I had seen photos and videos of Bangkok before, but seeing the city with my own eyes was completely different. The busy street, the colorful lights, delicious food, and friendly people made everything feel exciting and new! I came expecting to see new places, but I left with unforgettable memories and deeper appreciation for Thai Culture. So come with me as I take you through my Bangkok adventure.. from the places I explored and the food I tasted to the little moments that made this solo travel truly special.
I hopped off to explore some of the temples and places along the river, taking my time to walk around, look at the details, take photos and just enjoy being there.
There were different dishes and food from different regions of the country, all gathered in one place. You could walk around and discover flavors, snacks and local specialties from different parts of Thailand.
So here's my little Bangkok shopping tips:
And honestly, this is one of my favorite things about solo-travelling.
It was more like discovering little corners of Bangkok on my own. But beyond pretty corners, I loved the feeling of the place. It reminded me that a city doesn't have to be a perfect or brand new to be beautiful.
The best time to visit Bangkok is from November to February, when the weather is cooler and more comfortable for exploring. These months are perfect for sightseeing, enjoying street food and discovering the city. The only downside is that it's also Thailand's peak tourist season. If you don't mind the rain, visiting during the rainy season can also be a great way to experience with fewer crowds.
- Currency. The currency is Thai Baht. Cash is useful for street foods, markets and small shops.
- ATM. atms are widely available around Bangkok. I recommend withdrawing a larger amount at once to make the most of the 250 Baht ATM withdrawal fee. I used my Gcash card because it offered a great exchange change and the most affordable conversion rates during my trip.
- Language. The main language is Thai.
- Safety. I consider Thailand as the one of the safest destination for solo female traveler.
- Plugs. The plugs in Thailand are type A, B, & C.
Getting to Bangkok from the Philippines is pretty easy. Especially from Manila, Cebu and Clark. Several airlines offers direct flights and it takes only 3.5 hours from Manila.
Filipino passport holders can currently enter Thailand visa-free for tourism for up to 60 days.
You need to complete Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) within 3 days before arrival. I've heard stories of travelers having problems at immigration because they did not complete their TDAC.
One important tip!
Be careful of fake TDAC websites. The TDAC is completely FREE!
So if a website is asking you to pay a fee, it may be a scam.
To make things easier, I'll leave the official TDAC link here for you.
Bangkok has 2 main airports.
Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueng.
Suvarnabhumi is the larger and main international airport,
and this is where I flew into my trip.
STAYING CONNECTED IN BANGKOK.
You can purchase eSIM, in advance through Klook, which is super convenient if your phone supports eSIM. Unfortunately, my phone was not esim compatible. So I opted for physical sim instead.
From Suvarnabhumi Airport, you can either book a Grab or take the Airport Rail Link. I chose the train because its cheap and convenient.
The Airport Rail Link takes only 30 minutes to reach Phaya Thai (station in Pratunam). And it only cost 45 Baht.
Just keep in mind that the train operates only until 12 midnight. So I suggest avoid late-night flight. If you arrive late, Grab or taxi is the better option.
Two apps that help me a lot during my Bangkok trip is Bolt and BKK Rail.
Bolt is similar to grab but I found it to be cheaper. One of my biggest culture shock was seeing motorcyles weaving fearlessly through traffic and they don't provide helmet. But thankfully, my rides always got me to my destinations safely haha.
BKK Rail was a lifesaver for navigating Bangkok's train system. At first, different lines and stations felt overwhelming, but on my second day, I was already confident navigating stations. Thanks to this app.
When visiting Bangkok, the Pratunam area is one of the best places to book accommodation. There are plenty of affordable hotels and hostels around the area. Personally, I stayed in Good Day Hostel which I booked through Agoda. The location was very convenient. It's close to everything, including Big C and Pratunam Night Market, both of which are just within walking distance.
I chose to stay in hostel its more affordable, especially since I was travelling solo.
I actually met other solo travelers during my stay, which made
the experience even more enjoyable.
There are common areas where you can watch TV, relax and eat your food. The hostel has also kitchen appliances and utensils that guests can use. The lobby also serves as a cafe' where guests can enjoy a cup of coffee, hang out, or simply relax. The rooms are located upstairs, making the place feel cozy.
I chose the 8-bed mixed dormitory. Each guests has their own locker where you can safely store your luggage and bags. The bed was comfortable and other guests were quiet and respectful, so I was able to get a good night's sleep. Overall, I had a wonderful stay here!
There are plenty of bathrooms and comfort rooms and they are all cleaned and well-maintained. The only downside is that hostels does not have elevator, so you'll need to use the stairs. I struggled a bit when I arrived with my 20kg luggage! But all in all, the hostel is definitely worth the price. I booked it for only around 500pesos per day, which is such a great deal for the location and overall experience.
I'll include some other popular hotels that are well loved by Filipinos for you to check out:
My first day in Bangkok started earlier than expected.
I woke up while the city was slowly coming to life. Honestly, I was a little nervous because it was my first time navigating Bangkok in my own, and one of the first things I had to figure out was the train station 😅
Everything felt unfamiliar.
I kept checking my phone, making sure I was going on the right direction. But at the same time there was something exciting about it. Once I finally made it through the train system and reached my destination, I felt a little more confident.
And that was just the beginning..
For my first day, I decided to explore Bangkok from the river. I have my Hop-on Hop-off boat pass. The river became my guide. A the boat moved along Chao Phraya River, I watched Bangkok unfold around me. Old temples, busy piers, riverside buildings, and everyday life happening along the water.
I continued my day at ICONSIAM. One of the biggest and most impressive mall in Thailand. The mall is huge with 8 floors! What really caught my attention was the ground floor.
It felt like experiencing the culture and food of Thailand in one place.
The lower floor felt colorful, lively, and very local. But upstairs, I found a world of luxury, beautiful stores, designer brands, and elegant spaces. It was such an interesting contrast!
One moment was surrounded by Traditional Thai food and local culture. And a few floors later, I was walking through modern Bangkok. That was one o the thing love about Iconsiam, it wasn't just a mall. It felt like a reflection of Thailand itself.. traditional and modern, local and luxurious, all existing together in one place.
Big C.
I had heard that it was a huge supermarket where you could find all kinds of local and authentic Thai products. ANd when I walked in.. wow!
Big C was HUGE.
There were so many things to look at: snack, sauces, spices, drinks, dried fruits, souvenirs, beauty products, it was honestly a little overwhelming.
I found myself walking through the aisles, picking up products one by one using Google Translate just to figure out what I was looking at. Sometimes I would scan the packaging, read the translation, and decide, "Okay maybe I'll try this.."
But the funniest was the crowd.
There were people everywhere, pushing carts and filling them with Thai goods. At some point, it started to feel like a zombie apocalypse.. but instead of zombies looking for brains, everyone was hunting for Thai snacks and souvenirs. 😅
It was chaotic, overwhelming, and actually a lot of fun.
If you want to experience everyday shopping in Bangkok ands see the incredible variety of Thai products all in one place, Big C is definitely an experience.
1OO Thailand Baht Shop.
While exploring Thailand, I also decided to check out one of their famous 100-Baht shops. The had so many different products; from Thai inhalers to skin care to cosmetics and other everyday essentials.
And the prices? So affordable! They also had big discounts, which made it even harder to resist. And of course, I could not leave without picking up a few things to bring home. That's the danger of this shops.. you think you're just browsing, and suddenly you ae holding a full basket of Thai goods! 😄
If you are visiting Thailand, dont overlooked these 100-Baht Shops. You might go in just to browse.. but be prepared. You may end up walking out with full cart of affordable Thai finds.
Pratunam Night Market.
If you love shopping for affordable clothes, you definitely want to add this to your Bangkok itinerary.
It's basically a street filled with shops selling dresses, t-shirts, pants, bags, accessories and other items. And if you're hungry while shopping, no worries.. there's plenty of street food around the area.
But here's something you should know before you go...
Don't let the name "Night Market" fool you 😁
Even though its called Pratunam Night Market, many of the clothing shops actually closed around 5PM. So if your main goal is to shop for dresses, and other clothes, its better to come in the morning or earlier the day.
Yes, you'll find some shops open at night, but the choices are much more limited because only a few stores remain open.
