Royal Palace
Visiting Bangkok and not seeing the Grand Palace is the same as not visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Any guide to Bangkok will certainly include this beauty in his must-see list of interesting places in Bangkok. The magnificent building of traditional Thai architecture amazes with its exquisite decorations and not least its dimensions: 218,000 sq. meters, surrounded by walls two kilometers long, with several palace buildings and 95 pagodas will impress anyone.
Visitors to the palace can admire the luxurious decoration of the halls and frescoes with episodes from the life of King Rama the First and, of course, take a walk and walk around the territory of the palace complex.
Entrance costs 500 baht.
Temple of the Dawn
“Temple of the Dawn” (this is how the name of this shrine is translated) is a calling card of almost the whole of Thailand, which must be seen in Bangkok. Its name is not accidental: it is at dawn that the temple looks most majestic and beautiful. Another remarkable feature is that it still operates to this day, services are held here and ceremonies are held.
The main treasure of the temple is the 79-meter Phra Bang stupa, which houses the relics of Buddhism. All the temple buildings, like the surface of the stupa, are intricately decorated with magnificent porcelain, mined, according to legend, from the bottom of the Chao Phraya River, on which Wat Arun stands. In the evenings, light shows are held on the territory of the temple, telling about its history, and if you climb to the very top, you will be treated to a breathtaking view of the city and the river.
Entrance to the temple territory is free, but visiting the pagoda is paid.
Jim Thompson House Museum
Perhaps one of the most unexpected interesting places in Bangkok. This house belonged to an American intelligence officer who became famous for reviving the Thai silk industry. Today, however, there is a museum in his house, where, in addition to the amazing beauty of the interiors, you can see the private collection of the former owner (the collection of antiques is especially impressive) and, of course, buy excellent silk in the museum store.
Opening hours : daily from 10:00 to 18:00.
The ticket costs 200 baht.
Vimanmek
Be sure to visit this place in Bangkok before you leave the city, because Vimanmek Palace is famous for being the largest wooden building in the world, built without a single nail!
The fact that the palace is made of pink yew makes it look like a huge carved jewelry box. The 80 rooms of the palace contain items that belonged to the royal family: exquisitely crafted porcelain, furniture, hunting trophies and much more. And the park and pond near the palace create a unique, peaceful atmosphere.
The palace is located in Dusit Park. Tours in English (4 groups per day) run from 11:00 to 14:00.
When visiting the palace, you must follow the dress code: long sleeve shirt and trousers or a skirt that covers the knees.
Lumpini Park
For a break from the hustle and bustle of multi-million dollar Bangkok, go and take a walk in Lumpini Park. There is everything here to relax your body and soul. Shady alleys and a cool pond with boats are conducive to blissful idleness, and those who, even on vacation, cannot imagine themselves without sports, will be able to “let off steam” on sports grounds and jogging tracks.
By the way, in addition to cats and turtles, the park is home to almost tame monitor lizards, which are so accustomed to visitors that they allow themselves to be photographed. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit these interesting places in Bangkok!
Entrance to the park is free.
Wat Pho temple
Another attraction of Bangkok and one of its oldest temples, which is worth visiting when vacationing in Thailand. Wat Pho is famous for its giant (46 meters) Buddha statue, to which local pilgrims and tourists from all over the world flock to take a “lap of honor” and throw a coin for good luck at the feet of the Great Enlightened One.
But the temple territory itself is no less interesting: there are many stupas (several hundred!), reminiscent of large patterned bells, statues and images of Buddha, as well as amazingly beautiful stone sculptures. And the temple itself is worth visiting.
Opening hours: from 08:00 to 18:30.
The ticket costs 200 baht.
Siam Paragon
Museums are museums, but Bangkok is not only ancient temples and antiquities. To immerse yourself in another – modern – side of life in this colorful metropolis, arrange a shopping day at Siam Paragon.
The shopping center is located in the shopping mecca of Bangkok – the Pathumwan district. Here you can “hang out” for the whole day: boutiques of popular world brands, jewelry stores, cinemas, cafes and restaurants, and most importantly – Siam Ocean World, the largest oceanarium in Southeast Asia, where visitors can swim with sea predators, one of the best places in Bangkok for evening walks.
Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 22:00.
Bangkok National Museum
Where else, if not here, can you learn the unique history of fabulous Thailand? The museum contains the richest collection of exhibits in all of Southeast Asia: here you will find household items, jewelry, ceramics, weapons, handicrafts, Thai theatrical costumes and masks, musical instruments, vehicles and much more. So stock up on time and go ahead.
Opening hours: the museum is open from 09:00 to 16:00, except Monday, Tuesday and national holidays.
The ticket costs 150 baht.
Wat Saket
One of the most famous and revered temples in Bangkok, Wat Saket, crowning the Golden Mountain, is an amazingly beautiful place with a unique atmosphere. It’s worth taking the time to climb all 320 steps to the temple to enjoy the beauty of the city below and the view of Rattanakosin Island.
Opening hours: the temple is open daily from 08:00 to 21:00.
The ticket costs 50 baht.
