Bangkok Things to Do Tips by Rodan44

The most popular attraction in the city, and it's not hard to see why. The Grand Palace complex is a city within the city, and contains the most stunning architecture and sacred monuments in the whole kingdom.

Wat Phra Kaeo is a dazzaling array of brightly colored temples and stupas and contains the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred icon in Thailand (actually made of green jade). The adjoining Grand Palace contains distinctively more European style palace architecture, although with Thai adornments.

Definite must see for any visitor to Bangkok!

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Phone: 02-224-1833
Address: Maharaj Pier, Chao Phraya, Bangkok
Directions: The combined compound is open 8.30am to 3.30pm everyday. Cost is 200B (if you are Thai, it's free), and includes admission to Vimanmek Mansion and Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall, both in the Dusit area.
Website: http://www.discoverthailand.com/

Wat Pho, also called Wat Phra Chetuphon, is the largest and oldest Wat in Bangkok. The vast complex houses both the largest reclining Buddha (46 meters long and 15 meters high) and the most Buddha images (more than 1000) in Thailand. The temple architecture is some of the finest anywhere and there are several towering ceramic covered chedis (spires).

The giant gold reclining Buddha is definitely the highlight. Its feet and eyes are engraved with mother-of-pearl decoration, and it barely fits into the giant temple that houses it.

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Phone: 02-221-991
Address: Tha Tien Pier, Chao Phraya River, Bangkok
Directions: The entrance to Wat Pho is on Chetuphon road. Entrance is 20B. It's open every day, opening hours are from 08.00am to 5.00pm, with a break from 12.00pm to 1.00pm.
Website: http://www.discoverthailand.com/

Wat Arun is one of the most stunning landmarks in the city and a majestic site from the approach on the Chao Phraya river. It has a large central Khmer-sytle tower surrounded by four smaller towers, all covered with pieces of Chinese porcelain. Although the view of the temple is best from afar, it is also rewarding to climb around the central tower and see it from up close.

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Phone: 02-466-3167
Address: Tha Tien Pier, Chao Phraya River
Directions: From this pier take a cross river ferry to Wat Arun.

Wat Traimit is not particularly impressive as far as Bangkok Wats go, but the real reason to go is to see the famous Golden Buddha. The 3m high Buddha statue is made entirely from 5.5 tons of solid gold, making it the largest solid gold icon in the world.

The Buddha was discovered in 1957 when a large stucco covered Buddha was accidentally dropped while being moved, and the resulting cracks revealed the golden Buddha beneath. It is thought that the Buddha was originally covered hundreds of years ago in order to hide it from the invading Burmese.

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Phone: 623 1226
Address: Thanon Yaowarat
Directions: Near Hualamphong Station, close to intersection of Charoen Krung and Yaowarat road

Next to Wat Saket lies an 80m high man-made hill known as the Golden Mount. A 320 step climb will bring you to the shrine on top which has a large gold chedi. The best reason to go however is for the incredible panoramic view of the city. From this vantage point, you can clearly see the Grand Palace, Dusit, the Chao Phraya, and the commerical district. Definitely worth the climb!

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Phone: 66-2-233 4561
Address: Bus No. 8, 15, 37, 47, 97 Air Con Bus No. 38, 49
Directions: not far from the Grand Palace

Jim Thompson was an American living in Bangkok who became famous for reviving Thailand's silk industry. His elegant and lavish teak home is now a museum open to the public. The house is actually constructed with pieces of smaller Thai teak homes. The house also contains an impressive collection of Asian art and antiques. The gardens surrounding the home are also particularly lovely.

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Address: Rama I Road, Pathumwan District, Bangkok
Directions: National Stadium stop on Skytrain

Vimanmek Palace was originally built in 1868 on Si Chang Island where it was known as the Mantatrattanarojana Palace. Prince Naris disassembled the palace and reassembled it at the present site within the Suan Dusit palace grounds. It then became the royal residence of H.M. King Chulalongkorn, known as King Rama V, from 1901 to 1906. Following the death of King Chulalongkorn in 1910, Vimanmek remained empty until 1982 when it was opened to the public as a national museum.

The mansion is built in a Victorian colonial design and made entirely of teak wood. In fact, it is the largest golden teak wood building in the world. This enormous "L" shaped structure contains some 81 rooms, with 30 or so open to the public. On display are many objects of fine art and various other items of personal significance to the royal family, as well as many original photographs of the royal family.

In a small pavillion on the side of the mansion, traditional Thai dances are held twice daily for visitors. The dances are free to watch, but you must pay a small fee to use a camera. No photographs are allowed inside the mansion itself.

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Address: Rajavithi Road, Dusit
Directions: Behind Bangkok's National Assembly. It is open between 9am and 4pm. The dances are performed twice daily at 10:30am and at 2pm. Entrance fee is 50 Baht for adults.
Website: http://www.gothailand.com/bangkok/thingstodo/vimanmek.htm

Wat Intharawihan (also spelled Wat Indravihan) is known for its impressive 32 meter high standing Buddha image, called Luang Pho To. This towering statue was constructed during the reign of King Rama IV, and the topknot of the image contains relics of the Lord Buddha brought from Sri Lanka.

Relatively few tourists venture out here, which is a plus. Visiting in the morning is best, as this is when the sun will be in front of the Buddha, providing the best light for photographs.

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Phone: 66-(0)2 2817810
Address: Wisut Kasat Road
Directions: Bang Khun Phrom Sub-District, Phra Nakorn District, near by Rama VIII bridge and Bank of Thailand.

On the bank of Bangkok Noi Canal on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River is a large shed that houses the Royal Barge National Museum. Here you will find several of the ornate ceremonial barges used by the royal family for state ceremonies and celebrations. The most important of these is Suphanahong, the King’s personal barge, which was built in 1911 from a single tree and is 46 meters long. It is gilded and covered in intricate carvings, with a pavilion in the center to house the King and his family. Other barges have feature different figureheads on the bow, all taken from Thai mythology, such as Garuda, Naga, and Hanuman.

As impressive as the barges are housed in the museum, they would certainly be all the more spectacular cruising down the Choa Phraya during a ceremony, such as the Royal Kathin ceremony that marks the end of Buddhist Lent in October.

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Address: Bangkok Noi Canal, Thonburi
Directions: Best reached by boat.
Open daily
10 baht admission charge
Website: www.gothailand.com/bangkok/thingstodo/royal-barges.htm

Bangkok has been called "the Venice of the East" due to the many canals, known locally as "klongs", that criss-cross the old city. Most klongs are found west of the city across the Chao Phraya River in Thonburi and to the north in Nonthaburi and Pak Kret. In the old days of Bangkok these canals served as the main routes of transporation in the city. Even today, homes along the klongs each have a small dock on the water. This is also where the famous floating markets sprang up, although then they actually served locals and not just tourists.

To take a private tour of the klongs, simply hire one of the longtail speed boats found at many of the Chao Phraya piers. They will take you thru many small klongs where you feel as though you have gone back in time. There are still many locals who live along the klongs and depend on them daily to reach markets or temples.

During the tour, you can also ask your driver to stop at the Royal Barge National Museum, which is housed in a large shed along one of the main klongs.

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Phone: 622-7657-61 ext. 111
Directions: The Chao Phraya Chartered Co. Ltd. operates a daily tour along Khlong Mon - Khlong Bangkok Noi between 2.30 - 4.30 p.m., leaving the River City Shopping Complex on Charoen Krung Road. Price: 360 Baht per person including fruit and soft drinks.