Bangkok dating guide advises how to pick up Thai girls and how to hookup with local women in Bangkok. Travel, enjoy and have fun with hot single girls and you might even meet the love of your life. Read more on how to date Thai women, where to find sex and how to get laid in Bangkok, Thailand.

Bangkok skyscrapers of Ratchadamri and Sukhumvit at night

Bangkok is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep. Bangkok has a population of over 8 million which tells us that there are roughly 4 million females living in this hectic city.

Bangkok Top 10 Overview: Chance of picking up girls: 4.5 / 5 Picking up at daytime: 4.25 / 5 Picking up at nighttime: 4.75 / 5 Looks of girls: 4.5 / 5 Attitude of girls: 4.75 / 5 Nightlife in general: 5 / 5 Locals' English level: 2.5 / 5 Moving around the city: 4.25 / 5 Budget per day: US$30 - $100 Accommodation: US$7 - $100

Girls in Bangkok

Stereotype for girls in Bangkok depends often which kind of family they are from. If they are from rich family, they probably speak English well. Girls from poor families are usually not educated, so the language barrier might be a problem. Thai girls are pretty short. They have black hair and most of the girls are slim with nice bodies. Boobs aren’t usually too big, mainly small or medium. But who will need big boobs if the body shape looks attractive? Also medium boobs look really nice with a slim body type. Some of the girls have silicon breasts, but mostly sex workers and ladyboys are practising these operations.

Bangkok is a huge city where you can find also lots of girls with mixed backgrounds. Thousands of Thai/Indian girls are living in this city. You can also find mixed from different Asian countries, i.e. Thai/Chinese, Thai/Cambodian, Thai/Korean, Thai/Lao, Thai/Japanese, and also mixed with western countries, such as Thai/European, Thai/American, Thai/Australian, and so on. Some of the mixed girls are very attractive.

Yaowarat Road is the centre of Bangkok's Chinatown. Lots of Chinese and Thai/Chinese girls.

Looks of girls: 4.5 / 5

Most guys find Asian girls attractive. Thai girls are one of the most high-rated girls in Asia by their looks. However, not all guys like Asian looking girls. Obviously then Thai girls aren't your cup of tea.

Attitude of girls: 4.75 / 5

Thai girls are extremely warm, friendly and welcoming. They like to laugh a lot and very rarely show if they are having a bad day.

Where to Get Sex Now

It is easy to get sex online in Bangkok. You just need to find the best available girls. See Girls Online Here!

How to Pick Up Girls

Picking up girls in Bangkok is simpler than in most locations around the world. In Western countries the girls are often very picky, and they demand you to have a good education and a nice apartment. In Thailand the culture is different. The normal local girls are usually interested in you, even if you haven't studied in a university. Usually just coming from a Western country will attract many Thai girls in Bangkok.

Chance of picking up: 4.5 / 5

Picking up girls in Bangkok is really easy for a foreigner. Most of the girls like western guys. The attitude with Thai people in general is very good. Thai girls are extremely positive and welcoming foreigners to their country. If you’re African or from Middle East, hooking up with Thai girls is more challenging.

Tips for Daytime

Chance of picking up at daytime: 4.25 / 5

Bangkok has really good options for daytime games.

Best Places to Meet Girls

There are tens of huge shopping malls where you can meet nice girls. Just go and talk to them and they probably will be interested if they are single. Getting a phone number is easy if you’re behaving well and are not too pushy. Most of the local girls are using a message app called LINE (similar than WhatsApp). It's a good idea to download the LINE app before going to ask her phone number or LINE ID. Some girls are using also WeChat app.

Many of the Thai girls are little bit naive, so you have plenty of pick up lines to use. Some girls for example would be impressed if you’re just asking would they like to go for an ice cream some day (or right away).

Here are some of the most popular shopping malls to meet girls in Bangkok:

Siam Paragon, Siam. A luxury megamall. Open: 10AM - 10PM. Nearest BTS station: Siam.

Central Embassy Shopping Mall, Pathum Wan. A luxury shopping centre, also known as "Central Empty". Open: 10AM - 10PM. Nearest BTS station: Ploenchit.

CentralWorld, Siam. The largest mall in Thailand. Open: 10AM - 10PM. Nearest BTS station: Both, Siam and Chidlom.

Terminal 21, Sukhumvit Road. Many brands and restaurants. An inexpensive and delicious food court on the 5th floor. Open: 10AM - 22PM. Nearest BTS station: Asok.

EmQuartier, Phrom Phong. A shopping mall for luxury brands. Open: 10AM - 10PM. Nearest BTS station: Phrom Phong.

Seacon Square, Prawet. A large shopping mall with more than 400 stores and restaurants. Open: 10.30AM - 9.30PM.

Siam Discovery, Siam. A pleasant and leisurely shopping experience. Open: 10AM - 10PM. Nearest BTS station: Both, Siam and National Stadium.

Siam Center, Siam. Over 200 international and Thai brands. Open: 10AM - 9PM. Nearest BTS station: Siam.

MBK, Siam. Selling everything with very cheap prices. Popular among tourists. Open: 10AM - 10PM. Nearest BTS station: National Stadium.

Platinum Fashion Mall, Pratunam. A specialized mega mall for clothing and fashion accessories. Open: 10AM - 10PM. Nearest BTS station: Chidlom.

Pantip Plaza, Pratunam. An IT mall, selling technology. Open: 10AM - 9PM. Nearest BTS station: Chidlom.

