Bangkok Holidays

How does that lyric go? One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster? Well, with bright city lights, tasty Thai recipes and temples covered in gold, it'll certainly feel like it.

Destination highlights

A city stay like no other - it's so good that we'll let the whole 'no beach' thing slide
Street food that'll tickle your taste buds no end
Bright lights (in the big citaaay 🎵 ), market stalls and brilliantly cheap beer
Mind-bogglingly impressive temples and palaces to explore

What are the best sights to see in Bangkok?

The Grand Palace - a must-visit for any serious tourists. It's Bangkok's #1 place to visit and you could spend just about a whole day here, wandering around the temples or catching a Khon Performance (a masked dance drama) at the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre. Make sure to stop by the Temple of the Emerald Buddha - it houses (unsurprisingly) a Buddha image carved from a single block of pure Emerald, but it's a proper sight to see
Khaosan Road - yeaaaah you wanna take your horse to the Khaosan Road, you're gonna haggle 'til you can't no more. This iconic strip is Bangkok backpacking heaven, and an excellent opportunity to barter for those souvenirs for the folks back home. There's cheap beer (we're sold) and street food galore, but we suggest proceeding with caution when it comes to scorpion on a stick... it's certainly one way to make that city break memorable for sure
Lumphini Park - head here for a quiet escape from the hustle n' bustle of Bangkok. You'll go from the noise of beeping cars and pure panic of dodging tuk tuks to strolling through the trees and saying hey to the lizards (they're pretty epic creatures), all in a split second when you walk through the entrance to this tranquil little spot

Top tip: when exploring the Grand Palace or temples, you'll need to cover up your shoulders and knees as a sign of respect. We like to pack a shawl and some airy trousers in our backpacks when out and about that are easy to throw on before visiting these areas. It's also respectful to remove your shoes before entering the temples, so if people are ditching their sandals at the door, you'll want to flip off your flops, too.

What are the top hotels in Bangkok?

More Bang(kok) for your buck

Anantara Riverside Bangkok - talk about boujee. This 5-star stay stretches across 11 acres (in other words, it's pretty flippin' big) and is snuggled up right alongside the Chao Phraya River. And with that comes dinners by the water and mega stylish city-view bars. As Sidney Sampson once put it: Riverside (Let's Go)
Banyan Tree Bangkok - once you set eyes on the 61st floor cocktail bar at this super swanky hotel, you're not gonna want to stay anywhere else. Sunsets are best spent here, mojito in hand, soaking up the city
Montien Hotel Surawong - this is a hotel made for plant people. Well, not strictly, but if you enjoy spending your days surrounded by spikey cacti and perfectly-pruned bonsai, then you'll love this hotel from the moment you step through the door into its greenhouse-style lobby. And for more greenery, the leafy Lumphini park is only a 10-minute walk away, too!
La Petite Salil Sukhumvit Thonglor 1 - a chic little hotel that's the perfect home away from home. Cosy rooms? Yep! Comfy slippers? You betcha. A brolly in every room for fending off those monsoon-season rains? Obvs. They've got everything you need for a stress-free city stay
Shangri-La Bangkok - foodies, this one's for you. Not only does this hotel have a selection of a la carte restaurants from traditional Thai to the good ol' faithful Italian, but it's also got a Chocolate Boutique serving delicious praline slices and tasty tiramisu

Popular Bangkok hotels

Weather in Bangkok

JAN

26^°C

FEB

27^°C

MAR

28^°C

APR

29^°C

MAY

28^°C

JUN

28^°C

JUL

27^°C

AUG

27^°C

SEP

26^°C

OCT

26^°C

NOV

26^°C

DEC

26^°C

The weather in Bangkok gets pretty roasty and toasty from February to April, with highs of 36°C. It's a dry heat before monsoon season hits in the May and things start to get a little more humid. May to October is still as great a time as any for a jolly, though, just maybe bring a brolly in the suitcase! If you're after a milder, drier climate for your Bangkok break, November to January is where it's at. Winter sun here we come!

FAQs

The local currency in Bangkok is the Thai Baht, which is as fun to say as it is to spend... if you can't treat yourself on your jollies, when can you?!

The official language spoken in Bangkok is Thai. And whilst we always recommend getting to know some key phrases in the local language, don't fret if you've not got Thai-m to get fluent before you jet off - you'll find that people will speak English in your hotel and most restaurants you'll visit.

