Are you thinking of taking your next vacation in Thailand? Unsure where to stay and what to do when you arrive? If so, please read on for some excellent information for first-time visitors to Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok. The majority of holidaymakers arrive in-country via the city’s international airports and spend some time recovering from their journey and experiencing what this great city has to offer. Bangkok is a unique mix of culture, cuisine, and history and has more than enough attractions, restaurants, and activities for the most adventurous visitor. We look at the most popular things to do and give you some great ideas, such as siting your hotel near the Sathorn BTS transit system to enable easy access to the city’s attractions.

Finding Somewhere to Stay

As a capital city, it is no surprise that Bangkok has a wealth of hotel options for you to choose from at every cost level; the advice here is to shop around according to your budget. Hotels do not like having empty rooms, so there is value in leaving your booking as late as possible and finding a great last-minute deal. However, do beware of the busy holiday period between October and March. As briefly mentioned, checking the locations of hotels with both transport links, such as the BTS Skytrain and the attractions you might want to visit, also has value.

Best Places to Visit

Bangkok has an enormous amount of cultural and historical attractions for the first-time visitor to experience; among the most popular are the following –

• The Grand Palace – if you only visit one attraction, this should be it; built-in 1792, this royal residence is stunning.
• Wat Pho – near the Grand Palace, this impressive Temple is famous for the statue of the reclining Buddha.
• Wat Arun – this ancient complex is fantastic and best visited at sunset for unforgettable views of the city as the sun sinks.
• National Museum & Wang Na Palace is a must for history buffs, and the Palace within the grounds is architecturally stunning.
• Chatuchak Markets – this sprawling weekend market sells virtually everything you could think of – well worth a visit.
• Damnoen Saduak Floating Market – for a different retail adventure shop by boat in the ‘Venice of the east.
• Khao San Road – discover the colourful and exciting experience that is the Khao San, a lively mix of street vendors, stalls, and music.

This is just a tiny amount of what Bangkok has to offer the first-time visitor, but I have no doubt you will have the experience of a lifetime.