A travel guide

A travel guide

Read a travel guide about Bangkok to practise and improve your reading skills.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.

Preparation

Reading text

Whether you're travelling to the islands or the mountains of Thailand, you're likely to spend at least one night in its capital city on the way. Bangkok might be noisy and polluted but it's also an exciting city with plenty of things to see and do. Why not make it a longer stay?

Where to stay

The Khao San Road was a famous traveller spot even before Leonardo di Caprio's character in the film The Beach stayed there. But it's noisy, not very pretty and not very Thai. For something more authentic, Phra Kanong offers an alternative place to stay, with its fantastic street markets where everyday Bangkok people eat, work and live. It's not as convenient for the main tourist sites, but it has a Skytrain station so you can be at the Grand Palace in 20 minutes.

How to get around

Bangkok's traffic can be a nightmare. Sure, you can easily take a taxi – if you want to spend hours stuck in traffic jams – but there are two much better ways to get around the city. To explore the temples and historical sites, catch an express boat river taxi or a longtail boat along the Chao Phraya river and the canals. For the modern part of the city, the Skytrain is a fast, cheap way to travel from the river to the shopping malls and nightlife of Sukhumvit, and the famous Chatuchak street market.

Where to eat

The simple answer is: everywhere! Thai street food is among the best in the world, and for around $5 you can eat a filling and delicious meal. Some food stands have little plastic seats where you can sit and eat and they cook the same dish over and over, like fried chicken on rice or Pad Thai noodles. Head for Chinatown – Yaowarat Street – and choose whatever looks most interesting from the many excellent Chinese and Thai restaurants and food stands.  

What to do

After you've seen the main sites like the Giant Buddha at the temple of Wat Pho and the spectacular Grand Palace, and shopped at Chatuchak market, check out the snake farm and watch the live snake show. You can even touch a snake yourself if you want to!

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Discussion

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Average: 4.3 (115 votes)
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Submitted by maria eduarda dias on Wed, 09/08/2023 - 05:40

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I would love to have the opportunity to visit Bangkok and some other Thai cities. I love the asian food and culture. But if I have the opportunity I'd learn some Thai words first.

Submitted by Alice Vu on Tue, 08/08/2023 - 05:33

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I really like to visit Bangkok because I want to explore Thai culture via their street food, temple & pagoda system. In addition, I am curious why Thailand's travel has developed much more than Vietnam's.

Submitted by Worarat_kaew on Sun, 06/08/2023 - 17:16

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Absolutely yes!
Actually, I live in Bangkok. I think here is very fantastic, Bangkok has many place to go and variety such as ancient place and modern place in the same city. I suggest you should come.

Submitted by Berrybaby on Sat, 29/07/2023 - 13:55

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If I have a chance, I would visit. I hope, it will be interesting place to visit. Most of the people in our country go to Thailand to do shopping. ><

Submitted by rhoda16 on Tue, 25/07/2023 - 12:26

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of course, I would love to visit Bangkok. I want to see their cultural tourist spots and to their foods.

Submitted by Laurasase29 on Tue, 18/07/2023 - 23:47

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I would love to visit Thailand, first because of it's beautiful beaches, second of it's culture and third know the way Thai people live.

Submitted by david.ochoa13 on Wed, 05/07/2023 - 08:56

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I love Asia! I would like to visit Bangkok someday, I think I would be eating all day long hehehe I love their food.And the temples must be a marvel to see once in a lifetime.

Submitted by samueltrujilomoreno on Wed, 28/06/2023 - 01:08

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yes i would like, i think it could be interesting to visit,Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is the most famous and essential place to visit in Bangkok

Submitted by saikiran524 on Thu, 15/06/2023 - 14:30

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Yes I would like to visit

Submitted by Artyev on Mon, 29/05/2023 - 00:55

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Yes, I would, because I really like travelling. If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world till my money is end. It`s very interesting to me: explore whole world, every culture and language.