Bangkok is a huge bustling city known for its nightlife but also stunning temples, palaces and Thai history. Generally, people backpacking will either start or finish their trip in Bangkok due to the availability of direct, cheap international flights. This guide will walk you through how many days to spend in Bangkok, how to get there from basically everywhere in Thailand and how to get around once you’re in Bangkok. I’ve also listed my top places to visit (with tips!), the best places to eat and how to survive the crazy nightlife and Khao San Road.
How many days to spend in Bangkok
Most people backpacking will tell you to only spend a night or two in Bangkok and then head to the islands. They’ll tell you that Bangkok is just another big city and that the other parts of Thailand are much nicer. Bangkok (while it is a huge, crazy city) has so much to offer. It is worth properly exploring instead of just skipping over. It has nightlife, crazy huge markets, beautiful temples and history.
Depending on how much you plan on partying, you would want to allow 3-5 days for backpacking Bangkok. In 3 jam-packed days, you could explore the different parts of the city, see all of the main temples, hit some markets and have some nights of light drinking on Khao San Road. If you plan on partying on Khao San Road until the sun rises, allow for five days to explore.
How to get to Bangkok
Bangkok, being the capital of Thailand, is easily accessible from a majority of places. Many people backpacking will start their South East Asia travels in Bangkok as there are international flights into Bangkok. You can also get good deals on flights from most major cities in South East Asia to Bangkok. If you’re already in Thailand, you can get to Bangkok via bus (both day and overnight options), internal flight or train (both day and overnight options). For any bus or train journey, 12GOAsia is one of the best and most reliable booking sites for Thailand.
How to get to Bangkok from Phuket
To get from Phuket to Bangkok, you can either fly or jump on an overnight bus. The easiest and quickest way would be to fly from Phuket to Bangkok. Flight prices are as low as 723 THB Thai Baht ($21 USD), not including baggage. This is with budget carriers such as Air Asia and Vietjet Air, and it only takes 1.5 hours.
You can also catch an overnight bus from Phuket to Bangkok. The journey will take between 12-15 hours and will cost 513-793 THB Thai Baht ($15-23 USD). Buses depart from Phuket Bus Terminal 2 in Phuket Town and arrive at Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok. It is around 30 minutes drive from the terminal to the centre of Bangkok. The buses are pretty comfortable with AC, blankets provided, chairs reclining to a 90-degree angle, a small toilet on-board, and phone charging points. Buses depart at 3:30 pm, 4:30 pm and 5 pm daily.
How to get from Phi Phi Island to Bangkok via Phuket
From Phi Phi Island, you must either go to Phuket or Krabi to get to Bangkok. Speedboats and ferries depart regularly between these locations. Ensure you allow enough time from your ferry or speedboat to your connection bus or plane. Boats are often delayed, and then you will need to make your way from the port to either the airport or bus terminal.
Most boats will depart from Ton Sai Pier, which is the main pier on Phi Phi Island and within walking distance of most accommodations. A few depart from Laem Tong Beach, which is the northern tip of the island, where a few high-end resorts are. For Phuket, all boats arrive at Rassada Pier, which is in Phuket Old Town, so you must make your way from here. Ferries depart daily at 9 am, 11 am, 2:30 pm and 3:30 pm. The ferry is a large boat and takes around 2-3 hours. Expect to pay around 300-475 THB Thai Baht ($8.50-$13 USD).
Speedboats depart daily at 8:30 am, 9 am, 10 am, 10:30 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 1:30 pm, 2 pm and 2:30 pm. The journey takes between 1-2 hours, and you can expect to pay about 405-570 THB Thai Baht ($12-$24 USD).
How to get to Bangkok from Phi Phi Island via Krabi
For Krabi, ferries depart daily at 9 am, 9:30 am, 10:30 am, 1:30 pm, 2 pm and 3:30 pm. The drop-off locations for the ferry are Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi and Nopparat Thara Pier in Ao Nang. The ferry takes between 2-3 hours, and you can expect to pay between 300-476 THB Thai Baht ($8.50-$14 USD).
With the speedboat the dropoff locations for the speedboat are Ao Nam Mao Pier in Krabi and Krabi River Marina in Krabi Town. The speedboats take 30-60 minutes and cost 620 THB Thai Baht ($17 USD). Speedboats depart Phi Phi daily at 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm and 5 pm.
