Bangkok - Bangkok

Bangkok is 'n groot stad met verskeie distrik artikels wat inligting bevat oor spesifieke besienswaardighede, restaurante en akkommodasie.

Bangkok (Thai: กรุงเทพฯ Krung Thep) is die hoofstad en grootste stad van Thailand en met 'n bevolking van meer as elf miljoen inwoners, verreweg die belangrikste stad. Sy hoë geboue, swaar verkeersopeenhopings, intense hitte en die stoute naglewe verwelkom u nie dadelik nie - maar laat u eerste indruk u nie mislei nie. Dit is een van Asië se mees kosmopolitiese stede met manjifieke tempels en paleise, outentieke kanale, besige markte en 'n bruisende naglewe wat iets vir almal bied.

Jare lank was dit net 'n klein handelspos aan die oewer van die Chao Phraya-rivier, totdat koning Rama I, die eerste koning van die huidige Chakri-dinastie, dit in 1782 in die hoofstad van Siam verander het, na die verbranding van Ayutthaya deur Birmaanse indringers. Sedertdien het Bangkok 'n nasionale skathuis geword en funksioneer as Thailand se geestelike, kulturele, politieke, kommersiële, opvoedkundige en diplomatieke sentrum.

Distrikte

Bangkok is 'n reuse en moderne stad wat met 'n naglewe en vurigheid neurie. Administratief is dit opgedeel in 50 distrikte (เขต khet), wat verder in 180 sub-distrikte verdeel word (แขวง khwaeng), maar dit word meer gereeld in amptelike sake en vir adresse gebruik. Besoekers vind die onderstaande konseptuele verdeling van die hoofareas nuttiger om rond te kom.

Rondom Bangkok is die provinsies Nakhon Pathom na die weste, Nonthaburi na die noordweste, Pathum Thani na die noorde, Chachoengsao na die ooste, Samut Prakan na die suidooste en Samut Sakhon na die suidweste.

Verstaan

Net minder as 14 grade noord van die ewenaar is Bangkok 'n tropiese metropool wat ook een van die mees reisvriendelike stede in Asië is. 'N Woedende aanval op die sintuie, besoekers word onmiddellik gekonfronteer met die hitte, die besoedeling, onaangename reuke en die onherroeplike glimlag wat baie Thais dra. Ondanks die opspraakwekkende internasionale nuusberigte en eerste indrukke, is die stad verbasend veilig (behalwe vir klein misdade) en meer georganiseerd as wat dit aanvanklik voorkom, en is vol verborge juwele wag om ontdek te word. Die hoë relatiewe humiditeit en warm temperatuur bevorder die groei van tropiese plante - u sal eksotiese orgideë en heerlike vrugte oral vind. Bougainvillea en frangipani blom feitlik oral in die stad. Thaise kookkuns is tereg beroemd, gevarieerd en bekostigbaar. Bangkok is vir baie die belangrikste Asiatiese hoofstad. Saffraan-gewaad monnike, gierige neonborde, sierlike Thaise argitektuur, pittige geregte, kleurvolle markte, verkeersknope en die tropiese klimaat kom in 'n gelukkige toeval bymekaar. Dit is moeilik om weg te gaan met slegs louwarm indrukke van die stad.

Geskiedenis

"Bangkok" was oorspronklik 'n klein dorpie aan die westelike oewer van die Chao Phraya-rivier. Na die val van Ayutthaya in die laat 18de eeu het koning Taksin die Grote die dorp in Siam se nuwe hoofstad verander en dit herdoop Thonburi. In 1782 het koning Rama I die hoofstad na die oostelike oewer van die rivier by Rattanakosin; oorspronklik die tuiste van 'n Chinese gemeenskap, wat buite die nuwe stadsmure na verskuif is Yaowarat. Koning Rama I noem die stad Krung Thep, soos dit nou aan Thais bekend is en wat in Engels vertaal word as die "City of Angels".

Die volledige naam "Krung thep mahanakhon amorn ratanakosin mahintharayutthaya mahadilok popnoparat ratchathani burirom udomratchanivetmahasathan amornpiman avatarnsathit sakkathattiyavisnukarmprasit" (กรุงเทพมหานคร อมร รัตนโกสินทร์ ม หิน ท รา ยุ ธ มหา ดิลก ภพ นพรัตน์ราชธานี บุรี รมย์ ราช นิเวศน์ มหา สถาน อมร พิมาน อวตาร สถิต ทัต ติ ยะ วิษณุกรรม ประสิทธิ์) word deur die Guinness Book of Records as die wêreld se langste naam genoem; 'n Engelse weergawe lui soos volg: 'The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city of Ayutthaya of God Indra, the grand capital of the world begiftig met nege kosbare edelstene, die gelukkige stad, volop in 'n enorme koninklike paleis wat lyk soos die hemelse woning waar die gereïnkarneerde god regeer, 'n stad wat deur Indra gegee is en deur Vishnukarn gebou is ". Buitelanders het die verandering nooit aangegryp nie, dus in vreemde tale Krung Thep die naam Bangkok geërf, wat die formele Engelse naam geword het. Vir Thais verwys die naam Bangkok na die voormalige dorpie aan die Wesbank van die Chao Phraya, wat in 1971 in Groter Bangkok opgeneem is.

Die lewe het op die water plaasgevind; gewone mense het op bamboesvlotte langs die rivier gewoon, terwyl drywende verkopers in die water rondgeloop het om vrugte en groente te verkoop. Die enigste klipstrukture wat op land gebou is, was tempels en paleise. In die 19de eeu het Westerse moondhede 'n groot deel van Suidoos-Asië opgeneem in hul koloniale ryke. Kings Rama IV en V was van mening dat die enigste manier om Siam onafhanklik te hou, was om die land volgens Europese linies te moderniseer. Tradisionele kanale is volgemaak en in paaie verander. Koning Rama V het die woning van die koning verhuis na Dusit en die distrik se groot boulevards volgens Europese lyne uitgelê.

Bangkok het regtig begin ontwikkel na die Tweede Wêreldoorlog. Die ekonomiese sentrum het van die ordelike beplande stad Rattanakosin in 'n oostelike rigting verskuif en Bangkok sonder 'n duidelike sentrum gelaat. Bangkok het homself gevestig as die dryfkrag agter die nuwe rol van Thailand as 'n nuut-industrialiserende land vanaf die 1980's. Vinnige ekonomiese groei het migrasie van die platteland gelok, met miljoene Thais wat hierheen verhuis het Isaan en ander streke om 'n bestaan ​​te maak. Aangesien Thailand tot die belangrikste ekonomiese sentrum van die streek gegroei het, het Bangkok in die moderne tyd ook baie trekarbeiders uit die naburige Mianmar, Laos en Kambodja gelok.

Hierdie vinnige uitbreiding het Bangkok verander in een van die mees kosmopolitiese stede in Asië; maar sorg ook vir talle probleme. 'N Groot gaping het ontstaan ​​tussen diegene wat voordeel trek uit ekonomiese aktiwiteite, en diegene wat van die platteland na die stad gekom het op soek na werk. Bangkok se oënskynlik nimmereindigende verkeersopeenhopings gaan voort, aangesien die nuwe Skytrain- en MRT-stelsels te duur is vir die werkersklas. Om 'n blaaskans van die dampe in 'n park te kry, blyk 'n goeie idee te wees, maar ongelukkig het Bangkok die laagste hoeveelheid groen ruimte van alle hoofstede ter wêreld.

Adresse en navigasie

Adresse in Bangkok gebruik die Thaise adresstelsel, wat 'n bietjie verwarrend kan wees vir oningewydes. Groot paaie soos Silom of Sukhumvit is thanon (ถนน), dikwels afgekort Th of glansende "Road", terwyl die systrate wat daarvandaan vertak genoem word so ek (ซอย). Sois is genommer, met ewe getalle aan die een kant en onewe getalle aan die ander kant. Dus, 'n adres soos "25 Sukhumvit Soi 3" beteken huis / gebou nommer 25 op die 3de soi van Sukhumvit Road. Alhoewel die soi-nommers aan elke kant altyd opwaarts sal beweeg, beweeg die getalle dikwels nie eweredig tussen die sye nie. Soi 55 kan byvoorbeeld teenoor Soi 36 wees. Baie bekende sois het 'n bykomende naam wat gebruik kan word in plaas van die aantal. Sukhumvit Soi 3 staan ​​ook bekend as 'Soi Nana Nuea', dus kan die bostaande adres dus ook uitgedruk word as '25 Soi Nana Nuea'. Die uitbreiding / x word gebruik vir nuwe strate wat tussen bestaande strate ontstaan, soos gesien in Sukhumvit se soi-patroon 7, 7/1, 7/2, 9, 11. Sommige kort stegies word genoem trok (ตรอก) in plaas van soi.

Om dinge 'n bietjie ingewikkelder te maak, het sommige groot soies soos Soi Ekkamai (Sukhumvit Soi 63) en Soi Ari (Phahonyothin Soi 7) hul eie sois. In hierdie gevalle beteken 'n adres soos 'Ari Soi 3' die 3de soi van Soi Ari ', en u kan selfs adresse sien soos' 68/2 Ekkamai Soi 4, Sukhumvit Road ', wat beteken' 2de huis langs huis 68, in die 4de soi van Ekkamai, wat die 63ste soi van Sukhumvit is ". In baie sois neem die huisgetalle nie net toe nie, maar kan dit versprei.

Om die toeris wat nie Thais lees nie, verder te verwar, is die weergawe van Thaise straatname in die Latynse alfabet nie konsekwent nie. Die pad wat in die rigting van die Don Mueang-lughawe vanaf Victory Monument loop, kan gespel word Phahonyothin of Phahon Yothin of Pahon Yothin of Phaholyothin afhangend van watter straatnaambord of kaart u raadpleeg. Dit is natuurlik alles in Thai, net die romanisering wissel.

En as dit nie genoeg verwarrend is nie, is die meeste groter strate geneig om elke paar kilometer van naam te verander. Sukhumvit word genoem Sukhumvit aan die een kant van die tolweg (ongeveer oos), maar dit word Phloen Chit net voor jy Witthayu Road (aka Wireless Road) in die rigting van die rivier. Gaan voort net nog 'n paar strate en dit word Rama I Road (of Phra Ram Neungweg) nadat u by Ratchadamri Road verby is. Maar as u regs sou draai na Ratchadamri, kom u binne enkele blokke Ratchapraropweg (verby Phetchaburi, alias Nuwe Phetburi, wat genoem word Phitsanulok nader aan die rivier).

Gelukkig is daar logika in hierdie naamsveranderinge: die meeste is buurte. Dit sal nie sinvol wees om die pad te bel nie Sukhumvit as dit nie meer deur die Sukhumvit-gebied loop nie, sou dit nie? So word Sukhumvit Phloen Chit waar dit deur die Phloen Chit-gebied loop. Dit is wanneer u die stad in terme van sy woonbuurte kan begryp, dat dit meer bevaarbaar en sjarmanter word. Net so is Pratunam en Chatuchak veel meer as net markte; dit is woonbuurte, elk met hul eie karakter.

Thais gebruik kompasaanwysings nie baie om in Bangkok te navigeer nie. Om dus aanwysings te vra in terme van "Is dit hiervandaan wes?" sal u waarskynlik net meer verdien as 'n deurmekaar blik van 'n plaaslike bevolking. U is beter daaraan toe om u van die buurte te vergewis en na en van hulle te navigeer. "Hoe kom ek by Thong Lo?" sal u vinniger daar kry as om aanwysings te vra vir Sukhumvit Soi 55.

Een uitsondering: die Chao Phraya-rivier is die baken in Bangkok, en daar kan baie rigtingwysers verwys word as 'na die rivier' of 'weg van die rivier af'. As u nie te naby is nie, dit wil sê: omdat die rivier rondom die gewildste toeristegebiede kronkel, is die verwysings na die rivier meestal nuttig as u verder as Khao San Road, Sanam Luang of Rattanakosin dwaal. En dwaal jy moet.

Klimaat

Volgens die Wêreld Meteorologiese Organisasie is Bangkok die wêreld se warmste stad. Slegs 14 grade noord van die ewenaar, is Bangkok te alle tye van die jaar sonnig met temperature bo 30 ° C (86 ° F).

Die aangenaamste tyd om te besoek is koel seisoen dit duur vanaf Nov-Feb. Dit is die koelste en droogste periode - die Emerald Buddha-beeld in Wat Phra Kaeo dra selfs 'n serp gedurende hierdie tydperk! Dink egter nie dat dit nodig is nie - dagtemperature hang nog steeds van ongeveer 30 ° C (86 ° F), maar dit word in die laer 20's afgekoel namate dit donker word (laer 70's in Fahrenheit), en kan in seldsame gevalle selfs laag as 15 ° C. Maart en April verteenwoordig die warm seisoenen dit is warm - gemiddeld 35 ° C (95 ° F), maar wees nie verbaas om te sien dat hitte-indekse styg tot die 50s ° C (ongeveer 120 ° F) nie. Dit is die slegste seisoen om Bangkok te besoek, dus beplan baie besoeke aan die lugverkoelde winkelsentrum en kry 'n hotel met 'n swembad. Dan is daar die nat seisoen wat vanaf Mei-Okt. Verwag massiewe reënbuie wat oorstromings in die hele stad tot gevolg het, en soms donderweer. Dit is egter nie sleg nie - die middagbuie is eintlik 'n aangename manier om van die hitte af te koel, en hoewel dit die hele dag kan duur, is dit gewoonlik binne 'n uur verby. Ekstreme reënval kom in September en Oktober voor, en dit is dus die beste om hierdie maande te vermy.

Ongeag die seisoen wat u besoek, moet u die weer nie ligtelik opneem nie - tempeltrap in die versengende middagson kan 'n uitdaging wees, dus kom goed voorbereid. Trek liggies aan vir die weer, maar hou dit in gedagte sommige paleise en tempels (veral die Grand Palace) het 'n streng kleredrag, dit wil sê, almal moet hul bolyf, bene en bo-arms volledig bedek. Dus sal 'n kortbroek, halter-tops, ens. U toegang weier. By die ingange van 'n paar belangrike besienswaardighede kan handelaars die nodige dekking huur.

Wees ook seker dat jy drink genoeg vloeistowwe! U het geen verskoning om dit nie te doen nie, want 7-Elevens en ander geriefswinkels is volop in Bangkok en verkoop afgekoelde drankies vir so min as 10 baht. Plaaslike inwoners kry hul water uit "omgekeerde osmose" -gesuiwerde watermasjiene wat 'n bottel van een liter vir 1 baht volmaak, maar die potensiaal vir besoekers kan wissel.

Kyk

Buitelandse films was van meet af aan gewild in Thailand, maar in die 1920's het 'n plaaslike filmbedryf in Bangkok begin ontstaan. Die mees bekroonde Thaise films is vervaardig in die "drie golwe" van die Thaise filmbedryf, die 1930's, die 1950's en die laat 1990's / vroeë 2000's, hoewel films wat voor die Tweede Wêreldoorlog gemaak is, ongelukkig verlore gegaan het. Oorheersende genres is aksie, historiese epos, romanse en gay / transgender films, byna altyd verweef met elemente van komedie. Die volgende word (ten minste gedeeltelik) in Bangkok opgevoer:

• 6ixtynin9 (เรื่อง ตลก 69, Pen-ek Ratanaruang, 1999). Tum, 'n sekretaresse wat pas tydens 'n finansiële krisis in Asië uit 'n finansiële onderneming ontslaan is, ontdek 'n noodkassie voor haar deur. Dit is gevul met geld en sy besluit om dit te hou. Die mense wat dit daar gelaat het, wil dit egter gou terug hê.
• Bangkok gevaarlik (บางกอก แดน เจอ รัส เพชฌฆาต เงียบ อันตราย, The Pang Brothers, 1999). Die debuut van die Pang Brothers, Bangkok gevaarlik is 'n stylvolle film oor 'n hitman wat liefde vind, en besef hoe sy optrede goeie mense seermaak.
• Die strand (Danny Boyle, 2000). Richard (gespeel deur Leonardo DiCaprio) is 'n jong Amerikaanse rugsakreisiger wat op soek is na avontuur. In Khao San Road ontmoet hy Daffy, wat hom laat glo dat 'n strandparadys op 'n geheime eiland bestaan. Dit is 'n gewilde film in die backpackersgemeenskap. Naas Bangkok word sommige tonele in hierdie Hollywood-produksie ook in Ko Phi Phi, 'n strand-eiland in die suide van Thailand, verfilm.
• Burger Dog (หมา นคร, Wisit Sasanatieng, 2004). 'N Eksentrieke, helder, kleurbespreide film wat die lewe van Pod volg terwyl hy van die platteland na Bangkok verhuis. Sonder 'n doel in die lewe raak Pod verlief op Jin, 'n meisie wat leef vir haar drome. Dit gee 'n speelse ironiese portret van Bangkok, die stad wat valse drome en ware ontnugtering bied.
• Die Hangover Deel II (Todd Phillips, 2011). Amerikaanse komediefilm oor 'n groep vriende (die "wolfpak") wat na Bangkok reis vir 'n vrygesel. Baie stereotipes word bevestig, maar dit is steeds lekker om te lag. Die meeste tonele van die film word in Yaowarat, Sukhumvit en Thonburi opgeneem. Die Staatstoring in Silom word ook aangebied.
• Ysterdames (สตรี เหล็ก, Youngyooth Thongkonthun, 2000). Hierdie film volg die ware verhaal van 'n mansvlugbalspan wat feitlik geheel en al uit gay en transgender-spelers bestaan. Die span ding mee om die nasionale kampioenskap in 1996, en hoewel die skare daarvan hou, word hulle deur ander spanne en wedstrydbeamptes beoordeel.
• Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (องค์ บาก, Prachya Pinkaew, 2003). Krygskunsster Tony Jaa se deurbraakfilm en 'n absolute moet-sien vir diegene wat belangstel in Muay Thai of om choreografie te beveg. Baie plekke in Bangkok word aangebied, maar dink nie Khao Sanweg is die ondergrondse gevegshol soos dit uitgebeeld word.

