Bangkok is a vibrant city filled with wonderful temples, palaces, and culture. Check out my list of 10 things to see and do while visiting this one of a kind city in Thailand! And if you are interested in reading an article I wrote on the best neighborhoods to stay in when visiting, check it out here on the Planet D blog.
1. The Grand Palace
The Thai Grand Palace is one of the most magnificent structures in the city of Bangkok and is a must-see during any visit. It was built in 1782 by King Rama I and was the royal residence and site of government administrative buildings. The palace is an absolutely stunning, spectacular sight with gold and jewels everywhere. It is practically impossible to take a bad picture inside.
The complex includes the famous Temple of the Emerald Buddha. This temple sits in the center of the complex and houses the famous Buddha that is actually jade and not emerald. The Buddha is clothed in three different outfits during the year: one for the summer, the rainy season, and the cold season. The outfit is changed three times a year in a ceremony presided over by the king.
Cost: 500 baht; includes ticket to Vimanmek Mansion and Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall (valid within 7 days of purchase)
Insider Tip: Because the Grand Palace was a royal residence and houses sacred temples, proper dress is required. Men must have long pants and t-shirts. Women must wear long skirts or pants, no see-through shirts, and no sleeveless tops. No shorts are allowed on either men or women. The Grand Palace does rent out sarongs to cover up, but during busy times they are likely to run out and you will not be admitted. You can also buy one for cheap outside at a cart and use it for any temple visits you may make during your stay. Definitely a good investment.
Read more about Visiting the Grand Palace in Bangkok
2. Visit a Wat
A wat is a Thai temple and there are so many located in the city that just a quick walk around is sure to have you stumble upon more than one. Two of the most well know wats are Wat Pho, located right next to the Grand Palace, and Wat Arun, just a short ferry ride across the river.
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Wat Pho – Temple of the Reclining Buddha
One of the most impressive sights to see at this wat is the gigantic reclining Buddha inside. I honestly had no idea of the sheer size of the buddha until I got there and saw it for myself. After taking a walk around the buddha, head out into the grounds and do some exploring! There are so many beautiful structures to see, you will want to give yourself some time to just stroll around and take it all in. At the very back of the grounds is the massage school, home of the original (and some Thai's claim the best) thai massage. For around 250 baht, you can enjoy 30 minutes of a thai massage – a great way to relax after all that walking!
Cost: 100 baht
Insider Tip: A visit to this temple can easily be combined with the Grand Palace since it is located right around the corner. It will undoubtedly be less crowded, allowing you to wander around the grounds and marvel at its beauty in a more relaxing manner.
Read more about Visiting Wat Pho in Bangkok
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Wat Arun – Temple of the Dawn
Wat Arun is currently under construction for the next five years. Unfortunately this means that visitors can no longer climb to the top of the central spire and it no longer lights up at night. However, it is still a beautiful temple to visit. Take a ferry across the river for just 3 baht, and enjoy a walk around the grounds. Remember that proper dress is required at all the temples!
Cost: 50 baht
Insider Tip: If you would rather not visit Wat Arun due to the construction, another great way to see it is by dining across the river. The Deck by Arun Residence has great food and an excellent view of the 300 year old temple. Grab a bite in the restaurant or a drink on their fourth floor deck and watch the sun set for a spectacular evening.
3. Explore Chinatown
Chinatown in Bangkok is a vibrant and lively place with loads of good food and lots of little alleys to explore.
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Wat Traimit
Located at the end of the iconic Yaowarat Road in Chinatown, Wat Traimit houses the largest solid gold Buddha statue in the world! It is quite a sight to behold, so a trip here is a must during any visit to Bangkok. It is said that the statue is worth over $250 million dollars! It was originally was covered in plaster, but during a move it was dropped and the plaster cracked to reveal the golden Buddha underneath. The Golden Buddha is housed on the fourth floor of the temple, but the 2nd and third floors are home to the Chinese Cultural Center. This museum documents the migration of the Chinese into Bangkok and was a fascinating exhibit to walk through. It also tells more about the Golden Buddha statue, such as how it was made and how they discovered the gold under the plaster.
Cost: 100 baht for just the Chinese Cultural Center. 40 baht just to see the Golden Buddha. 140 baht for both (which I recommend!)
Insider Tip: It is easy to get to this wat by train as it is right down the street from the Hua Lampong Railway Station
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Sampeng Lane Market (Soi Wanit 1)
Bargain shoppers – welcome to your heaven! The Sampeng Lane market, whose proper name is Soi Wanit 1, is a well known shopping street in Chinatown that is fun to walk down as it is super narrow with no cars. All along its length are shops selling all kinds of things from jewelry and shoes to toys, ceramics, and silks. Many place also offer wholesale so you can buy a few items for an even further reduced price. And since it is too narrow for cars it is a great place to wander. Just be careful of motorcycles delivering goods!
Cost: Free! Spending depends how much you want to spend while shopping!
Insider Tip: Be prepared to bargain! Bargaining has become a lost art in the West, but if you play your cards right, often you can get an even better deal on items!
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Eiah Sae
This well known coffee shop is one of the oldest and most authentic in Bangkok. Located off the main road down a small side street, this shop sells classic Thai coffee (super strong with lots of sweetened condensed milk) for only 25 baht. You can't go wrong when the recipe has been handed down from your great-grandparents. The shop is full of older Thai Chinese men chain smoking and you honestly feel like you could have traveled back in time. Truly a gem to check out!
Cost: 25 baht for a classic Thai coffee
Insider Tip: This place can be a challenge to find! If you walk up Yaowarat Road from Wat Traimit (keeping the roundabout behind you) on the left side of the street, take a left at Song Sawat Road (one of the first main streets) and then your first right. The coffee shop will be on the right side of the street about halfway up the block.
4. Take a Thai Cooking Class
This was by far one of my favorite activities in Bangkok! I signed up for a class at the Silom Thai Cooking School, located in a narrow street off of Silom road. For an afternoon, I learned how to make 5 classic Thai dishes, all of which I got to eat right afterwards! While I may not be an expert, I can now roll a spring roll, one of my favorite snacks. At the conclusion of the class, I also got a recipe book full of all the recipes I had made and others I can try on my own! An extra bonus of the class not offered by other cooking schools is a visit to a local market where they source the ingredients for the class.
Cost: 1000 baht per person; night class offered for 900 baht
Insider Tip: Make sure to leave plenty of time to get to the meeting spot! Bangkok is infamous for its traffic jams. Visiting the market is a cool feature of the class not offered by other cooking schools that you do not want to miss.
Read more about Learning to Cook Thai Food in Bangkok
5. Lumpini Park
This park located in the middle of Bangkok is a treasure of green space and a haven from the craziness that is the rest of the city. The park is large and provides a great place to walk, stretch your legs, and enjoy the greenery. Paddle boats are available to rent and make a great way to see more of the park and its wildlife. The pond is full of fish and you can buy a bag of food on the dock to feed them. The fish can be very lively, which is fun to see and experience. I also saw a few turtles while on the paddle boat. As you walk around, you might also come across some very large monitor lizards that roam freely in the park.
In the evening, you will see many local Thai people out for a run around the park. They also have free aerobics classes that you can join that look so fun! They are hard to miss as they have booming music and hundreds of Thai people of all ages dancing around! Local Thai gentlemen also gather in the park to play games of chess.
Cost: Free! Boat rides are 40 baht (with a 40 baht deposit that you get back once you return within the time frame of 30 minutes). For 20 baht more you can get a bag of bread to feed the fish.
Insider Tip: If you are in the park in the evening, be aware that at 18:00 (6:00 PM) there is a salute to the King and Thailand. Stop whatever you are doing and stand still until it stops playing (about a minute and a half tops).
6. Khaosan Road
This series of roads is backpacker central and is always full of tourists. The most exciting time to visit is at night when the bars are full and people are partying. There is lots to do on Khaosan Road: shop for souvenirs, get your hair braided (or put into dreadlocks), eat some bugs (I was not brave enough), enjoy cheap delicious street food, enjoy a thai massage, and even get a tattoo! Whatever you choose to do, you are bound to make a few friends along the way. Definitely a place to check out at least once, just to say you went.
Cost: Free to walk around! But you will surely end up spending money on either drinks or some souvenirs.
Insider Tip: This is another place to practice your bargaining skills! Don't settle for the first price you are quoted! This is also close to the Grand Palace and can definitely be visited in the evening on the same day.