Whether you go with a speedboat or a ferry will depend on availability, your budget and how short of time you are. One important factor that may sway your decision between a ferry and a speedboat is whether you suffer from seasickness. Speedboats get there faster, but you feel a lot more of the bumps and waves. This may be worse for you if you suffer from seasickness. While you may still get sick on the ferry, as it is a bigger vessel and moving slower, you will not feel the movement as much.
How to get to Bangkok from Ao Nang or Krabi Town
There are direct flights from Krabi Airport to Bangkok, and the flight time is only 1.5 hours. You can get flights with Vietjet for as low as 775 THB Thai Baht ($22 USD). The airport is around a 20-minute drive from Krabi Town and a 40-minute drive from Ao Nang.
If you prefer not to fly, you can get an overnight bus or van from either Krabi or Ao Nang. Buses depart Krabi at 3:30 pm and 4 pm. Buses depart Ao Nang at 3 pm daily. The journey takes between 12-14 hours, depending on traffic. The night buses are pretty comfortable, with blankets provided and seats reclining to a 90-degree angle. Expect to pay between 524-730 THB Thai Baht ($15-21 USD), depending on the company.
Drop-off locations vary depending on which bus company you use, with most buses dropping off at Mochit or Southern Terminal. Both are about 30 minutes from the main backpacker area of Bangkok. There is a bus company that goes direct to the Khao San Road area. This is really convenient for you if this is where you are staying. Make sure you book the departure which lists “Khao San Montanatip” on 12GOAsia.
How to get to Bangkok from Railay Beach
If you’re coming from Railay Beach, you will need to get on the local longtail boat to Ao Nang. Then, head to the airport/ bus terminal. The local boat between Railay and Ao Nang only takes around 10 minutes. It runs on demand when they get enough people to fill the boat. It costs around 93 THB Thai Baht ($2.70 USD) for the boat. Ensure you allow enough time to transfer between the longtail and the van, and just in case it takes a while for the longtail boat to fill up with passengers and depart.
How to get to Bangkok from Koh Samui, Koh Tao or Koh Phangan via plane
You can fly directly from Koh Samui Airport to Bangkok. It will cost around 2327 THB Thai Baht ($68 USD) for the 75-minute flight. If you’re on Koh Tao or Koh Phangan, there are regular ferries and speedboats between these islands. So you could go to Koh Samui to board your flight.
How to get to Bangkok from Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or Koh Tao via ferry
The cheapest and most common way for a backpacker to get to Koh Phangan from Bangkok is a night bus and then a ferry. But beware, the bus ride is pretty uncomfortable and smelly from the toilet on-board. Depending on which company you use, you will transfer from the ferry to the bus at Chumphon Port or Suratthani Port. The journey will take between 13-16 hours, depending on which company you go with. Expect to pay around 1200- 2400 THB Thai Baht ($35-$50 USD) for the entire journey. Ferries depart Koh Samui at 8 am (not an overnight bus), 12:30 pm and 2 pm daily. From Koh Tao, they depart at 10:15 am (not an overnight bus), 2:45 pm (not an overnight bus) and 9 pm (overnight ferry). From Koh Phangan, ferries depart at 8:30 am (not an overnight bus), 11 am, 1 pm (not an overnight bus) and 2:30 pm.
How to get to Bangkok from Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and Koh Tao by ferry
The best way for a backpacker to get to Bangkok from Koh Phangan, Koh Samui or Koh Tao, in my opinion, and from my experience, is by night train and ferry. You must book these as two separate tickets on 12GOAsia as a self-transfer, so allow extra time between the ferry arrival and train departure. Firstly, you will need to book a ferry/van combined ticket to Surat Thani Train Station. The van and ferry transfer takes around 4-5 hours.
Next, you must book a train ticket from Surat Thani to Bangkok. The train journey takes around 12-13 hours on a sleeper train. Make sure you purchase a “sleeper” seat that converts to a bed instead of a regular seat that will not move. Multiple train times depart Surat Thani Train station at regular intervals from 5 pm to 11:15 pm, bound for Bangkok. The journey will take you around 17 hours and cost around 1920 THB Thai Baht ($57 USD).
How to get to Bangkok from Chiang Mai
From Chiang Mai, you can fly to Bangkok if you are short on time. There are direct flights that cost around 685 THB Thai Baht($20 USD) With Vietjet for the 1.5-hour flight. Alternatively, there are both night buses and trains running regularly between Chiang Mai and Bangkok. The trains are generally more comfortable as you can get sleeper sites that are basically beds, whereas the bus seats only recline to a 90-degree angle. The sleeper seats on the trains do tend to book out a day or two (or even more around popular times) in advance.
