BANGKOK, Thailand — The sights, sounds and smells of Bangkok hit me immediately and simultaneously. The spiced aromas wafting from street food vendors mixed with the heavy traffic’s gasoline fumes. My head was constantly on a swivel, captured by the neon lights in Chinatown contrasting against the gold facades of the centuries-old wats (temples).
There was something to check out in every corner. I stumbled upon a restaurant in an alleyway that only serves pad thai, and constantly heard blasting music and rhythmic pounding from Muay Thai studios.
In Bangkok, old meets new. Traditional-style longboats cruise the rivers while skyscrapers with rooftop bars offer stunning views of the temples at night.
It was my first time in the Thai capital, and I was unprepared for how bustling it could be. Bangkok is one of thebiggest cities in the world, with over 580 square miles. More than 11 million residents live in the city proper alone. Even just crossing the street, where endless mopeds and cars are zipping between each other, can feel like a feat. But there’s an infectious energy to it, and it draws in millions of visitors a year.
Last year, Bangkok earned the title of the most-visited city by international travelers with 30.3 million arrivals, according to Euromonitor International’s Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. At the very least, travelers connect through Bangkok on their way to their final destination in Thailand.
“Bangkok is often seen as just a gateway, but it’s really a destination in its own right,” said Pintida Harnpanpongse, public relations manager for the Tourism Authority of Thailand. “For first-time visitors, I’d recommend spending at least a couple of days exploring beyond the main landmarks – whether that’s discovering the city’s incredible food scene from street eats to Michelin-starred dining, visiting local markets and temples or experiencing its wellness and unique cultural offerings. It’s a place where tradition and modern lifestyle come together in a very dynamic way.”
Here’s what first-timers should know about visiting Bangkok.
Everyone warned me that Bangkok’s traffic would be hectic, and it wasn’t until I saw it in real-life that I understood what they meant. The city is ranked 13th globally for having the worst congestion, according to INRIX. The streets are jammed with mopeds weaving between cars, and it feels like there’s never a safe time to cross. While there are pedestrian crossing lights on some corners, I also just followed the lead of a confident local if there weren’t.
Travelers should keep Bangkok’s heavy traffic and sprawling size in mind as they plan their days. Try to explore one area at a time, since it can take a while to get across the city. Harnpanpongse agrees. “Plan around traffic,” she said, adding that she finds the public train systems or river boats to be faster.
The Bangkok Mass Transit System, also called the Skytrain, and the Metropolitan Rapid Transit are the two train systems to help you beat traffic during peak congestion – and as a bonus, they’re air-conditioned. It’s easy to find your route, just plug your destination into Google Maps, and it’ll tell you what lines and stations to use.
I mostly just used Grab, the country’s version of Uber, to get around. It offers rideshares in cars and motorcycles at low prices, sometimes just a couple of U.S. dollars. Since the cost of your ride is already agreed upon in the app, you’ll avoid the potential of getting scammed by a regular taxi driver.
I especially enjoyed using the bike feature, which lets you hop on the back of a moped or motorbike as the driver weaves between cars to get you to your destination even faster. It was also a highlight for me to watch the city go by without obstruction.
As a tropical destination, I knew Thailand would be hot, but right before I arrived in early March, Bangkok was under heat advisories. Midday temperatures were forecast to reach 107 degrees Fahrenheit, and people were advised to stay indoors between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to prevent heatstroke.
It was tough to walk for long periods, and I made plenty of stops at 7-Eleven for air conditioning and a cold bottle of coconut water. I usually kept my walking to a specific area and took a Grab moped or car for longer distances.
My visit was during Thailand’s hot season, which runs from March to May. After that is the monsoon season from May to October, which is humid and rainy, followed by the winter season from November to February, when temperatures are still hot, but a little lower. So be mindful of when you book your trip.
While traveling, I try to avoid carrying a bunch of cash out of convenience, but it’s the preferred form of payment throughout Thailand. If you want to eat at street food vendors – and you will, trust me – you’ll need to pay in cash. Even major chains such as 7-Eleven had a minimum for credit card use. Thankfully, they also always had an ATM and are on nearly every block. Most businesses I went to didn’t accept the U.S. dollar either, so you’ll need to convert your money into the Thai baht.
Against the U.S. dollar, food and shopping in Bangkok are cheap. I found $2 pad thai in Chinatown, and dinner in a trendy restaurant cost me under $20. Your cash will go far.
Despite Thailand’s heat, you’ll need to cover your shoulders and knees if you’re planning on visiting one of the famous temples; you may be denied entry. Dressing modestly is out of respect for the significance of these sites.
“Visitors to The Grand Palace must dress appropriately because The Grand Palace is a place of reverence for the Thai people,” states the website for the former official residence of Thai royalty. People won’t be allowed entry if they’re wearing torn pants, mini skirts, vests, sleeveless shirts and other clothing considered inappropriate.
While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed in Bangkok, you don’t have to be. There’s so much to see and do, and rushing will make it feel like a blur, especially if you’re caught in traffic. Pace yourself, explore one area at a time, and take it all in. I set aside an entire evening to meander through the night market in Chinatown and spent a morning at a Thai cooking class.
“Don’t try to do everything in one day – Bangkok has so much to offer from dawn to dusk and is best enjoyed at a slower pace,” said Harnpanpongse.
This story was updated to refresh headlines.
The reporter on this story received access from PADI and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.
