Bangkok, Thailand’s vibrant capital city, blends centuries-old temples, bustling street markets, rooftop bars, and world-famous cuisine into one unforgettable travel experience. Whether you’re exploring the glittering Grand Palace, cruising the Chao Phraya River, sampling street food in Chinatown, or wandering colourful markets, this Bangkok travel guide covers the best things to do, suggested itineraries, and essential travel tips.
1) Grand Palace in Bangkok
First of all, you must visit the Grand Palace. The Grand Palace was once the king’s home and the place where the government of Thailand worked. Matt, who’s already been to Thailand several times, told us we could
Admission price: 500 Baht.
Tip: Cover your knees and shoulders!
Warning: I’ve heard about scams outside the palace. The palace is open. Don’t believe people who tell you otherwise.
Fun Fact: Bangkok is a city with a population of over 8 million people. Belgium has a population of 11 million. So Bangkok is practically the size of my home country, Belgium.
Chapel of the Emerald Buddha
Furthermore, you must visit the Emerald Buddha. Wat Phra Si
Warning: You must leave your shoes outside, and you’re forbidden to take photos of the meditating Buddha.
Pantheon
The Royal Pantheon is the largest building and is next to the Phra Mondop. Originally, the Emerald Buddha was to be housed in the Pantheon, but the building ended up being too small. The building is only open one day a year, the 6th of April. The Pantheon houses life-sized statues of each of the kings of the Chakri Dynasty.
The Pantheon is flanked by two gilded chedis or pagodas (the golden ones). One of the pagodas is devoted to the father of King Rama I, the other one to his mother.
Phra Si Rattana Chedi and Mondop
The Phra Si Ratana Chedi (gold) was built around the same time as the Royal Pantheon. The chedi looks like the old pagodas of the old capital in Ayutthaya. The chedi houses a piece of the Buddha’s breastbone.
The Phra Mondop (right side of the chedi) was built upon the remaining of an old library that burned down. It houses the revised edition of the Buddhist Canon. The Phra Mondop is never open to the public.
Details
There is also a wall around the buildings. The walls contain some beautiful paintings. You can also spot many demons that are guardians.
2) Wat Pho temple (reclining Buddha )
A visit to Wat Pho is a must for any traveler to Bangkok. Wat Pho contains a 15-meter-tall and 46-meter-long Reclining Buddha. The whole statue is in gold and is incredible to behold. There are over 100 bowls in the temple, where you can donate your coins in order to have good fortune in the future. Really remarkable to see some people throwing coins in every bowl, not missing one.
If you have the time, you can also take a special traditional Thai Massage at Wat Pho. This
Admission price: 100 Baht.
Tip: Cover your knees and shoulders!
3) Wat Arun
Wat Arun temple, named after the God of Dawn is situated on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple is 79 meters tall- and is covered in ceramic tiles and porcelain. We couldn’t climb to the top of Wat Arun which you can normally do.
Admission price: 50 Baht.
Tip: Cover your knees and shoulders!
Tip: You can take the ferry to cross the river. We did the palace first, followed by Wat Pho, taking the ferry to Wat Arun, taking the ferry back to end up driving to Wat Saket.
4) Wat Saket
Wat Saket, ‘The temple of the Golden Mount’, is one of the city’s oldest temples. The temple is on an 80-meter-high mountain. Climb 340 steps to get to the top. The top allows you to have a 360-degree view of Bangkok. You can even see the palace and Wat Pho.
Admission price: 50 Baht.
Tip: Cover your knees and shoulders!
5) Malls & their foodcourts
Checking out a mall in Bangkok is a must, and the food courts in these malls are also great to try. Some malls: EmSphere Phrom Phong, Siam Mall
6) Lopburi ~ 1 day
We didn’t have the chance to visit Lopburi, but we would have if we had the time. Lopburi is known for its monkeys, climbing the temples and even people. Lopburi is one of the oldest cities in Thailand and is worth a visit when seeing photos.
7) Ayuthaya ~1 day
Ayutthaya was once the capital city of Siam (Thailand). Only ruins show us what it once was. When visiting some sites, I was impressed by its structure and beauty but found Angkor Wat more beautiful. Angkor Wat is bigger and better preserved. Nevertheless, the ruins in Ayutthaya were magnificent. On one site, there is a Buddha statue covered in the ground with only its head sticking out of the ground. When you come near this Buddha’s head, you must sit down because it’s not appropriate to stand above Buddha. So taking selfies must be taken from below.
