BANGKOK in 72 Hours
Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, has 10.5 million people and is famous for ornate temples, lively street scenes, and good value on hotels, transport, and food. Bangkok's rapid growth coupled with little urban planning has resulted in a haphazard cityscape and inadequate infrastructure. The boat-filled Chao Phraya River feeds its network of canals, flowing past the Rattanakosin royal district, home to lavish Grand Palace and its sacred Wat Phra Kaew Temple.
Tips:
Most countries, including the USA, do not need a visa to enter Thailand. <additional Visa info>
Thailand Travel Guides: Lonely Planet Thailand, Lonely Planet Bangkok and Fodor’s Thailand.
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Getting around Bangkok:
Most visitors arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link (SARL) provides speedy rail service from the airport to central Bangkok.
The train makes 8 stops (Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai) and takes about 26 minutes.For those with luggage, Grab is easiest to downtown Bangkok but expect heavy traffic and trips over 60 minutes. Skytrain or Metro are faster and simpler for visitors, though harder with luggage.
Uber is unavailable in Thailand.Hyatt Regency is a 10-minute walk from the airport terminal via a 200 m air‑conditioned underground walkway.
A direct rail link connects the hotel to Bangkok’s transport network, downtown and the central business district.
<Getting around by River Ferries>
Riverboats - offer great city views. Take the Chao Phraya public boat — an easy, scenic way to reach many top sights.
Where to stay in Bangkok:
Bangkok’s Riverside, is beautiful and very scenic, especially after dark, with its glittering temples, shrines, and the Royal Palace. In this area, you can explore Bangkok’s historic roots. This is the area where you find most of the top 5-star hotels in Bangkok. 👍
Bangkok Riverside Guide: Sathorn (Central) Pier, Pier 8, Pier 9, and Where to Find the Luxury Hotels.
Sukhumvit <map> one of Bangkok’s most cosmopolitan neighborhoods. It sits on central Sukhumvit Road.
Not ideal for daily trips to the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, or Wat Arun, but great for dining, shopping and nightlife. Bangkok’s traffic is awful, a taxi from Sukhumvit to the Grand Palace can take 45–90 minutes by day.Discover the Night Scene in Sukhumvit.
Ferry piers along Chao Phraya river.
Highlights:
Explore the majestic Royal Grand Palace. It used to be the King of Thailand’s home. It’s Bangkok’s best-known landmark and a must-see.
Getting to the Palace: 👉 get off at Tha Chang Pier (Pier No.9)
Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) - lies inside the Royal Palace and is famous for its jade Buddha statue.
👉 Located near Pier No. 9.
Visit Wat Pho - reclining Buddha.
—from the Grand Palace, walk (about 10 minutes) or take the ferry one stop to 👉 Tha Tien Pier (Pier No. 8)
—the impressive Buddha, covered in gold leaf, is 46 meters long and 15 meters high.
Temple of the Dawn (Wat Arun) - is a landmark temple on the west bank of the Chao Phraya river. One of Bangkok’s prettiest temples. Beautiful at sunset and when lit at night, but best seen early morning before the crowds.
👉 Take the cross-river ferry from Pier No. 8 Tha Tien to Wat Arun pier.
The Floating Markets in Bangkok rank among the city's top attractions. Every traveler should visit at least one while here.The colors, chaos, flavors and atmosphere make it a unique experience.
Nearest Pier: 👉 Prannok (Wang Lang) - Pier (No.10).The Flower Market (Pak Klong Talat) is an enormous market selling flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables.
👉 Located near Pier No 6 or 7, Memorial Bridge or Rajinee Pier.
Dinner cruise on the Chao Praya river is a popular way to spend an evening gliding along the mighty Chao Praya river.
Take a ferry or hire a longboat - explore the Chao Phraya river by jumping on one of the frequently running river ferries, or hire a private longboat to take you into the side channels to catch a glimpse of everyday life by the river.
Sathorn Pier is the major pier on the Chao Phraya River located beneath the Taksin Bridge, Sathorn Road.
Over 15,000 stalls
Chatuchak Weekend Market - on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak in Bangkok is the largest market in Thailand.
Hop on the Skytrain (BTS) to Mo Chit station, and follow the crowd.
💡DIVERSION:
Thailand is undoubtedly one of the best beach destinations in the world.
You can add-on a island should you have extra time in the region.
🌤️ Climate Guide:
Bangkok climate is subtropical leading to year-round hot and humid conditions.
During the hottest months of the year, temperatures regularly top 40° C (105° F). Even during the cooler “winter” season you can expect daily highs to be around 30° C (86° F).
A lot of rain (rainy season) falls May through October. Avoid visiting if possible.
Bangkok Gallery
🎬 Video
