Top 10 Travel Tips for Bangkok, Thailand (July 2024)
Overview
In July/August 2024, me and my family travelled to Thailand for the first time. We visited Krabi and Bangkok for a total of two weeks. It was great to see the variation of culture and lifestyle across both cities. As of March 2024, there are approximately 7.5 million Muslims in Thailand (roughly 12% of the entire country’s population). Buddhism is the main religion of Thailand which accounts up to 80-85% of the country’s population. Despite being a predominantly Dharmic faith based country, it was great to see how inclusive Thailand is for Muslims. I was particularly impressed with how comfortable it felt as a Muslim travelling in a country where I represented the minority of the population. We never felt any discrimination throughout our stay in Thailand.
1. Travel and logistics
Travelling around in Bangkok can be costly as it’s a very busy and congested city. Tuk Tuks are good for short journeys and very cost effective. Longer journeys take a grab or Bolt taxi. BTS Skytrain and MRT are really good and reliable. Children under 90cm are free on the BTS. BTS you need a day pass or a rabbit card (a little like an oyster card but just for this network). For an MRT, you can use contactless. It’s best to use a taxi from and to the airport as its cheap and would be more convenient. The Grab taxi system (equivalent to Uber in the UK) is very cost effective and fast. You can easily create your own account and make payment etc through your bank card or pay by cash. At the airport, they have a dedicated Grab pick up and drop off point. We did not hire a car in Bangkok but it’s best to do your own research and pre-book in advance as online rates tend to be the most cheapest most of the time.
2. Sim card and data
It is more cost effective to buy an e-sim as opposed to using your data with the mobile phone operator you currently have. Look into an Asia e-sim / Holafly and purchasing an e-sim in Thailand is cheaper than pre-purchasing from the UK! Airalo is another good provider of e-sims but works out more costly than a local e-sim purchased in Bangkok. There are outlets at Bangkok airport and nearby shops who sell phones and data packages. Do your research beforehand and do check if your phone is compatible with e-sims as some smartphones do not allow an e-sim to be installed but rather, a physical sim has to be installed.
3. Sightseeing and Excursions
Bangkok is full of museums, parks and places of national interest. Lumphini Park is a place to visit. There was construction work taking place when we had visited but there is a beautiful walking and cycling route. Plenty of kids’ play areas within the park and the best thing we liked about Lumpini Park was the cool library situated within the park. The Bangkok Library Lumphini Park even had an exciting kids’ library situated behind the main library building. This kept our 7-year old daughter engaged and there was a wide range of kids’ books and activities for her to take part in. On the day we had visited, they ran a 60-minute story time and drama session which was led by a lady who spoke English.
My favourite museum that we had visited was the Museum Siam, which was very interactive and showcased the diversity, culture and history of Thailand so beautifully. We spent 2-3 hours and it was worth every second! They have three floors and you can also book a headset which explains each room of the museum and the history behind Thailand from its days of independence until today. The museum is very kids friendly and our daughter thoroughly enjoyed playing games and taking part in the interactive activities within the museum. They also have a delicious cafe/restaurant situated outside the entrance/exit doors of the museum which is pricey but the food is well worth the visit! Entrance fees for adults was 100 THB (approximate £2) and for kids under 10 it was free entry.
The Manahakhon Skywalk is another major attraction in Bangkok, Thailand’s highest observation deck at 314 meters which offers 360 degree panoramic views from an indoor and outdoor viewing area. Visiting it at sunset will give you a different feel of the view and the city from the top of the observatory deck. Also, at sunset, there are huge discounts for drinks and food.
ICONSIAM is a very popular mall in Bangkok. There are over 7,000 shops in this 10-story mega lifestyle complex, perched across the renowned Chao Phraya River. Here at ICONSIAM, you can even get a free tourist card and benefit from exclusive privileges. SOOKSIAM, a themed zone fitted with an indoor floating market, is another must-visit. You can find unique souvenirs like herbal body care, handwoven textiles and aromatherapy products. Besides shopping and dining, art lovers can also appreciate the art-in-mall journey, with stellar works by over 100 Thai and international artists. We visited ICONSIAM in the evening and the night time views outside were exquisite!
