Bangkok, or the City of Angels, as it is also known, is a sprawling metropolis like no other you will ever encounter.
You could be standing next to a huge skyscraper, walk around the corner and you’re in a beautiful temple garden; narrow alleys hold unique surprises and exploring this city is a real adventure.
In this short article, we take a look at various ways to move around in the City of Angels.
Skytrain
How did people get around before Skytrain? This amazing under/overground system has removed a lot of the road traffic, especially in the city centre. There are quite a few lines, so you can usually get close to your destination. Cheap, clean and fast! No eating and drinking on the trains. There are some affordable hotels near Bangkok airport ready for your domestic flight to Phuket.
Motorcycle taxis
If you have nerves of steel and like gambling your life, why not flag down a ‘motorcy’ taxi? They tend to hang around on soi corners and usually wear an official vest with their number displayed. If you really need to be somewhere fast and it isn’t too far away, this is probably the quickest way.
Regular taxis
They come in all colours; blue, orange and pink; we recommend hailing the dual colour, green and yellow cabs, as these are driver-owned; the rest can be hired for 12 hours by any Thai with a driving licence. When looking for a taxi, a vacant cab will have an illuminated green light on the windscreen, red means they have a fare.
Grab & Bolt
Digital tech has made its way into Bangkok, you can order a car easily using both apps. Digital nomads swear by them; you know the fare in advance and are given the last 4 digits of the reg number. They even tell you how far away the vehicle is! If you plan on spending time on Koh Samui, renting a luxury pool villa is a great idea.
Canal taxi boats
If you want a real adventure, ride on the canal boats; most stop at temples and markets; if you want to see how Thais live, this is a great way to gain an insight. Just jump on a boat and get off at some random place; you won’t regret it!
Buses
Both a/c and non-a/c; be careful because they might have the same number, but the a/c buses go different routes to non-a/c vehicles. They are cheap enough; there are no timetables, buses turn up when they get there, which is very Thai. Many Thais commute on buses and the system is extensive.
Motorcycle rentals
Be very careful, Bangkok is NOT a place to learn to ride a bike! You need a Thai driving licence if you are here longer than 90 days.
Google can help you find bike rental companies, make sure you wear all the safety gear and ride like everyone else on the road is a maniac!
So, there you have it; we hope you have a ball in Bangkok and this definitely won’t be the last time you visit Kreung Thep!