Below is a guide to some of the best things to do in Bangkok which 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.
What are the best things to do in Bangkok?
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 8 am to 6.30 pm
Phone: +66 (0)2 226 0335
Sky Bar (famous from The Hangover Part 3), 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 4 pm to 1 am
Phone: +66 (0)2 624 9555
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 6 pm to midnight, Saturday–Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm
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
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 9 am to 6 pm
Phone: +66 (0)2 216 7368
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 4 pm to midnight
Phone: +66 (0)92 246 0812
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 5 pm to 1 am (dinner from 6 pm to 10.30 pm)
Phone: +66 (0)2 679 1200
Soi Cowboy was named after the cowboy hat-wearing African-American who opened the first bar here in the early 1970s. This adult-themed district has a more laid-back, carnival-like feel to it than Patpong or Nana Plaza. Flashing neon lights up a colourful streetscape comprised mainly of middle-aged expats, Japanese and western tourists.
Location: Soi Cowboy, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
One of the most scenic areas, the Chao Phraya riverside reflects a constantly changing scene day and night: water-taxis and heavily laden rice barges chugging upstream, set against a backdrop of glittering temples and luxury hotels. The areas from Wat Arun to Phra Sumeru Fortress are home to some of the oldest settlements in Bangkok, particularly Bangkok Noi and its charming ambience of stilt houses flanking the complex waterways.
Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall is the centrepiece of Bangkok’s own Champs D’Elysee. This impressive 2-storey white marble palace sits at the end of Dusit’s long, wide Royal Plaza, a leafy ceremonial boulevard that’s often the focus of regal pomp and ceremony during royal celebrations.
Ordered by King Rama V in 1907 and finished in the reign of King Rama VI, the neo-classical Renaissance architecture of Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall – particularly its central dome – dominate the scene just as Italian architects Mario Tamango and Annibale Rigotti intended.
Location: Royal Plaza, 71 Uthong Nai Alley, Dusit, Bangkok 10300, Thailand
Open: Tuesday–Sunday from 10 am to 3.30 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +66 (0)2 283 9411
Soi Rambuttri is Khao San’s more attractive, well-behaved brother. This street gives you a taste of how Bangkok used to look before all the skyscrapers arrived. Leafy banyan trees shade the pavements and the vibe sways more towards local than backpacker despite a number of them now choosing to stay here rather than on the infamous Khao San Road.
Soi Rambuttri has a great mix of guesthouses, restaurants, bars and street food stalls. Most of the shops are similar to those you find anywhere in the area selling the usual T-shirts, DVDs and other tourist trinkets. You can explore the entire horseshoe-shaped road on foot within 30 minutes.
Location: Soi Rambuttri, Talat Yot, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Lumpini Park, after the birthplace of the Lord Buddha in Nepal, is one of the largest parks in downtown Bangkok. It’s as big as 93 football fields, housing numerous benches, walking paths, and picnic spots as well as various flora and fauna.
Lumpini Park appeals to just about everyone – you’ll often find the elderly practising tai chi and couples lounging by the lakeside, along with 9-to-5 workers relaxing on benches or exercising in the evenings. This green space is often populated by families, especially on weekends.
Location: Rama IV Rd, Lumphini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Open: Daily from 4.30 am to 9 pm
Bangkok museums are among the city’s finest cultural venues, where you can admire centuries-old artefacts of historical significance, Buddhist relics, and modern art pieces. Some are housed in buildings just as interesting as their contents. Bangkok’s many museums exhibit some of the most sublime and strangest collections of relics you can imagine, giving you a wonderful insight into Thailand’s colourful culture and unique heritage.
SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World is a large aquarium that is 3 storeys underneath the glitzy Siam Paragon shopping mall. It’s an aquatic wonderland the size of 3 Olympic swimming pools – the underground aquarium is one of the largest in Southeast Asia.
The aquarium will dazzle you with innovative world-class exhibits and over 30,000 curious-looking creatures from various depths and aquatic regions across the globe. To get there, take Exit 5 from the Siam BTS Skytrain Station, which provides direct access to Siam Paragon.
Location: B1-B2 Floor, Siam Paragon Building, 991 Rama I Rd, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Open: Daily from 10 am to 9 pm
Phone: +66 (0)2 687 2000
You can find Bangkok temples spread throughout the city. The 3 most famous ones are Wat Pra Kaew, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho. Once you’ve seen them all, there are still many other temples worth visiting.