Asiatique was an excellent experience, especially during the evening when we had visited. It’s situated along the riverfront and renowned for its Ferris wheel attraction and lots of street food. Bringing restaurants from all over Bangkok and street food vendors from various regions across Thailand together at Warehouse 1 and 2, along with opening Big C, a full-scale retail mall which will bring together products and souvenirs popular with tourists. Moreover, Asiatique the Riverfront Destination also offers premium restaurants from leading international hotels such as the Sirimahannop and The Crystal Grill House to ensure that we offer a variety of options for foodies to choose from. Discover a range of food and beverage options stretched out along 300 meters of the Chao Phraya River – Bangkok’s longest river promenade – creating a beautiful dining aesthetic with views of the enchanting river. They even have a dedicated Halal food court situated in Asiatique along with prayer room and ablution facilities, catering specifically for the Muslim community.
Main places of national interest to visit in Bangkok:
- Museum siam -museum of thainess. Meant to be cool and interactive. Approx 3hrs there. Right next to a train station
- Asiatique the riverfront. Great for early evening and nighttime. Street food and Ferris wheel.
- Bangkok art and cultural center. Free. AC. Interesting art exhibitions relating to understanding Thai culture.
- National museum of Bangkok. AC. Lots to see and learn about Thailand and it’s history. Approx 2-3hrs here
- Lumphini park. Famous park. Akin to NYC’s Central Park but of Bangkok. Playgrounds etc. Home to monitor lizards. Can do a pedle boat ride for kids.
- Grand palace
- Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan – Buddhist temple
- Khlong Bang Luang floating market
- Icon Siam Mall – also has a train that free to ride for kids through the mall
- Playmondo at central world – for kids
- Kidzoona at Gateway Eleamai – for kids
- Reclining buddha @ WatPho
4. Food & Drink
Despite Thailand being a predominantly Buddhist faith based country, it was great to see several halal food options across Bangkok. The halal food court at the Asiatique was impressive, with a wide range of traditional and western halal outlets. The mango and sticky rice is their national dessert and is a must try in Bangkok. It’s refreshingly delicious and not too filling after a meal, so fairly light on the stomach compared to other desserts. A point to make about pork, which is consumed widely in Thailand. Do ensure that you check for pork and alcohol within foods before ordering as this was an issue we faced throughout Bangkok. Also, nuts are very popular in Thailand so if you have any allergies to nuts, please do your research as many of the cooking oils in their foods contain nuts too.
After doing research online, we visited a very popular halal restaurant in Bangkok which had raving reviews. Usman Thai Halal Food lived up to its expectations and we were not disappointed. Situated off the main Khlong Tan highway in Sukhumvit Alley 22, it was very busy with Muslim and non-Muslim customers. They have a prayer room on the top floor with ablution facilities and the staff were very welcoming and friendly. The food was delicious and we were so glad to support @usmanthaimuslimfood and have our last meal in Bangkok here.
Masha’Allah, the food and service did not disappoint at all! The place was so busy with online takeaway orders being picked up every minute by delivery drivers and several families came to eat in. We ordered the special Usman beef dish, Thai green chicken curry and chicken garlic with rice. All dishes were bursting with authentic Thai flavours and cooked to perfection. We had also ordered mocktail drinks and finished off our meal with a traditional Thai milk tea (which tastes similar to the Malaysian teh Tarek 😊)
In addition, the restaurant has a dedicated wudhu area and separate prayer rooms for men and women upstairs. They also provide a hostel service which is also handy in case you want someplace to stay and have delicious food all under one roof! This restaurant is definitely a 10/10 and HIGHLY recommended! May Allah grant the staff amd restaurant more barakah and success. Ameen.