Overview of CentralWorld shopping mall.

Besides shopping malls, you have many other good spots to hook up with girls at day time. You can go and talk to them at parks, at skytrain & subway stations, on the streets, near universities, at food restaurants, etc.

Lumphini Park appears as an oasis of greenery among the skyscrapers of Ratchadamri and Sukhumvit. It's a nice park to go for a picnic date.

If you like student girls, you should go and visit some of the university areas in Bangkok. If you’re western dude, it’s no problem to enter these areas. No one will ask you anything if you’re just wandering around. If you’re too old looking to be a student, then someone might wonder what are you doing there.

The campus of Chulalongkorn University

Tips for Nighttime

Chance of hooking up at nighttime: 4.75 / 5

Hooking up with girls at night time is easy. You can meet local girls every single night in Bangkok. There are partying and clubbing 365 nights in a year. Bangkok has hundreds of nightclubs and bars. Here are listed just some them. It’s advisable to ask around which bar or club has the most customers in each day. The best party nights are from Wednesday to Sunday. You should also understand that some of the nightclubs are popular with non-pro, semi-pro and pro sex workers. This is good to keep in mind, that you won’t waste your hunting time with a prostitute. That has happened to many Bangkok visitors, that you will chat an hour in a bar with a nice looking girl, but it all ends up after realizing that the girl is actually looking for a customer who will pay her for sexual services.

Best Nightclubs to Meet Girls

Nightclubs with rich (student) girls and gold diggers:

Levels Club & Lounge, 6th Floor of the Aloft Hotel, No.35, Sukhumvit Soi 11, Sukhumvit Rd. Europe’s nightclub scene to Bangkok. Levels Club does not allow: Flip flops, Sandals, Caps, Shorts, Sportswear.

MIXX Discotheque, located in Ratchaprasong area of Bangkok in the basement of the Intercontinental Hotel and adjacent to Gaysorn Plaza.

Ce La Vi (formerly Ku De Ta), a rooftop club on the 39th floor of the massive Sathorn One Building. The drinks are expensive, but the view from the terrace is amazing.

Royal City Avenue (RCA) , one of Bangkok's largest entertainment and clubbing area. Located on in Huai Khwang district, RCA is a long street located between Rama IX Road and Phetchaburi Road. It contains a multitude of bars, nightclubs and live music venues. RCA, a government designated Entertainment Zone, is frequently visited by young people. Notable clubs at RCA: Onyx Route 66 Live RCA Flix Slim Hobb Ezze The Overtone Music Cave Nospace 808 Inch JazzIt Baroque Club Love Boat Club Dude Nightclub T.D.C. club

, one of Bangkok's largest entertainment and clubbing area. Located on in Huai Khwang district, RCA is a long street located between Rama IX Road and Phetchaburi Road. It contains a multitude of bars, nightclubs and live music venues. RCA, a government designated Entertainment Zone, is frequently visited by young people. Notable clubs at RCA:

Glow, location: Sukhumvit (Asok)

Insanity, location: Sukhumvit

Beam, location: Sukhumvit

Demo, location: Thong Lor

Royal City Avenue (RCA Plaza)

Hooking up with tourists and local girls:

Khaosan Road or Khao San Road is a short (410 meter long) street in central Bangkok. It gathers lot of low budget hostels and guest houses where backpackers like to go. There are tens of bars and nightclubs in this area and every night is a party night. On Khaosan Road you can find lots of young travelers, but also many locals like to come and party on this area. Most of the locals who are partying in Khaosan are interested in hooking up with foreign guys. Backpackers are getting wasted here every night, and picking up a girl is easy.

Khao San Road is lined by budget accommodation, shops and bars catering to tourists.

Nightlife in general: 5 / 5

Bangkok is one of the best party capitals in the whole world. You won't be disappointed if you know the right places. There are endless options for different kind of venues for having fun.

Mature Ladies and Cougars

You can also meet mature woman in Bangkok who are single (divorced or widow). Some of them like younger foreign guys to play with, but they don’t show it openly in public. If you’re into older ladies, you could try some dating applications (i.e. Tinder), and set the age limit as you like.

Dating

When visiting Bangkok, dating can be a fun and interesting experience. AdultFriendFinder.com, lets you meet local members in Bangkok and get to know them on a personal basis before you arrive. It just takes a few minutes, you simply create an account, upload a few images and tell a little about yourself. Since time in your destination may be limited, get to know each other’s desires beforehand so when you do meet, you can skip the awkward introductions and start having some real fun.

Top Dating Tips

Going for a date with a Thai girl is pretty simple. Local girls like almost any idea you will bring them. You can go to a decent restaurant for a dinner and she will be happy. You can also go to cinema, bowling or for a drink. Thai girls usually are open for any ideas.

Depending of the girl and her language skills, you can talk pretty much about anything you like on a date. If she doesn't speak English too well, you can have the conversation as simple as possible. Making funny jokes is a good option to reach relaxed atmosphere. If the girl is educated and speaks fluent English, you can delve for deeper discussions about the politics and other "adult stuff". Remember not to talk about Thai politics in negative way. For example saying anything bad about the country leader is not a good idea!

Online Dating

ThaiCupid: The best dating app in Bangkok. Thousands of local beautiful girls are using ThaiCupid in Bangkok and surrounding areas.

AsianDating - The leading Asian dating site with over 2.5 million members.

