Trip for · Tight budgets

Bangkok for budget travellers

Street meals under ฿100, beds under ฿500, boats for ฿16.

Only items the guide tags or describes for budget travellers; each shows the field it came from. Prices and hours: check before you go.

Key facts

A 4-day outline

Grouped by walking cluster where the guide gives one. Order inside a day is loose: the timed day plans check opening hours and walking.

Thai massage at the Wat Pho school
Why it fits: A massage where Thai massage is taught; cheap, firm and done in the open-plan pavilion.
From: Experience · verdict: do it yourself
Chao Phraya orange-flag boat
Why it fits: the city's cheapest sightseeing tour (check fare).
From: Good for · budget travellers
Boat-noodle alley
Why it fits: Kuay teow reua in small bowls · ฿20–30 (≈ under US$1) a bowl; most people eat 4–6. Lunch; stack the bowls, pay by the count.
From: Eat guide · Budget tier
Or Tor Kor Market food hall
Why it fits: Curries, som tam, grilled meats · ฿80–200 (≈ US$3–7). Clean, fixed prices; the best lunch on a Chatuchak day.
From: Eat guide · Budget tier

Free sights
Why it fits: Lumphini, Benjakitti, BACC, Erawan Shrine and Chinatown cost nothing.
From: Good for · budget travellers
Mall food courts
Why it fits: air-conditioned Thai food for ฿40–100 (≈ US$2–4).
From: Good for · budget travellers
Jek Pui curry
Why it fits: Curry over rice at tables with no chairs · ฿60–100 (≈ US$2–4). Late afternoon to early evening; a Chinatown classic.
From: Eat guide · Budget tier
Khao gaeng (curry-and-rice) shops
Why it fits: Point at 2–3 curries over rice · ฿50–90 (≈ US$2–3). The cheapest full meal; vegetables easy to point at.
From: Eat guide · Budget tier

Chatuchak Weekend Market
Why it fits: Free entry. Thousands of stalls, from vintage and ceramics to plants and coconut ice cream; half a day that fills a suitcase.
From: Top 10 · cost
Muay Thai drop-in class
Why it fits: Two hours of honest hard work alongside people who train there daily; no tour needed.
From: Experience · verdict: do it yourself
Nai Ek Roll Noodles
Why it fits: Kuay jap (peppery rolled-noodle soup, pork) · ฿80–150 (≈ US$3–5). Seated shophouse; air-con upstairs.
From: Eat guide · Budget tier

Rooftop bar at sunset
Why it fits: No tour needed: book or walk in at sunset, dressed smart-casual, and treat the first drink as the ticket.
From: Experience · verdict: do it yourself
Yaowarat Road street food (evening)
Why it fits: Chinatown grazing: noodles, dumplings, grilled seafood, desserts · ฿60–200 (≈ US$2–7) a dish. Evenings from 18:00; cash.
From: Eat guide · Budget tier
Pratunam chicken rice (Go-Ang, the pink uniforms)
Why it fits: Khao man gai · ฿60–120 (≈ US$2–4). Fast queue; open from early morning.
From: Eat guide · Budget tier

Sleep areas the guide points budget travellers to.

Banglamphu and Khao San
The cheapest beds in the centre.
From: Sleep fit · budget 5/5

What the guide flags for budget travellers.

Keep ฿1,000 (≈ US$35) in small notes; withdraw inside banks or malls (about ฿220 (≈ US$7) fee per foreign-card withdrawal). (Money · ATM rule)