Praat

Die belangrikste taal in Bangkok is die sentrale dialek van Thai, wat ietwat verskil van die noordelike dialek wat rondom Chiang Mai gepraat word. As gevolg van die groot aantal toeriste, het baie mense wat in die diensbedryf werk 'n basiese begrip van Engels, net soos personeel by baie van die gewilde kosstalletjies.

Bangkok is ook die tuiste van 'n groot etniese Chinese gemeenskap, van wie baie tweetalig is Teochew en Thai.

Gaan in

Met die vliegtuig

Bangkok word bedien deur twee lughawens: Suvarnabhumi-lughawe (BKK ^IATA) en Don Mueang-lughawe (DMK ^IATA). Suvarnabhumi Die lughawe is die belangrikste lughawe en word deur alle diensverskaffers gebruik, maar Nok Air, Orient Thai, Air Asia, Scoot en 'n paar ander laekostelugdiens gebruik die Don Mueang-lughawe. Albei lughawens lê ongeveer 30 km aan weerskante van die stad, dus wees voorbereid op 'n lang rit om in die middestad te kom, en om 'n langer rit tussen hulle te vervoer. 'N Gratis vervoerbus tussen die twee lughawens is beskikbaar as u 'n gepaste instapkaart kan toon. Op 'n goeie dag duur dit ongeveer 'n uur, maar die snelweg is dikwels erg druk, dus laat dit altyd 2-3 uur toe. Dit is 'n goeie idee om Thaise baht gereed te hê om met die stad te verbind. Goeie geldveranderingsopsies is by die BKK-metrostasie beskikbaar.

Suvarnabhumi-lughawe

Hoofartikel: Suvarnabhumi-lughawe

13.6925100.751 Suvarnabhumi-lughawe (สุวรรณภูมิ BKK ^IATA) (30 km (19 myl) oos van Bangkok). Die Ruvarea-lughawe Suvarnabhumi het in September 2006 begin en is nou die belangrikste lughawe in Bangkok en een van die besigste lughawens in Suidoos-Asië. Dit word gebruik vir internasionale en binnelandse vlugte na Bangkok. Daar is net een terminale gebou wat beide binnelandse en internasionale vlugte dek. dit is groot, en volgens sommige maatstawwe die grootste ter wêreld, moet u dus tyd gee om rond te kom. Daar is twee immigrasie-afdelings, maar die verwerkingstyd kan langer wees, minstens 30 minute en op slegte dae byna 2 uur.  

Op die keldervlak van die passasierterminaal is die Lughawespoorverbinding bied 'n vinnige treindiens na die middestad. Dit is ook 'n manier om die verskriklike spitsverkeer van Bangkok te vermy, veral as dit reën. Treine vertrek elke dag 06: 00-middernag. Die Stadslyn is 'n pendellyn wat by alle stasies stop. Treine vertrek elke 10-13 minute, en na die Makkasan-stasie ry hulle verder na die Ratchaprarop- en Phaya Thai-stasies. Die rit na Phaya Thai duur 26 minute vanaf die lughawe en kos 45 baht.

U kan ook 'n gratis pendelbus neem na die lughawe-busterminus, oftewel Transportation Center, om goedkoop stadsbusse te haal. Dit kan handig wees as u na 'n voorstedelike gebied soos Rangsit of Bang Kapi. Sedert Junie 2017 snelbus S1 loop vanaf die terminale gebou na Khao Sanweg.

As u 'n taxi nodig het, is dit normaal metertaxi’s is beskikbaar op die eerste verdieping (een verdieping onder aankomelinge). Volg die borde "openbare taxi" wat na die buitekant van die lughawe lei. Vermy die touts in die aankomssaal; die taxi's waarmee hulle u probeer beland, is waarskynlik onwettig, en die risiko om afgeruk te word, is baie hoër by hulle. OTM-styl kaartjiehokkies gee genommerde strokies uit, met die nommer wat die baai aandui waarin u taxi staan. U kan kies tussen 'n gewone taxi vir 2 volwassenes met bagasie en 'n groot taxi. Hou die strokie, want dit help om 'n klag in te dien as die bestuurder u bedrieg. Daar is 'n toeslag van 50 baht bo-op die meter (nie per passasier), wat beteken dat reise na die stad 250-400 baht sal kos (plus moontlike snelwegtol van 50 en 25 baht, afhangend van die roete). Maak seker dat u die kleingeld gereed het om die toloperateurs deur te gee om te verhoed dat u later vir die tolgeld te veel betaal. Die rit duur ongeveer 45–60 minute, afhangend van die verkeer en bestemming.

Don Mueang-lughawe

13.9125100.60672 Don Mueang-lughawe (ดอนเมือง DMK ^IATA) (ongeveer 30 km (19 myl) noord van Sukhumvit). Dit was Bangkok se belangrikste lughawe tot 2006. Deesdae maak die lughawe hoofsaaklik voorsiening vir begrotingsdienste, en hanteer dit vlugte Thai Lion Air, Scoot, Nok Air, Oriënteer Thai en Air Asia. Dit is 'n bietjie moeiliker om DMK te bereik as BKK as gevolg van die afwesigheid van direkte spoorverbinding.  

1. Taxi : die openbare taxistaanplek is aan die einde van die aankomingsarea. Volg die bordjies na die taxistaanplek. (Moet u nie mislei deur al die taxidienshokkies in die hoofsaal nie.) Dieselfde stand- en glystelsel as op die Suvarnabhumi-lughawe word hier gebruik. As die ry by die taxistaanplek lank is of as u 'n ruimer motor benodig, kan u 'n (sg.) limousine taxi vanaf die lessenaars in die terminale. Dit gee u 'n effens mooier motor teen ongeveer twee keer die prys (500-600 baht). Daar is ook 'n nie-amptelike taxi-ry (maar vir behoorlike metertaxi's) op die hoofweg reg buite die terminale, om daar te kom, gebruik die brug na die treinstasie, maar klim af in die smal trap voorheen die hoofweg oorsteek (die gebruik van hierdie tou kan die wag aansienlik verminder en die lughawe-toeslag vermy). Ignoreer enige touts buite en moenie in 'n motor met wit nommerplate klim nie, want dit is nie gelisensieer om passasiers te vervoer nie.
2. Spesiale busrit (BTS) : Die A1 lughawebus ry na die BTS-stasie Sena Nikhom. U kan aan boord gaan by afrit 6 van Terminal 1 en afrit 12 van Terminal 2. Dit loop vanaf die lughawe 07: 30-24: 00 en na die lughawe 07: 00-24: 00. 30 baht word deur 'n rentmeester aan boord ingesamel sodra die bus vertrek. Dit duur ongeveer 20 minute en gebruik die Don Muang-verhoogde tolweg om verkeersopeenhopings te vermy. Die bus kan baie druk wees, dus sorg dat u vroeg op die tou staan. Die meeste het Wi-Fi as u 'n plaaslike sim-vir-SMS-register het. Na Sena Nikhom gaan die bus verder na die BTS-stasie Ratchayothin en die Vibhavadi-hospitaal voordat hy na die lughawe terugkeer. As u na die Oorwinningsmonument gebied, neem die A2 bus spaar die moeite om oor te skakel na die trein (tarief ook 30 baht). 'N Direkte spoorverbinding met die lughawe is in aanbou nadat 'n eerste aansluitingsprojek na die lughawe verlaat is (die pilare van die aanvanklike projek is steeds sigbaar). Die werke moet in 2017-2018 voltooi wees.
3. Snelbus: Sedert Mei 2017 A3 bus ry op die roete Don Mueang - Dindaeng - Pratunam- Ratchaprasong - Ratchadamri - Lumphini Park, en A4 bus ry op die roete Don Mueang - Yommarach - Lam Luang - Phan Fa - Demokrasie-monument - Khao San - Sanam Luang. Tariewe is 50 baht en busse haal passasiers by deur 6 van Terminal 1 en deur 12 van Terminal 2 tussen 07:00 en 23:00.
4. Trein: oorkant 'n bedekte oorweg vanaf die lughawe Don Muang-treinstasie. Kaartjies na die Hualamphong-treinstasie in Sentraal Bangkok kos 8 baht by die kaartjiestand. Terwyl die trein die goedkoopste manier is om van die lughawe na Bangkok te ry, is skedules wisselvallig, die ou passasiersvoertuie het dikwels bedelaars wat dwaal en laat in die nag is hulle leeg. Dit is beslis die mees outentieke manier om van / na die lughawe te kom.
5. LimoBus : Hierdie privaat busdiens het een roete Khao Sanweg en 'n ander roete wat bedien word Silom en Pratunam. Dit is goedkoper as metertaxi vir 'n alleenreisiger, maar aansienlik duurder as stadsbusse.
6. Stadsbus : Daar is ook 'n aantal openbare vervoerbusse wat deur die lughawe ry, volg die bordjies na die treinstasie. Busse na Sentraal Bangkok is langs die lughawe, dus moenie die snelweg oorsteek nie. Dit is nuttige buslyne:
   • Bus met lugversorging 504 sal u neem na CentralWorld by die Ratchaprasong-kruising (naby Siam Square), sowel as Lumphini Park en Silom, vanwaar u toegang tot die Skytrain het.
   • Gewone bus met lugversorging 29 sal u neem na Hualamphong treinstasie wat verby baie plekke gaan, insluitend Victory Monument en Siam Square. U kan ook afklim by die Chatuchak-naweekmark, waar u na die metro of Skytrain kan oorskakel. Soms is die finale stop Victory Monument (19 baht).
   • Bus met lugversorging 59 sal u neem na Sanam Luang in Rattanakosin. Hierdie roete is tydrowend, want Rattanakosin is ver van die lughawe af.

Onthou dat sommige van hierdie stadsbusse die roete nie voltooi nie. Hulle word 'addisionele bus' genoem (Thai: รถ เสริม verrotting serm). Hierdie soort busse het 'n rooi bordjie voor hulle waarop die eindbestemming staan ​​(natuurlik in Thaise skrif). Gaan dit na voordat u met die bus ry. U kan die inwoners by die bushalte of 'n dirigent in die bus vra

Met die bus

As u kaartjies vir busse vanaf Bangkok koop, is dit die beste om reisagente en hul privaatbusse oor te slaan en die kaartjies vir openbare busse direk by die drie van Bangkok te kry. openbare busterminale. Hierdie busse is goedkoper, veiliger, vinniger, gemakliker en sal u nie halfpad langs die pad na 'n uitklap minibus of na 'n besmette hotel aan die einde van die dag bedrieg nie. Elk van hierdie langtermyn-busterminale het 'n ander rigting. Hulle is doelbewus op nie-sentrale plekke geleë, sodat langafstandbusse die druk verkeer in die middestad vermy. Hulle is:

• 13.71954100.584013 Oostelike busterminal (Ekkamai (เอกมัย)), ☏ 66 2 391-2504. 'N Betreklik kompakte terminale reg langs die Ekkamai BTS - stasie in Sukhumvit. Ekkamai bedien bestemmings in Oos-Thailand, insluitend Pattaya, Rayong, Verbied Phe (vir Ko Samet), Chanthaburi en Trat. As u op pad is na Ko Chang, daar is 'n spesifiek aangewese stop daarvoor tussen Chanthaburi en Trat. U kan ook 'n bus kry na die Kambodjaanse grensoorgang by Poipet, soek die bus na Aranyaprathet en sê vir hulle dat u Poipet toe gaan as u die kaartjie koop. 
• 13.8123100.54794 Noordelike en Noordoostelike busterminal (Mo Chit 2 (หมอชิต 2), ☏ 66 2 9362841 (-3). Die grootste, besigste en modernste terminale wat die ou Mo Chit-terminale vervang. Die boonste verdieping bedien die Isaan streek in die noordooste van Thailand. Die grondverdieping dien Noord-Thailand, en deel sommige bestemmings met Ekkamai (insluitend Pattaya, Rayong, Chanthaburi en Trat). Die busterminal is 'n redelike staptog vanaf die BTS-stasie Mo Chit of MRT-stasie Chatuchak Park. Motortaxi's ry die reis teen 'n vaste tarief van 50 baht (bedinging is sinneloos), terwyl tuk-tuks vra waarvoor hulle ook al voel. Onthou dat as u beding, 'n regte taxi met lugversorging u ongeveer 45 baht sal kos (as u min aanvaar). U kan ook neem Bus 77 en betaal die 13 baht-tarief aan boord (hierdie bus ry ook vanaf die terminale via Victory Monument, Pratunam en Silom Rd). As u heelwat bagasie het, is dit die maklikste, indien nie noodwendig vinnigste nie, om 'n taxi direk na of vanaf die busterminal te neem. 
  • Dit is redelik maklik om kaartjies by die terminal te koop: vind 'n venster waarop u bestemming staan ​​(met vriendelike Romeinse letters), betaal die tarief in groot getalle in dieselfde venster en u kry 'n kaartjie by die volgende beskikbare vertrek. Blou skrif beteken 1ste klas, rooi beteken 2de klas (vermy op langer reise) en kaartjies vir bestemmings in Isaan word vanaf die derde verdieping verkoop. Vra die inligtingstoonbank op die eerste verdieping as u hulp nodig het, of enige van die personeel van Transport Co. wat maklik herkenbaar is danksy hul wit wit hemde met goue knope. Volg net die vertrekstalletjie en dan is u oppad. As u tyd het om dood te maak, is daar twee redelike ordentlike kosbanke met lugversorging aan albei kante van die hoofterminaalgebou, plus KFC, Dunkin 'Donuts en baie 7-Eleven-winkels.
  • Busse met lugversorging is direk beskikbaar vanaf Bangkok Mo Chit na Siem Reap, Kambodja. Vervoer Co., die staatsonderneming wat busse bestuur, bied daaglikse dienste aan vir Siemens Reap vir 750 baht. Vertrek elke dag om 08:00 en 09:00 in albei rigtings.
• 13.78081100.422895 Suidelike busterminal (Sai Tai Mai (สาย ใต้ ใหม่)), Phutthamonthon Sai 1 Rd, Thonburi, ☏ 66 2 894-6122. Bedien alle bestemmings wes en suid van Bangkok vanaf die ietwat ongemaklike ligging aan die Thonburi kant van die rivier. Langafstandbusse vertrek hiervandaan na bestemmings dwarsdeur Wes-Thailand (insluitend Nakhon Pathom en Kanchanaburi) en Suid-Thailand (insluitend Krabi, Phuket, Surat Thani, Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan, Hoed Yai, en ander). Die nuwe terminale is 'n redelike aangename lughawe-agtige struktuur met lugversorging, elektroniese vertrekmonitors (in Engels), enkele bankkantore en kitskosrestaurante. Die grondverdieping huisves meestal Thaise restaurante buite. Die eerste verdieping het kaartjieverkope en die meeste restaurante. Die derde verdieping is 'n klein winkelsentrum en is 'n goeie plek om op die vloer uit te sprei as u 'n lang tyd het. Anders as die afbreekoperateurs by Khao Sanweg, alle busse van hier af is publiek, goed gereguleer, goedkoop en redelik veilig. Koop net u kaartjies by die genommerde lessenaar met u bestemming (amper altyd in Engels). (Januarie 2018 opgedateer)
  • Om by die terminale uit te kom, is 'n bietjie kopseer, want openbare vervoer is beperk. The easiest option is to take a metered taxi, but if you're going there in the evening, especially during workdays, be prepared to fight a serious traffic jam — getting there can take 30 min or a full hour from the city centre. A taxi ride from Khao San Road should be around 120 baht in favourable traffic conditions. Ignore touts — unlike what they might say, there really is no "faster" way when all the roads are congested.
  • From Victory Monument BTS station, the terminal can be reached with pale orange air-conditioned Bus 515 (17 baht). When approached by the conductor, just say "Sai Tai". After quite a ride, the large bus terminal will be on the left side about 9 km (5.5 mi) after crossing the river (you won't miss it and probably will be told as well). Getting there by bus actually does not take much more time than taxi (it's almost the same in the likely case of a traffic jam), but the ride is much cheaper, especially if alone. Bus 556 no longer goes from Suvarnabhumi Airport, but from Makkasan Airport Rail Link (ARL) station. There are also white minibuses (30 baht) from various points around Bangkok, e.g., from Ramkhamhaeng (near Rajamangala National Stadium). There are inexpensive shuttle buses and slightly more expensive (but quicker loading and a bit faster) minibuses to and from the Northeastern Bus Terminal as well.

By minibus

For travelling to Bangkok suburbs or locations within 200 km of the city, the fastest and often the cheapest way is to use public minibus (minivan) services. They run from parking lots beside the 13.7656100.5396 Victory Monument Square (Thai:อนุสาวรีย์ anusawarii) (Use footbridge leading north from BTS Victory Monument exit 2).  . Facing the monument itself are the city bus stops, behind it there is a small market, and behind the market you will find many white-coloured minibuses just parking at the roadside and waiting for passengers. They depart when full, usually each 10–30 min. Fare is usually similar to long-distance buses with the same destination (if there are any). Other way, it could be estimated as 1 baht/km.

Since October 2016 the minibuses to other provinces have been relocated to the three public bus terminals which makes them far less convenient. The city is easing the transition by providing free shuttle buses from Victory Monument Square to the bus terminals. The shuttles to Southern Bus Terminal, and Northern and Northeastern Bus Terminal depart from the northwestern quadrant of the square. It is unclear how long these free shuttles will remain in place.

Destinations are written on the front and the side of the minibuses in Thai, so you should ask drivers or ticket sellers about your destination. Minivans are usually the fastest way of transportation because they take elevated expressways right from Victory Monument, thus avoiding traffic jams. Another advantage is that they start from the city centre of Bangkok and usually arrive at the city centre of their destination. Normal long distance buses sometimes stop further away from the city centre. Minibus drivers are infamous for unsafe driving and deadly accidents. A disadvantage of minibuses is that leg room is limited, and might be not comfortable for tall people. If you have bulky baggage you either keep it on your lap or buy a seat for it.

Some useful destinations within the city: Min Buri (around 30 baht, for Siam Park), Nava Nakorn (50 baht, for Don Mueang Airport or to get out along hwy 1 for hitching to the north/northeast), Phra Ram 2 (to the highway, for hitching to southern Thailand), Suvarnabhumi Airport (40 baht).