Tinder: Tinder works really well in Bangkok when searching for a date. If you are not into ladyboys, then you should double-check the images or ask subtly if you’re not sure is she a real woman or not. Also make sure before meeting her that she is not looking for money for the date. That happens a lot that the girl is a semi-pro or pro sex worker who enjoys to meet foreign guys, but also is expecting for money if you will end up having sex.

If you’re not sure what kind of girl you are dealing with, one good idea is to check if she has a working place or a university added to her profile. Some of the universities are expensive for normal local people. If she is or has been studying in a good university, then you can be pretty sure she is not going to meet you for making some extra bucks. If you are into university student girls, you can use Tinder+ (paid version) by setting your location to some of the universities. Otherwise you can just go and hang out near to the university and set the distance to minimum and start to scroll the options. Near universities you will obviously see lots of girls face-to-face and can start chatting directly. The girls who are studying in good universities usually are able to speak good English.

WeChat: WeChat is usually used by sex workers and ladyboys. Sometimes you will also find real girls.

Badoo: Badoo is popular in Bangkok. In Badoo you can find everything from nice student girls to ladyboy prostitutes.

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What Kind of Guys Have the Best Chances

When you are looking for girls in Bangkok, first you will need to decide what kind of girl you are looking for. If you’re searching for a fancy gold digger type of girl, you should dress like a wealthy gentleman (smart casual). If you are going to a date with a posh girl, don’t do it wearing flip flops and shorts. If you’re looking for a regular girl, then you can have casual clothes. Remember that if you’re going to popular nightclubs, you’re not welcome in with shorts and sandals. Some of the nightclubs also rent long pants at the entrance which you can wear and enter the venue.

If you behave like you have money and doing well in your life, many girls in Bangkok are more interested in you. Local girls appreciate if your life is economically balanced. Remember that there are thousands of super rich families living in Bangkok. If the girl is from a rich family, she probably is much wealthier than you are. Girls from rich families also like to show that they are not interested in your money, for example by offering to pay the restaurant check on the first date. If the girl is from average family, she might suggest that you will pay half and half the check. If the girl is from poor family, she is hoping that you will take care of the bill.

Thai girls aren’t usually into black guys. You have better chances if you’re European, Australian or North American. Latino guys can also find girls pretty well in Bangkok. If you’re Asian, it depends of the country. For example some Thai girls like a lot Japanese and Korean guys, but at the same time they may dislike Indian and Bangladeshi dudes.

If you’re staying in Bangkok you don’t need a car. The public transportation and taxis are everything you will need to move around the city. The girls don’t expect you to pick up them for a date with your own car.

Getting laid is quite easy with local girls. Sometimes you can even nail it on the first date even at day time. If you’re going to have some drinks in the evening, your chances getting laid will increase. If you can’t nail it on the first date, it might take a couple of dates before having her to your bed. This really depends of your skills. If you’re confident, good-looking with a sense of humor, having sex sooner is obviously easier. Thai girls love to laugh if you’re a kind gentleman.

Risks while Gaming

There are a couple of things to bear in mind when you're hunting or dating Thai girls.

First of all, sometimes it's super hard to figure out the age of local girls. Some girls who are over 30 years old might look like teen-agers. If you're dating or hooking up with a girl, make sure that she is not under-age! The age of consent in Thailand is 15, but is 18 for prostitutes. Penalties for sex with minors are harsh. All adult Thais must carry an identity card, which will state the year of their birth according to the Buddhist calendar.

Some girls might already have children, but she is too shy or just don't want to tell you about that. Especially some of the girls from country side are going to Bangkok for making some cash for a couple of months, and she has left her kids with the family waiting for her return. She might also have a husband. Some of the country side girls are going to the capital working as prostitutes. Obviously they will tell a totally different story for you and her family. If you're dating a married girl, you might get yourself into a trouble if her husband will find out.

If you're getting laid with a local girl, always remember to use protection! You can find condoms in all 7elevens. These kiosks are located almost every other corner and most of them a open 24/7. If the girl is willing to have sex without a condom, that's alarming! Think about this:

You probably wouldn't be the first one she would have sex without a protection. There are some serious STDs in the South East Asia, which does rarely exist in western countries. Many of the girls in Bangkok also carry HIV, especially the sex workers. If she is a gold digger from a poor family, she might try to get consciously pregnant in a hope of better future.

How to Get Laid as Soon as Possible

Some local girls in Bangkok are willing to have sex right away, even at day time! If you're confident and charming, you can sometimes even bring your date to your hotel room at day time and get laid. The quickest way to get laid is probably using the dating apps and chat with as many girls as possible. After a short flirting chat you will recognize which girls would be in the mood for having fun right away. You can tell her that you are leaving the city tomorrow and would like to have fun before that. Most girls are conservative about this subject, but there are also wild girls who like to have sex with foreign guys. Bear in mind that some of the open-minded girls in dating applications are sex workers. Make sure before meeting her that she is not looking for money!

If you're thinking of getting laid as soon as possible at night time, you can also head to the nearest nightclub and start your searching there. Just remember that also in nightclubs some of the girls are prostitutes. Try to make sure early in the beginning of the chat is she working or just having fun. This will save you from awkward situation.

Gold Diggers and Sugar Babies

The Sugar Baby scene in Bangkok is still quite new but there are a lot of beautiful young girls looking for a Sugar Daddy. The best and safest way to hook up with a Sugar Baby is online. At SecretBenefits there is a wide selection of nice girls who are looking for an older guy to take care of them. These babes are easy to approach and you can settle everything before meeting up.

