UltimateCity Guide Bangkok
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Stories from Bangkok, Thailand

Every story, long read and guide in the ULTIMATE Bangkok City Guide, in one place.

Areas

Bangkok by neighbourhood

From the old royal island to Thonglor, each area has its own guide: the palace and the temples, the grand riverside hotels, Silom’s towers, Yaowarat and the leafy sois of Ari.

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 hotels

The old city

The Grand Palace at 8:30, Wat Pho by 11, lunch, then the ferry to Wat Arun and sunset drinks on the old-city bank.

  1. Neighbourhood guideChinatownYaowarat and Talat Noi
  2. Neighbourhood guideAriLeafy sois and cafés
  3. Neighbourhood guideThonburi riversideWat Arun, ICONSIAM and the canals

History

History & heritage

The fall of Ayutthaya, a new capital founded in 1782 on an island in the Chao Phraya, the canals, the Chinese merchants, a kingdom never colonised and today’s megacity.

The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew in BangkokHistory & heritageAyutthaya, Thonburi and the capital of 1782: Bangkok’s heritageFrom Ayutthaya to the City of AngelsThe spiral galleries inside the Bangkok Art and Culture CentreThe back storyBangkok Art, Architecture & CultureIn Bangkok the classical and the contemporary sit side by side: a…

Our advice

River, then Lumphini

For a first visit, split your stay: three nights on the river, then three by Lumphini or in Sukhumvit. Heritage on the water

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 town

Pick your sea

Pick your sea by the season, not the other way round.

  1. Island guideKoh Yao NoiCalm in the middle of the bay
  2. Island guideKoh SamuiVillas, wellness and calm water
  3. Island guideKoh PhanganFull moons and quiet coves

Practical

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go: entry and money, the airport link, BTS, MRT and river boats, and one perfect day in the old city.

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 gilded Reclining Buddha in its hall at Wat PhoItineraryOne perfect dayThe old city and the river
  1. Luxury guideLuxury BangkokThe finest addresses

Day trips

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 vineyards
  1. Beyond BangkokThe floating marketsDamnoen Saduak and Amphawa

In depth

In depth: Bangkok, from Rattanakosin to the rooftops

The grand riverside hotels, the Bangkok table, the sky bars, the temples and the parks: the stories behind the city.

New Year fireworks over the Chao Phraya River, BangkokRatchaprasongChristmas in BangkokGiant trees at the malls, fireworks over the Chao PhrayaNeon signs over Yaowarat Road at nightIn depth: foodBangkok CuisineBoat noodles, tom yum and the Chinatown tableA large water monitor lizard on the grass by the boating lake in Lumphini ParkIn depth: nature & wildlifeWild BangkokLizards, wetlands and the forest

Sky bars

Book a sunset table at the top, then take a taxi to the riverside for cocktails at ground level.

  1. The back storyHeritage on the waterThe Oriental to Capella
  2. The back storyThe Bangkok tableFrom street food to three stars
  3. The back storyHigh in the cloudsThe sky bars

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