Some destinations served from Eastern Bus Terminal: Pattaya (130 baht), Ban Phe (for Ko Samet), Rayong, Chanthaburi.

Some destinations served from Northern and Northeastern Bus Terminal: Ayutthaya (around 70 baht), Lopburi.

Some destinations served from Southern Bus Terminal: Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Kanchanaburi, Phetchaburi, Hua Hin.

Met die trein

Railways converge on Bangkok from all parts of Thailand: from Chiang Mai in the north, Nong Khai on the Laos border, Ubon Ratchathani to the east, Aranyaprathet on the Cambodia border, Sattahip on the coast to the south, Nam Tok to the west, and Padang Besar on the Malaysia border down the peninsula to the south. Trains are run by State Railway of Thailand. See also "Get in" pages for towns along those routes, and Thailand#Get around.

The luxurious Belmond Eastern & Oriental Express also occasionally runs between Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur en Singapoer, with prices starting at US$7500. Two runs are scheduled for late 2021.

Three high speed railways to Bangkok are being developed from Kunming in China: an eastern line via Vietnam, a central line via Laos, and a western line via Myanmar. As of 2021, when these were originally supposed to be nearly finished, work on all three has long stalled and completion is not remotely in sight.

13.7389100.51677 Hua Lamphong Station is the city's principal and terminus station until Bang Sue is fully open, see below. It's central, near Yaowarat and has its own metro station. It's a charming old building of 1916, yet surprisingly efficient and convenient. On timetables it's usually called Krung Thep.

Tickets for trains leaving the same or the next day can be bought at the counters under the big screens. The advance booking office is to the right of the platforms as you walk towards them and is well-organised. You can select your seat/berth from a plan of the train, and payments by credit card are accepted. The information desk is helpful, pay no regard at all to anyone else, even if they are wearing official-looking badges. Likewise, the second floor shops offering "Tourist Information" are just touts. The taxi pick up and drop off point is to the left of the platforms as you walk towards them, and is generally chaotic at busy periods. The left luggage facility is at the opposite end of the concourse, on the far right as you walk away from the platforms.

13.804100.5428 Bang Sue Station will become the terminus for inter-city trains, perhaps from Nov 2021; it's not yet known which local and regional services will also switch. You might change here for the Metro, but the place remains a work in progress. It's also connected by Bus 52 to Mo Chit, for the long distance bus terminal.

13.7606100.47899 Thonburi Train Station (ธนบุรี formerly the Bangkok Noi Station) (On the west side of the river in Thonburi). The terminus for twice-daily trains to Kanchanaburi (via Nakhon Pathom). Just to keep things confusing, the previous Thonburi Train Station right next to the river (accessible by the Chao Phraya Express Boat pier Treinstasie) is now mothballed and turned into a museum, but it's only 800 m away from the new station. The weekend-only second class air conditioned tourist trains to Kanchanaburi and Nam Tok depart from Hualamphong Train Station.  

13.7243100.49110 Wongwian Yai Train Station (วงเวียนใหญ่) (About 800 m from the Skytrain station of the same name. To get there, take a metered taxi for 35-50 baht, or walk (using a map)). Serves the rustic Mae Klong commuter line to the fishing village of Maha Chai. Trains run roughly hourly and the trip takes about one hour. The ride is of little interest if you want to get there fast, but is an experience for rail fans and an attraction in itself, with a nice view on the countryside's orchards, vegetable plantations and coconut groves. Maha Chai is a nice seafood destination, and if you feel like it, you can cross the Tha Chin river by ferry and continue by rail to Samut Songkhram.  

By ship

Not many people come to Bangkok by cruise ship. Medium to large ships must dock at 13.0703100.894611 Laem Chabang Port.  about 90 min (varies considerably in rush hours) southeast of Bangkok and about 30 min north of Pattaya. A taxi service desk is available on the wharf, but charges extortionate prices for a trip to Bangkok, a whopping 2,600 baht to charter a taxi (4 passengers), or about 5,000 baht to charter a minibus (usually 11 passenger seats). Slightly lower prices can be found by walking out to the main road, about 4,000 baht for a minibus, but even these rates are still almost double the typical rate in the opposite direction. Better deals may be possible for round trips (even if returning the following day).

If you can easily get to and from the following bus terminals...

• Frequent first and second class bus services directly connect Laem Chabang with Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai); less frequent direct services run to the Northeastern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit). A first class air conditioned bus (blue and white) to either will take 90 min or less; the fare is around 100 baht. A quick way to get into Sukhumvit is to get a Ekkamai-bound bus and then disembark early at On Nut, where you can hop onto the Skytrain. The bus will always stop here if a passenger requests it.
• Southbound buses to Pattaya can be boarded at the traffic lights on Sukhumvit Road in Laem Chabang. These are extremely frequent (at least 10 per hour), and charge less than 50 baht.

Smaller ships may dock well upriver at 13.703736100.57544712 Khlong Toei (Bangkok Cruise Port).   close to the city's center. Reaching major hotels and the many major points of interest is cheaper and much quicker than from Laem Chabang. A modest terminal provides processing for passengers. You'll also find "managers" inside who arrange tours and taxis. Costs can vary widely according to your negotiating skills or if you have the option of using a ship's shuttle other locations. The facility is within an active freight port. (Its entrance is not close to the metro stop of the same name.) The distance to the very-active port entrance from the terminal (about a kilometer) and heavy traffic in-between mean pedestrians are not allowed. Thus, options to get to/from the terminal are metered taxi and ship's bus/shuttle if offered.

Met die motor

Getting into Bangkok by car is not a good idea, as you can easily waste half a day waiting in traffic just to get to the other side of the city. Three major highways lead to Bangkok from every direction in Thailand. The best way to get to Bangkok from Northern Thailand is via Phahonyothin Road (Rte 1), which comes from Mae Sai near the Myanmar border. Sukhumvit Road (Rte 3) comes from cities in Oos-Thailand, soos Trat, Pattaya, en Chonburi. Phetkasem Road (Rte 4), one of the longest roads in the world, extends all the way to the Malaysian border, serving Southern Thailand.

To ease congestion on these highways, a new system of motorways has emerged which will be extended in the future. Die New Bangkok-Chonburi Motorway (Motorway 7) connects Chonburi en Pattaya. Die Kanchanaphisek National Highway (Motorway 9 or "Outer Ring Road") makes a giant loop around Bangkok serving most satellite towns around it such as Nonthaburi en Samut Prakan.

Kry rond

Bangkok is infamous for its congestion, but these days there are ways around it: hop on the Skytrain (BTS) and Metro (MRT) in the city centre, or use boats to navigate the city's rivers and canals. Although too expensive for the average working class Thai, the Skytrain and MRT are reasonably priced by Western standards.

Transit Bangkok will make using public transport easier by choosing the best combination of buses, MRT, BTS to get to your destination.

Met openbare vervoer

The backbone of Bangkok's public transportation system is three separate rail systems; die BTS Skytrain, die MRT, en die Lughawespoorverbinding. Although transfers between different systems are fairly straightforward, their fare systems are not integrated and completely separate from each other, meaning that you will have to buy separate tickets for each leg of your journey. There is also no integrated stored value card that can be used for all three systems, so you will have a buy separate cards for each system you wish to use. That said, an integrated stored value card for all three systems, known as the Mangmoom Card, is planned, though its rollout has been subject to repeated delays. Different names are used by the different systems for the interchange stations. For instance, the interchange station known as Sukhumvit in the MRT system is known as Asok in the BTS system.

The rail network is complemented by the Chao Phraya Express Boat running on the Chao Phraya River, as well as a system of buses. None of these make use of a stored value card system, and fare payment is only accepted in cash.

Skytrain

Die 13.802583100.55383313 Bangkok Skytrain (BTS) (รถไฟฟ้าบีทีเอส) deserves a visit simply for the Disneyland space-ageness of it. Built in a desperate effort to ease Bangkok's insane traffic and pollution, the Skytrain covers most of the main areas of the city and is especially convenient for visiting Siam Square. There are two lines: the light green Sukhumvit Line travels along Sukhumvit Road, Siam Square and then follows Phahonyothin Road up north, where it passes Mo Chit (N8), near the Chatuchak Weekend Market, before terminating at Wat Phra Sri Mahathat (N17). In April 2017 the eastbound section crossed the border to Samut Prakan when Samrong (E15) station opened. The dark green Silom Line starts in Petchkasem Road (Bang Wa station, S12), passes the Express Boat pier at Saphan Taksin (S6), goes through the Silom area and ends at National Stadium (W1), right next to MBK Center. Both lines come together at Siam (CEN), where you can interchange between them. Unfortunately, there is no station near Khao Sanweg, but you can take the Express Boat from Phra Arthit Pier to Sathorn Pier, where you can switch onto the Skytrain. (Jul 2020 opgedateer)

You must have 5 or 10 baht coins to purchase Skytrain tickets from vending machines, so hold on to them. At some stations there are touchscreen machines that accept 20, 50 and 100 baht notes, but there is often a queue to use them. Fares range from 15 to 55 baht depending upon how many zones you are travelling. Consult the map (in English) near each ticket machine. If you do not have coins, queue for change from the staff at the booth. If you are in town for several days (or will make several visits during the next 30 days), weigh your options and consider:

• Rabbit card: a rechargeable stored-value card (from 100 baht, plus a 100 baht non-refundable card cost). Bring your passport when purchasing. The Rabbit card can also be used to make payments in some supermarkets,
• a "ride all you like" tourist pass (140 baht per day) or
• a multiple ride pass of 20 trips or more to any zone (15 trips cost 345 baht, 25 trips cost 550 baht; plus a 30 baht refundable deposit for a rechargeable card that is valid for 5 years).

They will certainly save you time, scrambling for coins, and maybe even money. Check for information with the English speaking staff.

The trains do not run all night. The last departures from termini are 00:00-00:24, and first trains start at 05:15-05:30.

Metro

Die Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT) (รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร). has two lines but is being extended with construction messing up traffic in some areas. The service started as a metro (subway) train but parts of the network run now on elevated track so the label Skytrain for the BTS is becoming confusing when the Airport Rail Link also uses similar construction.  

Die  Blue  line runs in a circle from Lak Song to Tha Phra through Thonburi, Yaowarat, Silom, Sukhumvit, Ratchadaphisek and areas around Chatuchak Weekend Market in Phahonyothin. There are interchanges to the Skytrain at Bang Wa, Si Lom, Sukhumvit en Chatuchak Park stations. Die Purple Line connects Tao Poon market west of Bang Sue Train Station to points west in Nonthaburi way across Chao Phraya River.

Metro tickets are not interchangeable with BTS tickets. Fares range from 16 to 42 baht and are based on number of stations. The ticket vending machines accept coins and banknotes. Pre-paid cards of up to 1,000 baht are also available. For single ride fares, a round plastic token is used. It is electronic: simply wave it by the scanner to enter; deposit it in a slot by the exit gate leave. Children and elderly are issued tickets at half price but you must go to the ticketing counter.

The metro stations have escalators going all the way up and down in addition to lifts so the metro is easier than the Skytrain for people with reduced mobility or heavy baggage. Bag-checks take place at the entrance of each station. It is usually nothing more than a quick peek inside; it is a piece of pointless security theatre which will not stop any serious bomber.

Tourists do not use the MRT as much as the Skytrain, but there are several useful stops on the Blue Line. Sanam Chai station is near Wat Pho and the Grand Palace in Rattanakosin. Wat Mangkon provides a good access to Yaowarat. Si Lom en Lumphini are at either end of Lumphini Park. Phetchaburi station provides an interchange with the Saen Saep Express Boat at Asok pier and with Lughawespoorverbinding at Makkasan station. Phra Ram 9 is near Fortunetown IT mall which locals consider better than Pantip Plaza. Thailand Cultural Centre is also near Rot Fai Ratchada night market and Siam Niramit show. Lat Phrao is near Suan Lum Night Bazaar. If you're going to the Chatuchak Weekend Market, don't get out at Chatuchak Park, but go one stop further to Kamphaeng Phet as it drops you right inside the market.

Die  Pers  line is opening new areas for tourists. For example, the off-beat Siam Gypsy Junction near Tao Poon station is now much easier to access as a place where you can drink until sunrise.

Thailand's main railway connecting Bangkok to the north and northeast provinces intersects the MRT at two points: Bang Sue and Hualamphong. Those staying at Khao San Road or in the Silom or Yaowarat areas can disembark at Hualamphong for easy access to these places. However, due to the many level crossings disembarking at Bang Sue and catching the metro will take you faster even to Hualamphong although it will cost a bit more. If you are heading from the train to Suvarnabhumi airport, disembark at Bang Sue, ride the metro to Phetchaburi and switch to Airport Rail Link at Makkasan.

Metro trains run 06:00-24:00.

Lughawespoorverbinding

Opened in 2010 the Lughawespoorverbinding (รถไฟฟ้าเชื่อมท่าอากาศยานสุวรรณภูมิ). connects Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city. Only the City Line remains although the service started with a more expensive and faster Express Line. Also the City Air Terminal at Makkasan station has been dismantled due to lack of use.  

Die  ARL  line (Airport Rail Link, city line) starts at Suvarnabhumi Airport and terminates at Phaya Thai, with some interesting stops in between (such as Ramkhamhaeng, Makkasan for the metro line and Ratchaprarop for Pratunam). A ticket costs 15-45 baht, depending on distance. Tickets are available from ticketing counters and vending machines accepting coins and banknotes. Trains run 06:00-00:00 on weekdays at 10-11 min intervals and otherwise at 12-13 min intervals. The ride from Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai takes about half an hour.

 ARL  is now clearly a commuter train line which makes for busy trains but it is still useful for tourists. Tickets are cheap and there are up and down escalators in addition to lifts if you have baggage. If you board the train at Phaya Thai or Suvarnabhumi you most probably find a seat and space for your bags although the train cars have no luggage racks. At Makkasan station you can roll your bags along a roofed footbridge to Phetchaburi MRT station. At Phaya Thai station most passengers walk forward to the staircases. You need to turn back to the direction from which the train arrived for the lifts going down from the tracks. The lifts may be awfully busy but you will find escalators if you walk further. Once you exit through the ticket gates you can use a footbridge to the Phaya Thai BTS station.

Per boot

Chao Phraya Express Boat

A ride on the Chao Phraya River should be high on any tourist's agenda. The cheapest and most popular option is the Chao Phraya Express Boat. , basically an aquatic bus cruising up and down the river.   The basic service goes from Wat Rajsingkorn (S4) all the way north to Nonthaburi (N30), with stops at most of Rattanakosin's major attractions including the Grand Palace (at Tha Chang) and Wat Pho (at Tha Tien). The closest pier to Khao Sanweg is Phra Arthit. Enter the express boat at the numerous piers and pay the conductor for the trip. She will approach you bearing a long metal ticket dispenser. At some bigger piers you can buy the ticket before boarding. When the metal cylinder lady approaches you, just show her the ticket you bought on the pier.

The different boat lines are indicated by the colours of the flags at the top of the boat. These flags can be confusing; don't think the yellow king's flag corresponds to the yellow line flag! Die orange flag line (14 baht, every day 06:00-19:00) is your best bet, as it covers the major tourist areas and is fairly quick. However, it does not stop at every pier unlike the basic "no flag" line (8, 10 or 12 baht) which is fairly slow and runs only during rush hours (M-F 06:45-07:30 and M-F 16:00-16:30). It is better to avoid the faster yellow flag line (19 or 29 baht, M-F 06:15-08:10 and M-F 15:30-18:05) since it skips many popular attractions including Khao San Road, the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. The green flag line (10, 12, 19 or 31 baht, M-F 06:10-08:10 and M-F 16:05-18:05) skips many piers but its Pakkred terminus is the closest pier to Ko Kret if you want to spend a weekday there.

In addition to the workaday express boats, there is a blue flagged Tourist Boat which stops at a small subset of piers, offers commentary in English and charges a flat 150 baht for a day pass. Single ride tickets are 40 baht. The boats are slightly more comfortable and may be worth considering if you want to cruise up and down the most important tourist sights. They only operate once per 30 min and stop running by 15:00. Be careful as staff may tell that the (cheaper) orange flag regular boat is not coming for quite a while (as they are aggressively touting for business), but sometimes this is not the truth. If you want the tourist experience with guide and (very) loud speaker commentary, often unintelligible, then this is the one for you. However, be aware that you are fully entitled to enter the public piers (the ones with the blue lettering on white background with pier numbers on them) and take whichever express boat you want since no ticket is needed before boarding.

The signposting of the piers is quite clear, with numbered piers and English route maps. Sathorn (Taksin) pier has been dubbed "Central" station, as it offers an quick interchange to Saphan Taksin BTS Station. The boats run every 5–20 min from sunrise to sunset (roughly from 06:00-19:00), so ignore any river taxi touts who try to convince you otherwise.

Many piers are also served by cross-river ferries. These are particularly useful for reaching Wat Arun or the many piers at the Thonburi side of the river. Cross-river ferries run around every 10 min and only cost 3.5 baht. Pay at the kiosk on the pier and then walk through the turnstile.

Saen Saep Express Boat

Die Saen Saep Express Boat. serves the long Saen Saep Canal, one of the remaining canals (khlong) that used to flow through Bangkok. Mostly used by locals to commute to work, the service is cheap and you get to see the "backside" of the neighbourhoods, so to speak. Also, It is immune to Bangkok's notorious traffic jams. The total distance is 18 km (11 mi), and the service operates from 05:30-20:30.  

They are comparatively safe — just watch your step when boarding and disembarking as they don't stop at the pier for long and do not let the dirty water get into your eyes. To prevent splashes, the boats are equipped with little curtains that you can raise by pulling on a string, but they have to be lowered at every stop so people can clamber on board. Pay the fare (14-22 baht) to the fearless helmet-wearing ticket collectors who clamber around on the outside of the boat, ducking at bridges, as it barrels down the canal. Press the green 'bell' button if you want to get off at the next pier, else the boat might just skip it. The piers now even have (tiny) signs in English, with the exception of The Mall Bangkapi pier, and it's not obvious that you're at the mall from the canal boat!