Anyone can be a sugar daddy. Just create your free account at SecretBenefits and start enjoying the wide selection of Sugar Babies available. As in every country in the world, you can find gold diggers and sugar babies in Bangkok. You wouldn't even imagine how many girls there are in Bangkok who have several western "boyfriends" at the same time. The thing usually is that the young pretty girl gets to know (usually older) men. A man who is visiting Bangkok will have a crush on her. The girl is pretending to love him and gives him sex. Later when the foreign man leaves Bangkok, they will continue writing via internet. The girl tells him that she wants to be his girlfriend, and the guy believes her. After that the girl dreams up different kind of excuses to get the man sending her money. There are several ways to get the man to send money. What you really need to understand, that some of the beautiful Thai girls may have more than 20 foreign "boyfriends" at the same time. She will chat with all of them and try to ask money. Some of the most talented gold diggers can earn several thousands of dollars per month with just chatting and convincing her "boyfriends" to send her money. If some of these will be related in your situation, you have been warned:

She needs money for studying . Usually the girl doesn't even study. This is just an excuse to benefit from you.

. Usually the girl doesn't even study. This is just an excuse to benefit from you. She or her family member has been in an accident and needs money to take care of the hospital bill.

to take care of the hospital bill. She has got pregnant to you and needs money for abortion.

for abortion. She needs money to open up a business that she has always dreamed about (hair salon or similar).

that she has always dreamed about (hair salon or similar). Her family has abandoned her and she needs your support for food and apartment .

. She needs money for a flight ticket so she could come to visit your country. Can you trust her? Is she really coming to your country or will you not hear from her again after sending her $1000 for the tickets?

so she could come to visit your country. Can you trust her? Is she really coming to your country or will you not hear from her again after sending her $1000 for the tickets? If you are dating seriously, she might propose you to buy a house for you and her. Here is a trick: Only Thai citizens can own land in Thailand. Then you need to put the house on her name. After signing the papers, her boyfriend or husband may come to your house and kick your ass. You don't have another choice than leave. The law is not on your side, because you are not the owner of the house. If you have this kind of case going on, make sure to read carefully Thai law. In the apartments the case is different, also foreigners can own an apartment, but no land.

Obviously there are also honest girls in Bangkok who are altruistically in love with you, but it's highly recommended to make sure that this is the case if you're going to support her by sending cash.

If you like to search for gold diggers and sugar babies on purpose, you should check the nightclub list of the "Tips for nighttime" section in this article above. You can also find gold diggers and sugar babies from dating applications, and dating apps which are specifically designed for sugar dating.

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Swinger Clubs and Naturism

You can find some swinger and fetish clubs in Bangkok. They are mostly used by foreigners (tourists and expats), but you can find also some locals in these venues. If you like to join in swinging action, you should contact the local businesses which are organizing the swinging parties. Swinger applications and websites will also easily bring together swinging couples.

Costs of Living

Thailand is one of the most touristic countries in the world. Most of the tourists are taking their first flight to Bangkok, which is the capital city. The costs of living in Bangkok has been on an uphill for decades. This situation has been reached mostly because of the massive tourism in Thailand. There are living thousands of foreign people in BKK all year around. Some of them are expats, and some of them are enjoying the lifestyle of telecommuting in a vibrant city with a warm temperature. On high-season around from October to March, there are tens of thousands of tourists visiting the city every day.

Single traveler’s budget per day: $30 - $100

If you're planning a budget trip, you could be able to live with $30 per day or even less in Bangkok. If you will choose your accommodation from a cheap area and like to eat street food, that will low your living costs. If you would like to stay in a busy entertainment area (such as Sukhumvit Road), eat and drink in restaurants, then you should consider for $100 budget per day or even more. Some tourists who are staying in BKK a short time are spending Thai bahts for several hundreds of US dollars per day. This will include a nice hotel and lots of partying. The amount of spent money depends of your own choices.

Accommodation per night: $7 - $100

Accommodation is pretty inexpensive comparing to European or North American prices. However, you can also find splurge hotels which will cost you hundreds of US dollars per night. You can enjoy in a budget mode in Bangkok, if you like to eat and drink somewhere else than the most expensive restaurants and stay in basic 3-star hotels. The cheapest hostels can be found from Khaosan Road and from districts which are far away the touristic spots. Cheapest rooms in Khaosan area can be found with around $7 per night. These rooms don't have an A/C or even windows. Near Sukhumvit you can also find reasonable accommodation prices if you're willing to settle for lower quality. Cheapest hotel rooms near Sukhumvit entertainment area can be found with around $20 US dollars, but finding them may take some time. Not all of them are listed in the hotel booking websites.

Map of Central Bangkok

Beer in a grocery shop: $1.00 - $1.50

A bottle of Chang beer.

You can buy cold beer from all 7-elevens. A cheap brand of small can/bottle (0.3 L) costs less than a dollar. A big bottle (0.6 L) of local beer is around $1.5. Imported beers are more expensive. Thai beer is pretty good and they have several different beer brands.

Beer in a bar or restaurant: $1.00 - $3.00

You can sometimes find bars selling (small) beer for around $1.00. Some very nice bars also have happy hours when you can buy beer for $1. In a normal bar the usual price for a small beer is around $2. Fancy bars and nightclubs are selling small beer from $2.5 to $5.

