Bangkok Travel Tips

An Essential Guide to Bangkok's Basics

By Travel Guide Spot 🌏

Published: 2025-03-15 | Last Update: 2025-03-30

Bangkok never loses its charm, from the old Bankok waterway neighborhoods to sacred temples to vibrant and pulsating nightlife, local thai street food stalls and huge huge night markets, lush serene parks, green zones and khlongs to the endless bustling urban loops, the Thai capital offers endless experiences and countless reasons to return time and time again. its no surprise why is ranked among the world’s most visited cities.

We will cover the basics in this article to help you start your planning.

Visa Requirements

No Visa Needed: If you’re from one of 93 countries, you can visit Thailand for up to 60 days. This may be extended by 30 days at the Immigration Office.
Visa on Arrival: People from 31 countries can get a 15-day visa on arrival. This costs 2,000 Baht. Some of these countries are eligable for the 60-day exemption.
Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): This is a new five-year multiple-entry visa. It’s for remote workers, digital nomads, and people engaged in cultural activities or sport. You need to show proof of 500,000 Baht. Stay for 180 days per entry, can be extended by another 180 days. It costs 10,000 Baht.
Student Visa: If you’re a foreign student in college, you may stay in Thailand for an extra year after you graduate. You may even work during that time and switch to a regular work visa without having to leave the country.
For more information go to: Thailand Visa Information

To ensure you have the most up-to-date information, double-check with the Thai Embassy or consulate in your home country.

Essentials

101

Electrical Sockets are: 220V, 50Hz, with Type A, B, and C plugs - the same as the USA and Europe.
SIM Cards: Get a tourist SIM at the airport for cheap data.
Currency: Thai Baht (THB) 💰 - ATMs are everywhere, and credit cards are widely accepted.
Language: Thai 🇹🇭 - English is common in tourist areas, although learning a few Thai phrases definitely helps!
Weather: Hot & humid year-round. This is equatorial maritime climate ☀️ - Pack light clothes and ensure you stay hydrated.

Apps You Need

📲 Grab and Bolt - The Uber of Thailand Ensure you check both prices before you call a ride.
📲 Bangkok MRT/BTS Apps - For easy subway and train rides.
📲 Viabus App - For Canal Express boats and Floating market busses (tracking the schedule makes planning much easier)

Etiquette and Do’s & Dont’s

✅ Respect temples - cover shoulders & knees.

✅ Street food is mostly safe with a few rules we will cover.

✅ Be mindful of the money - The King’s image is on the Thai Baht notes and coins - avoid stepping on or mishandling money.

✅ Wai Greeting - Bow a little with your hands together (🙏) to say hi or thanks.

✅ Stay Calm - Thai people like it when you’re polite; getting angry won’t get you far.

✅ Two Hands - When you’re giving or receiving something from someone older or important, out of respect its best to receive with two hands.

🚫 Avoid drinking tap water - bottled water is cheap.

🚫 Only use ice with the holes in the middle (made from a plant with purified water).

🚫 Shoes Off - Before you go into temples, houses, and some local stores or restaurants (just check).

🚫 Never speak negatively about the King or the Royal Family - Thailand has strict lèse-majesté laws.

🚫 Hands Off the Head - Touching someone’s head is considered highly disrespectful in Thailand and should be avoided.

🚫 Feet to Yourself - Don’t point your feet at people or holy items - it’s considered rude.

🚫 Keep the Love Private - Public affection should be avoided; Thai culture is very traditional.

Getting to Know Bankok

Accommodation

Hostel dorm: 300-400B
Budget hotel: 900-1500B
Apartment rental: 900-2500B
High-end Hotel: 2500-10000B

Transport

MRT subway: 20-40B
Bus: 10-25B
Canal boat: 10-20B
Motorsai: 15-100B
Taxi/Grab/Bolt: 50-200B (distance dependant)

Food & Drinks

Local Thai meal for two: 390-500B
Coffee: 35-120B
Local beer: 45-55B at shops, 140-280B at restaurants/bar
Wine: 180-350B per glass at restaurants/bar

Food

Bangkok is a street food heaven but the food scene extends far beyond street stalls. Local eateries in the old town serve authentic Thai dishes. There is also a big fine dining scene in Bankok for a splurge! While it is an experience, budget travelers can find the best authentic Thai flavors at the roadside stalls and small shophouse eateries - Go where the locals go!

Chinatown, Suan Phlu, and Banglamphu are must-visit food hotspots.
Sukhumvit & Ekkamai are musts for excellent Japanese cuisine.
For those on even tighter budgets, you should opt for single-plate meals that include rice.

