Discover Bangkok
Bangkok is a city that overwhelms in the best possible way. Towering golden temples sit beside gleaming shopping malls, ancient canal networks thread between skyscraper-lined boulevards, and some of the world's best food is served from humble street carts for less than two dollars. The Thai capital is chaotic, beautiful, aromatic, and endlessly fascinating.
Best Areas to Stay in Bangkok
The Riverside area near the Grand Palace and Wat Pho offers the most culturally immersive hotel experience. Properties like the Mandarin Oriental and Peninsula Bangkok provide legendary river-view luxury. The Silom/Sathorn area combines business-district convenience with excellent nightlife and the famous Patpong night market. Sukhumvit is Bangkok's longest road, stretching east with a massive choice of hotels, rooftop bars, and the BTS Skytrain overhead.
Where to Book in Bangkok
Khao San Road in the Banglamphu area remains Bangkok's backpacker epicentre, with budget accommodation, street food, and a party atmosphere. Nearby, however, are some of Bangkok's most important temples and the charming Old Town. Boutique heritage hotels in converted shophouses on Charoen Krung Road offer stylish accommodation in the city's historic trading district.
Things to Do in Bangkok
Bangkok's food scene is legendary. From pad thai fried to order at street stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants reinventing Thai cuisine, from fiery som tam papaya salad to silky mango sticky rice, every meal is an adventure. The city's rooftop bars — like Sky Bar from The Hangover II and Vertigo at the Banyan Tree — offer cocktails with jaw-dropping city panoramas.