Bangkok is an amazing, vibrant city full of life, food stands, high end malls, wonderful Asian food restaurants (Thai, Japanese and Chinese) and so many temples and things to see and do. The temples are all so beautiful and colorful.
I was lucky enough to get to go to Bangkok on a trip for work and went a few days early to get to see this lovely city and its sites. One of our work colleagues was nice enough to take us to see many of the temples on the first day, which was so nice to have a local to take us around. She was great at negotiating prices for Tuk Tuk or cab rides to get us around as it is expected that you negotiate pricing before hand and I am not the best at negotiating. We also took a water ferry, so we covered most of the modes of transportation. Bangkok also has a great train\subway system to help get you around as well. Bangkok has both a subway system called the MRT and a skytrain system called the BTS to help get you around town. Then there is also the water ferries available. This gives you many options to move around town.
There is a great amount to see but these are the 16 highlights I found when preparing for my trip, also with suggestions from a few friends who had visited and then of course having co-workers to make suggestions as well.
1. The Grand Palace
The Grand Palace was built in 1782 as the official residence of the Kings of Siam (later Thailand) when the new capital city Rattanakosin (now Bangkok) was established and is an amazing site to see. This palace was the first royal residence in Bangkok built during the reign of King Rama I and was the resided in through King Rama V until 1925. It housed the king, his court and all who were part of the royal government. Today it is used for Royal ceremonies and obviously a major tourist attraction. It costs 500 THB to visit the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew and it is open from 8:30am until 4:30pm, though ticket sales stop at 3:30pm.
2. Wat Phra Kaew or Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram
Wat Phra Kaew was built in 1784 as the Royal Temple as part of the Grand Palace. It was built to enshrine the Emerald Buddha. It was also used for various ceremonies. The statue of the Emerald Buddha is made of a single solid piece of green jade. There are no monks residing here during the Buddhist Lent, which makes it unique to most temples with only a Buddhavasa area. There are 12 pavilions on each side of the ordination hall for sermons or chants.
3. Wat Pho or Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan or The Temple of the Reclining Buddha
Wat Pho, also known as The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is home to a 151 foot long and 50 foot high reclining Buddha. The Wat Pho temple was built in 1801 to house this amazing buddha in remembrance of Buddha’s death. It was built by King Rama I and was his main temple, some of his ashes are enshrined in this temple. Through Buddhism a laying down Buddha symbolizes a Buddha’s final state before they pass into the afterlife. This temple is known for being the birth place of the Thai massage and still houses a massage school. It is also known as the first public center for teaching religion, literature and sciences. The cost to enter this temple is 200 THB and the temple is open from 8:00am until 6:30pm.
4. Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan or Temple of the Dawn
This Buddhist temple was named for Aruna, the Hindu deity of dawn often personified with the rats of the rising sun. Though it was built before 1656 prior to the reign of King Narai, its decorative spire was built from 1842 – 1851 with the reign of King Rama II and King Rama III. From 2013 – 2017 there was a major restoration done. It was originally named Wat Bang Makok after the village of Bang Makok where it was built and was then renamed Wat Chaeng and then became Wat Arun.
The main central prang which is decorated with colorful porcelain stands about 270 feet and is the tallest in Bangkok. There are four smaller prangs, one at each corner which are decorated with shells and pits of porcelain.
Entrance to Wat Arun is 100 THB, and if you would like to climb to the top of the tower it is another 50 THB and it is open from 8:00am to 6:00pm. Wat Arun is located just across the river from Wat Pho so getting there by boat is much quicker than the 30 minute walk. Getting a river ferry boat from Tha Tien market to Wat Arun pier is easy and the boast leave every 15 minutes for a cost of 5 THB and it is a fun experience.
5. Tuk Tuk Ride
Another fun way to get around is to take a ride in a Tuk Tuk instead of walking or taking a taxi. They are everywhere around the Grand Palace and major temples in the area. It is a fun experience and a great way to experience the city. You negotiate a price with them before you get in, though I was with someone from Thailand so that was much easier as I am not the best at bartering. You can also take them on a tour of the city which you can book tours through your hotel.
6. Wat Sakat Ratchawora Mahawihan, Wat Phu Khao Thong or Golden Mount Temple
Wat Sakat sits above the city and offers some fabulous 360-degree views of Bangkok, but requires a climb up 320 steps.
There is a little bakery and coffee shop part of the way up offering a break during the climb. It is well worth it as you get to see all the prayer bells lined up, some lovely landscapes, some beautiful displays of buddhas and then amazing views of the city.
This temple was originally named Wat Sakae but was renovated by King Rama I and was renamed Wat Saket which roughly translates to “wash hair” which is believed because the king stopped here on his way back from war to bath and wash his hair. This ancient Buddhist temple sits on the banks of the Mahanak Canal.
It costs 50 THB to climb to the top and is open from 7:30am to 5:30pm.
