TOBIAS MEYER TABLE OF CONTENTS About this Bangkok guide 5 ABOUT BANGKOK 6 Why you should travel to Bangkok 6 Data, facts and history 8 TRAVEL TIME & GETTING THERE 10 The best travel time for Bangkok 10 Getting to Bangkok 11 Arrival in Bangkok 14 ACCOMMODATIONS 16 General information about accommodation 16 Accommodation recommendations 18 TRANSPORTATION 21 OVERVIEW MAP 25 TEMPLES 27 MARKETS 32 SHOPPING 36 SKY BARS 39 MORE ATTRACTIONS 44 ROUTES 47 Route 1 / Day 1 48 Route 2 / Day 2 52 Route 3 / Day 3 56 2 3 NIGHTLIFE 60 EXCURSIONS 63 EAT AND DRINK 66 General facts about food in Thailand 66 Food guide 67 Recommendations for restaurants, food stalls and food courts 71 SAFETY & BEHAVIOR 73 General things about safety 73 Stay healthy 76 Dos and Don'ts in Thailand 77 SERVICES ON SITE 78 MOBILE INTERNET 80 HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS 82 BEFORE DEPARTURE 84 General things before departure 84 Visa for Thailand 86 FINANCES 87 RESOURCES & TRAVEL GUIDES 90 More Thailand Travel Guides 90 More Ressources and websites 90 IMPORTANT ADDRESSES 92 LANGUAGE GUIDE 93 ABOUT US 95 2 3 View from the Lebua at State Tower Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udom Ratchaniwet Maha Sathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit 4 5 ABOUT THIS BANGKOK GUIDE Bangkok is the first point of contact with Since you purchased this guide, you now the country for many visitors to Thailand. want to visit Bangkok and discover the vari- Incidentally, Thais call their capital Krung ety of the Thai metropolis. Thep Maha Nakhon, which is the short In this book, we'll show you everything form for "Krung Thep Maha Nakhon you need to know when planning a trip Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yutthaya to Bangkok. That way you will have a first Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani impression and get to know the city a little Burirom Udom Ratchaniwet Maha Sathan before your visit. Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit". Bangkok has the long- The chapters of this book include travel est city name in the world. time, travel information, accommodations, nightlife, excursions, exciting day trip routes The Thai capital is directly accessible from through the city, and much more. In ad- many places all over the world and exerts a dition, there is a small language and food fascination with many tourists. Often the guide to experiencing a wide range of Thai saying "either you love or hate Bangkok" cuisine. falls. There is only very little in between. The guide will give you lots of tips about I came to Bangkok for the first time in 2012 Bangkok and you can use this book for your and have visited the city countless times since travel planning, as well as for the stay on then. Only for a few days, sometimes a bit site. longer, as I spend most of the year in Thai- land. I explored the metropolis in detail. From If you have any further questions about temples, markets, sky bars to various attrac- the city of Bangkok or a specific topic, feel tions, Bangkok has grown very close to my free to contact us via our blog at www. heart. homeiswhereyourbagis.com/en. Bangkok is absolutely diverse and without Have fun with this guide and on your a doubt you can organize three interesting journey! days. A perfect introduction to the capital of Thailand. Whether by Tuk Tuk, train or boat on the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok will never be boring. On Home is where your Bag is, our travel blog that I run with Marcel, we have already published many articles about Bangkok's activities and attractions. The city is incredibly diverse and with every visit you can explore new corners. 4 5 OVERVIEW MAP DON MUEANG 5 km 19 N 21 22 16 14 MO CHIT BANGKOK 5 SAI TAI MAI 11 17 15 4 3 7 2 20 18 23 8 10 1 6 24 EKKAMAI 12 26 SECTION SEE PAGE 9 SAMUT 13 PRAKAN SUVARNABHUMI DISTRICTS / AREAS: 8. Sukhumvit 17. Huai Khwang 9. Lower Sukhumvit 18. Lat Krabang 1. Thonburi 10. Silom 19. Don Mueang 2. Chinatown 11. Phaya Thai 20. Bangkok Yai 3. Rattanakosin 12. Sathorn 21. Bang Khen 4. Khao San Road 13. Yan Nawa 22. Nonthaburi 5. Dusit 14. Bang Sue 23. Watthana 6. Riverside / Bangrak 15. Bangkok Noi 24. Suan Luang 7. Ratchathewi 16. Chatuchak 24 25 TEMPLES The Buddhist culture is omnipresent in whole Bangkok and there are more than 400 tem- ples spread throughout the city. For a first visit to Bangkok we have listed 10 beautiful temples in this chapter that you can visit in your 3 days. WAT INTHARAWIHAN (STANDING BUDDHA) The Wat