Thailand’s capital is an exciting and frenetic city, home to more than seven million people, endless traffic, choking pollution and 24-hour entertainment. But for those that linger, it gets under your skin - you’ll never get bored. It’s exotic, it’s unique and it’s fun. It’s Thailand.

Highlights:
I’ve been to Bangkok many times, and here are some of the things that continue to hypnotize me - the things i can’t wait to do each time i return:
Hop on a boat, any boat: The public boats that ply the Chao Phraya and smaller khlongs are a cool way to sample Thai life.

Visit “Temple-Town”: The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Mahathat are just plain awesome. Come and explore these classic monuments to Buddhism.

Go Market Mad: This is the city for markets. They’re everywhere. From tiny flower and local produce markets lining the khlongs to “Market Disneyland” and 9000 stalls at the weekend Chatuchak arm-wrestle.

Chew on a Chilli: Bangkok is foodie heaven. The unmistakable freshness and spice surrounds you with thousands of choices. Cruise the river dining on fresh seafood and their famous “Tom Yam” spicy soup to an encore of gilded temple spires and and orange sunset - all for a few dollars!

People Watch: This one’s free. You can do it anywhere, but the frenzied lanes of Chinatown and relaxed open spaces of Lumphini Park are two of the best locations to observe Thais at work and play.

Quick Tips/Suggestions:
WHEN TO GO: Bangkok is hot. At night it just gets dark. Dark and hot. November to May is pretty dry, then the monsoon hits until October. I visit between November and February when the weather is coolest and it’s least humid. At this time the nights are wonderful.

WHERE TO STAY: This is the best tip. Stay by the river. It’s cooler, there’s less pollution, the scenery constantly changes, and you can travel almost anywhere by boat down the river and khlongs. I’ve uncovered a couple of gems for under USD35.

EXPLORING: Bangkok’s climate will sap your energy. Always carry plenty of water. But there are a few other general tips for negotiating the city: Buy Nancy Chandler’s Map, the key to unlocking Bangkok’s hidden treasures. Pace yourself - leave time for relaxing, and check opening times of attractions you plan to visit - they can be as fickle as European churches. Oh, and grab a hotel/guesthouse card with Thai printed directions for those late-night taxi or tuk-tuk drives - not many of these guys speak English.

BUDGET: I manage to live well on around Baht 800 (USD21) a day (for two), everything included.

Best Way to Get Around:
There’s no simple answer to the best way to get around. Here’s some of the options i have used and why:

Boats: Cheap and plentiful, they’ll get you to many of the places you want to visit and are my first choice. Beat the heat, pollution and traffic for the price of a public bus - a few cents.

Tuk-tuks: Use them to cover short distances away from the heat, mayhem and polluted, gridlock traffic of the main roads. Avoid catching tuk-tuks at peak hour, you’ll probably die of lead poisoning. They’re about the same price as a taxi.

Taxi: I’ve used them a few times to travel back to my hotel at night and they’re quite cheap - i’ve never paid more than Baht 150 (USD 4) for a trip anywhere in Bangkok.

Skytrain: If you want to get there in a hurry and grab some great views, this monorail-like transit system is the option for you. Although its purpose is to serve business commuters, some stops are convenient for major attractions.

Walking: No, I haven’t gone crazy. Many of Bangkok’s narrow lanes and riverfront areas are best explored on foot. It can be a walker’s city.