A visit to Bangkok will leave an indelible impression on every tourist. This city is an explosive mix of traditional Asian culture and global cosmopolitanism, the blatant poverty of the Chao Phraya slum dwellers and the obscene luxury of business districts.
Many foreigners consider Bangkok to be the quintessence of the spirit of a real Asian metropolis: noisy, stupefyingly hot, fast-paced, relaxed and sometimes obscenely exotic. On the one hand, there is the magnificent architecture of the majestic Buddhist temples, on the other, the orgy of Khaosanroad, and on the third, a real gastronomic feast.
The Thai capital is worth seeing at least once to try to understand the mysterious people inhabiting the once mighty Siam. It is not for nothing that this state has never been under colonial yoke.
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What to see and where to go in Bangkok?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Royal Palace in Bangkok
The main attractions of the Thai capital, which previously served as the residence of the kings. The complex was built at the end of the 18th century under Rama I, when the capital was moved to Bangkok. The plan of the Royal Palace was modeled on the residence in the ancient capital of Siam - Ayutthaya. On a large territory of the palace complex, there are quaint temples, galleries decorated with heroes of the Thai epic, and administrative buildings.
Vimanmek Palace
Built entirely of pinkish teak wood (no nails were used), the structure is considered the largest wooden structure in the world. The palace was erected for King Rama I. Translated from Thai "Vimanmek" means "heavenly palace". The architecture is close to the English Victorian style. Initially, the palace was located on the island of Sichagn, but was moved to Bangkok.
Ananta Samahom
Renaissance and neoclassical mansion, built in 1915 by Italian architects. Previously, Ananta Samahom served as the royal throne room, now it houses a museum dedicated to Thai arts and crafts. The facade of the building looks elegant and at the same time simple, many marble elements were used in the decoration of the walls, this gives it a resemblance to European palaces.
Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phrakeu)
The main Buddhist temple in Thailand, located in the heart of Bangkok next to the Royal Palace. The complex was built in the period 1782-1785. The main shrine of the temple and at the same time a popular tourist attraction is the jade statue of Buddha, which is associated with many legends. According to one version, the statue was created in heaven and lowered to earth with the help of the heavenly king.
Sunrise Temple (Wat Arun)
Temple of the mid-19th century, built during the reign of Chesadabodindra. A 79-meter pagoda of the temple rises above the Chao Phraya River, the walls are decorated with ceramic tiles and porcelain trim (fragments of dishes). Steps lead to the top of the pagoda, symbolizing the difficulty of the righteous path of knowledge. The sun's rays are reflected from the porcelain surface of the walls and from afar it seems that Wat Arun sparkles with "divine light".
Temple of the Golden Buddha (Wat Traimit)
A traditional Buddhist temple that houses the world's largest Buddha statue made of gold (according to the Thais themselves). The statue weighs five tons and reaches three meters in height. Researchers claim that the Golden Buddha is almost 700 years old. There are many interesting stories associated with the statue. During the Burmese attack on Thailand, she was hidden under a layer of plaster, and then lost. Only thanks to an accidentally broken piece of alabaster, the Golden Buddha returned to his place.
Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho)
One of the oldest temples in Thailand. From XII to XVIII centuries. at this place there was a Buddhist monastery. Under King Rama I, it was significantly rebuilt and expanded, and by the will of His Majesty, a stupa 41 meters in height was erected. Today, there are 95 stupas on the territory of the temple. The reclining Buddha is the largest statue of this god in the world. In length, it reaches 95 meters in height - 15 meters.
Temple of Wat Ratchanadda
The building of the temple was built of metal, therefore it is often called the "iron temple". The building was erected in the 20th century in honor of Princess Wadhanavadi (granddaughter of the then reigning king). Wat Ratchanadda is built in the classic Ceylon architectural style. The temple pagoda contains 37 sharp spiers that embody virtues - the steps on the path to the highest Buddhist enlightenment.