The canal runs parallel to Phetchaburi Road, and provides the easiest access from the Golden Mount in Rattanakosin (and nearby Khao Sanweg) to Siam Square en Pratunam. This line is aptly called the Golden Mount Line and runs from Panfa Leelard pier to Pratunam pier. If you want to continue your journey beyond Pratunam, passengers have to change boats there. Die NIDA Line starts at Pratunam and heads east to Sukhumvit en Ramkhamhaeng. Hold on to your ticket.

River taxi

For trips outside set routes, you can hire a long-tail river taxi at any major pier. These are fairly expensive and will attempt to charge as much as 500 baht/hr, but with some onderhandel they may be suitable for small groups. To circumvent the mafia-like touts who attempt to get a large cut for every ride, agree for the price of the shortest possible ride (30 min), then negotiate directly with the captain when on board.

Met die taxi

Metered taxi

Metered taxis are a quick and comfortable way to get around town, at least if the traffic is flowing your way, but be warned that Bangkok taxi drivers are notorious for finding ways to run up the fare; insist that the meter is used, and if the driver claims that your destination is closed, if your destination is unknown, or if you're being taken elsewhere, just get out of the taxi. All taxis are now metered and air-conditioned: the hailing fee is 35 baht and most trips within the city cost less than 100 baht. There are no surcharges (except from the airport), even at night; don't believe drivers who try to tell you otherwise. A red sign on the front window, if lit, means that the taxi is available.

When the meter is switched on you will see a red '35' somewhere on the dashboard or between the driver and you. Be sure to check for this at the start of the ride, as many drivers will "forget" to start the meter in order to overcharge you at the end of your trip. Most will start the meter when asked politely to do so (meter na khrap if you're male and meter na kha if you're female); if the driver refuses to use the meter after a couple of attempts, simply exit the taxi.

In some cases, late at night and especially near major tourist districts like Khao San or Patpong, you will need to walk a block away to catch an honest driver. The effort can save you as much as 150 baht. This is often also the case for taxis that park all day in front of your hotel. There are only two reasons that they are there: to take you places where they can get their commissions (jewellery stores, tailors, massage parlours, etc.) and to overcharge you by not using the meter.

Your best bet is to walk to the road and catch an unoccupied metered taxi in motion (easier than it sounds, as Bangkok traffic tends to crawl the majority of the time, and one car out of four is a taxi), or go to a taxi stand where you see many locals queueing. Avoid taxis parked outside hotels or major tourist attractions, and if a taxi driver refuses to turn the meter on, simply close the door and find one who will. Keep in mind that it is illegal for them to have unmetered fares. Alternatively, you can also call a taxi using a ride sharing app like Grab, though you will be charged a booking fee for the service. Be smart and give your money to honest drivers, not cheats and touts. The only reason why they get away with this so frequently is that foreign tourists let them.

Be sure to either know the correct pronunciation of your destination, or have it written in Thai, as taxi drivers in Bangkok are notoriously bad at reading maps, and most drivers speak limited English. Most hotels and guest houses will happily write out addresses in Thai for you. While most drivers will recognise the names of tourist hot spots, even if grossly mispronounced, but it is often difficult to properly pronounce addresses in Thai. If your mobile phone works in Thailand, it is sometimes useful to call your hotel and ask the staff to speak to your driver in Thai. In addition, try to get your hotel's business card to show the taxi driver in case you get lost.

If you are pinching pennies or fussy about your means of transportation, you may wish to avoid getting into one of the (very common) yellow-green taxis. They are owner-operated and of highly variable quality and occasionally have rigged meters. All other colours belong to large taxi companies, which usually enforce their standards better.

On some routes, the driver will ask if the tollway should be used — this will usually save a lot of time. You have to pay the cost at the toll booth (not in advance and not at the end of the journey). Watch how much the driver really pays, as many try to keep the change.

When getting out, try to have small bills (100 baht or less) or expect problems with change. Tips are not necessary, but are certainly welcome if you're happy about the service; most local passengers will round up or leave any coin change as tip.

Tuk-tuk

What would Bangkok be without the much-loathed, much-loved tuk-tuks? You'll know them when you hear them, and you'll hate them when you smell them — these three-wheeled contraptions blaze around Bangkok leaving a black cloud of smog in their wake. For anything more than a 5-10 min jaunt or just the experience, they really are not worth the price — and, if you let them get away with it, the price will usually be 4 or 5 times what it should be anyway (which, for Thais, is around 30% less than the equivalent metered taxi fare).

On the other hand, you can sometimes ride for free if you agree to visit touristy clothing or jewellery shops (which give the tuk-tuk driver fuel coupons and commissions for bringing customers). The shops' salespeople are pushy, and try to scam you with bad quality suits or "gems" that in fact are worthless pieces of cut glass. But usually you are free to leave after 5-10 min of browsing. Visitors should beware though, sometimes one stop can turn in to three, and tuk-tuk drivers may not be interested in taking you where you need to go once they have their fuel coupons. Also, with Bangkok's densely congested traffic it is sure to waste hours of your time, if not the whole day.

If you still want to try the tuk-tuk, always hail a moving tuk-tuk from the main road. At tourist spots, these tuk-tuk drivers lie in waiting to disrupt your travels plans. Always agree on a price before entering the tuk-tuk. Also be crystal clear about your intended destination. If they claim that your intended destination is closed for the day, and offer to take you to other nearby tourist spots, insist on your destination or get out. If you're an all-male party, tuk-tuk drivers sometimes will just ignore your destination completely and start driving you to some brothel ("beautiful girls"). Insist continually and forcefully on going only to your destination; or take a metered taxi instead.

A songthaew is a less-heralded, less-colourful and less-touristy version of the tuk-tuk that usually serves the back sois in residential neighbourhoods. They usually have four wheels instead of three, two benches instead of one, run on petrol instead of LPG and resemble a tiny truck. The maids and locals tend to use them to return home from the market with loads of groceries, or for quick trips if they're available. The price is not negotiable. Most songthaews cost 5 baht, although a few that go a very long distance charge 7 baht. Be careful though, as the destinations are written in Thai, not English. You pay the fare either before departure or after you get off. If the latter, simply walk up to the passenger side of the truck and pay the driver who will stick his/her hand out to receive your money. Change will be given, but try to have the 5 baht coin ready.

Motorbike taxi

When traffic slows to a crawl and there are no mass-transit alternatives for your destination, by far the fastest mode of transport is a motorbike taxi (มอเตอร์ไซค์รับจ้าง motosai lapjang). They typically wear colourful fluorescent yellow-orange vests and wait for passengers at busy places. Prices should be agreed in advance.

For the adrenaline junkie, a wild motosai ride can provide a fantastic rush. Imagine weaving through rows of stopped vehicles at 50 km/h (30 mi/h) with mere centimetres to spare on each side, dodging pedestrians, other motorbikes, tuk-tuks, stray dogs and the occasional elephant while the driver blithely ignores all traffic laws and even some laws of physics. Now do the same while facing backwards on the bike and balancing a large television on your lap, and then you can qualify as a local — though you might die in the process. Imagine your loved ones arranging to ship your dead body home from Bangkok because you took a dangerous risk you were warned not to. Motorcycle accidents are brutally common, and transportation of this sort is inherently hazardous. Be aware of the risk before using motorcycle taxis.

The overwhelming majority of motorcycle taxis do not travel long distances, but simply shuttle up and down long sois (side-streets) not serviced by other transport for a fixed 5-20 baht fare. These are marginally less dangerous, especially if travel with the flow on a one-way street.

The law requires that both driver and passenger must wear a helmet. It is the driver's responsibility to provide you with one, so if you are stopped by police, any fine is also the driver's responsibility. However the provision of helmets is far from universal. A helmet should be provided when hiring a motorbike or moped, and two if there are two of you. When riding, keep a firm grasp on the seat handle and watch out for your knees.

Met die bus

Plaaslike busse, operated by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (องค์การขนส่งมวลชนกรุงเทพ).   aka BMTA (ขสมก), are the cheapest but also the most challenging way of getting around. There is a bewildering plethora of routes, usually marked only in Thai. Even locals have a hard time with these, but at least they can call the 1348 Bus Route Hotline, which is in Thai only. Bus stops list only the bus numbers that stop there and nothing more. They are also subject to Bangkok's notorious traffic, often terribly crowded, and many are not air-conditioned. If you want to get somewhere quickly and are not prepared to get lost, the buses should be avoided: remember that taxis are cheaper than most local buses in the West. However, they make for a good adventure if you're not in a rush and you don't mind being the centre of attention.

There is the Viabus app (for Android en IOS) which really helps finding your way around the bus system. In the app you can search for bus stops and bus routes, navigate and even GPS track busses. Also the app is available in English and you can select stops on a map.

Otherwise, for those staying in Khao Sanweg where buses are the only practical means of public transport, the only free resource for decrypting bus routes is the official BMTA website. It has up-to-date if slightly incomplete listings of bus routes in English, but no maps. You can also ask your guest house about which buses to take if you're going to a particular destination. As a printed reference, the 69 baht spent on the Bangkok Bus Map by Roadway is a good investment if you're going to travel by bus more than once.

The hierarchy of Bangkok's buses from cheapest to best can be ranked as follows:

• Red bus, 8 baht flat fare. Spacious and fan-cooled (in theory). Unlike other buses, some of these run through the night (1.50 baht surcharge). These buses are BMTA-run.
• White/blue/orange bus, 10 baht flat fare. Exactly the same as the red buses, but cost two baht more. These buses are owned by private entities operated in conjunction with BMTA.
• Blue/yellow and cream/blue air-con, 12 baht for the first 8 km (5 mi), up to 20 baht max. These buses are quite comfy. The blue/yellow striped buses are privately owned while the blue/cream buses are BMTA-owned.
• White/Orange air-con (Euro II), 13 baht for the first few km, up to 25 baht max. These are all BMTA-run, newer, and more comfortable.
• Blue air-con (NGV), 15 baht for the first few km, up to 25 baht max. These are run by both private companies and the BMTA, and are the newest and most comfortable buses.

BMTA-owned buses accept contactless payment, using the same fare scheme as normal tickets. The conductor will bring you a machine for you to scan your card. BMTA also offers pre-paid cards, monthly and weelky tickets using the same system. Weekly tickets cost 135 bath for red buses only and 270 bath for all buses. Monthly ticket cost 270 bath for red buses only and 540 bath for all buses.

Buses stop only when needed, so wave them down (arm out, palm down) when you see one barreling your way. Although drivers are only meant to stop at bus stops, some may pick up and drop off passengers elsewhere. Once on board, pay the roaming collector after you board and keep the ticket, as there can be occasional spot-checks. Press the signal buzzer, usually near the door, when you want to get off.

Two further pitfalls are that buses of the same number may run slightly different routes depending on the colour, and there are also express services (mostly indicated by yellow signs) that skip some stops and may take the expressway (2 baht extra).

Airport buses allow luggage but regular buses do not. Enforcement of this rule varies.

By ride share

The main ride sharing company operating in Bangkok is Malaysian company Grab. Unlike Uber, Grab also allows you to book taxis, and gives you the option of paying your driver in cash.

Met die motor

Bangkok is notorious for its massive traffic jams, and rightly so. In addition, traffic is chaotic and motorcyclists seemingly suicidal. Therefore, most tourists consider driving in Bangkok a nightmare, and it is recommended that you stick to public transport. However, the proliferation of massive shopping malls means that there are now places to park if you must drive into town, albeit at a high cost. Slimfone met GPS en navigasie-programme met stemaanwysings maak dit makliker om jou weg te vind.

Op voet

Baie van Bangkok se belangrikste besienswaardighede is binne 5 km vanaf Siam Square. Om lang afstande in warm weer langs besige strate te loop, kan uitputtend wees, maar dit is 'n goeie manier om die stad van naderby te sien. Drink net baie water en kyk uit vir ongelyke oppervlaktes en motorfietsryers. Kosreste en af ​​en toe verrassings deur rondloperdiere is ander redes om te kyk waarheen u oppad is. Inwoners van Bangkok vermy byna instinktief om op mangatdeksels te trap omdat mense deur vrot rioolwater geval het. Vroue dra hul handsakke aan die kant van die pad af om sakluipers op motorfietse te ontmoedig.

Wees versigtig wanneer u die pad oorsteek, selfs al het u 'n groen lig. Om links met 'n rooi lig te draai, is standaard wettig en bestuurders draai sonder aanwysers en sonder om voetgangers toe te gee. Bestuurders stop nie of vertraag by voetpaadjies sonder verkeersligte nie. As u op groot kruisings met afgeronde hoeke wag om oor te steek, moet u ver van die pad af wegstaan, want draaiende motorfietsryers kan oor die randsteen leun om by ander voertuie verby te pers. Gebruik altyd voetgangerspaadjies as dit beskikbaar is; Rondloperhonde in Bangkok is slim genoeg om dit te gebruik.

Verwag dat u deur taxi- en tuk-tuk-bestuurders en hustlers gehuisves word, wat eis om te weet waarheen u oppad is, en dring daarop aan dat daar niks is om voor te sien nie, en om u na verskillende ondernemings te lei. Die meeste sal vinnig na hul volgende punt beweeg as hulle geïgnoreer word of beslis van die hand gewys word.

As u deur 'n groot rugsak belemmer word en dit in 'n kas wil agterlaat, gaan kyk gerus na die outomatiese sluitkaste naby verskeie groot metro-stasies voorsien. Die koste wissel afhangende van die grootte van die kas. 'N Medium grootte kas kan twee rugsakke neem en kos ongeveer 30 baht per uur.

Sien

Individuele aanbiedings kan in Bangkok gevind word distrik artikels

Die meeste van Bangkok se besienswaardighede is op die eiland Rattanakosin, wat dikwels die "Ou Stad" genoem word. Uit die honderde tempels van Bangkok, die Grand Palace, Wat Pho en Wat Arun maak gewoonlik die top 3. Die Grand Palace het 'n geweldige grootte, dus verwag om ten minste 'n volle oggend of middag daar deur te bring. Binne die paleisgronde is Wat Phra Kaew, die heiligste Boeddhistiese tempel van Thailand. Anders as ander tempels, is dit nie een gebou nie, en is daar ook geen leefruimtes vir monnike nie. In plaas daarvan is dit 'n versameling van hoogs versierde heilige geboue en monumente. In een van sy geboue is die Emerald Buddha, en hoewel u dit miskien nie van sy grootte verwag nie, is dit die heiligste Boeddha-beeld in Thailand.

Naby is Wat Pho, die tuiste van die wêreld se grootste liggende Boeddha-beeld en 'n beroemde massageskool. Neem die veerboot oor die Chao Phraya-rivier na Thonburi vir die uitstaande Wat Arun. Die hoofstruktuur is ongeveer 60 tot 88 m hoog en word omring deur vier kleiner prakkies. Dit is een van Thailand se mooiste tempels en is gegraveer op die binneste deel van al tien Baht-munte. Dit is so herkenbaar dat dit selfs die logo van die Toerisme-owerheid van Thailand (TAT) geword het. As u dit beklim, en mooi kyk, sal u sien dat dit pragtig versier is met kleurvolle gebreekte Chinese porseleinstukke. Op pad terug na Rattanakosin, daar is baie ander groot tempels wat u kan besoek, insluitend die Goue berg, Wat Suthat en Wat Ratchanaddaram.

Moenie die toegangskaartjie van die Grand Palace weggooi nie, want dit bied gratis toegang tot die Grand Palace Bang Pa-In-paleis in Bang Pa-In (en nie meer na die Dusit-paleis wat sedert 2017 naby die publiek is nie). Dit is geleë in 'n lowerryke, Europese styl wat deur koning Rama V gebou is om die hitte van die Grand Palace te ontsnap. Die belangrikste struktuur daarvan is die Vimanmek Mansion, beskou as die grootste goue teakhouthuis ter wêreld, maar u kan u hele dag in die museums deurbring as u wil. Daar is baie museums in Bangkok wat tradisionele Thaise koshuise vertoon. Baie besoekers neem 'n toer deur Jim Thompson se huis, die herehuis van die CIA, saamgestel deur ses tradisionele Thaise huise in die buurt te kombineer Siam Square. Ban Kamthieng in Sukhumvit, M. Kukrit se Erfenishuis in Silom en die Suan Pakkad-paleis in Phahonyothin is nie heeltemal so indrukwekkend nie, maar sorg tog vir 'n lekker ervaring. Rattanakosinse museums is meestal toegewy aan geskiedenis en kultuur, insluitend die Nasionale Museum (oor die Thaise geskiedenis en argeologiese oorblyfsels), die Museum van Siam, Rattanakosin Museum (wat twee begeleide toere met interaktiewe uitstallings bied oor die geskiedenis van die ou en moderne Thaise lewe), en die King Prajadhipok Museum. Bangkok het 'n klein, maar vokale kunsgemeenskap, en u kan dit besoek Nasionale Galery of The Queen's Gallery, of een van die talle kleiner galerye wat oor die stad versprei is. Siam Square beskik oor die Bangkok Kuns- en Kultuursentrum wat deur die jaar tydelike kunsuitstallings het.

Lumphini Park in Silom is die grootste park in Bangkok, en dit is 'n goeie manier om die dampe te ontsnap. Rugsakreisigers in die omgewing Khao Sanweg kan koers vat vir Santichaiprakarn Park, 'n klein, maar prettige parkie langs die Chao Phraya-rivier met 'n winderige atmosfeer, gewoonlik met plaaslike inwoners wat jongleren of truuks oefen. Dit is rondom die 18de eeu gebou Phra Sumen Fort met 'n mooi uitsig op die moderne Rama VIII-kabelbrug. Dieretuine en diereplase is van die gewildste toeriste-aantreklikhede in Bangkok, maar voordat u dit besoek, moet u daarop let dat dierewelsyn in Thailand nie streng gereguleer word nie. Swak lewensomstandighede van die diere en onvoldoende veeartsenykundige sorg is voorbeelde van die hartseer mishandeling van die dierepopulasie. U kan nie verkeerd gaan by die Koningin Saovabha Instituut Slangplaas in Silom, aangesien die personeel hul slange goed versorg en hulle die werk moet inlig om die publiek in te lig oor die risiko's verbonde daaraan. Nog 'n lekker gesinsattraksie is Siam Ocean World in Siam Square. Dit het 'n steil prys, maar ten minste kan u die grootste akwarium in Suidoos-Asië sien.

