Bangkok is all that you would anticipate from Thailand's city capital: beautiful, colorful, and invigorating, overpowering and swarmed, yet bespeaks Southeast Asia’s developed and developing worlds
Bangkok has all the elements you would expect from a major metropolis: impressive skyscrapers, beautiful landscapes. chaotic traffic, throbbing nightlife, legendary attractions, international cuisine, and shopping centers galore.
Its name is the longest name of a city worldwide: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.
The enthralling city is the doorway to other energizing places of Thailand, and from Bangkok, you can jump on a short trip to Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, and other renowned travel spots. Also, with a train or bus ride, you can experience exceptional travel adventures to Lopburi, Ayutthaya, and numerous different pearls around the country.
Definitely a place like no other from Southeast Asia’s most visited travel destination, an exotic city with a fascinating history and culture with its gorgeous temples and palaces to vibrant street markets, sumptuous street food, impressive skylines, and natural backdrops making it a photographer’s delight.
With more than 22.7 million international visitors traveling to Bangkok every year, it’s not a surprise that Thailand’s most populated city, located along the Chao Phraya River delta, has charmed travel adventurers who would like to have a different travel experience.
As of November 2021, Bangkok holds an expected population of around 10.7 million occupants, a major part of Thailand's in excess of 70 million populace, the primary city as the population, the financial and political focus of the country, with no other rival city.
Photo Credit : Grand Sukhuvit Hotel
Be Enthralled With The Beauty Of The Grand Palace
The Grand Palace, the royal residence of the former Kings of Thailand initially built in 1782, is among the most distinctive landmarks and well-loved tourist attractions in Thai history and architecture.
The palace is located at the heart of Bangkok's Rattanakosin Island which is on the main island of the city, with an imposing land area of 200,000 square meters with its classic blend of spectacular European and Asian structures reflecting the influences of several periods in Thai arts, history, and culture.
As the home of Wat Phra Kaeo which houses the Jade Buddha, the palace served as the royal residence for generations, and now still functioning as the venue for important ceremonies and accommodating heads of state.
The amazing royal residence, through the years, has always been the architectural symbol of the Thai royal family. Currently, the royal family resides at the Chitralada Palace, while the Grand Palace is venue for formal ceremonial purposes.
Visit Thailand’s Oldest Buddhist Temples
Wat Pho, Thailand’s Oldest Buddhist Temple
Wandering at the southern part of the Grand Palace, you finally discover the oldest Buddhist temple in Thailand -- a great addition to your palace tour! Wat Pho houses more than a thousand centuries-old Buddha images and the most established and most critical public Buddhist sanctuary in Thailand, most popular as the "Temple of the Reclining Buddha ( Phra
Buddharupa)" was originally built during King Phetracha's rule ( 1688-1703), sometime before Bangkok was founded as the nation's capital.
Decades later, King Rama 1 arranged the temple's underlying reconstruction and rebuilding in 1788 occurring for seven years, following its destruction with the fall of Ayutthaya to the Burmese in 1767. The ruler originally had the temple's renovation for the purpose of having his mother's ashes nestled in the sanctuary's asylum, though much later It also became home for the ashes of the departed king.
The Buddha complex, with its more-than-a-thousand buddha images from temples in the 16th century, later expanded to 22 acres, undergoing more changes and renovations for a stretch of 16 years under the reign of King Rama III (1824-1851). It was during this time that major rebuilding of the Chapel of the Reclining Buddha began.
Today Thailand’s oldest Buddha temple is nestled in 80,000 square meters, with its most significant giant reclining Buddha statue as its biggest tourist attraction.
The giant reclining Buddha statue is painted in gold from head to foot measuring 45 meters in length and 15 meters high, the largest Buddha statue within the temple complex.
The soles of the reclining Buddha statue’s feet were peppered with a myriad of precious gemstones, its elongated earlobes signifying noble birth, and the lotus formation of the hands symbolizing beauty and purity.
For centuries the huge temple was regarded as a place of healing, also considered as Thailand’s first public university with monks of royal descent teaching about religion, spirituality, science, and literature through its murals and sculptures.
