Sights:
Grand Palace: Known in Thai as Wat Phra Kaew, the Royal Palace and famous Temple has been the seat of the Thai Royal family since the late 18th century. It was first contracted in the late 1700's and is a must see for any visitor or local. Please note there is a strict dress code, pants or long skirts and no tank tops. Get there early as it opens around 08:30am and becomes quite crowded. The recent price was around 500 baht (about $17 US). ***Tip: when entering the temple you may get caught in a surge of people. Try to be one of the first or enter shortly after the surge, about 5-10 minutes after opening time. There is a Strict dress code of pants, long skirts, and no tank tops.
Wat Pho Also known as Temple of the Reclining Golden Buddha, Wat Pho located directly south about a 5-10 minute walk from the Grand Palace is stunning and a bit more peaceful to wander, especially during the early morning hours if you can get in before 8 am. The golden reclining Buddha is an awe inspiring sight and is more than 45 meters long. In Wat Pho's adjoining court yard sits a serene and ornately detailed series of temples to explore.
There is a Strict dress code of pants, long skirts, and no tank tops.
Wat Arun: Located across the Chao Praya river from Wat pho, this temple translated into "Temple of the Dawn" is made up of intricate tile work and a tall spire with steep stairs. I highly recommend you visit Wat Arun. To get to the temple take the Sappkun Takshi boat located across the street from Wat Pho. It is easily located.
Wat Suthat: Located east of the Grand Palace this famous Buddhist Temple feature a giant red swing. It has a beautiful courtyard best visited in the early morning hours.
Jim Thompson House
Bangkok Chinatown
Chatutchak Weekend Market
Wat Traimit, (closest to National stadium BTS)
Wat Saket (golden mount with stairs)
Activities & Things to Do:
Visit a Temple (see above or click on link)
Explore and Eat Bangkok's Markets, Restaurants, & Street Stalls.
Take a River Cruise
Take a Thai Cooking Class
Muay Thai (I highly recommend going to a Muay Thai match in Bangkok)
Clothes & Souvenir Shopping at a Bangkok Market
Explore Banglamphu & the nearby Amulet Market
Go to a Night Market
Go to a Sky Bar
Visit the many air conditioned malls of Bangkok & shop or see a movie
Take a day trip outside Bangkok
Bike & Walk around Prapadaeng or Bangkok's "Green Lung", a vibrant locals neighborhood filled with greenery and art
Khao San Road Tips for Khao San Rd:
-Located in the Old District (Banglamphu) in Bangkok, Khao San Road is full of budget backpacker accommodations and tourist restaurants and bars/clubs. It is great for new or weary travelers on the road for too long.
-Be careful, especially at night on Khao San Rd. as this is where pick pockets and touts target naive or drunk tourists.
-Don't buy drugs from dealers on Khao San as several police stings are set up to catch tourists. You will have to pay a huge bribe or go to jail and you do not want to go to Thai jail.
-Khao San Rd is fun for a night out with friends or to meet fellow travelers but if you like an authentic cultural experience you will probably not want to spend to much time here.
-If you want the creature comforts of home and want to spend time at western themed bars/restaurants and shop for inexpensive tourist merchandise then Khao San is fine.
-Khao San is geared to tourists in their late teens & 20's and is full of scammers and touts promising a tour around Bangkok for 300 baht. These are scams geared towards taking you to various shops and putting you in high pressure sales situations.
-A couple blocks south and north of Khao San Rd (around Soi Rambuttri) has some great Thai restaurants and street food stalls if you know where to look. See link for more recommendations.
-Khao San Rd can be very convenient if you need inexpensive clothing/shoes or medications from Thai Pharmacies.
-Khao San Rd is a lot like Thamel in Kathmandu but I enjoy Thamel a deal more then Khao San.
Visit during Songkran (April 13-17): Here are some tips for Songkran:
-Songkran is the Thai New Year that is celebrated with Thai families reuniting and attending Buddhist temples and by huge water fights throughout the country. Bangkok is home to some of the biggest water fights in Thailand. If you are looking for a fun, crowded, and overwhelming experience go to Khao San Road, Silom Road, or around Nana or Soi Cowboy (Sukhumvit).
-Go with an open mind. Don't get mad at people who splash you.
-Take waterproof baggage and a waterproof pouch for your cell phone and wallet.
