The modern Asian metropolis at its steamy and exciting best.

Bangkok has dominated Thailand's urban hierarchy as well as its political, commercial and cultural life since the late 18th century. Although you can shop in air-conditioned comfort in its Western-style malls, the city is a long way from being tamed by commercial homogeneity.

Bangkok proper seethes on the east side of the Mae Nam Chao Phraya (Chao Phraya River), drawing rural Thai folk into its cluttered fold daily. The city is reportedly sinking at a rate of 5cm (2in) every year, but there's too much sanùk (a Thai sense of fun) going on for that to get anyone down.

When To Go

While there's really no bad time to visit Thailand's capital, rain and extreme heat are less frequent between November and February. April is only recommended to those with portable air conditioners, while October brings the heaviest rains - these are probably the best times to be out of Thailand. The tourists flock to Bangkok in December and August, while the least crowded months tend to be May, June and September.

Full Name	Bangkok
Area	1,569 sq km 606 sq miles
Population	8,000,000
Time Zone	GMT/UTC +7 (Bangkok Standard Time)
Languages	Thai (official) Thai is a complicated language with its own unique alphabet, but it's fun to try at least a few words. The main complication with Thai is that it is tonal: the same word could be pronounced with a rising, falling, high, low or level tone and could theoretically have five meanings!
Currency	Baht (Bht)
Electricity	220V 50HzHz
Electric Plug Details	European plug with two circular metal pins
	Japanese-style plug with two perpendicular flat blades