Practical Information for Visitors to Bangkok
Collected here are links to various sources of information to help you plan your trip. We start with -- what else? -- money!
Money
The currency of Thailand is the "Baht" -- sometimes spelled "Bath" but pronounced to rhyme with "hot." One Baht is divided into 100 Satang, although the smallest coin now in circulation is 25 Satang. See our online gallery of Thai currency for pictures of each bill and coin you're likely to encounter. If you'd like to know what the Baht is currently worth, try our Currency Converter. See our full article on Money Matters for more information.
As in most countries, you do not want to change money at hotels, since their rates will be significantly lower than you will get from a bank exchange. Travelers Checks can be changed at exchanges, but are not generally accepted elsewhere.
Major credit cards -- Visa, Mastercard and American Express -- are accepted at most hotels and restaurants. Department stores and other large shops will also generally accept all cards. However, smaller merchants may not accept any cards, or add on the credit card processing fee (3% for Visa and Mastercard, 5% for American Express) to the price of items purchased. See our Money Matters page for more links and important information you should know about using credit cards overseas.
Thai Language
The Thai language can be difficult for a westerner to pick up with any proficiency. However, learning a little is not all that hard and a little will go a long way to making your travel more enjoyable. Since Thailand was never colonized by any foreign power, there's no tradition of speaking any language other than Thai. As a result, the overall proficiency in English is less than you might find in many of Thailand's neighbors. People in places frequented by tourists will of course speak some English, but if you want to get off the tourist trail, its best to learn some Thai.
For more details on the Thai language, and links to some online learning resourses, read our Thai language article.
Visas and Other Formalities
Thailand has a relatively relaxed visa policy to encourage tourism. Most nationals of western countries are granted entry for 30 days on arrival. However, since 11 September 2001, the exact countries to which this privilege is extended has been subject to change. Consult your travel agent or the Tourism Authority of Thailand's web site before coming to Thailand. If you want to stay longer, you can obtain a 60 or 90 day visa from the nearest Thai consulate in your home country.
- Longstay Retirement Visa
- Persons over 50 years of age who wish to live in Thailand for extended periods to enjoy the high quality/low cost lifestyle available in Thailand may wish to investigate the newly introduced "longstay" program. Thai Longstay Management is a government-sponsored company set up to provide "one-stop" services for persons interested in the longstay program.
Electrical Power
Thailand electricity is 220 volts. There is unfortunately no specific standard for plugs and outlets. The most common plug type is the two flat pronged North American type but round prongs are also seen. Note that few buildings have grounded outlets for three-pronged cords.
Brief power outages are still relatively common. They usually last no more than one or two minutes.
Safety & Security
For a big city of more than 10 Million people, Bangkok is a relatively safe place. Violent crime, although far from unknown, is still somewhat rare. The most likely criminal behavior you will encounter in Bangkok is the old gem con. More ...
Temple Terminology
Throughout this guide, as we describe Thai temples, which are often among the main tourist sights, we use the standard Thai terms for the various parts of a temple. See our guide to temple terminology for a complete glossary.
In this section
Despite being a big city, there's a wealth of outdoor activities and sports opportunities available in and around Bangkok. Here are some links to good sites with details on some of the most popular activities.
Thai Boxing (Muay Thai) There is perhaps no sport more associated with Thailand than kick-boxing, or muay Thai as it's known in Thai, and the best place to see true professional fights is in Bangkok.
As a major international air hub, Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport hosts business and first class lounges for almost all major airlines. The biggest lounges belong, naturally, to Thai Airways and are shared by other members of the Star Alliance such as United and Singapore Airlines.
Thai Airways Business Lounges Thai operates two large lounges at Bangkok's airport. Although they differ somewhat in size and furnishings, the features and facilities are generally the same.
In a hurry? Don't want to wade through a lot of pages of information? Then just read this one. We've summarized all you really need to know about Bangkok in a nutshell. Of course, there are still links to all the details, if you want to know more.
Is it For You? The simple answer is: Yes! It may sound a bit cliché, but Bangkok really does have something for just about everyone.
Like just about any big city, Bangkok is home to restaurants, bars and pubs of just about every type, size or description. You'll find a lot of Thai restaurants of course, representing all the major regional variations of Thai cuisine, plus most of the popular world foods like Italian, German, Indian, Japanese, etc. The bar scene is something for which Bangkok is famous, if not infamous.
Restaurants Bangkok is home to an amazing range of restaurants representing all the world's major cuisines.
Although the modern metropolis now extends to the west side of the river, the original city of Bangkok and almost all its tourist sights lie on the east side of the Chao Phraya river. When the city was founded, a canal was dug around its original extents to make a defensible area now referred to as Rattanakosin Island. A wall and fortress defences originally protected the city. Some of the forts can still be seen today.
