The Must-See Place: The Grand Palace and other Bangkok, Thailand Things to Do Tips

Go see the Grand Palace in the historic Rattanakosin area of Bangkok, next to the Chao Phraya river. It's quite stunning! The architecture is a great mix of Thai and European styles, and if you can only see one sight in Bangkok, this should be it. The lovely Temple of the Emerald Buddha is in the same complex - don't forget to allow enough time there too.

It's open everyday between 8.30am and 3.30pm; there's an entry fee of 200 baht, but you can get into Vimanmek Teak Palace on the same ticket. Although the royal family no longer lives here, it's still considered a Royal Palace and you'll need to dress respectfully; no sandals, shorts or bare shoulders.

The main entrance is on Thanon Na Phra Lang (Thanon = street), on the north side near Sanam Luang. Beware the nearby touts and tuk-tuk drivers who may tell you that it's closed - normally this is a scam to try and get you go to a gem or gift shop shop where they will get a commission.

There are some more pictures of this wonderful place in my travelogue.

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Address: Thanon Na Phra Lan, Bangkok
Directions: Right in the middle of the "old town", just south of Sanam Luang. The nearest pier on the river is Tha Chang.
Website: http://www.palaces.thai.net/gp/

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) is an interesting place as its style is quite different to other temples, making it a real Bangkok landmark. While you can get a good view of it from the river, it's well worth viewing close up as there are lots of details to see.

It's quite a peaceful place as well, partly because it's on the other side of the river from the Grand Palace. You can get here easily by ferry (a bargain 2 baht!) from the Tha Tien pier on the river.

Open from 7am until 6pm daily, and there's a 20 baht entry fee.

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Phone: 02-8911149
Address: Tha Tien Pier, Chao Phraya River
Directions: From this pier take a cross river ferry (2 baht) to Wat Arun.
Website: www.watarun.org/index_en.html

Visit Jim Thompson's house for a little flavour of old Thailand in the heart of Bangkok. Jim Thompson was an expat American who did a lot for the Thai silk-producing industry. He disappeared in mysterious circumstances in Malaysia, but his business is still going (there's an outlet in the World Trade Centre), and his lovely old-fashioned teak house he had constructed is now a tourist attraction. They take you round fairly quickly on the (mandatory) guided tour, but you can linger in the small but pleasant garden afterwards, and look at some of the artwork on show in the former servants' quarters. There's also now a pleasant but pricey cafe and gift shop (selling Jim Thompson silk) in a new building next to the house - there's no pressure to visit this or buy anything, though.

The entry fee is 100 baht, and it opens at 9am with the last guided tour at 4.30pm.

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Address: 6 Soi Kasem san 2, Rama I Road
Directions: It's opposite the National Stadium (and an easy walk from the MBK shopping centre).
Website: http://www.jimthompsonhouse.com/visitor/index.html

Once you've seen the Grand Palace and a few of the major temples, what to do next? A good option is to check out some Thai history at the National Museum. There's a good (if slightly sanitised) summary of this in the gallery closest to the ticket office. The rest of the galleries are full of interesting artefacts including several royal funeral chariots.

There's an entry fee of 50 baht and hours are 9am-4pm, although it's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

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Phone: 02-224-1333
Address: Thanon Na Phra That, Phra Nakorn District, Bangkok
Directions: A short walk north along Sanam Luang from the Grand Palace. It's right next to Sanam Luang on the northwestern corner.
Website: www.thailandmuseum.com

The City Pillar Shrine (Lak Muang) is just at the north-east corner of the Grand Palace, and while it may not look like that much as you approach from the outside, it's definitely worth a visit.

There's a lot more to see once you get through the gate - as well as the lovely shrine itself (pictured) which actually contains 2 wooden pillars, the surrounding garden is beautifully manicured. You'll get some nice glimpses of the Grand Palace, and the place has a steady stream of people making offerings. You might also see some Thai dancing - some of the worshippers pay for classical Thai dances to be performed here.

There's a good page on this shrine at the excellent Thailand Guidebook website.

It's open daily from 5.30am (before sunrise!) until 7.30pm. There's no entry fee, but donations are of course welcome.

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Directions: Just outside of the walls of the Grand Palace, on its north-eastern corner.

Next door to the Grand Palace on its eastern side is the Thai Ministry of Defence. While you can't go into the rather grand building for a look around, you can stop for a while and take a look at the antique cannons lined up outside on the lawn - stay off the grass, though!

If you're heading to the City Pillar Shrine, you'll come right past here.

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Directions: Opposite the east wall of the Grand Palace.

You may be feeling all templed-out before you get here, but try to get here, if you can, as this temple is a little bit different. As its popular name suggests, it's made of marble, which gives it an unusual, but very attractive look., and the grounds are pretty too, so you'll want to linger a bit once you're here. It's very photogenic, so bring your camera!

Wat Benchamabophit was built in King Chulalongkorn's reign in the early 20th century (the King's statue is just around the corner). If you're interested in Buddha statues, they have an excellent collection here from all around Thailand.

As ever, there are some great pictures of this place at the Thailand Guidebook website.

It's open every day from 8am to 5.30, and admission is 20 baht. It's a slightly out-of-the-way place; I got here by taking a tuk-tuk from near the Grand Palace (agree the price first if you do this, and make sure that's the *only* place the driver's going to take you), and hailed a taxi to take me back to the Skytrain at Siam Centre.

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Address: Si Ayutthaya Road, Bangkok
Directions: Near Chitralada Palace, just south of Dusit Zoo.

If you're in the vicinity of the Marble Temple, it's worth walking the short distance around the corner to see the attractive equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn (also known as King Rama V).

King Chulalongkorn was a great reforming monarch and was responsible for much of the modernisation that took place in Thailand during his long reign from 1868 to 1910. There's a great webpage about the King on the website of the university that bears his name:

http://www.chula.ac.th/cuweb_en/history/dist/rama_v_en.html

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Address: Thanon U-Thong, Dusit
Directions: Northwest of Wat Benchamabophit.

Walking in Bangkok during the day is normally only for the very enthusiastic and requires dodging in and out of air-conditioned establishments, but this stroll through Chinatown is something most people should be able to cope with. It's in the shade almost all the way along, but it is quite crowded, so keep your valuables close!

Sampeng Lane runs right through Chinatown and is a narrow little lane crowded with shopfronts and stalls. Most people are on foot, although you will encounter the odd motorbike slowly working its way along. Unless you're keen on fabrics you might not buy anything here, but it is a very atmospheric place and quite different to the rest of inner-city Bangkok. Once you've finished strolling, you could take a tuk-tuk to the next place, you'll probably need a sit-down!

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Directions: Take the river express boat to Ratchawong Pier, and walk up.

This lovely park is a nice place to come and relax; like all the parks in Bangkok it's usually best to get here first thing in the morning, when it's not too hot. The park is right on Sukhumvit, and is adjacent to the Emporium shopping mall. It's a well kept place, and you can pass the time looking at the sculptures and monuments dotted around.

It's free to enter, and open from 5am until 8pm.

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Directions: Between the Emporium and the Queen's Park Hotel on Sukhumvit - if you're coming by Skytrain, get off at Phrom Phong station.