Top Cultural Sights in Bangkok

[Globe Hunters]

With spectacular architecture, sprawling markets and engaging museums dotted throughout the city Bangkok has plenty to maintain visitors occupied during the day before its renowned nightlife gets underway. The majestic Grand Palace and the long-lasting Wat Arun are amongst the most photographed landmarks in South East Asia and offer an interesting introduction to the Far East for the hundreds of tourists reserving cheap Bangkok Flights every year.

Temples & Palaces

Lots of Bangkok’s most well-known architectural sights lie in and across the winding Chao Praya River in the Old Town area of the city. These are inside straightforward reach of common backpacking hang-out Khao San Road and properly linked to different areas of the city by water taxi.

Wat Arun

The 5 spires of Wat Arun (aka the Temple of Dawn - pictured above) tower over the adjoining river; an image which takes delight of place in lots of a holiday photo album. The temple consists of 4 intricately decorated and slim spires that surround a taller central spire. This taller spire might be scaled utilizing the steep flight of stairs carved into the stone.

Wat Arun looks particularly spectacular at sunset though the quietest time to visit is early within the morning from 8.30 am onwards however earlier than the crowds arrive.

The Grand Palace

Arguably the should-see sight of a trip to Bangkok, The Grand Palace (major image) was xconstructed in 1782 and was residence to the Thai king for one hundred fifty years. Nowadays the palace is a popular traveller attraction that houses the majestic Emerald Buddha, a statue carved from an enormous block of jade that dates again to 15th century AD. Only the king of Thailand can touch the statue, which is testament to its revered status. It’s housed within the Wat Phra Kaew - essentially the most revered Buddhist temple in Thailand.

Wat Sacket

Wat Saket (aka the Golden Mount) combines distinctive architecture with panoramic views over the city. It’s a 300 step climb to the top of the overgrown man-made hill that sprouts incongruously from the encircling concrete, but the view is definitely well worth the climb to look out over the city.

November is a particularly fascinating time to visit Wat Saket when it hosts a traditional temple fair and an annual Buddha worshipping ceremony. Crowds of worshippers gather to the temple throughout this period and it’s ideal to go to during the day.

Wat Pho

Simply 10 minutes from The Grand Palace is Wat Pho - a soothing temple on the banks of the Chao Praya River. The golden reclining Buddha statue is the centrepiece of Wat Pho which stands at 15 metres tall. It can be an ideal place to enjoy a conventional Thai massage - a extra intense take on the stress-free western version.

Markets

The considered markets in Thailand conjures up images of boats gently floating alongside narrow canals selling contemporary produce. While a number of the greatest-recognized floating markets require a day trip from Bangkok there are some attention-grabbing markets to go to throughout the city itself.

Chatuchak Market

This vast 35 acre market provides over 9,000 market stalls every weekend and sells pretty much anything you can imagine. It’s divided into 27 sections with a large walkway circling the outside of the market and numbered alleyways to assist newcomers discover their method around.

Anyone ready to haggle can depart Chatuchak with a number of fantastic bargains. The market will get particularly hot during the hotter months of April and May so it’s a good suggestion to reach early and bargain hunt before it warms up.

Bang Nam Pheung

Tucked away in a horseshoe of the Chao Praya River, the Bang Nam Pheung market is full of all sorts of interesting native produce - the fascinating array of exotic fruit might be an eye-opener for anyone new to Asia.

Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market

This has the attraction of a small localised market and isn’t as touristy as a few of the more frequented floating markets that encompass the city. A lot of the market is stationed on land however there's a choice of small boats that float alongside, cooking-up delicious Thai food.

Museums

Jim Thomson’s House

Anybody that’s trying to delve a bit deeper into Thai tradition should pay a visit to one of Bangkok’s fascinating museums.

Jim Thompson’s House is actually an unlikely name for a tourist attraction however this former of home of a US expat homes a formidable collection of artefacts, historic wall hangings and other fascinating objects.

The Museum of Siam is an interactive narration of Thai identity. There are lots of interactive activities to keep both kids and adults entertained, like excavating a mock archaeology site and shooting historical weapons. Bangkok National Museum is more traditional fare, housing relics from 100s of years of Thai history including decorative royal chariots.

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