Holidays to Bangkok
Bangkok holidays are truly one of a kind. Sure, you’ve already got its bouncing bars and mouthwatering street food on your itinerary, but don’t forget to leave time to visit ethereal temples and take day trips to floating markets and jungles. Your IG will never look cooler!
An unrivalled long-haul city break
Bangkok city breaks are the definition of thrilling! After all, where else can you explore historic temples, snack on crispy crickets and pedal across a lake on a paddle boat (in lizard-filled Lumphini Park, to be exact) all before the sun goes down?
For authentic city sights, head to Charoenkrung Road. Bangkok’s oldest paved road is now jam-packed with bars, cafes and hipster brunch spots alongside traditional townhouses.
Say Wat?
Chances are you’ll stumble upon a Wat on your Bangkok holiday – there are around 400 of these Buddhist temples dotted about the city! But if you want to explore one properly, you can’t go far wrong with Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho.
The former sits within the colourful Grand Palace complex. Its shining centrepiece is the Emerald Buddha, decked out in gold and diamonds. And then there’s Wat Pho. You won’t miss the star attraction here, a whopping 46m-long (151ft) and 15m-high (49ft) gilded Reclining Buddha!
Market heaven
Bangkok has lots of busy and vibrant markets to explore – and the jewel in that very packed crown is Chatuchak. Believed to be the world’s largest weekend market, it regularly hosts around 200,000 tourists who browse the 15,000-or-so stalls. What can you buy there? Pretty much anything and everything.
Another retail gem worth experiencing is the canal-side Khlong Suan 100 Year Market. Snack your way through its fresh food bazaar and pick up some very rare gifts while you’re at it.
Get on down to Chinatown
Plenty of cities have a Chinatown but Bangkok has the world’s largest. This district is crammed with an astonishing number of shops and market stalls, shoulder-to-shoulder shoppers and smoking hot street food – there’s something for every one of your senses.
Pick up your holiday trinkets on the chaotic Yaowarat Road, snap a pic under the enormous China Gate or escape to the wide-open greenery of Romaneenart Park on the outskirts. Check out the Chinese-Buddhist Wat Mangkon Kamalawat while you’re here too.
Sneak Peek
Best for... A one-of-a-kind city break for the books 🇹🇭
Go... To Chinatown for packed streets and cheap eats 🥢
You have to... Wander in wonder at the shining, sacred Wats 🚶🏻♂️
Bangkok holiday deals
Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort
4.7
Excellent
- 8 May 2026
- 7 nights
- Room only
- From Heathrow
Prices from
Banyan Tree Bangkok
4.9
Excellent
- 8 May 2026
- 7 nights
- Room only
- From Gatwick
Prices from
Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Bangkok Menam Riverside
4.5
Excellent
- 8 May 2026
- 7 nights
- Room only
- From Gatwick
Prices from
Grand Mercure Bangkok Atrium
- 8 May 2026
- 7 nights
- Room only
- From Heathrow
Prices from
Details
Currency
Thai Baht
Language
Thai
Time difference
GMT +6
Cost of a beer
80 ฿
3-course meal
450 ฿
Flight time
12.5 hrs
It’s always time for Thai
There’s no better way to kickstart a Bangkok culinary adventure than with Thai essentials like pad thai, khao pad fried rice and coconutty panang curry. Get to grips with Thai tastes at Huai Kwang’s Nathong Terrace Bar and Restaurant or take your taste buds on a street food tour of Yaowarat and the Nang Loeng Market. With a good smattering of Michelin-starred restaurants, there’s plenty for fine diners in the capital too. Try R.HAAN, which puts a very fancy spotlight on traditional Thai-style shared eating. Sold!
Blow some baht
Hey, big spender! If you like to shop ‘til you drop, a holiday to Bangkok will wear your legs right out. Siam Paragon is the Rolls-Royce of malls, with boujee names like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Versace within its walls. There’s also ICONSIAM – a floating market, high-tech superstore and art gallery that’s as iconic as its name suggests. To blow some baht after dark, head for night bazaar and mall, Asiatique: The Riverfront. This converted row of warehouses is now home to posh boutiques, souvenir shops and super stylish fashion outlets.
A jolly in the jungle
There’s no need to go up north to crisscross the Thai jungle. Just a short boat ride from the city’s skyscrapers is Bangkok’s Green Lung, Bang Krachao. As you meander your way along trails, stop to smell the flowers in Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park and Botanical Garden or watch villagers work on their farms. You’ll have to pinch yourself to remind yourself you’re still in the capital. To sightsee in style, book a Chao Phraya river cruise. Embark after dark for shining temples, twinkling streetlights and the Grand Palace illuminated in all its glory.
When to go to Bangkok
Cold weather simply does not exist on a Bangkok holiday – high temps are the order of the day from January to December. To experience the city sights in cool-ish comfort, try November to February. But be warned, ‘cool-ish’ is relative. We’re still talking 25C to 30C.
If you can handle the heat, March to May will be more your scene. Expect the mercury to reach the mid-30s and humidity to peak. On the plus side, the low season means fewer fellow tourists and a good chance of bagging a bargain flight.
Cheap holidays to Bangkok are also easy to find in June, July and August. But there’s a catch – this is the rainy season. If it’s any consolation, downpours are generally short (but heavy) and are often a welcome relief from the sticky city air.