"Koloniale" argitektuur

Alhoewel Thailand nooit gekoloniseer is nie, as gevolg van die begeerte van Kings Rama IV (1804-1868) en Rama V (1868-1910) om Thailand volgens Westerse modelle te moderniseer, kan besoekers verbaas wees dat Bangkok nie 'n Europese styl het nie. geboue wat nie in ander Suidoos-Asiatiese hoofstede uit plek sou wees nie. Terwyl ander hoofstede in Suidoos-Asië oorheers word deur geboue van 'n spesifieke argitektoniese styl, afhangende van hul koloniale geskiedenis (bv. Frans in Hanoi, Brits in Yangon), het Bangkok 'n mengsel van geboue met argitektuurstyle uit verskillende dele van Europa. Byvoorbeeld, Hua Lamphong-treinstasie, Bangkok se hoofspoorwegstasie, is ontwerp deur Italiaanse argitekte en is dus in 'n Italiaanse neo-Renaissance-styl gebou. Ander opvallende geboue in Europese styl sluit in die Italiaanse Old Customs House, die Deense Oos-Asiatiese Kompanjie en die Art Deco-styl Algemene Poskantoor. Een van die interessantste geboue wat deur Europa beïnvloed is, is die Chakri Maha Prasat-saal in die Grand Palace, wat meestal in 'n Italiaanse neoklassieke styl gebou is, maar met 'n tradisionele Thaise dak. Die grootste konsentrasie Europese geboue kan gevind word in Rattanakosin en Yaowarat.

Reisroetes

• Eendag in Bangkok - as u net een dag oor het en 'n gevoel vir die stad wil hê
• Rattanakosin-toer - 'n vinnige toer langs die beroemde historiese distrik in Bangkok
• Yaowarat- en Phahurat-toer - 'n voldagstaptoer deur hierdie multikulturele distrik

Doen

Individuele aanbiedings kan in Bangkok gevind word distrik artikels

Feeste

Al die belangrikste feeste van Thailand word in Bangkok gevier. Nuwe jaar word drie keer gevier. Daar is die nuwe jaar wat volg op die Gregoriaanse kalender op 1 Januarie, gevier met 'n groot vuurwerkvertoning op Ratchaprasong kruising. Dan is daar Sjinese Nuwejaar in Januarie of Februarie, met groot en kleurvolle Chinese leeu - en draakoptogte in Yaowarat. Laastens is die waterfeeste van Songkran vier die tradisionele Thaise Nuwejaar in die middel van April. Khao Sanweg ontaard in 'n oorlogsone soos farangs en plaaslike inwoners dit met super soakers uitdink. Meer gerespekteerde vieringe word gehou in Sanam Luang, waar die gewaardeerde Phra Phuttha Sihing-beeld vertoon en gebad word deur aanhangers, en by die Wisut Kasat-kruising, waar 'n skoonheidskompetisie van Miss Songkran gehou word en gepaard gaan met verdienste en vermaak.

Gedurende die Koninklike ploegseremonie in Mei glo boere dat 'n antieke Brahman-ritueel wat in Sanam Luang aangebied word, kan voorspel of die komende groeiseisoen oorvloedig sal wees of nie. Die geleentheid dateer uit die Sukhothai-koninkryk en is in 1960 weer deur koning Bhumibol Adulyadej bekendgestel. Dit word beskou as die amptelike aanvang van die rysgroeiseisoen (en die reënseisoen). Deesdae word die seremonie gelei deur koning Maha Vajiralongkorn. Loi Krathong (ลอยกระทง), die fees van die ligte, vind gewoonlik in November plaas. Krathongs is drywende vlotte gemaak van lotusblomme en piesangblare met 'n aangesteek kers en wierook bo-op. Op die nag van die volmaan stuur Thais hulle krathong langs 'n rivier, kanaal of dam af, en die ongeluk van die eienaar word hiermee saamgevoeg en verseker 'n nuwe begin. Vierings vind oral in die stad plaas met parades, konserte en skoonheidskompetisies. Loi Krathong val saam met die Lanna-fees Yi Peng (ยี่ เป็ ง). By hierdie fees word 'n menigte papierlantare in Lanna-styl die lug in gelaat. Lumphini Park is die beste plek om 'n krathong af te laai in die dam of om 'n papierlantaarn in die lug op te gooi.

Die Trooping of the Colors vroeg in Desember is 'n indrukwekkende jaarlikse geleentheid wat in die Royal Plaza gehou word naby die ruiterstandbeeld van koning Rama V in Dusit. Geklee in kleurvolle uniforms, te midde van groot praal en seremonie, sweer lede van die elite Royal Guards trou aan die Koning en marsjeer hulle verby lede van die Royal Family. 5 Desember is Vadersdag, die voormalige King se verjaardag, en Ratchadamri Road en die Grand Palace is uitvoerig versier en verlig.

Kanale

Tot die laat 19de eeu was Bangkok (net soos Ayutthaya) bekend as "Venesië van die Ooste". Die meeste mense het naby of op die water gewoon en 'n ingewikkelde netwerk van kanale (khlong) was die primêre vervoermiddel vir die inwoners van die stad. Die meeste kanale is sedertdien oorgetrek, maar baie daarvan bly oor en sommige funksioneer nog steeds as vervoerroetes. Die tradisionele leefwyse aan die kanaal het byna verdwyn, maar aangesien Thonburi tot in die 20ste eeu grotendeels onontwikkeld was, is daar nog 'n mate van egtheid te vind. Wisselende markte het in die 20ste eeu heeltemal verdwyn, maar is weer vir toerismedoeleindes ingestel en is 'n prettige besoek.

U kan die Chao Phraya-rivier en die agterwater van die stad sien kanaltoer. Die meeste van hierdie bootritte begin aan die oostelike oewer van Chao Phraya en vlieg dan deur die afgrond van Thonburi en neem Wat Arun, die Royal Barges National Museum, 'n drywende mark en 'n paar ander klein besienswaardighede in. Meer inligting oor hierdie kanaltoere kan gevind word in die Thonburi artikel. Teen 1 000 baht of meer is dit redelik duur. U kan ook met individuele bootbestuurders oor 'n prys onderhandel. Damnoen Saduak is 'n drywende mark wat gereeld in toeristebrosjures van Bangkok verskyn, maar in die praktyk is dit 109 km (68 myl) wes van Bangkok en moet dit per bus vanaf die Suidelike busterminal besoek word.

Seker net so lekker is om die publiek te neem snelboot langs die Chao Phraya-rivier. U kan op enige plek tussen die Thewet- en Sathorn (Taksin) -pale afklim, want daar is baie dinge om in al hierdie buurte te sien. U kan selfs die snelboot neem tot in die noorde Nonthaburi in die oggend, geniet die middag in hierdie ontspanne tradisionele stedelike stad, en neem die boot omstreeks spitstyd terug. 'N Ander opsie is om een ​​van die gratis te kry hotel pendelbote by die Sathorn (Taksin) -pier en gaan eet 'n bietjie by een van die gepaardgaande kafees. Saans het Asiatique 'n gratis pendelboot vanaf die pier van Sathorn (Taksin) na die nuwe winkelsentrum. 'N Goeie plek om pragtige sonsondergange oor die rivier te sien.

Bederf

Spa'stradisioneel was dorpe waar openbare baddens, hospitale of hotelle bo-op minerale fonteine ​​gebou is, sodat mense die genesende eienskappe wat in die water en sy modder gevind word, vir mediese doeleindes kon gebruik. Deesdae hoef 'n spa nie 'n stad te wees wat op natuurlike hittebronne gebou is nie. Dit kan 'n plek wees waarheen iemand kan gaan, om in 'n rustige omgewing te ontspan met 'n verskeidenheid behandelings wat toegedien word om die liggaam en gees te herstel.

Spa's was tot in die negentigerjare ongehoord, maar nou is Bangkok een van die hoogste rangorde spa-bestemmings ter wêreld met 'n ongelooflike verskeidenheid behandelings. Alle luukse hotelle in Bangkok het 'n spa wat ten minste 'n tradisionele Thaise massering bied. Pryse is buitensporig, maar dit bied 'n paar van die beste behandelings in die stad. Gesiene spa's teen buitengewone hoë tariewe word by die spoghotelle in Silom; veral die spa by die Dusit Thani Hotel val op. Onafhanklike spa's bied baie dieselfde ervaring, maar bied baie meer mededingende tariewe. Bereken ongeveer 1000 baht / uur vir die meeste behandelings.

Die alomteenwoordige klein masseringswinkels wat op elke straathoek in die stad gevind word, bied die beste waarde vir geld, maar die kleinste verskeidenheid dienste, met aanbiedinge gewoonlik net tot massering. In die besonder Khao Sanweg en Sukhumvit het baie van hierdie gewilde plekke. Dit is redelik maklik om wettige masseringswinkels van meer twyfelagtige plekke te onderskei (waar massering slegs 'n front vir prostitusie is); die regte transaksie kos 250-400 baht vir 'n tipiese 2-uur-massering en sal dikwels 'n ry vetterige boeredogters in wit jasse aan die kliënte se voete in die openbare uitsig hê, terwyl die ander soorte meisies in aandrokke dra. te veel grimering en sê "hallo aantreklik" vir elke mannetjie wat verbygaan.

Muay Thai

Muay Thai is beide 'n gevegsport en 'n middel tot selfverdediging. Deelnemers mag byna enige liggaamsdele gebruik om te veg: voete, elmboë, bene, knieë en skouers. Daar is twee lokale in Bangkok om hierdie sport in aksie te sien: Lumpinee-boksstadion in Silom en Ratchadamnoen-stadion in Rattanakosin. Sessies kan die hele aand duur en dit is nie so erg as u effens laat inkom nie, aangesien die interessanter gevegte aan die einde neig. Dit is ook aangenaam om tradisionele musiek tydens die toertjies te speel. 'N Downer is die sterk inskrywingsgeld van 1 000-2 000 baht vir buitelanders. Thais span in vir 100 baht of minder.

As u Muay Thai gratis wil sien, gaan na die MBK Fight Night buite MBK Sentrum naby Siam Square. Gevegte vind die laaste Woensdagaand van elke maand plaas (begin om 18:00, duur tot ongeveer 21:00). 'N Ander opsie is om na die einde van Soi Rambuttri te loop in 'n steeg wat bekend staan ​​as Trok Kasap (naby Khao Sanweg). Buitelanders kry lesse in Muay Thai daar in die openbaar, en baie toeriste sit gewoonlik op 'n bank voor dit om na die aksie te kyk. Behalwe om te kyk, is dit 'n uitstekende plek om self Muay Thai te doen.

Fietsry

Fietse kan gratis gehuur word in Rattanakosin, maar fietsryers mag amptelik nie die vasgestelde roete langs die eiland verlaat nie. Selfs as u die roete volg, is dit nog steeds nie vir dooies nie.

As u u eie fiets huur, moet u die hoofpaaie vermy en deur die groot stelsel van klein straatjies en straaties ry. U kan deur die agterstrate van Yaowarat, maar u sal dalk twee keer wil dink voordat u 'n draai maak. U kan ook die lewe op Bangkok se platteland beleef deur te ry deur groen padievelde, orgideëplase en lotusvelde. Bang Kachao, in brosjures wat dikwels die "Bangkok Jungle" genoem word, is Bangkok se laaste groen grens. Dit is 'n semi-eiland oorkant die rivier van Bangkok met min motors en geboue, en 'n uitstekende bestemming vir fietsry.

Fietsryers word as voetgangers behandel, sodat u u fiets kan gebruik om parke, tempelkomplekse, markte en die rustiger woongebiede in die ooste van Bangkok te verken. Op meer druk plekke kan u op die sypaadjie fietsry. Om per fiets te verken, het al die voordele om te voet te gaan, gekombineer met 'n baie groter reisradius en 'n koel briesie. Fietsry is die beste manier om die stad van naderby te ontdek, maar omdat daar veiligheidskwessies is, het u 'n bietjie kennis nodig oor waarheen u moet fietsry. Daarom kies baie mense vir 'n fietstoer wat deur 'n operateur gereël word.

• Bangkok Fietsry, Baan Sri Kung 350/123, Soi 71, Rama III Rd, ☏ 66 2-285 3955. Fietstoere in klein groepies na en deur onsigbare dele van Bangkok. Meestal vry van verkeer. 'N Prettige uitstappie vir die hele gesin. 950-2,400 baht. 
• Co van Kessel, ☏ 66 2 639-7351. Baie fietstoere deur Bangkok, neem Chinatown, die kanale van Thonburi, die "Bangkok Jungle" en vele ander plekke tussenin in. 950-1,950 baht. 
• Volg my fietstoere, 126 Sathorn Tai Rd, ☏ 66 2 286-5891. Halfdaagse fietstoere deur Bangkok se woonstrate. Ingesluit by die prys is 'n visspa en 'n braai-ete na die toer. 1 000 baht. 
• Sprinkaanavonture, 57 Ratchadamnoen Klang Rd (naby die Demokrasie-monument, reg om die hoek van Khao San Rd), ☏ 66 2 280-0832, ✉[email protected]. Toere deur die historiese distrik Rattanakosin van Bangkok, na die buitewyke van Bangkok en een wat snags plaasvind. 1 000-1 600 baht. 
• SpiceRoads, 45 Soi Pannee, Pridi Banomyong Soi 26, Sukhumvit Soi 71, ☏ 66 2 381-7490. Baie een- en meerdaagse fietstogte in en om Bangkok. Daar is reise na die Bangkok-oerwoud, Ko Kret, Yaowarat en Thonburi. 2 950 baht. 
• 13.72095100.5150821 Gaan na Bangkok Toere, 51 Charoen Krung, Soi 44, Bang Rak (BTS Saphan Taksin afrit 1, 3 min loop), ☏ 66 2-630 7563, faks: 66 2-630 7563, ✉[email protected]. Fietstoere, waarvan sommige deur GPS gelei word, en fietsverhuur. Klein groepies, maks. 6. Veilig en pret. 350-1,500 baht. 

Teater

Daar is baie teateropvoerings in Bangkok wat die tradisionele Thaise kultuur en dans uitbeeld. Siam Niramit in Ratchadaphisek is 'n skouspelagtige opvoering, want meer as 150 kunstenaars beeld die historiese en geestelike erfenis van elke streek in Thailand uit. Die eerste bedryf beeld Siam uit as 'n kruispad van beskawings deur die geskiedenis heen, die tweede bedryf handel oor die rol van karma in die Thaise kultuur, en die derde bedryf fokus op godsdiens en die rol van verdienstelikheid in die Thaise samelewing.

Die Aksra-teater in die King Power Complex - gebou in Pratunam hou skouspelagtige vertonings wat 'n kombinasie van Thaise tradisionele poppespel, orkesuitvoerings en klassieke danse is. Die Joe Louis-teater in die Asiatique is heeltemal toegewy aan die kuns om Hun Lakhon Lek-poppe te bedryf. In een segment word die poppe met gehoorlede verbind, wat 'n prettige aktiwiteit met kinders is. Beide Aksra en Joe Louis bevat verhale uit die Ramayana-epos.

Die bekende transvestietvertonings van Bangkok is van 'n heel ander aard. Hierdie kabarette duur gewoonlik ongeveer 2 uur, en behalwe sang, dans, glans en kostuums, word daar ook komedie ingegooi. Die bekendste hiervan is die Calypso Cabaret by Ratchathewi-kruising met twee sessies elke aand in die Asia Hotel. 'N Alternatief is Mambo-kabaret, een keer in Sukhumvit, maar nou op 'n nuwe plek ver van die toeristepad af Yan Nawa. Daar word elke aand drie vertonings aangebied. Bespreek hierdie shows altyd 'n paar dae vantevore, want dit is byna uitverkoop as u net opdaag.

Vermaak

Bangkok is 'n wonderlike plek om na die bioskoop. In vergelyking met Westerse lande, is die koste van 'n kaartjie 'n totale winskoop van ongeveer 120 baht. Die meeste bioskope het standaarde van wêreldgehalte en wys die nuutste Hollywood- en Thai-vrystellings. Hulle is op hoogte van die nuutste tegnologiese innovasies in die filmbedryf, en verwag dus om 'n 3D-bril te dra vir sommige van die nuutste Hollywood-vrystellings. U kan ook die IMAX-teater in Siam Paragon besoek. Thaise films kan deur buitelanders gesien word, aangesien dit gewoonlik met Engelse onderskrifte vertoon word. Vir nie-hoofstroom bioskope, House RCA (in Royal City Avenue) en APEX (in Siam Square) kunsfilms met Engelse onderskrifte aanbied.

Vir ander vermaaklikheidsmiddele, Ratchadaphisek is 'n nuutgeskepte vermaaklikheidsparadys. Sy boulsentrums is van 'n uitstekende standaard, en sommige lyk soos die binnekant van 'n nagklub. Dans terwyl jy in styl speel. Privaat karaoke-sitkamers is gewoonlik met hierdie boulsentrums verbind en is beskikbaar by groot hotelle. Daar is selfs 'n ysskaatsbaan en 'n topkarretjie-kartbaan in hierdie distrik. Aangesien Ratchadaphisek meestal op plaaslike inwoners gerig is, wil u dalk na soortgelyke plekke in Siam Square of Sukhumvit. Perdewedrenne word op Sondae by twee alternatiewe turfklubs gehou: die Royal Turf Club of Thailand in Dusit en die Royal Bangkok-sportklub op Henri Dunantweg naby Siam Square.

Aerobics dans

Bangkok is 'n goeie plek vir aerobics-dans. Baie plekke in Bangkok, byvoorbeeld supermarkte of openbare parke, bied 'n buiteraard-aerobics-klas aan sonder enige koste. Hierdie klasse begin gewoonlik soggens om 06:00 of saans om 18:00, en die sessie duur een uur lank. Die instrukteur verskaf geen toerusting of voorrade nie, dus moet deelnemers self geskikte klere of toerusting saambring. Die lokaal bestaan ​​gewoonlik uit slegs leë grond en 'n verhoog vir instrukteurs. Hierdie klasse het nie Thaise taalvaardigheid nodig nie, omdat die instrukteur selde mondelinge aanwysings gebruik. Behalwe om te oefen, sal u ook die gemeenskap van plaaslike mense en buitelanders ontmoet. Daar is gewoonlik 50-100 mense in aerobics-klasse.

