You are a nature lover by heart and are hopping from excitement, knowing that you will encounter beautiful Thai nature. However, your plane lands in Bangkok first and something tells you that completely skipping this city, although not being a big city lover, would be a mistake. I hear you fellow traveler! Let’s dive into a short Bangkok trip and sniff in some cultural wonders before departing on your nature-orientated trip through Thailand!
How to get to Bangkok city center?
To reach the city center of Bangkok from the airport, the most convenient option is to take a taxi from Suvarnabhumi or Don Muang airport to the city center of Bangkok. Upon exiting the airport, follow the signs leading to the designated taxi area. There, you’ll need to take a numbered ticket and wait for your turn as taxis operate on a queue system.
It’s important to be aware that taxi drivers propose a fixed price for the journey. However, ALWAYS insist on using the meter. Always request the taxi driver to switch it on to ensure a fair and accurate price. In Thailand, agreeing to a fixed price ALWAYS results in being charged more than the actual metered fare.
The taxi ride from the airport to the city center typically takes around one hour from the Suvarnabhumi airport, depending on traffic conditions. Other less convenient options to reach the city center are train and bus options.
budget travel tip: Don’t take cash with you but preload your Wise card accordingly to the amount you think you will need on your trip. Withdrawing money with your Wise card from a local ATM can save you money compared to exchanging cash at the airport. An extra plus: you get 2 free withdrawings per month !
How to get around in Bangkok?
While public transport is a budget-friendly choice, it’s often considered unreliable, especially during peak traffic hours, where you might find yourself waiting for extended periods of time. Despite being cost-effective, the potential inconvenience might outweigh the savings.
For a more convenient and reliable travel experience, opting for taxi (ask to put on the meter!) services is the best way of transport. Although slightly pricier than public transport, the added comfort and time efficiency make it a worthwhile investment.
Also have a look at Grab, these operators can even drive you from one point to the other for an even lower price than a normal taxi service! Another option is to rent a scooter if you’re not afraid of the busy streets of Bangkok.
Where to stay in Bangkok
Getting around Bangkok is impossible without taking a transport option at some point. However, if you stay near Khao San Road, most touristic highlights are found around this area. We stayed at the Lamphu House accommodation which is not far from Khao San Road, but still offers a quiet haven to escape the bustling city life.
Anti-scamming tips for Bangkok
Although tourist scams are quite common in Thailand in general (although it’s always for a few euros), Bangkok is thé place where you can’t avoid being scammed. Here are some of the most common ones:
Taxi meters and traffic hours
During peak traffic hours, between 5 PM and 7 PM, taxi drivers refuse to use the meter and insist on a fixed fare, often double the regular rate without the possibility to bargain. To avoid this, consider planning your travels outside of these peak hours when taxis drivers will use the meter or use a Grab.
Tuk tuks in Bangkok
While tuk tuks may seem like an iconic way to explore Bangkok, ask about the distance before hopping on, as tuk tuk rides can be expensive for longer journeys. Tuk tuk drivers tend to drop you off close to their friends’ shops where they offer exclusive tours, but these are often overpriced attractions.
Opening hours of the Grand Palace
As you stroll toward the Grand Palace, encountering a seemingly friendly person who informs you that the Palace is only open in the afternoon and suggests taking a floating market tour first, might appear as a genuine gesture. Despite not actively selling anything, this individual is part of a network aiming to scam unsuspecting tourists.
Their strategy involves convincing you to take a tuk-tuk ride from his friend (for which you have to pay) to the floating market. The driver stops at one of the floating market tour operators (the super expensive ones) and stands next to you, making it a challenge to decline the offer.
Try to recognize this scheme and be prepared to firmly refuse any offered tours or services since these are very expensive scams! We only realized the scam when we were already on the tuk-tuk. We armed ourselves with a resolute “no” and walked back to the Grand Palace, because… The Grand Palace is open EVERYDAY from 8:30am- 3:30pm!
3 day itinerary in Bangkok
Day 1 in Bangkok
Trok Mor Morning Market
Wandering through Trok Mor Morning Market is like stepping into the beating heart of local culture. If your taste buds are still adjusting to the nuances of Asian cuisine, it’s advisable to have a little something beforehand, as the market mainly offers fried fishes and vegetables. There is a pancake roti stand as well which gives your taste buds the comforting taste of Western breakfast. It’s a nice way of encountering your first local market, however if you’re in need of time, don’t sweat it since there are much more interesting places to visit!