Getting from Chiang Mai to Bangkok via train
Trains depart daily from Chiang Mai to Bangkok from 6:30 am until 6 pm. The journey takes 10-14 hours, depending on which train departure time you select. There are multiple seat types on every train. Most people backpacking will select “second class sleeper with AC” to get to Bangkok. This seat type means you get an airconditioned carriage and a seat that converts to a full bed with blankets and pillows in a shared carriage (but you have a privacy curtain). Expect to pay around 700 THB Thai Baht ($20 USD) for this seat type. All trains terminate at Don Mueang Station, where you will need to get a bus, Tuk Tuk or Grab to wherever you are staying in Bangkok. It’s a large central station so it is easy to get onward transport wherever you need to go!
Getting from Chiang Mai to Bangkok via bus
Buses depart at 7:30 am, 9 am, 10 am and 1:30 pm for day buses. For overnight buses, they depart from 6 pm-9:30 pm and 30-minute intervals. The night buses are pretty comfortable as they have reclinable chairs, give you blankets and pillows, have toilets on board and sometimes even provide food. The journey takes around 10 hours. Expect to pay around 433-660 THB Thai Baht ($12.60-19 USD) depending on whether you go for a day bus or a night bus. If you’re staying around Khao San Road, make sure you select Mochit as your departure stop.
How to get from Pai to Bangkok
If you’re coming from Pai, there is no direct connection between Bangkok and Pai. You will need to get a van from Pai to Chiang Mai and then make your way to the airport, bus terminal or train station. The van takes around 4 hours and costs 160 THB Thai Baht ($4.65 USD). Vans depart almost every half hour from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Ensure you allow enough time to transfer between the van and your train, plane or bus from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.
How to get to Bangkok from Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya is actually pretty close to Bangkok, and there are many easy ways to get between the two destinations. Trains depart regularly from 3 am to 9 pm. The journey is only 45-60 minutes and will cost around 45 THB Thai Baht ($1.30 USD) for a standard seat. Van services depart every hour on the hour from 6 am to 6 pm. The journey takes between 1.5-2 hours and costs 91 THB Thai Baht ($2.60 USD).
How to get to Bangkok from Kanchanaburi
There is a minibus departing regularly from the Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal to either Mochit or Southern Bus Terminal. The minibus can take anywhere between 2 hours and 3.5 hours, depending on the time of day and traffic leaving Bangkok. It will cost 90 THB Thai Baht ($2.60 USD) one way. The minibus departs every hour on the hour from 5 am until 8 pm.
How to get around Bangkok
Bangkok is a massive city with lots of different ways of getting around. They have trains, buses, scooters, ferries, tuk-tuks and rideshares. Depending on where you’re staying in Bangkok will depend on which types of transportation you are primarily using. I could write a whole blog about the different transport types and which are the best options for each of the main areas of Bangkok. For brevity, I will only focus on the Bangkok Old Town/ Khao San Road area (the most popular backpacker area).
There are bus systems and train systems around Bangkok, but these are not the easiest way to get around if you are staying in Bangkok Old Town. For example, there are no nearby train stations in the Old Town. The nearest is Sam Yot which is a 20-minute walk away from Khao San Road. There are some bus stops and routes around, but navigating the bus system can be tricky. Also, given the heavy traffic around the area, it is usually faster to jump in a Tuk Tuk, which is smaller and can manoeuvre around traffic jams.
Getting around Bangkok on foot
From Bangkok Old Town, many of the major sights are walkable such as Khao San Road, the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Rajadamnern Stadium, are all walkable. Walking around these areas feels very safe, even at night, as there are always crowds of tourists and locals around. There are some sidewalks and spots where you may have to walk slightly on the road, but drivers will navigate around you.
Getting around Bangkok via ferry
Getting a ferry or boat in Bangkok is a backpacking experience in itself, as many of the major sights are viewable from the river. Most people use the ferry or the boat to visit sights such as Icon Siam, The Grand Palace and Wat Arun. Ferry journeys between Icon Siam and Wat Arun or Wat Arun and Khao San Road are about 20 THB Baht ($0.60 USD). You can purchase tickets on the spot through the ticket vendor booth. When you’re aboard the ferry, make sure you know what stop you are getting off at so you can make your way to the back of the ferry to depart. At busier times, it can take time to move through the crowd of people getting on to disembark, so it is better to be already waiting by the exit area.
