Getting to Bangkok

1. Flights

To find the most cost-effective flight options to Bangkok, we recommend that you consider departing not only from UK airports, but you should also explore other European airports known for offering budget-friendly flights. Given that flights to Thailand are so long anyways, what’s a slight detour via Europe?

We found that for our dates, departing from Frankfurt and flying with Saudi Airlines was the cheapest way from Europe to Bangkok at £462.78 return. However, this meant we had to consider travel from the UK to Frankfurt. Our return from London Stansted to Frankfurt cost £57.98 with Ryanair. Surprisingly, even with this additional leg, the total travel cost via Frankfurt remained lower than flying directly from London to Bangkok with a single provider.

Departing via Frankfurt provided us with an opportunity to stay a few days and explore the city before catching our flight to Bangkok. However, for those preferring a more direct route, there are numerous same-day flight options available from London to Frankfurt and onward to Bangkok.

Both of our flight providers charged extra for a checked bag, which was essential for us as we needed our backpacking gear as we continued on our Southeast Asia tour from Bangkok. Of course, opting out of a checked bag will reduce flight costs, but be prepared for the challenge of fitting all your belongings into a carry-on and wrestling with any souvenirs on your return journey!

2. Train or Bus

Direct train or bus travel from the UK to Bangkok isn’t feasible, however it is possible to fly into a neighbouring country and take a train or bus from there. This option offers great scenic journeys and an authentic travel experience. 

If this is something that you’re interested in doing, we recommend looking into how much it will cost to fly to a neighbouring country and the added cost of taking public transport into Thailand. It might work out cheaper to fly direct to Bangkok as it’s a hub airport for the region. But of course, then you won’t get the experience of travelling through the countryside and taking in the amazing views, so you might decide it’s worth paying a bit extra to take this route. 

We did some research on the best options for taking the train or bus from neighbouring cities (if you happen to already be in Southeast Asia), which you can read below. If taking the bus or train is something you fancy, then we recommend checking the relevant provider close to your time of travel for the most accurate and up to date price information, before planning and budgeting your trip.

From Malaysia:

• Train: Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok by train can cost anywhere from £40 to £100+ for a one-way ticket, depending on the class and time of booking.

• Bus: Buses from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok range from £25 to £50+ for a one-way trip, with variations based on comfort levels and bus companies.

From Laos:

• Bus: The bus fare from Vientiane to Nong Khai (Thailand) is approximately £10 to £20 for a one-way journey.

From Cambodia:

• Bus: Bus tickets from Phnom Penh to Bangkok are priced around £15 to £35 for a one-way trip. Sleeper buses are on the pricier end of this range due to the extra comfort features.

Getting around in Bangkok

Bangkok is an incredible city to explore—but it isn’t the place where we recommend strolling around between sights. With temperatures often above 30°C and the city’s attractions spread far and wide, we gave walking a miss this time. We also passed on the public buses, which were often packed and not air-conditioned (no one wants to arrive at their destination in a melted puddle!). But not to worry—Bangkok has plenty of fast and air-conditioned alternatives. 

Airport Transfers from Suvarnabhumi Airport

Taxi:
The fastest and easiest way into the city is by taxi. Just outside the arrivals hall, you’ll find a queuing system with kiosks—grab a ticket, and it’ll tell you which taxi stand to head to. Once matched with your driver, let them know your destination and they’ll quote you a price. We paid around 500 Baht, which included motorway tolls into central Bangkok. It’s door-to-door and air-conditioned—well worth it after a long flight.

Airport Rail Link:
A great alternative if you’re happy to walk to the platform with your luggage. The train takes around 25 minutes into town and is fully air-conditioned. Since it runs above ground, you’ll also get some cool views of the city as you glide past the traffic jams below. Just note that when we bought our tickets from a city station, it was cash only—so keep a few spare Baht on hand before you fly out!

Getting Around the City

Taxi:
We mostly used the Grab app to get around—it’s reliable, air-conditioned, and saves you the haggling. But if you spot a taxi waiting nearby, you can also try approaching and asking for a price to your destination. Don’t be shy about negotiating; drivers often start high, and it’s fine to try and haggle a lower price. As a ballpark, we usually paid around 200 Baht for a 20-minute ride.