Altar of Erawan
This white marble pavilion is dedicated to the god Brahma and is named after an elephant that, according to legend, belonged to the deity. The altar is always crowded, music is heard and the aroma of incense is in the air. Locals come here to make thanksgiving offerings: figurines of elephants, candles or flowers to the four-faced god, and tourists, according to tradition, to make a wish (they say that everything made at the altar will certainly come true).
Park Safari World
The most exciting and interesting place is Safari World. Going here in Bangkok will be interesting for both adults and children. In the park, divided into a safari zone and a marine park, you can watch its inhabitants, stroll along the alleys of the park, feed giraffes by hand and, to top it all off, watch a fascinating elephant show – you are guaranteed a great day full of positive emotions!
The park is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00.
Throne room Ananda Samakhom
The Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall stands out among other Thai architectural beauties primarily for its European style. And it’s not without reason that the former reception room of the Dusit Palace was built in the style of the Italian Renaissance: rich sculptural decorations, medallions and garlands, figurines of cupids made of white marble – all this gives the building a strict and at the same time light appearance. The inside of Ananda Samakhom is no less beautiful: beautiful paintings and paintings depicting the history of the ruling dynasty. This place is a living textbook of Thai history.
Today, the throne room is used as a museum, displaying Thai art as well as the magnificent Royal Jewelry Exhibition.
Royal Boat Museum
Go and learn about Thailand’s maritime history here. In addition to the various vessels of the Thai navy, eight royal barges are exhibited here, each of which is a unique work of art. Rich carvings, magnificent figures of gods and mythical creatures decorating the bows of ships, gilding and bright colors will not leave anyone indifferent.
In the past, these barges were used in various ceremonies and as a means of transport for royalty. Today, the only chance to see them on the water is during the Royal Kathin Procession (in November-December).
Opening hours: the museum is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00 (barges may not be in the museum in November and early December, when they are preparing for the ceremony).
The ticket costs 100 baht, the same amount will have to be paid if you want to take a photo inside.
Suan Pakkad Palace Museum
This is the case when business can be combined with business. The museum houses an impressive collection of unique farming tools, weapons, pottery and jewelry, as well as traditional Thai Khon masks and musical instruments, some of which are up to 4,000 years old!
So, even having visited only Suan Pakkad, you can significantly expand your knowledge of the history of crafts and arts of Thailand. This is what is useful. And the pleasant thing is the large Japanese-style gardens decorating the museum’s courtyard. In the main garden there is a pavilion that is over 450 years old. The inside is completely covered in gold and black lacquer, a very interesting place in Bangkok.
Opening hours: from 9:00 to 16:00.
Like a dream
You can’t think of a better place to see in Bangkok to plunge headlong into the colorful, vibrant evening life (and not only) of Thailand.
With the onset of darkness, the street turns into a real Babylonian pandemonium! Tourists from all over the world, music, multilingual speech – it seems that the whole globe has gathered here. Even if you are not a fan of noisy parties, you should come here. It’s simply interesting to walk around Khao San, buy delicious street food, listen to music, or just wander around and look around, wondering and enjoying what you see.
Amulet market
Thais are known for being very sensitive to various kinds of amulets and talismans. But to better understand this feature of theirs, go to the Amulet Market, which is next to the Royal Palace, on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. This place is living proof that the interesting places in Bangkok are not limited to temples and palaces.
Here they sell everything that is not sold anywhere else: local merchants will offer you happiness, good luck, beauty, or even wealth – your choice, as they say. What’s missing here! Talismans, amulets, all kinds of trinkets, figurines of deities and healing potions – it’s time to acquire a whole magical arsenal. A pleasant feature of the market is that the traders do not force their goods on you. It is believed that a person himself should feel “his” amulet, and therefore no one is rushing anyone.
The amulet market in Thailand is open every day.
Ko Crete island
Bangkok, like the rest of Thailand, is bustling with life and energy. But if you want to get away from the bustle of the city for a while, you won’t find a better place than Ko Kret.
The island stands in the middle of the Chao Phraya River in the north of Bangkok. It has been known since the end of the 18th century, and the architecture has been perfectly preserved from that time. It’s worth coming here for the whole day to explore local temples, visit pottery workshops and enjoy the magnificent nature of Thailand.
Dragon Temple (Wat Samphan)
This temple, like something out of a fairy tale, is located 70 km from Bangkok, in the town of Nakhon Pathom. A giant mythical beast wraps around the 17-story round pink tower, resting its toothy head comfortably on the roof. It is believed that if you touch the dragon’s tail and throw a coin into a special “pot of happiness”, then good luck will accompany you for the rest of the year. And in the picturesque garden on the temple grounds there are many sculptures of fantastic creatures.
You can book a hotel in Bangkok with a discount of up to -65% on the website.
Chauphraya River
The Thai capital can be compared with Venice: there are so many canals and rivers that river transport is no worse developed than land transport. Therefore, take an example from the locals and go explore Bangkok on your own, but not on excursion boats. This will allow you not only to see the city from an unusual angle for mere pennies, but also not to pay exorbitant prices for “excursions along the canals.”
You can take a river taxi to the old city to see its best attractions, and from there head to the business part of the capital.
