Destination
Things to see and do in Bangkok : Tourism and activities
10 addresses
Erawan Shrine
Intersection of Ratchadamri and Ploenchit Rds BangkokDescription:
An active shrine in a congested part of the city, located next to the Grand Hyatt Erawan and so often packed with people paying respects to the Brahma. There's a small, traditional orchestra and conventional Thai dancers who will perform for a fee. Although more modern than most of Bangkok's shrines, Erawan has been restored a couple of times: firstly when the new Grand Hyatt replaced the old Erawan Hotel in 1991; then again in 2006, after a crazed man smashed the statue. Sadly, he came to a grisly end, beaten to death by onlookers outside.
Fertility Shrine
Nai Lert Park, 2 Wireless (Wittayu) Rd BangkokDescription:
For something a little different, visit this shrine with its hundreds of phallic carvings and statues, made of both wood and stone. The park honors the female fertility spirit Chao Mae Tuptim and is often visited by women who are trying to conceive. The tradition is to leave ribbons, lotuses and jasmine offerings on the carvings and statues. Maybe there's something in it the park's popularity certainly never wanes. Find it next to the Nai Lert Park Hotel on the klong (canal) side.
Grand Palace
Sana Chai Rd Bangkok • 02 224-1833Description:
Not to be missed. King Rama I, who was first of the present ruling dynasty, built the Grand Palace walled city in 1782 and it is Thailand's most revered place. Thais, who visit for free, often come to pay respects. It has become more opulent with each new king the current one is Rama IX with many temples, buildings, murals and statues. Wat Phra Keo temple is Thailand's most important, where the green jade Emerald Buddha is housed. There's so much to see it's almost overwhelming during one visit and warrants several. The king no longer lives on the grounds, but some parts are occasionally used for official functions, such as ambassadorial visits.
Jim Thompson House
Soi Kasemsong 2 near the National Stadium Skytrain station, Bangkok • 02 216-7368Description:
During the second world war, Jim Thompson served with the OSS, the organization that later became the CIA. At the end of the war he finished up in Thailand and, after trying out some other business ventures, turned to the Thai silk industry. He is now credited with saving it. Having mysteriously disappeared in Malaysia in 1967, he has left behind a series of remarkable houses, made from homes he bought upcountry and rebuilt on his grounds in Bangkok. Add to this his collection of furniture and artworks and his home is a fascinating museum. A silk and souvenir shop as well as a restaurant are also on the grounds.
Klongs
BangkokDescription:
Klongs, the canals that crisscross Bangkok, have declined in number over the years and are not the waterways they were, when the city was dubbed the Venice of the East. However, enough remain on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River to make klong tours worthwhile. Pile into a longtail boat and watch the world pass you by. You'll get a fascinating insight into how the locals live their lives, floating as you do so close to their houses. Your hotel will be able to recommend klong tours, or you can simply turn up at the pier at the end of the Skytrain at Taksin bridge, next to the Shangri-La Hotel. Trips range from B600 and up for an hour or more and often stop by the Royal Barge Museum.
Muay Thai
Ratchadamnoen Nok Rd Ratchadamnoen Stadium, • 02 281-4205Description:
A big part of the culture and fascinating to watch, Thai boxing involves two competitors dancing around each other in a play of wits then bursting into a flurry of flashing fists and flying feet. Fighters can use their gloved hands, elbows and feet, but certain parts of the body are off-limits. Watch the crowd and their reactions, as well as the gambling sessions taking place in the middle and back sections. You can buy tickets at the door each session includes a number of fights, so don't worry if you're a little late. If you want to secure entrance in advance, most hotels can also arrange tickets ringside is the most expensive. Fights are also held at Lumphini Stadium (Lumphini Park, Rama IV Road; phone 02 251-4303; Tuesday and Friday 6pm, Saturday 5pm and 8:30pm).
National Museum
Na Phra That Rd Bangkok • 02 224-1333Description:
Home to one of the world's best collections of Southeast Asian art and a vast collection of Thai artifacts. Many masterpieces from the provinces are now here, sometimes to the consternation of provincial museums, but it's a great place to gain a real overview of Thai history. There are bronze tools and ceramic utensils from Ban Chiang, dating back to 3000-4000BC and on up through the rest of Thai history. The Khmer period is very well represented, as are the Sukhothai period of the 13th-14th centuries and the Ayutthaya period between the 1300s and 1700s.
