General Bangkok Tips

Here are a few other important things to know before you get to Bangkok.

Tipping: Tipping isn't mandatory in Thailand, but if you get good service, we recommend tipping. What you give is up to you. In some cases it can just be leaving any change you have, but for meals, a tip of 10% is more than appreciated. In chains and higher-end restaurants, a service charge may already be added to your bill, in which case you don't need to tip anything extra.

Water: Tap water isn't drinkable, so stick to bottled water, which is available from 7-Elevens, which are on virtually every street corner.

When To Visit: There's no perfect time to visit Bangkok. December to March tends to have the coolest weather, which is nicer for exploring the city, however, this happens to coincide with the highest levels of pollution. Rainy season in Bangkok runs from May to November, and is a fairly nice time to visit, as it typically only rains an hour or two each day. March and April are particularly hot, so if you don't like the heat, aim for another time of year. One advantage of visiting in April is the annual Songkran Festival, essentially a countrywide water fight to celebrate Thai New Year.

Dress Code: It's best to dress modestly in Bangkok, but shorts and t-shirts are fine in most places, except at temples or restaurants/bars with a specific dress code. At temples, your knees and shoulders must be covered at all times, but you're often able to borrow or rent a sarong if you need to cover up more.

Royal Family: The Royal Family are very loved in Thailand, and speaking ill of them is a criminal offence, so please be mindful of this.

TDAC: All foreign visitors to Thailand need to complete a TDAC (online arrival card) in the three days before arrival. It's completely free to do (although some websites try to scam people by charging them). It only takes a few minutes to complete, and you can fill it out at the following link: https://tdac.immigration.go.th/arrival-card/#/home