Bangkok, Thailand’s capital city, is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Bangkok is also touted as Thailand’s shopping paradise and boasts a multitude of attractions and exotic ethnic fare for the traveller. The city has a tropical climate, and experiences two monsoon periods in a year.

Bangkok has dominated Thailand's urban hierarchy as well as its political, commercial and cultural life since the late 18th century. Distinctly modern and Westernized, Bangkok is still a sleepy Thai village with a louder soundtrack of traffic and nightlife.

Bangkok and Central Thailand are well within tropical latitudes and experience alternating periods of a dry and wet monsoon climate. The south-west monsoon arrives between May and July and lasts into October. This is followed by a dry period from November to May, a period that begins with lower relative temperatures until mid- February(because of the influences of the north-east monsoon, which bypasses this part of Thailand, but results in cool breezes), followed by much higher relative temperatures from March to May.

According to the official Thai agricultural calendar, the rains begin in July; however, the arrival of the monsoon can vary. Occasional rains in the dry season are known as 'mango showers'. In Bangkok it usually rains most during August and September, though it can flood in October since the ground has reached full saturation by then. If you are in Bangkok in early October, you may find yourself in hip-deep water in certain parts of the city.

During the cool/dry season (November to February), night-time temperatures may dip as low as 12°C (54°F), with normal daytime temperatures averaging around 28°C (82°F). During the rainy months (June to October), the temperature averages 32°C (89°F) in the daytime, and 26°C (79°F) to 28°C (82°F) at night. Add four or five degrees to the latter temperatures for the hot season (March to May) average.

As the city climate is very humid for most of the year, perceived temperatures are often higher than thermometer readings. During the hot season the humidity is compounded by air pollution - the high level of particulate keeps the moisture in the air from evaporating. The lowest humidity occurs between November and May, especially when the occasional upland breeze arrives from the Khorat Plateau to the northeast and pushes back the humid delta air.

The National Museum
Tel: 66 02 224 1333
Thailand's National Museum is the largest museum in Southeast Asia and is an excellent place to learn about Thai art. All periods and styles are represented, from Dvaravati to Ratanakosin, and there's also a well-maintained collection of traditional musical instruments from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 16:00 and is generally closed on national holidays.

The Ancient City
Tel: 66 02 323 9253
The Ancient City (Muang Boran), located at the south of Bangkok, is billed as the largest open-air museum in the world. Over 100 of Thailand's most impressive monuments are rendered slightly less impressive in this 80-hectare (200-acre) collection of scale models. The grounds follow the basic shape of Thailand itself and the monuments are placed accordingly.

Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi Airport continues to experience problems. Travellers should check with airlines for any scheduling changes and expect delays. A series of deadly bombings took place in Bangkok on December 31, 2006, with tourist areas targeted and foreigners among the casualties. Travellers should exercise caution in Bangkok, heed any local warnings and closely monitor the media for any developments.

In September 2006, a coup was carried out against the Thai civilian government. The situation is now calm and martial law has been lifted in Bangkok. Heed any instructions issued by the local authorities, especially if travelling to the southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Yala, Pattani and Songkhla.

Considering its size, Bangkok is a relatively safe city. You should be smart though: don't wander down dark alleyways alone and always protect against theft (use a hotel safe and conceal valuables). You are more likely to be conned out of your money than have it forcibly removed. Be wary of friendly strangers offering touring advice: this is usually a long and costly introduction to the gem scams, in which travellers are sold worthless jewels and jewellery for a king's ransom.

Tuk tuk drivers offering Bht10.00 rides are another gateway into the scam scene: tailors that overcharge, jewellery stores selling costume as heirlooms, and et cetera. Ignore anyone who says that the Skytrain or major attractions are closed for a holiday or cleaning. This is yet another popular start to the gem scam. In the girlie-bar world are druggings with cigarettes, food and drinks followed by a house cleaning of valuables.

Bangkok is a major travel hub, so it has plenty of direct flights from capital cities in Asia, Australia, Canada, Continental Europe, the UK and USA. Bangkok is one of the cheapest cities in the world to fly out of, due to the close competition between airlines and travel agencies. Bus and train services to Southeast Asian countries are not so reliable though.

