Your first trip to Bangkok
Everything you need, nothing you don't

Airport Rail Link (ARL): from the basement level, about ฿15–45, reaching Phaya Thai in around 26 minutes with a direct BTS connection — the fastest option when roads are jammed. Official taxi rank: take a queue ticket on level 1; you pay the meter plus a ฿50 airport surcharge plus tolls, roughly ฿300–500 to central Bangkok. Grab picks up from designated points, and limousine counters exist if you want the easy version.

There is no rail link inside the terminal. The workhorses are the A1/A2 buses, about ฿30 to BTS Mo Chit / MRT Chatuchak — fast and frequent. Alternatively, a walkway connects to Don Mueang railway station for the SRT Red Line into Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, around ฿33 (check current timetables). Taxis run roughly ฿250–400 plus the ฿50 surcharge and tolls, and Grab works here too.

The Sukhumvit corridor is the most convenient base for eating, shopping and nightlife — the BTS runs the length of it, and malls, restaurants and bars surround you. Hotels span mid-range to high-end. The trade-off: it is far from the palace-and-temples zone, so you will ride the train and a boat, or take a Grab, to get there.

An office district by day that turns into an eating district by night. You get both the BTS and the MRT, Lumphini Park on foot, and Sathorn Pier close by for river trips. Several of the famous rooftop bars are here, and hotels often cost less than the Sukhumvit equivalent.

Wake up to the river, then ride a hotel shuttle boat or the express boat to the temples. This is where Bangkok's grand hotels cluster, with ICONSIAM across the water — but mid-range options hide along the bank too. The right choice when the river is the point of the trip, or the trip is a celebration.

Sleep within walking distance of the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Khao San Road, and reach the temples before the tour groups. Most beds here are guesthouses and small independent hotels at friendly prices. The trade-off is real: no BTS or MRT — you will move by river boat, ferry and Grab.

The geographic centre of modern Bangkok, with every mega-mall on foot: Siam Paragon, CentralWorld, MBK and the Pratunam wholesale market. Siam station is where the two BTS lines cross, and the ARL at Ratchaprarop sits near the Pratunam side. A practical base for families and shoppers who want to start from the middle of the map.

"Dress modestly" is not a suggestion at the royal temples — it is checked at the gate. Shoulders covered (sleeves, not a draped scarf alone), knees covered, nothing see-through or skin-tight. The Grand Palace is the strictest in the city; fail the check and you queue to rent or buy a cover-up on the spot. Far easier to dress for it from the start.

A friendly stranger near the palace tells you it is closed for a royal ceremony — and conveniently, a tuk-tuk can take you to a "better" temple or a "government" gem sale. Nearly all of these end at a gem shop or tailor paying commission to whoever delivered you. The suspiciously cheap ฿20 tuk-tuk tours work the same way. Major sights are almost never closed all day: walk to the gate and check for yourself.

Bangkok's metered taxis are cheap — the flag drops at about ฿35. The catch: some drivers around tourist areas quote a flat price several times the meter fare. If the driver will not run the meter, get out and hail another, or use Grab, which shows the price before you confirm. Motorbike taxis (the orange vests) are great for short hops down long sois — agree the price first.

The single most confusing thing about Bangkok transport: the BTS, MRT and Airport Rail Link are run by different operators and there is no shared ticket. The Rabbit card works on the BTS only; the MRT sells its own stored-value card and tokens and accepts contactless credit-card tap at the gate; the ARL is separate again. Budget extra patience at rush hour (7:30–9:00, 17:00–19:30) — the trains are genuinely packed.

Tap water in Bangkok is not for drinking — stick to bottled or filtered water. The good news is that 7-Elevens sit on practically every block and never close: cold water, sunscreen, basic medicine, snacks, rice boxes, grilled pork skewers at breakfast. Whatever you are missing, the nearest 7-Eleven probably has it. Ice in restaurants is generally factory-made tube ice and not a typical problem.

English gets you through hotels and malls, but three Thai words change how the city treats you: sa-wat-dee (สวัสดี) — hello; khop khun (ขอบคุณ) — thank you; and the lifesaver, phet noi (เผ็ดน้อย) — "a little spicy, please." Men end a phrase with "khrap," women with "kha," and the smile you get back is real. Use phet noi early and often if chilli is not your sport.