-Sometimes people may try to rub a chalky powder in your face. Don't let it get in your eyes, best to avoid.
-As a tourist you are going to get splashed with water by locals and tourists alike. This can occur during all times of the day. I got soaked coming back from a work dinner around 10pm.
-Some neighborhoods are more rowdy then others, and some can stay relatively quiet throughout Songkran. If you are looking for a fun, crowded, and overwhelming experience go to Khao San Road, Silom Road, or around Nana or Soi Cowboy (Sukhumvit).
-There are some really fun music festivals and parties that take place during Songkran. See the link above for more information.
-Some restaurants/food stalls stay open and some close down for Songkran as many Thai's use this opportunity to travel home or go abroad. -
-If taking the BTS or MRT you must empty your water gun prior to getting on the train.
-About 1/2 of the food stalls and restaurants I like to visit were closed and 1/2 were open. Typically you can still find a lot of open food stalls in Chinatown, around Khao San Rd, in Malls, and in more touristy spots.
The Red Light Districts: There are three red light districts in Bangkok. Soi Cowboy located near Asok BTS station, Nana Plaza located off Soi Nana 4 and Nana BTS station, and Patpong. Soi Cowboy and Nana are the more happening red light districts where the fun typically gets started after 19:00 (7pm) and last until the early hours of the morning (2-3am). Patpong, the oldest Red Light District in Bangkok, is interesting but there are way to many scams in (ping pong show) and the area has a bit more of a grimy and sketchy feel to it, especially very late at night. Please note: Especially when visiting Nana, you may get approached by freelancers or street prostitutes and many of which may be Katoy's or ladyboys. Click on this link for more Red Light district facts and information.
Below are some recommended gogo bars in Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza:
-Billboard (3rd floor Nana Plaza)
-Mandarin (1st floor, Nana Plaza)
-Spanky's (2nd floor, Nana Plaza)
-Crazy House (very close to Soi Cowboy, near Baccara, walk towards Sukhumvit 1 minute on right. Absolutely insane environment with super loud music)
-Tilac (Soi Cowboy)
-Baccara (Soi Cowboy. Get there early. Can be very crowded)
Grand Palace: Known in Thai as Wat Phra Kaew, the Royal Palace and famous Temple has been the seat of the Thai Royal family since the late 18th century. It was first contracted in the late 1700's and is a must see for any visitor or local. Please note there is a strict dress code, pants or long skirts and no tank tops. Get there early as it opens around 08:30am and becomes quite crowded. The recent price was around 500 baht (about $17 US). ***Tip: when entering the temple you may get caught in a surge of people. Try to be one of the first or enter shortly after the surge, about 5-10 minutes after opening time. There is a Strict dress code of pants, long skirts, and no tank tops.
Wat Pho Also known as Temple of the Reclining Golden Buddha, Wat Pho located directly south about a 5-10 minute walk from the Grand Palace is stunning and a bit more peaceful to wander, especially during the early morning hours if you can get in before 8 am. The golden reclining Buddha is an awe inspiring sight and is more than 45 meters long. In Wat Pho's adjoining court yard sits a serene and ornately detailed series of temples to explore.
There is a Strict dress code of pants, long skirts, and no tank tops.
Wat Arun: Located across the Chao Praya river from Wat pho, this temple translated into "Temple of the Dawn" is made up of intricate tile work and a tall spire with steep stairs. I highly recommend you visit Wat Arun. To get to the temple take the Sappkun Takshi boat located across the street from Wat Pho. It is easily located.
Wat Suthat: Located east of the Grand Palace this famous Buddhist Temple feature a giant red swing. It has a beautiful courtyard best visited in the early morning hours.
Jim Thompson House
Bangkok Chinatown
Chatutchak Weekend Market
Wat Traimit, (closest to National stadium BTS)
Wat Saket (golden mount with stairs)
Activities & Things to Do:
Visit a Temple (see above or click on link)
Explore and Eat Bangkok's Markets, Restaurants, & Street Stalls.
