Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok travel guide

Temples, street food and the doorway to Southeast Asia

Find flights to Bangkok See fares from $514

Airports: BKK Suvarnabhumi Airport
Region: Asia
Best time to visit: November–February is the cool, dry season and the best time.
Shortest flight: 17h 30m from Seattle
Round trips from: $514 (live)
Time zone: Asia/Bangkok

About Bangkok

The old city on Rattanakosin island has the Grand Palace, Wat Pho's reclining Buddha and Wat Arun across the river; Chinatown (Yaowarat) is the street-food capital; Sukhumvit and Silom have the hotels, malls and nightlife; Chatuchak weekend market sprawls over 35 acres. Ayutthaya's ruins and the floating markets are day trips.

Getting in: Suvarnabhumi (BKK) is 20 miles east. The Airport Rail Link reaches Phaya Thai in 26 minutes (฿45) with connections to the BTS Skytrain; metered taxis cost ฿300–฿500 plus tolls and a ฿50 airport fee; Grab (rideshare) is reliable. Don Mueang (DMK) handles most domestic low-cost flights.

US citizens get 60 days visa-free with a valid passport (six months' validity recommended). The baht is the currency; ATMs charge ฿220 per withdrawal, so take larger amounts. Tipping is modest — round up taxi fares and leave ฿20–฿50 at restaurants. Dress modestly for temples (shoulders and knees covered) and remove shoes indoors.

Best time to visit

November–February is the cool, dry season and the best time. March–May is very hot; June–October is the monsoon with short heavy downpours, lower prices and green countryside.

Where to stay

Neighborhoods our travelers like: Rattanakosin (Old City), Chinatown / Yaowarat, Sukhumvit, Silom / Sathorn, Ari.

Flights to Bangkok: typical round-trip fares

What economy round trips to BKK usually cost from major US cities, alongside the lowest live fare we can see in the next 90 days. Prices are per traveler and include taxes.

From	Flight time	Typical fare	Lowest live fare	Actions
Los Angeles (LAX)	18h 30m	$898	$580 · Tue, Oct 13	Search dates →
San Francisco (SFO)	18h	$918	$639 · Tue, Nov 17	Search dates →
New York (JFK)	20h	$1,048	$617 · Wed, Nov 4	Search dates →
Seattle (SEA)	17h 30m	$948	$514 · Tue, Dec 1	Search dates →
Chicago (ORD)	20h	$1,098	$785 · Tue, Nov 17	Search dates →
Dallas (DFW)	20h 30m	$1,148	$639 · Wed, Nov 4	Search dates →

Typical fares are editorial estimates for economy round trips booked 3–8 weeks out. Live fares refresh several times a day and are shown for the cheapest departure date we found.

Airports in Bangkok

Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)Bangkok · Large hubBKK

What to do in Bangkok

The places our editors send first-time visitors.

1
Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
The Emerald Buddha and the dazzling royal compound (฿500); go at 8:30am opening and dress conservatively.
2
Wat Pho and Wat Arun
The 150-foot reclining Buddha and the massage school, then the river ferry to Wat Arun's porcelain spire.
3
Chinatown street food
Yaowarat Road after dark — seafood, noodles and mango sticky rice from carts and shophouses.
4
Chatuchak Weekend Market
15,000 stalls of clothes, crafts, plants and food every Saturday and Sunday.
5
Chao Phraya river and canals
Ride the orange-flag express boat (฿16) between the temples, or a longtail through Thonburi's canals.

Bangkok weather by season

Average highs and lows in °F, with what each season means for fares and crowds.

Winter

89° / 71°

Cool, dry season — the best time.

Spring

95° / 78°

Hottest months; Songkran water festival in April.

Summer

92° / 78°

Monsoon: short heavy downpours, lower prices.

Fall

90° / 76°

Rain tapers in November.

Travel tips for Bangkok

Use Grab or insist on the meter in taxis; tuk-tuks are for the experience, not for getting anywhere.
Ignore anyone at temples saying it's 'closed today' — it's the classic gem-shop scam.
The Skytrain (BTS) and MRT avoid the traffic; buy a Rabbit card.
Street food at busy stalls is safer than quiet restaurants; drink bottled water.
Pack light, breathable clothing plus something to cover shoulders and knees for temples.

Bangkok flights: frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Thailand?

No — US citizens receive 60 days visa-free on arrival with a valid passport. Carry proof of onward travel; immigration occasionally asks.

How do I get from Bangkok airport to the city?

The Airport Rail Link reaches Phaya Thai station in 26 minutes for ฿45, connecting to the BTS Skytrain. Metered taxis from the official queue cost ฿300–฿500 plus tolls; Grab is a reliable alternative.

Are there nonstop flights from the US to Bangkok?

Not currently. The fastest routings connect in Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei or Hong Kong (about 18–20 hours total from the West Coast) or via Doha and Dubai from the East Coast.