Getting around Bangkok via Tuk Tuk or Grab
Probably one of the most popular ways to get around Bangkok is by Tuk Tuk or Grab car. Tuk Tuks are open-air, motorized three-wheel rickshaws. Fares are negotiable, and haggling is encouraged! To figure out a fair price, look the journey up on the “Grab” app or other rideshare app. You can then use this price as a negotiating tool to get a similar price with the Tuk Tuk Driver. Tuk Tuks are generally more convenient than Grabs as they will already be waiting outside major tourist sites looking for riders. Also, they can be faster in traffic as they can manoeuvre around traffic jams due to their smaller size. If it is raining, though, booking a Grab car may be preferable as the plastic coverings on Tuk Tuks do little to stop the rain from getting in.
Where to stay in Bangkok
Bangkok is a huge city with about a million to choose from. There are different areas you can stay in Bangkok, such as Khao San Road/ Bangkok Old Town, Chinatown or Sukhumvit. Regardless of whether you want to party, the Bangkok Old Town/ Khao San Road area is one of the best areas for those backpacking. It’s really central, walkable to tourist sites and has great street food, bars and restaurants around. There are party hostels, but also many are a good mix of party/ social hostels. You can book all accommodation online here.
Bed Station Hostel
Bed Station is by far one of the best social/party hostels I’ve stayed in! Their location is perfect, literally two blocks from Khao San Road, but tucked down a quiet alleyway, so you can’t hear the noise. They have pod-style beds with proper duvets and curtains, so you’ll get a great night’s sleep. They have a pool and bar on site (but they kick everyone out of the bar by midnight so you can sleep). The staff create such a good atmosphere, with everyone heading out together to Khao San Road for the night.
Here Hostel
Here Hostel is another great social hostel! They are slightly less of a party hostel than Mad Monkey or Bed Station, but they do still have a bar on site. Here Hostel is around a 10-minute walk from Khao San Road and the backpacker party area, but still in the central part of Old Town Bangkok. They have pod beds with curtains and a slide! The atmosphere is a good mix of chilled but social.
Mad Monkey Hostel
Mad Monkey Bangkok is very much a party hostel! They’re super close to Khao San Road and have a pool, bar and restaurant on site. The major drawcard for Mad Monkey is they do day and night events every day. They have a bunch of in-house backpacker tours of the canals, the markets and a free walking tour of Bangkok. At night, they run pub crawls, drinking game competitions and pool parties. Given it is a party hostel, it is going to be pretty loud, so be prepared to go out every night until late if you’re staying here.
What to do in Bangkok
Many people backpacking visit Bangkok only for a day or two for the nightlife. There are so many things to do in Bangkok that aren’t just drinking on Khao San Road.
Explore the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun
This is a must-do! These temples and the palace are absolutely breathtaking. They are all quite close together, so easy to do in one day or even one afternoon, except Wat Arun is on the opposite side of the Chao Phraya River. For all of these stops, you will need to dress conservatively. That means loose pants or a maxi skirt and a top that covers your shoulders, stomach and is not low-cut or see-through. They can be quite strict on the dress code, so better to dress as conservatively as possible (I’ve seen people not get in because their pants weren’t loose enough).
Warning: Scams at these sights are common!
The other thing to be mindful of is scams. There is a quite famous scam running outside these temples, where a Tuk Tuk driver or other local approaches you to tell you the temple is closed. They will tell you it’s because of a religious holiday or event but that they can take you to another temple, which is open and just as impressive. Always walk straight up to the temple entrance. If it really is closed for some reason (never heard of this happening), the actual security or the authorised ticket sellers in the ticket booth will confirm this.
There are entry fees for all the temples and the Grand Palace, but they are all so worth it! The entry fee for the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha is 470 THB Thai Baht ($13.65 USD). For Wat Pho, the entry is 190 THB Thai Baht ($5.50 USD). The entry into Wat Arun is 95 THB Thai Baht ($2.75). You will also need to cross the river from the Grand Palace to get to Wat Arun, but the ferry only costs about 20 THB Thai Baht ($0.65 USD) for a one-way boat trip. It is better to try and visit first thing in the morning as these are incredibly busy sights, and they tend to be very crowded in the afternoon. Also, the mornings are cooler, which is a bonus given these sights are all cement and you will be doing a bit of walking.
Do you need to pay for a tour guide?