Intharawihan is known for its 32-meter-high Buddha statue Luang Pho Tho and is nevertheless relatively little visited. The construction of the statue lasted 60 years, and it is decorated with glass mosaic and gold leaf. There is a belief among Thais that the statue has the power to bless admirers with success. Therefore, many gifts are de- posited at the foot. Opening hours: 6.00 A.M. to 10.00 P.M. Admission charge: free Station: Phra Arthit Pier (Chao Phraya Express Boat) + Walk / Taxi / Tuk Tuk NOTE: The same rules apply to all tem- ples. You may only enter them with appropriate clothing, that means the shoulders and knees must be covered. When you visit the interior of a temple, be sure to always remove your shoes first. 26 27 - HIGH LIGHT THE ROOFTOP BAR The Baiyoke Tower II is the third tallest building in Thailand and offers visitors a rotating 360 degree viewing platform on the 84th floor. Furthermore, there is a Skywalk on the 77th floor with a beautiful view. The entrance fee is 400 baht, including a drink at the bar. You do not have to comply with a dress code for the Baiyoke Tower II. Opening hours: 10.00 A.M. to 11.00 P.M. Drink prices: reasonable, cocktails starting from 150 baht Station: Chit Lom (BTS) / Pratunam (Khlong Saen Saep Boat) + walk / taxi / Tuk Tuk 40 41 View from Sirocco Bar in the Lebua Tower SIROCCO SKY BAR to 7.00 P.M. there is a happy hour where you get two drinks for the price of one. The The sky bar of the Lebua Tower with its dress code in this sky bar requires long golden dome is the most famous bar with a pants, closed shoes, and no sleeveless shirts view due to the Hollywood movie Hangover for men. Women can wear a dress to visit 2. On the 63rd floor you can overlook the this place. river of Bangkok at sunset comfortably with Opening hours: 5.00 P.M. to 1.00 A.M. a nice drink. If you come before 6.00 P.M., you can bridge the time in the Distil Bar. The Drink prices: high, cocktails starting dress code is long pants, closed shoes, and from 300 baht no sleeveless shirts for men. For women, a simple dress is totally fine. Station: Chit Lom (BTS) / Pratunam (Khlong Saen Saep Boat) + walk Opening hours: 6.00 P.M. to 1.00 A.M. Drink prices: very high, beer starting from 400 baht Station: Saphan Taksin (BTS) / Sathorn Pier (Chao Phraya Express Boat) + walk RED SKY BAR Located on the 55th and 56th floors of the Centara Grand Hotel at the Central World Mall, the Red Sky Bar boasts a 360 degree panoramic view of Bangkok with the Baiyoke Tower or Wat Saket. From 5.00 P.M. 40 41 SAO CHING CHA Opening hours: day and night Under the reign of King Rama I, the giant Station: Phra Arthit Pier (Chao Phraya swing with many other shrines and temples Express Boat) was built to mark the center of the city. The AIRPLANE GRAVEYARD 21.15-meter high swing is designed to swing from east to west along the sun. The current The Airplane Graveyard is one of the rather Sao Ching Cha was built / renovated in 2007. unusual sights of Bangkok, because no one In the past, a Brahman New Year swing cer- knows how the gutted aircraft got there. emony was held here, depicting the story of After an entrance fee of 200 baht, which Brahma and Shiva. benefits the family that lives here, you can see Opening hours: day and night the Boeing 747 and two McDonnell Douglas MD-82. But be very careful, there is nothing Station: Panfa Leelard Pier (Khlong Saen secured and therefore we strongly advise Saep Boat) + walk / taxi / Tuk Tuk against climbing inside of the abandoned planes. MAHANAKHON SKYWALK Opening hours: 9.00 A.M. to 4.00 P.M. In Thailand's second tallest building is the Mahanakhon Skywalk. It was built at a height Station: Wat Sriboonruang (Khlong of 314 meters. With an entrance fee of 850 Saen Saep Boat) + walk baht for the indoor and 1050 baht for the ERAWAN SHRINE outdoor area it is indeed not cheap, but it offers a breathtaking view of Bangkok with a The Erawan Shrine is dedicated to the Hindu glazed floor. The 360-degree view from the deity Brahma. It was built in the year of 78th floor is an exciting highlight in the cap- 1956, as many accidents occurred during ital of Thailand! the construction of the Erawan Hotel. So the Opening hours: 10.00 A.M. to midnight shrine was built to soothe the evil spirits in the area around the hotel. Today the gilded Station: Chong Nonsi (BTS) + walk plaster statue with its face in every direc- tion attracts hundreds of Thais every day POM PHRA SUMEN to pray, as they may wish for money, love, success, health, or enlightenment.