Self-Guided Walking Tours to Explore Bangkok, Thailand

Whether you are in Bangkok for a quick stopover or have a few days to see the city in more detail, exploring it on foot, at your own pace, is definitely the way to go. Here are some tips for you to save money, see the best Bangkok has to offer, take good care of your feet while walking, and keep your mobile device – your ultimate "work horse" on this trip - well fed and safe.

Saving Money with City Passes

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To save yourself time and money visiting Bangkok's multiple sights, you may want to resort to the so-called city passes, such as the iVenture Card and Thailand Unlimited Attractions Pass.

A city pass combines all of or multiple Bangkok's top highlights, tours and experiences in one prepaid attractions pass, using which you can save incredible amounts on general admission fees as compared to purchasing tickets separately. Often, a city pass also allows you to skip the lines at major attractions, thus saving you precious time. Some of them you don't even have to pick up but can scan straight on your phone at any of the city's major attractions/museums!

Staying at Walk-Friendly Hotels

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Since you're keen on exploring cities on foot (we assume that you are, and this is why you're here), it is important that you stay at a hotel close to the city's major attractions. It saves you time and energy. Here are a few of Bangkok hotels that are conveniently located, but at the same time, also not so ridiculously expensive: The Raweekanlaya Bangkok, Royal Princess Larn Luang, Baan Chart.

Taking Care of Your Feet

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To ensure ultimate satisfaction from a day of walking around the city as big as Bangkok, it is imperative to take good care of your feet so as to avoid unpleasant things like blisters, cold or overheated soles, itchy, irritated or otherwise damaged (cracked) skin, etc. Luckily, these days there is no shortage of remedies to address (and, ideally, to prevent) these and other potential problems with feet. Among them: Compression Socks, Rechargeable Battery-Powered Thermo Socks for Cold Weather, Foot Repair Cream, Deodorant Powder, Shoes UV Sterilizer, and many more that you may wish to find a place in your travel kit for.

Travel Gadgets for Your Mobile Device

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Your mobile phone or tablet will be your work horse on a self-guided walk. They offer tour map, guide you from one attraction to another, and provide informative background for the sights you wish to visit. Therefore it is absolutely essential to plan against unexpected power outages in the wrong place at the wrong time, much as to ensure the safety of your device.

For these and other contingencies, here's the list of useful appliances: Portable Charger/External Battery Pack, Worldwide Travel Charger Adapter, Power Converter for International Travel Adapter, and Mobile Device Leash.

Exploring City on Guided Tours

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We have a strong bias towards exploring a city on foot, at your own pace, because this is how you get to see things up close with a maximum freedom. You decide how much time you wish to spend at each attraction and don't have to worry about following a crowd. That said, however, we also understand that some of you may want to go with a guided tour. If that is your case, here are some guided tours to consider. Be ready to fork out a bit of money, though, as a guided tour of Bangkok typically costs between around US$30 and US$60 or more per person:

- Board a hop-on hop-off bus to enjoy sightseeing of Bangkok in the comfort of a bus, listening in the headsets to the commentary provided in a variety of languages, and be able get on and off at any of the stops along the route. The ticket is valid for one day (24 hrs) and may be upgraded to 48 hrs (Premium) or 72 hrs (Deluxe).

- Take a 3-hour guided walk along the Chao Phraya Riverside to explore the multicultural diversity of Bangkok's historic communities coexisting on the riverbanks for centuries in perfect harmony.

- Spare half a day, whilst in Bangkok, for a private tour of The Grand Palace complex housing tonnes of historic attractions, including Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and many others, led by a knowledgeable local guide.

- No visit to Thailand is complete without savoring local cuisine. Embark on a food tour of Bangkok for a generous dollop of delectable Thai delicacies at some truly unique locations: streets, shops and the hidden gems only the locals know about.

- See Bangkok in a different light from the seat of a tuk-tuk zooming by the city's iconic sites in the cool of the night. This 4-hour night ride will take you to the Chao Phraya River, stopping at several temples, markets and other locations most frequented during daytime.

- Pedal your way around Bangkok on a 4-hour night bike tour to appreciate the city's most spectacular sights in their nighttime ambiance, stopping at each for a bit of rest, watching the surroundings, and learning much about the Thai capital from an informative group leader.

- Explore Bangkok’s suburbia renowned for its lush greenery and traditional crafts. Meet the friendly locals, see the beautiful canal system and a floating market manifesting the local “way of the water” culture.

Day Trips

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If you have a day to spare whilst in Bangkok, why not use it to explore some of the out-of-town destinations like Floating Markets and Bridge on the River Kwai, Floating Markets of Damnoen Saduak, Thai–Burma Death Railway Bridge on the River Kwai, Ayutthaya, or Thonburi. For as little as US$40+ to US$120+ per person you will get a chance to discover the highlights of the UNESCO World Heritage sites including centuries-old historic landmarks, see the infamous bridge built by thousands of PoWs during World War Two, get a glimpse of the everyday life on water in Thailand exploring riverside neighborhoods, floating markets, and more. For any of these tours you will be picked up either straight from your hotel or a designated place in Bangkok, and transported either by boat or a private vehicle (whichever is applicable) to the destination of your choice and back again.