Temple Wat Suthat
The temple was built at the beginning of the 19th century, it is located in the historical part of Bangkok on the island of Rattanakosin. The interior painting of the building reflects typical Buddhist ideas about the structure of the universe. There are 156 Buddha statues installed along the walls of the temple, inside there is an 8-meter bronze statue of the god. There is a giant teak swing near the temple, on which people swing during the ceremony in honor of the harvest in the hope of getting a bag of coins. Due to the risk of injury, this ritual was canceled in 1932.
Golden Mountain (Wat Saket)
The building of the temple rises 70 meters above the city, so from here you can see a picturesque panorama of the Thai capital. The temple complex Wat Saket is located on a fairly large area, the buildings are surrounded by a green park. There are multi-colored statues scattered along the road for visitors. Especially for people tired of the tedious climb to the temple, benches and cozy platforms are located at different levels of the staircase.
Marble Temple (Wat Benchamabophit)
As the name suggests, the temple is entirely built of marble, which is quite rare in Thailand. The expensive material was specially imported from Italy. The building was erected at the end of the 19th century during the reign of Rama V, and his ashes are also buried here. Around the building, there is a park with a river and a pond, where you can enjoy the peace and tranquility of the surroundings.
Bangkok National Museum
The museum is located near the Royal Palace complex in the central part of Bangkok. The building was erected at the end of the 18th century. On the territory of the museum there is a royal chapel and a religious statue of Buddha Sihing. Having studied the collection, one can get acquainted with the history of Siam, the complex and exotic cultural traditions of the Thai nation, and comprehend the worldview foundations of the traditional peoples of Southeast Asia.
Jim Thompson House Museum
Museum created on the basis of the collection of the connoisseur of South-East Asian art D. Thompson. Here are collected exhibits from Burma, Cambodia, Laos, China and Thailand. Thompson collected his collection in the 50-60s. XX century. The building itself is an example of traditional Siam architecture. For some unknown reason, the collector disappeared during one of his travels, and his home was given over to a museum.
Royal Barge Museum
The museum collection consists of 8 traditional Thai boats completely carved from a teak trunk. Each vessel is richly decorated with intricate carvings, lush decor, and expensive decorative elements. Boats are rarely used for special royal ceremonies. They can stay at anchor for months and wait in the wings. The largest barge "Suppanahong" is 46 meters long.
Erawan Museum
The building of the museum is a figure of a huge elephant with three heads.Erawan was founded in 1967 with the aim of preserving the cultural heritage of the Thais. The main goals pursued by the founder L. Veriapan are: to acquaint the general public with the values of local culture, to include the museum collection in the World Heritage of Humanity Fund, to engage in educational work among the younger generation.
Bangkok Art and Cultural Center
Museum of Contemporary Art, opened in 2008. The main goal of the cultural center is to develop current trends in art, support progressive masters, and ensure a constructive dialogue between traditional and modern culture. The works of both Thai and foreign masters are used to organize permanent exhibitions. The museum was founded with the participation of the Bangkok city government.
Khaosan Road
Perhaps the most famous and crowded street in the capital of Thailand. Here, 24 hours a day, a motley crowd of tourists from all over the world is noisy, who try street food, choose souvenirs or visit massage parlors. Khaosan Road is popular with backpacker tourists, as it is possible to rent very inexpensive accommodation here. The street rose to prominence in 1982 after celebrating Bangkok's 200th anniversary.
Chinatown
One of the most "hot" areas of Bangkok with numerous restaurants, Chinese shops, shops, alternative medicine rooms and other establishments. Tourists come here in search of adventure and exoticism. A real extravaganza begins here on the days of traditional Chinese holidays - the entire quarter is decorated with garlands, and festive processions take place along the streets.
