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If you love animals, Safari World provides an ideal opportunity to get up close to wildlife without leaving the comfort of your vehicle. There’s also a Marine Park here with lots of exciting live shows that’ll keep your attention for hours on end.
Are you in search of unique dining experiences? There are various cute cafes offering charming experiences – ranging from Hello Kitty- and mermaid-themed cafes, to those featuring rainbow hues. With San Francisco to Bangkok Cathay Pacific flights widely available, here is what you should seriously consider visiting.
Wat Saket and The Golden Mount
The Golden Mount (Wat Saket) is an idyllic temple site offering stunning panoramic views and an interesting history. Built during the late 18th century, this impressive landmark is famous for its golden chedi that sits atop a manmade hill – its glittering gold color offset against stark white mountains that frame it; making for an incredible sight that requires effort just to see! Visitors must climb 318 steps before they reach its summit – an endeavor most enjoy visiting in the evening when crowds have dissipated and they can enjoy seeing an unforgettable Bangkok sunset while visiting this wonderful landmark!
Wat Saket Temple Fair during Loy Krathong is also legendary, drawing huge crowds every November. This candlelit procession winds its way up the golden stupa as hundreds of lanterns and decorative flags decorate its grounds, while plenty of food vendors and fairground games ensure everyone stays amused throughout this memorable festival. Additionally, various Buddha ceremonies take place throughout this spectacular event.
Old Bangkok Temple’s location makes it an integral part of many city tours, both independent and guided. Offering an insightful perspective into its rich past, visiting during the daytime may become very busy on weekends and public holidays; to avoid crowds it may be best to come here early or in the evenings; an ideal way to do both is on an evening bicycle/motorbike tour which will allow you to witness its magnificent lighting against a nighttime skyline.
The Jim Thompson House
The Jim Thompson House is one of Bangkok’s top attractions and an essential stop on any itinerary. Serving as both a museum and teak villa and garden complex with Southeast Asian art and antiques collections, its guided tour lasts 35 minutes and guests can walk around its gardens before being shown into its silk shop and restaurant for refreshments inside.
Thompson constructed this complex of houses in 1959 after purchasing multiple old Thai homes from across Thailand and transporting them back to Bangkok for reassembling. It stands out from other Thai houses by having unique features, such as walls that slant inward to add strength and give it a regal appearance, plus many rooms filled with beautiful paintings and sculptures from Thailand and other parts of Asia. There’s much to discover at this museum so make sure to take your time exploring every inch.
At the house there is a small restaurant nearby serving food before and after a tour; its food is quite delicious but may be slightly costly. Additionally, there is also a coffee shop and silk shop for additional purchases, plus visitors may visit the Thai Silk Factory on the opposite bank of Klong if desired.
Taxis are the ideal way to reach the Jim Thompson House, but it is essential that you negotiate a price before getting in. Drivers may try to scam tourists by saying the museum is closed while offering rides to jewelry stores instead, so make sure you negotiate beforehand!
Wat Phra Kaew
Wat Phra Kaew is one of Bangkok’s must-see attractions, housing the sacred Emerald Buddha. Situated within Grand Palace’s Old Town grounds and accessible via Bangkok river taxis – they’re both cost-efficient and fun ways of reaching this revered monument.
This temple is an architectural marvel and boasts some of Thailand’s most stunning murals. The exterior walls are covered in 178 panels depicting scenes from Thailand’s version of the Hindu epic Ramakien; each panel depicts scenes depicting good triumphing over evil with characters like Hanuman, the monkey god, and hero Rama.
As with all sacred sites, tourists are advised to dress modestly when entering the main hall and avoid wearing shorts or slippers. Furthermore, visitors should show respect for this sacred site by keeping their voices low and keeping discussions related to politics or religion to a minimum.
Wat Phra Kaew offers more than the Emerald Buddha: there are several impressive statues and structures at Wat Phra Kaew to admire, such as two elephants with their heads rubbed to attract luck, the library pavilion that holds sacred scriptures beautifully decorated by its craftspeople and an exact model of Angkor Wat built by King Mongkut in 1860 as an act of power after failed efforts to disassemble Angkor Wat and bring it back home with him failed.
Wat Angkor is open from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm for tourists to visit and is best visited before 8 am in order to have the place all to themselves. When visiting the Emerald Buddha statue, visitors should keep in mind that touching is forbidden as this will offend its creator.
The Grand Palace
Bangkok can easily become bogged down in shopping, restaurants, and nightlife; but it’s important not to forget that this city was originally established as the capital of a royal dynasty. The Grand Palace stands as a testament to this rich history as well as symbolizes Thailand’s role within Southeast Asian culture.
Exploring The Grand Palace should be on everyone’s itinerary when visiting Bangkok. While not as expansive as most visitors expect, its size makes it possible to explore much of it in a single day if desired; otherwise, it is recommended to arrive early morning when crowds will be minimal.
The Grand Palace is home to numerous important temples, most notably the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. This stunning structure is well worth spending some time admiring its intricate details; unlike most structures at this site, it’s Thai aesthetic offers an interesting contrast against more European structures found elsewhere within its walls.
If you appreciate Southeast Asian art, taking time to appreciate some of the murals adorning Thailand’s walls will prove worthwhile. Not only can these colorful depictions offer insight into Thailand’s long cultural history; their beauty is regularly restored so as not to lose its aesthetic qualities.
Wear comfortable footwear when visiting the Palace; flip-flops are not permitted inside. In addition, leave all jewelry at home if entering any temples.
The Chao Phraya River
Chao Phraya River and its network of canals (khlongs) make for one of the most enjoyable experiences in Bangkok. Enjoy a leisurely riverboat cruise for sightseeing or take a leisurely canal path walk to experience local life (ramshackle timber houses with washing hanging between balconies, sleeping dogs on doorsteps, and women wearing sarongs watering potted plants!).
Chao Phraya River Water Show is an exciting new attraction located along ICONSIAM’s 400-meter riverfront that brings classical music and choreographed waterjet dances together in spectacular fashion. Attractions in Bangkok can range from spectacular architecture, shopping districts, dining options, entertainment options, and massive developments with their own riverfronts to more natural settings where dining, shopping, and living options abound – such as ICONSIAM itself!
Another exciting river experience on the Chao Phraya is riding the Asiatique Sky Ferris wheel, with stunning panoramic views of Bangkok cityscape from its 60-meter height attraction. Don’t miss it while in Bangkok!
Other attractions on the Chao Phraya River include Wat Arun, which features breathtaking architecture and is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks; and Wat PoramaiYikawat, an ancient Mon pagoda featuring Ayuthaya-style murals featuring 200 years of age! Additionally, enjoy breathtaking panoramic views at Wat Si Umbrun where four rivers in Thailand – Ping Wang Yom Nan combine into Chao Phraya!
Khao San Road, known as the backpacker hub of Bangkok, provides everything from clothing and mobile gear to souvenirs as well as street food for you to enjoy and authentic Thai massage services to help relieve stress and fatigue.
