Visit Bangkok

Bangkok throws you off, then reels you in: the Grand Palace and Wat Pho in the morning, a klong by longtail in the afternoon, Chinatown street food at night and a rooftop bar to finish. Two days cover the essentials, four to add Ayutthaya and the floating markets.

Why visit Bangkok?

Bangkok is the gateway to Southeast Asia and one of the most visited cities in the world. It combines major Buddhist heritage around the Grand Palace, a life on the river and canals, an exceptional street-food scene and modern transport that skips the traffic. Three days are enough for a full first taste.

Bangkok's must-sees

Temples, markets and gathering places, most reachable by boat or Skytrain.

Grand Palace

The former royal residence from 1782, a 218,000 m² compound holding Wat Phra Kaew and the Emerald Buddha, the country's most revered jade statue.

Wat Pho

Bangkok's oldest temple, a gilded 46-metre reclining Buddha and 108 merit bowls, birthplace of traditional Thai medicine.

Wat Arun

The Temple of Dawn on the Thonburi bank, a 70-metre prang inlaid with Chinese porcelain, spectacular at sunset.

Chao Phraya

The river through the city, worked by colour-flagged river buses, the fastest way to reach the temples.

Chinatown (Yaowarat)

The Chinese quarter and its main street, which turns into a street-food festival every night after 6 pm.

Chatuchak Market

Fifteen thousand stalls at the weekend, one of the world's largest markets, from crafts to antiques to plants.

Jim Thompson House

Six traditional teak houses brought together by the American who revived Thai silk, set in a tropical garden.

Wat Saket

The Golden Mount, a gilded chedi atop an artificial hill, 344 steps and a 360-degree view over old Bangkok.

Lumpini Park

58 hectares of green in the middle of Sathorn, a paddle-boat lake, water monitors and dawn tai chi.

Bang Krachao

A mangrove peninsula nicknamed the green lung, laced with cycling walkways, a two-minute ferry from the centre.

Sathorn rooftops

Bars perched 50-plus floors above the river and towers, dress code common, sunset recommended.

What to see in Bangkok, district by district?

Rattanakosin, the royal island

Old Bangkok sits on an island ringed by canals. The Grand Palace and the temple of the Emerald Buddha open at 8:30 am and close at 3:30 pm: arrive early, with shoulders and knees covered, or you will be lent a sarong at the gate. Wat Pho and its 46-metre reclining Buddha are a five-minute walk away, with the country's best-known massage school. Allow a full morning for both, ahead of the afternoon groups.

The river and Thonburi

The Chao Phraya is the fastest route across the city. The orange-flag river bus serves the main piers for a handful of baht. Across the water, the Thonburi bank is explored by private longtail for 1h30: stilt houses, Wat Arun with its porcelain-clad prang, Wat Paknam and its giant golden Buddha visible from afar. The Taling Chan and Khlong Lat Mayom floating markets liven up the bank at weekends.

Chinatown, Yaowarat

The Chinese quarter stretches along Yaowarat Road, dense and maze-like. By day it is the market of gold, medicinal herbs and Sampeng Lane. From 6 pm, street kitchens set up on the pavements: stir-fried noodles, grilled seafood, desserts. It is the best place to eat standing up. The Wat Mangkon metro station has served the heart of the quarter directly since 2019.

Sukhumvit and the vertical city

To the east, Sukhumvit is the Bangkok of expats, malls and rooftops. The BTS Skytrain runs its full length above the traffic, for 20 to 65 baht a trip. People come for the rooftop bars above Sathorn, restaurants from around the world and massages. The neighbouring district of Ari, one station on, has a more local and creative feel, popular at weekends.

Siam and the big markets

Siam is the city's shopping centre, its air-conditioned malls linked by walkways. It is also the starting point for the teak Jim Thompson House, toured with a guide every thirty minutes. The Chatuchak market, further north, lays out fifteen thousand stalls on Saturday and Sunday only: arrive before 11 am, ahead of the heat and the crowd. The Ratchada and Jodd Fairs night markets take over in the evening.

Parks, museums and quiet quarters

Bangkok has its breathing spaces. Lumpini Park, right in the centre, is home to water monitors and good for a morning run. The National Museum, the largest in Southeast Asia, traces the kingdom's history in half a day. Bang Krachao, a preserved peninsula reached by a two-minute ferry, is explored by bike on walkways above the mangrove: countryside twenty minutes from the centre.

Day trips: Ayutthaya, floating markets and Kanchanaburi

Several classic outings run from Bangkok. Ayutthaya, the former capital and its park of ruins, is 1h30 by train or minivan. The Maeklong railway market and the Amphawa floating market are visited together in a day, to the south-west. Kanchanaburi and the Bridge on the River Kwai need an overnight stay. For a real journey, northern Thailand begins in Chiang Mai, an hour away by plane.

Bangkok in pictures

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Frequently asked questions about Bangkok

How many days do you need in Bangkok?
Two full days cover the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Chinatown and a rooftop. A third day allows the markets, Thonburi by longtail and Bang Krachao; a fourth a day trip to Ayutthaya or the floating markets.
How do you get from Suvarnabhumi airport to central Bangkok?
The Airport Rail Link reaches Phaya Thai station in 30 minutes for about 45 baht, with a BTS connection. A metered taxi costs 300 to 450 baht including tolls and takes 40 minutes to 1 h depending on traffic.
Is the Grand Palace paid, and how do you avoid the crowds?
Entry costs 500 baht and includes the Vimanmek pavilion and Wat Phra Kaew. Arrive at the 8:30 am opening, ahead of the groups and the heat. The site closes at 3:30 pm and sometimes earlier for royal ceremonies.
Which floating market should you choose near Bangkok?
Amphawa, busy at weekends in the late afternoon, is the liveliest and popular with Thais. Damnoen Saduak is more photogenic but very touristy. Taling Chan, within Bangkok itself, is the easiest without an organised tour.
Do French travellers need a visa for Thailand?
Since 15 September 2026, French nationals get a 30-day visa exemption for a tourist stay, down from 60. The digital TDAC arrival card must be completed online within three days before arrival, and overstaying leads to a fine.
Is Bangkok dangerous for travellers?
Violent crime against tourists is rare. The real risks are tuk-tuk and gem scams, scooter accidents and crossing big roads. Keep an eye on bags and phones in crowded markets.
Can you visit Bangkok during the rainy season?
Yes, the showers from May to October are often violent but brief, in the late afternoon. Prices are lower and temples less crowded. September is the wettest month, with a risk of some streets flooding.
How should you dress to visit Bangkok's temples?
Shoulders and knees covered for everyone, including men in shorts. Shoes come off before entering prayer halls. The Grand Palace lends or hires a sarong or shirt if your outfit does not pass.
What is there to do in Bangkok in the evening?
Street dinner on Yaowarat, a drink on a Sathorn rooftop, the Jodd Fairs or Ratchada night market, a puppet or muay thai show, a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya. Temples close early, but Wat Arun and Wat Pho are lit at night.

Articles about Bangkok

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