You can do a guided tour at any of the temples of the Grand Palace. There are private tour guides for hire standing at the entrance offering their guiding services to incoming visitors. There are a lot of guides speaking many different languages, so it is possible to take a tour in languages other than English or Thai, like Japanese or Portuguese. Tour guide prices are negotiable, so make sure you haggle! Alternatively, the Grand Palace offers free guided tours in English (of the Grand Palace only) daily at 10 am, 10:30 am, 1:30 pm and 2 pm. You don’t necessarily need to do a tour to take in the beauty or be impressed by these sights. There are some placards around in English explaining what you are looking at and the significance.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
The Chatuchak Weekend Market is not just another market in South East Asia. It is massive! It is one of the largest markets in the world, with over 15,000 stalls across 23 acres. Make sure you grab a map booklet from the information desk, as you will get lost! The market is divided into different sections for clothing, shoes and accessories, artwork, souvenirs and handicrafts, homewares, books, plants and more. You can basically buy anything and everything at the market! Chatuchak market is open every weekend from 5 am-7 pm (it is also open during the week, but not all the stalls are open). It is cash only, and haggling is encouraged! There are lots of street food stalls, restaurants and cafes scattered throughout the market as well.
Explore Chinatown and the Flower Market
Spending the afternoon (or morning) walking around Chinatown in Bangkok! Must-see stops are the Flower Market (Pak Khlong Talat), Old Siam Plaza and the Sampheng Market. The Sampheng Market is a narrow laneway that spans multiple blocks. So make sure you allow enough time to walk a decent amount of it. Also, be wary of your bag and belongings as the tight quarters in the laneway and how crowded it is, makes it an ideal spot for pickpockets.
Watch a Muay Thai fight at Rajadamnern Stadium
Even if you know nothing about Muay Thai, this is a must-do in Thailand (and why not experience it in one of the biggest stadiums: Rajadamnern). Matches usually start around 6 pm or 7 pm and last for around 2 hours. Make sure you purchase tickets online in advance from the Stadium website here. The tickets are split up into certain sections based on how good the seats are and what is included. See the pricing breakdown and explanation below:
| Section | Inclusions | Price |
| 10 (2nd class) | Standing only, no food or drink inclusions | 1500 THB Thai Baht ($43 USD) |
| 8 & 9 | Standard seats (not ringside), no food or drink inclusions | 1800 THB Thai Baht ($52 USD) |
| 3-7 | Ringside seats! No food or drink included | 2500 THB Thai Baht ($72 USD) |
| 1 & 2 | VIP Seats with unlimited food and drinks | 3500 THB Thai Baht ($101 USD) |
Personally, I opted for ringside seats, which were well worth it! The most popular tickets are the standard seats or even the standing-only 2nd class tickets. Make sure you eat before (food is a bit pricey). Also, try and get there at least 20 minutes before the match starts to settle into your seat.
Marvel at Icon Siam shopping mall
It probably seems weird to be recommending a shopping mall, but Icon Siam is so much more than that. They have water features and art installations everywhere, as well as an indoor Floating Market! Despite the fact that this is a luxury mall filled with designer brands, the market food is surprisingly affordable. You probably only need an hour or so to grab lunch and walk around. Icon Siam has its own ferry stop just out front. So it’s a good opportunity to combine this with a boat ride down the Chao Phraya River.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Markets
This is a super popular backpacking activity in Bangkok, but I’m unsure if I would recommend it or do it again. Why? It feels incredibly touristy and fake. It is cool cruising through the canals on a longboat and stopping for various snacks from floating food boats. However, the whole experience feels a bit like a tourist trap. The boat driver seemingly has to stop at many shops where sellers try to shove handicrafts or more elephant pants in your face. Even if you politely say you’re not interested, the boat stays docked there for a while awkwardly while the seller tries other sales pitches. The clothing and souvenirs they were selling were the same as most market stalls and much more expensive (even with haggling) than they would be at other markets like Chatuchak.
The Damnoen Saduak Floating Markets are around a 1.5-hour drive from Bangkok. So there is an added cost of getting there. I paid 930 THB Thai Baht ($27 USD) for transport there and back and a 2-hour boat through the market. You could do this more in line with a backpacker budget if you caught the bus from Bangkok to Damnoen Saduak instead of a private car. However, the minimum they charge for a boat ride is around 400 THB Thai Baht per person ($11 USD), even with haggling over the price.
