Highlights:

Yaowarat Road at Dusk - for that iconic view of layered lit neon signs, stand at the street intersection near Shanghai Mansion right after sunset.

Nai Ek Roll Noodle - amazing crispy pork and other Thai delicacies

Ann Guay Tiew Kua Gai - Michelin Gourmand chewy rice noodles

Khao Moo Daeng Morakot - Another amazing crispy pork restaurant.

Bangkok Flower Market - wake up early to see the brilliant colors of the flower market.

Hotels:

Nornyaowarat Hotel - Set right in the center of Chinatown, this hotel offers well furnished rooms with all the modern amenities you’d expect out of a 4 star hotel at a 3 star price.

Shanghai Mansion Bangkok - Even though it’s located squarely on Yaowarat Road, the rooms are quiet, which is sometimes hard to find in chaotic Chinatown. The hotel itself is well designed with a great breakfast and lovely live music scene at night.

Grand China Hotel - For extra comfort, this is a great choice in Chinatown with large comfortable rooms, a rooftop pool, and a revolving restaurant with a view of the city.

The premier area to stay in if you want to experience a bit of the modern Thai shopping lifestyle while being able to see some culture as well.

The mega malls you’ll want to explore are Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery, and Central World. You’ll be impressed by the sheer number of stores, food options, activities, and people swarming about in each mall.

After you’re done with the malls, there are plenty of other things to see as well.

Highlights:

The Erawan Shrine is one of the busiest shrines in the city full of worshippers, incense, and Thai dancers offering up thanks all next to the busy din of Bangkok traffic.

The Guggenheim inspired Bangkok Cultural Center is a free museum with many inspiring exhibitions on display.

The ever popular Jim Thompson House is also a great option for a glimpse at Thai history.

The sweeping food court at the Siam Paragon basement is a great place to discover all sorts of Thai food.

Din Tai Fung at Central World makes impressive Shanghainese Food and is famous for it’s dumplings.

Go-Ang Pratunam is a great place to try Thai Chicken Rice.

Bangkok Bold at Central Embassy is a great choice for authentic Thai Food.

Hotels:

Holiday Inn Express Siam - Conveniently located with quiet, comfortable rooms, and also a great value.

Novotel Bangkok Siam Square - another great choice for a modern, comfortable stay at a great price.

Siam Kempinski - connected to Siam Paragon mall, this modern and comfortable 5 star hotel is a great option for a mix of convenience, luxury, and price.

Rosewood Bangkok - one of the classiest hotels in Bangkok, if you're looking for a well designed experience with top notch service, food, and ambiance, this is it.

Known as one of the financial center of the city, it’s also home to an interesting mix of street food, smaller shopping malls, red-light districts, nightclubs, and offices. It’s also home to the Sky Bar, made famous by the movie Hangover 2.

Interestingly enough, this is the neighborhood where Zory and I met while on separate backpacking trips way back in 2011!

Highlights:

Wat Yannawa - shaped like a Chinese sailing boat, this is one of Thailand’s most unique temples.

Patpong Night Market - one of the busiest night markets in Bangkok - it’s worth a look for the bright lights, street food, and red light district part of it.

Som Tum Der - amazing award winning Isaan style food

Lumpini Park - An extremely popular park - this is a great place to see locals going for a jog, practicing dance moves, or just hanging out.

Rooftop Bars - Catch sunset and a drink at one of Bangkok’s famous rooftop bars like Sky Bar or Moon Bar.

Hotels:

Triple Two Silom - An excellent value for a 4 star hotel right in the middle of all the action - rooms are comfortable and there is a fantastic pool for cooling down in the Bangkok heat.

Pullman Bangkok Hotel G - another great hotel situated in the middle of Silom, the Pullman brand offers modern guest rooms, amazing breakfast buffet, a great rooftop pool, and lovely western trained staff.

Banyan Tree Bangkok - For a luxurious stay, the Banyan Tree Bangkok is a great option. It’s famous for its amazing rooftop bar that is shaped like a ship, has fantastic food in each of its restaurants, and each of their rooms are large suites with fantastic views of the city.

