Owais Crawford
Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport is located 25-30km east of the city and is one of the busiest and most modern airports in the world. With its impressive array of shopping, dining, and cultural experiences, it is a destination in its own right. If you have a long layover, you can leave the airport and take a quick trip into the city centre to visit famous sites such as the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, one of Thailand's most famous temples. If you'd prefer to stay in the airport, you can enjoy the food, from Thai and Asian to-go counters to sit-down restaurants, or relax in the airport lounges, some of which offer spa treatments and showers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Distance from Bangkok city centre | 25-30 km |
| Transport to city centre | Airport Rail Link, metered taxi, ride-hailing services |
| Transport time to city centre | 10-45 minutes |
| Tourist spots in the city | Grand Palace, Wat Pho |
| Hotels in the airport | Miracle Transit Hotel, Boxtel |
| Hotels near the airport | Novotel Bangkok, Le Meridien Suvarnabhumi |
| Food | Thai, Asian, Western |
| Shopping | Luxury brands, duty-free, Thai souvenirs, convenience stores |
| Relaxation | Observation deck, airport lounges, spa treatments |
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What You'll Learn
Eat Thai food, including authentic street food
If you're looking to eat Thai food, including authentic street food, around Bangkok Airport, you're in luck. The airport itself offers a range of dining options, from snack kiosks to Michelin-rated dining experiences. You can find anything from spring rolls, fried bananas, and noodle soup at kiosks to famous Thai dishes like Pad Thai and Mango Sticky Rice at various eateries throughout the airport. The Magic Food Point food court is a popular spot, designed to mimic the feel of a local street food market with its vibrant decor and lively atmosphere. With over 30 dining establishments, you can experience a different culinary adventure every day for a month without leaving the airport!
If you have a longer layover and want to venture outside the airport, Bangkok city centre is a quick trip away, about 25-30 km from the airport. There, you'll find an abundance of delicious Thai street food options. The old town district, particularly Charoenkrung and Yaowarat Chinatown, is known as the epicentre of Bangkok's street food heritage. You can join a guided tour, like the Midnight Food TukTuk Tour, to maximise your chances of finding the best street food stalls.
For a more sit-down meal, Bangkok offers a range of restaurants serving modern Thai cuisine alongside international options. You can easily find anything from a spicy coconut milk curry to a world-class Italian dinner. The city truly is a paradise for food lovers, with fresh green papaya salads, stir-fried noodle dishes, and an array of street food options available twenty-four hours a day.
If you're looking for specific recommendations, Silom Soi 20 is a great central Thai morning market. You can find fresh ingredients and ready-to-eat meals like Thai chicken biryani and black sticky rice and custard. Other notable spots include Som Tam Jay So for Isaan food, Kuay Jab Nay Lek for peppery pork soup with noodle rolls, and Doy Kuay Teow Reua for boat noodles, one of the most popular noodle dishes in Bangkok.
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Shop for luxury brands, Thai souvenirs, and duty-free goods
If you're looking to indulge in some retail therapy around Bangkok Airport, you're in luck! Suvarnabhumi Airport offers a plethora of options for luxury brands, Thai souvenirs, and duty-free shopping.
For duty-free shopping, Suvarnabhumi Airport has an extensive selection of popular and niche products. The airport's shopping street is a one-stop shop for wines, spirits, and other top beverage brands from around the world. Additionally, you can find cosmetics from renowned brands such as L'OREAL, ESTÉE LAUDER, SULWHASOO, BIOTHERM, NARS, and more. These cosmetics are conveniently displayed in a long walk-through shopping street, making it easy to browse. The airport also features the latest fashions from well-known brands like Longchamp, Samsonite, Kipling, and Benetton.
When it comes to luxury brands, Suvarnabhumi Airport takes it a notch higher. Head to Level 4, Concourse D, and you'll step into a luxurious shopping experience. Here, you'll find boutiques from high-end brands such as Bally, Burberry, Bvlgari, Cartier, Coach, Dior, and many more. These beautifully designed shops offer a wide range of exclusive products from some of the world's most prestigious brands.
If you're interested in authentic Thai souvenirs, the Suvarnabhumi Airport has you covered. The Royal Project & OTOP areas, also located on Level 4, Concourse D, showcase and sell products exclusively from Thailand. OTOP, which stands for "One Tambon, One Product," is a unique scheme that encourages each village in Thailand to create and produce its own distinctive product, incorporating local character and folk wisdom. At the Suvarnabhumi Airport OTOP shop, you'll discover a vast array of high-quality arts and crafts that embody the richness of Thai culture.
While the airport provides a convenient shopping experience, if you have a longer layover or some time to spare, you might consider venturing into Bangkok city centre, which is just a quick taxi or bus ride away. Here, you can explore markets and shops offering a wide range of luxury brands and unique souvenirs. Don't miss the Grand Palace, a stunning example of Thai architecture and the home of the Thai King. Nearby, you'll also find Wat Pho, one of Thailand's most famous Buddhist temples, renowned for its 15-meter-high gold-coated Reclining Buddha.
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Relax in a spa or hotel
If you're looking to relax and unwind near Bangkok Airport, there are several spa and hotel options to choose from. For those seeking a convenient location within the airport, the Miracle Transit Hotel on Level 3 offers day rooms for 4-12 hours and features a beauty salon and spa. Alternatively, the Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel, a seven-minute walk from the airport, provides massage and sauna facilities, as well as a gym, swimming pool, and shower amenities. The Vous Spa, located within the Novotel, is highly recommended for its massage experience.