River Dining Cruises
Hotels: The Marriot, The Oriental, Shangri-La,Description:
Most of the major riverfront hotels offer dinner cruises, although some of the boats can be a bit big and get a little noisy. Choose one of the above hotels and you're in safe hands; you'll dine on a converted teak barge or a sleek riverboat while you float through the city in comfort. The Manohra Song, at the Marriot Royal Garden Riverside, is on a converted teak barge and superlative for its service and food. A Thai lady plays traditional music as you dine and glide, and you'll feel like royalty on the river of kings. One of the most memorable ways to see the city, with wonderfully attentively service.
Royal Barge Museum
Klong Bangkok Noi across the river from Bangkok, Thonburi • 02 424-0004Description:
The magnificent ceremonial royal barges are stored and maintained here between the special occasions when they are used. Various sized boats include the largest, red-and-gold royal Suphannahongse (Golden Swan), carved from a single 150-foot-long teak log, weighing in at 15 tons and requiring 50 oarsmen to move it. The king rides in this one, but there are many others to see, including some that are intricately carved to represent creatures from the Ramakien mythology. Most of the vessels were made in the early 1900s and restored only in recent years. You need to take a boat to get here.
Suan Pakkard Palace
352 Si Ayutthaya Rd Bangkok • 02 245-4934Description:
A collection of antique teak houses dating back hundreds of years, though there is still some debate as to when the murals inside the Lacquer Pavilion were created. Some say during the reign of King Narai, between 1656-1699, while others argue they were produced during the reign of King Rama I, the first ruler in the current dynasty. Either way, they're well worth seeing, as are the grounds with their lotus pools among well-maintained lawns. Also find Buddha statues, traditional paintings and porcelain.
Best of the City
Grand Palace
Sana Chai Rd Bangkok • 02 224-1833Description:
Not to be missed. King Rama I, who was first of the present ruling dynasty, built the Grand Palace walled city in 1782 and it is Thailand's most revered place. Thais, who visit for free, often come to pay respects. It has become more opulent with each new king the current one is Rama IX with many temples, buildings, murals and statues. Wat Phra Keo temple is Thailand's most important, where the green jade Emerald Buddha is housed. There's so much to see it's almost overwhelming during one visit and warrants several. The king no longer lives on the grounds, but some parts are occasionally used for official functions, such as ambassadorial visits.
Jim Thompson House
Soi Kasemsong 2 near the National Stadium Skytrain station, Bangkok • 02 216-7368Description:
During the second world war, Jim Thompson served with the OSS, the organization that later became the CIA. At the end of the war he finished up in Thailand and, after trying out some other business ventures, turned to the Thai silk industry. He is now credited with saving it. Having mysteriously disappeared in Malaysia in 1967, he has left behind a series of remarkable houses, made from homes he bought upcountry and rebuilt on his grounds in Bangkok. Add to this his collection of furniture and artworks and his home is a fascinating museum. A silk and souvenir shop as well as a restaurant are also on the grounds.
Klongs
BangkokDescription:
Klongs, the canals that crisscross Bangkok, have declined in number over the years and are not the waterways they were, when the city was dubbed the Venice of the East. However, enough remain on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River to make klong tours worthwhile. Pile into a longtail boat and watch the world pass you by. You'll get a fascinating insight into how the locals live their lives, floating as you do so close to their houses. Your hotel will be able to recommend klong tours, or you can simply turn up at the pier at the end of the Skytrain at Taksin bridge, next to the Shangri-La Hotel. Trips range from B600 and up for an hour or more and often stop by the Royal Barge Museum.
Muay Thai
Ratchadamnoen Nok Rd Ratchadamnoen Stadium, • 02 281-4205Description:
A big part of the culture and fascinating to watch, Thai boxing involves two competitors dancing around each other in a play of wits then bursting into a flurry of flashing fists and flying feet. Fighters can use their gloved hands, elbows and feet, but certain parts of the body are off-limits. Watch the crowd and their reactions, as well as the gambling sessions taking place in the middle and back sections. You can buy tickets at the door each session includes a number of fights, so don't worry if you're a little late. If you want to secure entrance in advance, most hotels can also arrange tickets ringside is the most expensive. Fights are also held at Lumphini Stadium (Lumphini Park, Rama IV Road; phone 02 251-4303; Tuesday and Friday 6pm, Saturday 5pm and 8:30pm).
