Golden temples, street food, and Southeast Asia’s friendliest chaos.
Bangkok is the great gateway to Southeast Asia - glittering temples and the Grand Palace on the river, the world’s best street food on every corner, rooftop bars, and a sky-train gliding over the traffic.
Visa-free for UK tourists, superb value (a luxury hotel costs what a budget one does at home), unbeatable food, and the launch pad for Thailand’s islands and the wider region.
November to February - the cool, dry season and the most comfortable time. March-May is very hot; June-October brings the monsoon rains.
Be at Wat Pho or Wat Arun at opening, before the heat and the tour buses, then iced coffee by the river.
Traditional Thai massage everywhere from £6, and riverside yoga and rooftop pools across Sukhumvit.
Stay riverside or in quieter Thonglor rather than the backpacker crush of Khao San Road.
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Modern Bangkok - hotels for every budget, malls, rooftop bars and nightlife, all on the BTS sky-train.
The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun - historic, atmospheric and best for first-time sightseeing.
The business-and-night district - street food by day, markets and bars by night, well connected by BTS and metro.
Not sure which area suits you? We compare 5 Bangkok neighbourhoods — who each one is for, and the honest reason not to book there.
Where to stay in Bangkok — full area guide →No - UK passport holders can currently enter Thailand visa-free for tourism (up to 60 days). Check the latest rules before you fly.
November to February, when it is cooler and dry. Avoid the fierce heat of April and the heaviest monsoon months.
Yes - it is the hub for cheap domestic flights and trains to Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui and the rest of the country.
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