Top 10 Things To Do In Bangkok Thailand
Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, the economic centre of the country and its largest city with a population of over 10 million people. Situated just under 14 degrees North of the Equator, Bangkok represents a tropical city, a concrete jungle that is one of the most traveler-friendly destinations in Asia. According to scientists, Bangkok is considered to have the highest average temperature of all cities in the world, with an
average annual temperature of 28 degrees Celsius or 83 degrees Fahrenheit. The coldest month is December with an average temperature of 21 degrees Celsius.
What makes Bangkok interesting is the fact that it combines modern architecture with about 400 exotic Thai temples that seem to stick out among the urban landscape. The culture here is a mixture of old and new. On the streets you will see people dressed in modern business clothing as well as Buddhist monks in saffron robes. This is what Bangkok is and this is what makes it such a magical place.
There is no denying the fact that similar to other large Asian cities, Bangkok is congested with traffic, people and pollution. In fact, the air can be bad enough that there are locals wearing surgical masks in the streets. Even so, the Bangkok inhabitants, known as Thais are very polite, friendly and always have a big smile on their faces. It is interesting to note that 50% of them are under the age of 30.
There are a lot of places that are worth seeing, in fact they are so many that their description will hardly fit into a single article. Some of them though, are an absolute must, so read the lines bellow for information on the top ten things to do in Bangkok, but have in mind that they are randomly ordered.
1. Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
A 'must see' for all visitors to Bangkok. The Grand Palace is known for being the home of the King and his court for about 150 years. The whole administrative seat of the country was there, including country's war ministry, state departments, and even the mint. Thai Kings are no longer living there (since the turn of the twentieth century), but this complex still remains seat of power and spiritual heart of the Thailand. The admission fee to the Grand Palace is 250 Baht (6.65 USD) and it also includes an admission ticket to Vimanmek Mansion and Wat Phra Keow. It is open every day when not being used for state functions, from 8:30 to 3:30.
As mentioned, the Grand Palace also includes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Keow) making it one of the wonders of the world today. This is the most sacred place for the Thai people so you must go there properly dressed to be allowed to enter it. See-through clothes, bare shoulders and feet are forbidden. Within its enormous grounds is the most exotic Buddhist temple and at the heart of the temple itself is a fabulous Buddha image, carved from one piece of Jade, which is the holiest and most revered of religious objects in Thailand today.
2. Wat Pho and Reclining Buddha
Wat Pho is known for the huge Reclining Buddha statue it houses. Furthermore, it is the largest Wat in Bangkok as well as the oldest one. But nowadays it does not event look close to what it used to be initially, as King Rama I rebuild it entirely. As well as having Thailand's largest reclining Buddha image, Wat Pho also holds the record for the most number of Buddha images in Thailand (more than 1000 in total).
The statue itself is more than impressive, it is 46 meters long and 15 meters high, gold plated, illustrating the passing of the Buddha into nirvana. The most admired part is the feet with their mother of pearl inlays. The feet of the Reclining Buddha show the 108 auspicious characteristics of the true Buddha. Viewing the huge reclining statue of the Buddha is an ethereal experience. The entrance fee is only 20B.
Here you can get a Thai massage. A traditional massage costs 150B for 30 minutes, 250B for an hour and herbal massages are available at 350B an hour.
3. A boat ride on the Chao Phraya River
According to some tourists, the most exciting thing about Bangkok is the Chao Phraya River that divides the city in two. This river is alive, dynamic, in fact it is the heart and soul of Bangkok. The river is a venue for some of Bangkok's largest festivals, such as the water festivals - Songkran and Loy Kratong. It is open to everyone. It provides a means of transportation for the locals and excitment for the tourists. You can rent a private boat from one of the piers on the Chao Phraya, or you can book an organized tour. At the Oriental Landing you can buyan all-day ticket for 75 baht and cruise up and down the river as much as you want, aboard a very comfortable Tourist Boat.
4. Muay Thai fight
Attending a Muay Thai fight is a must do, except if you simply don’t like such aggressive fighting sports. Muay Thai is a form of martial art, also known as Thai Boxing, practiced in several Southeast Asian countries including Thailand. Muay Thai, has heavily influenced the development of kickboxing in Japan, Europe, and North America. But, unlike kickboxing, it allows elbow strikes, knee strikes, and kicks below the waist. According to the current rules and regulations of the sport, Muay Thai is fought in five three-minute rounds with two-minute breaks in between. At Bangkok, you can visit a Muay Thai equipment factory where you can order personalized Muay Thai shorts and gear at discount prices.
The major stadiums holding this event are Lumpini and Ratchadamnoen, where mostly tourists fill up the seats, and the number is growing. Most opt to sit at ringside, to see the action up close. On nights of major events, usually advertised days in advance, it can be hard to get tickets. You might want to book through your hotels or travel agents.
The fight nights at the Lumpini Stadium are on Tuesdays and Fridays from 6.30 p.m, Saturday afternoons 5-8 p.m., Saturday nights from 8.30 p.m. The ticket prices are 220, 440, 1,000 Baht (ringside).