Take a River Cruise
Take a Thai Cooking Class
Muay Thai (I highly recommend going to a Muay Thai match in Bangkok)
Clothes & Souvenir Shopping at a Bangkok Market
Explore Banglamphu & the nearby Amulet Market
Go to a Night Market
Go to a Sky Bar
Visit the many air conditioned malls of Bangkok & shop or see a movie
Take a day trip outside Bangkok
Bike & Walk around Prapadaeng or Bangkok's "Green Lung", a vibrant locals neighborhood filled with greenery and art
Khao San Road Tips for Khao San Rd:
-Located in the Old District (Banglamphu) in Bangkok, Khao San Road is full of budget backpacker accommodations and tourist restaurants and bars/clubs. It is great for new or weary travelers on the road for too long.
-Be careful, especially at night on Khao San Rd. as this is where pick pockets and touts target naive or drunk tourists.
-Don't buy drugs from dealers on Khao San as several police stings are set up to catch tourists. You will have to pay a huge bribe or go to jail and you do not want to go to Thai jail.
-Khao San Rd is fun for a night out with friends or to meet fellow travelers but if you like an authentic cultural experience you will probably not want to spend to much time here.
-If you want the creature comforts of home and want to spend time at western themed bars/restaurants and shop for inexpensive tourist merchandise then Khao San is fine.
-Khao San is geared to tourists in their late teens & 20's and is full of scammers and touts promising a tour around Bangkok for 300 baht. These are scams geared towards taking you to various shops and putting you in high pressure sales situations.
-A couple blocks south and north of Khao San Rd (around Soi Rambuttri) has some great Thai restaurants and street food stalls if you know where to look. See link for more recommendations.
-Khao San Rd can be very convenient if you need inexpensive clothing/shoes or medications from Thai Pharmacies.
-Khao San Rd is a lot like Thamel in Kathmandu but I enjoy Thamel a deal more then Khao San.
Visit during Songkran (April 13-17): Here are some tips for Songkran:
-Songkran is the Thai New Year that is celebrated with Thai families reuniting and attending Buddhist temples and by huge water fights throughout the country. Bangkok is home to some of the biggest water fights in Thailand. If you are looking for a fun, crowded, and overwhelming experience go to Khao San Road, Silom Road, or around Nana or Soi Cowboy (Sukhumvit).
-Go with an open mind. Don't get mad at people who splash you.
-Take waterproof baggage and a waterproof pouch for your cell phone and wallet.
-Sometimes people may try to rub a chalky powder in your face. Don't let it get in your eyes, best to avoid.
-As a tourist you are going to get splashed with water by locals and tourists alike. This can occur during all times of the day. I got soaked coming back from a work dinner around 10pm.
-Some neighborhoods are more rowdy then others, and some can stay relatively quiet throughout Songkran. If you are looking for a fun, crowded, and overwhelming experience go to Khao San Road, Silom Road, or around Nana or Soi Cowboy (Sukhumvit).
-There are some really fun music festivals and parties that take place during Songkran. See the link above for more information.
-Some restaurants/food stalls stay open and some close down for Songkran as many Thai's use this opportunity to travel home or go abroad. -
-If taking the BTS or MRT you must empty your water gun prior to getting on the train.
-About 1/2 of the food stalls and restaurants I like to visit were closed and 1/2 were open. Typically you can still find a lot of open food stalls in Chinatown, around Khao San Rd, in Malls, and in more touristy spots.
The Red Light Districts: There are three red light districts in Bangkok. Soi Cowboy located near Asok BTS station, Nana Plaza located off Soi Nana 4 and Nana BTS station, and Patpong. Soi Cowboy and Nana are the more happening red light districts where the fun typically gets started after 19:00 (7pm) and last until the early hours of the morning (2-3am). Patpong, the oldest Red Light District in Bangkok, is interesting but there are way to many scams in (ping pong show) and the area has a bit more of a grimy and sketchy feel to it, especially very late at night. Please note: Especially when visiting Nana, you may get approached by freelancers or street prostitutes and many of which may be Katoy's or ladyboys. Click on this link for more Red Light district facts and information.
Below are some recommended gogo bars in Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza:
-Billboard (3rd floor Nana Plaza)
-Mandarin (1st floor, Nana Plaza)
-Spanky's (2nd floor, Nana Plaza)
-Crazy House (very close to Soi Cowboy, near Baccara, walk towards Sukhumvit 1 minute on right. Absolutely insane environment with super loud music)
-Tilac (Soi Cowboy)
-Baccara (Soi Cowboy. Get there early. Can be very crowded)
