This Huge Guide to the Best Places to Visit in Thailand’s Big Capital
Let’s be honest: Bangkok is a beast of a city, with more than 10 million inhabitants and an area of 1,500 square kilometers. And if we sat here describing every place you could visit in the Thai capital, we’d be here all night and you’d be bored to death—worse than that time someone convinced you to go to a Gazosa concert.
That’s why we’ve selected just some of the coolest places in Bangkok, to give you at least a small glimpse of what you could experience while visiting this incredible city.
Ready? Let’s go!
Read also: The coolest Notre Dame? It’s in Vietnam. Sorry, France
Buddha, Buddha everywhere
Let’s start with Wat Pho, also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, home to an enormous Buddha statue measuring an impressive 46 meters long, 15 meters high, completely covered in gold, with mother-of-pearl decorations on the soles of its feet.
But how on earth did they even get it in there? It’s a question we ask ourselves every time we go see it.
The Buddha, just as the temple’s name suggests, is fully reclining—completely sprawled out, like a lazy Sunday afternoon nap on the couch after a huge family lunch.
Amazing.
Then there’s Wat Phra Kaew, better known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Plot twist: the Buddha statue kept inside isn’t actually made of emerald, but of green jasper and jadeite. And it stands 45 meters tall. Incredible!
The Buddha’s robes are constantly changed according to the season (all made of gold, of course, because he’s not exactly struggling like the rest of us). He has no fewer than 3 sets, and the person in charge of carrying out this ritual is none other than the King of Thailand himself. Which makes things easier for him, since Wat Phra Kaew is located right inside the complex of buildings designated as the royal residence.
And that brings us to the Grand Palace, an absolute marvel: a mix of Thai and European architecture full of gold, precious materials, and frescoes. There are so many buildings and structures that we’ll spare you the full explanation here because it would take forever—but you can see them for yourself if you decide to visit Thailand with us.
Finally, just over 1 km from the Royal Palace stands another absolute gem: Wat Saket, a temple known for its internal structure, a terrace reached by climbing a staircase of hundreds of steps, topped by a huge golden chedi. And from up there, you get a spectacular view over all of Bangkok.
What a glorious mess
The calm and serenity of Thai temples are wonderful, but sometimes you also need a bit of good old urban chaos, don’t you?
Well, if that’s what you’re after, Bangkok’s traditional markets deliver in abundance.
The city’s biggest and most famous is the Chatuchak Weekend Market, an endlessly विशाल place with more than 15,000 stalls, so vast that you can pick up a map at the entrance to help you find your way around. A compass, survival rations, and signal flares, however, you’ll have to bring yourself.
Here, you can find just about anything: clothes, food, souvenirs, kitschy trinkets that you’ll stare at in your backpack on the way home wondering, “Why on earth did I buy all this stuff?” and much more.
If, on the other hand, keeping your feet on the ground isn’t really your thing, then the Damnoen Saduak Market, a floating market, is just what you need.
To be fair, this one isn’t exactly in Bangkok, but it’s still very close to the capital: about an hour and a half by bus and you’ll get there easily.
Damnoen Saduak really offers an off-the-beaten-path experience: hundreds of small boats selling every kind of local agricultural product. But above all, it’s a fantastic opportunity to discover and appreciate fascinating local traditions up close.
Read also: An incredible ocean safari in South Africa with Sto Gran Tour!
In conclusion
Well, we’ve taken a little tour through Bangkok’s glittering temples and chaotic markets.
From the gigantic Reclining Buddha to the surprising “emerald” Buddha (yeah right, we know it’s not actually emerald), all the way to Bangkok’s enormous markets, we’ve seen some seriously great stuff. But it’s only the tiniest taste of the amazing things this city—and Thailand as a whole—has to offer.
You know what? If you want to dive deeper into the culture of this incredible country, we give you the chance to experience it in person during 14 amazing days exploring Northern Thailand.
Check out the full itinerary here. When you’re ready, just let us know and we’ll set off.
