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!

Task 1

Task 2

Discussion

Download
Worksheet66.8 KB

Language level

Average: 4.1 (210 votes)
Do you need to improve your English reading skills?
Join thousands of learners from around the world who are improving their English reading skills with our online courses.
Profile picture for user iEdd

Submitted by iEdd on Mon, 19/07/2021 - 21:26

Permalink
Yes, I would. I love to know whatever I can, so if I have tha chance to go there, it is welcome. Thailand is not my dreaming place to visit, but I'm sure Thain people are amazing, and their food is delicious. These are good reasons to go there.

Submitted by Muzaffer on Sat, 10/07/2021 - 13:50

Permalink
I wouldn't want to go Bangkok because I am very picky about food. I think Turkiye food culture and Bangkok food culture not similar so I don't want to go bangkok.

Submitted by GiulianaAndy on Sun, 20/06/2021 - 20:30

Permalink
Yes, I would like to visit Bangkok because I would like to know a famous traveller spot, and it would be a different experience in my life

Submitted by Suraj paliwal on Tue, 11/05/2021 - 08:54

Permalink
I would like to visit Thailand. I hve never visited in this country. I don't like temple but I like natural and beach places. I love shopping.

Submitted by MikhailZatopliaev on Tue, 27/04/2021 - 15:55

Permalink
I like Thau. But I think I wouldn't like visit Bangkok. I prefer near sea place, with long beach, and fruits, and not noisy place. I have visited Thue twice, and we rented a bike, and go to trip ourselves. It was amazing and awesome.

Submitted by May Nine on Sun, 11/04/2021 - 10:29

Permalink
For me , I've never been to Bangkok. But I've tasted of it a lot from the uploaded photos and videos . As I am a shopping girl , the shopping malls and supermarkets attact me a lot. And I figured the selling things from Bangkok are so smart and is not that expensive. Also , the street food might be so delicious and worth it . Although I'm so freaking out just thinking about of snakes , I will probably take a selfie with snake; like it's around my neck when I go there .

Submitted by desouza on Sun, 04/04/2021 - 20:34

Permalink
I've been in Bankok in 2017. this is one of my best cities in the world. I had so much fun , also I ate a lot of street foods. I stayed kao san road as same as mostly young people. I loved in chatucak market, I realy enjoy there.bangkok streets are smells really bad and dirty but it isn't important so long as I live. I went to chiniatown, I was shopping in many present my friends and family. I had a lot massage like asian style. And when I read this content, I felt little bit there :)

Submitted by Aliya848 on Fri, 02/04/2021 - 15:06

Permalink
I have never been to Thailand. But I wanna visit it. Because I would like to see temples and eat local food. Also I wanna see travesti show in this country.

Submitted by TIa vinaka on Wed, 31/03/2021 - 07:24

Permalink
I'd love to!! Actually, I've traveled there once for about 10days. It was amazing I love Thai food and market. there are also a lot of place to visit. it wasn't enough time to explore there. I would like to visit there again to explore the beautiful country.