Vir supermarkte kan u verwag om klasse in te vind Tesco Lotus of Groot C. Hulle het slegs saans klasse en word gewoonlik in of naby die parkeerareas gehou.

Vir openbare parke is daar baie plekke, maar die bekendste is in die Lumphini park in Silom distrik. Hulle hou soggens en saans by die seremoniële hek.

Leer

Thaise kookkuns is 'n gunsteling onder baie, en baie kookskole bied halfdagklasse aan wat 'n lekker blaaskans bied vir die daaglikse besigtigingstog. Silom en Khao Sanweg veral van die meer bekende Thaise kookskole.

Oordenking, die essensie van 'suiwer' Boeddhisme, kan by enige tempel in Thailand beoefen word. Daarbenewens is daar sentrums in Bangkok wat spesifiek voorsiening maak vir buitelanders wat wil leer en oefen. Die Internasionale Boeddhistiese Meditasiesentrum in Wat Mahathat in Rattanakosin bied drie keer per dag gratis meditasieklasse aan. As u Thais goed genoeg kan verstaan, kan u u eie toevlug neem by 'n stil tempel aan die buitewyke van Bangkok. Om u verblyf te betaal, word u waardeer dat u die inwonende monnike sal help tydens hul oggendmins.

Die Wat Pho tempel in Rattanakosin bied gerekende Thaise massering kursusse. Hulle is gewoond daaraan om klasse in Engels te hou.

Koop

Individuele aanbiedings kan in Bangkok gevind word distrik artikels

Wenke vir maatwerk Bangkok is veral bekend vir sy oorvloed van maatwerkwinkels; hier kan u 'n pasgemaakte pak kry vir ongelooflike lae pryse in vergelyking met die Weste. Die keuse van 'n maat is egter lastig. Kleremakers in die middel van toeristegebiede, soos Khao Sanweg of Nana Plaza, bied gewoonlik swak gehalte en haal dikwels dom pryse aan. Vermy enige kleremaker wat deur touts of tuk-tuk-bestuurders aanbeveel word, want hulle kan nie vertrou word nie en u sal hul kommissie moet betaal; Vermy ook super goedkoop pakkette of iets wat binne 24 uur gedoen word, aangesien die kwaliteit daaronder sal ly. Die belangrikste reël om 'n goeie maat te kry: doen navorsing. Moenie net in die eerste maatwerkwinkel loop wat u sien nie, maar vra medereisigers en soek aanlyn (gebruikers) resensies. Oor die algemeen is die beste kleremakers effens buite die toeristebaan Silom en Sukhumvit. Dit sal baie help as u materiaal ken en watter styl u wil hê (neem 'n monster of ten minste 'n prentjie saam) en kan die tyd spaar vir ten minste drie sessies vir 'n pak (meting, pas en finale aanpassing). Die pryse hang natuurlik af van die vaardigheid van die kleremaker en die gebruikte materiaal, maar verwag om minstens 7 000 baht te betaal vir 'n tweedelige pak. As u die materiaal kies, is dit die beste met Italiaanse of Engelse lap, aangesien plaaslike weefsels dikwels van swak gehalte is (met uitsondering van sy). Dring aan op twee toebehore vir pakke. Gee die maat baie detail en gee u tyd, sodat u die presiese pak kry waarna u soek.

Gooi 'n tiener in Siam Square met 'n paar duisend baht en sy sal die res van die week beset bly! Siam Square is die winkelplek in Bangkok; die klein sois van Siam Square het tientalle klein ontwerpersboetieks. MBK Sentrum en Siam-sentrum is die gewildste winkelsentrums, want dit verkoop mode onder die Westerse tariewe. Siam Paragon, EmQuartier in Sukhumvit, en die winkelpleine by Ratchaprasong voel nog groter, maar is baie stiller, aangesien die meeste plaaslike Thais nie die Guccis en Louis Vuittons wat daar te koop is, kan bekostig nie. Dames sal ook goed tuis voel in die Emporium langs EmQuartier.

Neem net 'n paar treë uit u hotel uit en Bangkok voel soos 'n groot straatmark. Sukhumvit het die gewone aandenkings, T-hemde en ander taai toeriste rommel. Blaai Khao SanwegDie stalletjies langs die pad is besonder goed vir klere en bykomstighede, baie daarvan vir 'n winskopie. Alhoewel baie van hierdie stalletjies steeds vir die tradisionele hippie-skare voorsiening maak, is hulle stadig besig om 'n breër gehoor aan te spreek. Die nabygeleë Banglamphu-mark verkoop goedkoop afslaan van alles, net soos die nagmarkte in Silom en Rattanakosin.

In die naweke het die Chatuchak-naweekmark in Phahonyothin is 'n moet, want die 8 000 stalletjies vorm saam die grootste mark in Suidoos-Asië. Koper kan amper alles koop, van klere tot potplante en alles tussenin - dit is 'n paradys vir blaaiers en winskopiejagters. 'N Weekdag alternatief is Pratunam, een van die bekende kleremarkte in die stad. Klere wat hier gekoop word, gaan groothandel, en u koop selfs goedkoper as u grootmaat koop. By Pantip Plaza u kan rekenaarverwante goed koop van skootrekenaars van handelsmerke tot roof DVD's.

Yaowarat en Phahurat gee 'n meer outentieke ervaring, hoewel baie goedkoop tienertoebehore elders ook in baie winkels verkoop word. Om net by 'n plastiekstoel te sit en kyk hoe die daaglikse handel ontwikkel, is op sigself 'n prettige aktiwiteit. Phahurat is die beste bestemming vir materiaal, beskikbaar in alle kleure en groottes. Pak Khlong Talat is 'n verrassend prettige groothandelmark vir snyblomme en groente. As u 'n oggendpersoon is, besoek dit omstreeks 03:00, wanneer nuwe blomme uit die land aankom en die mark mooi verlig is.

Thonburi, wat een van die mins ontwikkelde gebiede van Bangkok is, is die beste plek om te beleef hoe die stad vroeër was. 'N Moet is slegs die naweke Taling Chan Floating Market, wat ten minste ietwat outentiek voel, aangesien dit 'n landelike mark meng met die lewenswyse van die kanaal. Wang Lang-mark is 'n onontdekte juweel met streng plaaslike pryse. Die ander kant van die rivier, Rattanakosin, het alles wat 'n goeie Boeddhis benodig, hetsy amulette, monnikskale of Boeddha-standbeelde van menslike grootte.

Vir oudhede, Silom is die plek om na toe te gaan, want die meeste potensiële kopers bly daar in duur hotelle. River City in Yaowarat is die grootste antieke winkelsentrum van die stad, en die prys is om daarby te pas. Goud en edelstene is baie gewild, maar wees versigtig: weet wat u soek, soos die kwaliteit van vakmanskap en goud / klippe en wat so iets tuis kos. Gaan na gerespekteerde juweliers en poets u onderhandelingsvaardighede, indien vooraf ondersoek, en nie 'n aanbeveling van die straatverkoper nie. Baie toeriste koop waardelose stukke gesnyde glas en glo dit is waardevolle juwele. Ander kry juweliersware of juwele teen onregverdige koste. Moet nooit toelaat dat tuk-tuk-bestuurders u na 'n juweel- / juwelierswinkel neem nie; meer gereeld as nie, word u afgeruk en kry hulle 'n kommissie om u daarheen te neem. Dieselfde advies is van toepassing op maatwerk; u kan 'n pasgemaakte pak teen lae pryse kry, maar u moet weet waarheen om te gaan, aangesien baie kleremakers slegte gehalte bied. Raadpleeg die sybalk vir advies oor die vind van 'n goeie kleremaker.

U kan die beste deur tweedehandse Engelstalige boeke blaai Khao Sanweg. Vir nuwe weergawes is daar talle kettingwinkels in winkelsentrums, insluitend Asia Books, B2S, Boekblad en Kinokuniya. Daar is 'n baie wye verskeidenheid boeke oor die Asiatiese kultuur en geskiedenis; sommige het ook 'n goeie verskeidenheid buitelandse koerante en tydskrifte.

Kontant in Bangkok is relatief maklik. Kredietkaarte word algemeen aanvaar by groter ondernemings en kitsbanke is oral in die stad versprei, veral in sentrale gebiede. Alle banke se kitsbanke hef 'n kommissie van 180 baht vir die gebruik van buitelandse kaarte by kitsbanke. Super Rich geld ruil bied ordentlike wisselkoerse.

Eet

Individuele aanbiedings kan in Bangkok gevind word distrik artikels

Bangkok spog met ongelooflike 50 000 eetplekke; nie net duisende Thaise restaurante nie, maar 'n wye verskeidenheid wêreldklas internasionale kookkuns ook. Met die opkoms van die expatgemeenskap en hoë uitgawes vir plaaslike Thais, het Bangkok vinnig 'n gastronomiese paradys geword. Die pryse is oor die algemeen hoog volgens Thaise standaarde, maar volgens internasionale standaarde goedkoop. 'N Goeie maaltyd sal waarskynlik nie meer as 300 baht kos nie, hoewel daar 'n paar restaurante is (hoofsaaklik in hotelle) waar jy maklik tien keer kan spandeer. Sukhumvit is bekend vir baie gewilde restaurante, maar die sakekern Silom is nou besaai met baie van Bangkok se beste eetplekke. Byna elke kookkuns ter wêreld word hier voorgestel, of dit nou Frans, Libanese, Mexikaanse, Viëtnamese of samesmelting is, en baie van hierdie kombineer in 'n vreemde, maar heerlike mengsel. Bangkok se Italiaanse stad is Soi Ton Son naby Siam Square. Natuurlik is die straatstalletjies volop met Thaise geregte teen ongeveer 30 baht vir diegene met 'n beperkte begroting. Daar is veral baie goedkoop restaurante in Khao Sanweg.

Daar is baie van vegetariese restaurante in die meer toeristevriendelike dele van die stad (veral in die hippiedistrik Khao Sanweg). Vegetariese disse is ook maklik beskikbaar in die spyskaarte van gewone restaurante. Op versoek sal selfs tipiese straatrestaurante maklik 'n vegetariese ekwivalent van 'n gewilde Thaise gereg kook. Vra vir "jay" -kos om die vleis uit die skottel te laat. Byvoorbeeld, "khao pad" is gebraaide rys en "khao pad jay" is vegetariese gebraaide rys. Oestersous is die algemeenste diereproduk wat vir vegane gebruik word. Om dit te vermy, sê "mai ao naam man hoi". Let daarop dat alle straatnoedelverkopers vleisbouillon vir noedelsop gebruik.

Vir Moslems huisves baie Moslem-gesinne in die stegies rondom die Haroon-moskee in die Bang Rak-omgewing, en dit is vol stalletjies wat verkoop halal kos.

Moenie verkoue mis nie roomys in die warm Bangkok. Westerse kettingwinkels Melk koningin en Swensen s'n het hutte in baie winkelsentrums en winkelsentrums. Of nog beter, probeer 'n eksotiese roomys met vrugte-smaak by 'n Iberry winkel. Hulle ysies is lekker, goedkoop en veilig om te eet. Koreaanse styl geskeer ys het baie gewild geword en 'n plaaslike ketting Na jou het baie takke in Bangkok, en is 'n baie gewilde kuierplek onder Thaise jeugdiges en jong volwassenes.

straatkos

Alhoewel dit gewoonlik nie 'n hoë klas is nie, straatkos is een van die lekkerste kos en daar is selfs 'n plek wat 'n Michelin-ster in hul 2018-gids verdien het. Die lokale is oral in Bangkok te vinde - waar jy ook al tuisgaan, hoef jy selde meer as 100 m te stap vir 'n karretjie of straatrestaurant. Baie straatverkopers verkoop satay (สะเต๊ะ) met 'n warm sous vir 'n stuk van 5-10 baht.

Een van Thailand se nasionale geregte wat u kan beproef, is pad Thai (ผัด ไทย), roergebraaide rysnoedels met eiers, vissous, tamarynsap en rooi rissiepeper. Dit kan vir u voorberei word op een van die alomteenwoordige waens of in 'n straatrestaurant vir ongeveer 50 baht bedien word. U kan dit saam met hoender bestel (kai) of garnale (kung). Nog een van Thailand se nasionale geregte wat u moet probeer, is tom yam kung (ต้มยำ กุ้ง), 'n suur sop met garnale, sitroengras en galangaal - pasop soos dit is baie pittig! Khao man kai (ข้าวมัน ไก่) is nog 'n gewilde straatkos. U kan dit identifiseer by stalletjies met gekookte hoender. Met 'n bak geurige hoendersop word 'n hoop rys bedek met gesnyde hoenderstukke en komkommer. Side sauces are spicy and go well with the bland chicken and rice. You can sometimes add optional liver and gizzard if that is your taste. If you like sweets, try to find a kanom roti (โรตี) street vendor. The crepe-like dessert is filled with sweetened condensed milk, lots of sugar and can also have bananas inside. Also fun to watch them being made.

Khao Sanweg is known for its carts selling bugs—yes, insects. They are deep fried, nutritious and quite tasty with the soy sauce that is sprayed on them. Types available: scorpions, water beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, bamboo larvae, mealworms and some seasonal specialties. Break off the legs from grasshoppers and crickets or they will get stuck in your throat.

Around the corner from Khao San Road in front of the department store and supermarkets the street is lined with a myriad stalls selling all manner of tempting delicacies: sweets and crackers, coconut jellies, candied fruits, fish balls on skewers, tamarind sweets dipped in chili and sugar and a host of other delights.

Ethnic cuisine

Thai dishes can roughly be categorised into central, northern, northeastern and southern cuisine. What's so great about Bangkok is that all these cuisines are present. Isaan food (from the northeast of Thailand) is popular; generally street restaurants serve on plenty of small plates that can be shared. Som tam (ส้มตำ) is a salad made from shredded and pounded raw papaya — again, it is spicy, but oh so delicious. If you want to dine the Isaan way, also order some khao niew (sticky rice), kai yang (grilled chicken) and moo yang (grilled pork). Isaan food is very spicy; say mai pet of pet nit noy to tone it down. Southern Thai cuisine is also worth it; many of them have congregated around Wang Lang in Thonburi. At least try the massaman curry (แกงมัสมั่น), it's delicious.

One of the best places to go to for Chinese food is Yaowarat. It has a range of street stalls and cheap restaurants selling expensive delicacies at affordable prices. Soi Phadung Dao is the best street for huge seafood restaurants. Try 1 kg of huge barbecued prawns for about 300 baht. That being said, due to the large Thai-Chinese population in Bangkok, Chinese influences pervade much of Bangkok’s culinary scene, and there is also a lot of good Chinese food to be found outside Chinatown, as well as a strong Chinese influence in many of Bangkok's signature street dishes.

Phahurat, Bangkok's Little India, has some decent Indian restaurants.

Fine dining

Bangkok is arguably the best city in Southeast Asia for fine dining, and there is no shortage of options for those who can afford to splurge the cash. Fine dining options in Bangkok include French, Italian, Chinese, Indian, Japanese and, of course, Thai. Although exorbitant by Thai standards, fine dining in Bangkok is very affordable compared to similar options in developed countries, and even the most expensive fine dining should not cost you more than 5000 baht per head.

Dinner cruises

Dinner cruises on the Chao Phraya River are a touristy (but fun) way of spotting floodlit temples while chowing down on seafood and watching Thai cultural performances. Most operate buffet-style and the quality of the food is so-so, but there's lots of it and it's not too spicy. While the river can give a romantic experience, it can also be dirty and smelly with lots of plants floating around.

Drinks and tips are usually nie included in the listed prices below. Always make a reservation before heading out to the pier. There are many competing operators, most of them depart from the River City pier next to the Si Phraya Express Boat pier. Major operators include:

• Chao Phraya Princess, 723 Supakarn Building, Charoen Nakhorn Rd, ☏ 66 2 860-3700. Departure 19:30. Large operator with four modern air-conditioned boats seating up to 250 people. Departure from River City pier. 1,300 baht. 
• Loy Nava, 1367 Charoen Nakhorn Rd, ☏ 66 2 437-4932. Departure 18:00 or 20:10 daily. This dinner cruise heads out with 70-seater rice barges. Departure from Si Phraya pier (near River City), and there is a free pickup from most hotels. 1,400 baht. 
• Manohra, 257 Charoen Nakhorn Rd, ☏ 66 2 477-0770. Departure 19:30 daily. These restored Thai rice barges seat 40 people. Departure from Marriott Resort pier, with an optional pick-up from Saphan Taksin BTS station. 1,250-1,990 baht. 
• Wan Fah, 292 Rachawongse Rd, ☏ 66 2 222-8679. Departure 19:00 daily. These 2-hr dinner cruises include a set meal of farang-friendly Thai food and seafood, live music and Thai classical dancing. Departure from River City. 1,000 baht. 
• Yok Yor Marina, 885 Somdet Chao Phraya Soi 17, ☏ 66 2 863-0565. Departure 20:00. Operated by the famous seafood restaurant, this is a much more local (and cheaper) option than the tourist cruises: pay a 160 baht "boat fee" and then order off the menu at normal restaurant prices. Departure from Yok Yor Marina on the Thonburi side of the river. There is a free shuttle service from Saphan Taksin BTS station. 

Drink

Individual listings can be found in Bangkok's distrik artikels

Bangkok's nightlife is infamously wild, but it's not quite what it used to be. Due to social order campaigns, there have been quite a few crack-downs on opening hours, nudity, and drug use. Most restaurants, bars and clubs are now forced to close at 01:00, although quite a few are allowed to stay open till 02:00 or later. Informal roadside bars do stay open all night, particularly in Sukhumvit en Khao Sanweg. You must carry your paspoort for ID checks and police occasionally raid bars and discos, subjecting all customers to drug tests and searches, though these mostly occur at places that cater for high-society Thais.

