Little City Trips

What to pack for Bangkok

Here we help you prepare what to pack for Bangkok based on our insider knowledge of the city.

When packing for Thailand, remember that Bangkok is hot and humid all year round. So light cotton clothing is recommended all year round. If you are planning to visit the temples in Bangkok, be sure to dress modestly. Carrying a sarong in your bag so you can quickly and easily cover up legs or shoulders is always a good idea.

We have more suggestions on what clothes to wear in Bangkok below.

Bangkok Packing list

Make sure you have sun cream and insect repellent with you at all times, and you don’t want to leave your Bangkok hotel without an umbrella in your bag, especially during the rainy season from late May to early October.

Click here to read more about the best time to visit Bangkok.

Bangkok is a busy city, with many uneven pavements and the odd pothole. You may also find yourself getting on and off river boats and in and out of tuk tuks for traveling around. For this reason if you are traveling with a baby or younger toddler, we recommend using a baby carrier and not a stroller.

Thailand Packing List

You may still want to bring your stroller if you plan to spend the day at a theme park on in one of the many shopping malls. You can easily take the stroller on the Skytrain, and of course you may want it for the airport anyway.

Click here to read more about getting around Bangkok.

Some of our favourite Thailand travel essentials are highlighted below. We have included links to Amazon to make your pre-travel shopping super easy and have all your travel essentials delivered to your door.

You can download a full printable packing list at the bottom of the page, with checkboxes to tick items off as you put them in your suitcase.

Travel accessories for Bangkok

Baby Carrier

If you are visiting Bangkok with a baby or small toddler then we definitely recommend using a baby carrier instead of a stroller for most of your sightseeing, as navigating the city with a stroller can be tricky. Remember that it is very hot and humid, so choose a carrier with a lightweight breathable fabric.

Stroller

A stroller is still good to have for shopping malls and obviously for the airport. Look for a lightweight stroller that is easy to fold, and also look for things like good storage and the ability to recline for naps.

Portable booster seat

You will probably find you use the Skytrain or river boats for most of your Bangkok sightseeing. However, if you do plan on using taxis – even just for your airport transfer – then a portable booster seat is a great investment to keep your little ones safe.

Money belt

Pickpocketing is a common petty crime in Bangkok. Take precautions to keep all your money and important documents safe. A money belt is a great idea for this.


Daypack

Having a day pack is always a good idea for city trips with kids, so that you can carry all the wet wipes, snacks, tissues, sun cream etc and still keep your hands free to keep hold of the kids. Look for a lightweight backpack that can be easily packed in your suitcase when not needed.

Collapsible water bottle

With the heat and humidity of Bangkok, you will need to ensure everyone stays hydrated. Do your bit to save the environment and bring your own refillable water bottles with you instead of relying on buying plastic bottles of water every day. We love a collapsible water bottle that can easily be packed in the suitcase when not needed.

Umbrella

The Bangkok rainy season runs from late May to early October and you should always be prepared for rain at this time of year. Even outwith rainy season, the Bangkok weather can be unpredictable so be sure to include an umbrella when packing for Bangkok.

Travel gadgets

Multiple charger

When you are traveling as a family, it is inevitable that you will end up with multiple accessories needing charged: phones, tablets, cameras, kindles etc. Don’t ruin the holiday by fighting over the charger; opt for a multiple charging station instead.

Travel adaptor

The standard electrical voltage in Bangkok is 220V. There is no standard for electrical sockets, although the most common is the two-prong North American plug. No matter what country you are travelling from, make sure you add a travel adapter to your Thailand packing list.


Portable Charger Power Bank

Have you ever been caught out sightseeing with a low-battery phone and not been able to take photos? Or found your child’s iPad has run out of battery half way through a long haul flight? Don’t let it happen again! Go prepared with a portable charger power bank, a great tool to have in your travel arsenal.

Waterproof/shockproof camera

Of course you have to record all your happy holiday memories, and having an easy-to-use waterproof and shockproof camera means everybody in the family can share in the photo taking, without having to worry about the camera getting damaged.

Floating market Bangkok with kids

Toiletries

Bug Spray

Mosquitos are common in Bangkok, and Thailand also has both dengue fever and the Zika virus. Be careful to protect everyone in the family and add bug spray to your things to pack for Thailand list. Mosquito patches for the kids clothes are a good idea too.

Hand Sanitizer

It’s always good to have some hand sanitizer in your bag when you are travelling, for times when you can’t wash your hands before having a snack, or have been traveling on public transport.


Sun Cream

You should always include suncream on your Bangkok packing list. Even on a cloudy day the sun can be stronger than you realize. And the kids are sure to want to spend some time at the pool.

