How to Enjoy the Best Attractions in Bangkok
By: Lucifer Goodman
Tags: Travel, Vacation, Bangkok, Thailand

Planning a trip to Bangkok? Then you must plan your trip just right in order to truly understand and appreciate all that Bangkok really is. This is a city you explore, wander around savour the food, experience the culture and discover the outlandish. Listed are tips for planning a comprehensive experience of Bangkok.

1. Visit the Iconic Attractions

There are some attractions in Bangkok you just can’t afford to miss. The Grand Palace, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho are amongst them. The Chatrium Residence Riverside Bangkok is just 21 minutes from the Grand Palace and the ideal type of accommodation to seek if you have a short time in Bangkok and want to get in as many attractions as possible. Start your tour with the Grand Palace, the former home of Thai royalty for over 100 years, the gold gilded roofs and traditional architecture of the place will do more than impress, within the same compound is the Wat Phra Kaew home to the Emerald Buddha, this miraculously found statue is the nations most sacred artefact. Across the road is the Wat Pho, home to a giant reclining Buddha covered in gold leaf and several other smaller statues and images to explore. The place is home to the ancient Thai school of massage and the best place to enjoy a traditional massage. Across the Chao Phraya River lies Wat Arun, nicknamed Temple of Dawn, this Khmer style building offers stunning birds-eye views from its summit and is noted for its amazing sunrise and sunsets. If you are looking to stay at a serviced apartment Bangkok has to offer, choose one that offers easy access to Wat Arun and you can make an early morning date with a sunrise from the summit of the temple.

2. Experience a River Cruise

The Chao Phraya River is the lifeblood of Bangkok and a river cruise will turn out to be very soothing and relaxing. While the promoted river tours can be a tad expensive, you can hop in a water taxi and do a loop ride for a fraction of the cost. Water taxis take off from central piers and have a route past most of the iconic attractions located along the river. Ideal to experience Bangkok of yore the ride will take you past ancient riverside temples, old villages and markets.

3. Do A Temple Tour of Bangkok

Bangkok is home to a number of beautiful old temples. You can hire a tuk-tuk to take you on a tour of the best, but mind you don’t get taken on a shopping tour, as most of these drivers are given a commission for bringing in customers. A typical temple tour should include the following stops:

• Wat Saket — located on a hill this golden shrine boasts a beautiful 100m high and 500m wide chedi within which sacred Buddhist relics are placed. The views of the city from there are pretty impressive too.

• Wat Benchamabophit — this beautiful temple is constructed from white marble imported directly from Italy, while the architecture is an impressive amalgamation of Thai and European styles. The shrine is depicted on the back of the 5 baht coin and is one of the most iconic temples in the city.

4. Discover the Thrills of Khao San Road

Located along Soi Rambuttri, Khao San Road is known as the backpacker capital of Bangkok. The place is a vibrant hub, boasting a massive amount of bars, clubs, restaurants, shops and street food stalls/carts. This is the perfect location to indulge in some people watching and also meet up with fellow travellers and swap stories.

5. Visit the Floating Markets

A pretty quintessential aspect of Bangkok; the floating markets are a unique attraction. Many like Damnoen Saduak are touristy areas which still manage to retain an aspect from the past. There you will see wooden boats some laden with fruits, vegetables, and tourists jostling their way across the crowded canals. Stop and order a dish of steaming hot noodle soup cooked right in the boat, explore the many food boats moored along the banks and enjoy the crowded atmosphere. Noteworthy markets to visit around the city include Thaling Chang and Khlong Lat Mayom.