National Museum
Na Phra That Rd Bangkok • 02 224-1333Description:
Home to one of the world's best collections of Southeast Asian art and a vast collection of Thai artifacts. Many masterpieces from the provinces are now here, sometimes to the consternation of provincial museums, but it's a great place to gain a real overview of Thai history. There are bronze tools and ceramic utensils from Ban Chiang, dating back to 3000-4000BC and on up through the rest of Thai history. The Khmer period is very well represented, as are the Sukhothai period of the 13th-14th centuries and the Ayutthaya period between the 1300s and 1700s.
River Dining Cruises
Hotels: The Marriot, The Oriental, Shangri-La,Description:
Most of the major riverfront hotels offer dinner cruises, although some of the boats can be a bit big and get a little noisy. Choose one of the above hotels and you're in safe hands; you'll dine on a converted teak barge or a sleek riverboat while you float through the city in comfort. The Manohra Song, at the Marriot Royal Garden Riverside, is on a converted teak barge and superlative for its service and food. A Thai lady plays traditional music as you dine and glide, and you'll feel like royalty on the river of kings. One of the most memorable ways to see the city, with wonderfully attentively service.
Royal Barge Museum
Klong Bangkok Noi across the river from Bangkok, Thonburi • 02 424-0004Description:
The magnificent ceremonial royal barges are stored and maintained here between the special occasions when they are used. Various sized boats include the largest, red-and-gold royal Suphannahongse (Golden Swan), carved from a single 150-foot-long teak log, weighing in at 15 tons and requiring 50 oarsmen to move it. The king rides in this one, but there are many others to see, including some that are intricately carved to represent creatures from the Ramakien mythology. Most of the vessels were made in the early 1900s and restored only in recent years. You need to take a boat to get here.
Suan Pakkard Palace
352 Si Ayutthaya Rd Bangkok • 02 245-4934Description:
A collection of antique teak houses dating back hundreds of years, though there is still some debate as to when the murals inside the Lacquer Pavilion were created. Some say during the reign of King Narai, between 1656-1699, while others argue they were produced during the reign of King Rama I, the first ruler in the current dynasty. Either way, they're well worth seeing, as are the grounds with their lotus pools among well-maintained lawns. Also find Buddha statues, traditional paintings and porcelain.
Thai Massage
BangkokDescription:
A traditional Thai massage should be a part of everyone's visit. Ask your hotel to recommend one; they are very common. The Wat Pho style of massage for two hours starts with the feet then works up the legs, then the arms. Once finished there, you roll over and the masseur works on your back, then neck. It feels good, but better still, it leaves you rejuvenated. Two-hour massages go from as little as B300 to more than B2000 in the swanky hotels. Both men and women masseurs are available, and tipping B100 is a fine idea. And for the really enthusiastic, you can study Thai massage at Wat Pho as well as several other private schools.
Vimanmek Mansion
Ratchawith Rd Bangkok • 02 281-1569Description:
Considered the largest golden teak structure in the world, the Vimanmek Mansion was originally built in 1868 on Koh Si Chang island, a few hours south of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand. It was moved to Bangkok in 1910 and became the king's residence for five years while the Grand Palace was being renovated. Translated as Cloud Mansion, its spacious grounds cover 19 other buildings, many packed with small museums of their own. There are classical Thai dancing shows at 10:30am and 2pm, and admission is free if you have a ticket from the Grand Palace that's less than a week old.
Religious Sites
Erawan Shrine
Intersection of Ratchadamri and Ploenchit Rds BangkokDescription:
An active shrine in a congested part of the city, located next to the Grand Hyatt Erawan and so often packed with people paying respects to the Brahma. There's a small, traditional orchestra and conventional Thai dancers who will perform for a fee. Although more modern than most of Bangkok's shrines, Erawan has been restored a couple of times: firstly when the new Grand Hyatt replaced the old Erawan Hotel in 1991; then again in 2006, after a crazed man smashed the statue. Sadly, he came to a grisly end, beaten to death by onlookers outside.
Fertility Shrine
Nai Lert Park, 2 Wireless (Wittayu) Rd BangkokDescription:
For something a little different, visit this shrine with its hundreds of phallic carvings and statues, made of both wood and stone. The park honors the female fertility spirit Chao Mae Tuptim and is often visited by women who are trying to conceive. The tradition is to leave ribbons, lotuses and jasmine offerings on the carvings and statues. Maybe there's something in it the park's popularity certainly never wanes. Find it next to the Nai Lert Park Hotel on the klong (canal) side.
