A former flight attendant who's been to more than 50 countries shares 5 reasons why Bangkok is the best holiday destination for tourists

Bangkok welcomed more tourists than cities like Paris, London, Dubai, and Singapore for four consecutive years from 2016 to 2019, making it the world's most visited city, according to Mastercard's Global Destinations Index. Bangkok draws millions of tourists for good reason — many flock to the city for its famed food scene, vibrant nightlife, and shopping districts.

Uma Puacksumran, a former flight attendant and Bangkok local, has traveled to fifty countries across five continents. She flew with several airlines, including Etihad Airways, in her decades-long career.

Puacksumran has visited dozens of cities, yet Bangkok has always stood out to her as the best holiday destination. I met up with Puacksumran during a trip to the city in July to learn more about what the city has to offer.

Here are five reasons why Bangkok has a reputation for being one of the world's top tourist destinations, according to Puacksumran.

Earlier this year, Bangkok was named the world's most affordable city for a luxury holiday by the UK-based price comparison site Money.co.uk. While a night's stay in a luxury hotel in Paris, will cost on average around $1750, it only costs $295 in Bangkok, per the site.

But the city is also a gold mine for budget travelers and backpackers as "you can find anything that fits your budget," Puacksumran said.

She added that even without a big budget, Bangkok offers quality experiences at a much cheaper rate than other popular tourist destinations like Paris and Dubai.

Hostels are especially cheap in Thailand — the average price for a bed in a dormitory costs only $10 a night, per the travel site Budget Your Trip. According to the site, tourists usually spend on average around $15 on food and $4 on transportation per day in Bangkok.

Bangkok offers the best of both worlds: The city is a modern metropolis full of centuries-old temples where many locals continue to practice traditions like making offerings to spirit houses.

The city's history can be felt in its architecture, which includes everything from futuristic skyscrapers to elaborate temples and a shining gold royal palace.

"There's a lot of great temples, and it's not just the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho, or Wat Arun," Puacksumran said, referring to some of Bangkok's most famous temples. She advised tourists to travel with a local or a guide to learn more about the city's unique customs and landmarks.

Bangkok is a food paradise, and according to a 2019 survey, has more than 320,000 restaurants,. Some 30 of these restaurants were awarded Michelin stars in 2022, including the famed street hawker Jay Fai, one of only two street food vendors in the world to hold a Michelin star. Everything from Chinese and Indian to modern European cuisine can be found on the city's streets.

When it comes to Thai food you'll find an array of regional Thai dishes to sample, along with royal Thai cuisine, which dates back to the ancient Ayutthaya period.

The city offers some of the most unique dishes anywhere in Asia. During a recent trip to Bangkok, I ate at a family-owned restaurant that served soup that had been continuously boiling for 50 years — and it was nothing short of delicious.

"If you love food, you will love Bangkok," Puacksumran said. "You can also find all the different kinds of Thai cuisines in the city, from Isan food to royal cuisine," she added.

Bangkok is world-famous for its parties: It offers everything a tourist could want on a night out, including massage parlors, go-go bars, and high-end clubs.

Some of the most famous nightlife districts include Khao San Road, Royal City Avenue, and Nana Plaza, each drawing in different crowds of party-goers, from backpackers to young locals to those seeking sex tourism in one of the city's red-light districts.

"For those who like to party, of course, Bangkok is a great to place to holiday," Puacksumran said. "Bangkok, Phuket, and Samui are all popular for parties," she added.

Puacksumran explained that nightlife in Bangkok tends to be "relatively safer" than other party capitals in the region like Manila, Philippines, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

According to the online database Numbeo, Manila scored 64.72 out of 100 in the 2022 Crime Index, while Kuala Lumpur scored 63.40. In comparison, Bangkok registered a rating of 40.98. The database aggregates surveys to evaluate the crime index of a city.

Having a higher crime index suggests that the city is more dangerous, per the database. Bangkok, Manila, and Kuala Lumpur are regarded by Numbeo as moderately safe cities.

During my trip, I found exciting things to do from morning till late night — I visited food districts in the day, spent time on a dinner cruise in the evening, went to a nightclub till early morning, and shopped at a night market till dawn.

Puacksumran said that Bangkok's energetic vibe is one of the things that continues to pull tourists in every year.

"It's busy but easygoing," Puacksumran explained. "In Bangkok, there's not much you can't do. Life can feel really easy here, especially for tourists."

Puacksumran added that while Bangkok offers almost everything a tourist could want on holiday, the beach isn't one of them.

While other popular holiday spots in Thailand like Phuket, Koh Samui, and Krabi are right along the country's majestic coastline, Bangkok is actually quite a distance away from the sea. The closest major beach, Pattaya, is around two hours away.

"If you love the beach, then it's not exactly the place for you," Puacksumran said. But Puacksumran explained that with so much to do, most tourists don't miss the beach.

"Thailand is a country of freedom — that's why foreigners like coming to Bangkok," she added.