In 1955, Wat Pho also became home for a school for traditional massage and medicine, now with Thai medicine courses which include Thai medical practice, Thai massage, Thai midwifery, and Thai pharmacy.
More than 200,000 massage therapists who underwent Thai massage ( Nuad Thai) training at the temple now practice in 145 countries. Nuad Thai is included in UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Wat Traimit and the Golden Buddha
Bangkok visitors who are amazed at the city’s numerous temples will be able to appreciate the history and cultural nostalgia surrounding Wat Traimit. Wat Traimit is perched at the entrance of Chinatown along Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon District,, home of the seated Golden Buddha made of gold with its 5.5 tons of solid gold and 3 meters high. Centuries ago, the seated statue in its Bhumisparsha Mudra position (lotus position with one hand touching the earth as the “hand of enlightenment”) was originally perched in smaller temples of lesser significance outside the Thai capital, yet was brought to Bangkok following the founding of the city under the reign of King Rama I in 1801. The statue was among hundreds of other Buddha images from ruined temples all over the country that was brought to the Thai capital, upon orders of the king, and initially nestled in another Bangkok temple. The gargantuan Buddha image was initially regarded as a common statue made in golden stucco, covering its value during the Burmese invasion, yet when it fell down with its cracked cover, the gold statue was revealed and was later transferred to the Wat Traimit temple. The Buddha’s long ear lobes are said to signify royal social status, and the flame above the image’s head showcases a Sukhothai element that symbolizes spiritual energy. The huge statue is said to be worth no less than 250 million US dollars in present-day currency. With its total renovation in 2010, the temple was remodeled into being a four-storied infrastructure that houses not just the Golden Buddha but also mini-museums displaying the Chinese community’s culture and history in Thailand, as well as historical facts and artifacts about the Buddha itself.
Wat Arun, Wat Suthat and Wat Saket Temples
Wat Arun is on the other side of the river from the extravagant Grand Palace and the Wat Pho Temple, also known as "Temple Of The Dawn".
Ancient Thai history relates that with the fall of Ayutthaya during the Burmese attack, Thai General Taksin and the remaining survivors made their promise to march “until the sun rose once more ”. True enough, the Wat Arun sanctuary was built in the place, also where the new king built his royal palace and chapel.
Wat Arun is famous for its 82-meter tower covered with bits of shading porcelain, with a quartet of smaller towers ( prangs) encrusted with smaller porcelain mosaics.
Meantime, Wat Suthat, also one of the most beautiful and oldest Buddhist temples located along Bamrung Mueang Rd, Wat Ratchabophit, Phra Nakhon in Bangkok, underwent construction and reconstruction for decades during three kings’ reigns in the 18th century. Starting from King Rama 1’s rule until the reign of his grandson King Rama III, decades of renovations and construction resulted in its exceptional architecture and grand embellishments via its excellent mural arts. The Wat Suhat temple is home to the Phra Sri Sakyamuni Buddha, which was also moved from a ruined temple in Sukhothai Province to Bangkok, along with other Buddha images relocated to the Thai capital upon King Rama I’s directive. There are 28 Chinese pagodas at the lower terrace of the temple, symbolizing 28 Buddhas believed to have been born on earth. Wat Saket, another Buddhist temple formerly known as Wat Sakae, and nestled in the Pom Prap Sattru Phai district, dates back to the Ayutthaya era, which initially underwent renovation during King Rama 1’s rule. King Rama IV's reign, great grandson of the former King, was the time when construction was done on a steep artificial temple-hill inside the temple compound, which later became Phu Khao Thong ( “Golden Mountain”).
His son King Rama V’s rule (1853- 1910) meantime was the time when construction completion happened, while the modern temple also underwent new renovations in the early 1900s using Carrara marble for its embellishments.
Visitors every November enjoy its annual festival which has candlelight processions being held up the so-called “Golden Mountain”, with devotees praying for their petitions to be fulfilled, observed with King Rama V’s rule.
The Loi Krathong festival is also held yearly at the temple with its freak shows similar to the Western world’s Halloween celebrations, a festivity that is popular among Bangkok residents.
Adventure lovers enjoy traversing through the upward climb to the Golden Mount temple perched on the hilltop, where they relish the experience of having a 360-degree view over Bangkok’s nature backdrop and urban skyline.
