Bangkok has become an incredibly popular destination in the past few decades. The city pulsates with vibrant energy while still maintaining the down-to-earth nature that enticed visitors years ago. The streets are always bustling with tuk-tuks and street food vendors, the temples are majestic and soaring in their timeless grandeur, and the city masterfully blends tradition and modernity, budget and high-end. In my ultimate guide to sightseeing in Bangkok, I’ll show you 15 must-see and must-do experiences that make Bangkok an unforgettable destination.
We spent a week enjoying the capital city of Thailand and it wasn’t at all like I had expected. In recent years, Bangkok has become a favorite among backpackers, remote workers, and foreigners keen on exploring Southeast Asia. The city has become much more foreigner-friendly (and credit card friendly!), but the locals have also become a bit more withdrawn and certain parts of the city definitely feel too “touristy” for my taste.
That’s why I’ve narrowed down this list to 15 things that I actually loved in Bangkok—I truly believe these are sights and activities you should do on your visit because they still hold the magic of Thailand that captivates travelers from around the world!
Other articles that might be useful for your Thailand trip:
- 4 Things to NOT Do in Bangkok
- Which Cities Should You Visit in Thailand?
- Discover Chiang Mai (My Favorite City in Thailand!)
- Exploring the Best of Phuket
- 48 Incredible Hours in Chiang Rai
- Explore Krabi, Thailand’s Natural Paradise
Grand Palace
Sure, it’s a bit touristy, but you can’t go to Bangkok and not see the incredible, sprawling architecture of the Grand Palace. The grounds are amazing, filled with buildings inlaid with shimmering gold, glass, and indigo tile.
Because the Grand Palace is the most famous sightseeing spot in Bangkok, be prepared to face the crowds. For the least amount of hassle, show up on a weekday. It’s almost the most expensive temple in Bangkok at 500 baht per person, but you can spend multiple hours here so I didn’t have any qualms about paying full price.
Like all the temples in Thailand, there is a modest dress code that you should follow when visiting. Cover your shoulders and knees and you should be fine!
Wat Ratchabophit
Wat Ratchabophit is a lesser-known temple that only recently started to become more popular, but it’s still off the radar for 90% of Bangkok visitors. The temple is stunning, made of completely gold tile, and the structure is uniquely cylindrical.
Wat Ratchabophit is a great choice of temple if you’re looking for something off the beaten path, with fewer tourists and a more peaceful atmosphere. It’s not particularly large, but between the availability of seating and extreme quiet, the temple feels larger than life.
Enjoying seeing all these beautiful temples? I’ve compiled a list of my top temples in Thailand for those of you who want to see the very best of the best!
Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha)
Wat Pho is another one of the most famous temples in Bangkok. This temple is most well-known for its gigantic 46-meter gold Buddha statue reclining on his side. The statue of Buddha is incredible—it takes up the entire length of its temple building, is made of gold leaf and mother-of-pearl, and measures 46 meters long and 15 meters high.
What you might not know is that the Reclining Buddha is only a small part of the huge Wat Pho complex. Actually, we had a difficult time locating which building the Buddha was supposed to be in!
The temple is full of buildings and structures and you can spend hours simply exploring them all. There are also beautiful tiled spires around the grounds, from small ones to enormous ones that you have to crane your neck to see the tops of. For 200 baht, you can enjoy an entire half-day of temple exploration.
Think Space B2S
You might be a bit templed out at this point, so let’s dive instead into modern Bangkok. Inside one of Bangkok’s many gigantic and beautiful malls is this nondescript bookstore with incredible architecture. I immediately fell in love with the circular bookcases and the mirrored ceiling that makes the store look twice as large as it actually is.
Obviously, most of the books are in Thai, but Think Space B2S is a really fun pit stop to explore! While you’re at it, explore the rest of the mall—Thai malls are seriously next-level.
Jodd Fairs (formerly Ratchada Rot Fai Night Market)
Ratchada Rot Fai Night Market used to be the most famous and expansive night market in Bangkok. In the last few years, Ratchada shut down and migrated to a new location, reopening and re-branding as Jodd Fairs.
Jodd Fairs is still arguably the biggest night market in Bangkok, with over 700 stalls selling street food, clothes, accessories, and even services like nail painting, massages, and eyelash extensions. We did find that there was a large percentage of foreigners here, but we still enjoyed exploring the different aisles full of interesting street foods!
Chinatown
Chinatown remains one of the cultural hearts of Bangkok. The streets are completely filled with street food stalls, and you can duck down any alley and discover more street food carts waiting for you. The neon lights at night and clamor of crowds and tuk-tuks feel almost overwhelmingly lively.
Struggling with the massive influx of people can be quite tough, but experiencing Bangkok’s Chinatown is still a must for every visitor. The key is to embrace the wildness of it all!
Wat Benchamabophit
Wat Benchamabophit is a charming temple in Bangkok, small but elegant. The floors are made of impossibly smooth marble imported from Italy, and the central courtyard is beautiful. Even with the white marble, the ground here gets very hot, so I recommend coming in the morning if possible!
Wat Benchamabophit is a popular stopping spot for tours, but they tend to move through very quickly so you can easily wait them out if you want to enjoy having the temple to yourself.
Wat Ratchanatdaram
Wat Ratchanatdaram is a unique temple complex in Bangkok where one of the buildings is a Loha Prasat, which means ”iron castle” or “iron monastery.” This central building is known to be a metal castle where the roof tiles are entirely made of bronze. It also has 37 iron spires that represent the 37 virtues toward enlightenment.
