Welcome to Bangkok

The capital of Thailand is one of the most exciting cities in Asia and by far the biggest city in Thailand. It has a population of more than 9 Million, or nearly 15% of the total population of Thailand. Located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok is most likely your point of entry into Thailand. The extraordinary blend of East and West, traditional and modern, old and new is the essence of Bangkok’s enduring appeal to most visitors. Bangkok is one of the most intriguing cities in the world, offering you a travel experience unlike any other place.


Arrival in Bangkok

Suvarnabhumi Airport – 25 km to the east of the city - is Bangkok's International Airport and main gateway. All international flights are arriving and departing from Suvarnabhumi Airport (Airport Code: BKK). www.suvarnabhumiairport.com.

Transfers from Suvarnabhumi Airport to most hotels in the city center generally take about 45 minutes, depending on the location and traffic conditions of course. In April 2010 the new 26 km Airport Rail-Link will connect Suvarnabhumi Airport with the city center terminal at Makkasan (near Pratunam). The Airport Rail-Link will connect with the Skytrain and the Subway at Phayathai and Petchburi stations.

Bangkok’s former airport Don Muang Airport (Airport Code: DMK) - 25 km to the north of the city - is still open for a number of domestic flights and low-budget carriers.

Orientation

Orientation in Bangkok can somewhat be difficult for first-timers as the city has neither any visible landscape features nor an obvious centre. The easiest orientation line is the Chao Phraya River which divides the city into Bangkok and its suburb Thonburi. The historical centre of Bangkok, called “Rattanakosin”, is nestled along a bend of the Chao Phraya River to the west side of the city. You will be heading there most likely during one of the sightseeing tours or boat trips as many of Bangkok’s famous temples are located in that part of town. At the eastern end of the historic centre is Bangkok’s bustling Chinatown and Bangkok’s main train station Hualamphong. The “new” Bangkok, and what can be called the commercial centre, is further to the east of the city and stretches for many kilometres to the east (the location of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport) and the north (the location of the city’s Domestic Airport Don Mueang). Two of the most well known and major roads in the city are Sukhumvit Road and Silom Road where many hotels are located along the “Skytrain” route. The city’s main shopping belt is the area between Siam Square and Pratunam Market in the central business district.

Where to stay?

Accommodation in the city covers all price ranges and selection obviously depends primarily on location, budget and taste. For our recommendations browse >>> Hotel Selection above left.

For leisure travellers there are a few major areas to shortlist when trying to make a choice where to stay. Many luxury hotels are situated along the Chao Phraya River and obviously rooms that offer river view are a major draw to choose this location. Here you will find some of the famous hotels Bangkok is well-known for. Heading east from the river towards the city are three major roads where a number of well known hotels are located: Sathorn Road, Silom Road and Suriwong Road. At the southern end of Silom and Suriwong Road is the well-known Patpong Night Market. Convenient access to shopping or the Skytrain may be another factor to choose a hotel. Many hotels are located near shopping centers and department stores and the area between Siam Square to the west and the lower Sukhumvit Road to the east is one of the most popular for tourists to stay. A number of hotels here are located directly along the skytrain route, or just within a few hundred meters into the small side streets that branch off from the main road.

Sightseeing

To get acquainted to your new destination and to familiarize yourself with the city, we recommend a number of guided introductory tours. For more details >>> click Bangkok Tours above left.

For any newcomer to the city, Bangkok merits a stay of minimum of 3-4 days to take in some of the spectacular temples and cultural sights that are a delight to explore. Travelling by rice barge and enjoying an evening dinner cruise is certainly a pleasant way to start your visit to this vibrant and colourful metropolis, while a boat tour along the small canals that criss-cross the western part of the city offers another unique perspective. Museums and historic buildings provide insights into the lifestyle across the centuries and while the city may be chocked by traffic jams most of the day, some parts, such as the bustling Chinatown or the lively weekend market are best discovered by foot. Plenty of worthwhile excursions to neighbouring provinces are within a day’s reach and will reward you with colourful landscapes or historic monuments of centuries past.

A note how to dress

There is a “dress code” to visit temples and places of worship almost like anywhere else. This is particularly observed when visiting the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. You will not be allowed in wearing short trousers, sleeveless shirts and flip-flop style sandals. Shoes must be removed when entering the main chapel.

Dining

Over the past years Bangkok has developed into one of the culinary capitals of Asia. Bangkok offers an incredible range of culinary venues to suit every budget, from rustic charm to modern splendour, topped up by the renowned Thai hospitality. The dining experience is one of the most important elements of Thai society and lifestyle. Bangkokians eat out day and night, 24/7, as you will discover soon enough. On every street you will spot mobile vendors selling noodle soups and rice dishes; “street food” is highly popular and unique to this city. Many of Bangkok’s malls and departments stores dedicate some space to “Food Courts” where you can sample street food in air-conditioned surroundings. This is an easy and save way to venture into local eating habits. Be aware that smoking is now prohibited in all air-conditioned venues city-wide. For that special evening out or an anniversary dinner in one of Bangkok’s stylish restaurants, we are happy to assist with recommendations and reservations.

