How to Visit Bangkok on a Budget — Flights, Hotels, and Attractions Included

I've been visiting Thailand's capital for years — here are my best tips for visit Bangkok on a budget.

I first started visiting Bangkok when I was in my early 20s. I was living in India at the time and earning a relatively modest salary, in rupees. Although Bangkok is considered a fairly inexpensive destination compared to North America or Europe, the costs were a bit higher than in Delhi. This meant that I had to work with humble means.

Those early experiences turned out to be great training. Although I’m now a bit older, and earn dollars, I continue to approach the city through the eyes of a budget-conscious traveler — albeit one who prefers to stay in quieter neighborhoods. Here’s how I keep costs to a minimum.

Be strategic with international flights.

Getting to Bangkok will probably be your single biggest expense. Finding cheap flights is not an exact science, and while booking international travel many months in advance used to be considered the smart approach, these days you’re most likely to snag the best deals if you book around two months before your trip.

As someone who gets immense pleasure in finding flight deals, I like to spend a good amount of time on aggregator sites such as Google Flights and Skyscanner, figuring out which possible combination of departure and return dates will get me the best deals. If this sounds like misery to you, you can simply plug in a few possible date ranges and set alerts to track increases and decreases in airfare.

Rely on public transportation when possible.

Bangkok’s public transportation infrastructure is exceptional, consisting of buses and commuter trains, plus the clean and efficient BTS Skytrain and MRT (metro) networks. The Bangkok Airport Rail Link is a boon for travelers flying into or out of Suvarnabhumi Airport, providing a cheap and quick link to the Phaya Thai and Makkasan stations.

Unfortunately, some areas — including backpacker haven Khao San Road and the streets around the nearby Grand Palace — aren’t well-connected to the city except by bus, or you can either hail a tuk-tuk (and be prepared to negotiate hard) or splurge on a metered taxi (available through the Grab ridesharing app). If you’re traveling solo, you can save a bit of cash by hiring a motorbike taxi instead (also available on Grab). As an added perk, motorbike taxis can usually get through traffic much more quickly than taxis.

Choose budget options and book ahead.

Bangkok is not the kind of destination where you’ll need to consider sacrificing physical comfort to save a few baht: Many Bangkok budget hotels are in good repair, and they typically come with much-needed air-conditioning. While many party-hearty backpackers head straight to the Khao San Road area in search of ultra-affordable hostels and guesthouses, there are plenty of excellent options across the city with double rooms ranging from 1000 to 3000 baht ($30 to $90) per night.

One of the best values in town, P18 Hotel Bangkok is tucked away on a back lane, a 10-minute walk from the Jim Thompson House Museum — and from Bangkok's cluster of malls in Siam. This affordable sanctuary has large, simple rooms and a covered outdoor rooftop that looks out onto the Saen Saep canal.

Another exceptional but slightly more expensive option is the Old Capital Bike Inn, a heritage hotel located a 10-minute walk from the Golden Mount (Wat Sa Ket Ratchaworamahawihan). As its name implies, the 10 rooms at this family-run inn have a bicycle theme. Complimentary nighttime bicycle tours and loaner bikes provide a free and fun alternative to tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis.

And while you can expect to pay a hefty sum to stay at some of Bangkok’s most opulent spots, book in advance — or come in the low season — and you may be able to score a luxe room in one of the award-winning properties, like the Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort and The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, for about $200 a night.

Eat on the cheap.

One of Bangkok’s greatest blessings is that you can get tasty food without splurging. The city’s street-food scene is among the world’s finest, and you can easily score a plate of piping-hot pad Thai or a baggie full of mango and sticky rice for as little as 35 baht (around a dollar) in market areas. “I recommend going to Chatuchak Weekend Market or Wang Lang Market,” says Pan Thitirat, a local and crew member at The Yard, a guesthouse/hostel hybrid in the artsy Ari neighborhood. “There’s also a canteen at Exim Bank in the Ari neighborhood with meals that start from 35 baht.”

Snacks are easy to come by in Bangkok, too: Hit up a local fruit vendor for some mango, mangosteen, or — if you’re daring — durian. (Just don’t bring this notoriously stinky fruit back to your hotel; many properties have giant NO DURIAN signs plastered on their front doors.)

Save on sightseeing.

Admission fees in Bangkok can add up, particularly if you stick to more expensive attractions such as The Grand Palace, or even the more affordable Jim Thompson House Museum. However, many of Bangkok’s temples are inexpensive or free to visit. “I recommend Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, which has no entrance fees, and Golden Mount, which costs 50 baht to access,” says Thitirat. Art fans also have plenty of options — Thitirat suggests the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre (BACC), which is free for visitors, and the Museum Siam, which is 100 baht (about $3) for foreign visitors.

Want to get away from the metropolitan madness? Thitirat recommends DIY-ing your own Chao Phraya River cruise by hopping on a public boat or spending time out in green spaces such as Lumpini Park and Rot Fai Park. “You can also rent a bike or walk and relax while seeing nature.”