7. Get a Thai massage
Before arriving in Thailand, I had ‘Get a Thai Massage' at the top of my ‘To Do' list. There are so many thai massage establishments in the city that it can be hard to know which one is the best. I was recommended Health Land before I arrived, so I decided to check it out. For less than $15, I enjoyed a 2 hour Thai massage that was heavenly. The spa ambiance instantly relaxed me and the 2 hours flew by quickly.
Another place that the Thai people love is the massage school at Wat Pho (see number 2 above). It is said that the best masseuses train there and they offer truly authentic massages. No matter where you go, it is sure to be super cheap! Many Thai people get a massage multiple times a week!
Cost: A 2 hour massage at Health Land cost 1000 baht. A 30 minute massage at Wat Pho cost 250 baht.
Insider Tip: If a full body Thai massage seems daunting, opt for a foot massage! They are sometimes cheaper and, after walking around Bangkok, your feet will thank you!
Read more about Getting a Thai Massage at Health Land
8. Eat like a local
Thailand is a cheap place to travel and part of the reason is the extremely cheap street food! You can go a whole day and spend less than $10 on food if you wanted. Many of the Thai people do not cook at home since houses do not generally have kitchens. Instead, they stop by a stand and pick something up on the way home! In the evenings, many streets will come alive as street carts pop up and cook all kinds of delicious food: fried chicken, rice, pad thai, fried rice, rotee (a yummy dessert!) and much much more! No matter what your mood, you can find something to satisfy you. I have even had a hamburger, Thai style of course!
Cost: Food items purchased on the street will range from 30 baht (less than $1) up to 100 baht (a little more than $3). Way cheaper than any restaurant!
Insider Tip: If you are worried about getting sick from the food, fear not! The Thai people take great pride in their food and it usually will not get you sick. To be safe, ask for food to go (they do not always wash their dishes thoroughly) and avoid foods that are not cooked (salads, vegetables etc). Not everyone gets ‘Thai Tummy” and eating the street food is not a guarantee of getting sick, so enjoy!
9. Visit a Floating Market
Many people want to see a floating market while on their visit to Bangkok. There are several in and around the city but the best one by far is the Amphawa Floating Market, located about 1.5 – 2 hours away. It is only open on the weekends, when local Thais from Bangkok flock there for excellent seafood and shopping. It is less touristy than the more well known Damnoen Saduk and will offer a more authentic floating market experience. Eat fresh seafood grilled right on a boat, wander the market along the canal, and take a longboat ride along the Mae Klong river!
Cost: A day trip will put you back around 500 baht
Insider Tip: Do not be discouraged by the distance – getting to the market is easy! Just catch a minibus from Victory Monument that will take you straight there! No need to waste money on a tour; you will save a lot more by going on your own.
Read more about the Amphawa Floating Market
10. View Bangkok from a Rooftop Bar
During my visit to Bangkok, I visited 3 rooftop bars in a week! They are spectacular places to catch a sunset or view the city at night while sipping on a delicious cocktail. Keep in mind that most rooftop bars have a dress code of no sports shorts, no sandals, and no sleeveless tops for men.
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ThreeSixty at the Millennium Hilton
The first bar I visited, ThreeSixty, sits at the top of the Millennium Hilton Hotel. This bar has great views of the river as well as the Bangkok skyline. Relax on comfy armchairs while you sip on delicious drinks. Drinks are moderately priced. Added bonus – it was not at all crowded! Meaning no having to push people for that perfect picture.
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Red Sky at Centura Grand
If you are a shopper, then you will surely visit Central World Mall, which is big enough to get lost in. After getting your fill, relax in the evening with more beautiful views of the city below. Located in the Centura Grand Hotel behind Central World Mall, this bar has 360 degree views of Bangkok. Once you get to the top, walk around until you spot the view you want. Then sit back, and enjoy! In terms of cost, this bar is also moderately priced: a jug of sangria to share put us back 700 baht (plus tax).
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Sky Bar at Lebua State Tower
This bar is most famous for its appearance in the Hangover 2 film. Remember the spot where Chao is finally captured with the beautiful golden dome? That's Sky Bar! Because of the movie, it is a popular spot for visitors. This was one of my favorite rooftop bars I visited! There are actually two bars at the top of the tower, Distil and Sky Bar. Sky Bar juts out over the side and has glass edges and a view that just can't be beat. It also is super cool to be able to see the spot where the hangover boys hung out. Make sure to try the Hangovertini.
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Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
Have you visited Bangkok? Share your ‘must-sees' in the comments below!