Hopefully this will help you get around  the city and discover what to do in Bangkok and what not to do in Bangkok.  They write whole books on what not to do in Thailand but as a tourist you’ll be somewhat forgiven for doing things which are usually frowned upon otherwise.

The Traffic – Yes, it’s as bad as they say but you can avoid it. Stay out of Sukhumvit Road and if you must stay there, or actually wherever you stay, make sure it’s very near an expressway entrance.  That might not guarantee you anything as some days you can get spend an hour just getting off the expressway, but it will help if you plan to get out of the city.  During the rainy season the traffic will come to a stand still and it can be absolute chaos. I once spent 7 hrs going 8km.  The sky train is busy during rush hour but it’s worth cramming yourself in there to avoid the traffic.  The traffic can severely effect what to do in Bangkok so some planning needs to be done if you’re doing multiple activities in one day.

Try a motorcycle taxi (ask the price before getting on), they’re relatively safe and the quickest way to get anywhere. Not for long distances though.  Tuk Tuks are a rip off and not trustworthy so stay away from them unless you’ve never been to Bangkok before and have to try riding on one.  Taxi drivers are notorious for having “no change” so carry lots of small stuff.

Bangkok has had lots of coup’s and political demonstrations. This is often the best time to visit Bangkok because a lot of tourists who don’t know any better stay away.  You won’t find many other places in the world where tank drivers give out flowers and want to take a selfie with you. Even during the worst of it, when they set fire to things (right around the corner from my apartment), I had no issues wandering about the city.  When the shit hits the fan, for the most part, it won’t affect what to do in Bangkok.

You can get yourself into trouble in Bangkok but usually only if you ask for it. The Thai’s are generally friendly and laid back but they have a dark side and I’ve seen more girls fighting in Bangkok than any other city in the world.  There mantra is “Jai Yen Yen” meaning take it easy, no worries, literally ” a cool heart”.  But let me tell you, that can all go out the window very quickly if antagonised.

For shopping, go to Siam Paragon, it’s got the biggest supermarket I’ve ever seen.  It’s got all the major brands, a massive electronics department and movie theatre. Speaking of which, the one in Siam Paragon has some fancy seats.  You can get what is basically a king size bed for around 500 baht.  You’ll have a “waiter” who serves you popcorn or a dinner if you want.  No shagging allowed but everybody does it.  Just across the street is Siam Square and over to that is MBK, both selling market type stuff, cheap clothes, phones, jewellery, knick knacks and everything you can imagine. Back the other way there’s more shopping malls That whole area is filled with shopping and restaurants.  Very busy beginning from lunch time.  If it’s raining or you’re stuck for what to do in Bangkok, you could easily spend 2-3 or more days just shopping around this area.

Don’t put your feet up anywhere.  It’s rude.  The Thai’s probably won’t say anything but just think “look at that stupid farung”.  And for those expats living in Thailand, “farung” is used so much but it’s actually a derogatory term for a westerner that is not flattering.

If you want to know about Bangkok’s notorious night life, or have any other questions about what to do in Bangkok, send us any questions or comments via email or ask us on twitter.