Traditional wisdom has it that the rainy season, which lasts from around May to October, is the worst time to visit Thailand. That has never really been true, and when it comes to Bangkok, the rainy season is definitely a very good time to come. Hotel rates are generally lower, and the city is much easier to get around with fewer tourists about.
The key to a successful rainy season visit is to plan your day accordingly, and be flexible.
There are parts of Bangkok just begging to be explored on foot. Indeed, there are even a few places that can't possibly be accessed by bus or even car. However, given the city's hot tropical climate, walking is not for everyone. Even those in good shape will need to take it easy and plan on a water break from time to time. The walks outlined here are designed to take about two hours, although in some cases there are optional extensions for those that want to keep going.
BangkokForVisitors has all the information you need to plan your trip to Bangkok. Check out our hotel recommendations and suggested itineraries, then start deciding which of the hundreds of sights you want to see.
The Thais divide the year into three seasons: the cool season, hot season, and rainy season. For most westerners, this translates to "hot," "really hot," and "really hot and wet." Temperatures rarely drop below 25° C (70° F).
It doesn't take much effort to get off the tourist trail and see some very interesting sights that most tourists never lay eyes on. Here's a list of our favorites:
The Jim Thompson House Museum One of Bangkok's true "hidden treasures." It's in all the guidebooks, but seldom visited. They don't allow tour buses up the narrow alley, so you have to get to this place on your own. Its worth the trouble to get there, although the trip is made considerably easier thanks to the elevated train system.
There are several "must see" sights around Bangkok. Every tour of the city will include these highlights. In reality, you could spend many days exploring all the city has to offer. For interesting and less frequented locales, check out the Hidden Treasures series of articles on the next page.
Package tours for Bangkok and surrounding areas can be purchased in advance through our partner Viator. Most hotels will have tour desks offering similar tours.
Untainted by colonial influences, Thai culture retains a distinctiveness which the Thais themselves are very proud of. Royal patronage insures that the traditions live on and encourages the continuing participation of all citizens.
Classical Dance The formal classical Thai dancing, or khon, uses elaborate costumes and jeweled gilded masks to perform scenes from the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Hindu Ramayana epic. The plays are performed without spoken words or songs and can be compared to ballet in the Western theater.
The 90-year old Don Muang Airport was supposed to be retired in October of 2006 when the new Suvarnabhumi International Airport was opened to replace it. However, over-crowding and technical problems forced the Airport Authority to re-open Don Muang for domestic traffic in March of 2007. Only Thai Airways and a couple of low cost carriers made the move back to the old airport, which remains open to this day.
Although the authorities really wish it were otherwise - and, really, who are they to talk? - Bangkok has a rather well-earned reputation as a place with a thriving sex trade where "anything goes". All "tastes" are catered for, including men who like men. When I first visited Thailand in 1987, the Bangkok gay scene consisted almost exclusively of go-go bars and the like clustered around the small alleys off Silom Road, near the more infamous Patpong Road.
Most foreign visitors to Bangkok arrive by plane. Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport (airport code: BKK) is the main gateway for visitors entering Thailand. Bangkok is a major hub and is serviced by all major international carriers, as well as many regional airlines. However, please note that in March 2007, the old Don Muang Airport (airport code: DMK) re-opened for domestic flights. Budget carriers Nok Air and 1-2-Go have moved all of their Bangkok operations to the old airport, while national carrier Thai Airways has moved some of their domestic flights to Don Muang.
Staying fit and healthy while on the road can be a challenge. Granted, if you're on vacation you might be forgiven for giving the gym a miss. However, if you're on the road for business, you may want to find places to work off those business meals and airport junk food.
Bangkok Fitness Centers There are a couple of international chains with a presence in Bangkok. Whether or not you can use these local branches may depend on the type of membership you have at home.
For a big city of more than 10 Million people, Bangkok is a relatively safe place. Violent crime, although far from unknown, is still somewhat rare. Muggings and other forms of direct confrontation are very 'un-Thai' and quite uncommon. A bigger crime problem is pick-pocketing in crowds. Always be aware of your belongings in crowded areas. Avoid fanny packs, which not only scream to the world that you're a tourist, but are also easy to cut and run with.
Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi (pronounced "suwannaboom") International Airport opened in September 2006, after nearly 30 years of planning and much controversy. The huge glass and fabric structure is thoroughly modern in overall structure, but inside you will find many examples of Thai art and architecture to let you know you've arrived in the Land of Smiles.
Bangkok Airport Arrivals Arriving planes will usually park at the airport terminal, although some international flights and low cost airlines may park at the tarmac.
Thailand can be a highly rewarding, as well as a highly frustrating place to do business. Most Thais are keen to have their nation join the ranks of fully developed countries. They love to learn about the practices and technology of the West, yet they can stubbornly refuse to believe ideas that work effectively all over the world will work in Thailand. "This is Thailand" is the often-used excuse when people ask why things are done differently here.
