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πŸ›Ί Bangkok, Thailand

City of Angels.

Bangkok travel guide: things to do, what to wear, and what to pack

Temples at dawn, street food at midnight, tuk-tuks through the chaos, Bangkok rewards the brave and the hungry.

City Break Β· Culture Β· Street Food

Welcome to GO PAC's Bangkok travel guide, the things to do, what to wear for temples and street markets, and what to pack for a city that runs at full volume from 5am to 3am. We've been more than once and always learn something new.

Quick answers: Bangkok for UK travellers

  • Best time to visit: November–February (cooler, less humid).
  • Currency: Thai Baht (THB). Β£1 β‰ˆ 44 THB (May 2026).
  • UK passport visa: Visa-free, 30 days on arrival.
  • Flight time from London: 11–12 hours.
  • Daily budget: Β£20–£40/day mid-range; Β£80+ for upmarket.
  • Power plug: Types A, B, and C. UK plugs need an adaptor.
  • Best travel kit for Bangkok: See our Travel PAC recommendations.
we were here

One terrible night that started everything.

The night market at Asiatique was where we first tasted really good pad thai. A tuk-tuk driver called Som found us lost near Khao San Road and took us, via a very enthusiastic detour, to a restaurant he claimed was his cousin's. The pad thai cost ΰΈΏ80. We ate two each.

The next morning we were up at 5:30am for the Grand Palace. The golden spires of Wat Phra Kaew caught the first light before the tour buses arrived, and for about 40 minutes we had the whole thing nearly to ourselves. Monks moved between the buildings in saffron. Incense hung in the air. None of us said anything. That's the Bangkok moment.

"Som the tuk-tuk driver charged us 600 baht for a thirty-minute journey that took ninety minutes. It was worth every single one."

We came back three months later with the first version of the Essential Travel PAC. We tested it on the Suvarnabhumi-to-Heathrow overnight flight. Six hours of sleep. The neck pillow alone was worth the trip.

πŸ“ Stay here
Silom or Sathorn, walkable to the river, close to BTS, avoid Khao San Road unless you're twenty-two.
πŸ›Ί The ride
Tuk-tuk from Khao San to Wat Pho. Negotiate hard, hold on tighter, tip well. Worth it every time.
🍜 The meal
Tom yum goong from a plastic stool on Th Phadung Dao. ΰΈΏ60. Cold Chang beer. Perfect night.
πŸŒ… The view
Wat Arun at dawn from across the river, sunrise turns the spires gold. Take the ferry (ΰΈΏ5).
πŸ› The market
Chatuchak on a Saturday morning. Wear comfortable shoes. Budget four hours minimum.
✦ ✧ ✦ ✦ ✧ ✦
from the trip ✦
Wat Pho at golden hour, silence in the city
Wat Pho at golden hour, silence in the city
Street food soi, best meal for 1.50
Street food soi, best meal for 1.50
Chao Phraya at dusk, the city from the water
Chao Phraya at dusk, the city from the water
BANGKOK
THAILAND
"Bangkok eats you alive in the best possible way" ✦
CITY OF ANGELS
✦ ✦
things to do

The Bangkok schedule.

Temples by morning, markets by afternoon, sky bars by night. Bangkok doesn't do dull.

Grand Palace Bangkok
🏯

Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew

The centrepiece of Bangkok, arrive at opening (8:30am) and move quickly before the crowds. Dress code is strict: cover shoulders and knees. Sarongs available at the gate for ΰΈΏ50.

Bangkok night market street food
πŸŒƒ

Night Market Tour

Asiatique by the river is spectacular. Rod Fai Market at Ratchada is a photographer's dream. Talat Rot Fai Train Market on weekends is where locals actually eat. Book a food tour for the first night.

Chao Phraya river Bangkok express boat
🚀

Chao Phraya River

Take the express boat from Sathorn pier to Phra Athit. ΰΈΏ15 the whole way. Get off at every pier that takes your fancy. The river is Bangkok's original highway and still its most atmospheric.

Thai cooking class Bangkok
🍳

Thai Cooking Class

Most start with a market tour, Blue Elephant and Baipai are the gold standard. You'll make four dishes, eat everything, and spend the flight home trying to remember the recipes. They give you a booklet. It helps.

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things to see

Look up, look around.

01

Wat Arun at Sunrise

Cross the Chao Phraya on the ΰΈΏ5 ferry from Tha Tien pier and watch Wat Arun catch the first light. The porcelain mosaic spires turn pink and gold. Get there before 7am.

02

Lebua Sky Bar

Yes, it's from The Hangover II. Yes, it's touristy. Yes, the cocktails are ΰΈΏ600 each. The view over Bangkok at night makes it completely worth it, get there at sunset for the full effect.

03

Chatuchak Weekend Market

35 acres, 15,000 stalls, everything you can imagine. Go on a Saturday, arrive at 10am, and budget a full day. The vintage section near Section 7 is outstanding.

04

Wat Pho & The Reclining Buddha

Thailand's oldest temple complex contains a 46-metre gold reclining Buddha. The foot alone is 5 metres. Combine with a traditional Thai massage at the attached school, genuinely world class.

what to pack

The Bangkok Kit.

Temples need covered shoulders. Tuk-tuks need a good grip on your bag. Night markets need a power bank. We've sorted it.

What to pack for Bangkok

  • Satin Eye Mask, for the overnight flight to BKK
  • Memory Foam Travel Pillow, arrive ready to eat, not wrecked
  • Noise-Cancelling Ear Plugs, Bangkok is not a quiet city
  • Travel Plug Adapter, Type A and B sockets both in use across Bangkok
  • Collapsible Water Bottle, the heat is real, tap water is not drinkable
  • Keycode Luggage Lock, night market bag security is a sport here
  • Waterproof Phone Case, canal tours, Songkran and rain showers
  • Travel Packing Cubes, day heat, temple visit and evening bar in three cubes
  • Travel Wallet, keep passport and cards close in Chatuchak
  • Light breathable layers, extreme AC indoors vs 35Β°C outside
Essential Travel PAC by GO PAC
our pick ✦

Essential Travel PAC

Seven essentials for the overnight flight to BKK and every sweaty, brilliant day after it. Arrives gift-ready.

Β£55.00 View Essential Travel PAC β†’

Free UK shipping Β· 30-day returns

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Where next?

More destinations, more postcards, more GO PAC kits built around how real travellers travel.

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Thailand travel guide β†’ Bali travel guide β†’ Costa Rica travel guide β†’