Enjoy At Chatuchak Weekend Market
For those who are into weekend bargains and great finds at very affordable prices, you need to check out Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market, touted as the world’s most diverse and largest market overflowing with its unique merchandise products and services.
More than 15,000 market stalls are in this gargantuan market, more like a maze-like market which is so huge you will need to have a map to make sure that you won’t be lost!
And with more than 200,000 shoppers each weekend, throngs of tourists from different parts of the world troop to the market to take advantage of its exciting bargains
The market is organized into sections which include shoes and apparel, jewelry, religious icons, home, and personal accessories, even appliances and electronic gadgets, delicious street food, and much more. Clearly an avid shoppers’ paradise and playground!
Just like other gigantic markets, it has all the ingredients of your shopping experience: crowded and overwhelming, chaotic and noisy yet vibrant with energy with happy shoppers getting much value for their money’s worth.
And if all the noise and chaos from this sprawling semi-outdoor weekend market proved to be too much for your sanity, you can walk to the nearby Benchasiri Park, have picnics by the lakeside with the statue of King Rama V’s on horseback, and enjoy checking out your purchased “I Love Bangkok” T-shirts and elephant key chains! The market is a stone’s throw away from the Mochit Skytrain Station and the Suan Chatuchak Station, also adjacent to the Kamphaengpecth Station -- which gives you the chance to take a northbound trip towards Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai to discover other markets with similarly great finds at affordable prices.
Bangkok’s Chinatown
The Chinatown of Bangkok is dubbed by some quarters as the city’s “most peculiar attraction” as you find yourself amidst the biggest Chinese community of sellers all in one neighborhood within the city. It’s as if you find yourself transported to China, with all its noises, smells, and colors, street vendors and shopping stalls give you a taste of Chinese businesses’ brand of selling with very affordable market prices. Bangkok's Chinatown is one of the most densely populated areas of Thai-Chinese culture. King Rama V made Chinese immigration to Thailand compulsory in the late 1800s, and he also imposed a head tax on Chinese immigrants to fund his construction projects.
Chinese immigrants’ population expanded dramatically after the completion of the railway from Singapore to Bang Sue, which was eventually extended to Nong Khai and Laem Chabang. Years later, many Chinese moved to the Bang Kapi and Yaowarat areas, forming what is now known as "Bangkok Chinatown." Yes, it’s true that this Chinatown is among the oldest Chinatowns worldwide, being founded in 1872 as the capital of the Rattanakosin Kingdom, and served as the home of the city's predominantly Teochew immigrant Chinese people, who quickly became the city's dominant ethnic group.
Song Wat and Talat Noi along the Chao Phraya River, and Charoen Chai, Khlong Thom, and Nakhon Kasem along Charoen Krung Road make up Chinatown's full territory, which roughly corresponds to Samphanthawong District. A temple for the Buddhists, a mosque for the Muslims, and a church for the Catholics -- all these in Bangkok Chinatown, showcasing a harmonious blend of a myriad of cultures, a melting pot within this city within a city, making this stand out as an interesting tourist destination. As one of the largest among the Chinatowns all over the world, this is also one of Bangkok’s most vibrant districts providing a wide array of products and services, including restaurants serving Thai-Chinese cuisine, traditional Chinese medicine shops, boutiques, specialty shops and supermarkets selling imported goods from China.
Backpackers’ Adventures At Khao San Road
Khao San Road is dubbed as the backpackers’ ghetto , more than a kilometer of cheap hotels, quaint shops which include tattoo shops, astrology and fortune telling services, outdoor street food cooking and frying making the place reeking with smoke , cheap jewelry , restaurants and bars, yogic therapies and massage parlors, internet cafes, clothing stalls and everything that travellers looking for bargains would be there for.
Khao San is Thai for “milled rice”, with the place in historic times functioning as a big market place for milled rice.