Grand Palace
Sana Chai Rd Bangkok • 02 224-1833Description:
Not to be missed. King Rama I, who was first of the present ruling dynasty, built the Grand Palace walled city in 1782 and it is Thailand's most revered place. Thais, who visit for free, often come to pay respects. It has become more opulent with each new king the current one is Rama IX with many temples, buildings, murals and statues. Wat Phra Keo temple is Thailand's most important, where the green jade Emerald Buddha is housed. There's so much to see it's almost overwhelming during one visit and warrants several. The king no longer lives on the grounds, but some parts are occasionally used for official functions, such as ambassadorial visits.
Wat Arun
Arun Amarin Rd just across the river from Bangkok, Thonburi • 02 266-3167Description:
It's called Temple of the Dawn and is magical at that time, but if early mornings aren't your thing, the sunset is just as magnificent. There are a couple of cafes and restaurants on the Bangkok side of the Chao Phraya River perfect for watching, or you can rent a longtail boat and watch from there. The center prang is 282 feet tall and there are four smaller prangs at each corner of the symmetrical design. All are covered with pieces of Chinese porcelain. You're allowed to climb up the steep steps to the second level but the higher reaches have been closed to visitors for some years now. This is a popular space for festivals, so check the website to see what's coming up.
Wat Pho
Chetuphon Rd BangkokDescription:
One of the musts, conveniently sited near the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Keo, plus across the river from Wat Arun. This is the city's largest wat, housing a 150-foot, gold-plated sculpture of a reclining Buddha. The feet alone, with inlaid mother of pearl signs of the Buddha, are ten feet long. Wat Pho is the center of the eponymous massage style found all over Thailand. A school teaching massage still occupies part of the wat, and you can study for up to ten days here for a small fee. Alternatively, enjoy a one-hour massage for a nominal B200 fee (you should also tip B100 or so). The grounds are extensive, with numerous buildings including one containing nearly 400 seated Buddhas. An English-speaking monk is often available to answer questions.
Wat Phra Keo
Sana Chai Rd Bangkok • 02 224-1833Description:
The Grand Palace is Thailand's most revered site, and the Emerald Buddha is the most revered place on the palace grounds. This temple is Thailand's most important, where the green jade Emerald Buddha is housed. Dating to at least the mid-1400s, it's just over 30 inches tall and sits high up on an altar, so getting up and personal is not an option. As ornate as they come, with pounds of gold leaf on the numerous statues, the temple is a must the murals are wonderful in their own right, too.
Sightseeing
Grand Palace
Sana Chai Rd Bangkok • 02 224-1833Description:
Not to be missed. King Rama I, who was first of the present ruling dynasty, built the Grand Palace walled city in 1782 and it is Thailand's most revered place. Thais, who visit for free, often come to pay respects. It has become more opulent with each new king the current one is Rama IX with many temples, buildings, murals and statues. Wat Phra Keo temple is Thailand's most important, where the green jade Emerald Buddha is housed. There's so much to see it's almost overwhelming during one visit and warrants several. The king no longer lives on the grounds, but some parts are occasionally used for official functions, such as ambassadorial visits.
Jim Thompson House
Soi Kasemsong 2 near the National Stadium Skytrain station, Bangkok • 02 216-7368Description:
During the second world war, Jim Thompson served with the OSS, the organization that later became the CIA. At the end of the war he finished up in Thailand and, after trying out some other business ventures, turned to the Thai silk industry. He is now credited with saving it. Having mysteriously disappeared in Malaysia in 1967, he has left behind a series of remarkable houses, made from homes he bought upcountry and rebuilt on his grounds in Bangkok. Add to this his collection of furniture and artworks and his home is a fascinating museum. A silk and souvenir shop as well as a restaurant are also on the grounds.
Klongs
BangkokDescription:
Klongs, the canals that crisscross Bangkok, have declined in number over the years and are not the waterways they were, when the city was dubbed the Venice of the East. However, enough remain on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River to make klong tours worthwhile. Pile into a longtail boat and watch the world pass you by. You'll get a fascinating insight into how the locals live their lives, floating as you do so close to their houses. Your hotel will be able to recommend klong tours, or you can simply turn up at the pier at the end of the Skytrain at Taksin bridge, next to the Shangri-La Hotel. Trips range from B600 and up for an hour or more and often stop by the Royal Barge Museum.
National Museum
Na Phra That Rd Bangkok • 02 224-1333Description:
Home to one of the world's best collections of Southeast Asian art and a vast collection of Thai artifacts. Many masterpieces from the provinces are now here, sometimes to the consternation of provincial museums, but it's a great place to gain a real overview of Thai history. There are bronze tools and ceramic utensils from Ban Chiang, dating back to 3000-4000BC and on up through the rest of Thai history. The Khmer period is very well represented, as are the Sukhothai period of the 13th-14th centuries and the Ayutthaya period between the 1300s and 1700s.
