Traffic Jams, Bangkok

There's no chance to program a local trip by car without two or three hours of tolerance.

The traffic is always jammed, and the pollution very high.

We took a taxi for a five kilometers ride to a restaurant, and were forced to use the highway (extra payment) to do it in less than three hours. If possible... walk (get yourself a mask, as most locals do)

Bangkok is world renowned for its terrible traffic problems, so getting around on the roads is a bit of a nightmare. Yes, Bangkok has a metro but it only consist of one line (at the moment) and, yes, it has the BTS Skytrain but this doesn't go anyway near the city centre in order to get to the main tourist destinations like the Grand Palace, Wat Pho or Wat Arun. Instead you either have to take a tuk-tuk or a taxi. I took a few taxi's during my time in Bangkok and found them to be a lot cheaper than the tuk-tuk prices I was quoted but allow plenty of time to make your journey and try to avoid peak rush hour times.

Watch out for traffic jams - especially in the middle of the city (around Siam Square) and around peak hours (morning and evening rush hour traffic). You can be jammed up really tight and everything will come down to a crawl if not a complete stand still. Perfect chance to test that patience of yours...especially if you are in a open-aired tut tut in the midst of all that pollution, heat and humidity.

If you are rushing to the airport around peak hours, I would suggest that you give yourself a generous lee way (get to the airport early) less you intend to miss your flight and stay another day.

It says a lot that I felt a tremendous amount of achievement at crossing my first busy road. The cars, bikes, buses and tuk tuks are unforgiving to eachother, and even more so to pedestrians. You have to pick your moment to go, and just hope for the best! It's quite often a good idea to cross at the same time and point as a local as they seem to have mastered the technique!

Traffic is a real chaos in Bangkok. There are so many vehicles of all kinds that crossing the streets may become a real adventure! The best way to avoid it is to use the BTS elevated railway, the fastest and more modern way to move around...
But if you have to go through, be patient and don't make very tight schedules, give some "extra" margin for the traffic jams.
Taking the river boats is another way to avoid the traffic in the city center.

The traffic in Bangkok still very jam even after the launch of BTS SkyTrain. Try not to take taxi during peak hour and on weekend night. You will easily be trapped for 1 hour inside a cab while you can reach the place in 15 mins by BTS.

Bangkok is generally a very safe place to visit. U will be considered very unlucky if something bad happens to you.
Something u have to be prepared of though and u can possibly avoid unless you know when to go out and when not to -
Traffic Jam! Dont go taking da taxi everywhere even though its cheap. The jams in Bangkok are one of the nastiest in the world! Try the BTS instead! Faster and cheaper...depending on how ur route is like)
It is also advisable to learn some Thai for conversations. Some taxi drivers cant speak a word of English for nuts!

Traffic in Bangkok is horrible. It can take half an hour for a cab ride of a couple of miles. Try and take the skytrain when possible and if the destination is close, you are better off walking.

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Traffic the biggest problem in Bangkok
I took a taxi from Samut Prakan to go Bangkok centre and its takes 3 hours to be inside Bangkok.

Bangkok's traffic is a nightmare. Don't even think about taking a taxi at rush hour - you'll get there a lot faster if you walk. Or take one of the city buses, which can use their own lanes.
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