"Your Insider Guide to Bangkok -- the Capital of Thailand"

Are you going to travel in Thailand?

-- Then I guess your first big stop in Thailand is Bangkok! ;-)

Many backpackers spend their time in the Banglamphu area, so that's the reason you're going to read a lot about Khao San Road (KSR) and Soi Rambutri (SR) in this article (I'll be using these abbreviations).

Well, for starters I love Bangkok.

There's something about it that I can't explain.

The city is lively and chaotic at the same time. I'm used to big cities, so I actually find it safe and relaxing walking down the streets of Banglamphu and Siam Square.

But you might not feel the same way. So in my opinion, it's a city you'll either love or hate!

On a side note, things to watch out for in the big cities like Bangkok:

• The traffic

• Theft

• Pushy touts on KSR, SR and Siam Square

• Overpriced shopping (I suggest you shop around for prices as variations in prices occur a lot)

• Tuk-Tuk and taxi scams

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How to get to Bangkok

By air: All international flights land and depart at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Suvarnabhumi is in the province of Samut Prakan, and is located 29 km from Bangkok town.

This is how you get to Bangkok town from the airport:

• Your cheapest option: Public Bus

  Price: 35 B

  These are the routes I know about:

  No. 549: Suvarnabhumi Airport –- Minburi

  No. 550: Suvarnabhumi Airport –- Happy Land

  No. 551: Suvarnabhumi Airport –- Victory Monument (Expressway)

  No. 552: Suvarnabhumi Airport –- Bangna (On Nut BTS Station)

• Take the Airport Express bus to Bangkok downtown

  Price: 150 B

  It operates from 5.30 am to midnight, and the express buses serve 4 different routes.

  If you want to take the airport express bus to Khao san road, take bus number 2. The buses are efficient, and comfortable enough!

  These are the routes:

  AE 1: Suvarnabhumi Airport-Surawong Rd.-Silom Rd. Bus stops: Phetburi Soi 30, Central World Plaza, (BTS) Ratchadamri Station, Lumpini Park, Sala Daeng (on Rama 4 Rd.), Montien Hotel, Tawana Ramada Hotel, Plaza Hotel, Surawong Soi Kamjai Lamsuri, Charoen Krung Soi 47/1, Loet Sin Hospital, Central Silom, Silom Soi 26, Narai Hotel (Silom Soi 18), Sofitel Hotel (Silom Soi 12), Bangkok Bank (Silom Soi 6),(BTS) Sala Daeng Station

  AE 2: Suvarnabhumi Airport-Khao San Rd. Bus stops: Phetburi Soi 30, Platinum Fashion Mall, Phetburi soi 20, Phetburi Soi 10, Uruphong, Saphan Khao, Thai Airways (Lan Luang), Wat Ratchanadda, Democracy Monument, Royal Hotel, National Theatre, Phra Athit Rd., Phra Sumen, Khao San Rd.

  AE 3: Suvarnabhumi Airport-Sukhumvit (Nana) Bus stops: Sukhumvit Soi 52-50, Phra Khanong Market, Eastern Bus Terminal, Sukhumvit Soi 38, Sukhumvit Soi 34, Sukhumvit Soi 24, Sukhumvit Soi 20, Sukhumvit Soi 18, Sukhumvit Soi 10 (Bangkok Bank), Sukhumvit Soi 6, Sukhumvit Soi 2, Central Chit Lom, Central World Plaza, Phetburi Soi 25, Phetburi Soi 35, Soi Nana

  AE 4: Suvarnabhumi Airport-Hua Lamphong Railway Station Bus stops: Victory Monument, Soi Rangnam, 99 Hotel, (BTS) Phaya Thai Station, Department of Livestock, (BTS) Ratchathewi Station, Siam Discovery Centre, Ma Boon Khrong (MBK), Chulalongkorn University, Mandarin Hotel, Bangkok Centre Hotel, Hua Lamphong Railway Station

  Phone: +66 (0) 2134 2443, + 66 (0) 2134 8030

  Where: Located at Level 1, near doorway 8.

  After you've picked up your baggage and on your way out, take the escalators down to level 1. The escalators would be on your right side, before the exits.

  When you've taken the escalator to level 1, turn left and head straight forward till you see doorway 8. There's a counter to the right of doorway 8 where you can get your tickets. If you're hungry or thirsty, there's a restaurant near doorway 8.

  The clue at this restaurant is that you have to buy coupons. You can't approach a food desk directly and pay for food without having any coupons. The payment is the coupons.

  Let's say you have bought coupons for 100 B. When you've done, you've only used 50 B. Go back to the counter where you bought them, and ask for the rest. They'll hand you out the rest (50 B) in cash.

