What currency is used in Bangkok?

Bangkok uses the Thai baht (THB).

What is the emergency number in Bangkok?

In Bangkok, call 191 for police, 1669 for an ambulance, 1155 for the tourist police.

How much does a day in Bangkok cost?

Roughly $30-50 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $70-130 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Bangkok?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Bangkok without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Bangkok travel guide

Thailand

Gilded temples, river ferries and street food at every hour. Bangkok is huge and hot, but it breaks down into neighbourhoods you can learn, each with its own markets and late-night noodle stalls.

Essentials

Language: Thai; English is common in hotels, tourist areas and on transit signs
Currency: Thai baht (THB)
Plugs: Types A, B, C, F and O, 220 V
Emergency number: 191 for police, 1669 for an ambulance, 1155 for the tourist police
Tipping: Not expected; leaving the small change is appreciated, and smarter restaurants often add a 10% service charge.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $30-50, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $70-130, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Bangkok

Rattanakosin: the old royal island, home to the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and the river piers.
Yaowarat: Chinatown, where the street food comes out after dark along neon-lit Yaowarat Road.
Ari: a leafy, residential pocket on the Skytrain with independent cafés and local food.

Getting around Bangkok

The BTS Skytrain and MRT metro skip the traffic, and the Chao Phraya Express boats are the easiest way to reach the riverside temples. For everything else, ride-hailing apps save haggling with taxis.

Best time to visit Bangkok

November to February, when it is drier and a little less humid.

Top things to do in Bangkok

See the 46-metre reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, then take the cross-river ferry to the porcelain-studded spire of Wat Arun
Spend a weekend morning in the thousands of stalls at Chatuchak Weekend Market
Tour the Jim Thompson House, a cluster of traditional teak houses beside a canal
Take a long-tail boat through the canals of Thonburi, where wooden houses still face the water
Join the evening joggers and monitor lizards in Lumphini Park

What to eat in Bangkok

Pad kra pao: minced meat stir-fried with holy basil and chilli, served on rice with a fried egg
Tom yum goong: a hot and sour prawn soup with lemongrass, galangal and lime leaf
Som tam: green papaya salad pounded with chilli, lime and fish sauce
Khao niao mamuang: sweet mango with sticky rice and salted coconut cream

Day trips from Bangkok

Ayutthaya: the ruined temples and toppled Buddhas of the old capital, around two hours north by train
Maeklong Railway Market: a market whose stalls fold back as the train passes, around 90 minutes south-west by road
Kanchanaburi: the bridge over the Khwae Yai river and the war cemeteries of the Death Railway, two to three hours west

Local etiquette

The head is considered sacred and the feet lowly, so do not touch anyone's head or point your feet at people or Buddha images. Speak respectfully about the royal family, which is protected by strict laws.

Staying connected

Tourist SIMs are sold in the airport arrival halls and convenience stores (bring your passport), eSIMs are widely available, and Wi-Fi is standard in cafés and hotels.

Staying safe

The common scams are a stranger's tip about a closed sight followed by a tuk-tuk detour to a gem or tailor shop, so stick to your own plans. Keep bags on the side away from the road, as snatching from passing motorbikes does happen.

A local tip

Cover your shoulders and knees for the Grand Palace and major temples, and politely ignore anyone who tells you a temple is closed today.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Bangkok on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Bangkok for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Bangkok, you could be one of the first hosts.

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Questions about Bangkok

What currency is used in Bangkok?: Bangkok uses the Thai baht (THB).
What is the emergency number in Bangkok?: In Bangkok, call 191 for police, 1669 for an ambulance, 1155 for the tourist police.
When is the best time to visit Bangkok?: November to February, when it is drier and a little less humid.
How much does a day in Bangkok cost?: Roughly $30-50 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $70-130 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Bangkok?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Bangkok without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

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