bangkok
*the city of angels*
welcome to bangkok (krung thep), one of the most cosmopolitan, contrasting, succulent, affordable and, above all, compelling of cities; a cultural experience. it’s sprinkled with sparkling temples and palaces, authentic canals, bustling markets and one hell of a nightlife. a mix of old and new, with the dirty, gritty and run-down wedged next to the luxe and “hi-so.” there is something for everyone in this city and it didn't take long for it to become my most favored urban metropolis. hope you enjoy your stay :)
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cheat sheet
getting there
suvarnabhumi international airport (bkk)
from bkk airport to get to downtown bangkok you can do one of two things: take a taxi, setting you back close to 500 baht, or take the airport rail which is about 100 baht and interchanges with the bts sky train at phaya thai.
don muang international airport (dmk - used mostly for domestic flights)
from dmk airport to get to downtown bangkok you can do one of two things: take a taxi, which will set you back close to 500 baht, or take the airport bus shuttle which is about 30 baht and drops you off at the mo chit bts and mrt stations.
mo chit bus station (northern bus terminal)
mo chit is the largest bus station in bangkok and serves the northern (isaan) part of the country. to get to downtown bangkok you can do one of two things: take a taxi, costing around 100 baht, or walk the 2 kilometers to the mo chit bts and mrt station. the walk is lovely, and relatively short, you get to saunter through queen sirikit park and chatuchak park.
ekamai bus station (eastern bus terminal)
the ekamai bus station is a smaller station located right next to the ekamai bts stop, in downtown bangkok. this bus station serves the eastern part of the country (pattaya, trat etc.).
getting around
bts sky train
the skytrain (similar to the monorail in disney world) travels around most of downtown. the two lines are the light green sukhumvit line (covering sukhumvit road) siam square and phahonyothin road - it ends at mo chit (near chatuchak market). the dark green silom line starts in thonburi, passes the express boat pier at saphan taksin, goes through the silom area and ends at national stadium, right next to mbk center (crazy mall). both lines come together at siam, where you can interchange between them. fares range from 20 to 40 baht depending on where you go. bts closes before midnight and is air-conditioned.
the metro has one line, the blue line, that connects the central hualamphong train station to the northern bang sue train station, running through silom, sukhumvit, ratchadaphisek and the area around chatuchak weekend market. there are interchanges to the bts skytrain at silom, sukhumvit and chatuchak park stations. mrt closes before midnight and is air-conditioned.
