Bangkok

Salt in Our Hair

A lively starting point for exploring Thailand, with canals, floating markets, temples and memorable street food.

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The author enthusiastically recommends this private evening tour for its delicious local food stops and nighttime sightseeing. Tuk-tuk hotel transfers and pre-booked restaurant seats make the evening easy to navigate.

The Common Wanderer

The author praises its lavish buildings, intricate columns and colourful decoration, alongside its fascinating royal history. Arrive early to avoid the crowds and afternoon heat.

Salt in Our Hair

One of the authors’ favorite sights to explore during the opening days in Bangkok.

The Common Wanderer

Visit for the immense reclining Buddha and hundreds of gilded Buddha images, with fewer crowds than at the Grand Palace. Finish with a traditional Thai massage at this renowned centre of Thai medicine.

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The author considers this magnificent temple a must-see and recommends visiting both by day and at night for contrasting atmospheres. At night, the grounds are quieter, although the reclining Buddha is not accessible.

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Order the Guay Tiew Kua Gai, chicken fried noodles with an egg in the middle, which the author found well worth the queue. The tour also offered a chance to watch the cooks prepare it over dramatic flames.

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The author recommends trying the Massaman curry here, a mild coconut-and-peanut curry with warming spices and potatoes that goes well with rice.

The Common Wanderer

Explore the river by boat for a cooling escape from Bangkok's traffic and a glimpse of waterside communities rarely seen from the city's streets.

The Common Wanderer

This hop-on, hop-off boat makes it easy to explore the river's major temples and palace without figuring out the local boat routes.

Salt in Our Hair

Explore this neighborhood as part of the suggested bicycle trip through Bangkok's alleys, markets and canals.

Salt in Our Hair

The authors single out this operator as their top choice for exploring Bangkok by bicycle.

Salt in Our Hair

One of the author's recommended accommodation choices in Bangkok.

Salt in Our Hair

A recommended Bangkok base featured among the author's favorite hotels.

Salt in Our Hair

The recommended area to base yourself if you want Bangkok's party scene.

The Common Wanderer

This heritage home turned boutique hotel features heirloom teak furniture and porcelain that showcase Thai history. Breakfast is included, and Khao San Road is about 15 minutes away.

The Common Wanderer

A clean, fresh hostel in Bangkok's old town with a rooftop terrace and several dorm options. A complimentary buffet breakfast is included.

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Try the Pad Kra Pow Gai, recommended for its bold flavour and fragrant holy basil, garlic and chilli.

The Common Wanderer

An elegant, comfortable riverside hotel a five-minute walk from Khao San Road. The nearby ferry stop makes reaching the Grand Palace convenient.

The Common Wanderer

A quieter option outside the city centre, with accommodation ranging from dorms to en-suite family rooms. Free breakfast and Monday cooking classes add to its appeal.

Salt in Our Hair

Suggested as an alternative accommodation area for travelers not seeking Khao San Road's nightlife.

Salt in Our Hair

Listed among the author's favorite places to stay in Bangkok.

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Recommended for its tasty Panang curry, a spicy, creamy dish finished with fragrant kaffir lime leaves and best paired with steamed rice.

The Common Wanderer

The author recommends this five-hour Urban Adventures tour as an easier way to combine a longtail boat ride with Wat Pho, the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew. An English-speaking Thai guide adds insight into life along the canals.

Salt in Our Hair

Listed among the authors’ favorite hotels in Thailand and their own accommodation bookings.

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The author says the pad Thai lives up to the restaurant's reputation. Try both the egg-wrapped version and the version with egg scrambled through the noodles.

Salt in Our Hair

This picturesque canal-side neighborhood has traditional wooden houses and makes an excellent starting point for a long-tail boat trip.

Salt in Our Hair

Listed as one of the author's favorite accommodation choices in Bangkok.

Salt in Our Hair

A favorite Bangkok temple recommended as part of exploring the city’s cultural sights.

Salt in Our Hair

The authors' favorite Bangkok temple, appreciated for its peaceful, beautiful setting away from the bustle.

The Common Wanderer

Within the Grand Palace, this temple houses the revered Emerald Buddha carved from a single piece of jade. Its elaborate ornamentation and abundance of gold and colour make the busy complex captivating.