Tuk Tuks:
A Bangkok classic! Tuk tuks are also available on Grab, but there are plenty in the streets for you to flag down and try to barter a reasonably priced fare. We recommend that you use the app to get an idea of a fair price before you start negotiating. We paid around 200 Baht for a 10-minute ride—definitely more about the experience than the savings, but a fun way to zip through the streets.

Metro & Skytrain:
Bangkok’s Metro system is surprisingly efficient, beating all of the road traffic, and thankfully air-conditioned (air con becomes very important after a day of sightseeing outside!). The MRT (metro) and BTS (skytrain) are your best bets for getting across town quickly. We only had the opportunity to use the MRT during our visit and paid 35 Baht for a return trip.

Accommodation

As Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, it’s not surprising that it's a large city, but we were still unprepared for just how big it actually is! With this in mind, we think that anywhere in the city that you choose to stay you’ll have to rely heavily on transport to get around, it’s just too big to walk to all the activities! You could choose to be near one main attraction to walk to and then get transport to the rest like we did. The other option is to choose an accommodation near a metro or skytrain station and use it whenever possible to give yourself a better chance at avoiding taxi fares.

Wherever you choose to stay, Bangkok offers a huge variety of budget-friendly accommodation options suitable for every traveller, whether you’re a solo adventurer, a couple, or a group seeking economical yet comfortable stays.

Airbnb

For those preferring an Airbnb, Bangkok has a diverse array of choices. During our stay, we opted for an Airbnb double room in a guest house that offered breakfast and an ensuite bathroom. This was priced at £38.05 per person for 5 nights.

If you're seeking the most affordable option, dorm rooms on Airbnb are available at £23 for 5 nights. These dorms typically provide access to shared amenities like a kitchen and washing machine, ideal for solo travellers or groups comfortable with communal living spaces. 

However, if you and your travel companion prefer separate sleeping arrangements but struggle to find twin room options on Airbnb, the dorm room might be the best alternative. Otherwise, we recommend checking out the hotel options. 

Hotel

After searching various hotel comparison sites, we found that for double rooms, hotels aligned closely with Airbnb pricing, ranging from £35 to £50 per person for 5 nights. These hotel stays often included breakfast and an ensuite bathroom too. 

Solo travellers will find more diverse options on hotel comparison sites, with single rooms available from £35 to £50 for 5 nights. Hotels also tend to offer a broader selection of dorm rooms compared to Airbnb, catering better to individual travellers.

Moreover, hotels offer a wider variety of twin room options, priced approximately between £35 to £40 per person for 5 nights, featuring breakfast and a private bathroom, ensuring comfort and privacy for pairs travelling together.

Our Top Things to Do in Bangkok

For things to do around the island check out our Bangkok Things To Do page. 

Food in Bangkok

Bangkok is an absolute paradise if you love Thai food—especially because it’s quick, cheap and packed with flavor. Whether you're grabbing dinner from a tiny food stall or sitting down somewhere local, the food here is super tasty and never boring.

Most Thai dishes are based around rice or noodles, usually with chicken or pork. Sounds simple, but trust us—it’s full of flavor. Just remember when ordering that dishes here tend to be spicy. The basil pork with rice we found was especially spicy! You can ask for no chilli or “not spicy,” but fair warning: sometimes that gets lost in translation and the dish still comes out with a serious kick.

If you’re not sure where to start, you can’t go wrong with a Pad Thai—classic, delicious, and usually mild. Chicken stir-fry is another safe (and tasty) option, and you’ll find it pretty much everywhere. And for desert we recommend Mango Sticky rice or a Thai Sweet Egg Pancake. 

One of the things we loved about travelling around Southeast Asia is that the food is usually very cheap and Bangkok was no exception. You can eat really well here without spending much at all.

• Local restaurants serve up Thai dishes for about 60–80 baht.
  
  

• If you're craving something Western (think burgers or pasta), expect to pay around 120–150 baht.
  
  

• Street markets are where the real bargains are—takeaway meals go for just 35–50 baht and they’re usually freshly cooked right in front of you.
  
  

• Snacks on sticks (yes, even the fried insects come on a stick!) cost anywhere between 10–40 baht—perfect for when you just want a little something between meals.