Western travellers have been trooping to the place, coming in droves and throngs through the years as Khao San Road has become increasingly a “party central” of sorts -- with its so-called alcohol-fueled visitors raring to go with its cheapest of beers, authentic Thai food and speakeasy bars, along with international cuisine which isn’t exactly for the gourmet enthusiasts but nonetheless moderately palatable. While daytime visitors enjoy the tourist attraction with its most affordable prices on a myriad of products and services, evening tourists seem to enjoy the exciting party vibe fun much more with its brazenly loud screaming music making the place burst at its proverbial seams. Its colorful quaintness and budget-tourist feels have earned for itself the focal point of novelist Alex Garland’s 1996 fiction work “The Beach” which was translated into an adventure-drama Leonardo DiCaprio film by Danny Boyle in 2000 which earned moderate box-office success. Bangkok’s infamous backpacker paradise overflows with street vendors selling all sorts of globally ubiquitous trinkets and other cheap products, violating city regulations with the city council trying to ban them but they remain unperturbed as they continue to rake in big sales with their tourist customers coming in droves. Even the foreign visitors ask themselves what could be the main attraction of Khao San Road making it irresistible for Western guests who always visit for another round to check what’s new in the place. Comparatively, there’s the nearby Soi Rambuttri with same budget-friendly rates for cheap hotels, or Samsen Road which is three kilometers away with its interesting bars and clubs. Yet the Western tourists pick Khao San Road hands down: where you can purchase affordable baggy fisherman pants, said to be the perennial staple of every backpacker’s wardrobe bent on maximizing their Thailand adventures, affordable treasures in second-hand bookstores, unlicensed CDs and DVDs, counterfeit brand items, fake ID shops creating faux passports that could pass as originals, and those raucous bars and striptease spots exclusive for late-night adult revelry.
Hawkers, streetwalkers , older expat entrepreneurs, the ersatz hippies, and even the younger Thai locals seeking to catch the party central vibe -- all seem to be wishing to take part of the anything-goes circus feels of the place, and always a memorable visit for tourists who always come back for more backpacking adventures. And yes, don’t forget those inexpensive travel agencies cashing in on the Khao San Road who can make arrangements for transportation services to nearby travel destinations such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos and Cambodia.
Be Amazed With The Giant Swing
One of Bangkok's most striking views is the 27-meter-high teak frame of the so-called Giant Swing, which stands in the middle of the bustling area of Wat Suhat.
The purpose of the Giant Swing, which was built in front of the Devasathan Shine or Wat Saket in 1784, was to serve as a venue for the ancient swing ceremonies known as the Triyampavai-Tripavai, which were also observed in Giant Swings in major cities until 1935 due to major mishaps that resulted in fatalities.
The Thais called the swing rituals Lo-Chin-Cha or Lo Jin Ja, which means "pulling the swing," and at the coronation of the Thai king, Tamil Hindu hymns from the poetry collections Thiruvempavai and Thiruvempavai were recited.
Yearly after December rice harvests, this religious event was held as the focal point of the harvests’ celebrations. Trio teams showcase their balancing skills on a narrow board, taking turns being flung to the air “up to heaven” and trying to catch a small coin purse filled with silver coins with their teeth. . These tournaments were abolished in 1932 following catastrophic mishaps.
National Museum & Wang Na Palace
For history buffs, Thailand’s National Museum which houses the Wang Na Palace, also known as the Front Palace, would have a grand time enjoying the country’s only museum until the mid-1970s, with its large and eclectic collection. Wang Na Palace's architecture is veritably an eclectic blend of design styles reflecting the shifting times in which the infrastructures were constructed, as well as the likes of its proprietors.
Ranging from the original buildings' traditional Thai design to Chinese and Western-influenced structures constructed nearly a century later as the country began to open up to the Western world and modernize.
The Palace's traditional architecture differs significantly from that of the Grand Palace, emphasizing its owner's subservient rank, and the multi-tiered roofs with pointed spires known as prasat, which are a prevalent feature in the buildings of the Grand Palace, were not used in any of the original structures.
The museum displays with English guided tours showcase Thailand's rich ancient and present history, ensuring that you don't miss out on any essential historical facts.
Visitors will experience all the regalia and flamboyance of the country’s historic past -- with all the ceremonial and religious artifacts, antique musical instruments, ceramics and other items, and the Viceroy's residence are all on display.
