soft. Make a space, crack in the eggs and scramble them before mixing everything together.
  5. Add the bean sprouts and spring onion, stir-fry for 30 seconds and serve with chopped peanuts, lime and chilli.

The trick: Cook two portions at a time: if you overfill the wok, the noodles clump together.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the street stall. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Thailand guide.

Frequently asked questions about Bangkok

What to see in Bangkok?

Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Chatuchak Market, Chinatown · Yaowarat, Wat Pho and Lumphini Park.

What to see in Bangkok in 3 days?

Don’t miss Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Chatuchak Market, Chinatown · Yaowarat, Wat Pho and Lumphini Park. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in Bangkok?

The handiest areas to stay are Sukhumvit, Chao Phraya Riverside and Old Town Rattanakosin.

What’s the best time to travel to Bangkok?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Bangkok are from November to February. If you can, avoid April (intense heat).

What day trips can you take from Bangkok?

Floating market, Ayutthaya, Street food tour and Chao Phraya River.

What is the typical food of Bangkok?

Pad thai. The stir-fried rice noodles of Bangkok’s street stalls, with prawns, tofu, egg, bean sprouts and peanuts in a tamarind sauce. It became the national dish in the 1940s.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.