Bangkok

Destination

Bangkok is a city of extremes: come in from the airport via the MRT and you’ll see the politest and most reserved of Thai culture, as everybody stands in neatly formed queues to wait for the workers to clean the carriages. Being spat out into the bustling heat of the Phra Nakhon district is the opposite: a kind of chaotic freedom as locals and tourists eat, drink, and banter away. Although it may all seem disordered at first, you eventually begin to see the rules by which this city operates, and soon you’ll be crossing roads as scooters beep and drive around you without a second thought.

Roll up, roll up! A guide to Bangkok’s markets

Guides & Tips

Markets are where most of the people of Bangkok get their shopping done. The hustle and bustle of these sprawling commerce centres might be a more intense experience than a peruse through a supermarket, but markets are so much more than a place to buy and sell things; wander through one and you’ll get a real sense of how life is lived in the Thai capital. There are hundreds of different specialist markets to choose from, but we’ve rounded up some of the best for you to have a stroll through. So, get your haggling pants on and prepare for your market tour of Bangkok!

gym bangkok

Get Fit Bangkok Style

See & Do

While most people use their holiday time to slip into a world of cocktails, rich meals, and lounging around, those who find joy in a more active lifestyle can often be left feeling short changed, especially in urban environments where exercising in public isn’t too viable thanks to less than stellar roads and excessive heat – not the best running or cycling conditions. The same issue applies to expats, who may want to maintain their regular lifestyle despite being in paradisiacal surroundings. Bangkok is lacking in consistent green space, so if you’re looking to get the blood pumping your best bet is a local gym; this is doubly the case if you’ve come to Thailand to learn about and practice the national sport of Muay Thai. There are hundreds of gyms in Bangkok, but some are most definitely better than others. Here are our top picks for the budding gym rats and Thai boxers.

Rooftop Bangkok

Rooftop Tour of Bangkok

See & Do

Bangkok is massive, in every sense of the word. The urban sprawl which makes up the city spreads for miles from the commercial and tourist centres, and it has the 11th highest number of skyscrapers in the world, with that number growing as more and more investment flows into the city and additional projects are greenlit. To truly get a sense of how big the city is, it makes sense to head up, and luckily the businesspeople and venue owners of Bangkok agree: there are numerous excellent, elevated bars, restaurants, and leisure areas in the city, all of which deliver gorgeous views alongside their primary purpose. Acrophobics need not read on, because we’re going to show you the best of Bangkok’s rooftops.

Three Days in Bangkok

Guides & Tips

Trying to fit the best of Bangkok into three days is a bit like those renovation shows which revamp a house in a short period of time: sure, it can be done, and done well, but it needs planning. Whilst we love the Thai capital, the fact is some people want to explore the rest of Thailand, whereas others are only using Bangkok as a springboard for further South East Asian adventures. There is so much to do and see in this sprawling metropolis that it can cause even the most cocksure of travellers to have some anxiety around missing out, but you shouldn’t worry: we’re here to make sure your experience is everything you want it to be and more, even if you only have three days in Bangkok.

Bangkok by Night: The city’s best nightlife

See & Do

There is a unique energy in Bangkok; an electric, pulsing vibe that manifests through the bustle of the locals and the chaos of the city. During the day, this comes out in the market stalls as people haggle and shout over each other, but at night-time you see what the city is really about. Throngs of tourists and young Thais head out to the centre to drink and dance the night away. There are dozens of excellent night clubs in Bangkok, but some stand head and shoulders above the rest. If you’re looking for an unforgettable night out, then check out our guide to the best clubs in Bangkok.

Rhodes vs Santorini

Guides & Tips

Before we can even begin to debate the merits of Rhodes vs Santorini, we need to have a little chat about idyllic, white-washed villages, incredible sunsets and stunning sea views. Clichés, the lot of them. But, crucially, found in abundance on either isle. Which doesn’t, at this stage, help you with your debate – but does give you an idea of the kind of Greek holiday you’re in for.

Scuba to Snorkel: Diving in Santorini

See & Do

15 years ago, this run down of the best dive sites in Santorini would have been a very different beast. For decades Greece banned diving in most of its waters. With so much treasure in their surrounding seas – they had to stop it being pilfered. The ban was lifted in 2005, but a much bigger haul was lost. Fishermen have caught the colourful bounty most snorkelers and divers in Satorini are looking for. But before we pop our flags at half mast and observe the correct period of mourning – all is not lost. Dive centres have staked a claim to a reef, where life has returned. And, if you’re PADI proficient, there are drop offs, walls and even geothermal vents to explore … with care.

A vegan’s guide to Barcelona

Food & Drink

Let’s face it. Until recently, vegan travel could be a bleak experience. Poking around looking for the ONE veggie restaurant in the city where, frankly, a falafel wrap was the best you could hope for. Well, plant-based people, the tide has certainly changed. So much so that, in Barcelona, you’re knee-deep in tofu scrambles from the moment you arrive. Vegan Barcelona is a plant-based foodie’s nirvana.

The best Michelin-starred restaurants in Barcelona

Food & Drink

Whether you’re well versed in the world of petit fours and pea foam reductions, or just enjoy a deliciously decadent meal every now and then, Barcelona’s Michelin star restaurants will not disappoint. From three star wizardry, to no less deserving of your Euros, one star wonders, the city isn’t short on gourmet dining options. And there in lies the tastiest of problems. Where to lay your napkin? In Barcelona, you’ll be short on one of two things. Time. Or, not to be too indelicate, money. Happily, we’ve set out solutions for both below.