Chatuchak Market
The main market in Bangkok with a huge assortment of various exotic goods at quite affordable prices. On some days, the number of buyers, sellers and ordinary onlookers in the market reaches 200 thousand people. Here you can buy rare ivory and silk products, any gadgets, clothes, jewelry, groceries, souvenirs and almost any household goods.
Bayyoke Tower 2
The skyscraper is 302 meters high with an observation deck and a restaurant. From a height of 84 floors, a panoramic view of the entire city opens; in clear weather, you can even see the distant Gulf of Thailand. The building was completed in 1997. The first 12 floors are occupied by parking, the hotel is located above. The easiest and most inexpensive way to get upstairs is to pay for a visit to the observation deck.
State tower
Skyscraper in the business district of Bangkok, built in 2001 by the architect Rangsan Torsuwan. It reaches a height of 247 meters and consists of 68 floors. The building is adorned with architectural delights in the form of neoclassical balconies and a gilded dome. Inside there are apartments, a hotel, offices and commercial premises. There is an open air restaurant on the 64th floor.
Central World Plaza
An imposing eight-story mall, a shopping paradise. The total area of retail premises is 550 thousand m2. On the territory of the shopping center there are more than 300 stores with a wide variety of goods. On the top floors there is an entertainment center with Asian restaurants, fast food stalls, a 4D cinema and an ice palace.
Siam Paragon
Siam Paragon is considered the largest shopping and entertainment center in Southeast Asia. In addition to a myriad of shops, there is a huge gastronomic market, a cinema with 15 rooms, its own aquarium, an art gallery, a concert hall, a karaoke club and a bowling club. The parking lot of the shopping center is designed for the simultaneous placement of 4 thousand cars.
Lumpini Park
A green massif, spread over an area of 56 hectares, right in the middle of a bustling metropolis. It is perfect for sports, quiet walks, family vacations, picnics. Residents and guests of Bangkok enjoy spending their free time in the park and taking a break from the exhausting heat and bustle of the capital. There are two ponds in the park, so if you want you can rent a boat and take a boat trip.
Dusit Zoo
The city zoo occupies a small area of 18 hectares, it is located almost in the center of Bangkok. The local reservoir is home to turtles, large monitor lizards and schools of fish. Dusit is the oldest zoo in Thailand. Some animals are housed in open enclosures, but most of the inhabitants are kept in cages. Sometimes it can be difficult to see an animal through thick bars.
Siam Ocean World Aquarium
The largest oceanarium in Southeast Asia, located in the Siam Paragon shopping center. The aquarium is divided into seven zones, in which various types of marine life are placed: fish, moray eels, molluscs, corals and other representatives of the marine fauna. The main Siam Ocean World aquarium is 6 meters high and has a tropical coral reef ecosystem inside.
Muang Boran Park
Park and open-air museum, located 32 km. from Bangkok. On its territory there are more than 100 buildings belonging to different historical eras. A small part of the houses were brought from remote regions of Thailand, the rest of the buildings are exact copies of historical buildings. There is also a group of structures created by Thai architects and sculptors.
Safari World Theme Park
A fun park for the whole family with a variety of animal performances. Here you can watch the performance of sea lions, dolphins, shows of trained monkeys and parrots. There are several performances throughout the day. You can also feed giraffes in the park for a small fee. One of the popular attractions is a boat ride through an impromptu wild jungle.
Dream World amusement park
Thai "Disneyland", where the characters from fairy tales and cartoons loved by children live. You need to come here with the whole family for the whole day in order to have time to see as much as possible. The park is divided into four thematic zones. The first contains miniatures of world sights, the second recreates a fairy-tale garden, the third and fourth contain numerous attractions.
Chao Phraya river
The main waterway of Bangkok, along which you can get to all the main attractions of the capital. The length of the main channel of the river is 372 km. It flows through several Thai cities, including the ancient capital of Ayutthaya. Chao Phraya is constantly operated by city ferries and pleasure boats for tourists. In the evening rush hour, for many Thais, the waterway remains the only accessible way to somehow get home.