It's only a hop skip and a 13-hour flight to reach Bangkok, which might sound like a bit of a mooch, but when you can whack that in-flight entertainment on, get all snuggly with the blanket and pillow you'll find on your seat, and tuck into some surprisingly good plane food, that time just flies by. If you ask us, and you can here, long-haul flights are a doddle.

Bangkok's local time zone is 6 hours ahead of the UK, so when you're gutted about flying home at the end of the trip, at least you'll be comforted by the fact that you gain 6 hours of the day!

Visit a floating market

Before all these cars were on the road, people had to do their weekly shop somehow. And because Bangkok's network of waterways would give Venice a run for its money, the logical thing was to boat it. But why boat to the shops when the shops can boat to you?! At the floating markets, you can sail through the stalls picking up fruit, veg and even a proper meal if it tickles your fancy. Keep your eye out for a deep dive into boat noodles further down the page - it's got us hungry just thinking about them.

Catch a Thai Boxing match

For a unique night out in the city, why not catch a match at Rajadamnern Thai Boxing Stadium. It's slap bang in the city so you could swap those rounds of drinks to watch a few rounds in the ring quite easily, and it's a night you'll certainly not forget in a hurry (unlike that other evening at the Khaosan Road).

Get your haggle on at the night market

No, a haggle is not some trendy new headwear that the young'uns are wearing nowadays (but you can guarantee you'd be able to find one at the market if it was). Haggling is an ✨art form✨ and one that takes many, many moons to perfect. It's basically shopping where you decide the price tag - our favourite kind. Simply find the item you'd like, and start negotiating a price for it. Don't be afraid to play hardball and walk away, sometimes it's the best tactic to get someone to meet your offer! And if it doesn't work, it wasn't meant to beanie.

Try a Thai massage

Holidays and massages go hand in hand like the sea and sand (we're poets and we definitely already know its) because there's just nothing more relaxing than a good ol' rub down. While your typical Thai massage isn't quite as peaceful as, say, a hot stone one, you are guaranteed to come away feeling like a brand new person, and one that's at least an inch taller (because there can be a lot of neck stretching involved). Our top tip: when the masseuse asks how firm you want it, do yourself a flavour and go on the easy side!

Boat down the Chao Phraya River

It's all smooth sailing down the biggest river in Bangkok. You've got boat tours galore to find out some fun facts about the city whilst you float aboat (sorry, about), you can take quick trips across the water on the little ferries, or have a crackin' evening of food and wine on one of the Chao Phraya's famous dinner cruises. Whatever floats your goat!

What events can I go to in Bangkok?
Bangkok's got tons of surprises up its sleeve... some of which you'll not want to be caught out by, like the 3-day water fight that takes place every April. There's some tame events, too, like these ones we've so kindly picked out for you:
- Chinese New Year (January / February) - although not a traditionally Thai event, if you catch yourself in Bangkok's Chinatown during Chinese New Year, you're sure to want to join in the festivities. Firecrackers, dancers dressed as dragons and incredible banquets of food are just some of the best bits about this event
- Songkran Water Festival (April) - this no holds barred super-soaking event takes place across the whole country over 72 hours, and it's splashtastic. Grab your water gun, hosepipe or even just a bucket (how very 'beach' of you) and get chucking water at anyone and everyone you come across. If you're in Thailand in any month other than April, though, please do not get your hosepipe out
- Vegetarian Festival (October) - if you're veggie and after a jolly to Thailand, we'd suggest booking those flights for October time. You'll know whose participating in the festival of veg, as restaurants and street food stalls will put up yellow flags to show they're veggie-friendly for the event. And that doesn't mean the odd tofu dish, these guys take it seriously! Most places go full veggie for the whole month, so you've got plenty of time to try allll the good food
- Loy Krathong (November) - held each year on the full-moon of the 12th lunar month, this festival of light sees people line up along the rivers and lakes to release their krathongs - little banana leaf boats carrying lit candles, each with a prayer, memory or wish attached to it. It's a gorgeous sight to see all the twinkling lights on the water as the sun goes down, and defo one you'll not want to miss
Where's the best nightlife in Bangkok?
Bangkok's known for it's nightlife. It's got cheap beers, crackin' tunes and top-notch food to keep you dancing 'til dawn. But there's another side to the city, too. One that's got rooftop cocktail bars and classy jazz joints! While the night's still young, here are our recommendations...
- Khaosan road - the party street of Thailand, and the place to head if you're ready to boogie all night. Sup Dude is known for its dance tunes, Here Bar is where you'll wanna go for hip hop and the alternative gang can find solace at Mischa Cheap & Tropical Galaxy
- Thonglor district - if you're looking for a classy evening of sipping tasty drinks and cosyin' up over good food, this area will be right up your soi (street in Thai, obvs). Wine bars and trendy restaurants are dotted all over the place so you're sure to find something that suits your style
- Night markets - if you'd rather a shop than a shot, head to the markets for some late-night browsing and try and bag yourself a bargain with a 'designer' t-shirt or two
What's the food like in Bangkok?
If you think the Thai takeaway round the corner from your Uncle Phil does great food, Bangkok will blow your (bang)socks off. Here are just some of our fave dishes to look out for:
- Pad Thai - it's a classic for a reason. Ribbons of rice noodles, stir fried veggies, scrambled eggs, your choice of meat or seafood (or tofu!) and a scattering of crushed peanuts... in other words, scrumdiddlyumptiousness in a bowl
- Tom Yum Goong - this famous bright red soup is usually served with meaty shrimp, a squeeze of fresh lime, and a little kick of chilli to spice up your life
- Kway Teow Rua - another noodley affair, this time prepared on a boat, so they're unsurprisingly sometimes called boat noodles! Find a fresh bowl of this traditional dish down at the floating markets
- Mango sticky rice - essentially the Thai equivalent of a rice pudding, order this as a sweet treat after dinner as it's a proper Bangkok staple. A scoop of sticky rice drizzled in coconut cream with slices of fresh mango - talk about tasty
- Khanom Bueang - little taco-shaped Thai crepes which make for a great dessert to follow some street food. You can get savoury versions, but the sweet ones are the real deal, packed with whipped cream, shredded coconut and roasted peanuts

