Bangkok
Thailand
Travel Guide
Bangkok Travel Guide 2026
How to use my travel guides
Given how much there is to do in Thailand, I have split it into several pages as follows:
- Main Page – A written overview of Thailand
- Bangkok – A guide to the nation’s centrally located capital (NOW READING)
- North Thailand – Mountain scenery with and a more ‘backpacker’ vibe than the rest of the country.
- South Thailand – Ideal for water-lovers with stunning islands, beaches, marine life and coastlines.
- Railay Beach – My favourite place in Thailand with beaches to relax and plenty of scope for adventure!
You can find links to these other pages, as well as my travel guides for other destinations below…
Overview
Bangkok is world-famous for good reason. As well as being Thailand’s capital and a city of around 5.5 million, it is vibrant, fun and tourist-friendly. It has enough to keep most people well entertained, whether you want to have daily massages, check out the cultural sites like the Grand Palace, stroll the markets or enjoy the wild nightlife. See my recommendations below for my favourite things to do in Bangkok.
Best things to do Bangkok 2026
I provide star ratings for each of my recommendations so that you can quickly narrow down what appeals to you. Explanations for what these mean can be found here.
I use Google Maps to plan all my trips and it’s a game-changer! I’ve added links to Google Maps for each of the locations below so you can easily add them to your own map. Be sure to copy this web link into the description of each location you save so that you can easily refer back to this guide later. Check out this blog for more tips on how to use Google Maps to enhance your travels!
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Building
Recommended Duration: 2 hours+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
One of the official residences of the kings of Siam/Thailand is open to the public. It’s a great place to visit with gold everywhere you look. Be aware that you will need to cover up. Men need to wear trousers (just wearing a sarong won’t do, despite this being appropriate in most temples), and from memory, women can wear a sarong. I bought some cheap trousers from a market over the road to enter.
Khao San Road
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Street
Recommended Duration: 1 evening+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
This is the most famous tourist street in Bangkok. You will find plenty of bars, fried scorpions and invitations to ping pong shows down this street. It’s pretty rowdy; if partying isn’t your thing, then I’d recommend going down for a look, but you may not want to stay too long. If you do like to enjoy the wilder side of city life, then this is definitely the place for you.
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Buddhist Temple and viewpoint
Recommended Duration: 1 hour
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
A temple and great viewpoint to look out over Bangkok.
Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Temple
Recommended Duration: 1 hour+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
A large, impressive temple complex located near the Grand Palace.
Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Temple
Recommended Duration: 1 hour+
Andy visited?: No, but people have recommended it to me
Description
A large, beautiful-looking temple.
Wat Sam Phran
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Temple
Recommended Duration: 1 hour+
Andy visited?: No, but my internet research suggests it may be worth visiting
Description
This temple looks pretty cool and different because it has a huge 17-storey pink tower with a dragon wrapped around it. The online reviews are good, and it’s located just west of the city, around a 35-minute drive from the Grand Palace.
Railway Market, Market
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Market
Recommended Duration: 1 hour+
Andy visited?: No, but my internet research suggests it may be worth visiting
Description
Located approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes drive west of Bangkok is a railway market where the market goes right up alongside the railway tracks. You could either go as a day trip from Bangkok or potentially stop by on our way to southern Thailand.
Ayutthaya
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Ruins
Recommended Duration: 3 hours+
Andy visited?: No, but people have recommended it to me
Description
The ancient capital of Siam (Thailand). This is a modern city, but with lots of ruins dotted around it to explore.
Khao Yai National Park
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: National Park
Recommended Duration: 1 day+
Andy visited?: No, but people have recommended it to me
Description
Located around two hours drive north-east of Bangkok is the Khao Yai National Park, which is highly-regarded for its beautiful landscapes, waterfalls and wildlife.
More Thailand Travel Guides
I hope that you have found this free Travel Guide useful. It took a lot of time and travel for me to make this, so if you would like to show your thanks by sending a small donation, I would be very grateful. This can be done on my Support Me page. Thank you!
Happy travels!
Andy Argo
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Title image: The Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand.