15 Best Things to See in Bangkok (Thailand)
Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and is arguably the world’s most congested city. It is an amazing, intriguing city to visit. Bangkok, like many other capital cities, is constantly bustling with activity as people pursue a variety of jobs around the clock. With eight million people living there, you will come across people from all walks of life; from the really poor to the extremely wealthy. They all congregate in the same metropolis, and each feels at home as the other. TIP: Reserve tours ahead of time: The top-rated excursions in Bangkok come highly recommended. Night Bike Tour in Bangkok Here are some of the best activities and sights in Bangkok:
- Eat Out In Chinatown
- Take a boat trip along the Chao Phraya River
- Take a stroll through Lumpini Park
- Visit the Bangkok National Museum
- Take a trip around Chatuchak Market
- Shop Till You Drop At Siam Paragon
- Visit the Grand Palace
- Take a Motorcycle Taxi
- Go For A Drink On Top Of The City
- Climb the Sathorn Unique Tower
- Visit Wat Pho To See The Reclining Buddha
- Spend an Evening in Nana Plaza (Soi 4)
- Have a Thai Massage
- Ride the Sky Train
- Eat Street Food
Eat Out In Chinatown
Every major city has a Chinatown, and Bangkok is no exception. When you enter Chinatown through the ceremonial Chinese gates, you know you have arrived. Packed full of street stalls and restaurants, the choice of places to eat will be endless. Nowhere else in Bangkok will you get to try as many different kinds of Chinese food as you can here, especially at such good prices. It’s said that this is also the best area in Bangkok to look if you’re looking for gold.
Take a boat trip along the Chao Phraya River
Bangkok is sometimes referred to as the “Venice of the East” because of all the tiny canals that feed into the Chai Phraya River, which runs through Bangkok. The river is Bangkok’s lifeline; even today, 50,000 people commute to work on one of the several ferries that travel up and down the river. A boat ride down the river is fascinating because you can see luxurious hotels and high-rise condos in some places, while wooden shacks and kids playing in the water are seen in other places. To further explore the city, feel free to board and exit the ferries at any of the stops they make.
Take a stroll through Lumpini Park
With an area of more than 500,000 square metres, Lumpini Park offers Bangkok residents a much-needed respite from the city’s bustle. The Lord Buddha, who was born in Nepal, inspired the park’s name. An older Thai man practising Thai Chi or a loving couple unwinding by the lakeside are common sights as you stroll around the park. Early in the morning or right before sunset is an excellent time to visit the park because on the weekends it is packed with people enjoying all kinds of activities.
Visit the Bangkok National Museum
The Bangkok National Museum is home to the largest collection of artefacts and Thai art in all of Thailand. King Rama V first inaugurated the museum in order to display all the gifts that his father had bestowed upon him. The museum contains a variety of fascinating items, including Khon masks, Chinese weapons, valuable stones, puppets, and garments and textiles. If you go to the museum on a Thursday, you can be given a tour in English to give you a greater understanding of everything in the museum.
Take a trip around Chatuchak Market
If you enjoy shopping, you should visit this location. If you detest shopping, you should stay far away from this location. One of the biggest markets in the world, with over 8000 stalls spread across 27 acres. It is open every Saturday and Sunday and draws close to 200,000 visitors per day. You can buy nearly anything you can think of here, and most items are priced locally rather than touristically. It is definitely worthwhile to pick up a map before you visit to avoid getting lost in the market for hours.
Shop Till You Drop At Siam Paragon
The high-end shopper’s paradise is a very well-liked shopping centre that includes a wide variety of stores for high-end fashion brands, Southeast Asia’s largest aquarium, a gigantic multiplex theatre, and enough eateries to last a lifetime. There are over 250 shops inside the mall, most of which are frequented by well-heeled Thais and foreigners. If you have deep pockets, you can find everything you’re looking for at the complex’s stores for various automakers, including Ferrari and Lamborghini.
