Your Digital Nomad Guide to Bangkok, Thailand

The best time to visit Bangkok is between November and February. This is Thailand’s dry season, which means the temperature during the day ranges between 18-32 degrees Celsius, and there is relatively less rain.

However, it will also be the busiest and most expensive time of the year since it is Thailand’s peak season for tourism. 

The rain or monsoon season runs from July till early November. This is the best time to visit Bangkok if you’re a budget-conscious traveller.

Many hotels and tours often offer attractive discounts during this low-season period. The weather is inconsistent torrential downpours mixed with clear skies and overcast days.

The hot season runs from March to July, when the daytime temperature can go up as high as 40 degrees Celsius. There is a minimal breeze and relatively little rainfall, although you should be prepared for the occasional summer storms.

Bangkok has two airports:

• Suvarnabhumi (BKK) - Serves many long-haul international airlines and domestic flights with Bangkok and Thai Airways. You’ll fly to this airport if you’re coming from Europe, America or the Pacific.
• Don Muang (DMK) - The centre for low-cost carriers like Air Asia and Nok Air, mainly serving domestic and regional flights within Asia. If you are flying to other parts of Thailand, you most likely will depart from this airport.

If you’re arriving from other parts of Thailand or the neighbouring countries, getting to Bangkok by public transport is possible.

There are three major bus terminals in Bangkok:

• The Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit)
• The Eastern Bus terminal (Ekkamai)
• The Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai)

Make sure to book your bus tickets directly at one of the three public bus terminals and avoid travel agents and private buses (if possible), as they are not the most reliable and at times can be more expensive.

Bangkok is well connected by train to the rest of Thailand and its neighbouring countries like Laos, Malaysia and Cambodia. Perfect if you need to leave the country for a visa run or if you want to explore more of southeast Asia.

• Hua Lamphong Railway Station - The main station which operates trains to and from neighbouring countries.
• Thonburi Train Station - Once you arrive in Bangkok this is well connected for local destinations.

This area is great for people looking to party, meet others and for cheap street food. Most people staying around Khao San Road are young backpackers or travellers with a limited budget - we stayed here a few times! 

 Bangkok’s riverside is beautiful and very picturesque. Especially after dark when you can see the temples and the Royal Palace lit up. 

The hotels and restaurants are more expensive than in other areas of Bangkok, and you have to take a ferry to go across town. But it is the calmest and most scenic area of Bangkok.

This area is one of the most modern and cosmopolitan areas of Bangkok. It is full of excellent malls, restaurants and nightlife.

It is a convenient neighbourhood to stay in, with the Skytrain (BTS) that runs through most of Sukhumvits downtown, which makes exploring relatively easy.

Silom is great for (well-paid) digital nomads looking for a central location close to many coworking spaces, bars and fancy restaurants. This is also the best area to engage with local entrepreneurs or network with other freelancers. 

Silom is a bustling district with many restaurants, shopping malls and street food. It’s well connected to Skytrain and MRT stations, making it easy to get around.

This is a busy area with lots of shopping areas. If you love to go shopping, this is the place to be. Siam is the modern side of Bangkok with plenty of shopping malls, modern cinemas, foodcourts and attractions. 

The perfect area for foodies. If you love to try a lot of different street food, Chinatown got you covered. It is crowded with numerous gold shops, market stalls and colourful neon signs. Chinatown is most lively at night when many locals come here to enjoy world-class street food.

It is within walking distance to the Siam area, but more affordable hotels. The Pratunam area is chaotic and crowded, especially on the weekends when there is a lot of traffic. But it is a vibrant area with plenty of shopping opportunities.

• Buying an AIS SIM card is only possible at one of their retail stores generally found in shopping malls.
• You must show your passport so remember to bring it with you.
• It costs 250 Baht (€6,78) for a SIM card and unlimited data for 30 days. (Cash only).
• You can buy extra top-ups in AIS stores or online (if you do it online be aware that you need a Thai bank account). We usually ask a local Thai person to top it up and pay them in cash.
• A top-up costs 200 Baht (5,43) for unlimited data for 30 days.

A little bit on the pricey side, but delicious. Try the clear soup with basil leaves. Tasty! There is sometimes live music which gives it a relaxed vibe.

Cheap and so tasty! We ate here a couple of times. It can get busy sometimes, so hang around, and you’ll get a table in no time—a great place to get some spring rolls and a sweet and sour.

Delicious food, very big portions and great value for money. 

A small restaurant which is cheap and delicious. It is the perfect place for a pad thai, but we had fish soup from there, which was tasty.

They serve authentic Thai food. Getting your food takes a little while, but it is worth the wait. We had a pad thai for 50 Baht (€1,35) and loved it, the price as well 😉

A small family-owned business, a nice cosy place near the Grand Palace.

Lovely ambience and great attention to detail. We got a glass of ice to hold in our hands to cool off. We had the Tom Yum Soup and green curry fried rice. 

Fresh and tasty food. Get some spring rolls and try the deep-fried fish with chilli sauce; so delicious and perfect for sharing.

When you want a change from Thai food, you should go here for a delicious Indian curry.

We didn’t have time to visit this place, but we read and heard some good things about it—a perfect place for a baguette or a croissant in the morning.