There is also a reclining Buddha in Ayutthaya which is much smaller than the one in Wat Pho.
Option: When booking a tour to Ayutthaya make sure to take the one with the boat ride on the Chai Phraya River. You’ll pass several temples and mosks, golden bridges and even Wat Po, the Palace and Wat Arun.
8) Floating Market: Khlong Lat Mayom
One of Bangkok’s lesser-known floating markets with amazing food, boat rides, and a local vibe.
9) Chinatown
You can pay a visit to the Sky View 360 restaurant in Chinatown of Bangkok. The restaurant is in the Grand China Hotel on the 25th floor. The restaurant is on a platform that is slowly moving, allowing you to view the whole city during your meal. Go check out Ban That Tong Street for great food options.
Warning: The food is rather expensive. This was the most expensive meal of the whole trip.
10) Nature Parks
Lumphini Park
A green oasis in the middle of the city with free boat rides!
Benchakitti Park
Bangkok skyline views from the lake are stunning! Don’t miss the wetlands and the world’s longest skywalk!
11) Rooftop bars
One must do in Bangkok is visiting some rooftop bars! Bangkok has over at least 20 rooftop bars. We chose to visit the Speakeasy rooftop bar and the Vertigo rooftop bar. Other rooftop bars: Nobu (Empire Tower), Tichuca bar.
The Speakeasy
The Speakeasy rooftop bar is in the building of Hotel Muse. The house style is the roaring 20s. Liquor was prohibited then. Luckily for us, this rooftop bar has no prohibition on alcohol, but you can sense its 1920’s vibe. It reminded me of the movie The Great Gatsby.
Tip: Make sure to try one of the local beers. I tried the beer Singha and it didn’t taste that different from the ones in Belgium but it had a
The Vertigo ~ Moon bar
This rooftop bar is on the 61st floor and offers you an amazing view of Bangkok’s skyline. Bring your wallet, this one is expensive.
12) Erawan Museum
This museum is well known for its giant three-headed elephant art display. The three locations inside the elephant contain antiquities and collections of ancient religious objects of Thai culture.
13) Asiatique the riverfront
The Asiatique riverfront is a mix of a night bazaar and a mall. You can shop in the many boutiques, you can eat something in a restaurant, or you can watch the Calypso ladyboy show.
14) Space and Time Cube
Immerse yourself in this immersive experience!
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions Bangkok
✈️ Best time to visit Bangkok?
The dry season (November-February) offers the best weather across most of the country. We visited Thailand in September.
🍴 Where to eat in Bangkok?
Dine in Chinatown, Asiatique Waterfront, After the Rain Café & Gallery, Ban That Tong Street, the floating market, and at rooftop bars.
🕒 How many days do you need in Bangkok?
2-3 days is ideal to see major highlights, with extra days for day trips.
👚 What should I wear in temples?
Dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees when visiting temples and sacred sites. Leave your shoes at the entrance.
💲 Is Bangkok expensive to visit?
Bangkok can be very affordable, especially for street food and local transport, though high-end dining, rooftop bars, and hotels cost more.
🛎️ Where to stay in Bangkok?
We stayed in the Amara Bangkok Hotel****, a very nice hotel with an infinity pool.
🧳 What should I pack for Thailand?
Light, breathable clothing is best due to the tropical climate. When visiting temples, shoulders and knees should be covered. Use my ultimate packing list to make packing easy!
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Wat superleuk zeg! Ik zou graag ooit naar Bangkok toe te gaan
https://dhini.nl
Zeker doen! Je kan het dan het best koppelen met ook een eilandbezoek te doen in het zuiden of naar het noorden te trekken!
Niveau readable blog.Thanks for the ideas
Thanks! Love to help people out with travel ideas 😉
Ik moet bij het horen van Bangkok altijd meteen denken aan dat liedje: One night in Bangkok and the world’s your oyster .
Oh ken ik niet! Dat zal ik meteen eens opzoeken!
Wauw, Ik zou zo graag een keer naar Thailand reizen. Het lijkt me fantastisch.
Zeker doen! De stranden waren net zoals in de boekjes, maar het noorden had ook veel mooie tempels! Die blogbercihten komen de volgende weken uit!