UltimateCity Guide Bangkok
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The white walls and spires of the Grand Palace reflected in rainwater at dawn The white walls and spires of the Grand Palace reflected in rainwater at dawn Oarsmen on the Chao Phraya below Wat Arun at sunset Bangkok and the bends of the Chao Phraya by night, seen from State Tower The limestone needle of Ko Tapu in Phang Nga Bay

The city guide to Bangkok, Thailand

Best of Bangkok

Golden spires on the river, the grand hotels of Charoen Krung, MICHELIN stars from a street-side wok to three-starred tasting menus, rooftop bars above the city, and the islands of the Andaman and the Gulf an hour away.

Where to eatWhat to see

Your trusted, one‑stop guide to Bangkok

Bangkok is a city of the river: the Grand Palace and Wat Pho on the old royal island, Wat Arun across the water, the grand hotels of Charoen Krung, Chinatown’s neon and street food, and the towers, malls and parks of Siam, Lumphini and Sukhumvit. It is one of the great cities to eat in, from a crab omelette with a MICHELIN star to two restaurants with three, and the gateway to Ayutthaya, Hua Hin and the Thai islands. We list only places we have checked against their own websites and official sources.

Wat Arun

The Temple of Dawn

Wat Arun

Thonburi riverside·Temple

Take the little ferry from Tha Tien, beside Wat Pho, across the Chao Phraya to Wat Arun, whose central prang is studded with fragments of Chinese porcelain. Come back across the river for the sunset, when the spire glows against the sky.

Plan your visit

Bangkok by neighbourhood

From the old royal island to Thonglor: each area has its own guide.

The golden chedi and roofs of Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace beyond the lawns of Sanam LuangNeighbourhood guideRattanakosinThe palace and the templesRiverboats moored on the Chao Phraya at dusk, with the riverside towers lit beyondNeighbourhood guideThe RiversideCharoen Krung and the grand hotelsBangkok spread out below the observation deck of King Power MahanakhonNeighbourhood guideSilom & SathornTowers, tables and the parkWetlands and raised walkways in Benjakitti Forest ParkNeighbourhood guideSukhumvit & ThonglorSois, tables and barsThe sunlit main hall of Siam ParagonNeighbourhood guideSiam & PathumwanMalls, parks and grand hotelsNeon signs over Yaowarat Road at nightNeighbourhood guideChinatownYaowarat and Talat NoiA Skytrain at Ari stationNeighbourhood guideAriLeafy sois and cafésA canal on the Thonburi side, with a white chedi and a golden Buddha above the waterNeighbourhood guideThonburi riversideWat Arun, ICONSIAM and the canals

From Bangkok to the islands

An hour’s flight from the capital, the islands of two seas: the limestone towers of the Andaman and the calm villas of the Gulf.

The limestone needle of Ko Tapu in Phang Nga BayStart hereThe Thai IslandsTen islands, two seasPainted Sino-European shophouses in Phuket Old TownIsland guidePhuketOld Town, beaches and fine diningLongtail boats on West Railay beach beneath the limestone cliffsIsland guideKrabi and RailayRailay, Ao Nang and the islandsThe twin bays of Phi Phi Don from the viewpointIsland guideKoh Phi PhiCliffs, coves and coralKlong Khong beach on Koh LantaIsland guideKoh LantaLong beaches and an old townLimestone islands seen from Koh Yao NoiIsland guideKoh Yao NoiCalm in the middle of the bayThe coast of Koh Samui at duskIsland guideKoh SamuiVillas, wellness and calm waterLongtail boats on Haad Rin, Koh PhanganIsland guideKoh PhanganFull moons and quiet coves

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go.

The glass and steel concourse of Suvarnabhumi AirportBefore you goBangkok essentialsEntry, money and getting aroundA BTS Skytrain on its elevated track, with Victory Monument behindGetting aroundGetting aroundAirport link, BTS, MRT and boatsThe golden chedi and roofs of Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace beyond the lawns of Sanam LuangItineraryOne perfect dayThe old city and the riverWhite wicker chairs and palms in the Authors’ LoungeLuxury guideLuxury BangkokThe finest addresses

Beyond Bangkok

An old capital, the River Kwai, the first beach resort, the eastern seaboard, a national park and the floating markets.