An upscale part of town with fancy restaurants, shiny residential towers, class bars, and a vibrant nightlife - Sukhumvit is a great part of town to explore if you want to see how the upper crust of Bangkok live.

Highlights:

Terminal 21 Mall - one of Bangkok’s coolest themed malls, you can wander through London, Tokyo, San Francisco, and many other cities here.

Emporium Mall - one of the most high end malls in Thailand, all the major designers have a store here along with a great selection of great restaurants.

Street Food - Sukhumvit is famous for it’s street food along each Soi starting from Soi 1 to Soi 20.

Soi Cowboy - one of the most famous Red Light Districts of Bangkok - it’s worth a stroll through here at night to see all the transactions going on.

RCA - party hard at Royal City Avenue with some of the cities glitziest nightclubs in town.

Hotels:

Novotel Sukhumvit 20 - located near the Sukhumvit MRT, this hotel is a great value with an outdoor pool and comfortable rooms.

Grande Centre Point Sukhumvit 55 Thong Lo - Another great hotel with a lovely outdoor pool, comfortable rooms, and perfectly situated.

137 Pillars - One of the most spectacular hotels in Bangkok with a rooftop pool to rule all others - if you’re look for outrageous luxury this is where you want to stay.

A small hipster pocket known locally as a place where ‘all the cool kids hang’, Ari has a good selection of quaint coffee shops, art spaces, and trendy restaurants. Also, just a few stops away on the BTS is the sprawling Chatuchak JJ Weekend Market.

Highlights:

Thanee Khao Mudaeng - some of the best roasted pork in town

Baanbaithong - fantastic, authentic Thai food with a family run atmosphere

Porcupine Cafe - cozy coffee shop with charming atmosphere

Ontong Khaosoi - one of the crown jewel dishes of North Thailand, this place makes a mean Khao Soi!

Pakalolo - super adorable Tiki Bar

Puritan - an eclectic cafe with outrageous decor - worth a visit!

Chatuchak JJ Weekend Market - one of the largest open air markets in the world - you can literally find anything here!

Hotels:

Ritz Aree Lodge - a traditionally decorated hotel with reasonable prices, comfortable guest rooms, and a great location.

Best Western Sanam Pao - located right on the edge of Ari, this is a great option if you’re looking for a comfortable, quiet, and functional stay.

The Quarter Ari - a more modern hotel with a rooftop pool, spacious digs, and all the amenities you’d expect from a 4 star hotel.

For a true local atmosphere, Thonburi is a great place to explore. You’ll find long tail boats puttering along the Chao Phraya River, interesting out of the beaten path Buddhist temples, and also the amazing Wat Arun Temple.

Highlights:

Wat Arun - also known as the Temple of the Dawn, this wonderfully decorated temple is covered with colorful porcelain and is unlike any other temple you’ll see in Thailand.

Artist’s House - also known as Baan Siliapin, this is a creative space where you can get a great cup of coffee, sit with your laptop to get some work done, and also catch a Thai puppet show.

The canals or khlongs - take a long tail boat tour of the canals to see some of the ways locals still live along the river ways.

Hotels:

One of Us House - a charming family run guesthouse, this place is a great value and conveniently located.

Zenniq - located right in the middle of Thonburi, this modern hotel is a great value

Avani Riverside Hotel - offering amazing views of the Chao Phraya River along with a rooftop pool

Peninsula Bangkok - one of the most luxurious hotels in Bangkok, this glamorous hotel is located right on the Chao Phraya with river shuttle service, amazing restaurants, and an iconic pool

Called the Green Lung of Bangkok, this is a massive lush, green jungle with lots of outdoor activities to partake in. One of the most popular activities is doing a bike ride through the park while taking in all the nature sights.

Highlights:

Bangkok Tree House - a lovely restaurant focusing on lovally sourced ingredients. You can also stay at the hotel here overnight.

Bangnamphueng Riverside Market - A very local experience showcasing amazing street food stalls and other types of Thai produce.

Botanical Gardens - great spot for wildlife, birds, fauna, and plants.