Further, the Thai culture vultures are in for a treat with other museums in the country, which includes the Jim Thompson House, the Museum of Siam with its playful videos and games, the Royal Barges Museum, and the Art In Paradise Museum which has been attracting tourists with its interactive platform, featuring 3D illusion
paintings.
Bangkok Art and Culture Center is also there for contemporary art lovers, while the Doll Museum, meantime, showcases a collection of traditional handmade Thai dolls.
Nature Tripping At The Lumphini Park
If you've had enough of Bangkok's congestion and bustle, Lumphini Park is a great place to visit with its massive space -- clearly the city's largest and most attractive park with its extensive greenery, vibrant playgrounds, and artificial lake to boot!
This massive park is the city's largest green space, measuring to 142 acres, attracting just about everyone whether they be bikers, morning and evening joggers, nature lovers, and those who love the waters can even indulge in some boating and fishing adventures.
Stroll around the man-made Lumphini Lake and along groomed trails, and with your kids, the playgrounds and swan-shaped pedal boats will definitely be sure-fire hits!
Keep your eyes out for those huge Malay lizards, measuring around 3 meters in length, when walking through the park.
Looking much like Komodo dragons, they can be extremely impressive at first impression, yet these are not generally thought to be hazardous although they are still considered wild animals with unpredictable reactions.
Go ahead, feel free to photograph these lizards which may be normally quiet, as they are prevalent in parks, particularly near ponds and lakes.
Be careful though, as locals advise to never attempt to pet or feed them since they have those powerful claws and deadly fangs which are sure to hurt you!
What can Lumpini Park visitors do in this green oasis nestled in the middle of Bangkok’s chaotic traffic and hustle-and-bustle city life?
Nature lovers can do bird watching, as the park is home to some 30 bird species; book lovers meantime can check out the Lumpini Park library for its wealth of books and video collections.
Sundays afternoons of January to April every year has the park’s music festival entertaining its visitors, while young habitues of the place take advantage of the Lumpini Youth Center offering a variety of sports activities.
Further, there’s the park’s Bangkok Elder Citizens Club, with the seniors gathering at the place to relax and do their exercises. Homeless children, meantime, also find refuge with the park’s Home of Hope, which provides education, advice, and information for homeless children.
Enjoy Muay Thai Boxing Matches
Sport-loving enthusiast-travellers would enjoy Muay Thai boxing matches in Bangkok, usually held at various boxing stadiums in the city. Bangkok is the place to go, most especially for both hardcore and casual fans who would like to have an intense experience of live battle, sure to be a memorable experience for the sports enthusiasts.
Muay Thai , often known as "Thai boxing" , a combat sport and martial art which combines stand-up striking with various clinching techniques, is also known as the "art of eight limbs" as this sport makes use of fists, knees, elbows and shins.
Muay Thai gained international acclaim in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, when Westernized Thai fighters competed in kickboxing and mixed-rules bouts as well as Muay Thai bouts all over the world.
Muay Thai, which is also related to various martial art schools such as Musti-yuddha, Muay Chaiya, Muay Boran, Muay Lao, Lethwei, Pradal Serey, and Tomoi.
Muay Thai evolved from traditional Muay Boran, which was created for self-defense and also taught to the Thai military for use in combat. Apart from its stand-up skills, Muay Boran is a martial art style that includes devastating techniques, grappling techniques, and ground fighting methods.
Modern Muay Thai, meantime, is only a ring sport and includes stand-up combat.
Muay Thai sports fans primarily recommend Rajadamnern Stadium along Rajadamnern Avenue for its authentic and high-level fights, where the best fighters and the biggest event promoters hold their events.
Gambling abounds at this boxing venue, considered legal, with hand-signal bettings reminiscent of traders in financial trading floors erupting into full-blown fights, creating chaos outside the ring among gamblers. Armed military police meantime are on standby to pacify both gamblers and audience.
Elite athletes of the sport and the biggest national events are held at the world-famous Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, built ten years later than the Rajadamnern Stadium, with its full capacity of 5000 sports fans as audience,located at the Ram Inthra Road near Don Muang Airport.
Synonymous with modern Muay Thai and run by the Royal Thai Army, only Rajadamnern Stadium comes close to matching the glory of becoming the “Muay Thai Champion of Lumpinee.”
