From the sois

35 things locals know about Bangkok

The small stuff that makes a big difference — collected by Soi Map and readers like you.

🚇 Getting around

At rush hour (7–9am, 4–8pm) the BTS beats a taxi almost every time — even for short hops.
Motorbike taxi riders in orange vests wait at the end of most sois. ฿10–40 saves a sweaty 15-minute walk.
Grab prices jump the moment it rains. If a storm is coming, get to a station first.
The orange-flag river boat costs about ฿16 and stops at the same piers as the ฿30+ tourist boat.
Save your hotel’s name and address in Thai script — many drivers don’t read English addresses.
Skytrain exits are numbered. Check which exit you need before you tap out; the wrong one can mean crossing a 10-lane road.

A queue of office workers at lunchtime is the most reliable restaurant review in Bangkok.
Many famous street-food stalls close one day a week, often Monday. Check before you build an evening around one.
Ask for “phet nit noi” (a little spicy). “Mai phet” means not spicy, but you may still get a chilli or two.
Ice shaped like a tube with a hole through the middle is factory-made and safe.
Mall food courts are excellent, cheap and air-conditioned. Buy a card at the counter and get your unused balance refunded.
Mango sticky rice is best in mango season, roughly March to June.

Thai ATMs charge around ฿220 per withdrawal on foreign cards, so take out larger amounts less often.
Break ฿1,000 notes at 7-Eleven. Taxi drivers and street vendors often can’t make change.
“++” on a menu means 10% service charge plus 7% VAT will be added to the bill.
Exchange booths in the city (look for the green or orange ones) give better rates than the airport.
Tipping isn’t expected, but rounding up or leaving ฿20–100 for good service is appreciated.

At 8am and 6pm the national anthem plays in parks and stations, and everyone stops. Stand still with them.
Never step on a dropped banknote to stop it blowing away — it carries the King’s image.
Shoes off before entering temples, many homes and some shops. If you see a pile of shoes, add yours.
A smile and “mai pen rai” (never mind) defuses almost any situation. Raising your voice never helps.
Monks ride free on some boats and have priority seats on the BTS. Women shouldn’t sit right next to them.

Do outdoor sights before 11am, hide in a mall, museum or massage shop until 4pm, then head out again.
Carry a small umbrella year-round: it’s shade in the dry season and shelter in the wet.
Rainy-season storms usually last an hour. Duck into a café and wait it out rather than getting soaked.
Air quality can be poor from January to March. Check an air-quality app and pick indoor plans on bad days.
Buy electrolyte drinks or rehydration salts at any pharmacy or 7-Eleven — they help more than water alone.

Arrive at rooftop bars between 5 and 6pm for happy-hour prices and the sunset.
Alcohol isn’t sold in shops between 2pm and 5pm, or after midnight, and not at all on some Buddhist holidays.
Rooftop bars enforce dress codes: no flip-flops or sleeveless tops for men.
Thonglor and Ekkamai are where locals go out; Khao San and Nana are where tourists go.

At markets, start at about half the asking price and settle with a smile. In malls and 7-Eleven, prices are fixed.
Chatuchak is busiest after 11am. Go at 9am for cooler air, calmer aisles and first pick.
Tourists can claim back VAT on purchases over ฿2,000 from shops with the “VAT Refund for Tourists” sign — keep the form.
Pharmacies sell many medicines over the counter; pharmacists usually speak some English and are very helpful.

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