For a more comprehensive spa and hotel experience, the Divalux Resort & Spa is a 20-minute drive from the airport. This luxurious resort boasts the Praan Spa, which offers holistic health care and a range of treatments to pamper yourself. The resort also features attractive lounges, a high-quality restaurant, and a pool bar, providing a laid-back vibe for guests seeking relaxation.
If you're willing to venture a little further, Bangkok offers a plethora of spa hotels that are highly regarded. The Sukhothai Bangkok, with its tranquil garden setting and spacious rooms, is one such option. The Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok and V20 Boutique Jacuzzi Hotel are also recommended for their spa facilities. For a combination of spa amenities and convenient airport access, the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and Siam Mandarina Hotel, which offers a free BKK Airport Shuttle, are excellent choices.
When it comes to relaxation, Bangkok and the surrounding area of its airport provide an array of options, from convenient airport spas to luxurious resort experiences, ensuring that you can unwind and rejuvenate during your travels.
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Explore Bangkok's famous backpacker district, Khao San Road
Khao San Road is one of Bangkok's most famous streets and is considered the unofficial backpacker hub of Asia, if not the world. It is a must-see for any visitor to Bangkok.
The street's fame was cemented by the 1996 novel *The Beach*, by Alex Garland, and the subsequent film adaptation starring Leonardo DiCaprio. In the story, the protagonist begins his trip to Thailand on Khao San Road, and the street became known as the "centre of the backpacking world".
Khao San Road is located in the Banglamphu district of Bangkok, about 29-32km from the airport. It is easily accessible by taxi or shuttle bus from the airport. The street was constructed in 1892 and was once the largest rice market in the city—in fact, "Khao San" or "Khao Sarn" means "rice mill".
The street is filled with a mix of stores, street food stalls, bars, and restaurants, and is known for its crazy parties and nightlife. It is a great place to meet other travellers and is especially popular for budget travellers due to its cheap accommodation and relatively low alcohol prices.
In addition to the lively atmosphere, Khao San Road is also conveniently located near several popular sights, including the Grand Palace, the famous temple Wat Phra Kaeo, Wat Pho, and the lesser-known temple Wat Suthat.
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Visit the city's temples, including Wat Pho
Bangkok is a city with over 400 temples, and some of the most famous ones are located in the heart of the city. If you're looking for things to do around Bangkok Airport, visiting these temples, including Wat Pho, is a great option.
Wat Pho, also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is one of the top six temples in Thailand and one of the most visited temples in Bangkok. It is said to be older than Bangkok itself, dating back to the 17th century when Thailand was still in Ayutthaya. The temple is renowned for its 15-metre-high, gold-coated Reclining Buddha statue, which is so large that it seems the temple was built around it. The statue is 46 metres long, and its feet are intricately carved with inscriptions and adorned with mother-of-pearl details. Capturing the perfect photo of the Reclining Buddha is a challenge due to its massive size and the many columns in the temple.
The Wat Pho complex is one of the largest in Bangkok, covering 80,000 square metres. It consists of two walled compounds, with the larger northern compound, the phutthawat, open to visitors. This section includes impressive buildings dedicated to the Buddha, such as the ordination hall or bot, and four directional viharn. The southern compound, the sankhawat, houses the living quarters of the monks and a school. The entire perimeter wall has sixteen gates, with two public entrances—one on Chetuphon Road and the other near the northwest corner.
Wat Pho is not just a tourist attraction but an active Buddhist temple, so visitors are expected to dress modestly and appropriately. Shoes must be removed before entering, and plastic bags are provided for their storage during your visit. The temple is also a centre for traditional Thai medicine and education, with over 1300 inscriptions on medical and historical science adorning its walls. It is considered Thailand's first public university, and it houses a school for Thai massage, which is recognised by UNESCO.
Wat Pho is conveniently located near other famous temples, such as the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha), making it easy to visit multiple temples in one day. The Grand Palace, dating back to 1782, is an ornately designed complex with various impressive buildings and temples, including Wat Phra Kaew, the Phra Mondop Buddhist library, and the Phra Siratana Chedi, a golden stupa that houses relics of Lord Buddha. While photography is not allowed inside Wat Phra Kaew, its exterior is equally impressive.
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Frequently asked questions
If you have a long layover at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, you can visit Khao San Road, a famous backpacker district, or Bangkok's Chinatown, which is one of the largest in the world. You can also take a quick trip to downtown Bangkok to see highlights such as the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, one of Thailand's most famous temples. If you'd prefer to stay at the airport, you can eat at one of the many restaurants, shop at luxury and duty-free stores, or relax at a spa.
The Miracle Transit Hotel, located on the third floor of the terminal, offers day rooms for 4-12 hours and has a spa and beauty salon. There are also many other hotels located within a few minutes' drive of the airport, such as the Novotel Bangkok, which is just a 5-minute walk away.
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport has a wide variety of dining options, including Thai and Asian to-go counters and sit-down restaurants, convenience shops, and Western fast-food chains like Burger King, Subway, and Starbucks. There is also a 24-hour food court near Ground Transportation that caters more to locals with low prices and a range of Thai food.
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