Bangkok – Thailand

Bangkok is said to be one of the world’s top tourist destinations and it was once named “World’s Best City” by Travel + Leisure Magazine’s survey for four consecutive years, from 2010 to 2013. As the main gateway to visit Thailand, Bangkok has the biggest number of international tourists to the country.

Bangkok’s tourist sights, attractions and city life are multi-faceted and so they appeal to diverse groups of visitors.

It has Royal palaces and temples beside several museums for ones who love history and culture studies. While its shopping and dining attractions offer a wide range of choices and prices for shopping lovers or food explorers. Bangkok is also famous for its dynamic nightlife with various entertainment options for everyone. The sex industry in Bangkok Thailand is well-known oversea as well. It even has the nickname “Sin City of Asia” for its level of sex tourism.

In short, Bangkok has something for everyone. It’s an exciting, affordable city that’s much more than just a gateway to Thailand. And here are some guidelines for things to do, places to go for your needies:

PLACES TO VISIT IN BANGKOK

Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew – around 2.5h walking

The Grand Palace is considered by many to be the single most important attraction in Bangkok. Built in 1782, it served as the official residence of Thailand’s Royal Family until 1925. The King now resides in Dusit Palace though the Grand Palace is still used for official events like royal ceremonies and state functions.

Grand Palace is a large complex consisting of several ornate buildings, pavilions, courtyards, and manicured gardens. One of the most important structures at the Grand Palace is Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It houses the famed Emerald Buddha and is considered the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.

Wat Pho

Wat Pho or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha is located just south of the Grand Palace. It’s home to nearly 400 gilded Buddha images and a giant reclining Buddha measuring 15 meters tall and 46 meters long.

Together with Wat Arun, Wat Pho is one of six temples regarded as the highest grade of first-class royal temples in Thailand. It was the country’s first public university and considered the birthplace of traditional Thai massage, which is still taught and practiced at the temple today.

Wat Arun

Wat Arun or Temple of Dawn is located on the west bank of Chao Phraya River. Aside from being one of the most important temples in Bangkok, it’s also one of the city’s landmarks for its striking riverside location and interesting design.

Getting to Wat Arun from Wat Pho is easy. Just walk to Tha Thien Pier and take a quick ferry ride across the Chao Phraya River with ~US$4 only. Or you can also visit Wat Arun on a guided tour which you can book through 365Travel at any time.

Jim Thompson House

The Jim Thompson House is a museum in central Bangkok, housing the art collection of the American businessman and architect Jim Thompson – the museum designer and former owner. After his disappearance in Malaysia in 1967, the museum came under the control of The James H. W. Thompson Foundation under the royal patronage of H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

The museum has a large collection of historical Buddhist statues and traditional Thai paintings made of wood, cloth, and paper that depicted the life of Buddha and the legend of Vessantara Jataka. Jim Thompson collected secular art not only from Thailand but also from Burma, Cambodia, and Laos by frequently travelling to those countries on buying trips. You can find a magnificent collection of Asian arts here, and in many unique displays.

Erawan Shrine

Erawan Shrine is one of the most popular Hindu shrines in Bangkok. Throughout the day you’ll find worshippers offering flowers, incense sticks, and fruit to a gilded statue of Phra Phrom. Phra Phrom is the Thai representation of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation.

Erawan Shrine is located near the Skytrain’s Chit Lom Station. It’s in a busy commercial area straddling Siam and Sukhumvit so you can make a stop here while shopping in the area. Traditional Thai dance performances are held at the shrine throughout the day.

Bangkok Art and Culture Center

The Bangkok Art and Culture Center (BACC) is a contemporary arts center offering free exhibits spread out over ten floors. This center includes cafes, commercial art galleries, bookshops, craft shops, and an art library. It is intended as a venue for cultural exchange, giving Bangkok an operational base on the international art scene.

BACC is near the MBK Shopping Center and is accessible via the National Stadium BTS Station. It’s a great place to visit while shopping in the Siam area.

THINGS TO DO IN BANGKOK

Food Tour

Bangkok is synonymous with street food. CNN called it the very best street food city in the world, and it isn’t hard to see why. No matter where you look, no matter what time you go, there seems to be something delicious waiting for you at every corner.

One of the best neighborhoods to go for street food hunting is the area around Yaowarat Road in Chinatown. It’s home to some of the best and most iconic street food stalls in Bangkok. Yaowarat, Sampeng Lane and all the small shopping streets around are buzzing with activity by day and night. It’s a gigantic market made of tiny shops packed again each other for almost a kilometer square. Walking along these streets will bring you a real taste of Thai food as well as give you a chance to experience the local eateries and their famous recipes.

Market Tour

Like street food, Bangkok is famous for its markets. Whether you’re an avid shopper or you just simply want to observe Bangkok’s unique shopping culture, a trip to the market is a must. There is plenty of markets on offer, food markets or weekend markets; floating markets or night markets, each has its own specialties that will surely appeal you.

Markets are such an important part of the Bangkok’s experience that no first-time visitor should leave without visiting at least one. Some of tourist favorites include Chatuchak Weekend Market, Or Tor Kor Market, Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market, and Night Market Jodd Fairs. Get contact with our experts for further suggestions on where to go.

Chao Phraya River Cruise

The Chao Phraya River is an important feature of Bangkok. It cuts through the center of the city and serves as a viable means of transport for thousands of commuters every day.

For tourists, the Chao Phraya River is a great way to experience some of Bangkok’s most popular attractions like Wat Arun, Wat Pho, and the Grand Palace.

Bicycle Tour

If the chaos of Bangkok’s concrete jungle becomes too much for you, then you may want to seek refuge in Bang Kachao, an artificial island formed by a bend in the Chao Phraya River.

Known as Bangkok’s “Green Lung”, Bang Kachao is comprised of 16 sq km of mangrove forests, palm trees, and jungle. It’s a peaceful area with no skyscrapers, just rustic wooden houses and elevated pathways over canals that are best explored on bicycle. It’s a true oasis in Bangkok.

Bang Kachao is easy to get to by long tail boat from Wat Khlong Toey Nok Temple. You can go there on your own and rent a bicycle on the island, or you can arrange a biking tour through 365Travel at any time.

Massage or Spa Treatment

One of the service considered excellent with genuine care in Bangkok is Thai massage. Whether it’s a foot massage; a body massage; or a full blown spa treatment, it’s something really enjoyable and relaxing that you may not want to miss when you are visiting this city.

You can easily find spas and massage places everywhere in Bangkok (both legitimate and illegitimate), but if you want the best and the most suitable treatments, contact 365Travel’s experts for suggestion and reservation.

Watch a Muay Thai Kickboxing Match LIVE!

If you’re a fan of combat sports and would like to experience a live Muay Thai event in Bangkok, then you can do so at Lumpinee or Rajadamnern Stadiums. They’re Bangkok’s two major Muay Thai stadiums.

You can buy tickets directly from either stadium’s website, but you can also get Rajadamnern Stadium tickets through 365Travel. People all say that the second class seats give you the best vantage point to watch the fights. Ringside tickets are more expensive and put you too close to the fighters. So contact with us to get a better view seats at a better rates to experience boxing matches.

Floating Market

As described, markets in Bangkok are here and there a lot. And among of those, floating markets are one of must-see stops. If you want an authentic local floating market experience, then Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market is highly recommended which is just outside Central Bangkok. But if what you’re looking for is a huge floating market with hundreds of colorful boats on the water, then you’ll need to go outside of Bangkok for that. None are more famous than Amphawa and Damnoen Saduak Floating Markets.