Grand Palace and temple of the emerald Buddha
The Grand Palace has a beautiful temple complex which ends in a marvelous garden. Be aware of the dresscode here! Even men are required to wear long pants and T Shirts. I always carry my trusty sarong – a versatile companion that doubles as a beach towel or a modest wrap- around for temple visits.
If you’re interested in buying a sarong for your South East Asian trip yourself, opt for a sizable one, around 180 cm, to ensure it covers your legs completely. Tickets to the Grand Palace include a short theater performance which showcases all the traditional dances in Thailand. You can take the mini bus at the exit after your visit to the Grand Palace which will take you to the theater.
insert foto ‘grand palace bangkok’ en ‘grand palace bangkok garden’
Wat Pho
Wat Pho definitely belongs to the top 10 best temples of Bangkok! It feels like a labyrinth of temples. The star of the show is the Reclining Buddha, an impressive golden Buddha statue stretching 46 meters in length and 15 meters in height. Wat pho opening hours are from 8am to 18:30pm and a ticket for non-Thai tourists costs around 200 baht.
foto ‘the Reclining Buddha of Wat Pho’
MBK Shoppingcenter
If you like to take a break from the cultural impressions, you can go to the MBK shopping mall. Here you can find the most delicious snacks for a perfect lunch break and you can experience the differences with European shopping malls.
Khao San Road
Khao San Road is the epicenter of nightlife in Bangkok so if you like to have drinks and enjoy some dancing, this is the place to be. Remember to bring ear protection with you! The music’s volume of all the bars combined, reaches a crescendo, making proper conversations almost impossible. A bit of preparation beforehand is advisable if you get uncomfortable from seeing grilled crocodile and cockroaches.
Day 2 in Bangkok
What Arun
This temple is situated on the other side of the Chao Phraya River in the city. You can take a short boat trip to the other side which will cost you around 2 baht. A visit to the What Arun temple costs 100 baht. There is an option to rent a complete set of traditional Chinese clothes during your visit. You see a lot of photoshoots here from Chinese people which looked wonderfull. However, I couldn’t shake the suspicion that the charm of those garments might not translate as well on a European blonde like me. What arun opens its gates from 8am to 6pm.
traveltip: you can watch a beautiful sunset with a view of the What Arun Temple and the river in the evening.
Lumphini Park
If you like to take a short break from the busy city vibe Bangkok offers, I suggest to visit Lumphini Park. While not the most visually stunning and green park, it has an exotique touch thanks to the presence of sizable water monitors , especially around the park pool.
Chatuchak Weekend market
Little did we know that this is the largest weekend market in the world! Luckily we started our visit a bit early to explore this incredible diverse place as we initially planned to go for only 2 hours (because normally that’s enough time to visit a market).
We were planning for a 2 hour visit before leaving to the airport again. Luckily we were ahead on schedule and had a few hours more to explore this incredible diverse market. We will not exaggerate if we say the market spans an area equivalent to two football fields. There is an enormous place outside, and inside there are different levels of shopping stands. You can easily get lost in this place. Navigating all the different stands, we soon realized that bargaining was not on the table since prices were already unbeatable.
Here you can’t bargain for prices as this is the cheapest you will find them in Thailand so prices are fixed. I suggest to go with an empty stomach because there is so much delicious food to taste! The market’s affordability and quality led us consider to start another South East Asian adventure someday without packing a single piece of clothing or shoes, opting to buy super cheap and stylish materials from the Chatuchak Weekend Market!
Day 3: Daytrip to Ayutthaya
If you are not tired of all the temple complexes yet, then this old city is a worthwile visit. It’s a 2 hour drive from Bangkok to Ayutthaya and you can get your tickets through 12GoAsia. You can easily spend a few days here, but after one day, you have a very good impression of the architecture and history of this city. I suggest to rent bicycles or an electric step to navigate around the area since the temple complexes are scattered across the city and this transport option allows you to hop from one historical gem to another!
After immersing yourself in the rich culture and temples of Thailand, it’s time to finally switch gears and start your nature adventure!
