Bangkok

About

Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies 1,568.7 square kilometres (605.7 sq mi) in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated population of 11.4 million people as of 2024, 15.9% of the country's population. Over 17.4 million people live within the surrounding Bangkok Metropolitan Region as of the 2021 estimate, making Bangkok a megacity and an extreme primate city, dwarfing Thailand's other urban centres in both size and importance to the national economy.

Summary excerpted from the Wikipedia article Bangkok, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Text may be clipped or paraphrased to fit this page.

Why visit

Visit Bangkok for markets, streets, food, and public squares, landscape, water, gardens, and nearby routes. In Bangkok, the strongest material is where museums, streets, religious buildings, markets, performance spaces, food, or nearby landscapes explain the surrounding region. A good itinerary should stay selective. For Bangkok, choose the anchor first; the cafe, market, church, gallery, or evening event should follow from that location. In Bangkok, the route gains clarity when the spaces between formal stops are allowed to matter. Use the surroundings of Bangkok deliberately: they should clarify the place, not simply add movement.

When to avoid

Visiting Bangkok for a trip is least advisable during the monsoon season, which typically occurs from May to October. Heavy rainfall and flooding can disrupt travel plans and outdoor activities during this time. Additionally, high humidity levels combined with frequent downpours can make exploring the city uncomfortable for visitors. It is recommended to check the weather forecast and plan accordingly if Visiting Bangkok during the monsoon season to minimize any potential disruptions to your trip.

The next week in Bangkok

7-day forecast from Open-Meteo. UV badges flag days when sun protection matters (3 and above is moderate; 8 and above is risk territory for unprotected fair skin within 30 minutes).

Year-round climate

Monthly highs, lows, and rainfall (long-term averages, NASA POWER).

Airports near Bangkok

2 commercial airports within 100 km. Closest is Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) at 21 km.

Getting around Bangkok

Public-transit operators within 8 km of the city center. Click through to each operator’s site for routes, fares, and tickets.