Bangkok City Guide
Image by tnkn29 via unsplash

Thailand

Bangkok City Guide

Bangkok is Thailand's busy capital by the Chao Phraya River. It mixes old temples with tall modern buildings and offers affordable living. The city attracts travelers and remote workers with its lively markets, food, and diverse neighborhoods like Rattanakosin and Sukhumvit.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Excellent
10

Food is a highlight with street eats and fine dining. Local dishes like Pad Thai and Tom Yum are easy to find. Vegan and vegetarian options are common. Late-night food stalls stay open past midnight.

Local Dishes:
Pad Thai, Tom Yum Goong, Green Curry, Mango Sticky Rice
International Cuisine:
Italian, Japanese, Indian, Western
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Excellent
9

Nightlife is diverse with rooftop bars, night markets, live music, and clubs.

Coffee Culture
Excellent
9

Coffee culture is strong with many specialty cafes and roasters.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Tipping is not required but appreciated for good service. Restaurants often add 10% service charge; rounding up taxi fares is common.

Top Attractions
Grand Palace
Cultural
The historic royal palace with ornate buildings.
Wat Arun
Cultural
Famous riverside temple known as the Temple of Dawn.
Wat Pho
Cultural
Home to the Reclining Buddha statue.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Market
Large market with thousands of stalls.
Jim Thompson House
Museum
Museum of traditional Thai architecture and silk history.
Ancient City
Cultural
Open-air museum of Thai heritage about an hour away.
Erawan Museum
Museum
Museum with a giant three-headed elephant statue.
Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo
Zoo
Animal park near Bangkok.
SIM Cards

SIM cards are easy to buy at airports, convenience stores, or provider shops. Main networks are AIS, TrueMove H, and Dtac. ID needed for registration.

Available at:
Suvarnabhumi Airport
7-Eleven
AIS official shops
TrueMove H shops
Dtac shops
Recommended Apps
Grab(Transportation)
LINE(Communication)
Google Maps(Navigation)
Foodpanda(Food)
Agoda(Travel)
Klook(Travel)
PromptPay(Finance)
BTS Skytrain / MRT Mobile Application(Transportation)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Good
6

Cleanliness varies; tourist areas are generally cleaner than some local neighborhoods.

24/7 Services
Excellent
9

Many convenience stores, pharmacies, and food stalls are open 24/7 or late night.

Groceries
Tops
Big C
Lotus's
Gourmet Market

Large supermarkets carry international goods. Fresh markets sell local produce. Bargaining works in markets but not in supermarkets.

Cashless Payments
Cash preferred

Cards are accepted in big shops and hotels, but cash is needed for street food and small vendors. Mobile payments like PromptPay are growing in use.

ATMs

ATMs are common in malls, airports, and convenience stores. International withdrawals may charge about 200-220 THB per transaction.

Schools
International

Several international schools teach mainly in English. Admission can be competitive.

Available Schools:
Bangkok Patana School
Harrow International School Bangkok
NIST International School

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
9
Available Spaces:
True Digital Park
Large campus with 24/7 access for members focused on tech.
24/7 Access
The Hive Thonglor
Community-driven space good for creatives.
Hubba-to
Supports startups and freelancers.
WeWork
Multiple professional locations.
Common Ground
Modern design and flexible spaces.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Excellent
Roots Coffee
Great coffee and Wi-Fi.
Toby's
Popular café for remote work.
Rocket Coffee Bar
Known for quality coffee and space.
Casa Lapin
Good coffee and atmosphere.
Pacamara Coffee Roasters
Specialty coffee roaster.
Starbucks
Widely available with reliable Wi-Fi.
Dean & DeLuca
Café and deli with work space.
The Commons
Community space with cafés and shops.
Alternatives:
Bangkok City Library
Quiet public library with Wi-Fi.
Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC)
Design-focused space with internet.
Hotel lobbies
Many offer seating and Wi-Fi for guests.
Digital Nomad Community
Excellent
9

There is a large, active digital nomad scene with meetups and co-living spaces.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Good
7

Major parks like Lumpini and Benjakitti provide green space in the city.

Running
Excellent
8

Good running spots include Lumpini and Benjakitti Parks. Air quality varies seasonally.

Gyms
Available

Multiple international gym chains offer various fitness options.

Available Gyms:
Fitness First
Virgin Active
Anytime Fitness
Jetts 24 Hour Fitness
True Fitness
Tennis
Good
6

Tennis courts available at clubs and hotels.

Padel
Limited
4

Padel is growing with a few courts opening.

Yoga
Excellent
8

Many yoga studios offer various styles with English-speaking instructors.

Martial Arts
Excellent
9

Muay Thai gyms and other martial arts schools are widespread. Many offer classes for foreigners.

Skiing
Poor
0

No skiing in Thailand due to tropical climate.

Water Sports
Limited
4

Limited water sports on the river and lakes, like kayaking and paddleboarding.

Surfing
Poor
1

No surfing in Bangkok. Closest surf spots are in southern Thailand, far from the city.

Diving
Poor
1

No diving near Bangkok. Best diving spots are in southern islands, requiring travel.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
8

Private hospitals like Bumrungrad and Samitivej serve international patients with English-speaking staff. Pharmacies are widespread with many meds available without prescription.

Hospitals:
Bumrungrad International Hospital
Samitivej Hospital
Pharmacies:
Boots
Watsons
Local pharmacies
Tap Water Safety
Not recommended

Tap water is not safe to drink. Use bottled water.

Common Scams
Gem scam, Tuk-tuk scam, Inflated prices for tourists

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Excellent
8

Parks, kid-friendly cafes, and attractions like KidZania and Sea Life offer family activities.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Excellent
9

Bangkok is very LGBTQ+ friendly with many safe spaces and annual Pride events.

Pet Friendly
Good
7

More pet-friendly places appear, with parks and vet services available.

Communities
Bangkok Expats (Social)
Digital Nomads Bangkok (Work)
Bangkok Foodies (Food)
Bangkok Events & Activities (Events)
Thailand Expats (Social)
LINE OpenChat (Communication)

Quick Facts

Population
5,676,648
Power Reliability
Excellent
9/10

Electricity is stable with rare outages.

Beach Access
Available

Closest beaches are Bang Saen and Pattaya, around 1.5 to 2 hours' drive from Bangkok.

Mountains
Available

No mountains in Bangkok itself but Khao Yai National Park is 2-3 hours away with hiking trails.

Languages
Thai(100%)
English(27%)
Emergency
191
Police
1155
Tourist Police
1669
Medical Emergency/Ambulance
199
Fire

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
2
🏔️
Earthquake
Low Risk
3

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Smoke and haze
January, February, March, April
Air pollution rises due to agricultural burning and vehicles.
Flooding
May, June, July, August, September, October
Heavy rains can cause flooding in low-lying areas.
Extreme heat
March, April, May
These months tend to be hottest and can feel very humid.

No reviews yet

Be the first to share your experience at this place

💬 Feedback & Bugs