Other boxing stadiums to watch the sport include the Channel 7 Stadium which offers free entry leading to its electrifying jampacked energy of Muay Thai enthusiasts; Rangsit Stadium which is home to Friday night televised “Muay Man Man Suk” live boxing fights; and World Siam Stadium, just four kilometers away from the Hua Mak skytrain station , an international collaborative team of both Thai and foreign industry veterans of Muay Thai and combat sports.
Explore Secrets From The Jim Thompson House
Art lover tourists will have a grand time exploring the Jim Thompson House, the historic home of self-made American millionaire-entrepreneur Jim Thompson, believed to be a millionaire with his enormous collection of historical Buddhist statues and traditional Thai paintings depicting the life of Buddha and the legend of Vessantara Jataka.
Thompson, who went missing while traveling in Malaysia, was a very successful businessman who established the Thai Silk Company Limited in 1948. He made Thai silk world-famous, as international fashion designers from London and Milan used his silk creations during world-class international fashion shows.
Among Thompson's Thai art collection is secular art from neighboring countries including Laos, Cambodia, and Burma, as well as 16th and 17th century Chinese ceramics and antiques.
By 1958, he started working on his home where he would display his huge art collection: his architectural accomplishment made from old Thai structures in the 50s and 60s, 19th century structures relocated from Ayutthaya, and a weaver's house brought in from Bangkrua — now the living room of the museum.
Thompson was an Order of the White Elephant awardee, 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.
Spend Special Evenings At Bangkok’s Rooftop Bars
Phto Credit to Willy Thuan and Phuket101.net
Bangkok being one of the fastest-growing cities in the world with its sprawling mass of skyscrapers and vibrant nightlife scene, is also well-known for its nightlife and entertainment scene.
The cityscape’s rooftop bars sprung up in recent years to take advantage of the influx of tourists who are looking for something special and new to go to, plush watering holes atop five-star hotels with a 360-degrees view of Bangkok’s urban landscape.
These rooftop clubs, which typically open around 6 p.m. and stay up until late in the morning, have been luring travelers who want to enjoy stunning views and delectable drinks, and have become among of the city's most popular nightlife locations.
With a skyline and views as beautiful as Bangkok's, it's no surprise that there are so many rooftop bars in the city. These city-top sanctuaries are swiftly becoming some of the most popular nightlife places in town, thanks to their spectacular panoramas and delicious cocktails.
One of these places, Sirocco Sky Bar, has been serving drinks and dinner to guests since 1999. Located on top of Lebua hotel on Silom Road, it offers a great view over Bangkok's skyline at night, with a dizzying 63 storeys high, the place to be giving you a spectacular view when the sun sets over the Chao Phraya River.
Photo Credit to Willy Thuan and Phuket101.net Among the best of Bangkok’s skyscraper rooftop bars is Baiyoke Tower, with its beautiful terrace on the 77th floor and revolving roof deck on the 84th floor offering a panoramic view of the entire city. Other excellent rooftop bars include the Three Sixty Lounge, perched atop the Hilton Hotel; Park Society, with its international cuisine and outdoor cocktails on the super trendy Sofitel's 29th floor; the Three Sixty Lounge, perched atop the Hilton Hotel's penthouse; and the Vertigo Moon Bar, perched atop the Banyan Tree Hotel's 61st floor, providing a massive and marvelous ambiance of modern Bangkok.
Shopping Spree At Bangkok
Photo Credit to Geekyexplorer.com Shopping in Bangkok is a great experience and has become a national pastime for many, with the big variety of shopping options definitely keeping anyone busy for weeks!
With hundreds of shopping complexes in Bangkok, you can find just about anything here. From high-end luxury brands to cheap streetwear vendors and everything in between, you can find a ton of options for your next shopping adventure. Terminal 21 is one of the best shopping places to visit in Bangkok, and don’t let the airport-like name fool you. Each floor of this mall is themed to a famous international city: one floor makes you feel you’re in Tokyo, another one shows you the feels of Paris, other floors bring you to the ambiance of San Francisco, Istanbul and The Caribbean! From Terminal 21, head over to others malls such as the plush Siam Paragon with its numerous luxury boutiques; check out the adjacent Siam Discovery with is reasonably-priced brands for all ages and sizes, and there’s the MBK Center jampacked with apparel boutiques, long lines of souvenir shops, and gadgets and electronics. Still, there’s Central World, dubbed as the eleventh largest shopping complex in the world with more than 830,000 square meters and more than 495 shops,boutiques and stores : truly a shoppers’ paradise. With the city’s curious mix of street markets, floating markets and high-end luxury shops, the city offers a myriad array of options for each and every kind of shopper.