Visit the Grand Palace
The Grand Palace is the most well-known site among all the attractions to see in Bangkok. Until you have made the effort to visit here, you simply cannot move on to another city. The palace once served as the king’s residence and the base of operations for the Thai government. The palace is around 214,000 square metres, so seeing it can take many hours. When you are outside the palace, be on the lookout for potential frauds and only pay the entrance charge when you are inside.
Take a Motorcycle Taxi
Since Bangkok’s roadways are so crowded, going from one point to another might frequently appear like a difficult chore. In contrast to a regular taxi or tuk-tuk, these people will drive you on the back of their motorcycle anywhere you want to go. For the majority of locations, you can ride the sky train, but for those where you cannot, taking a motorcycle taxi is a smart option. Once you have paid your fare, the driver will want to get over there because there is no way to gauge how far the trip is. As your driver navigates the traffic to bring you to your destination, sit back and unwind.
Go For A Drink On Top Of The City
There are various places in Bangkok where you can go for a drink at the end of the day, but none will have the view of Bangkok that the Vertigo and Moon bar or the Lebua Rooftop bar have. The stunning Bangkok skyline can be seen in all its splendour from the 61st floor of the Banyan Tree hotel. If you are afraid of heights, this is not the place to be since you are immediately outside once you reach the top. However, the rooftop has been designed such that you can see the entire city without any interruptions from any angle.
Climb the Sathorn Unique Tower
A massive 49-story skyscraper was being constructed in the centre of Bangkok before the recent global financial crisis, but when it occurred, construction halted, and the tower was never finished. It is currently abandoned and far too large for anyone to use. Some websites advise scaling the tower. However, this is illegal and dangerous. A few years ago, some bloggers and vloggers faced criminal charges for broadcasting internet videos of themselves scaling a skyscraper.
Visit Wat Pho To See The Reclining Buddha
Every visitor to Bangkok should pay a visit to Wat Pho, the temple that houses the Reclining Buddha, which is forty-six metres long and fifteen metres tall, with feet that are more than five metres long. When viewed up close, the statue’s entire body is covered in gold leaf and appears stunning. There are 108 bowls within the temple, and you can purchase coins for the bowls on the way in. The story behind it is that on his journey to perfection, Buddha performed 108 good deeds. You can take a break to have a traditional Thai massage while you’re visiting the temple.
Spend an Evening in Nana Plaza (Soi 4)
Many people believe that Nana Plaza, which is located right outside the BTS station called Nana, is the biggest sex complex in existence right now. There are a lot of gogo clubs here with Thai women eager to entertain you for the evening in exchange for payment. Even if you have no intention of participating in any of the girl’s offers, it is worth spending some time sitting down with a drink and watching the people go by.
Have a Thai Massage
No matter where you are from, you have probably heard about Thai massages and perhaps even seen a Thai massage parlour in your town or hamlet. However, nowhere will a traditional Thai massage be performed as well as it would be in Thailand. You’ll feel rejuvenated, balanced, and like you have a fresh lease on life after receiving a Thai massage. Finding a reputable parlour close to your hotel is worthwhile considering that there are parlours everywhere.
Ride the Sky Train
Getting on one of the sky trains is the only way to go through Bangkok at any speed while maintaining your composure. There isn’t a better way to travel if your carriages have air conditioning. Most of the time, you are elevated above the traffic below, offering you a perspective of the city, but the train also follows the shortest path. There is a train station in almost every area of Bangkok that you might ever wish to visit, making transportation a breeze.
Eat Street Food
The popularity of street food has never been higher in Thailand because most people opt to eat out rather than preparing meals at home. Every busy road will have street food vendors selling their products to the locals and tourists alike. The prices are low because this is where the Thais choose to eat their meals as well. Although Pad Thai is undoubtedly one of the most well-known street foods, there are many others. You will find stalls selling all sorts of foods, from Som Tam (papaya salad) to squid, all cooked in front of you ready for consumption straight away.