Traffic

To navigate the city efficiently, stick to the Skytrain (BTS) and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT). It’s the fastest way to get around. Make use of the Chao Phraya Express boats for commuting North-South and the Khlong Saen Saep scheduled boats for commuting East-West as well. The scheduled boats are an experience on their own!

Safety

Low Crime but Watch for Scams! Bangkok is generally safe, with low violent crime rates. However, petty theft and scams targeting tourists are common. Stay alert, trust your instincts, and walk away if something feels off. Note that interactions with local police should be minimized unless necessary. However You should contact the Tourist Police. Their number is 1155.

Alcohol

Alcohol in Thailand is heavily taxed, considerably raising the price of wine and cocktails. Ensure you stick to local beers to keep your bar bill in check. Thai craft beers, are often brewed abroad, and priced similarly to imports.

Nightlife

Steer clear of the red-light districts unless… it’s your thing. Bangkok’s red-light districts: Patpong, Soi Nana, and Soi Cowboy are well-known but are easy to avoid. If you prefer a different experience, the city’s vibrant nightlife offers numerous rooftop bars, night markets, and cultural performances.

Songkran

A Citywide Water Fight. Thai New Year (April) transforms Bangkok into a giant water battle. Expect to get soaked as the businesses close and the streets fill with revelers. Plan accordingly if you are visiting during this period.

LGBTQ+

Bangkok is LGBTQ+ Friendly With a welcoming atmosphere, Bangkok is one of Asia’s most LGBTQ+-friendly cities. Remember that public displays of affection, however, remain uncommon across all relationships.

Domestic Flights in Thailand

Remember that traveling light can save on baggage fees.
Ensure you book in advance for lower airfares.

Scams

From the dodgy taxis to fake gem shops, the scams and touts are everywhere. This isn’t to scare you, but to make you aware and equip you with the tools so you can enjoy your trip without getting ripped off. Whether it’s negotiating taxi fares to ignoring “friendly” touts on the strees or avoiding free shows, just a little knowledge goes a very long way ensuring a pleasant stay. Trust your gut, and you’ll be ok.

Here’s a heads-up on the common tourist scams to watch out for when traveling in and around Bankok:

Elephant Pants: Elephant pants can make you an easy target for túk-túk scams and other hustlers. Save them for home.
Taxis outside the airport: If you decide to take a taxi over the train, take the regulated airport taxi, not from the touts outside the airport (they charge 10 times as much)
Standing taxis at tourist spots: Avoid them and wave down a taxi driving on the street.
Taxi Meters: Some taxis won’t use their meter or are are otherwise completely unlicensed. Use apps like Grab or Bolt, or ensure they use the meter. Esure that the meter is on and set to ZERO when you get in the taxi. If they don’t get out and find another taxi.
Rigged Taxi Meter: If the meter jumps up by 2-3B every few seconds, get out. If the meter now freezes, get out and pay for when the amount at which it froze.
Never change money with drivers: Pay in small notes and never change notes with drivers, even if they make requests. This typically comes from talkative over-friendly taxi drivers.
Scenic Routes: If drivers take much longer routes to give you a scenic route to show you around, tell them to let you out. Ensure you have the route in google maps and check the real route.
Recommendations by taxi drivers: Do not fall for any recommendations made by any taxi drivers they get commission by taking you to overpriced & fake shops!
Wrong Destination: Sometimes taxi drivers will take you to the wrong destination - particularly at floating markets where you will be approached by a tout to take an expensive boat ride to the market. Do your research or take a reputable tour that takes you to the correct entrance.
Cheap Tuk-Tuk Tours: That very cheap tuk-tuk ride? It’ll probably involve an unwanted stop at a commission-grabbing shop. Just negotiate a direct fare and ensure theres an understanding that you want to go direct.
Tansport prices: Ensure you negotiate a resonable price and agree to it BEFORE you get in the taxi/tuk-tuk/motorsai. If note, they will extort you.
Grab/Bolt: Prices can vary largely. Ensure you take the lowest price - this is usually on Bolt. When you get in the car, ensure that the meter is set to zero, if not, ask the driver to reset. If they dont, get out and hail another ride.
Grab/Bolt Car Change: If the driver requests to change cars due to a “faulty” car along the way, get out and pay for the ride, then get a new ride, otherwise you will go with the driver in an unnofficial vehicle and the will try to extort you.
Train/Bus Totes: They can approach you telling you that the train/bus is full, and attempt to divert you to a private one. Its a scam!
Fake Tours: Book tours through trusted sites that we recommend here, or through the tour company directly, but ensure you double check the google reviews on the tour before you use any other tours.
Fake Police/Locals: If someone claiming to be a cop asks for your passport or accuses you of anything, request to see their police ID and insist on going to the police station if needed.
Jet Ski/Motorbike Scam: Stick to trusted rental places (reputable hotels), or just skip the motorbike/jetski altogether and check Google reviews.
Ping Pong Show Trap: Ignore any promoters offering free shows “Ping Pong Show! Ping Pong Show!” Avoid these touts like the plague. Go to the reputable places with transparent prices.
Fake Gem Shops: If a stranger suggests a special wholesale deal at a gem shop, don’t go. Shop at the well-known places.
ATM/Card Scams: Use ATMs inside banks and always shield the keypad when entering your PIN. Check your statements regularly.
Grand Palace Scam: If the driver says the Grand Palace is closed and offers a special tour, it’s a scam. The same applies to fake officials at the gate.
Secret Temple Scam: Ignore strangers talking about any secret temples. Visit the popular/documented spots instead.
Curious Travellers/Guides: People approaching you enthusiastically asking to see what Thai money looks like (to see how much you have). When people approach you enthusiastically asking where you from, say nothing and move away. Don’t show your money!
Fortune Tellers: They will tell you a fortune then demand money. Move away and ignore them!
Fake Monks: Real monks never ask for any money in public. Donate at the temples where donations can be made.
Bird Seed/Bracelet/freebee Scam: Just say no to anyone offering you something for free and walk away.
Pickpockets: Watch your belongings in crowded spots. Use a crossbody bag, anti-pickpocket bag and don’t put valuables in your back pockets.
Tailors: Avoid any places using totes to promote a tailor. Only use reputable tailors with good google reviews.
Street Food & Eating Ensure you see the menu for the items you are ordering FIRST! This way they can’t overcharge you.
Avoid the Foreign Beggers: Yes… westerners - old and young will beg using numerous stories. Don’t give them anything it’s a means to come to countires like this to fund their everlasting holiday.
Investment Scams: Again - avoid!
Accommodation: There are bait and switch scams especially on AirBnB. Ensure you read the google reviews for the hotels/accomodation to see if it actually matches what was advertised. Also, you can book from the accomodation we recommended from this site.
Bar Bill scam: Ask for a price list before ordering drinks. It’s best to pay as you order if its on at a very reputable bar.
Alcohol At Nightlife areas: Ensure you check your bills! Bars sometimes try to add extra drinks to your bill, especially if you had a few. Rather pay as you go and dont rack up a bill.

When to go to Bankok

Bangkok’s tropical maritime climate ensures year-round warm weather, but choosing when to visit depends on your preference on the heat or crowds.

November to February: Most Pleasant Weather and festivities

This is the most comfortable period with temperatures hovering around 32°C (90°F) but it cools down in the mornings and evenings to around 23 °C (73 °F), ideal for outdoor activities. Minimums may on rare occasions dip as low as 15°C. This is however peak tourist season, so expect attractions to be more crowded and higher hotel prices, especially around major holidays. Book your accommodation early enough to secure the best deals.

November’s Loy Krathong with countless glowing banana-leaf boats floating on the canals and the Chao Phraya River.
December’s Christmas festivities & decorations
New Year’s Eve fireworks.
February is the Chinese New Year in Chinatown bringing dragon parades, traditional performances and amazing food.

March to April: The Hottest Months

Bangkok’s heat peaks from March to April, and yes it’s hot — 35 °C (95 °F) on average. Temperatures frequently exceed 40°C (104°F) and sightseeing can be challenging.
Average heat indices are about 42 °C (108 °F) during daytime and around 30 °C (86 °F) at night. Heat indices rising to 48 °C (118 °F) or higher, with nighttime heat indices around 36 °C (97 °F) sometimes do occur.
However this off-season brings fewer tourists and better accommodation rates. One can utilise the hotels, resorts, museums and public transport to find relief from the scorching sun.
Songkran: Thailand’s exhilarating New Year celebration is from April 13 to April 15. The famous citywide water fights! It’s an unforgettable experience but be prepared - everything and everyone gets soaked!

June to October: The Monsoon Season

As monsoon arrives, temperatures will cool slightly but the humidity rises. Sudden rain showers, and the low atmospheric pressure cleans the city air. The afternoon showers are a pleasant way to cool down heat, and while in some occasions they may last all day, they’re usually over within an hour and Bangkok nevertheless remains its vibrant self.

Tourist numbers remain far lighter than during peak season, but start increasing due to summer holidays in Europe and USA and Canada.

Final Tips