Experience Bangkok’s Hotels
For the best first-class hotels in Bangkok, topping them all is the plush Mandarin Oriental in Riverside, with luxurious swimming pools and great location, and an array of classy restaurants such as the Riverside Terrace overlooking the Chao Phraya River. Other luxurious hotels are the SO Sofitel Bangkok, with the best amenities in a decent location; and there’s Ariyasomvilla, a popular boutique hotel with tastefully designed suites with its tranquil setting and old-world charm. Five minutes from Khao San Road is D Hostel Bangkok, a very affordable youth hotel with cleanliness and modern decor, which is also within walking distance from the temples.
And if you're into rooftop swimming pools, there's Rambuttri Village Plaza with its pools on top of the penthouse suites, cheerful double rooms, a half-kilometer drive off Khao San Road, and also near the Grand Palace.
Baan Wanglang Riverside Hotel, meantime, is located on the riverbank just across from the Grand Palace and only five minutes away by shuttle boat, attracting guests with its spacious double rooms with spectacular river views, just five minutes away by shuttle boat.
The Siri Heritage Bangkok Hotel, relatively new compared to the other hotels, offers the best value for money within the Grand Palace Area -- with exquisitely furnished rooms with balconies, courteous personnel, and an inviting pool, plus just a kilometer away from the National Museum.
There's also the Inn A Day and the Chakrabonse Villas -- both hotels giving their guests a magnificent view of the river and Wat Arun temple, romantic getaways for travelers who enjoy delicious breakfasts, Oriental modern rooms, and atypical industrial aesthetic interior designs.
Bangkok Patio is a ten-minute walk from the BTS Skytrain station, with its spacious modern studios and apartments, with fully furnished kitchen and balconies, fantastic pool, tranquil ambiance, and affordable rates all make it a dream place for travelers.
Another favorite for Bangkok visitors is Noursabah Boutique Bed, a half-kilometer drive from the BTS Station and the Airport Rail Link. With its well-decorated rooms and comfy bed, free daily breakfast and peace and quiet, good meals, fruit juice, and drinking water provided 24 hours daily make it a top favorite of the guests.
Photo Credit to Willy Thuan and Phuket101.net
A quiet location with its luxurious pool, warm and very comfortable accommodations, and avante-garde interior designs are pluses, it’s a great place to stay if you want to tour Bangkok or go to the airport quickly at the end of your trip.
Very near Anajak Bangkok Hotel is the Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn, also a short walk from the metro station, with its elegant infinity pool, sumptuous free breakfasts and luxurious rooms with big bay windows make it an excellent option.
Then there’s Bangkok's Siam Kempinski Hotel, elegance and luxury at its best with its state-of-the-art contemporary suites, spacious gardens and pools, first-class spa and jacuzzi, with direct access to Siam Paragon and the BTS, with sumptuous breakfasts to boot!
Experience Dinner Cruises
Bangkok's ferries and express boats sail from Sathorn Pier and stop directly at the ports of key tourist attractions such as Wat Arun and Ratchawongse during the day, with its cruises as sure-fire hit attractions for the tourists to enjoy. Local canal boats called Khlong Saen Saep are a terrific way to view the real Bangkok, as they zigzag through little canals and behind residential buildings. Bangkok's river cruises are famous most especially because of the Chao Praya River - the so-called “River of Kings” which is its major waterway, giving the tourists an exceptional view of the majestic temples especially during evenings when the lit-up cityscape and river breeze ambiance provide a great attraction for the visitors. Enjoy a more magical river perspective of the city's most stunning monuments and iconic temples as you float around in the so-called "Venice Of The East."
