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Before my first Bangkok trip I had a list of anxious questions I was slightly embarrassed to ask out loud. So I’m answering all of them here, in the order I asked them.
Is it safe?
Broadly, yes. Violent crime against tourists is rare. The actual risks are smaller and more specific: scooter taxis in traffic, the occasional gem-shop scam, and a tuk-tuk driver who says the temple you want is “closed today” but he knows somewhere better. The temple is not closed. Say no thanks and keep walking.
The one real rule: anything involving the royal family is legally serious in Thailand. Don’t joke about it, online or off.
What about the heat?
It’s real and it does not negotiate. Bangkok in April sat around 35°C with humidity that makes it feel like weather you wear. What worked for me:
- Do outdoor things (temples, markets) before 10am.
- Middle of the day belongs to air conditioning: malls, museums, cafes, a long lunch.
- 7-Eleven electrolyte drinks are your friend. So is the little cold towel.
- Temples require covered shoulders and knees. Thin linen beats fighting the dress code.
How do I get around?
The BTS Skytrain and MRT cover a surprising amount of the city, they’re air-conditioned, and they ignore traffic entirely. For everything else, use Grab (Southeast Asia’s ride app) so the price is set before you get in. If you take a regular taxi, ask for the meter; if the driver refuses, take the next one.
The Chao Phraya express boats are half transit, half sightseeing, and cost almost nothing. Take one at sunset and thank me later.
Can I drink the water?
Tap water: no. Ice in restaurants and drinks from any place doing normal business: yes, it’s made from filtered water and delivered commercially. Street food from a stall with high turnover is generally safer than a quiet restaurant, because nothing sits around.
Speaking of which: eat the street food. A stall doing one dish for twenty years, with a line of locals, at 60 baht, was consistently the best food of my trip. Start with pad kra pao and a fried egg.
How much cash do I need?
Thailand runs on more cash than you’d expect. Cards work at malls and hotels; markets, street food, taxis, and small shops want baht. ATMs charge foreign cards a fixed 220 baht fee, so pull larger amounts less often. Keep small bills; a 1,000 baht note at a noodle stall creates a small diplomatic incident.
Every question on this list felt bigger before I landed than it did by day two. Bangkok is an easy city wearing an intimidating costume. Go early, stay hydrated, take the boat.
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