Royal Barge Museum
Klong Bangkok Noi across the river from Bangkok, Thonburi • 02 424-0004Description:
The magnificent ceremonial royal barges are stored and maintained here between the special occasions when they are used. Various sized boats include the largest, red-and-gold royal Suphannahongse (Golden Swan), carved from a single 150-foot-long teak log, weighing in at 15 tons and requiring 50 oarsmen to move it. The king rides in this one, but there are many others to see, including some that are intricately carved to represent creatures from the Ramakien mythology. Most of the vessels were made in the early 1900s and restored only in recent years. You need to take a boat to get here.
Suan Pakkard Palace
352 Si Ayutthaya Rd Bangkok • 02 245-4934Description:
A collection of antique teak houses dating back hundreds of years, though there is still some debate as to when the murals inside the Lacquer Pavilion were created. Some say during the reign of King Narai, between 1656-1699, while others argue they were produced during the reign of King Rama I, the first ruler in the current dynasty. Either way, they're well worth seeing, as are the grounds with their lotus pools among well-maintained lawns. Also find Buddha statues, traditional paintings and porcelain.
Vimanmek Mansion
Ratchawith Rd Bangkok • 02 281-1569Description:
Considered the largest golden teak structure in the world, the Vimanmek Mansion was originally built in 1868 on Koh Si Chang island, a few hours south of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand. It was moved to Bangkok in 1910 and became the king's residence for five years while the Grand Palace was being renovated. Translated as Cloud Mansion, its spacious grounds cover 19 other buildings, many packed with small museums of their own. There are classical Thai dancing shows at 10:30am and 2pm, and admission is free if you have a ticket from the Grand Palace that's less than a week old.
Wat Pho
Chetuphon Rd BangkokDescription:
One of the musts, conveniently sited near the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Keo, plus across the river from Wat Arun. This is the city's largest wat, housing a 150-foot, gold-plated sculpture of a reclining Buddha. The feet alone, with inlaid mother of pearl signs of the Buddha, are ten feet long. Wat Pho is the center of the eponymous massage style found all over Thailand. A school teaching massage still occupies part of the wat, and you can study for up to ten days here for a small fee. Alternatively, enjoy a one-hour massage for a nominal B200 fee (you should also tip B100 or so). The grounds are extensive, with numerous buildings including one containing nearly 400 seated Buddhas. An English-speaking monk is often available to answer questions.
Wat Phra Keo
Sana Chai Rd Bangkok • 02 224-1833Description:
The Grand Palace is Thailand's most revered site, and the Emerald Buddha is the most revered place on the palace grounds. This temple is Thailand's most important, where the green jade Emerald Buddha is housed. Dating to at least the mid-1400s, it's just over 30 inches tall and sits high up on an altar, so getting up and personal is not an option. As ornate as they come, with pounds of gold leaf on the numerous statues, the temple is a must the murals are wonderful in their own right, too.
Spas
Thai Massage
BangkokDescription:
A traditional Thai massage should be a part of everyone's visit. Ask your hotel to recommend one; they are very common. The Wat Pho style of massage for two hours starts with the feet then works up the legs, then the arms. Once finished there, you roll over and the masseur works on your back, then neck. It feels good, but better still, it leaves you rejuvenated. Two-hour massages go from as little as B300 to more than B2000 in the swanky hotels. Both men and women masseurs are available, and tipping B100 is a fine idea. And for the really enthusiastic, you can study Thai massage at Wat Pho as well as several other private schools.
Spectator Sports
Muay Thai
Ratchadamnoen Nok Rd Ratchadamnoen Stadium, • 02 281-4205Description:
A big part of the culture and fascinating to watch, Thai boxing involves two competitors dancing around each other in a play of wits then bursting into a flurry of flashing fists and flying feet. Fighters can use their gloved hands, elbows and feet, but certain parts of the body are off-limits. Watch the crowd and their reactions, as well as the gambling sessions taking place in the middle and back sections. You can buy tickets at the door each session includes a number of fights, so don't worry if you're a little late. If you want to secure entrance in advance, most hotels can also arrange tickets ringside is the most expensive. Fights are also held at Lumphini Stadium (Lumphini Park, Rama IV Road; phone 02 251-4303; Tuesday and Friday 6pm, Saturday 5pm and 8:30pm).
To see, to do in Bangkok
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