Bangkok is everything you’d expect from the capital of Thailand: it’s noisy, crowded, colorful, exciting, infuriating, and smile-inducing. There are temples, ancient sites, and other attractions to be visited, as well as modern shopping malls that have a kitschy yet high-end ambiance. Bangkok can be overwhelming, but it’s also a fascinating city that represents Southeast Asia’s tension between the developed and developing worlds.
Bangkok also serves as a gateway to many other parts of Thailand. From here, you can hop on a short flight to Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, and other popular destinations. You can also board a train or hop on a bus for little money, and visit national treasures such as Ayutthaya, Lopburi, and many other gems around the country.
Table of Contents
1. Grand Palace
If you only visit one major historical tourist attraction in Bangkok, this should be the one. The royal compound lives up to its name, with spectacular structures that would put the most decadent modern monarchs to shame. It’s also the home of Wat Phra Kaeo, which houses the Jade (or Emerald), Buddha.
Built-in 1782, the grand palace was the royal residence for generations and is still used for important ceremonies and accommodating heads of state. Dress modestly when visiting the Grand Palace, which basically means covering your arms and legs and avoiding any sloppy attire.
To avoid any hassle and to make the most of your visit, take the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew Tour. This is a half-day sightseeing tour, either morning or afternoon, with pickup from your hotel and a local guide to put what you are seeing in context. Without a guide, it’s easy to miss important features or not fully understand the relevance of what you are seeing, and the hotel pickup makes the whole experience that much simpler.
2. Wat Pho
Located immediately south of the Grand Palace precinct, Wat Pho makes an excellent addition to your palace tour, provided your feet are up for more walking. The temple was built by King Rama I and is the oldest in Bangkok. It has long been considered a place of healing and was famous centuries ago for its pharmacy and as Thailand’s first “university”—both established by King Rama III. You can get a Thai or foot massage at the traditional medical school on the premises, but the prices are significantly higher than what you will find at massage parlors elsewhere in the city.
Today Wat Pho is best known for the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, where you’ll find a statue so big (45 meters long and 15 meters high), it cannot be viewed in its entirety but only appreciated in sections. The soles of the feet, inlaid with a myriad of precious stones, are particularly beautiful. Look also for the long earlobes signifying noble birth, and the lotus-bud configuration of the hand to symbolize purity and beauty.
3. Wat Arun
Wat Arun is something of a triumphant complex, dating back to the time of ancient battles between the former Siam and Burma. Having fallen to the Burmese, Ayutthaya was reduced to rubble and ashes, but General Taksin and the remaining survivors vowed to march “until the sun rose again” and to build a temple here. Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn, was that temple. It is where the new king later built his royal palace and a private chapel.
If you climb to the top of the prang just before sunset, you will be rewarded with an unforgettable view as the sun sinks over the Chao Praya River. Even if you don’t plan on doing any climbing, sunset is really the time to take in this place in all its glory.
4. Wat Traimit, Temple of the Golden Buddha
Sheer luck (or lack thereof) makes this attraction special. During the 1950s, the East Asiatic Company purchased the land around the temple. A condition of the sale was the removal of a plaster statue of Buddha, but the statue proved too heavy for the crane being used. The cable parted and the figure was dropped, being left overnight where it fell. It happened to be in the rainy season, and when next morning some monks walked past, they noticed a glint of gold shining through the plaster. The coating was removed, revealing a 3.5-meter Buddha cast from 5.5 tons of solid gold.
All attempts to trace the origin of this priceless statue have so far failed, but it is assumed to date from the Sukhothai period when marauding invaders threatened the country and its treasures, and it became common practice to conceal valuable Buddha figures beneath a coating of plaster. No one knows how it came to Bangkok, but here it stands, available for the admiration of visitors from all over the world.
