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Bangkok is one of my favourite cities ever. The bustling capital is a new experience every time I visit! Be prepared for the kindest people, the tastiest food, and one of the most beautiful cities in South East Asia. I hope you enjoy my guide, and it gives you some ideas of what you want to get up to whilst backpacking Bangkok, Thailand.
If you’re flying to Thailand, chances are you will fly into Bangkok. Bangkok is one place that cannot be missed. If you’re short on time, I would spend 1-2 nights there, it’s plenty of time to see some main sights and get a feel for the bustling city.
Another good way to travel to and from Bangkok is the night train, you can read my guide here
Most backpackers flock to hostels in Bangkok that are close to the famous ‘Khao san road’, it’s full with other travellers, so you can make plenty of friends. The location is amazing and central and the nightlife is buzzing! Ahhhhh what I would do now to be sat in Khao San Road with some street food and a cold Chang. There are plenty of hostels to chose from, and I’ve put together a list of some of my recommendations:
When I would arrive in a country alone, I would make sure I checked into the biggest party hostel for the first couple of nights, so I was guaranteed to meet people! Then you can make amazing friends and travel with them for the rest of the country!
Zee Thai Hostel is perfect for budget backpackers, and is very well located, right near Khaosan Road. The rooms are very comfortable and they offer private rooms and dormitories. You can lock your backpacks safely in the big lockers provided, and enjoy Aircon in all the rooms.
Mind day hostel is beautifully decorated in traditional Thai decor. Brilliant for budget backpackers, and they also offer dormitories and private rooms. They have a beautiful rooftop area with plenty of seating, So you can socialise and have an amazing view of Bangkok. Location is great, close to Khaosan road too!
Tales hostel is a great hostel for those looking to still enjoy a good night sleep while still being close to Khaosan road. The dormitory are well built and you get your own little built part, so very good for privacy. Budget friendly, and also offer aircon in the rooms.
Here hostel has been beautifully decorated after a refurbishment and boasts a beautiful garden area and outdoor swimming pool. They have large and comfy dorm beds that offer privacy and security for you belongings!
Mad Monkey Bangkok is well equipped for a social environment and definitely known as a party hostel. It has a bar area, swimming pool, lounge areas and a pool table. A great place for meeting people and having a lively stay! The rooms are comfy and modern, and the location is great!
I honestly don’t think it’s possible to get bored in Bangkok! At least, you definitely won’t be stuck for things to do in Bangkok after reading this list! Here are some ideas and suggestions for you, some you will not want to skip.
Bangkok has so many markets, it’s hard to know which one to visit first. A very popular market is Sook Siam, located in the Iconsiam mall in the area of Khlong san. Perfect if you want to escape the heat, or it’s a rainy day in Bangkok. There are so many food stalls too, perfect for trying traditional Thai food
Enjoy drinks at sunset at one of the world’s most famous sky bars. Sky Bar at Lebua in Bangkok. You will get a 360 view of the stunning city whilst enjoying a beautiful setting and signature cocktails. It does get busy so I would pre book a table or get there early. Be aware though that they have a dress code of smart/casual.
Visit and have lunch in Chinatown. Located on Yaowarat road, this is Bangkok’s oldest district and bustling with Chinese themed decor and amazing food! Every time I have been to Bangkok I always end up in chinatown for lunch, the food is just unreal.
Go to a night market. Thailand have the best night markets ever! I’m yet to backpack a country that can out do them. And there is something about going to a market at night that makes it even better. Perhaps all the pretty lights, and the break from the hot sun makes it even better. A popular night market is Chatuchak market. And another amazing night market is Train night market located in Srinakarin. Try and go hungry because you just end up eating everything!
An amazing way to experience culture first hand is getting stuck right in and learning to cook traditional meals. I personally think Thailand have one of the best cuisines in the world, I just love the flavours and ingredients they use in their cooking! I highly recommend taking a cooking class, it’s one of the best things I have done
Visit the buddhist temple of Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn. It sits beautifully along the Chao Phraya river. You will see it lit up gold at night time and visited often by many tourists and locals. Remember to respectfully cover your shoulders and knees whilst visiting temples in Thailand.
If your looking for a busy and social district for a few drinks and street food, then the famous Khaosan road is the place for you. Where a lot of backpackers choose to stay. Khaosan road is a good and energetic place to hang out with friends and socialise! You will find some good and cheap street food here too! Nothing like a drunken pad Thai to finish the night off with
One of my favourite things to do in Bangkok was get the scooter taxis. You could order a scooter taxi on the app ‘grab’ and ride on the back of a scooter as a form of taxi. It’s super cheap and so much fun! Get your headphones on under your helmet and just listen to your favourite music whilst chilling on the back of a scooter taking in all of Bangkok!
