FLIGHTS, ACCOMMODATION AND MOVEMENT IN BANGKOK
Bangkok has numerous spectacular temples to visit with shoulders and knees covered.
Direct flights to Bangkok
It is easy to fly from Finland to Bangkok, as there are plenty of flight connections available. The easiest way to travel from Helsinki to Bangkok is with Finnair’s direct flights. Round-trip fares start at around € 500 and vary according to the season. Flight time is about 10 hours.
In addition to direct flights from Finland, you can also travel to Bangkok with numerous plane-change connections. Flights are offered by Aeroflot , Cathay Pacific and Norwegian , among others . On flight-change flights, the travel time depends on the length of the stopover, but is a minimum of about 15 hours.
Flights get the cheapest when you are on the move well in advance. If you are planning to travel to Bangkok during the Christmas season, you may want to purchase flights several months in advance. In the summer season, cheap flights can also be found for local departures, which means that there is no need to rush with flights out of season.
Bangkok International Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport, is located 25 km from the city center. The journey between the city and the airport is most easily folded by taxi, and especially on the return journey, enough time must be reserved for it. Congestion is common, and even a shorter taxi ride in town easily stretches to half an hour.
Accommodation with all kinds of price tags
According to DigoPaul, Bangkok has an endless range of accommodation options for all kinds of budgets. The traveler can choose from anything from lavish luxury hotels to traditional Thai inns. It is easiest to book a hotel in advance unless it is part of a travel package.
Affordable accommodations can be found on Khao San Road, a popular backpacker destination, and its surroundings. At its cheapest, you can stay in Bangkok for as little as a euro, but a nice mid-priced hotel night costs about 30 euros. Accommodation in Bangkok is generally very good value for money.
Tuk logs, taxis and public transport
Getting around Bangkok is easy. As you step out of the door of the accommodation, there are a host of eager tuk tuk drivers and variegated, air-conditioned taxis waiting on the street. When setting off, you should ask a taxi driver to use the meter.
When driving in the city, tuk tuk, or three-wheeled mopeds, are definitely worth experiencing. The drivers are enthusiastic and would love to transport tourists from morning to night. However, you should decide the destination in advance and tell the driver directly – otherwise you can find yourself on a moped ride even in the evening.
Skytrain or BTS, which runs above Bangkok’s congestion, is the fastest way to move from place to place. The train operates on tracks built above street level, supported by concrete pillars. The Skytrain makes it easy to travel longer city distances, and the ticket price is determined by the area boundaries crossed. The Skytrain has two lines and is marked with stops on most tourist maps.
Completed in 2004, Bangkok’s subway is a neat, efficient and fast ride. Tickets are inexpensive.
You can also try navigating a canal boat. A canal boat trip for well under a euro offers a new perspective on the everyday life of the big city, and after climbing the boat, you can see Bangkok again with new eyes. The price of the trip depends on the length, and the name of your own stop is worth learning. It is also a good idea to calculate the number of stop intervals from the map on the pier so that an agreement can be found with the ticket seller. Along Khlong Banglamphua, for example, a long-tailed motorboat takes you to Siam Square, which provides a comprehensive setting for shopping.
ATTRACTIONS IN BANGKOK
In addition to street food, Bangkok has a number of inexpensive restaurants where you can explore local flavors.
Wat Phra Kaew and Grand Palace
There are countless temples in the city. If you only have time for one, you should head to Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace, located at the bend of the Chao Phraya River, in the Banglamphu district. Built as early as the late 18th century, the royal temple is stunningly beautiful, and the sparkle of gold, detailed paintings and numerous statues offer things to see for the whole day.
When entering the temple area, shoulders and knees should be protected, and airy long-sleeved clothing should also protect from heat. On the map, the temples are identified by the prefix Wat.
The resting Buddha is a spectacular revelation
The best known of the Buddha statues is the 46-meter-long Resting Buddha, located next to the country’s oldest temple group, Wat Pho, near Wat Phra Kaew. The Golden Mount and its foothills, Wat Saket, are also worth seeing, and the top of the Golden Mountain has beautiful views over the city.
Jim Thompson’s House
Jim Thompson was an American entrepreneur who brought Thai silk to the Western market and mysteriously disappeared in 1967. Thompson’s magnificent house represents traditional Thai architecture and is well worth a visit. The house also houses Thompson’s impressive collection of Thai art.
The National Museum is the largest in Southeast Asia
The Bangkok National Museum exhibits a large collection of religious sculptures, historical relics and traditional handicrafts. A friend of history and culture will make a visit to the largest museum in Southeast Asia, which will also host guided tours.
Bustling Chinatown and thriving Little India
Put on good Walking Shoes and get going before the hottest time of the day. In the narrow alleys of Chinatown and Little India, next door, you can spend hours admiring the colorful life and bustle of people. Feel free to venture into the labyrinths of the alleys.
From Chinatown, you can buy the most amazing products cheaply. Chinese medicine, tools, gold or even sandals. In the food market, the scents are intoxicating or knockout, and merchants are happy to tell you what delicacies they have to offer. You should try at least a delicious coconut ice cream that refreshes in the heat of the alleys.
Little Indian Pak Khlong Talat is Bangkok’s largest flower market. Watch as merchants display flowers by truckload and how busy townspeople look for beautiful decorations at the market for celebrations or religious ceremonies.
THE BEST OF BANGKOK
Bangkok’s skyline is at its best as seen from the infinity pool.
The best experiences in Bangkok
- See the city from a boat on a river cruise.
- Visit Bangkok’s most popular attraction, the Grand Palace.
- Dine high above the city’s rooftops at the open-air Vertigo Restaurant.
- Make inexpensive bargains in the market and also experience giant malls.
- Enjoy state-of-the-art street cuisine culture.
- See the Resting Buddha of Wat Pho Temple.
- Use Bangkok’s smooth public transport and experience the contrasts of different neighborhoods.
- Celebrate Bangkok’s colorful nightlife.
- Visit Bangkok’s vibrant Chinatown.
- Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is a nice day trip destination with market boats.