Two days in

Bangkok

My first Asian destination was

the capital of Thailand, Bangkok

Landed at the Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok International Airport), straight away i realized how kind Thai are and how Thailand is

well organized, touristically speaking, with clear info and directions from Sim Card to public transports and maps.

Once in Bangkok city centre (check How to move around in Bangkok) i got hit from the hot and humid weather, the car's noise and the

thousands of scooters around the streets, the roof of the Temples that rise up from the city wall and the smell of street foods.

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How to move around Bangkok

ABOUT

hw to move aorund bkk

Bangkok is a big, large and chaotic city where is really easy get stuck in the traffic jam at every hours of the day.

Thank's the city offer a good public transport system which make much more easy moving around.

The options are: Bus, BTS (sky train) and MRT ( subway), Taxi , Tuk Tuk.

Taxi are not the cheapest option but not that expensive. From the Airport to the city the ride cost around 400 THB (11€).

Also, another option, that connect the Airport and the city is the Bangkok train Airport link, for a single journey ticket the price

is around 50 THB (1,50€), The difference is huge right?

Once in the city you will see a lot, and i'm saying a lot, of Tuk Tuk. A curious colorful little motorbike on three wheels. A ride is a must!

Tuk Tuk aren't cheap but are good options for short distance journey. A ride of 10 min cost around 150 TBH (4€).

bustling-bangkok-tuk-tuk-tour-tour-2-730

The most simple and convenient way to move around, saving time, is the BTS and MRT.

The BTS and MRT are independent transport networks, that means you will need to buy two separated tickets if your journey including a destination with a change between these two.

I mostly used the BTS as it covers all the central area: Sukhumvit, Silom and Sathorn, and Siam Square. I do suggest to purchase a prepaid card named BTS Skytrain Rabbit Card that a charge of 100 THB (2,70 €) will be applied plus 50 THB (1,30 €) as refundable deposit.

Even if you do have few days to spend in Bangkok the prepaid Rabbit Card is what i recommend, considering a one day pass

will cost 120 THB (3,20 €).

Single journey or a one day ticket and BTS Skytrain Rabbit Card are available and only at BTS stations.

Where to stay

whereto tay in bkk

Bangkok offer different solutions thank's to a huge number of guest house, hostel, and hotel with a large range of prices,

from a 5 stars hotel where the building will probably has a bar and swimming pool on the rooftop, to a low budget guest house .

I do recommend to stay around Khao San Road area if you are a solo traveller like me. The area is pretty noisy and crowded, yes, but you don't need to stay at "the road".

There are good solutions near by where is much more quiet. I stayed at The Four Sons Place which is just behind Khao San Road,

5 min walk, for 120 BHT (3,20) per night for a single low budget room.

It was ok, definitely you can find something much better if your needs are more higher.

Bangkok offer different range of prices,

i tried to stay as lower as i could

a bad and a shower are enough for me

There are some Hostel/Clubs where basically during day time is a normal Guesthouse and at night time switch into a Club. Crazy!

If you are not a party animal, Khao San Road still has a nice, comfortable and more quiet low budget accommodation where to meet other

solo travelers from all around the world.

Check www.booking.com to find the right solution for you

Best time to visit Bangkok

Bangkok, the hottest city in the world, is sunny almost every day of the year where temperatures are over 30-degrees,

so summer is definitely not the best time to visit Bangkok. The best time to visit Bangkok would be winter when it is relatively cooler to wander around the city and explore its attractions.

Summer: March and April can be hot in the city, and the temperatures can rise to 40-degrees. This kind of temperature is sometimes unbearable even to a person like me which stay in the sun like a lizard. This is certainly an off season of Bangkok.

Monsoon: May and October, is the city’s wet season, and a common time of floods around the city.

Winter: November to February is the best time to visit Bangkok when it is neither too hot or raining. This is the cool season in Bangkok. It is also when the weather in Bangkok is tropical cool, humid, but very comfortable.

Book your accommodation in advance to save money as this is the peak season time of the year when a lot of tourists pour in the city.

Check where to stay in Bangkok

2 days in Bangkok

Is hard to draw up a list

of what to do in Bangkok

as the city offers a lot.

I landed in Bangkok early afternoon at Suvarnabhumi Airport where i got a taxi to reach my accommodation next Khao San Road,

yeah, i was too tired to wait for a train or bus after 16 hours flight.

If you do not have planned a long full immersion in the city, two or three days are perfect to visit the main attractions and enjoy the city vibe for a short intense time.

Most of the places of interest in Bangkok are Holy Temples where naked shoulders and knees are not allowed for both sexes and the rule is working in all Thailand.

Remember before to visit a temple bring with you appropriate clothes like pants or long sleeve shirts.

