Bangkok layover guide for crew

Late food, coffee and a spa that crew recommend in Bangkok, plus taxi, Grab and rail options at Suvarnabhumi, Smartraveller safety notes and tap water.

Bangkok is a big, hot city, and traffic sets the pace. Crew pins gather along Sukhumvit and around Silom and Sathon, with a few in the old city near the river. Pick one area, eat, and keep your plans short.

Food, early and late

For late food, crew tag Jeh O Chula on Banthat Thong Road as a late-night spot. On Sukhumvit, crew pinned Padthai Chapaa - Asoke, off Sukhumvit 21, and Zong Peep Khao Soi on Sukhumvit 11/1. Somtum Der is on Sala Daeng Road in Bang Rak. All three are sit-down restaurants.

For breakfast, Breakfast Story Asok is on Sukhumvit Road. Our guide to late-night food after a late arrival covers what to do when your body clock and the kitchens disagree, and our food poisoning guide covers street food.

Coffee

% Arabica Bangkok Park Silom is on Convent Road in Si Lom, and Featherstone is on Soi Pridi Banomyong 31 in Vadhana District. Crew pinned both as coffee spots.

A walk or something to do

Crew pinned the Grand Palace on Maha Rat Road as a sight and ICONSIAM on Charoen Nakhon Road for shopping. Smartraveller notes that large protests can occur in Bangkok, so check the news and avoid demonstrations.

Gym and wellbeing

Crew pinned Clearer Lab on Rama I Road as a spa. For sleep after a spa session or a long sector, see our guide to jet lag on a 24-hour layover.

Getting around and staying safe

From the airport. Taxis run 24 hours from Level 1 of the main terminal, between Gates 4 and 7, and Suvarnabhumi's own page says you take a queue ticket before you board. Fares start at THB 35 or 40 plus the meter, and a THB 50 airport surcharge goes to the driver. Grab, which the airport calls a licensed ride-hailing service, picks up at Level 1, Gate 4 on the outer curb. The Airport Rail Link station is on Level B1, with trains from 5:30 am to midnight.

Roads. Smartraveller says road accidents are a significant cause of injury in Thailand, and to wear a helmet on motorcycles and motorcycle taxis. Our guide to taxi and rideshare safety abroad has the checks worth making.

Drinks and scams. Smartraveller says drink spiking, assault and robbery can happen to tourists, and to stay with people you trust in bars, nightclubs and taxis. It warns about scams and card-skimming devices at ATMs. Our guide to common scams in Southeast Asia lists the usual ones.

Medicine and vapes. Smartraveller says travellers have been arrested for carrying medicine, even when prescribed, and that vapes are illegal. Our crew medicine kit guide covers what to pack.

Tap water. Use sealed bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth. Bangkok's Metropolitan Waterworks Authority says its standards follow the WHO drinking water guidelines, but the CDC advises travellers to avoid tap water unless they have good reason to think it is safe, and you cannot check the pipes in a building you are visiting. See our tap water guide.

Emergency. Call police on 191, an ambulance on 1669 or the fire service on 199. Smartraveller lists 1155 for the tourist police. Our guide to emergency numbers for crew cities lists the rest.

Find more on the map

All the spots crew recommend in Bangkok are on the On Chocks map. Filter by open now to see what is serving while you are up.

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