5. Wat Suthat
Wat Suthat, adjacent to the Great Swing, is one of the oldest and most beautiful of Bangkok’s Buddhist temples. Three kings had a hand in its construction: it was begun soon after the coronation of Rama I (founder of the Chakri dynasty) in 1782, continued by Rama II and completed 10 years later by Rama III. Apart from its delightful architecture, the temple boasts some exceptionally interesting wall paintings. Wat Suthat is less popular than some of the other temple complexes in the city, so you’ll enjoy a more peaceful and intimate experience here.
6. Giant Swing
In the center of the busy square in front of Wat Suthat stands one of Bangkok’s most eye-catching sights: the 27-meter-high teak frame of the so-called Giant Swing. Built-in the 1700s to be used as part of traditional Brahmin (Hinduist) ceremonies, the swing was later damaged by lightning and became just decorative.
This used to be the focus of a religious ceremony held every year in December after the rice harvest. Teams of three took turns to balance on a dangerously narrow board and be swung 25 meters or more off the ground “up to Heaven,” at which point they would attempt to catch a bag of silver coins in their teeth. King Rama VII banned the contest in 1932, following a number of fatal accidents.
7. National Museum & Wang Na Palace
History buffs will want to devote at least half a sightseeing day to the national museum. Until the mid-1970s, this was Thailand’s only museum, which explains why its collection is so big and diverse. Fortunately, just about every exhibit is labeled in Thai and English and guided tours are also offered in English, so you won’t miss out on any of the country’s fascinating ancient and contemporary history. King Rama I’s Wang Na Palace, located within the grounds of the museum, remains essentially as it was, and stands as a testament to Thai history. Visitors can see regalia, religious and ceremonial artifacts, ceramics, games, weaponry, musical instruments, and the Viceroy’s throne, as well as an impressive collection of Buddha figures arranged according to period.
8. Chatuchak Market
Bangkok’s sprawling semi-outdoor weekend market is the largest in the world. Shoppers can find everything from jewelry and religious icons to pet supplies, paper lamps, and delicious street food here. Chatuchak Market is home to over 15,000 stalls offering just about anything you can dream up—even better, any souvenir you might want is probably available here at a much cheaper price than anywhere else in Bangkok.This is a great place to mingle with locals and immerse yourself in everyday Thai life, so arrive early and clear your schedule for the rest of the day if you want to do this place justice. The market is adjacent to the Kamphaengpecth Station (MRT), about a five-minute walk from Mochit Skytrain (BTS) Station and Suan Chatuchak (Chatuchak Park) Station (MRT).
9. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
For an even more interesting market experience, you can arrange a tour to Damnoen Saduak, a famous floating market located in Ratchaburi (about 1.5 hours outside Bangkok). The popularity of floating markets once earned Bangkok the nickname “Venice of the East.”Keep in mind that floating markets are now highly touristic enterprises, so don’t expect an exclusive morning of shopping by boat—but you will be able to buy fresh and delicious foods and interact with locals in an authentic way. The best way to reach the market is to join a tour such as the Floating Markets Cruise Day Trip from Bangkok, which takes about six hours and includes pick up right from your hotel and transport in an air-conditioned coach.
10. Khao San Road
This is Bangkok’s infamous backpacker district, a neighborhood jam-packed with guesthouses, food vendors, clothing stalls, and travelers from every corner of the globe. You’ll need to tap into your patience when hanging out here because while it is colorful and exciting in its own way, the crowds and scents and blaring music can test even the calmest soul. All that said, Khao San Road is also a great place to pick up a few pairs of baggy fisherman pants, the perennial staple of every backpacker’s wardrobe when trekking through Thailand; browse the treasures in a used bookstore; and dig into some delicious Indian food from a neighborhood restaurant.
11. Jim Thompson House
The historic home of a “self-made American entrepreneur” who disappeared while traveling in Malaysia now stands as a relic of an older time in Bangkok. Jim Thompson settled in Thailand after spending time there as a serviceman around the end of WWII and quickly became a well-known name in the Thai silk industry. Thompson was awarded the Order of the White Elephant, an important honor given to foreigners who have made significant contributions to Thailand. Thompson’s home has been turned into a museum offering insights into his life and business, as well as the history of the city and the Thai silk industry.
