Thailand is my permanent home and Bangkok is where I grew up and lived most of my life. Whenever I go back to the capital, I don't do much of traveling or photography because I don't consider myself as a tourist traveling to an exotic city but as someone who is going home to see family. Now that I have been updating my travel blog for places I visited in the past year or two, I came across some photos I took in Bangkok on my last few visits between 2013-2015. I thought I should write a post about it and give some recommendation to tourists who want to see the capital of Thailand. So here are places I think everyone should go in Bangkok!
1. The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (The Emerald Buddha Temple)
This is the NO.1 tourist attraction in Bangkok. It's famous because it was the residence of the kings of Siam for many generations, and the temple holds the most famous Buddha image of Thailand. The palace and the temple were located in the same ground area, next to Chao Phaya River and Sanam Luang, and there are many means of transportation that can take you there. If you take a boat, get off at "Tha Chang" pier. If you take a bus, look for buses that go to "Sanam Luang." If you want a more convenient way, just take a taxi or Tuk Tuk. It's quite cheap to take a taxi in Thailand. The admission fee for foreign tourists to tour the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew is 500 Bath at the moment.
One thing tourists should keep in mind is the "dress code" to enter this holy place of Thai people. Only long pants, ankle-length skirts, and shoulder-covering shirts/blouses are allowed. Also, make sure to take off your shoes and hat before entering some buildings, such as the main chapel where the Emerald Buddha is. Some places prohibit photography or noise, so behave according to the signs.
2. Wat Pho
This temple is located just behind the Grand Palace and is also one of the must-see tourist attractions in Bangkok. Its full name is " Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn" and I'm sure you won't want to remember it in order to tell your taxi driver. Just go with the short name! Tourists all around the world come to Wat Pho to see its famous reclining golden Buddha statue, and some might want to try the traditional Thai massage because the temple is famous for training Thai masseuses. The admission fee for foreign tourists is 200 Bath at the moment. Get off at "Tha Tien" pier if you take a boat there.
3. Wat Saket and The Golden Mountain
This is also one of the most famous Buddhist temples in Bangkok. It isn't far from Sanam Luang and the Grand Palace, but it can be a little complicate to get there by public buses. I would recommend you to just take a Tuk Tuk or a taxi there. Wat Saket or "Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan" was built even before Bangkok became the capital of Thailand, so it has a long interesting history. Thai people like to go there and climb the "Golden Mountain" or "Phu Khao Thong" in Thai to worship the Buddha's relics. You will also get a good view of Bangkok from there!
4. Wat Bowon
Its full name is "Wat Bowonniwet Vihara Rajavaravihara" and it's the center of Dhammayut Nikaya of Thai Theravada Buddhism. Many Thai kings and princes ordained and resided there for a short period of time following a long tradition. The latest Sangharaja or the Supreme Patriarch of Thai Buddhism also resided there, so Wat Bowon is really a place not to be missed if you want to learn about Thai Buddhism or see some old wall paintings. To get there, you can take a public bus, Tuk Tuk or taxi. No entrance fee.
5. San Lak Muang (The City Pillar Shrine)
If you are already at the Grand Palace, you might want to make a brief stop at the City Pillar Shrine located just around the corner because it is historically important to Bangkok. When King Rama I founded Bangkok as the capital of Thailand, he erected the first city pillar or Lak Muang there to house the city spirit deity who helps look after the city. Thai people go there to worship the deity asking for self- or city-protection and offer him flowers, gold leaves, or a Thai traditional dance.
6. Ratchadamnoen Avenue
It's historically important to Thai people because almost all the important events, both political and non-political, have happened on this road. The architecture of the building around this area is also unique, and if you visit during Thai Mother's Day (August) or Father's Day (December), the street will be decorated with lots of light shows. From the Democracy Monument, you can walk on Dinso Road toward "Sao Ching Cha" or the big red swing. This area has many local favorite restaurants, such as Krua Apsorn and Mont Nomsod.
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| Democracy Monument |
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| Wat Ratchanatda |
7. Chao Phaya River
Chao Phaya River is the main river flowing through the middle of the capital of Thailand. In the past, it was the main transportation route to/from the North, and nowadays it still plays a major role in everybody's life in Bangkok. A trip on a boat along Chao Phaya River is a must! You will see/learn about Thai community along the river and visit some famous Buddhist temples, i.e. the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, etc. At night, you can take a dinner river cruise for a romantic night out. I highly recommend you to do it on August 12th or December 5th when Thai people celebrate our Queen's and King's birthdays so that you can see fireworks brightening the dark sky.
8. Yaowarat or China Town
Yaowarat is one of the major business hubs in Bangkok. Chinese people who immigrated to Thailand many generations ago liked to do trading and have settled here in the heart of the city. For Thai people, Yaowarat is generally well known as the best place to purchase high quality gold and Chinese herbs and food. You can enjoy yourself there anytime of the day. During the daytime, you can visit some Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhist temples and do some shopping at Sampheng Market. At night you can enjoy some street food, especially seafood. T&K Seafood is the best eatery in the area.
9. The Victory Monument
The Victory Monument is truly the heart of Bangkok (not in terms of its location but the life of the residents). Every road from all over the country seems to come to and end at this monument. It's a convenient place to start your journey to everywhere because it has all means of transportation here. You can take an airport-link straight here from the airport. You can take a bus and sky-train to everywhere in the city from here. You can also take a minivan to almost everywhere outside of the city. Whenever Nathan and I visit Thailand, we like to rent an apartment or stay at a hotel located around the Victory Monument because it has everything we want here: shops, restaurants, hospitals, movie theaters, and many more.
10. Chatuchak Market
All Bangkok people know or have been to Chatuchak Market. It's always crowded there on weekends when locals and tourists do their shopping. You can find ANYTHING there! You can spend the entire day walking around this biggest market and getting lost in hundred of aisles of shops. Beware of pick-pockets or petty thieves there though.