Some temples rent clothes for 200 THB (5,50 €) but some of them, might not, so you wont be able to visit it. What a shame!

A shower to refresh and wake me up,

a change of clothes and

i was ready explore Bangkok.

Day 1

Grand Palace and Saranrom park

Unfortunately, a week before my trip in Thailand, the King

Bhumibol Adulyadej died.

The Grand Palace was open only for Thai, no foreigner allowed inside.

The entire Thailand were reunited in Bangkok to bring they're respect and prayers for their King.

All Around the Grand Palace volunteers were given free food and free water

for everybody, foreigner included (me, the only foreigner there)

to celebrate the King.

the Grand Palace is definitely is a must visit in Bangkok. For what i could see, from outside, is a stunning incredible structure all in white and gold colors.

For respect of the culture i haven't get pictures around the Grand Palace area.

If you are in Bangkok, the Grand Palace is a must visit place.

Opening hours: From 8.30 AM to 3.30 PM

Entry fee: 500 THB (13,50 €)

Facing the Grand Palace there's the Saranrom Park that originally was part of the Royal Garden.

The park has beautiful gardens

and nice paths with flowers and tropical plants.

It's a good spot to relax for a while and get a fresh drink in help from the hot weather especially after you've been walking around the Grand Palace

Opening hours: From 5.oo to 21.00

Entry fee: Free entry

Wat Pho

Located 5 min walk from the Grand Palace there 's Wat Pho.

One of the oldest and largest Complex in Bangkok, famed for The Sleeping Buddha

A 15 meters tall and 46 meters long Buddha cover by gold leaf.

Most of tourist are going there just to visiting that huge and impressive Buddha, but the complex also has four chapels where are contained 394 glided Buddha and Gold Buddha statues sitting in lotus position.

Finally there's a courtyard where there's some statues decorated by colorful ceramic.

The Wat Pho, back in the days, was a center for knowledge and study about Traditional Thai Medicine where a massage school was founded here that still exists today.

Known as the birthplace of Thai massage, you can have a massage at Wat Pho Massage School Service Center

starting from 200 BHT (6 €) for 1 hour massage, also if you are interested in Thai Massage techniques, there are classes open to anyone.

Opening hours: From 8.00 to 17.00

Entry fee: 100 THB (2,60 €)

Day 2

After Bangkok's main Temples

i dedicated the second day on a outdoor exploring

before leaving the city.

China town and Lumpini park

We are at the Samphanthawong District where one of the oldest Chinatown in the world is located. The bustling Chinatown is spread all around Yaowarat Road marked by a huge Gate as its entrance to one of the most active commercial area of Bangkok thank's to the famous markets connected to each others creating a crazy huge unique market, where to find everything and the unthinkable at cheap prices.

I got lost around the market for almost 3 hours to let you understand how big it is.

Is interesting, also, to see how many western business man are around the area to find a good deal to import or export products, like Gold for example as one of the most marketed products in the area with more then 100 jeweler's.

Street are full of restaurant open day and night where to find the best dishes of Traditional Chinese Cuisine and impressive

numbers of shops of that sell products of the Traditional Chinese Medicine.

To reach Chinatown by public transport, the closer Station is Hua Lamphong (MRT)

After a long walk around Chinatown, next, is Lumpini park a inner-city haven of peaceful calm.

People with different ages are around the parks doing different activities from Basketball to Tai-Chi.

Impressive is how the "Seniors" keep healthy doing exercise and stretching on a crazy level that i never seen before, trust me,

see a bunch of 70 years old ladies split on the floor is something you wont see that easily in Europe.

The feeling of

walking from a noisy city

into a quiet green tunnel.

The park is surrounded by Flora and Fauna with paths all around the area, don't be alarmed if you see some Giant Lizard.

Giant Lizard are not dangerous but don't try feed pr get too close to as they have a little percentage of poison in they're bite, that's what a Thai guardian said.

The one in the picture was pregnant, how cute!

To reach Lumpini Park from Chinatown get the MRT form

Hua Lamphong to Silom station, you will find the park just outside the MRT Station.

Open Hours: from 4.30 to 21.00

Entry fee: Free

Khao San Road

khao san road

After a long intense walk around Chinatown and Lumpini park, is time to get back for a shower and get ready for the night.

What's better then Khao San Road as last night in Bangkok?

Named the centre of

the backpacking universe

A vibrant street featuring countless guest house/hostels, markets, restaurants, bars, internet cafè and massage parlours, surrounded by music and neon lights where locals join travelers in the most colorful area of Bangkok.

You wont walk more then 5 minutes to find vendors that sell food from traditional cuisine to the international one.

Also if you are interested and curious about insects, here in Khao San Road, you will see a lot of stalls selling scorpions, spiders and fried worms which are taste like french fries.