12. Lumpini Park
Lumpini Park provides visitors with a green oasis amid the traffic and chaos of Bangkok. Hang out on one of several lawn areas, enjoy the shade of a Chinese pagoda, or take a boat out on the lake. Lumpini Park is a great place to spend an afternoon enjoying the contrast of the tranquil park with the skyscrapers rising all around it.
Note that the park has been the site of anti-government protests that have occasionally turned violent in the past, so be sure to check on the current political situation before visiting. Keep an eye out for the massive Asian water monitors as well—they can often be found taking a stroll around the lake.
13. Terminal 21
Don’t let the airport-like name fool you—this shopping mall is one of the best destinations in Bangkok to find a mix of local and international brands, as well as plenty of unique buys. Terminal 21 is unique in more ways than one—even by Thailand’s shopping standards. Every floor of the mall has been themed to a different international city. Enter at the level of the BTS station and you’ll be in Paris; go up a floor and it’s Tokyo; another floor and you’re staring at the iconic red phone booths of London. The Caribbean, San Francisco, and Istanbul also figure into the design theme.
Other malls of note include the high-end Siam Paragon, and adjacent Siam Discovery, which has more moderately priced chains, fun cafés, and the super luxurious Virgin Active Siam Discovery, self-dubbed “the largest gym in Southeast Asia”—here, visitors can rock climb, try anti-gravity yoga, or visit the unique “Sleep Pod” rooms for the ultimate in relaxation.
14.Siam Paragon
A cavernous place, Siam Paragon is one of the largest shopping malls in the whole of Thailand and there are a wealth of things for people to see and do apart from just shopping. In addition to its endless array of shops and restaurants, the complex is home to an aquarium, an art gallery that showcases Thai art, and an opera concert hall that puts on some dazzling performances. With karaoke, bowling, and 15 huge cinema screens also on offer, Siam Paragon is the perfect mix of culture, cuisine, and entertainment all mixed into one.
15.Dusit Palace
Dusit Palace is the name of the compound of Royal residences, constructed in European style between 1897 and 1901 for King Rama V. The most prominent building is the Vimanmek Mansion, built of golden teak wood. The world’s largest wooden mansion, it contains 31 exhibition rooms as well as the throne room, bathrooms, and bedrooms.
If you visit the Grand Palace before this one makes sure you keep your ticket as it gives you free entry into the mansion.
Where To Stay In Bangkok
there are a lot of hotels in Bangkok. You can stay there with your budget. Here is some name of hotels.
Stay in Bangkok for Luxury
Most of the city’s luxury hotels are located along the Chao Phraya River, with its beautiful views and the ever-changing parade of humanity and watercraft-
- The Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers
- The Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok
- Siam Kempinski Hotel
- Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit
Stay in Bangkok for the Best Value
For the best value, hotels in the Bang Rak and Sathorn Districts are great options since the area is more popular for corporate buildings than tourists. The Sathorn Vista, Bangkok –
- Marriott Executive Apartments
- Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn
- Hotel Muse Bangkok Langsuan, MGallery Collection
Stay in Bangkok on a Budget
Traditionally, the Khao San Road area has been the epicenter of Bangkok budget lodging and this is still true today.
- The Dang Derm Hotel
- Ibis Bangkok Riverside
- Diamond House
Stay in Bangkok for Romance
- The W Bangkok
Silom is a great option for romantic getaways. It’s right on North Sathorn Road, and the rooms and suites have an uber-stylish design.
- The St. Regis Bangkok
- The Siam
- The Peninsula Bangkok
Stay in Bangkok for Families
- Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
- Ariyasomvilla
- The Okura Prestige Bangkok