The Grand Palace

This is a must-visit for every traveller to Thailand. Constructed in 1782, it served as the Thai King’s residence for 150 years before transforming into a venue solely reserved for special occasions and ceremonies. This is the first major attraction I visited in Bangkok (other than 7/11) and I was surprised that they charge a different price for foreigners, it was free for Thai people but 500 Baht (£11.10*) for everyone else, you will find this a lot in SE Asia where the locals get a huge discount. However when thinking about it we used to give a discount to Londoners when I was working at the London Eye so it’s fair enough.

You can easily spend a day in the Grand Palace, which I recommend you do.

Open daily: 08:30 – 16:30 hrs. Entrance fee: 500 baht (£11.10*).

Getting there: The best way to get to the palace would be Via the MRT, Bus or Boat. The cheapest is the Bus, but the more exciting way to get there is via boat so have a look on Google Maps and see if there’s a way to get there from wherever you may be, think of it as getting a free boat tour of the city as the Palace is located right in the centre. The most convenient way to get there as with any place in Asia would be by motorcycle so if you have already downloaded the Grab app consider ordering from there!

Wat Arun

Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, is a Buddhist temple situated in the Yai district along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. Renowned for its breathtaking architectural design and complex decorations, it stands as one of Thailand’s notable landmarks.

Another must-do for any tourist visiting Bangkok no matter who you are, so no excuses for not visiting this one. Undoubtedly breathtaking with its intricate architecture and cultural significance, Wat Arun can be hampered by large crowds, making it difficult to fully enjoy. So I recommend you visit later in the day to avoid the pesky tour groups that swamp the place in the morning and early afternoon. The temple gets lit at night so offers some great photo opportunities for your Instagram story!

Open daily: 08.00 – 18.00 hrs. Entrance fee: 100 baht (£2.22*).

Getting there: It’s in a slightly awkward place in the centre of the city to get to using public transit, however, I do recommend getting the boat again for this temple as the pier that you will get off will be next to the temple entrance. Another option would of course be to order a GrabBike to navigate to the temple quickly without having to haggle with the tuk-tuks!

Wat Pho

Wat Pho, also called the Reclining Buddha Temple, is a revered royal temple, situated south of the Grand Palace. It showcases the largest reclining Buddha in Thailand. Behind the reclining Buddha, you’ll find 108 small pots where placing a coin and giving it a swirl is believed to bring good luck, similar to those coin donation things you used to find in shopping centres in the UK which make the pennies race to the bottom.

Once again this temple is a busy one! I would avoid going in the morning as there will be fewer tour groups and go in the late afternoon! There is also a school within this temple teaching Thai massages so if you’re looking into improving your massage skills (without the happy ending) while away definitely give this a go!

Open daily: 08.00 – 18.30 hrs. Entrance fee: 300 baht (£6.66*).

Getting there: The best way to get to Wat Pho would be Via the MRT, Bus or Boat. The cheapest is the Bus, but the more exciting way to get there is via boat so have a look on Google Maps and see if there’s a way to get there from wherever you may be. It’s right next to the Grand Palace, so easy to find.

The First Hostel option I recommend you book is Luk Hostel. Nestled in the vibrant Yaowarat food street, the hostel offers an authentic experience surrounded by rich cultural vibes.

Luk Hostel combines modern architecture, comprehensive amenities, Chinese cultural influences, and a lively atmosphere. Their recently revamped Chinese-style building now features an impressive rooftop and glasshouse, creating a perfect setting for travellers to connect, converse, work, and indulge in the cafe and the Rise Bar. Immerse yourself in the charm of Chinatown and relish a stay that goes beyond the ordinary.

The most cost-effective way to stay at this hostel is choosing the 24-person dorm room, 24 people sounds like a lot but the rooms are designed to be quiet and you have your own space pull your curtains and it feels like you are the only person there for some quiet time.

Dorms from £8.74* per night

The second recommendation for a hostel in Chinatown to book is Time Sabai 32. This hostel, styled in a retro and classic fashion, is conveniently located within walking distance from the Hualamphong MRT and Train station.

This hostel is an ideal choice for travellers seeking a unique perspective to experience Bangkok. Whether you’re embarking on an incredible adventure or visiting Bangkok for a vibrant stay, Time Sabai 32 ensures you won’t be disappointed. The hostel is filled with colour and vibrancy, perfect for solo travellers.

The most cost-effective way to stay at this hostel is by choosing the 10-person dorm room.

Dorms from £7.61* per night

Silom

The first hostel I recommend you stay at is Silom Space Hostel, it’s the first hostel on my travellers where I interacted knowingly with other gay guys. The dorms are nice and not crowded it has a good social space with free tea coffee and noodles all day and night so if you’re feeling peckish after spending the night in DJ Station then they have you covered.

The hostel is across the road from the Skytrain so easy to navigate the rest of the city and Lumbini Park is also close by, there is an open-top gym at the park as well as loads of monitor lizards.

They are above DJ Station (a gay club), as in literally if you are arriving at the Hostel late then you are going to have to walk through the queue of the club to get to the lift that will take you up to reception. Now this hostel doesn’t mention that it catered to the Gay scene however all the male receptionists were gay and would come and meet me in DJ Station after finishing work and even though I booked the mixed dorm, there were only men within.

