Things to do in Bangkok

The busy Chao Phraya River, that flows through central Bangkok

To see a detailed, hand-drawn map of Bangkok, click here

Accommodation:

• Khao San Road 'backpacker' area. (66 Hotels and Guesthouses).
• Soi Rambuttri / Phra Arthit Road area, just 1 minute walk from Khao San road. (45 Hotels and Guesthouses).
• Sam Sen Road area, just 5 minutes walk from Khao San road. (52 Hotels, Guesthouses and Apartments.)
• Suhumvit Road area, with many bars, restaurants and hotels. (77 Hotels and apartments.)
• Siam, the busiest shopping area of Bangkok. (32 Hotels, guesthouses and apartments.)
• Bangkok's Chinatown and Little India areas. (11 hotels and guesthouses.)
• Bangkok's main Railway Station, Hua Lamphong. (3 guesthouses and a hotel.)
• Silom Road (near to Lumphini Park) with many shops, restaurants and an (in)famous nightlife. (16 hotels and 2 hostels.)
• More areas will be added shortly.

There are many things to do in Bangkok - it's one of my favorite big cities, and Bangkok is big, not just in numbers (6.5 million people. 12 million if you include the surrounding areas!), but also in size. If you're arriving for the first time to Asia and Bangkok, the city can feel sweltering and polluted - many are quick to make an exit to an island.

This might not be a bad idea! Think about coming back to Bangkok after your body's adjusted to the heat. Then, this fast-paced city with its picturesque canals might be...intoxicating and mesmerizing instead!

The large reclining Buddha at Wat Po

This is also where the infamous 'backpacker' road of Khao San is - a street I prefer to avoid, but there are plenty of nice accommodation options around here. See a map and details of 66 guesthouses and hotels on and around Khao San Road by clicking here.

Nearby Khao San Road is a slightly quieter area: Soi Rambuttri and Phra Arthit Road. To see a map and details of 45 more hotels and guesthouses in this area, visit this page.

Quieter still, and only 5 minutes walk from Khao San Road, is an area around Samsen Road. Many who've visited Bangkok before prefer the more relaxed feel to this area. To see a map and details of 52 guesthouses, hotels and apartments in this area, click here.

The other main area for tourists is Sukhumvit Road. Most of the city's large hotels are on this busy and often jam-packed road, as well as many of the road's quieter side streets. Sukhumvit is an area full of bars, restaurants and shops. Click here for Sukhumvit accommodation options.

A number of hotels and guesthouses are situated near to the city's most famous shopping area, Siam with its numerous shopping centers catering to the wealthy and....not so wealthy! Click here for Siam accommodation options.

There are also a number of hotels and guesthouses in Bangkok's fascinating yet hectic Chinatown/Little India areas and also close to Bangkok's central railway station, Hualumpong.

Silom Road is another popular area, full of shops and hotels. This area is also not far from the peaceful oasis of Lumphini Park. See accommodation options by clicking here.

Things to do in Bangkok (more information coming shortly!)

• Go on the Riverboat Taxi - it's a great way to see a lot of the city as you weave down the Chao Phraa river. Sharing the ride with office workers and monks, the journey might not be luxurious but you'll be too transfixed to care! Try to avoid rush hours (7:30am to 9am, 4pm to 7pm). Price: about 17 baht (US $0.5). See the numbered stops shown next to the river on my Bangkok map to help you navigate.
• Skytrain - This elevated train makes traveling around the city quick, easy and, if it's not the rush hour, fun! See the map for details of where the skytrain stops and starts.

Striking pagoda near the Chao Phraya River

• If it's your first time in Thailand, a tuk-tuk drive has to be one of the top things to do! Bangkok is the 'city of tuk-tuks' (as well it's more famous name the 'City of Angels!'). Rush around the streets in these noisy vehicles. You'll really feel you've arrived!
• Take a leisurely walk around the older part of the city (as opposed to the shopping districts of Sukhumvit, Silom and Siam), taking in the Grand Palace and Wat Po. Head across the river to the jaw-dropping beauty of Wat Arun.
• Chinatown - The bustling alley markets of the Chinese area of the city are great fun, if not a bit tiring!
• Shopping - Siam is a huge area of shopping centers. My favorite is also the busiest: MBK - full of small shops selling at good prices. Perhaps watch a film in one of the many cinemas around here (don't forget to stand for the tribute to the King before the film starts!). A 5 minute skytrain ride to Silom will bring you to another large shopping area.
• Chatuchak Weekend Market - I've never seen such a big market before! Hundreds, maybe thousands of stalls. Tens of thousands of people! It gets started at about 9am every Saturday and Sunday. Take a break from the market by visiting 2 nearby parks - Chatuchak Park and the much larger and more peaceful Rotfai Park where you can hire bicycles.

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