Bangkok is a city of contrasts, with high-rise apartments and luxury malls standing alongside shrines, street vendors, and local markets. Today, we answer is Bangkok worth visiting with 15 reasons to visit Bangkok.
Reasons to visit Bangkok, Thailand
The Temples
Bangkok is home to many stunning temples that is just one reason to visit the city. Wat Arun is arguably the most iconic, standing tall along the riverfront whilst Wat Pho is known for its leaning Buddha. Wat Saket is another popular temple, standing above the city whilst a gorgeous symmetrical temple can be found in the heart of Chinatown.
The People
Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles because of the people here. The locals are warm and friendly, often going above and beyond to help you. After living here for four years, we have found everyone to be kind and helpful, especially in restaurants and hotels.
The Attractions
Beyond the temples, there are plenty of attractions in Bangkok, so you can have jam-packed sightseeing days if you choose to. For a historic site, visit the Grand Palace, for some peace and quiet, head to the parks, and for something interesting, take a tour of the Jim Thompson House Museum. Families can enjoy the Sea Life Aquarium, Madame Tussauds or Safari World and those interested in Art should head to the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre or the Museum of Contemporary Art.
No matter what your interests are, you are bound to find something interesting and fun to do whilst in the city.
The Food
Thailand has one of the most delicious cuisines in the world and you can try it all and more in the city of Bangkok. From street vendors to food courts, local restaurants to Michelin star choices, you can find incredible Thai flavors on every road and Soi.
Not only can you enjoy Thai cuisine but in Bangkok, you can find dishes from all over the world, with the city offering plenty of Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Vietnamese, Japanese, European, Western, and even South American restaurants.
The Nightlife
Another reason to visit Bangkok is the nightlife. Yes, there are plenty of restaurants to enjoy in the evening but you can also take a stroll through the night markets around the city or take in amazing views of the city from one of the many rooftop bars. There are local bars for you to enjoy a cheap beer in, western bars with a fun atmosphere, and nightclubs for those that want to dance the night away.
Couples could take a romantic sunset cruise along the river whilst families should head to the Asiatique riverfront for some shopping, snacking, and rides.
The accommodation options
No matter what your budget is, there is an accommodation option for you. South East Asia is an affordable place to visit and Bangkok has plenty of great hostels, budget hotel rooms, and luxury hotels.
Shop around for the best hotel and price for you but we recommend staying along Sukhumvit Road for great-priced, mid-range hotels.
The Price
Another reason to visit Bangkok has to be the price. Bangkok is an affordable place to visit and spend extended periods of time in; you can find decently priced hotel rooms and use the BTS to get around, with journeys starting at 16 baht which is under 50 cents in USD.
Street vendors offer food for under 100 baht, 7/11 has super cheap food for quick snacks and meals whilst beers can be found for 100B or under.
The Transport
The transport in Bangkok is another reason to visit the city, with plenty of options helping you get around to see the sights. Firstly, use the BTS or MRT; this is affordable, convenient, air-conditioned, and frequent. Once you are in the neighborhood of your chosen attraction or restaurant, you can flag a taxi, take a tuk-tuk or book a grab, an app that is similar to Uber.
The Shopping
Bangkok has too many shopping malls to count, but the many options make the city a great place for shopping. CentralwOrld is one of our favorites, with plenty of local shops, western brands, and restaurants to choose from, whilst Icon Siam is a stunning mall along the riverfront and includes its very own indoor floating market. Terminal 21 is a popular mall because of its photo spots; each floor is themed to different countries and Emporium is the place to go for high-end brands.
The Markets
Whether you are looking for night markets, floating markets, or food markets, Bangkok has it all. Chatuchak Market is the biggest and best market in Bangkok, with thousands of stalls selling anything and everything. Wang Lang Market is a popular food market and Platinum Market is a great place for discounted fashion finds.
The plane market is a unique night market with upscale shops, colorful decorations, and local eats whilst the Train Night market has vintage products, stylish accessories, and delicious food options.
The Massages
A Thai massage is incredible. It is an ancient practice that can reduce headaches, increase flexibility, calm your anxieties, decrease lower back and joint pains then energize your body and mind.
In Bangkok, you can find Thai spas on every street, literally. Plus, these can be found for as little as 300Baht, which is under $9 in USD. Alternatively, you can enjoy a foot massage after a long day exploring those temples.
The Day trips
Bangkok is a great place to explore but there are also plenty of fun day trips you can enjoy if you want to escape the city. Head to Ayutthaya, the historic ancient city that was once the capital or visit the floating markets on the outskirts of the city. Khao Yai National Park is a stunning place to explore, ideal for day trips or weekend breaks. Kanchanaburi is a popular day trip option, known for the bridge over the River Kwai and Erawan National Park is a stunning, 7-tiered waterfall.
The Festivals
Whether it is Songkran, Loy Krathong, or New Year, there are plenty of celebrations in the city of Bangkok. Get soaked during the Songkran festival, head to one of the parks or to the riverfront during Loy Krathong, or head up to sky bar for New Year. Head to Chinatown during the Chinese New Year and you can even find Christmas events during the Winter in Bangkok too.
Chinatown
With one of the biggest Chinatowns in the world, of course, Chinatown makes Bangkok worth visiting. As a city known for its street food, you can find amazing Chinese street food in this neighborhood, with some even being recognized by the Michelin Guide.
The Quirky
So there are many reasons to visit Bangkok but one thing that is often overlooked is the unusual, quirky, and unique things to do in the city. Whether it is a unicorn cafe, tuk-tuk food tours, or a forensic museum, there are some truly quirky things to do. Wat Pariwat is a fun temple, also known as the David Beckham Temple and the Giant dragon tower is a building with an impressive dragon coiled around it. There are an unbelievable amount of themed, quirky cafes in Bangkok as well as restaurants, including one that serves you with a dancing robot.
Take a Khlong tour to escape the crowds on a long-tail boat and then head to some fun museums like Line Village and Art in Paradise.
Helpful Resources
Travel essentials:
- We LOVE this camera for our travel photography.
- For a cheap, easy, and compact camera, we use this to vlog and take photographs.
- We use this travel drone (but make sure to check drone laws in your chosen destination first).
- This is our favorite travel insurance because it covers so many activities and travel situations that could arise on longer trips but also offer year coverage.
What to pack
- No matter where we travel to, I always take these trusty hand sanitizers and a mini first aid kit.
- We love these toiletry bags (especially great for smaller bathrooms) and choose a laptop bag like this as our hand luggage.
- We keep our devices charged on long travel days with these lightweight battery packs and bring these worldwide travel adaptors on all our trips.
- I still struggle not to overpack so stick to using an expandable suitcase like these and always take my trusty luggage scales to avoid being charged at the airport.
