Sathorn Pier on the Chao Phraya, next to BTS Saphan Taksin, where river boats connect with the Skytrain Photo above: I was, I am, I will via Google
The most useful Bangkok travel tips for a first time are simple: get around by BTS Skytrain, MRT and river boat rather than by road; carry some baht in cash but use cards where they are taken; buy a tourist SIM or eSIM, which you register with your passport; cover your shoulders and knees for temples; do outdoor sightseeing in the morning; and turn down any driver offering a cheap tour. Tipping is optional.
These tips for first timers are grouped by topic, and every fee, hour or rule has its source and the date we checked it, September 26, 2026. Each section links to a longer BangkokVacay guide when you need the detail.
What do you need before you arrive?
Check your entry rules and fill in the arrival card. From September 15, 2026, visitors from 60 countries and territories can stay up to 30 days visa-free for tourism, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, replacing the earlier 60-day exemption. All foreign visitors must complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before arriving.
Use only the official TDAC site, which states that no fee is required. Our guide to how long you can stay in Bangkok covers extensions and the limits on repeat visa-free entries.
Should you use cash or cards in Bangkok?
Both. Hotels, malls and most restaurants take cards, but markets, street-food stalls, river boats and many taxis need cash in Thai baht. Carry small notes, since a 1,000-baht note is hard to break at a stall.
For changing money, use a bank or a licensed money changer: the Bank of Thailand requires authorized changers to display their license number and the day's rates. The UK Foreign Office warns of ATM skimming and advises using ATMs inside banks and never losing sight of your card. Read where to exchange money in Bangkok, the guide to the Thai baht and how much baht per day to budget.
Should you get a SIM card or an eSIM?
A local tourist SIM or eSIM is the easiest way to use Grab, maps and translation apps. True-dtac, for one, sells them at the airport and in its shops, and every one must be registered with a valid passport under the telecoms regulator's (NBTC) rules.
True-dtac's tourist SIM terms, for example, offer unlimited-data packages and a data-only version, set a maximum validity of 60 days, and allow up to three SIMs per person per brand. Check that your phone is unlocked before you land, and compare the current packages on each network's site rather than trusting resellers' prices.
What is the best way to get around Bangkok?
Rail and boat, wherever the route allows. Bangkok's road traffic is heavy, while the BTS Skytrain and the MRT run on their own tracks and the Chao Phraya boats avoid the roads entirely. Use Grab or a metered taxi for places far from a station, late at night, or with heavy bags.
| Option | Best for | How to pay | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTS Skytrain | Siam, Sukhumvit, Silom, Chatuchak | Single Journey card from machines (coins, notes or QR), or a Rabbit card | Runs 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.; separate from the MRT |
| MRT subway | Chinatown, Sanam Chai for the Grand Palace, Sukhumvit | Tokens, or tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard at the gate | Separate tickets from the BTS |
| Chao Phraya Express Boat | The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, riverside hotels | Cash; the orange flag is a flat 18 baht | Operator lists the orange flag Monday to Friday |
| Grab | Door-to-door trips, airport runs | Cash or card in the app | Price shown before booking; tolls extra |
| Metered taxi | Short hops away from the rail lines | Cash | Ask for the meter; expressway tolls are paid by the passenger |
A few practical points. BTS ticket machines take coins, notes and QR payment; see how to buy a BTS ticket. Grab's upfront price for cars excludes tolls and surcharges; see how to use Grab in Bangkok. Tuk-tuks have no meter, so agree the fare first; the Grand Palace's own visitor page warns that, without bargaining experience, one can cost more than a taxi. For the full picture, read how to get around Bangkok.
How do you get from the airport to the city?
From Suvarnabhumi Airport, the Airport Rail Link runs into the city and connects with the BTS at Phaya Thai; metered taxis from the official rank add a 50-baht airport surcharge plus any tolls, according to Airports of Thailand. From Don Mueang, the SRT Red Line runs to Krung Thep Aphiwat station.
Our guide to getting from Bangkok airport to the city compares every option from both airports.
What should you wear to temples in Bangkok?
Cover your shoulders and knees. The Grand Palace, the strictest site in the city, does not admit sleeveless shirts, vests, short or see-through tops, shorts, mini skirts, or torn, tight or cycling trousers, and Wat Pho asks visitors not to wear shorts. Take your shoes off before entering temple buildings.