Prices from £9.01* per night

The second hostel I recommend you stay at in Silom is The Marble Hostel, it’s a hostel that is in the heart of the gay scene in Silom. Step out of this hostel and into the world of gay Bangkok. There is only one type of dorm for this hostel and it’s male-only, I wonder why? Well, let’s just say I had my fair share of fun in this hostel and thoroughly enjoyed the nightlife. 

Attractions near The Marble Hostel include the Central Lumphini Urban Park and Silom Night Market, which can be reached in a 10-minute’ walk and a 5-minute’ walk respectively. To get from the hostel to the Gay Silom 4 Alley you need to walk around the block as the Hostel is located down a quiet street with a dead end!

Prices from £7.85* per night

Khaosan Road

Get ready to party the night away every night in Khaosan Road at Here Hostel. This was the final hostel I stayed at before moving onto Vietnam, the drink was flowing and the hangovers were abysmal but well worth it in my opinion and if anything this area of the city is a right of passage for anyone coming through Bangkok for the first time. Make sure your social battery is charged before your first night at Here Hostel.

In terms of facilities, this hostel has the most facilities you would typically find in a backpackers’ hostel such as; security lockers, a swimming pool, a huge social space, a cafe and a bar. The bar to start your night off strong and the swimming pool to nurse your hangover before you do it all over again later that night! 

Prices from £11.21* per night

The Stranger Bar

This is where I started my first gay night out in Bangkok is located on (Silom) Soi 4, the bar is a small space and not intimidating, unlike some other venues down the strip. So grab a drink, get chatting with some hotties and start the night off with a bang with one of the daily drag shows that take place. 

Here’s why I like them;

• No entry fee
• Drag shows on throughout the night 
• Small and intimate

Connections Bangkok

At Connections, I discovered a welcoming and laid-back atmosphere. Here, I just sat on the comfy furniture sipping cocktails and took in the passing parade of hot guys going into the strip. The staff were very friendly, this is a great place to start your night out as they also serve food. So if you haven’t grabbed anything to eat yet and you’re staying in The Marble Hostel this can be a great place to come and start the night. The crowd is a mixture of tourists and locals and with the laid-back atmosphere is a great place to strike up a conversation.

Here’s why I like them;

• No entry fee
• Cheapest drinks I could find in the gay scene in Bangkok (When not happy hour elsewhere)

Hotmale Club and Bar

Ok, Ok this is a GoGo bar instead of a ‘normal’ bar or club however being young and also having never been into one before I decided to go in. I looked at reviews on Google before going and it was a mixture of really bad reviews and really good reviews so I thought how bad can it be? Firstly I was the youngest person in the bar who was a customer but this turned out to be a good thing as I got quite a lot of attention from the guys who worked there.

The staff were not pushy at all as I made it clear I was not going to get a dance, should everyone venture into this establishment no, but if you do, be cautious, keep your belongings close and you will have a great time. Drinks were very expensive but it was free to enter so I thought of it as an entrance fee. 

Here’s why I like them;

• Great first Gogo bar experience 
• Very hot guys dancing

The Balcony

When I think back to this night out I cringe at my behaviour; Karaoke, Dancing on Tables and my head down the toilet towards the end! It didn’t stop me tho…. This Bar has 2 levels, upstairs is karaoke and a balcony that looks down onto the strip. Downstairs they serve food and then turn it into more of a bar later on. The Balcony hosts events for both the Thai and Western calendars, like Christmas and Halloween. If you’re in Bangkok during Halloween, it’s worth checking out. The main reason to go to this bar is the lively patrons and friendly staff.

While I was there during happy hour the drinks were exceptionally cheap 60 Baht (£1.29) for a beer, this was the cheapest drink I could find in the whole of Bangkok. Now I’m normally a white spirit drinking aka a basic bitch (Vodka Lime Soda) and that is why I think my behaviour got outrageous but still sensible. 

Here’s why I like them;

• Great drinks prices
• Staff were great
• Other patrons around my age 
• Karaoke (Give it a go even if your shit you will love it) 

DJ Station

This is my favourite place to go clubbing in Bangkok, it’s not as intense as clubbing in G Bangkok (below) and it’s large and has a variety of venues and kind of feels like a superclub but split into smaller sections, it’s hard to describe but once you enter you will understand what I mean. The sections of the club offer different vibes, you have Kpop, classic clubbing, chilled, drag queen and another section with an underground feeling area.

Bars are scattered throughout the venue and you never have to wait that long to get a drink, one drink on offer is huge and is essentially an entire bottle of brandy mixed with cola now this drink will last you the whole night. If you are staying at Silom Space hostel ask the guys at reception if they are going down after work, most likely they are!

Here’s why I like them;

• Other patrons around my age 
• Silom Space hostel entrance is in the queuing area of the club
• Lots of different areas in the club 
• Entrance fee of 300 Baht (£6.60) including 2 drinks 

G Bangkok (formally G.O.D.)

This is the club where you take your top off and rub yourself against other men, great fun in my opinion. Now, I by no means have a body with big shoulders, abs and even arms, I’m one of those guys who avoids the gym with a barge pole unless one of my mates forces me to go. That being said I wasn’t very body confident when I went for the first time however I soon realised who gives a toss and this is my first time in Bangkok so let’s go for it. I had a great time and enjoyed the music and snogging many men, I loved singing to Gaga and Kylie remixes.

Here’s why I like them;

• Other patrons around my age 
• Tops off everyone! (You don’t have to if you don’t want to though)
• Entrance fee of 400 Baht (£8.90) including 2 drinks