Meal in a restaurant: $1 - $10

Pad Thai with shrimps

First of all, street food in Bangkok is really good and surprisingly hygienic. You can find street food from almost every corner on busy streets. Just take a look where is a queue of local people and you will be sure to have quality food. You can find the cheapest meals from the street for $0.5. Street food on touristic areas are more expensive though (but still cheap). If you would like to go to a restaurant, you will be able to find some cheap places for a lunch. For example in Terminal 21 mall's (next to Asok station) food court on upstairs, you can find delicious food very cheap ($1 - $2). If you're planning to have a dinner in decent restaurant, you might need to pay from $4 to $10. You can also find very expensive restaurants in Bangkok where you will need to pay $30 - $40 for a dinner meal. These are usually foreign kitchens, such as French, Italian, Korean, Japanese or South American. A good example of expensive meals are Argentinian steak restaurants. BigMac meal costs around $5. Thai food is really good and healthy, so it's recommended to eat the same as locals.

Accommodation

One of the most popular areas for foreigners is to stay at Sukhumvit area. There are hundreds of different kind of accommodations available. You can find budget hotels starting from $20 USD per night to expensive 5-star hotels. Good spot for bars and nightclubs near Sukhumvit Road is somewhere between Sukhumvit Soi 4 and Soi 20. “Soi” means a “street” in Thai language, and the Soi’s are streets across the main Sukhumvit Road. You can also find two of the Bangkok’s three red-light districts (Nana Plaza on Soi 4 and Soi Cowboy near Asok station). You have also sky-train stations (Nana and Asok) in this area.

Backpackers are staying mostly on Khaosan Road area which is around 15-20 minutes from Sukhumvit by taxi (on rush-hour it takes longer).

You can find short-time hotels throughout the city, but most of them are located near red-light districts i.e. Nana Plaza. Prepare to meet lots of prostitutes if you’re walking near red-light zones. It’s easier just to bring a girl to your room than visiting the short-time hotels.

AirBnB used to work very well in Bangkok. Later on the city changed the rules that the minimum stay should be 30 days. If the apartment owner gets caught of having a short-time guests, there will be a great penalty.

How to Get There and Move Around

By air: Bangkok has amazing opportunities for people who are planning to fly in to the city. Bangkok is one of the best flying hubs in South East Asia, together with Hong Kong, Singapore, etc. There are two airports in Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang). Always remember to double-check which airport you are flying from. You wouldn’t be the first person to notice at the airport that actually you went to the wrong one. In the worst case you will miss your flight because the distance between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang is pretty long. If your accommodation isn’t just next to a metro or sky-train station, it’s advisable to take a taxi from the airport (Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang). Taxi is always an ideal choice if you have luggage.

Suvarnabhumi Airport (code: BKK, also known unofficially as Bangkok Airport): You can reach Suvarnabhumi by tens of different airline companies from almost anywhere in the world. If there are no direct flights from your location, most probably you still can get there with just one stopover. From the airport it’s advisable to take a taxi, unless it’s a rush-hour and your destination is just next to a sky-train or a metro station. You can use sky-train or sky-train-metro combo from the airport. You can use the sky road with a taxi if you want to travel faster. It will cost a small toll fee though. Drivers usually ask would you like to use the sky road.

(code: BKK, also known unofficially as Bangkok Airport): You can reach Suvarnabhumi by tens of different airline companies from almost anywhere in the world. If there are no direct flights from your location, most probably you still can get there with just one stopover. From the airport it’s advisable to take a taxi, unless it’s a rush-hour and your destination is just next to a sky-train or a metro station. You can use sky-train or sky-train-metro combo from the airport. You can use the sky road with a taxi if you want to travel faster. It will cost a small toll fee though. Drivers usually ask would you like to use the sky road. Don Mueang International Airport (code: DMK): The airport is considered to be one of the world's oldest international airports and Asia's oldest operating airport. Don Mueang consists lots of domestic and international low-cost airline companies. It’s advisable to use a taxi when moving from the airport to the city. You can use the sky road with a taxi if you want to travel faster. It will cost a small toll fee though. Drivers usually ask would you like to use the sky road.

By bus: There are several bus companies in Bangkok which have daily routes to every major city of Thailand. Also some companies have routes to Cambodian and other neighboring countries’ borders. Bus terminals are spread around the city.

By car: Most foreigners in Bangkok are using Sky-train, subway, taxis or tuk-tuk when moving around the city. You can also rent a car, but if you’re staying in the city, that’s not advisable. Rush-hours are usually on weekdays from around 5PM to 8PM, and even short distances can take a long time with a car or with a taxi.

Streetlamps and headlights illuminate the Makkasan Interchange of the expressway. The system sees a traffic of over 1.5 million vehicles per day.

By train: The regular railways are not often used by foreigners in Thailand. The buses are much easier option. Read more about sky-train in Bangkok below.

By boat: Read more about river-boats in Bangkok below.

Visas: Visitors to Thailand must obtain a visa from one of the Thai diplomatic missions unless they come from a visa-exempt country or a country whose citizens are eligible to obtain visas on arrival. Thailand currently offers visa-free travel to nationals of 57 countries and territories. You can check the details here: Thailand Visa Policy Map

Visa policy map of Thailand

Transportation moving around in Bangkok:

Bangkok BTS, MRT, ARL and BRT Systems Map

Public buses: Public buses in Bangkok are very rarely used by foreigners. You will see the buses driving around the city with full of local people going to work or coming back.

