City Guide
Bangkok is where my month-long Thailand workation started, and it turned out to be a genuinely good place to work remotely. I spent a full workweek in the city, and it never felt boring. This guide combines that week with practical, researched information for planning your own Bangkok workation.
Best for
Remote workers who like city energy, great food and lots to do after work
Best months
November to February
Time difference with CET
+6 hours in winter, +5 hours in summer
Cost per day
Roughly €60–€140 including a good hotel
Internet
Fast; my hotel WiFi was faster than my internet at home
Less suited if you want calm and nature. For that, Chiang Mai, where I ended my trip, is the better choice.
I arrived on a Sunday afternoon, and my pre-booked driver was already waiting in the arrivals hall. After a long journey it was the perfect start: no stress, no searching, just land and go.
He dropped me off at W22 by Burasari in Chinatown, and I loved the hotel from the moment I walked in. The lobby was air-conditioned and had good workspaces, the staff were friendly, and there was free coffee. My room was spacious, with a private desk, and the WiFi was genuinely faster than my internet at home.
A lot of people only spend a few days in Bangkok, but for a workation I think a full week makes a lot of sense. I could explore in the mornings, work later in the day and still enjoy the city in the evenings. Read the full story in my Thailand trip report.
Thailand has fast internet, and mobile internet in Bangkok is strong. Hotels aimed at business travellers and remote workers usually have excellent WiFi, and most cafés have decent connections for email and browsing.
Having mobile data from the moment you land makes arrival much easier. An eSIM is the simplest option, and you can share your phone's internet with your laptop if the WiFi drops during an important call. Read my guide to eSIMs for workations.
Your hotel
At W22 I worked from my room for focused work and calls, from the quieter coffee area on the second floor when I wanted a change of scene, from the lobby, and from a large table in the indoor garden. That variety matters more than people think.
% Arabica, The Empire Tower
One of my favourite finds: the % Arabica coffee bar on the 55th floor of The Empire Tower. I went early, right after opening, and ended up working there for hours with one of the best views I have ever had while working.
The Hive Thonglor
A popular coworking space in Thonglor, with day passes around ฿393 (about €10) excluding VAT.
JustCo
A regional coworking brand with spaces in Sukhumvit and Sathorn. Day passes from around ฿750 (about €19).
Chinatown (Yaowarat)
Where I stayed. Lively, full of food and atmosphere, and W22 is on a quieter street, so you still get calm when you need it. Right outside the hotel, street food on the market square made for quick, cheap and delicious dinners between meetings.
Sukhumvit (Asok to Phrom Phong)
The classic base for expats, with the BTS Skytrain, international supermarkets, coworking spaces and nightlife.
Thonglor and Ekkamai
Trendy and more upmarket, with independent restaurants and coffee shops and coworking spaces like The Hive.
Ari
A leafy, local neighbourhood full of coffee shops, with a calmer community feel. Popular with remote workers who stay longer.
I would more than 100% recommend W22 by Burasari for a Bangkok workation.
Other stays I list in Bangkok:
A rough week for one person, excluding international travel:
Stay
€300–€650
For a good hotel room with a desk
Food
€70–€160
Street food is cheap and excellent
Coworking
€50–€100
For five day passes, unless you work from your hotel
Transport
€20–€45
On the BTS, MRT, Grab and Bolt
Bangkok can be as cheap or as expensive as you want. Rooftop bars and hotel restaurants cost close to European prices; local food and transport are very affordable.
Bangkok is six hours ahead of CET in European winter and five in summer. My mornings were often quiet from a work perspective, which gave me time to explore before my workday really started. Because I had a lot of online meetings, I still shifted my hours towards European office hours.
Nov–Feb
The cool, dry season and the most comfortable time for a workation
Mar–May
Very hot, often above 35°C; April has the Songkran water festival
Jun–Oct
Rainy season with heavy afternoon storms; quieter and cheaper
Most international flights arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The Airport Rail Link reaches Phaya Thai in about 30 minutes for ฿45 (about €1.20), connecting to the BTS Skytrain. After a long journey, a pre-booked driver is worth it; it made my arrival completely stress-free.
In the city, the BTS Skytrain and MRT subway are the fastest way to beat the traffic. Grab and Bolt work well for everything else, and river boats on the Chao Phraya are a scenic way to reach the old town.
Since 15 September 2026, EU citizens get 30 days visa-free in Thailand for tourism, instead of 60. You can apply once for a 30-day extension at an immigration office for ฿1,900, at the officer's discretion. Submit the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 72 hours before arrival.
The visa exemption is for tourism. For longer remote work stays, look into the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
Spend an evening at Asiatique The Riverfront. The river views are great, there is plenty of food, and it is simply a fun place to walk around and take in the atmosphere.
Eat your way along Yaowarat Road in Chinatown, where the street food stalls come alive after dark.
Visit the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun early in the morning, before your workday and before the heat.
Watch the sunset from a rooftop bar; Bangkok has dozens, from Sathorn to Sukhumvit.
Take a long-tail boat through the canals (khlongs) of Thonburi on a weekend.
Yes. With a good hotel, fast internet and endless things to do around your workday, it is a great city base.
I would plan at least a full workweek. That gave me time to enjoy the city without rushing.
Chinatown for atmosphere and food, Sukhumvit for convenience, Ari for a local feel.
Six hours ahead in European winter, five in European summer.
Since 15 September 2026, 30 days for EU citizens, with one possible 30-day extension.
Bangkok is part of my Thailand guide. Continue north to Chiang Mai for a calmer workweek, read my Thailand trip report, compare Thailand with Bali, or explore my Southeast Asia guide.