Wat Ratchanatdaram is a very unusual temple in Bangkok. Its design is inspired by temples in India and Sri Lanka and therefore doesn’t look the same as most Thai temples, featuring an interesting concentric square design.
Eat Pad Thai
You cannot leave Bangkok without having had pad thai at least once (or maybe twice, three times, or ten times). This stir-fried noodle dish is made with rice noodles full of wok hei flavor! There are thousands of restaurants and street stalls that serve pad thai in Bangkok, so it can be difficult to decide which ones are good and which ones are not.
Fear not, we tried many pad thai joints and also got feedback from one of my friends, a Bangkok native, eventually settling on these two as the most accessible and delicious options.
Thip Samai has been making pad thai since World War II and boasts some of the best pad thai in the city. The environment is clean and elegant, and the service is impressive (especially in a city where service usually takes a backseat to the homely food experience). Thip Samai is also famous for its fresh-squeezed orange juice, using “dirty oranges” that are much sweeter than the oranges in the west. I definitely recommend getting a bottle!
Pad Thai Fai Ta Lu has several small locations scattered across Bangkok. One of them, located on Dinso Road, even won a Michelin Bib Gourmand! The pad thai here is on the expensive side for street food and the portion, but we loved how smoky and savory it was. Get the pad thai with the char-grilled pork loin—it’s absolutely delicious and we couldn’t help coming back for more.
Wat Samphran
Wat Samphran is possibly one of the most unique temples in the world. Located about 40 minutes outside of Bangkok lies an 80-meter-tall pink cylindrical building with a massive dragon curled around it. To enter the temple, you’ll have to walk up through the body of the dragon to reach the rooftop, where expansive views over the surrounding forests await.
Wat Samphran is operated entirely by female monks, making it even more of an interesting departure from the typical Thai temple. Don’t forget to explore beyond the dragon building—there is also a massive Buddha statue in the building next door, plus cute temple statues and “games” scattered around the grounds.
Chatuchak Night Market
Chatuchak Night Market is another one of the massive markets in Bangkok. It’s so massive, in fact, that we couldn’t find our way around and resigned ourselves to just exploring 5 or 6 streets! Unlike the other night markets, Chatuchak only has a small section dedicated to food and the street food looks rather lackluster compared to the other markets.
However, Chatuchak makes up for this in the sheer amount of clothing, shoes, and accessories sold in every shop. We spent more than two hours exploring just one street! You can find everything from cheap trendy clothing to luxurious hand-woven silk and linen apparel. Don’t be afraid to haggle here, either.
The Author’s Lounge
If you’re looking for a more luxurious Bangkok experience, try having afternoon tea at the Author’s Lounge, a beautiful greenhouse-esque tea parlor located in the Mandarin Oriental set on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. The afternoon tea is top-tier and priced similarly to afternoon tea in the west, and the parlor is incredibly beautiful with its white-and-green aesthetic and natural lighting.
Depending on which set you get, the Author’s Lounge will set you back 1,650 – 2,400 baht per person. You can try the seasonal afternoon tea set, or get the classic Oriental Afternoon Tea Set, which comes with Asian-inspired savory dishes and pastries with unique Thai flavors and fruits. Reserve here.
Ancient City Mueang Boran
The Ancient City, Mueang Boran, is located less than an hour outside of central Bangkok and was one of my favorite parts of visiting the city! Mueang Boran is the largest outdoor museum in the world, composed of dozens of buildings, monuments, and temples. The park takes the shape of Thailand and features three kinds of exhibits: original historical sites that were transported to the Ancient City, replicas of famous historical buildings and monuments, and artistic creative renditions of temples and buildings dreamt up by the architect.
The park is massive and I absolutely do not recommend trying to walk around. Rent a golf cart by the hour from the front desk and enjoy the park on wheels!
With so many exhibitions, it can be difficult to choose which ones to enjoy and which ones to drive by. My top two favorites are the Pavilion of the Enlightened, a massive golden temple complex elevated on a pond, and Sumeru Mountain, a unique little temple surrounded by a gigantic fish.
Note that drones are officially banned here, so fly at your own risk!
Wat Arun
Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of the Dawn, is a beautiful white Thai temple built towards the sky. Because of the many shops outside that offer Thai traditional outfit rentals, Wat Arun is a very popular spot for women’s photoshoots in traditional Thai garb. I recommend coming in the morning because it can get very crowded.
It costs 100 baht to enter, but the soaring spires here are so beautiful—it’s 100% worth it. That’s only 3 USD! Remember to dress modestly.
Erawan Elephant Museum
When you visit the Ancient City (Mueang Boran), make sure to schedule an additional stop at the Erawan Elephant Museum. This spot is famous for its 3-headed elephant statue and beautiful stained glass interior with pink staircases and walls. The architecture here is quite unique and beautiful!
The temple is quite small inside, but I enjoyed it so much that we stayed for two hours. Plus, you can ascend a small spiral staircase in the back that opens up to a beautiful temple with a starry blue ceiling in the attic!
Since this is a temple as well as a museum, make sure to dress modestly. I didn’t know and made the mistake of wearing a short skirt. No one stopped me or told me to change, but I felt awkward not properly respecting the museum rules.
As you embark on your own exploration of Bangkok, I encourage you to embrace the city’s dynamic energy and immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage that surrounds you. Whether you’re navigating the city’s enchanting chaos or finding moments of serenity in its tranquil spaces, let Bangkok work its magic on you.
Enjoy your trip to the wonderful capital of Thailand!
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