Skytrain and Subway: Skytrain (BTS) and subway (MRT) are very handy ways to move in Bangkok. In the afternoon or evening the trains might be very crowded though. During rush-hour it’s much more wiser to use train or subway instead of taxi or tuk-tuk. There are also connected stations where you can switch from sky-train to subway and vice versa.

The BTS Skytrain passes through the business district of Sathon.

Riverboats / water buses: Riverboats in Bangkok are fun to experience.

The Khlong Saen Saep water bus serves over 50,000 passengers daily.

Check from the map if your destination is next to many of the river ferry stations, and hop on and off as you like. Tickets are inexpensive.

Saen Saep Express Boat Map

Mototaxis: If you are traveling alone and want to save some money and time, then mototaxi is a good choice. Also during rush-hours the motos are capable to move much faster than cars. Unpleasant thing with mototaxis is that if an accident happens, there’s a bigger possibility to get injured seriously. Some of the drivers have extra helmet for the customer.

Tuk-tuk: Tuktuks are usually more expensive than taxis, but sometimes they are more available if you are in a rush.

Tuktuks in Bangkok

If you're visitng first time in Bangkok, it's a nice experience though. Some tourists enjoy to chill in the back of tuktuk on the polluted streets. You can usually drink beer and smoke cigarettes and have a nice sight-seeing. If you're too many in the vehicle, the journey isn't nice, unless you enjoy sitting tight packed. The down sides with tuktuks are that the prices for tourists are quite high, and if there will be an accident, the vehicle doesn't protect you from the damage.

Uber: Uber works really well in Bangkok. Sometimes you can get even Uber Black with the same price that regular taxi would have cost. You can also call for Uber mototaxis. Getting an Uber quickly to your location on rush-hour can be challenging.

Traffic jams, seen here on Ratchadamri Road, are common in Bangkok.

Digital Nomads and Remote Work

There are thousands of expats living in Bangkok. Some of the foreigners who live in Bangkok are working in their own company via internet. Some are working in Thai companies. It's very common that people who are working in online businesses come to spend the winter time in Bangkok. They are enjoying the freedom to live anywhere in the world because the work can be done anywhere. All you need is a laptop and wifi.

If you are staying in Thailand with just a tourist visa, you should leave the country in every 30 days. Many are doing a visa run in Bangkok. This means that if you're staying for example 6 months in Thailand, you will just need to book cheap flights once in a month and visit some other countries. Many people fly to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, or other Asian countries for a weekend and will return back to Bangkok and receives a new stamp in the passport which is valid again for 30 days. Remember that visiting another country by land may not cover you a new 30-day-stamp. It might be valid only for 15 days, but this you should check from the Thai embassy. Sometimes the law enforcement may get you in a trouble if you are doing visa run constantly for many months or even years. If you don't like to make visa run, you could apply for a longer visa, but it's not for free. Citizens of some countries need to apply for a visa anyway before entering the country. Most western countries can just have a stamp for 30 days when arriving to Thailand.

There are a lot of local businesses which are searching for English speaking employees. If you're working for a Thai company, they will arrange you the working visa.

Internet and Mobile Operators

Bangkok has great internet options and mobile operators. It's recommended to get your mobile operator straight from the Suvarnabhumi airport. There are several desks for mobile operators. They have always special deals for short term pre-paid contracts. For example dtac has always good options for tourists. They will do everything for you, even change your new SIM card to your phone. After getting the SIM, you can get online with your phone all over Bangkok and call with your local phone number. This is very handy if you like to change numbers with a girl on the streets or in the bar. If you will run out of your credit time or want to speed up your mobile internet, you can easily do it in 7elevens or the company's office shops. For example on the top floor of Terminal 21 shopping mall (next to Asok sky-train station), you will find all the major mobile operator offices. You can get a new SIM card here as well. Just bring your passport with you. Read more: dtac mobile operator deals for travelers

Gambling and Casinos

Gambling and casinos are illegal in Thailand. Most of the rich Thai gamblers are gambling in illegal underground casinos, or are going to neighboring countries. For example on the no-man's-land between South East Thailand and Cambodia, you will find huge casinos with full of Thai people playing Baccarat and other casino games. Some of the tables have huge bets that even a normal western dude can't afford to play.

Weed and Drugs

Drugs are illegal in Thailand, and the penalties are really harsh! Getting in trouble with drugs and law enforcement is the last thing you want to get yourself into! However, there are lots of drugs on the streets in Bangkok. If you really want to take a huge risk, you can find people who are selling weed, heroine, or methamphetamine. Locals call methamphetamine "yaba" or "ice". This kind of illegal action will take you to jail if you don't have a possibility to bribe the officers. Sometimes police officers can come to you and make a body search for no reason. Body searches are rare, but it happens occasionally. Some tuk-tuk drivers and prostitutes are selling this shit. Also many dark skinned African dudes are working in this business on the streets on Sukhumvit area.

If you want avoid other fines, make sure not to throw carbage or cigarette butts on the streets in Sukhumvit tourist area. Sometimes the police put a small sign that says littering will be fined. If you get caught by throwing something on the ground, they will ask you money for that. The fine is actually quite harsh. The fined money probably ends up in the officers' own pocket.

Health, Fitness, Gyms and Massage

There are hundreds of gyms and Thai boxing venues in Bangkok. All of the newish luxury condo buildings have their own gym, swimming pool, sauna, and so on. Massage parlors can be also find all over the city. The most expensive massage salons are in touristic areas, and if you go little bit further, the prices can drop for a half. However, massage is really cheap comparing to western countries.

