The Ultimate Guide – Bangkok on a Budget

If you are looking to travel to Bangkok on a budget, this is the guide for you! When we decided to travel to Asia for 2 months, we had a very small budget that we had to stick to. Our trip started in Bangkok, and we had an immense amount of fun discovering the incredible city, all whilst sticking to a budget (£15 per day for accommodation). Check out the Ultimate Guide to Bangkok on a budget!

This blog post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you click through & make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.

• Where is Bangkok?
• How to Get to Bangkok?
• Why Visit Bangkok?
• Things to Do in Bangkok?
• Where to Stay in Bangkok?
• How Long to Stay in Bangkok?

Don’t forget to save for later – Pin to Pinterest

Where is Bangkok?

Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand, located in the Chao Phraya River Delta. It has a population of approx 11.4 million people. It is served by two of Asia’s busiest international airports and hosts expats from all over the globe.

Find Bangkok Accommodation Here

How to Get to Bangkok?

Bangkok has 2 international airports. The newer Suvarnabhumi Airport and the older Don Mueang Airport (considered to be one of the world’s oldest international airports and Asia’s oldest operating airport…for those travel buffs out there).

Suvarnabhumi Airport is on popular flight routes and stopovers through Asia and is 30km from the Bangkok CBD. You can also arrive in Bangkok via popular tourist bus routes from nearby Cambodia. Don Mueang International Airport is home to Air Asia, who sell some of the cheapest flights around Asia.

Navigating the Taxis of Bangkok

Getting a taxi from the airport is a much-debated topic across the internet, with overpricing scams prevalent. Locals say a ride to downtown Bangkok should be approximately 350-600 THB. While some drivers will regularly charge tourists 900 THB+.

It is recommended to avoid any drivers approaching you at the exit of the terminal. Instead, queue for the ticketed taxis. Here, you take a ticket from a designated booth, and your taxi meets you at an allocated space opposite. Still, here at the official taxi rank, drivers will try to quote high prices. Some regular Bangkok visitors recommend insisting the driver turn on the meter before getting in. If they refuse, be prepared to get into a different taxi. 

We paid 500 THB for our ride – we arranged this price with the driver when we got in. Although a little overpriced at the time, it was reasonable to us, given that we arrived late and were tired after our flight. We were happy to be on our way. There is a toll road and airport surcharge that you are also required to pay, which is normal. 

The drive from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok CBD is approx 35-45 minutes, depending on traffic.

Airport Bus

The S1 bus offers 60thb tickets for the BKK airport to Bangkok city. The A4 bus to DMK airport costs 50 THB.

Why Visit Bangkok?

Gleaming temples, amazing street food and cheap accommodation are just a few reasons many travellers flock to Bangkok.

Take long-tail boat rides to local floating markets and temples, tuk-tuk rides to bars and restaurants, enjoy a cheap local massage and beer while watching the bustling city come alive or shop till you drop in its many malls. Bangkok has something for everyone.

It is the starting point for most backpackers and travellers’ South East Asian adventures, but it is much more than just a stop before venturing further afield.

£1.20 for a pad thai dinner or fresh coconut ice cream in a real coconut husk! Bangkok and Thailand in general are also a great place to visit for the budget traveller. This also means that for the luxury travellers out there, you get more bang for your buck on hotel stays, too.

Things To Do in Bangkok on a Budget?

Bangkok’s Temples

When visiting Bangkok on a budget, visiting temples should be on everybody’s list of must-dos while visiting the city. Wat Arun, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho are the most popular choices.

Wat Pho Temple

Wat Pho is close to the Grand Palace and was our choice for the day. The entrance fee is only 300 THB per person.

The 46-metre-long Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho is the most popular attraction here and one of the largest in Thailand. Be sure to check out the Buddha’s soles, these alone are 3m high and 4.5m long! They are inlaid with stunning mother-of-pearl patterns depicting elephants, tigers, dancers and flowers.

Most of the stunning grounds were fairly quiet, allowing for plenty of photo opportunities with the fantastically detailed buildings and temples. Bring sunscreen and water!

Ladies, take something to cover your shoulders and knees, as is customary in all Thai Temples. My husband wore longer board shorts down to his knees (didn’t cover them), and this was ok. I also wore flip-flops with no problems.

Getting to Wat Pho Temple

To get to Wat Pho, we took a river boat from Phra Arthit pier (only 15 THB) It is far quicker and cheaper than taking a taxi or an expensive tuk-tuk.

TOP TIP! Make sure you get off at Wat Arun and swap boats to cross the river (4 THB) to Tha Tian pier. Here you can walk to the temple very easily. It’s also really close to the Grand Palace, which has a 500 THB per person entrance fee. We opted out of this due to our tight budget. There are plenty of other incredible temples that are free or cost very little to visit.

Popular Bangkok Activities

Khaosan Road

Busy, loud, touristy and included in most tour books as a must-see. It is certainly the centre of Bangkok’s backpacker communities and has many bars lining the street; however, a short stroll away is the ‘C’ shaped road of Soi Rambuttri. This is a quieter road but still a lively enough alternative to Khaosan Road, with many street food vendors and restaurants where the vibe is a little more relaxed. This is actually where we frequented for the cheapest and most delicious Pad Thai street food and enjoyed happy hour beers whilst sitting curbside.

Most proper sit-in restaurants around here (not plastic tables and chairs on the street) offer mains from 150-300 THB minimum and large beers for 150 THB. For comparison, basic street stall bars will sell you a large beer for 90 THB or 60 THB in the 7-11 Stores.

Massages

You can only walk a few metres between shops before you encounter street-side massages being offered on reclining chairs. 150 THB for 30 mins or 300 THB for 1 hr. If you walk to the end of Soi Rambuttri away from Khaosan Road, they offer them for 100 THB for 30 mins, and these are a popular and great way to people watch or relax after a long day of walking around the many stunning temples.

Chinatown

At just 1km long, the area is packed with vibrant street food stalls and restaurants. Busy and bustling as soon as night falls, this is a great place to soak up the atmosphere and try some tasty and cheap cuisine.

What to eat?

4 delicious freshly cooked Gyoza for only 50 THB and 10 chicken satay sticks for just 60 THB. They were freshly grilled on the BBQ, but they were also very busy, and one of mine was still a little raw at the end. I didn’t get sick, luckily, but just make sure you check before you tuck in. It’s extremely busy, so be prepared to queue for the most popular snacks. 

TOP TIP

Getting a taxi back to your hotel from here can be a little bit of work, as with most of Bangkok. So, we walked a short distance away from the busy taxi and tuk-tuk area to flag our driver down because they were known for largely inflated tourist prices right next to the market.

As previously mentioned, taxi drivers in Bangkok are notorious for not wanting to turn on the meter or for using the excuse ‘it is broken’ or cover them up. We managed to get a taxi home on the second attempt – the first one said no to the meter being turned on, but the second, honest taxi driver said yes. Only 50 THB back to Soi Rambuttri. 

*Many people opt to tip the honest Taxi drivers a little extra – even with the tip, it is likely to still be 50% cheaper than the cost of some of the tourist taxi scammers. Don’t feel bad for asking for the meter to be turned on, as legally they are required to, and just go onto the next taxi if you are not successful.

Explore More Guides for Asia Here

Where to Stay in Bangkok on a Budget?

We were visiting Asia on a backpacker budget, and luckily, Bangkok has accommodations to suit every budget, from shared dorms to 5-star luxury. Location is always high on our list and is worth researching when visiting Bangkok on a budget.

Khaosan Art Hotel

We opted for the well-reviewed hotel, and at just £22 (933 THB) per night for a private en suite double with air con, it is an absolute bargain. 

There was no lift (common in Asia), and we were on the 5th floor, which was quiet enough for us because it was further from the busy street and bars below. If you are staying in a busy area in Bangkok, it is worth asking for a high floor so it’s not too noisy. Downstairs had a lively bar with a restaurant, and guests could get 10% off their bill. We didn’t eat here as we were busy working our way through Bangkok’s street food delights, but it was busy and popular every night.

Prebooking our stay as we were arriving late and wanted somewhere arranged for a good rate was useful. We ended up extending our trip for an extra two nights for the same price at reception with their helpful and friendly staff.

Why stay here?

The hotel is right on Soi Rambuttri and is just a few steps away from plenty of street stalls selling Pad Thai for 40-50 THB and also budget-friendly breakfast options. On the corner of Soi Chana Songkhram and Soi Rambuttri, the restaurant sells fruit salad, yoghurt and muesli for 35 THB, which was perfect for a thrifty traveller and opposite here was my favourite Pad Thai and smoothie vendor.

One thing worth mentioning is the proximity to the bus stop servicing the Airport. The S1 bus stop opposite the hotel serves a bus that offers 60 THB tickets for BKK airport, and the A4 bus stop serves DMK airport for 50 THB. This was a big plus for us, travelling on a tight budget.

How Long to Stay in Bangkok?

A minimum of 3-4 days for your first time in Bangkok would be enough to tick off the main sights and experience a taste of what the city has to offer. And with more sights and attractions, you could fill a few extra.

Save this for later – Don’t forget to Pin to Pinterest