Tangle Teezer

The Bangkok humidity can wreak havoc on long hair – especially if you combine this with boat rides or swimming. Pack a Tangle Teezer to make everybody’s life a little more pleasant.

Books and Games

Bangkok Travel Guide Book

No matter how much research you do online before you travel, it can still be handy to have a travel guidebook in your bag.

Activity book

It’s always handy to have a few activity books in your bag for your kids, for airports, flights, or when they just need some downtime after a hard day of sightseeing.


Travel Games

The family that plays together stays together! Pack a few fun travel games for fun family evenings, rainy days or airport layovers.

What to wear in Bangkok

Anything goes when it comes to how to dress in Bangkok. You will see plenty of dressed-down backpackers rubbing shoulders with women who look they are going to a nightclub in the middle of the day.

If you are trying to work out what clothes to wear in Thailand, just remember that Bangkok will be hot and humid, so focus on lightweight natural materials and light clothing, such as t-shirts, shorts and sundresses.

Try to pay particular attention to the rules on how to dress in Thailand when visiting the temples. Women particularly should be sure to dress modestly – this means covering up your legs and shoulders. No shorts and no spaghetti straps.

If you know you are going to be going in and out of temples, plan to wear a lightweight long skirt or trousers and sleeves (a t-shirt is fine). Carrying a sarong in your bag as an emergency cover up is a good idea.

When visiting the Wat Prah Kaew and the Grand Palace, note that nobody is allowed to wear shorts – including men. Men are also not permitted to wear a sarong here. Either wear long trousers or be prepared to buy some at the entrance. Likewise, at Wat Prah Kaew, women are not permitted to use a sarong to cover their shoulders. Be sure to wear a t-shirt with sleeves, or you will need to buy one at the entrance.

Small children are usually exempt from these Thailand dress codes, but girls should still dress respectfully.

When choosing what shoes to wear in Thailand, opt for something that is comfortable for sightseeing, but easy to put on and take off easily for visiting temples.

We recommend including the following on your Bangkok packing list:

  • Cotton t-shirts
  • Shorts or skirts
  • Sundresses
  • Sarong
  • Flip-flops or sandals
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Nicer clothes/shoes for more upmarket bars & restaurants
  • Sunhat
  • Sunglasses
  • Swimming costume

Travel accessories for the plane

Multiple Passport holder

A multiple passport holder is invaluable for keeping all the family’s passports together in one place. Look for one that makes it easy to remove the passports, and that has space to store luggage tags, frequent flier cards etc.

Travel Pillow (neck)

We all know how uncomfortable it is trying to sleep on the plane. While we can’t promise you a good sleep, we can recommend using a travel neck pillow to help ease your aches and pains once you get to your destination.


Travel Pillow (leg support)

Travel leg rest pillows have been a bit of a game changer for long haul flights with small kids. These inflatable pillows allow you to fill the leg gap between the seats, allowing small children to stretch out or even lie down flat. Note that some airlines have banned the use of these travel leg rest pillows. Check with your airline before you go to the airport.

Headphones

We highly recommend headphones for everyone in the family. Noise cancelling headphones for mums and dads are great for cutting out the ambient sound of the plane, while kid-sized headphones with volume limits will ensure kids can watch their iPads without disturbing others, and without damaging their eardrums.

Packing Accessories

Suitcase

If you’re looking for a new suitcase for your Bangkok trip, we love the foldable luggage from Biaggi – these can be folded down into a small pouch for easy storage and saves you from having to step over your suitcases in your hotel room. We love the easy-glide spinner wheels on them too.

Packing Cubes

Packing cubes are so useful when you are traveling with kids. You can save so much time on searching through your suitcase by segregating clothes into their own cubes. Look for cubes with a peekaboo window so you can easily see what is inside.


Electronics Organiser

How many times have you found yourself rummaging around in your suitcase looking for a phone charger? An electronics organizer can save you plenty of time and frustration by keeping all your chargers, cables, memory cards, headphones and adapters in one handy pack.

Ziploc Bags

Ziploc bags are a parent’s secret weapon when traveling. You can use them to store snacks, dirty clothes, nappy changing kits, puzzle pieces, small toys, crayons and leaky shampoo bottles. Be sure to add a few to your case!

Take me to the Bangkok Family Guide.

FREE DOWNLOAD!

Be super organized for your next city trip. Download our fully comprehensive printable packing list, with checkboxes to ensure you don’t forget anything.

Click here to download the packing list now.

Travelling to Bangkok? City travel experts Little City Trips talk you through all the most important items you need to pack for Bangkok. Print off our Bangkok packing list for your next city trip.

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