Why Bangkok
Bangkok hits all the senses at once: gilded temples beside glassy malls, longtail boats on the river and some of the best street food on earth. It’s cheap, welcoming and the natural gateway to the rest of Thailand.
01 Best time to visit
The cool, dry season from November to February is the most comfortable time to visit. March–May is very hot; the June–October monsoon brings warm downpours, often short-lived.
Temples enforce a dress code — cover shoulders and knees — and beat the heat by sightseeing early, then retreating to an air-conditioned mall or a river boat at midday.
02 Weather & climate
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☔ 100% Bangkok is hot and humid all year. The cool, dry season (November–February) is the most comfortable; March–May is scorching, and the monsoon (June–October) brings warm, heavy afternoon downpours.
| Season | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|
| Cool | 90°F 32°C | 72°F 22°C |
| Hot | 95°F 35°C | 79°F 26°C |
| Rainy | 91°F 33°C | 77°F 25°C |
| Nov–Feb | 88°F 31°C | 72°F 22°C |
03 Top 12 things to do in Bangkok
04 Plan your Bangkok trip by theme
Short on time, travelling with kids, counting the pennies or dodging the rain? These curated guides pull together the right things to do for how you travel.
05 How long to stay in Bangkok
On a layover, the river is your friend: the Grand Palace and Wat Pho in the morning, a longtail boat across to Wat Arun, and street food in Chinatown after dark.
06 Where to stay
07 Food & drink
Bangkok may be the best street-food city on earth: pad thai and boat noodles, som tam, mango sticky rice and curries from a cart, plus a world-class fine-dining scene. Eat where the queues are, and don’t skip the night markets.
08 Day trips
09 Getting into Bangkok from the airport
Suvarnabhumi (BKK) handles most international flights; Don Mueang (DMK) serves budget carriers. US travellers usually connect via Asia or the Middle East.
| From the airport | Time | Cost (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Airport Rail LinkBKK → Phaya Thai, with a BTS connection | ~30 min | ~$1.50 |
| Metered taxiOfficial queue only; includes tolls | 30–60 min | ~$9–13 |
| Ride-hailing (Grab/Bolt)Fixed price in the app | 30–60 min | ~$10–15 |
Always use the official metered-taxi queue downstairs — not the touts upstairs who quote inflated flat fares.
10 Entry & visa for US citizens
- Passport
- Valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry.
- Visa
- Visa-free tourist entry up to 30 days for US citizens (reduced from 60 days on 19 May 2026).
- Cost
- Free.
- Good to know
- All arrivals must complete the online Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before entry; proof of onward travel may be checked.
Last checked 2026-09-08. Entry rules change — always confirm with the official government source before you book.
11 Getting around Bangkok
Fly into Suvarnabhumi (BKK) — the Airport Rail Link reaches the centre in ~30 minutes — or Don Mueang (DMK) for budget flights. In the city, the BTS Skytrain, MRT metro and river boats beat the traffic.