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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Average: 4.3 (131 votes)

Submitted by Machida on Wed, 05/08/2020 - 15:29

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I have never been to Bangkok so I want to go to Thailand someday. If i go to Bangkok, I want to go to night market, I want to enjoy shopping there and eat a lot of local food. And I am interested in Thailand's temples too. There are colorful and beautiful. I think it's fresh and very enjoyable. But we can't go abroad now because of COVID-19. I want to get better soon and travel abroad

Submitted by fukuzawa on Tue, 04/08/2020 - 13:01

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I would like to visit Bangkok. Because I haven't been to Bangkok yet. My dream is to visit countries all over the world. Bangkok is said to have beautiful scenery, so I wanted to visit it. I want to take pictures of many scenery and enjoy them.
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Submitted by Hennadii on Mon, 03/08/2020 - 13:46

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Of course, I would like to visit Bangkok. I think this place way to different from my hometown so it could be very interesting. Actually, I like to visit new places, different countries, etc. I always get excited when I see something new, some old buildings, palaces, squares and museums. I like to wander on the cities, explore new food and new places. In an unspeakable feeling when you find some park to get rest after the hours of walking around a new city. You can buy something to eat (some local food) and drink some beer or wine (also local) and enjoy that moment when your exhausted legs finally have their well-deserved rest and your empty stomach tells you "thanks, man" ))

Submitted by Meiry Mella on Fri, 31/07/2020 - 17:36

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I would like to visit Bangkok someday. The pictures of the beaches I've seen are so beautiful they don't even look real. Although I've never been there, I've tried Thai food, and I have to say, it is one of the most delicious food I have ever ate.

Submitted by Nobu1230 on Fri, 31/07/2020 - 15:17

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I've never been to Bangkok in Thailand,so I would like to go there.I have two reason,first My bestfriend live in now there.He has lived there since 2017 for a company transfar.I will ask him to guide me around famous spots.Second I want to see main city which is growing in last few years.Bangkok become one of the most famous city and economy grows remarkably.So I want to see real city and people and shop and atmosphere with my own eyes.

Submitted by Tsuyoshi watanabe on Fri, 31/07/2020 - 08:48

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I want to go to Bangkok. Because I am interested in foreign cultures. I have never been abroad since I was born. Therefore, I don't know cultures other than Japan, and how foreign countries are different from Japan. People of different cultures have different personalities, and I want to know what kind of people live in foreign countries. Also, I want to experience a culture that Japan doesn't have. If I go to Bangkok, I want to enjoy famous food. If I can find out what tastes are normal in Bangkok and what kind of appearance food is accepted, I will be able to know more about the tastes of the people who live there. 

Submitted by Haiuyen on Fri, 31/07/2020 - 08:20

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I would like to Bangkok someday. I have seen many pictures about Bangkok. I think it is a good place to come to relieve tress,entertain. Bangkok has a lot of delious food and temples,pagoda. So I really like to go with my parents to there♡♡

Submitted by Saria Muraoka on Thu, 30/07/2020 - 12:07

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I have never been to Bangkok before. But I would like to visit there very much. I know there are a lot of famous spots. So there is always something fun to do in Bangkok. I'm interested in temple. We able to visit temple, and experience that town's culture on trip. The best thing about Bangkok is food. We can eat delicious meal. In addition to there are very cheap. I have never eaten Thai food. I want to try myself abroad. I will eat until I'm full. If I have chance to go Bangkok, I want to challenge a lot of things there.

Submitted by Maiko Tanzawa on Tue, 28/07/2020 - 14:03

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I want to go to Bangkok, Thailand. I haven't been to Thailand since I was born, so I'm wondering what it is like. And since Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and a big city known for its luxuriously decorated temples and lively people's lives, I would really like to see and experience the sight. And since the food seems delicious, I would like to try various dishes and dishes I have never eaten.

Submitted by R on Mon, 27/07/2020 - 18:36

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I have never been to Bangkok, but I would like to visit someday.Chao Phraya River studied in geography class in high school.The teacher said that the Chao Phraya River cannot be missed for sightseeing.I want to go sightseeing by boat on the Chao Phraya River.I've never eaten Thai food, so I'm looking forward to eating it locally.I also want to go around various temples.I want to see and enjoy temples with different colors and structures.I wish I could go someday!