Where to eat in Bangkok
There is great food everywhere in Bangkok, from street food to great Thai restaurants to every other cuisine you could imagine! Assuming you’re backpacking and staying in Bangkok Old Town, all of these recommendations will be within walking distance.
H Cafe
This is where you are going to go if you want smashed avo on toast or bacon and eggs! H Cafe is a small hole-in-the-wall brunch spot just a 5-minute walk from Khao San. They do a great Western Brunch and are a perfect spot for people-watching. Seating is limited, so you may have to wait for a table to become available.
Konnichipan Bakery
Just around the corner from H Cafe is Konnichipan Bakery- known for the best pastries in Bangkok. They are more of a takeaway spot as they have limited seating. Konnichipan Bakery has a great range of European pastries, both sweet and savoury. It is self-serve, so you use tongs to put as many pastries as you want on your tray. Then head to the counter to pay and order any coffee or drinks.
I love Thai food
Just off Khao San Road is some of the best street food you will eat! I love Thai Food is a tiny street food seller with tables and chairs on the sidewalk, but they always have a queue. Their food is delicious (try the pork!) but also super affordable. Be warned; you do need to eat and then go as you will have a queue of people behind you waiting for a table.
The Sixth
Just around the corner from the Grand Palace is this gem of a restaurant! They have great Thai food, iced teas and coffees, and the place has a really cool rustic vibe. It is the perfect lunch, dinner or even just coffee stop between temples and the Grand Palace.
Krua Apsorn
Bet you didn’t expect to see a Michelin-starred restaurant on a Bangkok backpacking guide. Krua Apsorn is a restaurant in Bangkok’s Old Town that doesn’t really look like anything special from the outside, but they are famous for selling Michellin-starred Thai food at affordable prices. Highly recommend checking this out for lunch or dinner!
Bangkok Nightlife
If you come to Bangkok and you didn’t take a stroll down Khao San Road after 9 pm, did you even really experience Bangkok? While there is a lot more to Bangkok than its crazy nightlife, it is still something I think everyone should experience at least once. There are bars, clubs and pubs all over Bangkok catering to every type of traveller. If you’re backpacking Bangkok, chances are you will end up at Khao San Road most nights.
Khao San Road
Khao San Road is a surprisingly small street, you could walk from one end to the other in less than 5 minutes, but it is packed with nightlife. During the day, it’s fairly tame. It functions as a small pop-up market for sales of fake designer bags, elephant pants and other souvenirs. The street is actually open to traffic like scooters, and there’s not much of a buzz around.
After about 7 pm, it becomes a walking street, and most pop-up shops turn into street food. Literally, every building is a bar or club, and the street is lit up with neon signs and full of people. I won’t recommend specific bars or clubs on Khao San as you can literally walk around and choose whichever tickles your fancy. If you don’t like the vibe, you can leave and wander up the road and choose a different bar (one of the best parts of Khao San Road). What I will leave you with is tips for surviving and thriving on Khao San Road.
Tips for surviving Khao San Road
- Be aware of your belongings walking down the street. The combination of drunk tourists distracted by lights and music and a crowded thoroughfare is a perfect opportunity for pickpockets.
- Don’t let yourself be pulled into the first bar. There are promoters for the various drinking holes standing outside the bars, and they will try and get you in if you make eye contact. The first time you go to Khao San Road, try and walk the whole road before heading into one of the bars.
- Get the bucket as opposed to buying several smaller drinks… When in Rome, hey!
- Be careful if you are doing balloons. By balloons, I mean the kind filled with nitrous oxide or laughing gas. While they are illegal in Thailand, they’re still everywhere on Khao San Road. I won’t tell you not to try one (I am not your mother). But I will say that doing too much can make you dizzy and temporarily pass out. It’s not really fun passing out, smacking your face on a table and then having to get dental work on your front teeth in Bangkok while backpacking.
- Pre-drink to save money! By a couple of cheeky Sojus from the nearest 7/11 or even if you’re hostel has a happy hour special, make use of that. The prices are slightly higher on Khao San Road (still reasonable, though), and some places definitely water down the drinks.
- Try the street food! They have everything on Khao San, from barbequed scorpions and deep-fried insects like tarantulas. If you can stomach it, it feels like a rite of passage to at least try a nibble of these delicacies.
- If you don’t fancy eating bugs, there are plenty of other good street food options like Pad Thai, satay skewers, kebabs and even a Mcdonald’s on Khao San.
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