Getting Around Bangkok
Bangkok is also famous for its traffic bottlenecks and the Sky Train (BTS) is one great way to avoid these, yet it doesn't allow you to visit major temples such as the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, Lumphini Park, the Siam area, the financial district, and the Chatuchak market.
Public transportation such as buses can be very affordable. However, if you don't speak Thai, you'll need to figure out if you're on the correct bus route.
As for boat shuttles, these offer convenience especially when you need to go to the temples Wat Arun or Wat Pho; with multiple boat lines with various stops available on the Chao Praya river's docks.
For budget travel, there’s the MRT subway crossing Bangkok from north to south, connected with the BTS and Airport Link. Taxis are not that expensive either, as long as the honest driver uses the taxi meter and does not charge with high fixed fares.
Those electric mini-vehicles called Tuk-Tuks and the Moto-Taxis ( motorcycles with an attached carriage with additional wheels) can get you around within Bangkok, yet are almost always priced higher than the metered taxis because the former doesn’t have any meters and charges on overpriced fixed fares.
Most visitors meantime make do with these mini-vehicles especially if they are the ones readily available to get you through Bangkok’s heavy traffic!
Bangkok's excellent public transit system, with above-ground and underground trains serving much of the city, provides guests with a better option than these overpriced mini-vehicles. Tourists take advantage of the trains as a quick, easy and inexpensive option to travel, compared to the buses which can make you get caught in traffic and waste hours on the road.
Make The Most Of Your Bangkok Adventure
Photo Credit To Sunil Patel Check Out The Tour Packages
Guided tours will be quite helpful for you, most especially the newbie travelers who are visiting Bangkok for the first time. With a knowledgeable guide to help you with your adventure, this saves you a lot of time and frustration by having your to-do list prepared and done for you by these package tours.
Be Willing To Bargain
Whether this be cab rides or simple haggling in marketplaces, always bargain. Bangkok taxi drivers have been notorious for overcharging, so it would be wise to have some negotiations that they use their taxi meters instead of fixed fares.
With the city’s nearby floating markets touted as “tourist traps” with overpriced fruits and local produce, also with the famous Khao San Road flocked by tourists yet with relatively overpriced items, be sure to know the reasonable prices before hopping into their stores.
Brace Yourselves For The City’s Brutal Heat
Photo Credit to Skyscrapercenter.com
Prepare yourself for the scorching heat, especially when you're strolling the streets of Bangkok! Without any sea breeze to help with the sweltering temperatures, and there's no relief from the humidity, so come prepared.
For your daytime shopping, throw in some indoor shopping for some air conditioning comfort along the way, wear lots of sunscreens, and stay hydrated at all times. Wear cotton and linen clothing especially when checking out the Chatuchak Market, and bring an umbrella or hat for extra sun protection.
Be Aware Of The Scammers
As an honest warning for the travelers, be wary of the overpricing and overcharging activities of street vendors, market sellers, and most especially the cab divers -- saying their meters are broken and other alibis.
Scammers can appear to be very nice and respectful, yet use your discretion to see through some scammers when the tour guide or driver takes you somewhere, then makes detours and stops along the route, bringing you to a jewelry store or a clothes shop and forces you to make a purchase.
Be sure to bring things back on track when your driver or guide brings you to places other than where you want to go, and simply insist on being taken to your original location to get another cab or tour guide.
Pack Your Bags And Visit Bangkok Today
Photo Credit to Mathias Krumbholz
Bangkok boasts a diverse range of attractions, including beautiful temples and shrines that are excellent places for tourists and residents to learn about Thailand's history.
Without a doubt, if you're looking for romantic dinner cruises and beautiful river views, beautiful scenery and exciting nightlife, world-class dining experiences, affordable shopping, and interesting culture, Bangkok is the place to go — which is why both classy travelers and backpackers flock to this place dubbed as one of Southeast Asia's best travel destinations.
Yes, Bangkok is indeed a city of contrasts! Thailand is indeed vibrant, smart, and modern while keeping traditional culture and vivid history that Thais pass down through generations. You could spend weeks exploring this amazing city's beauty and cultural diversity.
If you want to visit one of the world's most popular cities and currently planning your next holiday for a fun weekend getaway, book your flights to Bangkok today and have a wonderful Asian adventure.
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