Air
Bangkok is both Thailand's and Southeast Asia's air travel hub. International and domestic flights arrive and depart from the newly opened Suvarnabhumi airport, 30km (20mi) east of Bangkok. The biggest airport in Southeast Asia, Suvarnabhumi replaces Don Muang airport to the north, which only handle charter flights now.

Bus
Buses departing from the government bus station are reputed to be safer and more reliable than those leaving from Th Khao San and other tourist areas. The Northern & Northeastern (Mo Chit) Bus Terminal services go to all northern and northeastern cities, including Chiang Mai, as well as central destinations. The Eastern (Ekkamai) Bus Terminal serves Eastern Thailand destinations and the Southern (Sai Tai Mai) Bus Terminal will get you buses to Phuket, Hat Yai and other Southern Thailand areas. Note that these bus terminals all have left-luggage facilities.

Train
There are two train stations in Bangkok. Hualamphong Railway Station handles services to the north, northeast and most of the services to the south. Thonburi Station handles some services to west, including Kanchanaburi. If you are heading south, double-check which station your train leaves from.

Getting around Bangkok may be difficult for the uninitiated, but once you're familiar with the transport system the whole city is accessible. The main obstacle is traffic, which moves at a snail's pace during the day. This means advance planning is a must when you're attending scheduled events or making appointments. If you can, avoid the traffic and travel by river, canal or Skytrain. Bangkok was once called the 'Venice of the East', but much of the original canal system has been filled in for road construction. Many smaller canals are hopelessly polluted and would probably have been filled in by now if it weren't for their important drainage function. Fortunately, several canal-boat services have been revived on the medium-sized canals in recent years.

Water Taxi
River taxis are cheap, convenient and work a regular route along the Mae Nam Chao Phraya. The Chao Phraya River Express operates between Tha Wat Ratchasingkhon in south central Bangkok northwards to the Nonthaburi Province. There are express lines which stop at certain piers during set morning and evening hours and a local line which stops at all piers from 06:00 to 19:40. Bangkok Metropolitan Authority operates the Khlong Saen Saeb route through central Bangkok. This route is useful for travellers who are pressed for time as it provides a traffic-less trip between Siam Square and Banglamphu.

Train
The BTS Skytrain, Bangkok's elevated rail system, provides a clean, user-friendly rail travel with great views in the bargain. Trains run frequently along two lines from 06:00 to 24:00 and are labelled with their final destination. Free maps of the system make life even easier. In 2004, the city's first-ever 18 station subway opened, linking Hua Lamphong Railway Station with Bang Seu in the north via the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. The line intersects Skytrain routes near the Asoke Skytrain station and also at the Mo Chit Skytrain station. Trains operate from 05:00 to 24:00 and vary in cost according to distance. Future extensions will connect Hua Lamphong to Chinatown and Thonburi.

Motorcycle Taxi
Motorcycle taxis generally set up at the beginning of the residential streets and are used to get people those last few kilometres home (usually around 10B). For the right price they will get you where ever you need to be. Not recommended for the faint-hearted.

Bus
Bus services are frequent but frantic, and a little confusing with all the different types of buses, so a bus map is an absolute necessity.

Taxi
Look for taxis with signs on top reading 'Taxi Meter' as these are always cheaper than non- metered taxis. It's a good idea to carry your hotel's business card with you as it will have directions written in Thai if you are having difficulty finding your way home. Make sure you agree on a fixed fare if you take a non-metered taxi or túk-túk.

GMT/UTC +7

Metric

1,569 sq km (606 sq mi)

220V AC (50 cycles)

Local Area Code: 02

About 8 million people reside in the capital city of Bangkok.

Thai (official)
Thai is a complicated language with its own unique alphabet, but it's fun to try at least a few words. The main complication with Thai is that it is tonal: the same word could be pronounced with a rising, falling, high, low or level tone and could theoretically have five meanings!

Baht (Bht)

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