Loose, light trousers or a long skirt and a T-shirt work for the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun in one outfit. See what to wear in Bangkok for season-by-season advice.
How do you cope with the heat?
Plan around it. Bangkok is hot all year: in the Thai Meteorological Department's long-term normals published by the World Meteorological Organization, the average daily high is above 31 degrees Celsius in every month, and April averages 34.9. Sightsee outdoors early, spend the midday hours in museums or malls, and drink water often.
The rainy season runs from about mid-May to mid-October, so carry a compact umbrella. Read why Bangkok is so hot and when the rainy season is.
What scams should you avoid in Bangkok?
The main ones target first-time visitors near the big sights. Australia's Smartraveller warns about friendly taxi or tuk-tuk drivers offering cheap tours that end at shops paying them commission, where visitors may be overcharged or sold worthless goods or gems. Canada's travel advice describes the same gem and jewelry scam.
- Cheap or free tours: decline, and name your own destination.
- Gems and jewelry: do not buy on a stranger's tip or a promise of resale profit.
- Passports as a deposit: the UK Foreign Office advises never handing over your passport as a guarantee, for example to vehicle rental businesses.
- Card skimming: use ATMs inside banks and keep your card in sight.
The Tourist Police can be reached on 1155. For more, read why Bangkok has a bad reputation and what official advice says about crime.
Do you tip in Bangkok?
Tipping is not expected as a rule. Many restaurants add a 10% service charge, and prices marked "++" add that charge plus 7% VAT. Where no service charge is added, rounding up or leaving small change is a courtesy, and metered taxi drivers do not expect a tip. Our guide to how much to tip in Bangkok covers massages, hotels and guides.
What etiquette and laws should first-time visitors know?
Respect the monarchy: criticizing the Thai monarchy is illegal, and the law can be interpreted broadly, the UK Foreign Office warns. Smoking in public places can bring a fine of up to 5,000 baht, and electronic cigarettes and heat-not-burn devices are illegal to possess or use, with no exception for tourists.
Police may ask to see your passport; a copy of the photo page is usually enough. Alcohol sales are restricted between midnight and 11 a.m., except in licensed hotels, international airport terminals and authorized venues. Read what not to do in Bangkok for the full list, and plan your first days with our Bangkok attractions guide.
Sources: TAT, 30-day visa exemption, Immigration Bureau, TDAC, Bank of Thailand, authorized money changers, True-dtac, Tourist SIM terms, BTS timetable, BTS tickets, MRT, EMV contactless, Chao Phraya Express Boat, Grab Thailand, Airports of Thailand, taxis, The Grand Palace, practical information, Wat Pho, visit plan, WMO, Bangkok climate, Smartraveller, Thailand, Government of Canada, Thailand, UK FCDO, safety and security, UK FCDO, getting help, Revenue Department, VAT. Checked September 26, 2026.
Yes, for most travelers. The rail network, river boats and ride-hailing make it easy to get around, English is common in hotels, malls and major sights, and official advice lists petty theft and scams, not violent crime, as the main risks for visitors.
From September 15, 2026, visitors from 60 countries and territories, including the UK, US, Canada and Australia, can stay up to 30 days visa-free for tourism, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Check your own nationality before you travel.
Yes. Tourist SIMs and eSIMs must be registered with a valid passport under NBTC rules. True-dtac, for example, allows up to three tourist SIMs per person per brand, with validity of no more than 60 days (checked September 26, 2026).
On the MRT, yes: the gates accept contactless Visa and Mastercard cards from any bank. The BTS does not list bank cards among its ticket types, so buy a Single Journey card with coins, notes or QR payment, or get a Rabbit card.
1155. The UK Foreign Office also lists 191 for police and 1669 for an ambulance, and says the Thailand Tourist Police app can be used without a Thai SIM card.
Police may ask to see it. The UK Foreign Office says that if you do not have it with you, you could be asked to produce it at a police station within 24 hours, and that a copy of the photo page is usually enough.
No sleeveless shirts, vests, short or see-through tops, shorts, mini skirts, or torn, tight or cycling trousers. Cover your shoulders and knees. The palace opens daily at 8:30 a.m., sells tickets until 3:30 p.m. and charges foreign visitors 500 baht (official website, checked September 26, 2026).
No. Agree the fare and the destination before you set off, and decline offers of cheap tours, which can end at shops that pay the driver commission.