Cute cosy place with pleasant jazz music in the background and a friendly owner. We had a delicious beef pie and brownie. We definitely recommend it!

A new cafe, named after the son of one of its owners. Varen is of Sanskrit origins, and it means “excellent”. We thought it was pretty cool. It’s quite a modern place with different signature coffees and drinks. Get yourself a tiramisu. It is so good!

We love good sourdough; it is our favourite bread. Sarnies Sourdough has everything from delicious slices of bread to croissants, bagels and cakes. It is a bit more pricey, but oh so tasty! You could keep the cost down by creating your own breakfast/ lunch.

A nice coffee place with a good atmosphere. You can even sit outdoors.

A relaxed, peaceful, quiet bookshop/coffee shop with drinks and desserts. Unfortunately, we couldn’t read the extensive collection of books as they were only in Thai.

This is such a great hidden gem in Chinatown Bangkok. The place looks lovely, and their cake looks impressive but expensive. However, you can easily share one.

During the day, it is excellent for a birds-eye view over Bangkok. This is the place for you if you’re looking for a spot to have fun and meet new people.

A lovely rooftop to admire Bangkok from above. Some days there is live music.

A chill rooftop bar with a great view over the city. The prices are slightly higher than in the rest of the city, but there is a friendly vibe.

Lovely rooftop bar to watch the sunset. The prices are high but great for one drink.

Perfect rooftop bar to watch Wat Arun at sunset. The place is relatively small, so if you want to guarantee your spot at the front, you must come early.

This bar was once a pharmacy called Tai Shun Tung. It has now been renovated into a craft beer bar but still retains some of the traditional Chinese medicine shop features, like the bar counter in the middle of the shop. It is a cool and stylish bar. Perfect to have a cocktail or craft-tapped beer. They sell quality craft beers from various breweries located all over the globe.

The backpacker’s dream… cheap alcohol and lots of cheap street food. If you have ever dreamed of trying a dried cockroach or spider, this is your chance. Khao San Road is a chaotic street with many street stalls selling food, drinks, clothes and souvenirs.

We thought it was better than Khao San Road, with more of a lounge vibe and less hectic. Lots of cool bars to have a drink.

Stroll through this little walking street in old-town Bangkok and enjoy the street art. Nearby is a Chines lantern alley which looks great at night.

Explore the iconic Chinatown area with lots of food carts and small stores. Great for during the day but especially at night.

 Take the ferry at Chao Phraya River and visit Wat Arun For 100 Baht (€2,70. It is nice to visit Wat Arun during the daytime, take the ferry back before sunset, head to Eagle Nest Bar, and watch Wat Arun at sunset.

The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok. The entrance fee for foreigners is 500 Baht (€13,52). It is a little bit expensive, but you can spend a lot of time in the temple complex.

There is a dress code which is very strict, with no shoulders or knees on show. However, you can rent some items to cover yourself if you didn’t bring anything. This applies to all temples.

A must-visit if you are in Bangkok on the weekends. Chatuchak Weekend Market is a big open-air market with 15.000 stalls where you can basically buy anything. Great for souvenir shopping and trying authentic Thai-style street food.

Open on Saturdays and Sundays from 06:00 – 18:00.
Tip: bring enough cash with you since you won’t be able to pay with a credit card.

If it is raining or you want to escape the sun for a little while, it is the perfect time to visit one of Bangkok’s museums. Jim Thompson House is a unique museum about an American named Jim Thompson, who made Thai Silk famous worldwide.

Or if you are more into contemporary art, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA BANGKOK) would be recommended. A collection of paintings in different styles and colours is spread over several floors. The museum itself looks very cool.

Enjoy a canal (Klong) tour on a classic longtail boat and explore the ancient waterways of Bangkok—a unique way to see how locals live along the famous canals.

You could hire a longtail boat at most ferry stations. Typically a one-hour tour on a longboat should cost around 1300 Baht for two people, the more people, the cheaper it is.

A famous temple known for its giant, 46 meters long and 15 meters high, golden reclining Buddha.

The Golden Mount is a temple located on top of a small hill. To get to the top, you must climb 344 steps, but you get rewarded with an incredible view of Bangkok. Perfect for watching the sunset over the skyline in Bangkok.

You can watch the newest movies in either 4D, 3D or Imax at Paragon shopping mall or Icon Siam. Perfect to end a full day of exploring Bangkok. Check the schedule to see what is playing at the moment.

A huge shopping mall with everything you need. It also has a rooftop where you can enjoy the view of the Chao Phraya river.

Lumphini park was Bangkok’s first public park and is a well-maintained, clean and spacious park to escape the busyness of the city. It is the perfect place for a stroll, relaxing, or exercising. You could also rent a boat at the large lake in the park’s centre.

If you have a few more days in Bangkok, you could check out Bangkok’s most famous floating market, Damnoen Saduak. This market is located in Ratchaburi Province, about a 1.5-hour drive from central Bangkok.

It is one of Thailand’s most popular tourist attractions among Thais and foreign tourists; therefore, it can get quite busy, especially on weekends. We recommend visiting with a tour unless you have your own car since getting there can be complicated. Also, are there a lot of scams with taxi drivers.

The Damnoen Floating Market is open every day from 07:00 – 12:00.