Thai massage in Bangkok

If you're going to have a good quality massage, make sure that the parlor is not for prostitution. Usually the sex workers don't really know how to give a decent massage. Some massage parlors are very professional with skilled masseuses, and some parlors are only for sexual services. You will notice from the staff which kind of parlor it is. If they are flirting and everyone has make-up, then it's probably a front for prostitution. If you like to get a strong massage, it's recommended to try a big-sized lady or a ladyboy masseuse. They have more power than the skinny masseuses. Usually all the masseuses are females or ladyboys.

If you like to work out, you can find all of the supplements and proteins from pharmacies and fitness shops. You can even buy steroids in most pharmacies without a prescription. Usually you just need to wait that you're the only customer so the pharmacy staff can hand you over the package without anyone noticing. This is illegal action but very common. You can also buy potency pills without prescription with the same style.

STDs and HIV

Always use protection when having sex in Bangkok! In Thailand 1.1% of the population carries HIV, which means that 440.000 people have the virus. Therefore you shouldn't ever put your health in the risk. Also many STDs which normally don't even exist in western countries can be found in Thailand. It's recommended always to use condom! Using a condom when having oral sex (blow job) isn't a bad idea either.

Siriraj Hospital, established in 1888, is the oldest hospital in Thailand.

If you have got an accident that the condom got broken or forgot to use one in drunk, there are several clinics where you can go and check yourself. Thailand has also a great variety of very powerful medicines, but it's not recommended to use these unless you are seriously thinking that you have got some unpleasant souvenirs for bringing back to your home country. The strong medicines are not good for your body, but they will cure most of the STDs. You can also get these medicines from pharmacies without a prescription (under the desk), but it's advised to see the doctor first if you are afraid of having a disease from sexual act. Pharmacies are also selling abortion pills if you have had an unpleasant accident with a girl last night.

If you have been practicing anal sex without a condom (especially with a ladyboy), then you have a higher risk of getting infected by HIV or STD.

Stay Safe

Given its size, Bangkok is surprisingly safe, with violent crimes like mugging and robbery unusual. One of the biggest dangers are motorbikes who ride on pavements at speed, go through red lights, undertake buses as they stop to let passengers off and generally drive far too fast especially through stationary traffic. If you are going to hire a bike, make sure you have insurance in case you are injured. You may be the world's best driver but you'll meet many of the world's worst drivers in Thailand.

Bangkok does have more than its fair share of scams, and many individuals in the tourist business do not hesitate to overcharge unwary visitors. As a rule of thumb, it is wise to decline all offers made by someone who appears to be a friendly local giving a hapless tourist some local advice. Short-changing tourists is reasonably common as well, don't hesitate to complain if you are not given the correct change.

Never get in a tuk-tuk if someone else is trying to get you into one. Most Bangkok locals do not approach foreigners without an ulterior motive.

Scams

You should always be on the look-out for scammers, especially in major tourist areas. There are dozens of scams in Bangkok, but by far the most widely practiced is the gem scam. Always beware of tuk-tuk drivers offering all-day tours for prices as low as 10 baht. You may indeed be taken on a full-day tour, but you will end up only visiting one gem and souvenir shop after another. Don't buy any products offered by pushy salespeople — the "gems" are pretty much always worthless pieces of cut glass and the suits are of deplorable quality. The tuk-tuk driver gets a commission if you buy something — and fuel coupons even if you don't. Unless the idea of travelling by tuk-tuk appeals to you, it's almost always cheaper, more comfortable and less hassle to take a metered taxi.

Be highly skeptical when an English-speaking Thai at a popular tourist attraction approaches you out of the blue, telling that your intended destination is closed or offering discount admissions. Temples are almost always free (the main exceptions are Wat Phra Kaeo and Wat Pho) and open just about every day of the year. Anyone telling you otherwise, even if they have an official-looking identification card, is most likely out to scam you, especially if they suggest a tuk-tuk ride to some alternate sights to see until the sight re-opens. At paid admission sites, verify the operating hours at the ticket window.

If you entered one of these tuk-tuks, touts will often drop you off at a certain place, such as a genuine Buddhist temple. Here you will find a man that claims to be an official, and he guides you in a certain direction. There you will find another "official" who also claims that a certain attraction is closed. This way, a tourist hears the same statement by multiple people, and is more eager to believe that his or her intended destination indeed is closed. Never get involved with these scammers or believe any of their statements.

When getting a taxi, it is a good idea to hail a moving taxi from the main road, or to walk a short distance out of a major tourist area before looking for one. This is no guarantee of honesty, but greatly increases your chances of finding an honest driver, of which there are plenty in Bangkok, even if it sometimes seems that every driver is on the make. There are some taxi drivers who switch off their meters, and insist on an unreasonable price. Most of the untrustworthy drivers are the ones standing still in tourist areas. Another important rule of thumb is to insist on the meter for taxis and agree on a price in advance for tuk-tuks. If they refuse, or quote silly prices, just walk out and get a different one as they're rarely in short supply. The Thai phrase to ask a driver to use the meter is mee-TOE, khap if you're male and mee-TOE, kha if you're female.

Beware of tuk-tuk or taxi drivers who approach you speaking good English or with an "I ♥ farang" sign, especially those who mention or take you to a tailor shop (or any kind of business). They are paid by inferior tailor shops to bring tourists there to be subjected to high pressure sales techniques. If at any point your transportation brings you somewhere you didn't intend or plan to go, walk away immediately, ignore any entreaties to the contrary, and find another taxi or tuk-tuk.

