The best things to do in Bangkok tell the story of this fascinating city, which began as a small trading centre and port community on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River some 200 years ago. Today, while the city is up to speed with modern times, the grandeur and glory of its illustrious past still prevail. Be it dazzling temples, spectacular palaces, a world-famous floating market or colourful Chinatown, each of these famous Bangkok places has an intriguing story to tell.
Grand Palace and Wat Prakeaw
The Grand Palace and Wat Prakaew command respect from all who have walked in their sacred grounds. Built in 1782, and served as the home of Thai Kings and the Royal court for 150 years, The Grand Palace continues to have visitors in awe with its beautiful architecture and intricate detail. Wat Pra Kaew enshrines Phra Kaew Morakot (the Emerald Buddha), a sacred Buddha image meticulously carved from a single block of emerald.
Location: Na Phra Lan Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Open: Daily from 8.30am to 3.30pm
Phone: +66 (0)2 623 5500
Wat Pho
There’s more to Wat Pho than its gigantic reclining Buddha and traditional Thai massage. This iconic temple harbours a fascinating collection of murals, inscriptions and sculptures that delve into various subjects, from warfare to astronomy to archaeology. The vast temple complex also contains a landscaped garden with stone sculptures, stupas adorned with glazed porcelain, a souvenir shop, and the College of Traditional Medicine.
Location: 2 Sanam Chai Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Open: Daily from 8am to 6.30pm
Phone: +66 (0)2 226 0335
Chinatown (Yaowarat)
Bangkok’s Chinatown is a colourful, exotic and pleasingly chaotic area, packed with market stalls and probably the highest concentration of gold shops in the city. During major festivities like Chinese New Year and the Vegetarian Festival, the dynamism and spirit of celebration spread across town like wildfire, and if you happen to be around, don’t miss an opportunity to witness Chinatown Bangkok at its best.
Location: Yaowarat Road, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Sky Bar Bangkok
Sky Bar boasts sweeping views from the top of State Tower, one of Bangkok’s tallest buildings. With its highly visible golden dome, the bar is tucked away in a corner of the award-winning, open-air Sirocco restaurant on the 64th floor. Sky Bar’s counter is illuminated and changes colour every few minutes.
Sky Bar is where you’d find some of the best live jazz in Bangkok. Also located at the Dome is Distil, another place where everyone likes to be seen. Part DJ bar, part smoking lounge, and part restaurant, Distil serves fine single-malt Scotches like Macallan and Glenmorangie, accompanied by a small carafe of genuine Scottish water.
Location: Lebua at State Tower, 1055 Si Lom, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Open: Daily from 4pm to 1am
Phone: +66 (0)2 624 9555
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Once only popular among wholesalers and traders, Chatuchak Weekend Market has reached a landmark status as a must-visit place for tourists. Its sheer size and diverse collections of merchandise will bring any seasoned shoppers to their knees. The market is home to more than 8,000 market stalls. On a typical weekend, more than 200,000 visitors come here to sift through the goods on offer.
Location: Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Open: Friday from 6pm to midnight, Saturday–Sunday from 9am to 6pm
Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn)
The impressive silhouette of Wat Arun’s towering spires is one of the most recognised in Southeast Asia. Constructed during the first half of the 19th century in the ancient Khmer style, the stupa showcasing ornate floral pattern is decked out in glazed porcelain. It’s especially stunning up close. Apart from its beauty, Wat Arun symbolises the birth of the Rattanakosin Period and the founding of the new capital after the fall of Ayutthaya.
Location: 158 Thanon Wang Doem, Wat Arun, Bangkok Yai, Bangkok 10600, Thailand
Phone: +66 (0)2 891 2185
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
The pioneer of Bangkok floating markets, Damnoen Saduak continues to offer an authentic experience despite its increasingly touristy atmosphere. Imagine dozens of wooden row boats floating by, each laden to the brim with farm-fresh fruits, vegetables or flowers. Food vendors fill their vessels with cauldrons and charcoal grills, ready to whip up a bowl of ‘boat noodle’ or seafood skewers upon request. The market is around 100 km southwest of Bangkok.
Location: Damnoen Saduak, Damnoen Saduak District, Ratchaburi 70130, Thailand
Open: Daily from 7am to 5pm
Jim Thompson’s House
Jim Thompson’s 3 decades of dedication to the revival of Thai silk, then a dying art, changed the industry forever. After he mysteriously disappeared into the jungles of Malaysia, he left a legacy behind, which is reflected through his vast collections of Thai art and antiques now on display at the Jim Thompson’s House and Museum. It’s a lovely complex of 6 Thai-style teakwood houses that are preserved in their original glory.
Location: 6 Rama I Rd, Wang Mai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Open: Daily from 9am to 6pm
Phone: +66 (0)2 216 7368
Asiatique: The Riverfront
Asiatique: The Riverfront is a successful combination of 2 of Bangkok’s most popular shopping experiences: a night bazaar and a mall. You can find it 10 minutes downriver from the Saphan Taksin BTS Skytrain Station. Once a bustling international trade port, it has been transformed with over 1,500 boutiques and 40 restaurants housed inside a huge replica warehouse complex.
An evening here presents you with good fun browsing the boutiques, picking up gifts or something for yourself. Shows are performed nightly – you can expect the Calypso ladyboy cabaret, as well as a Muay Thai show and a classic Thai puppets performance.
Location: 2194 Charoenkrung Road, Wat Phraya Krai, Bang Kho Laem, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
Open: Daily from 4pm to midnight
Phone: +66 (0)92 246 0812
Vertigo at Banyan Tree
Vertigo at Banyan Tree is an open-air bar and restaurant located 61 floors above the bustling streets of Bangkok. Indulge in some of the world’s finest champagne, exotic cocktails, wine-by-the-glass or non-alcoholic beverages in the bar area, or go all the way for a memorable dinner of seafood.
Stylish, sophisticated, romantic, the magical atmosphere makes for a memorable evening, weather permitting. A telescope is available for star-gazing, and on most nights there is live jazz too. Due to its popularity, reservations are required for the restaurant.
Location: 61st Floor, Banyan Tree Bangkok, 21/100 South Sathon Road, Sathon, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
Open: Daily from 5pm to 1am (dinner from 6pm to 10pm)
Phone: +66 (0)2 679 1200