The Buddha head entwined in tree roots at Wat Mahathat, AyutthayaBeyond BangkokAyutthayaTemples of the old capitalThe steel bridge over the River Kwai at KanchanaburiBeyond BangkokKanchanaburiThe River Kwai and ErawanHua Hin beach at sunriseBeyond BangkokHua HinThailand’s first beach resortThe carved wooden spires of the Sanctuary of Truth, PattayaBeyond BangkokPattayaThe Sanctuary of Truth and the showsGrasslands and forest in Khao Yai National ParkBeyond BangkokKhao YaiForest, falls and vineyardsBoats laden with fruit at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, from aboveBeyond BangkokThe floating marketsDamnoen Saduak and Amphawa

In depth: Bangkok’s back stories

The grand riverside hotels, the Bangkok table, the sky bars, the temples and the parks.

The white Authors’ Wing of the Mandarin Oriental among palmsThe back storyHeritage on the waterThe Oriental to CapellaA street cook tossing a flaming wok in BangkokThe back storyThe Bangkok tableFrom street food to three starsBangkok and the bends of the Chao Phraya by night, seen from State TowerThe back storyHigh in the cloudsThe sky barsThe golden chedi and roofs of Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace beyond the lawns of Sanam LuangThe back storyTemples and golden spiresSeeing the old city wellThe lake in Lumphini Park with the Silom towers beyondThe back storyGreen lungsWhere Bangkok breathesBronze bells along the terrace path of the Golden MountFun factsBangkok fun factsThings you might not know

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

The Acropolis of Athens by day, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide The old town of Belgrade above the Sava, with the spire of the Cathedral Church of St MichaelSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide Helsinki Cathedral above the South HarbourFinlandULTIMATE HelsinkiSuomenlinna and the South Harbour, saunas by the sea, Aalto and the Design District, two-starred Palace and day trips to Porvoo and Tallinn.Visit the guide The Blue Mosque at nightTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide The Triple Bridge over the LjubljanicaSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth TowerUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, world-class museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Stone Bridge over the VardarNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide St Alexander Nevsky CathedralBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey MosqueAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide The tiled roof of St Mark’s Church in Zagreb’s Upper TownCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide Goat Cay and the turquoise shallows of the ExumasOur sister guideULTIMATE The BahamasSeven hundred islands: Nassau and Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays and the swimming pigs, Harbour Island’s pink sand, marinas and island hopping.Visit the guide The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesOur sister guideULTIMATE BarbadosThe Platinum West Coast and Sandy Lane, UNESCO-listed Bridgetown, rum where it was born, Friday nights in Oistins and the wild Atlantic east.Visit the guide Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coastUSAULTIMATE CaliforniaSan Francisco, Napa and Sonoma, Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway, San Diego, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and the national parks.Visit the guide The beach at Rosemary Beach on the Gulf of MexicoUSAULTIMATE FloridaOrlando and the theme parks, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Sarasota, St. Augustine and Scenic Highway 30A.Visit the guide The Las Vegas Strip at duskNevadaULTIMATE Las VegasThe Strip and its shows, MICHELIN dining, Sphere and Fremont Street’s neon, with Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon beyond.Visit the guide Griffith Observatory with downtown Los Angeles beyondCaliforniaULTIMATE Los AngelesHollywood and the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills’ grand hotels, the Sunset Strip, the Getty and the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu.Visit the guide Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide The New York City skyline from Top of the RockNew YorkULTIMATE New YorkManhattan’s grand hotels and MICHELIN dining, Broadway and the Met, Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park and the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO.Visit the guide Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsOur sister guideULTIMATE St LuciaThe UNESCO Pitons and Soufrière’s drive-in volcano, Marigot Bay, Rodney Bay and the Gros Islet street party, reefs, rum and cocoa.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbourIndiaULTIMATE MumbaiThe Taj and the Gateway of India, Marine Drive’s Queen’s Necklace, three UNESCO sites, modern Indian restaurants and day trips to Elephanta and the Ghats.Visit the guide The Lujiazui skyline across the Huangpu River from the BundChinaULTIMATE ShanghaiThe grand hotels of the Bund facing the towers of Pudong, every MICHELIN star, Yu Garden, the two Shanghai Museums and day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou.Visit the guide The ramparts of Galle FortOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and locals talking about Bangkok, its restaurants, theatres, museums and neighbourhoods.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre

    This week’s pick

    Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre

    Phra Nakhon·Theatre

    Khon, Thailand’s masked dance drama, at the 1930s Sala Chalermkrung theatre in the old city: check the show days on the theatre’s website and book ahead.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    The golden chedi and roofs of Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace beyond the lawns of Sanam LuangItineraryOne perfect day in the old cityOne day, on foot and by ferryOarsmen on the Chao Phraya below Wat Arun at sunsetItineraryThree days in Bangkok: a first visitThree days, by BTS, MRT and river boatWetlands and raised walkways in Benjakitti Forest ParkItineraryOne elegant day in ThonglorOne day, on foot and by BTSRiverboats moored on the Chao Phraya at dusk, with the riverside towers lit beyondItineraryBangkok’s skyline from the riverOne day, by river boat and on footRiverboats moored on the Chao Phraya at dusk, with the riverside towers lit beyondItineraryA property viewing day: the river, Lumphini and SukhumvitOne day, by car, BTS and boat

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1From street food to MICHELIN stars: the Bangkok table, the back storyBangkok · In depth
    2. 2SornSukhumvit · Southern Thai
    3. 3SühringSathorn · German
    See all 45

    Cafés

    1. 1The Authors’ LoungeThe Riverside · Afternoon tea
    2. 2Nana Coffee RoastersAri · Speciality coffee
    3. 3Factory CoffeeWang Thonglang · Speciality coffee
    See all 6

    Bars

    1. 1High in the clouds: the rise of Bangkok’s sky bars, the back storyBangkok · In depth
    2. 2Sky BarSilom · Rooftop bar
    3. 3The Bamboo BarThe Riverside · Jazz bar
    See all 7

    Hotels

    1. 1Heritage on the water: Bangkok’s grand riverside hotels, the back storyThe Riverside · In depth
    2. 2Mandarin Oriental, BangkokThe Riverside · Grand hotel
    3. 3The Peninsula BangkokThonburi riverside · Grand hotel
    See all 36

    Sights

    1. 1Temples and golden spires: the historic heart of Rattanakosin, the back storyRattanakosin · In depth
    2. 2The Grand Palace and Wat Phra KaewRattanakosin · Palace & temple
    3. 3Wat PhoRattanakosin · Temple
    See all 18

    Museums & Shows

    1. 1National Museum BangkokRattanakosin · National museum
    2. 2Museum SiamRattanakosin · Museum
    3. 3Bangkok Art and Culture CentreSiam · Arts centre
    See all 10

    Parks

    1. 1Green lungs and urban canopies: Bangkok’s parks, the back storyBangkok · In depth
    2. 2Lumphini ParkLumphini · Park
    3. 3Benjakitti ParkKhlong Toei · Forest park
    See all 8

    Walks

    1. 1Rattanakosin: the palace, Wat Pho and the riverRattanakosin · Walk
    2. 2The Golden Mount and the old city lanesPhra Nakhon · Walk
    3. 3Charoen Krung and Talat NoiThe Riverside · Walk
    See all 6

    Shopping

    1. 1Mega-malls and floating markets: how Bangkok shops, the back storyBangkok · In depth
    2. 2ICONSIAMThonburi riverside · Shopping centre
    3. 3Siam ParagonSiam · Shopping centre
    See all 12

    Spas & Health

    1. 1Medical tourism and ancient healing: Thai massage and wellness, the back storyBangkok · In depth
    2. 2Wat Pho Thai Traditional Medical and Massage SchoolRattanakosin · Thai massage
    3. 3The Oriental SpaThonburi riverside · Hotel spa
    See all 13

    Property

    1. 1Buying in Bangkok: the back storyBangkok · In depth
    2. 2Knight Frank ThailandBangkok · Property consultancy
    3. 3Savills ThailandBangkok · Property consultancy
    See all 6

    Developments

    1. 1One BangkokLumphini · Mixed-use district
    2. 2Dusit Central ParkSilom · Mixed-use district
    3. 3The PARQKhlong Toei · Mixed-use building
    See all 6

    Motoring

    1. 1Hertz ThailandBangkok · Car hire
    2. 2Avis ThailandBangkok · Car hire
    3. 3GrabBangkok · Ride-hailing
    See all 5

    Getting Around

    1. 1Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)Samut Prakan · Airport
    2. 2Don Mueang International Airport (DMK)Don Mueang · Airport
    3. 3Domestic flights to the islandsBangkok · Flights
    See all 13

    Thai Islands

    1. 1Island hopping from BangkokBangkok · Planning guide
    2. 2The ultimate Andaman island hop by yachtPhang Nga Bay · Planning guide
    3. 348 hours in Krabi and RailayKrabi · Planning guide
    See all 96

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