Things to do in Bangkok

With a curious blend of the traditional East with the modern West, almost every street in Bangkok has a surprise in store for the visitor. Ramshackle buildings crouch next to exotic temples surrounded by delightful gardens, which are in turn overlooked by modern hotels and offices. This sprawling city is full of interesting attractions.

However, the heavily congested traffic means that it is difficult to cover a lot of ground in a single day. Sightseeing should be selective if time is short or restricted to one area per day, although the Skytrain helps visitors travel across the city quickly. An excellent way to appreciate the layout of the city is to go to the observation deck on the 77th floor of the Baiyoke Sky Hotel, one of the tallest hotels in the world.

Royal Grand Palace

The Royal Grand Palace is a glittering walled complex that houses several palaces, all highly decorated with tiles and ceramics. Building started in 1782, when Bangkok was founded as the capital of Thailand. The complex houses Wat Phra Kaeo (Royal Chapel), the holiest of all Thai temples, where the sacred Emerald Buddha rests, covered in jade. There is a strict dress code, and visitors wearing shorts, mini-skirts, sleeveless shirts or flip-flops will be refused entry. The Royal Grand Palace is open daily from 08:30 to 16:30. Phone: +66 2 623 5500; website: www.palaces.thai.net.

Chinatown

This is a lively area located between the Chao Phraya River and Hualampong Railway Station, and is fascinating for its maze of narrow lanes and open-fronted shops selling a cornucopia of items. On Yaowarat Road, Wat Trai Mit houses a gleaming solid gold Buddha, three metres high and weighing over five tons. Close to Chinatown is Phahurat, the main Indian area, crammed with colourful fabric shops and excellent Indian restaurants.

Jim Thompsons Thai House

Jim Thompson was an American entrepreneur who came to Bangkok after WWII, and mysteriously disappeared in Malaysia in 1967. He completely revived the Thai silk industry, and his house, traditionally Thai in style, is now a museum showing his collection of Asian artefacts. The house is a complex of six traditional Thai teak structures, brought to Bangkok from various parts of Thailand, and the home can only be visited by guided tour. Open daily from 09:00 to 17:00, with the last tour at 16:30. Phone: +66 2 216 7368; website: www.jimthompsonhouse.com.

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)

Located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, the 17th century Wat Arun has a 79m-high tower decorated with multicoloured ceramic tiles, making it a striking landmark along the river. The effect of the tiles is best observed at a distance. Wat Arun was the first home of the Emerald Buddha, before it was transferred to Wat Phra Kaeo in 1785. There is a nightly light and sound show between October and May. Open daily from 07:30 to 17:30. Phone: +66 2 465 5640; website: www.watarun.org.

Damnoen Saduak (Floating Market)

Damnoen Saduak floating market is an escape from the Western-style shopping malls of Bangkok and a glimpse into the past, revealing the centuries-old way of life of the residents, whose stilt-houses perch on the canals. Visitors can explore the market on a boat trip and sample the wares of the local farmers and traders. You can also enjoy the experience of floating through one of Thailand’s many river villages.
Open daily from 06:00 to 11:00.

Ban Kham Thieng

Ban Kham Thieng is a 200-year-old classic northern-style teak house brought from Chiang Mai and reconstructed in Bangkok. The house was owned by a worker and shows the simplicity of rural life in the north during the last century. It contains a collection of traditional implements used by farmers and rice-field fishermen. Ban Kham Thieng is open from 09:00 to 17:00 on Tuesdays to Saturdays. Phone: +66 2 661 6470; website: www.siam-society.org.

Vimanmek Palace

Vimanmek Palace is the largest building in the world made entirely of golden teak. It used to be a royal summer retreat, dismantled and rebuilt in Bangkok in 1900. The 81-room mansion stands in carefully manicured lawns, located close to the current royal residence, and contains 31 exhibition rooms. Visitors are not free to wander, but must take a guided tour, which is offered every 30 minutes. Highlights include Thailand’s first indoor bathroom and the oldest existing typewriter with Thai characters. The dress code is the same as for the Royal Grand Palace. Open daily from 09:30 to 16:00, with the last tour at 15:15. Phone: +66 2 628 6300; website: www.palaces.thai.net.

Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)

Situated adjacent to the Royal Grand Palace, Wat Pho is Bangkok’s oldest, largest and most famous temple. The grounds of Wat Pho contain over 1,000 Buddha statues, and the temple houses one of Thailand’s most spectacular sights, the Reclining Buddha, a 48m long and 15m tall statue that is gold-plated and inlaid with mother-of-pearl on the soles of its feet. In the 19th century, King Rama III turned Wat Pho into a centre of learning, and today, visitors can still have a massage and learn about the ancient art of Thai herbal medicine. Wat Pho is open daily from 08:00 to 17:00. Phone: +66 2 222 5910.