5. Mosques and Islamic Education
There are several mosques situated around Bangkok (around 180-200 as of March 2024). I visited the Bangkok Central Mosque for Jumu’ah prayers. It is run predominantly the Tamil Muslim community and the congregation was very diverse. Capacity of approximately 1,000 worshippers and it was great to see some stalls outside the Mosque selling clothing items in support of Palestine. The Imam’s Qur’an recitation was mesmerising and the architecture of the Mosque was stunning. Unfortunately, it was sad to see a lot of poverty and there was several beggars situated outside the Mosque and on the roads adjacent to the Mosque.
There are some international schools in Bangkok which offer Arabic and Islamic Studies as part of their curriculum but there is no Madrasah/Maktab or Islamic school settings in Bangkok as such. Despite this, it is interesting to see that the Muslim community is growing in Bangkok and the Muslim population is very diverse with many emigrating to Thailand from other neighbouring Asian countries.
6. Hotels & Accommodation
In Bangkok, we chose to stay at the Arcadia Suites which was opened around 10-12 years ago. Its location was convenient as it was fairly close to the nearest train station and shopping malls. The hotel has rooms built like apartment style suites with majority of the suites having your normal house amenities. It was useful to utilise their free hotel Tuk Tuk service which runs at specific times daily and takes you to the local mall or train station (free of charge for hotel guests). Their daily breakfast was limited but decent in terms of quality and freshness. The hotel has a gym and pool facilities which are maintained well. Staff were very courteous and friendly throughout our stay. The rooms were fairly spacious too.
Some tips on the best places to stay in Bangkok:
- Bangkok’s Old Town (Rattanakosin) – for first-time visitors.
- Sukhumvit – best area for dining & night vibes.
- Silom – the perfect area for families.
- Siam – for high-end shopping.
- Khao San Road – for budget travellers and backpackers.
- Riverside – luxury stays with serene river views.
7. Money Exchange
The currency of Thailand is Thai Baht. It is more cost effective to exchange your pounds in Thailand for better rates but do take a small amount of funds as emergency so that you have some local currency when you arrive in Bangkok. There is no specific company to visit for money exchange but looking around for the cheapest rates is always the best option. Obviously, money exchange rates fluctuate daily so you just have to check on a daily basis for the best rates!
Some highly recommended places for money exchange when we did some research online in July 2024:
- SuperRich International Exchange. SuperRich is a popular choice for currency exchange in Bangkok, known for offering competitive rates and transparent transactions. …
- Vasu Exchange Bangkok. …
- The Twelve Victory. …
- The X ONE Currency. …
- K79 Exchange. …
- Siam Exchanges. …
- Value Places.
8. Shopping
Bangkok is home to thousands of shopping malls and we visited a few. ICONSIAM is th largest mall in Bangkok and one I had mentioned in detail earlier in this blog but it really depends on the types of shops you are keen to explore in Bangkok. The vast majority of shopping malls have a wide variety of clothing, food, travel and entertainment outlets. Bangkok is a heavenly abode for all the shopaholics out there. From the premium shopping malls flaunting Gucci and Prada showrooms to the street shops offering bang for your buck, cheap shopping in Bangkok is never a disappointment nor does it compromise on quality. In summary, you can shop expensive and cheap brands all under one roof!
Some highly recommended malls in Bangkok when we did some research:
- CentralWorld. 5,823. Shopping Malls Siam. …
- Terminal 21. 6,374. Shopping Malls Sukhumvit. …
- ICONSIAM. 1,566. Shopping Malls Khlong San. …
- The Platinum Fashion Mall. 3,489. Shopping Malls Siam. …
- Siam Center. 991. Shopping Malls Siam. …
- Big C Rajdamri. 920. Shopping Malls Pathum Wan. …
- Emporium. 1,570. …
- Sooksiam. Shopping Malls Khlong San.
9. Research & Language
It’s handy to make a brief plan of what you wish to explore in Bangkok prior to visiting. Even if it’s a one-page bullet pointed list. Research which excursions or activities you have to pre-book due to popular demand in peak periods. Also, compiling a list of the most common Thai phrases tourists use in Thailand is very handy as not all locals speak English!
10. Useful links
Below are some useful links you may wish to check out when planning your visit to Bangkok!
Useful Thai words and phrases to learn • Fan Club Thailand