Tips:

• Most countries do not require a Visa for entering Thailand, including the USA. <additional Visa info>

• Thailand Travel Guides: Lonely Planet Thailand and Fodor’s Thailand.

• Sign up for great travel stories and ideas on National Geographic online !

Getting around Bangkok:

• Most visitors arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

  • The Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link (SARL or ARL for short) provides speedy rail service from the airport to central Bangkok. The train makes 8 stops (Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai) and takes about 26 minutes.

  • The best way to get around downtown Bangkok is by Skytrain or Metro, which is fast and easily navigable for visitors. The city also offers an extensive network of buses and taxis, but these are prone to traffic jams, which the city is notorious for.

• Riverboats - for a scenic view of the city, hop on a public riverboat along the Chao Phraya. These riverboats are a great way to get around some of the city's major sites.

• 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.

  • Sukhumvit <map> one of the most cosmopolitan neighborhoods, is located in the central part of Bangkok along Sukhumvit Road. It is a very convenient neighborhood to stay in with public transport (Skytrain and MRT), great shopping, modern supermarkets, and excellent dining options.

    • Discover the Night Scene in Sukhumvit.

  • <Book your hotel>

Highlights:

• Explore the majestic Royal Grand Palace. It is the former residence of the King of Thailand. This is Bangkok’s most famous landmark and one of the must-see sights of Bangkok.

  • Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) - lies within the Royal Palace grounds and is famous for its Buddha statue made of jade.

  • 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 Pier No. 8 Tha Tien Pier.

  —the impressively reclining Buddha is beautifully, covered in gold leaf. It 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. It’s easily one of the most stunning temples in Bangkok. It's spectacular at sunset, particularly when lit up at night. However, the best time to visit is 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 are among the city's star attractions. Every traveler should visit at least one on their trip here. The colors, chaos, flavors and atmosphere make it a unique experience.

• 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.

• Chatuchak Weekend Market - on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak-Bangkok is the largest market in Thailand.

  • Hop on the Skytrain (BTS) to Mo Chit station, and follow the crowd.

Climate Guide:

• Historical Weather Data.

• 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 if visiting if possible.

• Sunrise/Sunset time.