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Capital and largest city of Thailand
Photo: echiner1, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Bangkok (Thai: กรุงเทพฯ Krung Thep) is the capital and largest city of Thailand. With a population of over eleven million inhabitants, Bangkok is by far Thailand's main city, with the urban sprawl comprising nearly half of Thailand's population, and the largest city on the Southeast Asian mainland. Its high-rise buildings, heavy traffic congestion, intense heat and naughty nightlife do not immediately give you a warm welcome — but don't let your first impression mislead you. It is one of Asia's most cosmopolitan cities with magnificent temples and palaces, authentic canals, busy markets, opulent shopping malls and a vibrant nightlife that has something for everyone.
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Bicycle tours in small groups to and through unseen parts of Bangkok. Mostly free of traffic. A fun excursion for the whole family.
Many cycling tours through Bangkok, taking in Chinatown, the canals of Thonburi, the "Bangkok Jungle" and many other places in between.
Half-day bicycle tours through Bangkok's residential streets. Included in the price is a fish spa and a barbecue meal after the tour.
Tours through the historic Rattanakosin district of Bangkok, to the outskirts of Bangkok and one that takes place at night.
Many one and multi-day cycling trips in and around Bangkok. There are trips to the Bangkok Jungle, Ko Kret, Yaowarat, and Thonburi.
Bicycle tours, some of which are GPS-guided, and bicycle rentals. Small groups, max 6. Safe and fun.
The oldest and most prestigious institute of higher education in Thailand.
The only university in Thailand that focuses on business education.
Large operator with four modern air-conditioned boats seating up to 250 people. Departure from River City pier.
This dinner cruise heads out with 70-seater rice barges. Departure from Si Phraya pier (near River City), and there is a free pickup from most hotels.
These restored Thai rice barges seat 40 people. Departure from Marriott Resort pier, with an optional pick-up from Saphan Taksin BTS station.
These 2-hr dinner cruises include a set meal of farang-friendly Thai food and seafood, live music and Thai classical dancing. Departure from River City.
Operated by the famous seafood restaurant, this is a much more local (and cheaper) option than the tourist cruises: pay a 160 baht "boat fee" and then order off the menu at normal restaurant prices. Departure from Yok Yor Marina on the Thonburi side of the river. There is a free shuttle service from Saphan Taksin BTS station.
By train
Trains are run by the State Railway of Thailand.
By boat
Not many people come to Bangkok by cruise ship. Medium to large ships must dock at about 90+ min (varies considerably in rush hours) southeast of Bangkok and about 30 min north of Pattaya.
By bus
When buying tickets for buses out of Bangkok, it's best to skip travel agents and their private buses, and get the tickets for public buses directly at Bangkok's three public bus terminals.
By van
For travelling to Bangkok suburbs or locations within 200 km of the city, the fastest and often the cheapest way is to use public van (minibus) services. They run from parking lots beside the .
By car
Getting into Bangkok by car is not a good idea, as you can easily waste half a day waiting in traffic just to get to the other side of the city.
By train
Three separate operators form the Bangkok rail network: the Skytrain (BTS), the Metro (MRT), and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).
By boat
A ride on the Chao Phraya River should be high on any tourist's agenda. The cheapest and most popular option is the Chao Phraya Express Boat, basically an aquatic bus cruising up and down the river.
By bus
Local buses, operated by the aka BMTA (ขสมก), are the cheapest but also the most challenging way of getting around. There is a bewildering plethora of routes, usually marked only in Thai.
By taxi
The main ride sharing company operating in Bangkok is Grab, which can also be used to book taxis.
By car
Bangkok is notorious for its massive traffic jams, and rightly so. In addition, traffic is chaotic and motorcyclists seemingly suicidal.
By foot
Many of Bangkok's main attractions are within 5 km from Siam Square. Walking long distances in hot weather along busy streets can be exhausting, but is a good way to get to see the city up close.
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Bangkok · International · DMK
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