The Hangover Part II had a saying that whoever gets swallowed by Bangkok doesn’t come back. Well, I’ve been to the Thai capital twice, and somehow I didn’t manage to get lost. 🙂 I would have easily stayed there because Bangkok is a fantastic place in terms of attractions and atmosphere! A true Asian metropolis, with markets, great food, ancient culture, and friendly people.
Bangkok is the capital and largest city of Thailand. The city center lies on the right bank of the Chao Phraya River, next to the Gulf of Thailand (Gulf of Siam). Its nickname: „Venice of the East”.
It’s relatively new, being just over 200 years old. Bangkok was built out of necessity after the previous capital, Ayutthaya, was destroyed in 1767.
Table of Contents
Bangkok attractions
Grand Palace
The palace complex was built by Bangkok’s first king in 1782, and each ruler has since expanded it, resulting in a mixture of various styles. It includes over 95 sacred pagodas, temples, museums, galleries, and the royal pantheon. The complex is surrounded by a white wall.
In addition to the palace, the complex also houses the Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), the royal chapel. The temple’s stupas are gilded, and the roofs are covered in bright orange and green tiles.
Expect crowds. The last time I was there, there were so many people we didn’t even join the queue, as it would have taken an hour…
Chinatown
Like every major city’s Chinatown, markets and eateries dominate here. If you delve deeper, you can find some „interesting” things.
We found ourselves in the middle of a meat market and saw things that were sometimes quite disturbing – literally. 🙂
Lumpini Park
The largest park in Bangkok’s downtown, featuring playgrounds and an artificial lake over 57 hectares. Interestingly, you can encounter monitor lizards, who often don’t bother people.
Additionally, there are more attractions and entertainment options, including King Rama VI’s statue, Bangkok’s first public library, and a music festival.
Jim Thompson House Museum
Jim Thompson was a silk trader whose traditional Thai house is home to a unique art collection. He is credited with reviving the Thai silk industry after World War II.
The museum in the house showcases silk production, has a valuable collection, and a beautiful garden.
Patpong
This red-light district is the center of nightlife. Nowadays, you mostly find the ladies indoors, but they used to almost overrun the streets.
The bars offer quite wild „productions”. The streets constantly entice tourists, often with the lure of a „ping pong show”. If you’re curious, look up what this means in Bangkok. I’ve seen one live, well, it’s interesting… 🙂
But everyone be careful, as almost everyone here specializes in ripping off tourists! Don’t give in to temptation, and feel free to refuse the „kind” invitations!
Bangkok National Museum
If someone wants to visit a museum, this is the place to go. It offers a comprehensive overview of Thailand’s history and cultural peculiarities.
The museum building itself is beautiful, with a pleasant park included.
Thai boxing
When in Thailand, you can include a Thai boxing (muay thai) match in your itinerary. I must admit, I skipped it both times I was there, as this type of sport doesn’t really attract me.
Most matches are held in the Rajadamnern Stadium, with multiple matches per week.
Temples
It’s no surprise that Bangkok and Thailand are full of Buddhist temples. We stumble upon a temple at almost every corner. Here are some of the most interesting ones.
Always make sure to dress appropriately when entering temples! Knees and shoulders should be covered, and clothing shouldn’t be too flashy.
Wat Arun
Located across the Chao Phraya River from the Grand Palace, this temple, „Temple of Dawn”, is perhaps the most famous among tourists. In my personal experience, it’s one of the most beautiful places among Bangkok attractions.
Its standout feature is the central prang (Khmer-style tower), decorated with seashells and porcelain pieces. Steep stairs lead to its two terraces.
Wat Pho
One of Bangkok’s largest and oldest temples, built nearly 200 years ago. It houses many images of Buddha.
It’s most famous for its enormous reclining Buddha statue, which is 43 meters long and 15 meters high.
Wat Traimit
The world’s largest gold Buddha statue is located in the temple’s main hall. Including the base, it’s 4.79 meters tall, weighs 5500 kg, and is made of 18-karat gold.
Wat Saket
Its main attraction is the Golden Mount, built in the 1800s, with a gilded dome rising above the city, offering a nice view of Bangkok.
The golden stupa contains the earthly remains of Buddha.
Markets
As in most Asian countries, you’ll find plenty of markets here. I can safely recommend including a market visit among Bangkok attractions!
Khao San Market
Bangkok’s most famous market, which turns into a nightlife district in the evening. For me, it wasn’t much different from other markets, but the street is worth a walk.
The area has many hotels, making it popular with tourists. There are plenty of eateries, restaurants, bars, and vendors in this part.
Chatuchak Market
A very large market, where I spent hours. You can find almost everything here. I myself was occupied for a few hours.
Expect large crowds, as it’s a popular market. Many consider it one of the world’s largest markets.
Talad Rot Fai Train Night Market Ratchada
As the name suggests, it’s a night market. It opens late afternoon and stays open past midnight. Basically, the same can be said about it as the others: everything is here!
The food is delicious, and if you’re adventurous, you can try fried insects. I tried them in Cambodia a couple of days before, so I skipped them here.
Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market
There used to be many floating markets, as trading often took place on the water. Today, only a few remain, and Khlong Lat Mayom is perhaps the most famous. It’s a bit out of downtown but worth visiting!
The market is located along a canal, with a few vendors still selling from boats, mainly for tourists. You can also take a boat ride through the canals.
Here, you take a step back in time, as it’s not directly in downtown, and poverty is visible. But it’s worth visiting just for the food alone.
Bangkok weather
Bangkok has a tropical climate. Humidity is high most of the year, making the weather often feel oppressive.
The best time to visit is from December to March. Daytime temperatures are around 30 degrees Celsius, and humidity is at its lowest. Rain can occur, but these are usually short showers.
The wettest month is September, but heavy rains are common in the other months of the May-October period.