Wat
Phra Kaew, and the adjoining Grand
Palace together make up perhaps Bangkok's most impressive attraction
for the visitor. Though no longer the Royal residence, it's still
an incredible compound of glittering buildings, golden spires, mythical
guardian figures and the revered Emerald Buddha. More...
Bangkok has an extensive National
Museum, reportedly the largest in all of South East Asia.
If you have an interest in Thai and Asian art, history and culture,
this will make for a rewarding experience. More...
Wat
Pho, conveniently located right next to Wat Phra Kaew, is most
famous for housing Bangkok's gigantic (46m long, 15m high) Reclining
Buddha. It's also Bangkok's largest temple complex, and it's a good
place as any if you're looking for a monk to talk to. More...
Wat Arun,
otherwise known as the Temple of the Dawn, is a 100m high Khmer
style prang with an excellent location on the banks of the Chao
Phraya river. Despite the name, it's best seen in the evening
with the sun setting behind it. More...
Ko
Rattanakosin is the old royal city area and there are other
attractions here amongst the famous temples listed above. Lak Meuang,
the city shrine, is often full of worshippers and there's a resident
dance troupe for hire. Nearby Wat Mahathat is one of Bangkok's most
important temples, and in it's grounds is a large amulet market.
More...
Dusit is mainly
an administrative district, and is where the current royal palace
is now located (though it's closed to visitors). There are other
attractions around here to see also: Bangkok's reasonable zoo,
the impressive Vimanmek Teak Mansion and Wat Benjamabophit (The
Marble Temple), one of Bangkok's most famous temples. More...
Bangkok's large Chinatown
district throngs constantly with activity. It mainly consists of
busy, narrow streets packed with cheap gold shops, fabric shops,
markets, pharmacies selling the traditional Chinese medicines, street
stalls and consistent traffic jams. More...
On the western side of the Chao Phraya river the mainly residential
Thonburi
district is filled with canals, and tours round these are popular.
Stop offs include Wat
Arun, a snake farm, the relatively interesting Royal Barges
Museum, the inauthentic Wat Sai floating market and a few temples.
More...
The Banglamphu
district is close to Ko Rattanakosin. Located here are some more
interesting temples, including Wat Saket and the Golden Mount and
Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing. There's also the Democracy Monument,
and the famous traveler's center of Khao San road. More...
Attractions
elsewhere in Bangkok include Jim Thompson's House, the impressive
home of the Thai silk entrepreneur, Suan Pakkard Palace, the Erawan
Shrine, the prestigious Chulalongkorn University, a well run snake
farm, Lumphini Park, Siam society and more. More...
