01Why start in Bangkok
Almost every international flight lands here, so Bangkok is the natural first stop. Give it at least two full days before you move on — the city rewards a slower look than most first-timers give it.
It is also the cheapest place in Thailand to sort out the practical things: a SIM card, cash from a bank ATM, and onward trains or domestic flights to the islands and the north.
02What to see
The Grand Palace and Wat Pho sit next to each other and can be done in one morning — go early, around 8:30am, before the heat and the tour groups. Wat Arun is a short ferry hop across the river and looks best in the late afternoon.
For something less polished, Chatuchak Weekend Market has thousands of stalls, and the neighbourhoods around Charoen Krung are full of small cafés, galleries and old shophouses.
03Where to stay
Sukhumvit is convenient, modern and well connected by Skytrain — the easiest choice for a first visit. Riverside is more scenic and relaxed but you will rely on ferries and taxis.
Khao San Road is cheap and lively, but it is a backpacker bubble and quite far from a train line. Fine for a night or two if that is the experience you want.