A very popular attraction is the grand palace. This used to be the King of Thailand’s home for many, many years. As well as government officials would reside here too. Local Thai people have entry for free, and the ticket cost for foreigners id 500 TBH. You can pre book your tickets online and then collect them whilst you are there.
Believe me when I say, you have not been massaged, until you have been Thai massaged. They are phenomenal, and they can be similar but different with each one you go for. Not to mention the price of them is unreal! Between £5-£10 for one hour! Be sure to leave a tip!
What is Trusted House Sitters? Trusted house sitters are a company that was founded in 2010 in Brighton, East Sussex. A website
Your guide to getting the best travel insurance for backpacking A commonly asked question i get is ‘Paige, do i really need
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Chiang Mai was the first place I visited in North Thailand. Previously had only ever been in the South, and Southwest, so I really did not know what to expect. I can almost kiss my younger self for making the decision to go to Chiang Mai, it is by far one of my favourite places…
One of my bucket list things to do, was to be with the elephants, Up close and personal. I don’t think I will ever forget this experience, and the people I met there, became friends for life. A lot of the elephants in Thailand are rescued, and so the cost of the tours go towards…
Thailand is one of the most flocked to countries in Southeast Asia. In 2019 Thailand was visited by almost 40 million tourists. And for good reason. The food is out of this world, the culture is stunning, and the landscape and scenery are pure paradise, a big reason Thailand is often used as the destination…
I had to kick this blog post off with a picture of Khao Soi! I honestly think I ate this everyday whilst I was in Pai, Thailand. ( for reference we ate at Charlie & lek often! It’s right next to purple monkey backpackers) I think Pai was my absolute favourite place in Northern Thailand,…
Sleeper trains in Thailand Thailand sleeper trains are an affordable and convenient way to travel. I loved travelling by night, as I saw it as a good way to save time. Travel by night, explore the country by day. There are many routes that operate from Bangkok, and a popular one, is from Bangkok to…
Before my very first visit to Thailand I had heard of the Full Moon party. I had planned to go to the NYE 2015 Full moon party on my first visit, and to be honest the night was a disaster! My second time at the NYE 2018 Full moon party was brilliant! I learned from…
Chiang Mai was the first place I visited in North Thailand. Previously had only ever been in the South, and Southwest, so I really did not know what to expect. I can almost kiss my younger self for making the decision to go to Chiang Mai, it is by far one of my favourite places…
One of my bucket list things to do, was to be with the elephants, Up close and personal. I don’t think I will ever forget this experience, and the people I met there, became friends for life. A lot of the elephants in Thailand are rescued, and so the cost of the tours go towards…
Thailand is one of the most flocked to countries in Southeast Asia. In 2019 Thailand was visited by almost 40 million tourists. And for good reason. The food is out of this world, the culture is stunning, and the landscape and scenery are pure paradise, a big reason Thailand is often used as the destination…
I had to kick this blog post off with a picture of Khao Soi! I honestly think I ate this everyday whilst I was in Pai, Thailand. ( for reference we ate at Charlie & lek often! It’s right next to purple monkey backpackers) I think Pai was my absolute favourite place in Northern Thailand,…
Thailand is one of the most flocked to countries in Southeast Asia. In 2019 Thailand was visited by almost 40 million tourists. And for good reason. The food is out of this world, the culture is stunning, and the landscape and scenery are pure paradise, a big reason Thailand is often used as the destination…
I had to kick this blog post off with a picture of Khao Soi! I honestly think I ate this everyday whilst I was in Pai, Thailand. ( for reference we ate at Charlie & lek often! It’s right next to purple monkey backpackers) I think Pai was my absolute favourite place in Northern Thailand,…
Sleeper trains in Thailand Thailand sleeper trains are an affordable and convenient way to travel. I loved travelling by night, as I saw it as a good way to save time. Travel by night, explore the country by day. There are many routes that operate from Bangkok, and a popular one, is from Bangkok to…
Before my very first visit to Thailand I had heard of the Full Moon party. I had planned to go to the NYE 2015 Full moon party on my first visit, and to be honest the night was a disaster! My second time at the NYE 2018 Full moon party was brilliant! I learned from…
Chiang Mai was the first place I visited in North Thailand. Previously had only ever been in the South, and Southwest, so I really did not know what to expect. I can almost kiss my younger self for making the decision to go to Chiang Mai, it is by far one of my favourite places…
One of my bucket list things to do, was to be with the elephants, Up close and personal. I don’t think I will ever forget this experience, and the people I met there, became friends for life. A lot of the elephants in Thailand are rescued, and so the cost of the tours go towards…
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