Shopping

One of the many appeals of Bangkok is the shopping experience. Bangkok’s shopping scene is one of the best in Southeast Asia and countless travellers have turned into shopaholics, giving up to the never-ending supply of shopping venues. World-class luxury malls and sophisticated department stores are conveniently located along the Skytrain route, many of them accessible directly from the station platforms. Trendy outlets for teenagers are to be found at Siam Square and Siam Discovery Center whereas MBK Center is a perpetually packed venue not to be missed for a glimpse of mind-boggling Asian-style shopping. Chatuchak Weekend Market is located at the northern outskirts of Bangkok and one of the world’s largest weekend market with over 5000 stalls and booths selling goods form all over Thailand. Even after then sun sets, bargain hunting can be done at Bangkok’s well known night markets.

Entertainment

When it comes to entertainment, Bangkok’s vibrant night life offers infinite choices: Siam Niramit Theater draws a large audience every evening to its world-class show. A couple of hotels and restaurants offer dinner venues with traditional dance performances. Transvestite cabaret shows are fun to watch and make an entertaining evening out for the whole family. Or just kick-back and relax in one of the countless pubs, trendy bars, sophisticated cocktail lounges and pulsating discotheques.

Public Transport

The BTS Skytrain system is the most comfortable, fastest and safest public transport. Clean and air-conditioned trains run every few minutes between 6 am and midnight. There are two lines, more or less running along the popular shopping routes, but not to the historic part of the city. The recently opened MRT subway operates a 20-km line from the main train station Hualamphong to the suburbs of Bangkok. Single journey tickets can be purchased on the platform and are needed after the journey to exit the station. 1-day and multi-day cards are available.

BTS Skytrain Website: www.bts.co.th

MRT Website: www.bangkokmetro.co.th

Taxis and Tuk Tuks

All taxis are air-conditioned. Use only Taxis with a rooftop TAXI METER sign. A red light in the windscreen means the taxi is available. Ensure that the meter is switched on, every journey starts with a fixed rate of 35 Baht. Avoid taxi drivers mingling around hotels and department stores. They are offering overcharged flat rates and undesired shopping stops are often “included” in their offer. Tuk Tuks (open sided 3-wheelers) are typical of Bangkok and useful for shorter trips. Tuk Tuks are not necessary cheaper than taxis and the fare must be agreed in advance. For both, taxi and Tuk Tuk rides, keep change handy as drivers often are unable to change large bank notes. Make sure your destination is well understood, or better, have it written in Thai by the hotel staff or our guide.

Bangkok – then and now

King Rama I founded the city when he moved the capital across the Chao Phraya River from neighbouring Thonburi in 1782. At that time, Bangkok – a name deriving from “bang”, meaning riverside village, and “makok” meaning “olive”, also received its official name “Krung Thep” (City of Angels) that came to be the world’s longest city name by its full length. In 2004 Bangkok celebrated its 222nd anniversary, the days as a “riverside village” long gone.

Originally the city was designed around a system of canals, called Klongs. This gave reason for the description of Bangkok as the “Venice of the East”. By mid 1800, the canals gradually began to be replaced with roadways. Some canals, primarily on the Thonburi side, have remained to these days and offer a unique way to explore the city through a maze of waterways.

Bangkok remained a quiet city until the 1960’s when the country’s economy and society began a rapid expansion, developing the Thai capital into one of the largest cities in South East Asia. Since the early 1960’s, Bangkok’s population has increased from 1.5 Million to its present size and the city has become the dominating hub of a nation that is still mostly rural.

The most widely visited parts of Bangkok are its oldest quarters, an area called “Rattanakosin”. It is the area where the first King of the reigning Chakri Dynasty, Rama I, started to build his new capital, its Royal Palace (nowadays called the Grand Palace) and the adjacent Temple of the Emerald Buddha, making it the new political and spiritual centre of what was then called Siam. King Rama V later, influenced by his trips to Europe, built wide tree-lined boulevards and neo-classic buildings still much in evidence in that part of the city. Commerce moved eastward to what is today the city’s bustling Chinatown.

Today, Bangkok is one of the most modern cities in South East Asia. Regardless of its pollution and traffic jams, it has maintained a unique charm, where gleaming skyscrapers stand next to serene spirit houses and where saffron clad monks still make their morning rounds bare-feet. Here east truly meets west in such a colorful and exotic way that you will find exploring the city a most rewarding experience.