Bangkok

Bangkok rewards travelers willing to embrace a bit of chaos: gilded temple spires rise between glass office towers, longtail boats cut through the Chao Phraya a few blocks from an elevated Skytrain line, and some of the best food in the city comes from a folding table on the sidewalk rather than a restaurant with a menu. The Grand Palace, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho anchor the old riverside city, while Sukhumvit and Silom form the newer commercial spine running east from the river, dense with malls, offices, and nightlife.

Bangkok’s cool season (November to February) is the most comfortable stretch to visit, with lower humidity and the least rain. March through June runs hot, often the hottest and most humid months of the year, and July through October is the rainy season, with heavy but usually short afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain. Hotel prices tend to dip slightly during the hot and rainy months and rise around the cool-season peak, especially over the New Year holidays.

Getting around is fastest on the BTS Skytrain and MRT subway, which glide over and under the traffic. The Chao Phraya Express Boat is the other must-use option: it runs up and down the river past the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and the old town, and is often quicker than the roads. For short trips there are tuk-tuks, metered taxis and motorbike taxis, and most visitors use Grab, the ride-hailing app, for cars. From Suvarnabhumi Airport, the Airport Rail Link runs straight into the city.