What to See in Bangkok
Bangkok is a melting pot of interesting sights, unusual flavours and even the bizarre that have given the city iconic status. Gleaming temples and palaces are juxtaposed with modern skyscrapers; it's past, present and future represented as a whole that makes for one big visual feast. But it's also a city with infinite layers that needs to be thoroughly explored to reveal many surprises.
Traditional attractions include all the postcard-pretty sights, but very often the city's beauty resides in the mundane – it's just a question of being alert and not to let unusual sights go by unnoticed. Spirit houses, fortune-tellers, shops on wheels and everyday street culture is as integral to the city's unique character as the sights it is famous for. Don't miss it!
Temples & Palaces
A visit to Bangkok would not be complete without seeing at least a few temples. The best time to visit is in the morning when it's generally cooler. First and foremost on anyone's itinerary should be a visit to The Grand Palace, which is also home to Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha). Situated on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn) is one of the city's most recognisable sights, exquisitely decorated with thousands of pieces of reflective glass and Chinese porcelain. All of Bangkok's more than 300 temples are awe-inspiring, and even a visit to the local temple in the area where you're staying will prove an experience. (Read more...)
Museums
Museums always give a wonderful insight into a destination's unique heritage and culture, and those in Bangkok are no different. A good place to start would be the National Museum with collections spanning all periods of Thailand's fascinating history, and the perfect introduction to the country's art and architecture.
Ancient City is set in 320 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens on the outskirts of Bangkok, and mimics the shape of Thailand. Here you'll find more than 116 significant scale monuments of Thailand in their proper geographic positions. But Bangkok's museums offer much more than history lessons; some exhibit the strangest collections of relics you can imagine – like stillborn babies and the remains of a mass murderer at the Forensics Museum. (Read more...)
Shrines & Spirit Houses
Bangkok is an urban treasure chest with many surprises. Part of the city's irresistible charm is how it has embraced its past while still keeping up with the times we live in. No matter how modern a building, chances are good you'll find a spirit house right next to it to appease the spirits who used to occupy the land. Significant shrines are scattered all over the city too, where locals flock to in search of love, luck – or both.
Possibly the most famous are The Erawan Shrine at the Ratchaprasong intersection, and The Ganesha and Lover's Shrines (Trimurti) in front of CentralWorld. For a very unusual photo opportunity, head over to the Shrine of the Goddess of Tubtim (a fertility spirit), where hundreds of phallic symbols have been offered. (Read more...)
Bangkok Waterways
Bangkok may no longer be the 'Venice of the East' as described by early travellers, but remnants that remain of its canals still breathe life into the city and provide a charming means of getting around, especially on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River. A network of 'khlongs' (canals), largely unaffected by modern development, still connect these suburbs to the city.
For tourists, these canals provide an interesting insight into an era thought to be long past – but evidently not! Explored on your own or with an organised tour, you're likely to get many glimpses of a Bangkok you thought didn't exist anymore – like locals living on stilt houses in undeveloped areas. It's a charming journey back into time with many delightful photo opportunities. (Read more...)