In general, never ask a taxi driver for a recommendation for something. They will likely take you to a dubious place where they get a commission. In particular, do not ask a taxi driver for a restaurant recommendation. An infamous place taxi drivers take unsuspecting tourists is Somboon D, which is a terrible seafood restaurant in a seedy area under the train tracks on Makkasan Road (☎ +66 2 6527-7667). A typical meal there costs 800 baht per person and it comes with little seafood, no service and complaints are not taken by the management.

Also beware of private bus companies offering direct trips from Bangkok to other cities with "VIP" buses. There are a lot of scams performed by these private bus companies. The so-called direct VIP trips may end up changing three or four uncomfortable minibuses to the destination, and the 10-11 hour trip may well turn into 17–18 hours. Instead, try to book public Transport Co. buses from the main bus terminals. It's worth the extra shoe-leather, as there have been reports of robberies on private buses as well.

Go-go bars

Bangkok is known for its go-go bars and the prostitution that comes along with it. Some aspects of prostitution are illegal (e.g. soliciting, pimping), but enforcement is rare, and brothels are common. It's not illegal to pay for sex or to pay a "barfine" (a fee the bar collects if you want to take an employee away).

The age of consent in Thailand is 15, but is 18 for prostitutes. Penalties for sex with minors are harsh. All adult Thais must carry an identity card, which will state the year of their birth according to the Buddhist calendar. Many hotels retain the ID cards of prostitutes for the duration of their visit. Whilst most prostitutes are employed by bars or similar businesses, some are "freelancers". Petty theft and other problems, such as slipping the customer sleep drugs, are allegedly more common with these freelancers (although still relatively rare). HIV and AIDS awareness is better than it used to be, but infection statistics among entertainment industry workers remain high; freelancers are the highest risk group. Almost all sex workers insist on using condoms.

While walking in go-go bar areas is generally safe, you have to be cautious of touts who try to drag you into the upstairs bars with offers of ping-pong shows and 100-baht beer. The beer may well be 100 baht, but the "show" you'll be treated to will be 1,000 baht or more. The rule of thumb is that if you cannot see inside from street level, avoid the establishment.

Fights

Do not get into fights with locals. Thais are peace loving people, but when a Thai fights a foreigner, it is never a fair fight. You'll wind up having to fight 10-20 others who were not initially involved, or the police will be called and not do anything to assist you, especially the Metropolitan Police, as they normally have very limited English skills; always contact the Tourist Police (☎ 1155) when in trouble. Thais are also notorious for fighting with weapons (guns, knives, broken bottles, metal rods) or employing Muay Thai techniques. These are usually produced from their concealed locations, with foreigners getting seriously injured or worse. Just avoid all confrontations. If you do get involved in a situation, it is better to apologise and leave: in Thailand, discretion is definitely the better part of valour.

Animal abuse

Elephants are a large part of Thailand's tourist business, and the smuggling and mistreatment of elephants for tourist attractions is a widespread practice. Be aware that elephants are often separated from their mothers at a young age to be cruelly trained under captivity for the rest of their lives. It is advised to take an elephant ride only at animal friendly organisations.

A depressingly common sight on the congested streets of Bangkok is elephant begging. During night hours, mahouts (trainers) with lumbering elephants approach tourists to feed the creatures bananas or take a photo with them for a fee. The elephants are brought to the city to beg in this way because they are out of work and are mistreated and visibly distressed under the conditions of the city. Please avoid supporting this cruelty by rejecting the mahouts as they offer you bananas to feed the elephants. This is especially common in Silom and Sukhumvit.

Due to its location, lax laws, and resources, many illegal animal products come through Bangkok. Rare and endangered species are often sold at markets for pets, especially at Chatuchak, and many other animal products are sold as luxury items. Avoid buying rare pets, leather, ivory, talons, dried sea creatures (such as starfish), fur, feathers, teeth, wool, and other products since they are most likely the result of illegal poaching, and buying them contributes greatly to animal endangerment and abuse.

Political unrest

In 2008, political unrest hit the headlines, with the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) closing down both of Bangkok's airports for a week. Several people were killed in the resulting political violence. After a PAD-backed prime minister was elected, the protests ceased for a while, but the situation remained unstable. In 2010, new political unrest surfaced with red-shirt protesters from the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) occupying much of Sukhumvit and surrounding areas. These protests turned violent when government troops tried to take back parts of central Bangkok that had been seized by protesters. In 2011, a UDD supported government took power. Since then, protests by both the PAD and UDD have continued to occur on a sporadic basis depending on what political event has transpired. Always follow the independent press for the newest political developments and stay away from demonstrations.

Food and water

As elsewhere in Thailand, be careful with what you eat. Outside of major tourist hotels and resorts, stay away from raw leafy vegetables, egg-based dressings like mayonnaise, unpackaged ice cream and minced meat as hot weather tends to make food go bad faster. In short, stick to boiled, baked, fried or peeled goods.

Tap water in Bangkok is said to be safe when it comes out the plant, but unfortunately the plumbing along the way often is not, so it's wise to avoid drinking the stuff, even in hotels. Any water served to you in good restaurants will at least be boiled, but it's better to order sealed bottles instead, which are available everywhere at low prices.

Take care with ice, which may be made with tap water of questionable potability as above. Some residents claim that ice with round holes is made by commercial ice makers who purify their water; others state that it is wise not to rely on that claim.