Bangkok is the capital and a huge cosmopolitan city. Gateway to the country and an exciting place to spend a few days and nights to enjoy its many attractions. History, culture, music, gastronomy, tradition, modernity. Bangkok has everything.
What to see and do? Bangkok offers you:
The Grand Palace and in the same enclosure the Buddhist temple Wat Phra Kaew, are like 5th Avenue, Trafalgar Square or La Sagrada Familia –i.e. visits that are always included on the first trip to New York, London or Barcelona.
This visit can be done very well on your own, nevertheless, another possibility is to join a group with an English guide.
Bangkok Grand Palace Guided Tour.
The Wat Pho is one of the best-preserved monasteries in the country, so it is well worth wandering around the various rooms, although it’s famous because it houses the enormous reclining Buddha.
The sight of Wat Arun next to the Chao Phraya River is stunning and the first lights of the morning and also in the afternoon, just before sunset, enhance its beauty. Besides, the views of the city from the terrace of the central ‘prang’ are excellent.
The Chinese diaspora, settled in Bangkok from the beginning, has played an essential role in the country and today its neighbourhood still retains the authentic Chinese aroma, so we recommend not leaving the city before visiting Chinatown.
Canals and floating markets
The canals of Bangkok and the floating markets are more part of the history than the present, even so, the city offers an opportunity to imagine classic Bangkok while enjoying a pleasant boat ride and tasting Thai food at a floating market.
You can also use the Saen Saep canal as a means of transport.
The Thonburi canals are the best preserved and the tour can be combined with your visit to the Grand Palace in the historic district of Rattanakosin. In Thonburi is located the Taling Chan floating market.
At the Chao Phraya’s piers, you can hire a long tail boat private tour as well as packages of shared trips (1h to 3h long). Yodpiman, Tha Tien, Tha Chang and Tha Maharaj docks.
Information about the floating markets in this post.
In the case of the Saen Saep canal, click here How to get your bearings in Bangkok.
Street markets and shopping malls
The street markets and the most exclusive shopping centres are the two poles of this type of business, but both are part of the most authentic Bangkok and deserve a visit, if not to buy at least to nose around.
As the malls have air conditioning, you can consider visiting them at noon.
Some markets open only on weekends or from Thursday to Sunday, keep it in mind if your travel dates are flexible.
Unlike most Western cities, especially those far from the tropic, much of everyday life takes place on the street, which makes the city even more attractive to visitors.
Complete post about the best markets, click here.
To know more about the superb malls, click here.
Entertainment places. To enjoy the fun side of life
Cultural visits to historical places like Buddhist temples and other sites of interest are usually carried out in the mornings. Between 5 and 6 in the evening all of them will be closed to the public and from 6 pm the day begins to darken. So the ambience changes and also the travellers’ activities.
In your program you may include:
» Restaurants to taste the hot Thai cuisine or enjoy a delicious dinner on a cruise on the Chao Phraya river.
» Bars and clubs for a drink, maybe one on a rooftop bar.
» Shows in the theatre or spicier in a cabaret.
» Attend an evening of Muay Thai.
» Having a look at the red-light districts of Bangkok.
All the information to have fun at dusk in Nightlife Bangkok.
More useful posts about Bangkok are available:
» Interesting places for some reason.
» Superb shopping centres.
» Curious and bustling street markets.
» About getting around, we offer useful references in this article that includes maps.
An interesting video about Bangkok.