Travel | Bangkok

Good Morning! How are we feeling today? A different post than usually, but I think this can be really helpful. Especially when you planned or thinking to go to Asia. I'm a little bit of a control freak, when I'm on holiday I don't  want to missed the best spots and sights. I alway do my research and why I don't share that with you. So a new theme  is born "The Travel Guide'. Around the two weeks you can see my travel guides of the places I planned to go in Asia. Let's start!  

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Click on 'Read More' for the travel guide of Bangkok!

Bangkok is my first stay in Asia. We are planned to stay here for 3 or 4 days. Of course I want to see as many I could, so underneath you will see the best attractions of Bangkok you must have see and do. 

Grand Palace & Wat Prakaew 

Old City

This is the most famous place that is a must for all tourists. The Grand Palace consist of several buildings with different styles of architecture. Wat Phra Kaeo is renowned as the most beautiful and important Buddhisht temple in Thailand. It houses Phra Kaeo Morakot (the Emerald Buddha), the most highly revered Buddha image carved from a single block of fine jade. 

How to get there? 

Go with the sky train to Saphan Taksin, take a taxi boat upstream to the pier at Tha Chang and you see the complex on your right. Gett off at the pier. The entrance to Wat Phra Kaeo and the Royal Palace is on Thanon Na Phra Lan. 

Guides

On the complex are guides available from 10:00 to 14:00 or you can used the audio guide.

Dress codes

There are strict dress codes for the most sacred Temple of Thailand. No short skirts or shorts. Women must be covered to shoulders. It's also possible to hire covering clothing. 

Location, opening times and entrance fees

Location: Na Phralan, Phra Nakorn (Grand Palace complex, Old city (Rattanakosin) Bangkok.

Openings times: 08:30 - 12:00 and 13:00 - 15.30hr. 

Entrance: 300 baht 

Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn

Riverside

Wat Arun, locally known as Wat Chaeng, is situated on the west (Thonburi) bank of the Chao Phraya River. It is easily one of the most stunning temples in Bangkok, not only because of its riverside location, but also because the design is very different to the other temples you can visit in Bangkok. Wat Arun is partly made up of colorfully decorated spires and stands majestically over the water. When you reach the highest point you have a beautiful view over the city. You can see the winding Chao Phraya River and the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. 

How to get there?

Wat Arun is almost directly opposite Wat Pho, so it is very easy to get to. From Sapphan Taskin boat pier you can take a river boat that stops at pier 8. From here a small shuttle boat takes you from one side of the river to the other for only 3 baht. 

Location, opening times and entrance fees

Location: Riverside

Openings times: Daily from 08:30 to 17:30hr. 

Entrance: 100 bath

Wat Po

Old City

Wat Pho (the temple of the Recling Buddha), or Wat Phra Chetuphon, is located behind the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and a must-do for any first-time visitor in bangkok. It's one of the largest temple complexes in the city and famed for its giant reclining Buddha that measures 46 mores long and is covered in gold leaf. It's an easy ten minute walk between here and the grand Palace. This is also a great place to get a traditional Thai massage. 

Location, opening times and entrance fees

Location: Old City

Openings times: Daily 08:00 - 17:00hr.

Entrance: 100 baht

Chinatown (Yaowarat)

Chinatown

Bangkok's Chinatown is a popular tourist attraction and a food haven for new generation gourmands who flock here after sunset to explore the vibrant street-side cuisine. At day time, it's no less busy, as hordes of shoppers descend upon this 1-km strip and adjacent Charoenkrung oad to get a day's worth of staple, trade gold, or pay a visit to one of the Chinese temples. Packed with market stalls, street-side restaurants and a dense concentration of gold shops, Chinatown is an experience not to miss. 