At the Ratchadamnoen Stadium, discounts are available on Sunday nights, while the other fight nights are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The prices are the same as for the Lumpini stadium.
5. Thai Dancing at the Erawan Shrine
The Erawan Shrine is a popular tourist attraction, which often offers performances by resident Thai dance troupes. The name Erawan comes from Brahma's thirty-three headed elephant. The Erawan Shrine is a four-faced Buddah, representing the Face of Peace and Health, Face of Good Relationships, Face of Fortune and Face of Protection Against Evil. It can be found at the intersection of Ratchadamri Road and Ratchaprasong Road in Pathum Wan district, next to the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel. It was actually build as a solution to the bad luck related to the building, in order to help Thai people finish the construction of the hotel. It is devoted to Brahma and Erawan, his elephant. It is always open and the admission is free.
The Erawan Shrine is famous for bringing good fortune, because ever since it was build, there have been no further problems related to the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel. Often, if a wish has been granted, people thank the spirits by donating teak elephants or commissioning the classical Thai dancers and live orchestra.
6. Shopping at the Weekend Market
Visiting the Weekend Market will surely make you spend some of your money and it is probably the best place to do some shopping in Bangkok. Chatuchak Weekend Market is by far the most impressive among the many markets in Bangkok. Actually, it is the biggest weekend market in the whole world! Its size is what makes the difference, it covers an area of 35 acres, contains more than 15 000 shops and stalls, has over 200 000 visitors each day, and they spend an estimated total of US$750 000! Those numbers should give you an idea of how big it is. Here you can find practically everything under the sun and the prices are substantially cheaper than the shopping centers and street stalls on Silom and Sukhumvit. The Weekend Market is opened from 00am to 6.00pm on Saturday and Sunday. The best way to reach it is by using the Skytrain.
7. Suan Pakkard Palace
Suan Pakkad Palace represents a collection of traditional Thai houses that was brought together by Prince and Princess Chumbhot in 1952. The combination of traditional architecture, fine arts, ancient artifacts, elegant gardens and a huge collection place the visit to Suan Pakkad Palace among the top ten things to do Bangkok. It is opened every day, except Sundays and public holidays, from 9.00 to 16.00. The admission fee is 80 Baht. As a matter of fact, the Suan Pakkad Palace hosts some the most valuable collections of antiques, a private museum which provides visitors a glimpse of the treasures of Thailand's rich part.
8. Wat Arun, the Temple of the Daw
Wat Arun, or better known as the Temple of Dawn is one of Bangkok's most distinguishable landmarks. It is located on the western bank of the Chao Phraya River. The exterior of Wat Arun is made out of porcelain mosaics, filling every conceivable nook, cranny, and wall, making it brilliantly creative and visually stunning. Once you climb up the stairway, you will get a great view of the river culture and perfect photos to take home. It is open from :30 am – 5:30 pm and you can reach it by taking the Chao Phraya ferry to Tha Tien pier, then cross the river via the cross-river ferry.
9. Chinatown
Some might say that there is a Chinatown in every city, hence you shouldn’t waste your time by visiting Bangkok’s Chinatown. This is totally untrue. Its inclusion in the top ten things to do in Bangkok is no coincidence, because it surely is a worthwhile experience. It is almost 24 hours of non stop action.
Bangkok's Chinatown district is as old as the city itself. Although there are many things to see in Chinatown, one of the biggest sights is the experience of the place as a whole. The best way to see the area is to pick a starting point and simply wander around. Here you can walk through the very narrow alleys and be amazed by all the things you can buy for almost nothing. The place is fool of all sorts of food street vendors. Don't forget to try from the finest Chinese cuisines, Thai deserts rivaling the Chinese black bean gluttonous ginger treats, fresh live sea foods and all the other high-class gastronomy. It offers a festival of stores at prices cheaper than you'll find elsewhere in Bangkok. Actually the Temple of the Golden Buddha is located here. If you are looking for Thai and Chinese antiques, then visit the Thieves Market, which used to be a place where stolen goods were sold.
10. Enjoy Bangkok’s nightlife
Bangkok is one of those cities that never sleeps. It is famous for its nightlife featuring live music, cool bars, exuberant dance venues and great restaurants. Bangkok is home to a few dozen discos, almost a 100 GoGo bars, hundreds of karaoke bars, and literally thousands of pubs and cafes. The city’s night life offers scope for shopping too, as most shopping malls stay open until 9 or 10pm.
Bangkog is known for being a naughty type of city, but there is so much more than that. On any given night, weekends or weekdays, Bangkok is teeming with activity of every imaginable variety. In addition to the numerous sex clubs and massage parlours, there are many excellent bars, discos and restaurants. Much of Bangkok’s nightlife is concentrated in the two red light districts of Bangkok – Patpong (between Silom and Surawong Roads) and Soi Cowboy (Sukhumvit Road).
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