A Budget Traveler's Itinerary To Bangkok

There is good news for budget travellers! Although Bangkok can be expensive, there are also plenty of sightseeing and activity options that are inexpensive or free. Check out our handy guide for a budget traveller’s itinerary to Bangkok that won’t break the bank.

Getting about

A boat ride on the Chao Phraya River won’t just get you from A to B, it’s also a great way to see the city from a different perspective. Commuter ferries are as little as 14 Thai baht ($0.42 USD) per ride. Local buses are also a great way to travel like a local and immerse yourself in everyday life.

Attractions

Wat Arun, also known as The Temple of Dawn, is another great inexpensive temple to check out. The Grand Palace is one of the more expensive attractions but well worth the visit if you can stretch your budget to cover the 550 baht entrance fee ($16.60 USD). Also worth seeing is the Museum of Contemporary Art or the Silpa Bhirasri Memorial and Museum, both of which are free. You might like to take a good book and head to Lumpini Park as well to relax in the shade. The park is literally a breath of fresh air amongst Bangkok’s urban sprawl.

Shopping

Try your bargaining skills at Bangkok’s famous Chatuchak Weekend Market. This huge 27-section market has everything from clothing, souvenirs, kitchenware, pets and more. Chatuchak is the perfect opportunity to satisfy your shopping cravings. Why not also check out Bangkok’s Chinatown or Little India to soak in the sights and smells or just to people watch? Once you are done browsing the markets, soothe your achy muscles with a one-hour Thai massage which will set you back roughly 200 baht ($6 USD).

Food

Bangkok is full of cheap eating options and sticking to your budget luckily does not mean you need to skimp on flavour. Keep a look out for restaurants and street-side food stalls frequented by locals grabbing a quick bowl of Kuai-tiao nam (rice noodle soup) or a Phat si-io (Noodles stir-fried with soy sauce) as they are likely to not only pack a punch in terms of flavour, they also won’t be charging tourist prices. Most local dishes will usually cost between 40 – 60 Thai baht ($1.2 – $1.8 USD) per dish.

Nightlife

Mingle with fellow budget travellers at the world renowned backpacker haven of Khao San Road. This is a cheap place to stay, shop and eat, while there are also plenty of bars to choose from. Maximize your budget by making the most of the happy hours or do as the locals, and drink cheap and cheerful SangSom, a local rum distilled from sugar cane. Another option is to explore the Sukhumvit sois (alleys) where curbside pop-up bars serve inexpensive and delicious cocktails.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.