Chao Phraya River

Riverside

One of the most beautiful sights in Bangkok is certainly the might Chao Phraya River. The river lives and reflects the ever-changing day and night scenes. It is a coming and going of water taxis and heavily loaded rice bins that are chugging upstream their goods. The river is flanked by beautiful temples, palaces and luxury hotels. The area of Wat Arun to Phra Sumeru belongs to the oldest piece of Bangkok. The channels (Klongst) at Bangkok Noi and the special ambiance of the stilt houses on either side of the complex waterways ere particularly to see. 

Chatuchak Weekend market

Chatuchak

Really a shop-walhalla. Chatuchak weekend market is considered to be one of the largest in the world and is promoted under the nickname 'the mother of all markets'. There are some 15.000 stalls and the market is open every Saturday and Sunday. Also during the week are some areas of the market open. Approximately 300.000 people visit the market each weekend. here you go to for the most beautiful souvenirs or other gadgets. Remember, you should always negotiate the price. 

Floating market 

Damnoen Saduak 

Boats are still piled high with tropical fuit and vegetables, free, ready-to-drink coconut juice and local food cooked from floating kitchens located right on the boat. To enjoy the atmosphere without haggling over prices, try relaxing on a guided boat tour of Damnoen Saduak market

Ayutthava 

Ayutthava is not inherent in Bangkok, but it is the former capital of Thailand. The city is destroyed by the Burmese in 1767, however, the many remaining ruins of the temples and palaces do recall the glorious time of this city. It is approximately 76 kilometers north of bangkok. The most beautiful temple in Ayutthava is perhaps the Wat Phra Mahathat. These temples were built in 1374 and although the Burmese destroyed the main pagoda total, but the remains of the complex are still impressive. In the Chao Sam Phraya National museum you can find out more about the Golden times of Ayutthava. Between Ayutthava and bangkok is the Bang Pa-In palace. This was built in the 19th century and serves as a summer palace for the Kings of Thailand. Definitely a place to visited! 

Jim Thompson's House 

Siam

The former home of Jim Thompson in Bangkok is one of the best preserved traditional Thai houses and one of the most beautiful museums in the country. Jim Thompson's an architect by training and an avid collector of Asian objets d'art. After his discharge from military service in 1946, Jim Thompson decided to settle down in Thailand, where he dedicated over 30 years to reviving Thai silk - then a dying cottage industry - and introduced it ti the world's most respectable fashion houses and catwalks in Paris, New York, London and Milan. The same goes for his Thai house, which was no ordinary teakwood villa complex filled with incongruous collections of antiques, but a breathing museum - even then - that embodies Jim Thompson's life-long passion and whimsical design choices. One day in 1967, while at the height of his success, he mysteriously disappeared into the Malaysian jungle, and thus began the legacy of Jim Thompson. 

How to get there?

Located in the center of Bangkok, it is conveniently reached by car, taxi, Tuk yuk, or the Sky Train.

Location, opening times and entrance fees

Location: Soi Kasemsan (2) Song

Openings times: Daily from 09:00 to 17:00hr. 

Entrance: 100 bath 

Must-do

- CentralWorld and Siam Paragon, shopping-whalalla 

- A ride in a Tuk - Tuk

- Thaise massage

- Bangkoks nightlife, just like New York and London. See a show from the famous lady's boys. 

- Five locations for a spectacular view over Bangkok, perfect night out. 

1. Sky Bar State Tower (know from the movie the Hangover 2)
2. ThreeSixty Lounge in de Millennium Hilton
3. Vertigo Grill & Moon Bar
4. Long Table
5. The Rooftop Bar

De last two places I have to see, because Yara Mitchels from Chapterfriday gave me that as advice. :)

Of course there is still more to see in Bangkok. Depending on how long you are staying in Bangkok. But this are definitely the highlights of Bangkok. When I'm back I will give your more tips of good restaurants, night clubs, shopping malls etc. First I have to figure it out by myself :). 

I hope you liked this post! Did you already went to Bangkok? What was you experience? Tell me!  

herons: Brons: Bangkok.com and Thailandblog.nl