Bangkok for Visitors

Bangkok Essentials

No matter why you're visiting Bangkok or what you plan to do there, you still need a place to stay, a means of getting around and something to eat. Explore the links below to get detailed information on all the basics you need to know:

Getting To Bangkok
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.
Where to stay
There's a rich selection of places to stay in Bangkok. Everything from the world's top rated hotel to cheap hostels can be found.
Getting Around
Bangkok is a very large city. As many as 12 million people live there. The city has no real center, and a rather limited transportation infrastructure relative to many other cities its size.
Food & Drink
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.
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. 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.
Travel Insurance
Speaking of safety and security, you really should have travel insurance.

In this section

Bangkok Hotels

The Siam Kempinski Hotel There's a rich selection of places to stay in Bangkok. Everything from the world's top rated hotel to cheap hostels can be found. In the "top rated" category, you'll find the Oriental Hotel, which is consistently ranked one of the world's finest hotels year after year. This 125 year old landmark is worth a visit, even if you're not staying there. Bangkok hotels can be had in a wide range of prices, even for the same quality.

Getting Around

Bangkok is a very large city. As many as 12 million people live here. The city has no real center, and a rather limited transportation infrastructure relative to many other cities its size. There was a time in the early 1990's when getting around Bangkok was close to a nightmare. You could easily find yourself stuck in traffic for several hours just to make a short trip. The situation has improved dramatically in recent years.