Bangkok is a vibrant budget friendly city with a perfect blend of culture, food, and family-friendly adventures. If you’re planning to visit with kids, a little preparation goes a long way in making the trip smoother and more enjoyable. After multiple visits with our little ones, we’ve learned a few tricks to help you navigate Bangkok’s bustling streets and attractions. Here are our top family travel tips for Bangkok!
1. Cash is still King in Thailand!
While credit cards are widely accepted, cash remains king in many places, especially for street food and smaller shops. We recommend bringing enough cash in your own currency for the first few days and exchanging it for Thai Baht at a good money changer like: Super Rich Exchange, a popular and reliable chain offering competitive rates. They have outlets in most major shopping malls in Bangkok.
Although ATMs are plentiful, be aware that most Thai banks charge a 220 baht withdrawal fee, and you can typically withdraw up to 20,000 baht per transaction. (As of January 2025, only Krungsi Bank allows withdrawals of up to 30,000 baht.). While credit cards are accepted at most major shops, be mindful of a 3% surcharge at smaller vendors.
2. Avoid Traffic at All Costs
Bangkok’s traffic is infamous, especially around popular tourist spots like Siam, Pratunam, and Sukhumvit. To make the most of your time, try to avoid morning rush hours (8-10am) and afternoon traffic (from 3pm) as kids finish school, which worsens until 8pm after the work rush hour “get better”. Friday nights starting from 3pm are the worst!
3. The Best Ways to Get Around
There are several ways to get around Bangkok with kids, but your best options are:
Grab and Bolt: These rideshare apps are great for short trips. They’re affordable, with fixed prices which help you avoid taxi scams. Pre-booking your ride can help avoid the last-minute rush. Pro tip: Use Google Maps to check the traffic route and try to and stand on the correct side of the road to avoid unnecessary U-turns. A simple U-turn can add easily 30 minutes to your journey!
Private Driver: For longer trips or day tours, hire a private driver like Mr. Neng, who offers reasonable fixed prices, great itinerary and local restaurant suggestions.
BTS and MRT: If your hotel is near a BTS (Skytrain) or MRT (Metro) station, use them! The systems have improved a lot in recent years and are a great way to avoid traffic. However, be aware that transfers between the BTS and MRT is not as seamless as in other places like Singapore or Shanghai and will require separate tickets. Not the best for families bringing strollers either (lots of stairs) although station staff are generally helpful allowing access for people on wheelchairs.
Boats: The Chao Phraya River boats are easy to use and offer a scenic way to get to riverside attractions. Simply pay for the ticket after you get on board – the ticket officer will approach you. Public boats are cash only.
Tuk Tuks: These insta famous rides (especially the ones with night bling bling lights) are fun but often overpriced for tourists. Bargain hard if you plan to take one, as the fare can be more than double the fair rate. Use Grab or Bolt pricing as comparison.
4. If you have time – consider staying in multiple Hotels
Bangkok offers plenty of accommodation options that provide great value for money and are perfect for families. To make your travels easier, prioritise staying near public transport stations.
For longer stays, it might be worth switching hotels to be closer to different attractions. For example, we initially stayed at Lancaster Bangkok as our base for day trips, then switched to Centre Point Hotel Chidlom, which is closer to the shopping districts (the latter provides complementary tuk tuk service from hotel to Chidlom BTS station which saves you 10 minutes of walking). This helped us avoid a lot of traffic headaches.
5. Book Tickets in Advance
We love using Klook to book tickets for popular attractions. Often it is cheaper, and it saves you time by letting you skip the long lines at places like Mueang Boran ancient city or the Grand Palace. You can also book by contacting attractions directly via WhatsApp or Line (Thailand’s Whatsapp) for some local attractions.
6. Bargaining for Souvenirs
Bangkok’s markets are great for shopping, but don’t forget that bargaining is part of the experience! At Chatuchak Weekend Market, we’ve had better luck finding lower prices in smaller shops away from the main street. Be prepared for higher prices at touristy floating markets, so always haggle before buying.
If you’re unsure about the fair price for a souvenir, check out fixed price shops first to get an idea of what’s reasonable.
7. Food: Spice, Sour, and Delicious
Thai food is famous for its bold flavours, but if you have young kids who aren’t used to spicy food, don’t worry – most restaurants can accommodate dishes with no spice or medium spice. Eating away from the main tourist areas as usual will give you better food options.
One place you can consider for a (lazy) quick meal is 7-Eleven Thailand! which offers a surprisingly good variety of pre-packed meals that you can microwave at the store and enjoy. It’s perfect for breakfast or a light snack, and many stores even have small seating areas. Don’t do this too often! Street food in Bangkok is amazing.
And… don’t worry too much about drinking ice cubes in Thailand! Unlike Indonesia where you should never drink water from melted ice cubes – it’s generally clean in Bangkok, and you’ll find that drinks orders are often served with a separate glass full of ice.
8. Weather: Bangkok Winter?!
Like most visitors, we expected Bangkok to be hot and humid all year-round. However, when we visited during the cooler season (November to February), we were pleasantly surprised. Daytime temperatures were in the high 20s during our week long stay in mid-January, making outdoor sights and markets much more comfortable. In fact, we even found the swimming pool too cold to use on some afternoons!
9. Arriving at the Airport
If you’re flying into Suvarnabhumi Airport, families with young kids can get in the priority immigration line, which will save you a lot of time.
There’s only one bank at the airport for currency exchange, but the rates aren’t great, so exchange just enough cash for your immediate expenses.
We recommend using a private driver like Mr Neng for pickup or booking a Grab rideshare to head into the city which will take around 45 minutes.
Final Thoughts: A Family-Friendly Destination!
Bangkok is an exciting destination that offers something for every member of the family. From exploring its beautiful temples and vibrant markets to enjoying delicious food and unique attractions, to cheap shopping there’s never a dull moment. With a little planning, you can avoid the chaos and enjoy all the best the city has to offer without the stress.
What are your favourite family-friendly activities in Bangkok? Let us know in the comments below, and happy traveling!
For other places we have visited, checkout our website’s travel Destinations section. We buy our travel essentials online via Ebay
