Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand is a concrete jungle dotted and accentuated with mesmerizing temples, ultra-modern shopping malls, and exquisite cuisines.
It’s one of my favorite places on earth!
It is vibrantly chaotic and yet surprisingly harmonious! Among its sky-kissing highrises, luxury hotels, and shopping malls are the relics of the past that hold an enormous amount of history of the bygone Siam eras.
For a foodie looking for a memorable food tour or a pious soul looking for solace in the temples, a spendthrift looking for an enthralling shopping experience, or a nomadic mortal aiming for a timeless cultural tour, Bangkok has something for everyone.
If you are planning a Bangkok visit anytime soon, this list of the 10 very best things to do in Bangkok will give you a much-needed headstart.
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Top 10 Very Best Things to Do in Bangkok, Thailand: TL;DR
- Traditional Thai Massage
- Thai Street Food
- Chatuchak Weekend Market
- Grand Palace and Wat Pho
- Wat Arun
- Ayutthaya
- Bangkok National Museum
- Floating Markets
- Boat Ride on Chao Phraya River
- Muay Thai Fight
Top 10 Very Best Things to Do in Bangkok, Thailand
1. Experience a Traditional Thai Massage
To truly experience Thai culture, you need to experience the quintessential Thai massage that involves a lot of cracking, slapping, pulling, and walking on your back.
You will be in for a surprise, but when it is all done, you will not only feel relaxed but also feel the blood rushing through your pulsating veins.
You can enjoy relaxing traditional Thai massages for as little as $6 an hour, but in reputed parlors, the prices can go up to $15 an hour.
Pro Tip: Avoid massage scams in the name of happy endings. Yes, they exist but settle for an authentic Thai massage parlor that publicly displays the prices.
2. Embark On a Thai Street Food Tour
Thai food is delicious and Bangkok has countless restaurants that will serve delicious meals in a cozy environment. But you won’t truly experience Thai cuisine unless you dig into street food.
Street food in Thailand is insanely popular because it’s cheap and convenient. This should explain the sea of street food vendors you will witness in Bangkok.
Of all the delicious dishes you can find, Pad Thai is one of the most popular, but there are many other delicacies to try and enjoy.
Street food stalls are brimming with all types of food from stewed pork legs, deep-fried duck, barbecued pork, stewed squid, fruit, chicken, crepes and loads more.
Pro Tip: Head over to Khao San road to dine on insects (if you can stomach them) and don’t forget to eat the deep-fried scorpion!
3. Shop at Chatuchak Weekend Market
The Chatuchak Weekend Market is also known as the JJ Market. With a whopping 15,000 stalls, the Chatuchak Market is the granddaddy of all markets.
You can buy anything you can think of. From home decor items, antiques, clothing to food, and more.
If you decide to explore Chatuchak Market, I would devote most of your day, especially if you love shopping.
Remember to bargain hard. As with any country, Thailand markets often inflate prices whenever tourists step in.
Pro Tip: Chatuchak Market is always overcrowded. To beat the crowd, get there early at around 9 AM.
4. Marvel at the Grand Palace and Wat Pho
When you visit Bangkok, a trip to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho is a must.
Bangkok’s most recognizable tourist spot – the Grand Palace oozes gold-dripping splendor that exudes a romantic vibe when it is lit by the soft rays of the setting sun.
From 1782, the Grand Palace was the residence of the Kings of Siam or Thai Kings for 150 years. The surrounding buildings are equally breathtaking.
When you step into the precincts of the Grand Palace, you will step into a completely different chapter in time with Royal residences, civic buildings, and temples – all shaped using exotic traditional Thai architecture.
You can visit only a few buildings including the Grand Palace Hall called Chakri Mahaprasat. In the same complex is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha or Wat Phra Kaew. The Emerald Buddha is a meditating Buddha image carved out of a single emerald block.
Once you are done marveling at the Grand Palace, visit Wat Pho or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Located right behind Wat Phra Kaew, the Wat Pho is within walking distance of the Grand Palace and it takes only 10 minutes to reach by foot.
Wat Pho is home to the city’s largest Reclining Buddha measuring 45 meters in length and 15 meters in height. The soles of Buddhas feet are encrusted with pearls.
In the temple complex of Wat Pho, you will find the Buddha Gallery which contains 394 golden Buddhas. There are 4 royal Chedis or Stupas with colorful ceramics covering them. The Phra Ubosoft in the temple complex is where the ashes of King Rama I are kept and are guarded by another Golden Buddha.
Pro Tip: Though you can tour these attractions by yourself, I recommend a guided tour to learn historical facts. Also, if you feel hungry, there are many street food vendors nearby offering mouth-watering Thai cuisine.
5. Explore Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn
Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn is named after the Indian God of Dawn. The place where the temple stands today was once the home to the Palace of King Taksin who re-established the Siamese Kingdom after Ayutthaya fell.
Wat Arun is an arresting Khmer-style tower or prang jutting out 104 meters from the banks of the Chao Phraya River.
The temple tower is covered in ceramic tiles that create an incredible sight under the right lighting conditions. There is a pair of mythical giants that guard the temple complex.
You can climb Wat Arun (only a few temples in Thailand will allow that). If you are not afraid of heights, scale the steep & narrow stairs to catch a stunning view of the temple compound and the Chao Phraya River.
Pro Tip: At sunset the temple wears a magnificent golden hue creating an imposing sight with the Chao Phraya River in the foreground.
6. Take a Day Trip to Ayutthaya
Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya was the capital of Thailand before relocating to Bangkok. In 1767 a Burmese attack razed the place leaving behind only a few palaces and temples intact.
Today, Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is home to the summer palace and a few of the most impressive temples in Thailand.
Pro Tip: Unless you want a tour guide to narrate the history, I recommend visiting the place on your own. Take a train from Bangkok. It’s a 1.5-hour journey each way.
7. Travel Through Time at Bangkok National Museum
One of the largest museums in Southeast Asia, this museum was established in 1874 by King Rama V (King Chulalongkorn) to display the collections of his father King Rama IV (King Mongkut).
Today, the museum covers Thai history all the way back to the Neolithic times. You can see Thai artifacts from different periods including Dvaravati, Srivijaya, Sukhothai, and Ayutthaya.
The museum is one of the best places to learn about Thai art and Thai culture.
Pro Tip: The signs at the museum are not very detailed. So, consider a guided tour.
8. Visit the Floating Markets
Floating markets can be found in many places around Thailand, and Bangkok is no different. The Taling Chan floating market and the Khlong Lat Mayom floating market are the two most popular ones in downtown Bangkok.
However, the pioneer is the Damnoen Saduak floating market located 100 kilometers southwest of Bangkok. This is where you will enjoy the most authentic experience with dozens and dozens of wooden row boats filled to the brim with flowers, fresh vegetables, fruits, and more.
Unlike the Taling Chan and Khlong Lat Mayom floating markets which are held only on weekend mornings, the Damnoen Saduak floating market opens every day from 7 AM to 5 PM.
Pro Tip: If you feel hungry while visiting the Damnoen Saduak floating market look for boats that have charcoal grills and cauldrons to serve seafood skewers or a steaming hot bowl of noodles.