• Take a taxi

  The last time I took a taxi from Suvarnabhumi (Oct 2007), the touts wanted 700 B. We got so scammed...! So ignore the persistent touts at the arrival gate -- keep walking!

  If you take the metered taxis, you don't need to pay more than 300-400 B. But expect to pay 50 B surcharge because the taxis have to pass the tollway.

On HostelBookers.com you can find heaps of cheap hotels in Bangkok other cities in Asia

Bangkok Thailand Map - Banglamphu area:

A: Khao San road
B: Soi Rambuttri

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From Bangkok to Other Towns/Cities in Thailand

From Bangkok to Northern/Northeastern Thailand:

• By large VIP-buses: To get to the Northern cities, most backpackers buy a ticket at travel agencies located on Khao San Road or Soi Rambuttri. When we took this type of bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, it took 10 hours and the ride itself was effortless. I had leg room, and arrived in one piece. I couldn't ask for more!

  Otherwise you can choose to take a long-distance bus from the Mo Chit Bus Terminal, near Chatuchak Market. Either take the skytrain to Mo Chit, or take a bus #512 from Democracy Monument.

  At Mo Chit Bus Terminal, you can take buses to Chiang Khong (if crossing the border to Huay Xai in Laos), Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Sukhotai, Mae Sot, Mae Hong Son etc.

• By train: Take the overnight train to Chiang Mai. They serve food and drinks on the train, but to save money, bring your own supplies.

  Here's the train timetable (opens in a new window)

• By air: If you don't have much time, you can take the airplane (Air Asia) to Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai.

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From Bangkok to Southern Thailand:

• By ordinary bus: Buses for Southern Thailand leave the "new" Southern Bus Terminal. Whether you're going to Surat Thani (to get to Koh Pga Ngan, Koh Samui), Kanchanaburi, Krabi, Phang Nga, Ranong, Petchaburi etc., you have to go to this bus terminal.

  To get to the Southern Bus Terminal, take the #511 bus from Phra Pinklao Bridge.

• By VIP-bus: You can buy a ticket for Surat Thani at the travel agencies located on Khao San Road or Soi Rambuttri.

• By train:

  You can also take the train to Chumphon or Surat Thani. As far as I know, there's no direct line to Krabi. So an option is to take a train to Surat Thani, then grab a bus to Krabi.

  Take a look at this timetable (opens in a new window)

• By bus to Krabi: An evening bus leaves the Southern Bus Terminal.

  Phone: 02) 435-1199, 435-5061

From Bangkok to Eastern Thailand (like, if you're going to Cambodia):

• By bus: To get to the Eastern towns of Thailand, take a bus from the Eastern Bus Terminal. Buses to Trat (if you want to go to Koh Chang), leave this terminal (takes about 6 hours).

• By train: Take the train to Aranyaprathet -- the Thai border town by Cambodia. I took the train FROM Aranyaprathet to Bangkok (but I reckon it's the same train) and it cost around 50 B (Dec 2007).

  Here's the timetable for the Eastern Line.

There are of course airport buses from Khao san road to the airport. The last bus leaves at 23.00. Otherwise, it's possible to take a minivan from Khao san road/Soi Rambuttri to the airport (150B). Just go to one of the travel agencies in the area, and ask for transport to the airport. It's common routine to pick you up from your guesthouse.

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Bangkok Articles

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Don't know where to sleep?

Get some good ideas here!

Click here to read about Bangkok accomodation!

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Check out the food in Bangkok: What to eat, where to eat & prices!

You won't regret it!

Read about where you can grab fantastic CHEAP Thai food! Food of Thailand

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Reviews of some of the nightclubs in Bangkok!

And you get prices for alcohol!

Read about Bangkok night life!

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There's no mystery that Bangkok has one of the best shopping in Southeast Asia!

I've been to most of these shopping places, and I'm ready to give you reviews and prices!

Click here to find out where you can find GOOD Bangkok shopping!

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What to do in the capital of Thailand: visit Wats, watch a thai boxing game, hold a snake around your neck -- there's too much to do in Bangkok!

Need tips on what kind of attractions is worth to see in Bangkok? Find out what to do in Bangkok

Find out where you can get a cheap Thai massage in Bangkok. Personal review of Orchid Massage and Beauty and other salons.

Welcome to Thailand Thai Massage! ;-)

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You're done with Backpacking Thailand Bangkok, where do you want to go next?

Going North? Read about Chiang Mai.

Click here to read about hippy cool Pai.

Heading South? Read my reviews of the beautiful Phi Phi Islands.

Visiting Railey Beach in Krabi?

Heading East towards Cambodia? Visit Koh Chang.

Return from Backpacking Thailand Bangkok to Backpacking Tips Asia Homepage.

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