- Want more choices and lots of clothing shops? Go in the morning.
- Want to enjoy the food and evening atmosphere? Come later in the day.
- Planning to shop at night? Don't expect everything to be open.
Chinatown Night Market.
I came here mainly to experience the night market, the moment I arrived, I could already feel how lively the place was. There was so many food stalls, restaurants and little shops along the streets. I ended up walking around and just enjoying the busy atmosphere.
I actually came here with a friend I met at my accommodation. She was also a Filipino traveling solo, and we decided to have dinner together.
We ordered some food but because of some misunderstanding with the waitress, our food took forever to arrive. But you know what, we didn't even stress about it. We just laughed, talked and enjoyed the moment. The place was absolutely packed with tourists, so I guess everyone was waiting for their food too.
You may arrive alone but you never really know who you're going to meet along the way. Sometimes, a random person you meet could become your dinner buddy 😊 and became part of your travel.
So yes, I came to Thailand alone.. but I did not end up spending the night alone.
7-Eleven Culture.
One thing I noticed while travelling Thailand is how much 7-Eleven is part of everyday life. And with more than 15,000 branches across the country, you honestly dont have to walk very far before you see one! 😅
As a budget traveler, I actually ended up relying on 7-Eleven a lot. And the surprising part? There is so much to choose from! Rice meals, noodles, sandwiches, snacks, desserts and drinks. Thailand made me realize you don't need to spend a lot to enjoy good food while travelling.
For me, visiting Thailand 7-Eleven became part of the travel experience itself 😊
Fun Fact
If you visit one branch every single day,
it would take you around 44 years
to compete the challenge.
Coffee Shops.
Bangkok is filled with coffee shops, but because my time was limited, I only managed to visit one and decided to go somewhere away from the busy city.
I went to After the Rain Coffee & Gallery, which is an hour drive from Pratunam. It is still within Bangkok, but the atmosphere feels completely different.. much quieter, greener, and relaxed.
The food and drinks were delicious and not that expensive. But what I really loved was the view that came with them.
After spending days in the busy streets of Bangkok, it was actually nice to slow down, enjoy a cup of coffee, and just take in the peaceful surroundings.
Chatuchak Park.
Bangkok can be so busy and crowded, so having peaceful place like this in the middle of the city was a nice change of pace. And the best part? It's totally FREE. The park is huge so there s plenty of space to walk around and relax. 
I did not really have a big plan here. I just walked, took some photos, and enjoyed the moment.
I visited in February and the flowers are just starting to bloom. It felt like Thailand's own version of cherry blossom season in Japan. I heard March is even prettier because that's when the flowers are in full bloom.
And here's a little tip if you're looking for a good photo spot.. go through Mo Chit Station. From there, its easy access to the park and find those beautiful flower-lined areas.
SongWat Road.
Historically, it was an important river-trading and wholesale district. Today, the old shophouses and warehouses have been mixed with contemporary art, murals, cafes, galleries, design shops, and independent businesses. It has become known as a creative and instagrammable neighborhood. Especially for its street art, restored heritage buildings, and small alleys.
I kept stopping every few minutes because there always something interesting to photograph. I love how you can simply wander around without strict plan. Turn into an alley, discover cute shop, take a photos then keep walking.
For me, SongWat was one of the places where the journey itself was the experience. You dont need necessarily an itinerary. Sometimes just walking down the street and seeing what you discover is enough.
Some Places and Shops to check:
- Mother Roaster
- Local Boys Coffee Co.
- Road of Cinammon
- Song Wat Street Art
- Gu Lang Bao Artisan Bun Shop
- Ar Liang Dumplings
- Oyster and Things
- Aoon Pottery
I came to Bangkok Alone,
But I did not feel Alone.
Looking back at my Bangkok Trip, I realized that solo travel is not really about being alone. Its about learning to enjoy your own company, making your own decisions, getting lost sometimes, and finding your way back. And the funny thing is even though I traveled alone, I met people along the way.
Bangkok gave me more than a beautiful places, good food and unforgettable memories. It gave me a little more confidence in myself.
Maybe that's the beauty of solo travel.
You leave home looking for places, but somewhere along the way, you end up discovering yourself.
Love,
Eya
