Want more bang for your baht? This city won't disappoint. Forget the tourist-brochure Bangkok of sedate floating markets and sterile shopping malls - you're in for a wild ride. Bangkok is bursting at the seams with cosmopolitan cool and cultural prosperity: think über-hip bars, scrumptious Thai cuisine, international fashion houses and stunning wats. This insider's guide is your ticket to the best that Bangkok has to offer

LET THE EXPERTS DO THE WORK, with tips on the best shopping deals, hotels and guesthouses and city tours
BE TEMPTED by the world's tastiest food; we show you Bangkok's finest eating, from streetside stalls to top-class restaurants
BEAT YOUR OWN PATH using our detailed maps and walking tours
GET OUT OF TOWN and explore nearby beaches, a Unesco World Heritage site and glorious national parks
SPEAK UP using our handy language guide, packed with useful phrases