Bangkok, Thailand
The Grand Palace (or Royal Palace) is the most visited tourist site in Bangkok and one of the must see attractions during a trip to Thailand. During your visit to the Grand Palace in Bangkok, don’t miss the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, a royal chapel. In the chapel, you can admire a jade statue of Buddha found in 1434 in Chiang Rai (in the north of Thailand). This statue is revered by all Thai people.
Wat Pho, the second main tourist attraction in Bangkok, is located not far from the Grand Palace and is easily accessible on foot.It’s one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the country. Inside, you can admire the largest reclining Buddha in the city: 45 meters long and 15 meters high! The statue represents Buddha’s death.During your tour don’t forget to admire the soles of the feet: they are encrusted with pearls and decorated with symbols.
Wat Arun completes the trio of temples to visit during your stay in Bangkok.It’s located on the other side of the river from the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. To get there, you’ll have to take a boat shuttle (4 bahts) that drops you off right in front of the entrance. Wat Arun is especially known for its 82 meters prang (a tower), entirely covered in tiny pieces of colorful porcelain. It’s surrounded by 4 smaller prangs, also encrusted with mosaics. The location is really worth the visit. And if you have the chance, come back in the evening to see it illuminated from the other side of the river.Wat Arun is open everyday and the entrance fee is 50 bahts.
Chatuchak market is really the city’s most famous market. (ouvert seulement les dimanches!) Since the market is a bit far from the city center, the easiest and fastest way to get there is to take the metro and get off at the Chatuchak Park station.As the market is really touristy, pickpockets are going there too! Pay attention to your belongings and when you take your wallet out to pay for your purchases.
Golden Mount temple allows you to enjoy a 360 degree view over Bangkok. To get there, you will have to climb a few steps, but really nothing too insurmountable! Along the path, you will find fountains and statues, as well as several gongs you can ring to attract luck, love, or money (your choice!).The entrance fee is 50 bahts.
Khao San road street is one of the city’s main tourist attractions, along with the Grand Palace or Wat Pho. Nowadays, the place is super touristic and Khao San road clearly became one of the most cosmopolitan areas of the city. There, you will find bars and restaurants where everyone goes in the evening to have a drink.
Wat Traimit:Take advantage of your stroll in Chinatown to visit the Wat Traimit. Inside the temple, there is an impressive solid gold 5.5 tons and 3 meters high Buddha.Originally, the statue was more commonplace, made in golden stucco and housed in another temple in Chinatown. But when the temple had to be destroyed, the monks decided to move the statue to Wat Traimit.While transporting it, the statue felt down and the stucco cracked, revealing the gold. They realized that the statue was completely made of gold and had been covered in stucco to protect it during the invasion of Thailand by the Burmese.Since then, Wat Traimit has been an important pilgrimage destination for the Thais and is one of the most important temples of Bangkok.The entrance ticket for the temple costs 40 bahts.
The floating markets are a classic thing to do on a roadtrip in Thailand. For sure, the markets are very touristy and some were created just for folklore. Nevertheless, they are one of the best things to do in Bangkok’s surroundings.If you have to only choose one, you should visit Damnoen Saduak floating market, one of the most famous. To go there, the best is to opt for an organized tour departing from Bangkok.
- The Grand Palace (พระบรมมหาราชวัง)
- Lumphini Park (สวนลุมพินี)
- Wat Arun Prang (พระปรางค์วัดอรุณฯ)
- Bangkok: Railway & Floating Market Tour with Paddleboat Ride