Places to visit

The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho
If you thought the Emerald Buddha at the Grand Palace was impressive, you should pay a visit to the Temple of the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho. This Buddha is 46m long and 15m high (in other words, mahoosive), and for 20 baht you can buy 108 coins to drop in each of the 108 bowls surrounding the figure to be granted good luck... an especially worthwhile tourist attraction if you happen to have smashed a mirror recently.
Jim Thompson House
'Who's this Jim bloke?' We hear you ask. Only the Silk King of Thailand! This guy was born in the US but moved to Thailand in his 40s and established the Thai Silk Company Ltd, helping thousands of people out of poverty by allowing his employees to work from home (and that was way before Zoom existed), meaning the Thai women in his workforce were able to retain their position in the household while also winning that bread. He was a pretty interesting guy and, after his disappearance, his amazing Thai-style house was turned into a museum and art gallery, displaying his personal art and silk collection, all for us tourist peeps to go have a gander at. There's even a restaurant on site so you can make a whole day of it and escape the sounds of the city for a little while.
Lebua Rooftop Bar, State Tower
Not to Harvey Wallbang on about the bars in Bangkok, but Lebua is home to the famous Sky Bar that features in The Hangover Part II. It also houses the Tower Club at Lebua hotel which is a crackin' stay, with 24hr room service, Michelin-starred restaurants and even a free shoe shining service - don't say we don't treat you.

We'd recommend checking with your healthcare provider for all up-to-date vaccination advice before booking your holiday.

Thailand are introducing a tourist tax later this year and whilst there's no solid date for this yet, you'll want to keep an eye out so you don't get surprised by the extra fee. With the new tax, tourists will have to pay a 300 Baht fee when arriving by plane, or 150 Baht when arriving by boat.

Bangkok Holidays

Destination highlights

What are the best sights to see in Bangkok?

What are the top hotels in Bangkok?

Popular Bangkok hotels

Weather in Bangkok

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

View destination on a map

FAQs

What currency do they use in Bangkok?

What language do they speak in Bangkok?

How long does it take to fly to Bangkok?

What's the time difference between the UK and Bangkok?

Visit a floating market

Catch a Thai Boxing match

Get your haggle on at the night market

Try a Thai massage

Boat down the Chao Phraya River

What events can I go to in Bangkok?

Where's the best nightlife in Bangkok?

What's the food like in Bangkok?

Places to visit

The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho

Jim Thompson House

Lebua Rooftop Bar, State Tower

Key facts about Bangkok

Flight Time

13hrs

Time Difference

+6 hrs

Currence

Thai Baht

Language

Thai

Do I need any vaccinations to visit Bangkok?

Do I need to pay tax on my holiday to Bangkok?