Bangkok Travel Guide 2026: Temples, Transit, and When to Go

Most international arrivals land at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang airport, both connected to central Bangkok by train and metered taxi; visa exempt travelers from the US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia can currently stay 30 days without a visa but must file a Thailand Digital Arrival Card within 72 hours of arrival. The best months to visit are November through February, after the rainy season and before the worst of the dry season haze and hot season heat both peak, though even this window can bring occasional PM2.5 spikes, so checking a live air quality index before booking outdoor heavy days is worth the five minutes it takes. Avoid peak dry season pollution from December through March if respiratory health is a concern, and avoid midday outdoor plans in April, when the heat index averages near 53C. For a base, riverside hotels near the Chao Phraya give easy boat access to the Grand Palace and Wat Arun, while a Sukhumvit or Siam hotel puts the BTS Skytrain and Chatuchak Weekend Market within a few stops. Budget around 500 THB for Grand Palace admission, which also covers Wat Pho and two smaller sites, 150 THB for an unlimited BTS day pass, and expect street food meals to run well under 100 THB per dish. Must do items include the Grand Palace and Wat Arun at sunset, a river ferry ride along the Chao Phraya, and a night at Chatuchak Weekend Market or one of the newer night markets like Jodd Fairs. What to avoid: any tuk-tuk driver who claims the Grand Palace is closed and offers a cheap ride elsewhere, any taxi driver who refuses to run the meter, and unprotected midday walking during the April heat peak.