Fortunately, many of the most famous temples in Bangkok are located near the Grand Palace, excellent for a day of fun exploration. With any temple visit, remember to not only to bring your camera but also to wear appropriate temple attire: long pants and clothing that covers your shoulders and proper shoes (no flip-flops).
Assumption Cathedral is Bangkok’s principal Roman Catholic cathedral and the main church of the Archdiocese of Bangkok, which dates back to 1662. Located in Bang Rak, the church was built between 1910 and 1918 to replace an earlier church on the same spot and was repaired after sustaining severe damage during World War II. Pope John Paul II visited the church during his trip in 1984. To get to the church, you can either take a taxi or embark on the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Oriental Pier (N1).
Location: 23 Soi Charoenkrung 40, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Open: Monday and Friday from 8.30 am to 5 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 8.30 am to 12 pm (closed from Tuesdays to Thursdays)
Phone: +66 (0)2 234 8556
14 forts were built during the reign of King Rama I to protect the borders of the Old City, but most have disappeared over the years. Only Phra Sumen Fort and Mahakhan Fort have managed to remain in Bangkok.
This pale white concrete fort with battlements is nestled in the quiet Suan Santichaiparkran Park, which straddles the banks of the Chao Phraya River. You can get there by taxi or the Chao Phraya Express Boat (disembark at Phra Athit Pier).
Location: Phra Athit Rd, Chana Songkhram, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
The Snake Farm was set up to produce antivenom serums for snakebite victims nationwide, but it’s also an attraction in Bangkok. It’s the place to see poisonous snakes that range from cobras, Malayan pit vipers and king cobras to banded kraits and Russell’s vipers.
All snakes are ‘milked’ (their venom extracted) and there’s lots of information and close-up encounters with these slithery animals. You can also watch a live show about the history and function of the snake farm. You can find it at the corner of Henry Dunant and Rama IV Roads, on the grounds of Chulalongkorn University.
Location: Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, 1871 Thanon Rama IV, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Open: Monday–Friday from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 9.30 am to 1 pm
Phone: +66 (0)2 252 0167
At 304 metres tall, Baiyoke Tower II is one of Bangkok’s (and Thailand’s) tallest buildings. The 88-storey building has a public observatory deck on the 77th floor, while the top floor is an open-air, 360-degree revolving roof deck (an admission applies). Both venues offer a bird’s-eye view of the sprawling Thai capital. Baiyoke Sky Hotel covers from the 22nd to the 74th floor.
Taking in the Bangkok skyline from your hotel window is one thing, but watching it from the 84th-floor outdoor revolving deck is another experience entirely. Up at the top, the excitement, open space and the sense that you’re on top of one of Thailand’s tallest buildings make all the difference.
Location: Soi Ratchaprarob 3, Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Open: Skywalk and observation deck: daily from 10 am to 10.30 pm
A rejuvenating spa treatment in one of Bangkok’s luxurious spas or a famous traditional Thai massage can be the antidote after a long day of walking, shopping and sightseeing. Despite being a thriving and bustling metropolis, Bangkok is also a haven for relaxation, rejuvenation and regeneration.
There are several ways you can enjoy a massage in Bangkok. Soothing treatments range from an aromatherapy and oil massage to facial massages that will make your skin glow radiantly.
Bang Pa-In Royal Palace was used as a summer dwelling by the Siamese royalty and their consorts. It is about 60 km north of Bangkok and within easy reach of Ayutthaya. Also called Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, the complex comprises several iconic buildings all around a large park. Renting an electric cart is a good way to go around, especially on hot days.
Coming all the way from Bangkok just for the palace might not be worth the trip, but it is a great stop on the way to Ayutthaya. Proper attire is required similar to visiting the Grand Palace, meaning no short skirts, sleeveless shirts, and shorts.
Location: Tambon Ban Len, Amphoe Bang Pa-in, Chang Wat Phra Nakhon, Ayutthaya 13160, Thailand
Open: Daily from 8.30 am to 5 pm
Circled by perpetual swarms of traffic, the Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Road is a large western-style symbol of Thailand’s adoption of democracy and liberty. Field Marshall Plaek Pibulsonggram commissioned it to commemorate the June 1932 military coup that led to the country’s first democratic constitution in place of absolute rule.
Location: Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Wat Bowon Niwet, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand