The city of Bangkok, known in Thai as Krung Thep or “City of Angels”, is the capital of Thailand, founded in 1782 by King Rama I. Bangkok is the country's principal gateway and port. Lying a mere 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the sea, the city sprawls 1500 square kilometres (58 square miles), on both sides of Thailand's main river, the Chao Phraya.
The name 'Bangkok' historically refers to one section of the city. This neighbourhood became so well-known that, for international visitors today, Bangkok is the name of the city itself.
Plug TypeLanguageThai (English is widely spoken)Population5.8 millionTime ZoneGMT +7 hoursMeasuresMetric SystemVoltage220 voltsMobile PhonesGSM 900/1800Visitors from most countries are issued 2- to 4-week entry permits on arrival and upon presentation of a passport and a ticket for the return or onward journey. Entry permits cannot be extended while you are in Thailand. It is advisable to check with a Thai embassy or consulate in your country before departure.
If you are planning a longer stay, apply for either a 60-day tourist visa or 30-day transit visa from Thai embassies and consulates overseas. These can be extended at the Immigration Office in Bangkok for a nominal fee.
Visa Requirements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of ThailandThe Thai currency is the baht, divided into 100 satang.Here are the most recent exchange rates for some common currencies.THB 1.00 equals:
.03
US Dollar (USD)
.04
Australian Dollar (AUD)
.21
Chinese Yuan Renminbi (RMB)
.02
Euro (EUR)
.02
British Pound (GBP)
.22
Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
1.39
Indian Rupee (INR)
2.59
Japanese Yen (JPY)
.05
New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
.04
Singapore Dollar (SGD)
A value-added tax (VAT) of 7% is added to all purchase amounts. The VAT is refundable for tourists only at participating shops.A service charge of 10% is usually added automatically to all hotel and restaurant bills in Bangkok. If not, a 10% tip is appropriate for waiters.Bank Hours8:30-9:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday.Office Hours8-9 am to 4-5 pm, Monday through Friday.Shop Hours8-9 am to 9 pm or later throughout the week.
Department stores are open 10 am to 8-9 pm all week.Check with your local clinic about vaccination requirements. Drink only bottled or boiled water. Bottled drinking water is available in the hotel room, compliments of Shangri-La.Light clothing for the summer months and a sweater for the cooler months. Suits are appropriate for business occasions. Shorts and T-shirts are frowned upon in government offices. It is more respectable to wear modest dress in temples.As a tropical city, Bangkok enjoys warm to hot temperatures throughout the year. The May-June summer temperatures range from 35C to 40C (95F to 104F) while winter temperatures range from 30C to 34C (56F to 93F).