One of Bangkok's main party districts is Silom, home not only to perhaps the world's most famous go-go bar strip, Patpong, but plenty of more legitimate establishments catering to all tastes. For a drink with a view, the open-air rooftop bars of Vertigo en Sirocco are particularly impressive. A large number of superhip and more expensive bars and nightclubs can be found in the higher sois of Sukhumvit, insluitend Q Bar, en Narz, as well as the hip area of Thong Lo (Soi 55).

Hippie hangout Khao Sanweg is also slowly gentrifying and a score of young artsy Thai teenagers have also made their mark there. Going out in Khao San Road is mostly casual, sitting at a roadside bar watching people pass by, but the Gazebo Club is a nightclub that stays open till the sun gets up. Most of the younger Thais prefer to congregate around Ratchadaphisek, home to the Royal City Avenue strip of nightclubs where you can find popular nightclubs like 808, Route 66, Cosmic Cafe, and more.

RCA, the Royal City Avenue strip, is home to much more than nightclubs. You will be able to find fun karaoke clubs, go-carting, arcades and bars like the Overtone Music Cave which is a place where music students to perform. The Overtone Music Cave is frequently visited by recording artists as well as music students and is becoming a real Bangkok music hot spot.

Smoking is forbidden in all restaurants, bars and nightclubs, whether air-conditioned or non-air-conditioned. It is enforced at some venues, but the ordinance is flouted in areas such as Nana Plaza.

Go-go and beer bars

Behaving while misbehavin' Some simple rules of etiquette to follow in a go-go bar: A drink in your hand is required at all times. Most places charge around 100-150 baht for most drinks. A drink menu with prices will be provided. Lady drinks cost at least 200-300 baht and earn you the privilege of chatting with the lady/gent of your choice for a while. Taking a dancer out of his/her place of employment before closing time will cost you a bar fine of around 600 baht. This is the bar's share, the rest is up to you two. No photos inside. If you're lucky, you'll merely have your camera confiscated, but you also stand a fair chance of getting beaten up. Look, but don't touch (unless invited to). Getting too frisky will get you kicked out. Bring your paspoort. Police raids are not uncommon and you're off to the police station for the night if you can't produce one on demand.

Die go-go bar is an institution of Bangkok's "naughty nightlife". In a typical go-go, several dozen dancers in bikinis (or less) crowd the stage, shuffling back and forth to loud music and trying to catch the eye of punters in the audience. Some also put on shows where girls perform on stage, but these are generally tamer than you'd expect. Nudity, for example, is actually illegal. These are no Western- or US-style strip clubs. Expect a stage in the middle with seating all around, and 5-10 girls just dancing or standing around on stage in various states of undress. No lap dances, but girls will sit with you for the price of a lady drink. In a beer bar, there are no stages and the girls wear "street clothes".

If this sounds like a thinly veiled veneer for prostitution, it is. Although some point to the large number of American GIs during the Vietnam War as the point of origin of the Thai sex trade, others have claimed that current Thai attitudes towards sexuality have deeper roots in Thai history. Both go-go and beer bars are squarely aimed at the foreign tourists and it's fairly safe to assume that most if not all Thais in them are on the take. That said, it's perfectly OK to check out these shows without partaking, and there are more and more curious couples and even the occasional tour group attending. The main area is around Patpong in Silom, but similar bars to the ones at Patpong can be found in Sukhumvit, by Nana Entertainment Plaza (Soi 4) and Soi Cowboy (Soi 23). Soi 33 is packed with hostess bars, which are more upscale than the Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza bars and do not feature go-go dancing. Before heading to these places, be sure to read the Bly veilig section for some additional advice.

As go-go bars close around 01:00, there are so-called after-hour clubs that stay open till the sun comes up. They are not hard to find—just hop in a taxi. Taxi drivers are eager to drive you there, as they get a hefty commission from club owners to bring you to them. You might even get the ride for free. These clubs generally feel grim and edgy, and there are so-called "freelancers" among the girls (prostitutes). Some well-known after-hour clubs include Bossy Club in Pratunam, Spicy Club naby Siam Square and the always famous Thermae aan Sukhumvit between sois 15 and 17 in the basement underneath the Ruamchit short-time hotel.

Gay nightlife

Thais are generally accepting of homosexuality and Bangkok has a very active gay nightlife scene, concentrated in Silom's Soi 2, Soi 4 and a short strip of gay go-go bars known as Soi Twilight (off Surawong Road). Gay strip bars all have free entry, but charge an extra 150 baht or so for drinks. The most popular gay drinking bars are The Balcony en Telephone Pub at Silom Soi 4, which are busy until 23:00. For the disco crowd, DJ Station and its late-night neighbour G.O.D. Club (Silom Soi 2) are packed every night beginning around 23:00. Between 17:00-22:00 over 200 men from around the world cruise, swim, dine, and party at the nearby Babilon, considered by many to be the best gay sauna in the world. Babylon also has budget and luxury accommodation.

All of these bars and clubs are aimed at gay men and the lesbian scene is much more low-key. Since the opening of full-time lesbian bars Zeta en E-Fun, a small lesbian community is starting to emerge along Royal City Avenue. Lesla (near Phahonyothin) is a lesbian bar that is open on Saturday nights only. Bring along your passport for entrance age checking (they do not allow people under 20 years old).

In a league of their own are Bangkok's numerous transsexuals (kathoey), both pre- and post-operative, popularly known as ladyboys. A part of Thai popular culture for ages, kathoey face increasing prejudice as Thailand imports rigid Western gender concepts. Many male Westerners obsess about the risks of "mistaking" a ladyboy for a "real" woman, in the fear that being attracted to them would make of them homosexuals. Tired clichés about "tall, large-handed, large breasted transsexuals with garish makeup" are belied by the fact that most kathoeys strive to blend in with the general population. However, legal change of gender is not possible in Thailand, which means they find it difficult to access many "respectable" jobs. Some work in the famed transvestite cabarets and there are some dedicated kathoey bars as well.

Some Thai regulars in the gay nightlife scene skirt the fine line between partying and prostitution, and the Western visitor, being considered richer, is expected to pay any food and drink expenses and perhaps provide some "taxi money" in the morning. It's usually wise to ask a boy you pick up in a bar or club if he is after money, as it's not uncommon for them to start demanding money after sex.

Slaap

Individual listings can be found in Bangkok's distrik artikels

Book online, save money While most guest houses in Khao San Road do not even bother to have a website, with moderate and upper end hotels you can save a surprisingly large amount of money by booking via the web. In most cases, walk-in rates are known to be about 30% higher than online rates as administration costs are higher and front desk personnel often get paid by commission. When standing inside the hotel's lobby, sometimes it can pay off to use the free Wi-Fi, get online, book for the same night and get it for less! To give an example, some mid-range hotels offer walk-in rates for 1,500 baht the night, but online rates for 1,000 baht. That's five free beers on the hotel! Nevertheless, don't take that as a general rule for Thailand. On some island resorts it's exactly the other way round, and the walk-in rates are only half of the online promoted price, especially in offseason.

Bangkok has a vast range of accommodation, including some of the best hotels in the world — but also some of the worst dives. Broadly speaking, Khao Sanweg is backpacker city; the riverside of Silom en Thonburi is home to The Oriental en The Peninsula respectively, often ranked among the best in the world, and priced to match, Most of the city's moderate and expensive hotels can be found in Siam Square, Sukhumvit en Silom, though they also have their share of budget options.

When choosing your digs, think of the amount of luxury you want to pay for — air-conditioning can be advised, as temperatures don't drop below 20 °C (68 °F) at night. Also pay careful attention to Skytrain, metro and express boat access, as a well-placed station or pier could make your stay in Bangkok much more comfortable. In general, accommodation in Bangkok is cheap. It's possible to have a decent double room with hot shower and air-conditioning for about 500 baht/night. If you want more luxury, expect to pay around 1,500 baht for a double room in the main tourist areas. Even staying at one of Bangkok's top hotels only costs around 5,000 baht — the price of a standard double room in much of Europe.

One Bangkok hotel phenomenon is the guest fee of around 500 baht added to your bill if you bring along a newly found friend for the night. Some hotels even refuse Thai guests altogether, especially common in Khao San Road. These rules are obviously aimed at controlling local sex workers, which is why hotel security will usually hold onto your guest's ID card for the duration of the visit, but some hotels will also apply it to Western visitors — or, more embarrassingly, try to apply it to your Thai partner. Look for the signs, or, if in doubt, ask the staff before check-in.

Bly veilig

Given its size, Bangkok is surprisingly safe, with violent crimes like mugging and robbery unusual. One of the biggest dangers are motorbikes who ride on pavements at speed, go through red lights, undertake buses as they stop to let passengers off and generally drive far too fast especially through stationary traffic. If you are going to hire a bike, make sure you have insurance in case you are injured. You may be the world's best driver but you'll meet many of the world's worst drivers in Thailand.

Bangkok does have more than its fair share of scams, and many individuals in the tourist business do not hesitate to overcharge unwary visitors. As a rule of thumb, it is wise to decline all offers made by someone who appears to be a friendly local giving a hapless tourist some local advice. Short-changing tourists is reasonably common as well, don't hesitate to complain if you are not given the correct change.

Never get in a tuk-tuk if someone else is trying to get you into one. Most Bangkok locals do not approach foreigners without an ulterior motive.

Bedrogspul

What to do if you fall for the gem scam As long as you're still in Thailand, it's not too late. Contact the Tourist Authority of Thailand, ☏ 66 2 694-1222 of die Tourist Police, ☏1155 immediately, file a police report, and return to the store to claim a refund — they moet, by law, return 80%. If your gems have been mailed, contact the Bangkok Mail Centre, ☏ 66 2 215-0966 (-195) immediately and ask them to track your package; they'll find it if you act fast, and know the name, address and date it was mailed.

You should always be on the look-out for scammers, especially in major tourist areas. There are dozens of scams in Bangkok, but by far the most widely practiced is the gem scam. Always beware of tuk-tuk drivers offering all-day tours for prices as low as 10 baht. You may indeed be taken on a full-day tour, but you will end up only visiting one gem and souvenir shop after another. Don't buy any products offered by pushy salespeople — the "gems" are pretty much always worthless pieces of cut glass and the suits are of deplorable quality. The tuk-tuk driver gets a commission if you buy something — and fuel coupons even if you don't. Unless the idea of travelling by tuk-tuk appeals to you, it's almost always cheaper, more comfortable and less hassle to take a metered taxi.

Be highly skeptical when an English-speaking Thai at a popular tourist attraction approaches you out of the blue, telling that your intended destination is closed or offering discount admissions. Temples are almost always free (the main exceptions are Wat Phra Kaeo and Wat Pho) and open just about every day of the year. Anyone telling you otherwise, even if they have an official-looking identification card, is most likely out to scam you, especially if they suggest a tuk-tuk ride to some alternate sights to see until the sight re-opens. At paid admission sites, verify the operating hours at the ticket window.

If you entered one of these tuk-tuks, touts will often drop you off at a certain place, such as a genuine Buddhist temple. Here you will find a man that claims to be an official, and he guides you in a certain direction. There you will find another "official" who also claims that a certain attraction is closed. This way, a tourist hears the same statement by multiple people, and is more eager to believe that his or her intended destination indeed is closed. Never get involved with these scammers or believe any of their statements.

When getting a taxi, it is a good idea to hail a moving taxi from the main road, or to walk a short distance out of a major tourist area before looking for one. This is no guarantee of honesty, but greatly increases your chances of finding an honest driver, of which there are plenty in Bangkok, even if it sometimes seems that every driver is on the make. There are some taxi drivers who switch off their meters, and insist on an unreasonable price. Most of the untrustworthy drivers are the ones standing still in tourist areas. Another important rule of thumb is to insist on the meter for taxis and agree on a price in advance for tuk-tuks. If they refuse, or quote unreasonable prices, just walk out and get a different one as they're rarely in short supply. The Thai phrase to ask a driver to use the meter is mee-TOE, khap if you're male and mee-TOE, kha if you're female.

Beware of tuk-tuk or taxi drivers who approach you speaking good English or with an "I ♥ farang" sign, especially those who mention or take you to a tailor shop (or any kind of business). They are paid by inferior tailor shops to bring tourists there to be subjected to high pressure sales techniques. If at any point your transportation brings you somewhere you didn't intend or plan to go, walk away immediately, ignore any entreaties to the contrary, and find another taxi or tuk-tuk.

In general, never ask a taxi driver for a recommendation for something. They will likely take you to a dubious place where they get a commission. In particular, do not ask a taxi driver for a restaurant recommendation. An infamous place taxi drivers take unsuspecting tourists is Somboon D, which is a terrible seafood restaurant in a seedy area under the train tracks on Makkasan Road (☏ 66 2 6527-7667). A typical meal there costs 800 baht per person and it comes with little seafood, no service and complaints are not taken by the management.

Also beware of private bus companies offering direct trips from Bangkok to other cities with "VIP" buses. There are a lot of scams performed by these private bus companies. The so-called direct VIP trips may end up changing three or four uncomfortable minibuses to the destination, and the 10-11-hour trip may well turn into 17–18 hr. Instead, try to book public Transport Co. buses from the main bus terminals. It's worth the extra shoe-leather, as there have been reports of robberies on private buses as well.

Go-go bars

Bangkok is known for its go-go bars and the prostitution that comes along with it. Some aspects of prostitution are illegal (e.g. soliciting, pimping), but enforcement is rare, and brothels are common. It's not illegal to pay for sex or to pay a "barfine" (a fee the bar collects if you want to take an employee away).

The age of consent in Thailand is 15, but is 18 for prostitutes. Penalties for sex with minors are harsh. All adult Thais must carry an identity card, which will state the year of their birth according to the Buddhist calendar. Many hotels retain the ID cards of prostitutes for the duration of their visit. Whilst most prostitutes are employed by bars or similar businesses, some are "freelancers". Petty theft and other problems, such as slipping the customer sleep drugs, are allegedly more common with these freelancers (although still relatively rare). HIV and AIDS awareness is better than it used to be, but infection statistics among entertainment industry workers remain high; freelancers are the highest risk group. Almost all sex workers insist on using condoms.

While walking in go-go bar areas is generally safe, you have to be cautious of touts who try to drag you into the upstairs bars with offers of ping-pong shows and 100-baht beer. The beer may well be 100 baht, but the "show" you'll be treated to will be 1,000 baht or more. The rule of thumb is that if you cannot see inside from street level, avoid the establishment.

Animal abuse

Elephants are a large part of Thailand's tourist business, and the smuggling and mistreatment of elephants for tourist attractions is a widespread practice. Be aware that elephants are often separated from their mothers at a young age to be cruelly trained under captivity for the rest of their lives. It is advised to take an elephant ride only at animal friendly organisations.

A depressingly common sight on the congested streets of Bangkok is elephant begging. During night hours, mahouts (trainers) with lumbering elephants approach tourists to feed the creatures bananas or take a photo with them for a fee. The elephants are brought to the city to beg in this way because they are out of work and are mistreated and visibly distressed under the conditions of the city. Please avoid supporting this cruelty by rejecting the mahouts as they offer you bananas to feed the elephants. This is especially common in Silom and Sukhumvit.

Due to its location, lax laws, and resources, many illegal animal products come through Bangkok. Rare and endangered species are often sold at markets for pets, especially at Chatuchak, and many other animal products are sold as luxury items. Avoid buying rare pets, leather, ivory, talons, dried sea creatures (such as starfish), fur, feathers, teeth, wool, and other products since they are most likely the result of illegal poaching, and buying them contributes greatly to animal endangerment and abuse.

Political unrest

In 2008, political unrest hit the headlines, with the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) closing down both of Bangkok's airports for a week. Several people were killed in the resulting political violence. After a PAD-backed prime minister was elected, the protests ceased for a while, but the situation remained unstable. In 2010, new political unrest surfaced with red-shirt protesters from the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) occupying much of Sukhumvit and surrounding areas. These protests turned violent when government troops tried to take back parts of central Bangkok that had been seized by protesters. In 2011, a UDD supported government took power. Since then, protests by both the PAD and UDD have continued to occur on a sporadic basis depending on what political event has transpired. Always follow the independent press for the newest political developments and stay away from demonstrations.

Food and water

As elsewhere in Thailand, be careful with what you eat. Outside of major tourist hotels and resorts, stay away from raw leafy vegetables, egg-based dressings like mayonnaise, unpackaged ice cream and minced meat as hot weather tends to make food go bad faster. In short, stick to boiled, baked, fried or peeled goods.

Tap water in Bangkok is said to be safe when it comes out the plant, but unfortunately the plumbing along the way often is not, so it's wise to avoid drinking the stuff, even in hotels. Any water served to you in good restaurants will at least be boiled, but it's better to order sealed bottles instead, which are available everywhere at low prices.

Take care with ice, which may be made with tap water of questionable potability as above. Some residents claim that ice with round holes is made by commercial ice makers who purify their water; others state that it is wise not to rely on that claim.

Verbind

Internet

Due to the surge of mobile connectivity, Internet cafés are not common as they used to be. If you look carefully, you may find them in tourist districts such as Khao Sanweg for around 30-60 baht per hour.

Many cafés and pubs do offer free Wi-Fi to their customers, including the ubiquitous Coffee World chain in all of its branches; ask staff for the password. TrueMove offers both free and paid Wi-Fi access. If you want to get online for free, you must register first, and both session and time is limited. Their network is accessible in many malls, including Siam Square, and sometimes can be available from your room if you stay in a nearby hot-spot — just look for the 'truewifi' network, you can register. Most hotels and guest houses provide free Wi-Fi.

There is not a lot of free Wi-Fi available in old districts like Rattanakosin of Yaowarat. Even at McDonald's and Starbucks, Wi-Fi is not free or not available at all.

If you are staying for more than a couple of days and prefer to stay connected without being limited to hotspots, a prepaid SIM card with mobile data is a good option. Being able to use a smartphone for navigation and reviews is very useful in a city where recommendations and directions offered by locals are not always reliable. Sien die Telephone section for details.

Telephone

The area code for Bangkok is 02. You only need to dial the 0 if you're calling from within Thailand. Pay phones are not commonplace, as most Thais have a mobile phone. If you want to avoid high roaming costs, you can buy a local SIM card for 100 baht at Suvarnabhumi Airport or mobile phone shops throughout the city. The 100 baht is not just for the SIM card, but is immediately your first pre-paid amount. Topping it up is easy, such as at 7-Eleven convenience stores. Making international calls is also cheaper this way.

As of July 2014, the True booth at Suvarnabhumi Airport is offering free tourist Sim cards preloaded with 10 baht calling credit as well as 20 MB of 3G access.

Post

Bangkok's red post boxes are found all over the city. There are also plenty of Thailand Post offices around for sending post and packages. In tourist areas, there are post offices in the Khao San Road area (in front of Wat Bowonniwet) and at Sukhumvit Road (between Soi 4 and 6).

If you're staying in Bangkok for a longer time, you might want to make use of poste restante, so other people can send you letters or parcels using a post office's address. Post offices keep the letters for at least two months. Letters sent via poste restante must have the receiver's name on it, with the family name in underlined capital letters. If you want to pick them up near Khao San Road (opposite Wat Bowonniwet), it must be addressed to Poste Restante, Banglamphubon Post Office, Bangkok, 10203, Thailand. If you want to pick up your post in the Sukhumvit area, address it to Poste Restante, Nana Post Office, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok, 10112, Thailand.

Hanteer

Publications

• Bangkok Post. One of the better English-language newspapers of the country, but also includes sections on travel, leisure, entertainment, life and classifieds in Bangkok. 
• BK Magazine. Bangkok's premier city living magazine; a guide to the city's restaurants, nightlife, travel, arts and more. New additions release weekly and are distributed in selected venues. 
• Sukhumvit Guide. A complete listing guide to the hotels, restaurants and bars of Sukhumvit, one of Bangkok's most vibrant districts. 

Medical care

Many people go to Bangkok to undergo medical treatments that are a fraction of the cost charged in their home countries. While public hospitals can be understaffed and overcrowded with long wait times, private hospitals are among the best in the world. The best-regarded, and most expensive (though still affordable by Western standards), is Bumrungrad International Hospital, which attracts about 400,000 foreign patients per year or an average of 1,000 a day. There are also other hospitals, such as Samitivej, Bangkok Hospital en BNH Hospital, that specialize in serving foreigners. Private hospitals in Thailand are accredited by the government according to international standards, and many of the doctors in Thailand hold international accreditation and relevant licences. Staff in private hospitals are generally able to speak English well, and sometimes other foreign languages as well.

Popular treatments, ranging from cosmetic, organ transplants and orthopedic treatments to dental and cardiac surgeries, are available much cheaper than in the West. For example, Bumrungrad Hospital charges 90,000 baht for an all-inclusive breast implant package. Bangkok is also known as a centre for sexual reassignment surgery for people wishing to change their physical sex, although this falls out of the scope of a casual trip.

There are many dental clinics with English-speaking dentists and staff. The largest of them is the Bangkok International Dental Center along Ratchadaphisek Road. There are also plenty of well known teeth whitening, implant and orthodontic providers like BFC Dental,Denta Joy, smile and co dental clinic, Cosdent by SLC, SmileDC en Care Dental Clinic.

Immigration office

• ^{[voorheen dooie skakel]}Immigration Bureau, Government Bldg B, Chaeng Wattana Soi 7, ☏ 66 2 141-9889. M-F 08:30-noon, 13:00-16:30. Visas, re-entry permits and many other immigration services are available. The Visa On Arrival can be extended on a simple procedure. The modern big Government Building in Lak Si host the Immigration Division. Official name? "Government Complex Commemorating His Majesty The King's Eighty Birthday Anniversary, 5 December, BE 2550 (2007)" But let's just call it: "Chaeng Watthana Government Complex" Bus 66 and 166 enter the compounds and stop at the main door (Gate 1) It's a two Km from Lak Si train station (northern and northeaster line) which is the next one after Don Mueang Airport. The Immigration Bureau is on the big B building, it's next to the gate 2 (the southern one) 

They will request a passport picture (facilities there, 4 pics for 100 baht) and copy of your passport (including the page where the stamp is) 4 baht per both copies. After filling the form a number will be given. If you're not an early bird, the lunch break will catch you, and you will need to wait for that hour, when everybody goes to eat on the big food courts (from 13:00 to 14:00) Supermarkets available. With the number given, and 1900 baht the new stamp will be added to your passport, with extra 30 days after the days your visa finish. The building also host many other offices, like the Consumer Protection Board, Election Commission, the Office of Justice Affairs, among many others. Worth the forced visit. Services for Burmese, Cambodian and Lao citizens remain at the central old location at Soi Suan Plu.

Embassies

Argentina, Prommitr Villa, 20/85 Sukhumvit Soi 49/1, ☏ 66 2 590-4012.  Australië, 37 Sathorn Tai Rd, ☏ 66 2 344-6300.  Oostenryk, 14 Soi Nandha, Soi Attakarnprasit, Sathorn Tai Rd, ☏ 66 2 303-6057.  Bangladesj, 727 Sukhumvit Soi 55, ☏ 66 2 381-1144.  Belgium, 17F, Sathorn City Tower, 175 Sathorn Tai Rd, ☏ 66 2 679-5454.  Bhutan, Rm 107, 19F, JTC Bldg, 919 Silom Rd, ☏ 66 2 237-3315(-27).  Bolivia (Consulate), 1901 Ramkhamhaeng Rd, ☏ 66 2 314-0040.  Brasilië, 34F, Lumpini Tower, 1168/101 Rama IV Rd, ☏ 66 2 679-8567.  Brunei, 154 Ekkamai Soi 14, Sukhumvit Soi 63, ☏ 66 2 381-5914(-6).  Bulgarye, 33/15 Soi Charoen Chai, Sukhumvit Soi 63.  Kambodja, 518/4 Pratcha Uthit Rd, ☏ 66 2 957-5851(-2), ✉[email protected].  Kanada, 15F, Abdulrahim Place, 990 Rama IV Rd, ☏ 66 2 636-0540.  Chile, Unit A, 17F, 193/67 Lake Rajada Office Complex, Ratchadaphisek Rd, ☏ 66 2-260-0045.  Sjina, 57 Ratchadaphisek Rd, ☏ 66 2 245-7043.  Colombia (Consulate), 9F, Park Place, 231 Sarasin Rd, ☏ 66 2 254-5105(-6).  Croatia (Consulate), 1F, ITF Silom Palace, 160/347-348 Silom Rd, ☏ 66 2 238-5112.  Kuba, Mela Mansion Apt 3C, 5 Sukhumvit Soi 27, ☏ 66 2 665-2803.  Cyprus (Consulate), 17F, Richmond Bldg, 75/59 Sukhumvit Soi 26, ☏ 66 2 261-8408(-10).  Tsjeggiese Republiek, 71/6 Ruam Ruedi Soi 2, ☏ 66 2 255-4978.  Denemarke, 10 Sathorn Soi 1, ☏ 66 2 343-1100.  Dominican Republic (Consulate), 431 Pradit Manutham Rd, ☏ 66 2 933-5686.  East Timor, 7F, Thanapoom Tower, 1550 Phetchaburi Rd, ☏ 66 2 654-7501(-2).  Egypt, 49 Soi Ruam Ruedi, ☏ 66 2 253-0161.  Estonia (Consulate), 62 Soi Yodsuwan, Pracha Uthit Rd, ☏ 66 2 690-3779.  Ethiopia (Consulate), 962/14 Phran Nok Rd, ☏ 66 2 411-0218.  Finland, 16F, Amarin Tower, 500 Phloen Chit Rd, ☏ 66 2 250-8801.  Frankryk, 35 Charoen Krung Soi 36, ☏ 66 2 657-5100.  Gabon (Consulate), 13 Pradiphat Soi 10, ☏ 66 2 279-2800(-1).  Gambia (Consulate), 610/5-6 Song Wat Rd, ☏ 66 2 224-0091.  Duitsland, 9 Sathorn Tai Rd, ☏ 66 2 285-6627(-8).  Griekeland, Unit #25/5-9, 9F, BKI/YWCA Bldg, 25 Sathorn Tai Rd, ☏ 66 2 679-1462.  Honduras (Consulate), 28F, CP Tower Bldg, 313 Silom Rd, ☏ 66 2 641-1567.  Holy See, 217/1 Sathorn Tai Rd, ☏ 66 2 233-9109.  Hungary, 28 Soi Suk Chai, Sukhumvit Soi 42, ☏ 66 2 661-1150(-2).  Iceland (Consulate), 59 Soi Navin, ☏ 66 2 249-1300.  Indië, 46 Sukhumvit Soi 23, ☏ 66 2 258-0300(-5).  Indonesië, 600-602 Phetchaburi Rd, ☏ 66 2 252-3135(-40).  Iran, 602, Soi Sukhumvit 22-24, Sukhumvit Rd., ☏ 6623900871.  Irak, 47 Pradiphat Rd, ☏ 66 2 278-5335(-8).  Ireland (Consulate), 208 Wireless Road, 12th Floor, Unit 1201, Lumphini, Pathumwan, ☏ 66 2 016 1360, faks: 66 2 675 3933.  Israel, 25F, Ocean Tower, 11 Sukhumvit Soi 19, ☏ 66 2 260-4854(-9).  Italië, 27F/40F, CRC Tower, 87 Witthayu Rd, ☏ 66 2 250-4970.  Japan, 177 Witthayu Rd, ☏ 66 2 207-8500.  Jordan (Consulate), 47 Sukhumvit Soi 63, ☏ 66 2 391-7142.  Kazakstan, Ste 4301, 43F, JTC Bldg, 919/501 Silom Rd, ☏ 66 2 234-6365(-6).

Kenya, 62 Thong Lo Soi 5, ☏ 66 2 712-5721.  Koeweit, 17F, Sathorn Thani Bldg ll, 92/48 Sathorn Nuea Rd, ☏ 66 2 354-222(-3).  Laos, 502/1-3 Soi Saha Karn Pramoon, ☏ 66 2 539-6667(-8).  Libanon, 15F, CTI Tower, 191/67 Ratchadaphisek Rd, ☏ 66 2 261-1013.  Luxembourg, 17F, Q House Lumpini Bldg, 1 Sathorn Tai Rd, ☏ 66 2 677-7360.  Maleisië, 35 Sathorn Tai Rd, ☏ 66 2 629-6800.  Malta (Consulate), 485/14 Silom Rd, ☏ 66 2 235-9423(-4).  Mexiko, 20F, Thai Wah Tower, 21/60-62 Sathorn Tai Rd, ☏ 66 2 285-0995.  Mongolia, 100/3 Ekkamai Soi 22, ☏ 66 2 381-1400.  Morocco, 12F, Sathorn City Tower, 175 Sathorn Tai Rd, ☏ 66 2 679-5604(-6).  13.7205100.52461 Mianmar, 132 Sathorn Nuea Rd, ☏ 66 2 233-2237. Daily 09:00–12:00, 15:30–16:30; closed on Thai and Myanmar holidays. A same-day visa can be issued. To get the visa the same day (2,300 baht), you must tell the visa clerk that you are leaving tomorrow. They will issue your visa later that same day by 15:30, valid starting the date of issue. There are also cheaper 48-hr (1,600 baht) and 76-hr (810 baht) visas.  Nepal, 189 Sukhumvit Soi 71, ☏ 66 2 391-7240.  Nederland, 15 Soi Ton Son, ☏ 66 2 309-5200.  Nieu-Seeland, 14F, M Thai Tower, All Seasons Place, 87 Witthayu Rd, ☏ 66 2 254-2530.  Nigeria, 412 Sukhumvit Soi 71, ☏ 66 1 711-3076(-8).  Noord-Korea, 14 Muban Suan Laem Thong Soi 2 (Soi 28), ☏ 66 2 319-2989.  Noorweë, 18F, UBC II Bldg, 591 Sukhumvit Soi 33, ☏ 66 2 204-6500.  Oman, 7F, 134/1-2 Silom Rd, ☏ 66 2 236-7385.  Pakistan, 31 Sukhumvit Soi 3, ☏ 66 2 253-0288(-9).  Panama, 16F, Lumpini Tower Bldg, 1168/37 Rama IV Rd, ☏ 66 2 679-7988(-9).  Peru, 16F, Glas Haus Bldg, 1 Sukhumvit Soi 25, ☏ 66 2 260-6243.  Filippyne, 760 Sukhumvit Rd, ☏ 66 2 259-0139(-40).  Pole, 25F, Vongvanij Building B, 100/81-82 Rama IX Rd, ☏ 66 2 645-0367(-9).  Portugal, 26 Captain Bush Ln, Charoen Krung Rd, ☏ 66 2 234-0372.  Roemenië, 20/1 Soi Ratchakru, Phahonyothin Soi 5, ☏ 66 2 617-1551.  Rusland, 78 Sap Rd, ☏ 66 2 234-9824.  Saoedi-Arabië, 23-24F, Saeng Thong Thani Bldg, 82 Sathorn Nuea Rd, ☏ 66 2 639-2999.  Singapoer, 129 Sathorn Tai Rd, ☏ 66 2 286-2111.  Slovakia, Pantip Ct, 68 Sathorn Tai Rd, ☏ 66 2 285-0220(-2).  Suid-Afrika, Floor 12A, M-Thai Tower, All Seasons Place, 87 Witthayu Rd, ☏ 66 2 659-2900.  South Korea, 23 Thiam Ruam Mit Rd, ☏ 66 2 247-7537(-41).  Spanje, 23F, Ste 98-99, Lake Rajada Office Complex, 193 Ratchadaphisek Rd, ☏ 66 2 661-8284.  Sri Lanka, 13F, Ocean Tower 2, 75/6-7 Sukhumvit Soi 19, ☏ 66 2 261-1934(-5).  Swede, 20F, One Pacific Place, 140 Sukhumvit Rd, ☏ 66 2 263 7200.  Switserland, 35 Witthayu Rd, ☏ 66 2 674-6900.  Taiwan, 20F, Empire Tower, 195 Sathorn Tai Rd, ☏ 66 2 670-0200.  Tanzanië, 3F, S.L.D. Condominium, 501 Sala Daeng Soi 1, ☏ 66 2 235-8282(-3).  Turkye, 61/1 Soi Chat San, Sutthisan Rd, ☏ 66 2 274-7262(-3).  United Arab Emirates, 29F, CRC Tower, All Seasons Place, 87/2 Witthayu Rd, ☏ 66-2-402-4000.  Verenigde Koninkryk, 14 Witthayu Rd, ☏ 66 2 305-8333.  Verenigde State van Amerika, 95 Witthayu Rd, ☏ 66 2 205-4049.  Uzbekistan (Consulate), 32 Moo 5, Sukhumvit 62 Soi 1, ☏ 66 2 741-7247.  Vatican City, 217/1 Sathorn Tai Rd, ☏ 66 2 212-5853.  Vietnam, 83/1 Witthayu Rd, ☏ 66 2 251-5836(-8).

Gaan volgende

Sentraal Thailand

As u 'n rukkie uit die stad wil vertrek, is daar genoeg daguitstappies vanaf Bangkok.

• Amphawa - interessante drywende mark wat gewild is onder die plaaslike inwoners
• Ayutthaya - antieke hoofstad wat sy vele ruïnes ten toon stel, 1,5 uur met die bus of trein weg
• Bang Pa-In - sy manjifieke somerpaleis sorg vir 'n aangename daguitstappie
• Damnoen Saduak - prentjie-perfekte drywende mark op toeriste steroïede
• Hua Hin - Strandoord met nabygeleë watervalle en nasionale parke
• Kanchanaburi - die beroemde brug oor die rivier die Kwai, die Erawan-waterval en die Hellfire-pas
• Ko Kret - 'n Rustieke eiland in die noorde van Bangkok, bekend vir die vervaardiging van pottebakkery, 'n aangename daguitstappie uit die betonwoud
• Nakhon Pathom - Thailand se oudste stad en terrein van die grootste stupa ter wêreld
• Phetchaburi - ontspanne historiese stad met die Khao Wang-berg, kleurvolle tempels en heerlike nageregte

Verdere bestemmings

Bangkok is ook 'n uitstekende middelpunt vir verdere reis na ander streke van Thailand.

• Chiang Mai - die poort na die noorde en die hart van die Lanna-kultuur
• Khao Yai Nasionale Park - 'n pragtige bergagtige natuurskoon en sommige van Thailand se wingerde
• Ko Chang - groot relatief ongerepte tropiese eiland
• Ko Samet - die naaste strand-eiland aan Bangkok met wit sandstrande
• Krabi-provinsie - die pragtige strande en eilande Ao Nang, Rai Leh, Ko Phi Phi en Ko Lanta
• Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat) - hoofstad in die Isaan-streek
• Phuket - die oorspronklike Thaise paradys-eiland, nou baie ontwikkel, maar nog steeds met pragtige strande
• Sukhothai - die ruïnes van die antieke Sukhothai-koninkryk
• Surat Thani - tuiste van die voormalige Srivijaya-ryk, poort na Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan en Ko Tao

As u dit oorweeg om Thailand te verlaat, is daar landelike roetes na die volgende bestemmings:

• Siem Reap - tuiste van die Angkor tempels.
• Phnom Penh - hoofstad van Kambodja
• Vientiane - poort na Laos

Roetes deur Bangkok

EINDE ←	W  E	→ Chachoengsao → Aranyaprathet
EINDE ←	N  S	→ Chonburi → Pattaya
Vientiane (Thanaleng), Nong Khai ← Ayutthaya ←	N  S	→ EINDE
EINDE ←	W  E	→ Nakhon Ratchasima → Ubon Ratchathani
Chiang Mai ← Rangsit ←	N  S	→ EINDE
EINDE ←	N  S	→ Nakhon Pathom → Butterworth
Kanchanaburi ← Nakhon Pathom ←	W  E	→ EINDE
Samut Songkhram ← Samut Sakhon ←	W  E	→ EINDE

Roetes deur Bangkok

Chiang Rai ← Rangsit ←	N  S	→ EINDE
Nong Khai ← Saraburi ←	N  S	→ Rangsit → EINDE
EINDE ←	W  E	→ Samut Prakan → Trat
EINDE ←	N  S	→ Nakhon Pathom → Hoed Yai