7. Wat Traimit Witthayara Worawihan or The Temple of the Golden Budda
Wat Traimit was previously named Wat Sam Chin and was renamed in 1940. The temple is most known for the golden Buddha statue enshrined within the temple.
According to history, the temple was founded by three Chinese friends and was probably built around the reign of King Rama III and was rebuilt in the 1930-40’s. It became a royal temple of the second-class people in 1956. A plaster Buddha was being moved from the abandoned temple of Wat Phraya Krai in the 1950’s when a cable snapped and the statue fell, revealing the solid gold statue beneath the plaster. The statue is estimated to be 700-800 years old, is nearly 10-feet tall and weighs around 5.5 tons. The statue is housed in the Mondop building, built in 2007 to enshrine the statue.
It costs 40 THB to see the Golden Buddha and 100 THB for the Yaowarat Chinatown Heritage Center and it open seven days a week from 8:00am – 5:00pm. I am told this is well worth the visit but wasn’t able to find the time to get to see it.
8. Khao San Road
This famous street in Bangkok is known for drinking, dancing partying and trying some exotic foods like scorpion. Even if you are not here for this exciting nightlife, it is still worth a walk through. During the day it is just a regular road but at night it comes alive with food trucks and partying in the street.
9. Street Food Tour
You can also take an evening Tuk Tuk tour tasting different street foods which will more than likely take you to a few stops on Khao San Road. There is some amazing street vendors with some amazing food, and some that are not so great, so I would suggest if you want to try a variety of street foods to use this method as they will know the great places to take you. There is even a Michelin rated food truck in Bangkok, but they are only open during the day, as they close at 5pm. So if you are out during they day look online and find where they are located and stop by for a great lunch.
Just as a note, there is what they call Bangkok Belly from eating the food that your system isn’t used to. If you travel regularly around the world you have more than likely experienced this at least a few times in different places. This is mainly from the street food vendors, but just the different food in general. It is usually considered a light (or strong) case of food poisoning so just make sure you bring some supplies before visiting.
10. Khlong Ban Luang Artist House
This offers a traditional Thai wooden house offering art and traditional Thai architecture combined. It allows you to observe culture of the area and understand the heritage. This 200 year old house is charming with tranquil setting along the river. The upper floor houses a gallery paintings and photographs. There is a coffee shop as well offering coffee and drinks. Cost is 100-210 THB depending on how you choose to get there and is open 9:30am – 6:00pm. You can get there on a longtail boat.
11. Wat Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram or Marble Temple
This temple uses Italian white marble all over, with a marble courtyard, marble pillars and two lion statues that guard the entrance. Around the assembly hall there are 52 images of Buddhas. Building started in 1899 at the request of King Rama V (King Chulalongkorn) and was designed by the kings half-brother. In the Ordination Hall is a Buddha created in 1920 and the ashes of King Chulalongkorn are buried below the Buddha statue. The Benchamabophit National Museum is housed on these grounds as well. The cost is 50 THB to enter, and it is open from 6:00am – 6:00pm. There is a monk prayer that takes place at 5:00am which entrance is prohibited.
12. Wat Ratchanatdaram and Loha Prasat or the Metal Castle
The only metal castle in the world, it was constructed in 1846 under the request of King Rama III (King Nangklao). It was built to honor either his favorite grand-daughter or his niece, there are conflicting stories. The designs take after Buddhist temples that had existed in India and Sri Lanka and the King helped in the designs and construction took a long time. The castle has 7 spires symbolizing 37 virtures that are required to reach enlightenment in Buddhism. The entrance fee is 20 THB and is open daily from 9:00am – 5:00pm 7 days a week, and is located next to the Golden Mount so you can visit both together.
13. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
There are multiple floating markets you can visit around Bangkok, but Damnoen Saduak is known as the best. Though it is over an hour outside the city, it was definitely worth the drive or tour. There are vendors all over the canals in their boats selling trinkets, hand carved items, tea pots and cups, fruits, vegetables and even grilling and cooking and selling from their boats as well. There are also shops built along the edges in the main portion and then a bit further down the river you can see how the people live along the river. The market is open from 6:00am – 11:00am 7 days a week so you do need to plan to do this early in the day.
14. Maeklong Railway Market
Another popular thing to see, which if you look at a tour to the Floating Market usually includes a visit to the Railway Market. This is a market held along an active railway in the town of Samut Songkhram. You can also get a Tuk-Tuk to take you. It is interesting to see the train roll through the open market.
15. River Cruises
River cruises are another great way to get to see the beautiful city and some of the sites. You can take the water ferry, a tour on a long-tail boat or take an evening cruise and see everything all lit up. We did a evening river cruise and it was amazing to see the city at night, especially the palace, bridges, malls and temples. It was an amazing experience and I would highly recommend it.
16. Visit an Elephant Sanctuary
There are multiple Elephant Sanctuaries around Bangkok where you can interact with the elephants. These are early morning tours where they will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the sanctuary and then bring you back to your hotel. We didn’t get this planned the day before so we were not able to do this so we visited an elephant camp that let you take a ride on an elephant.
