1. Wat Pho
Located immediately south of the Grand Palace precinct, Wat Pho makes an excellent addition to your palace tour, provided your feet are up for more walking.
The temple was built by King Rama I and is the oldest in Bangkok. It has long been considered a place of healing, and was famous centuries ago for its pharmacy and as Thailand's first "university"-both established by King Rama III. You can get a Thai or foot massage at the traditional medical school on the premises, but the prices are significantly higher than what you will find at massage parlors elsewhere in the city.
Today Wat Pho is best known for the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, where you'll find a statue so big (45 meters long and 15 meters high), it cannot be viewed in its entirety but only appreciated in sections. The soles of the feet, inlaid with a myriad of precious stones, are particularly beautiful. Look also for the long earlobes signifying noble birth, and the lotus-bud configuration of the hand to symbolize purity and beauty.
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2. Wat Arun
Wat Arun is something of a triumphant complex, dating back to the time of ancient battles between the former Siam and Burma. Having fallen to the Burmese, Ayutthaya was reduced to rubble and ashes, but General Taksin and the remaining survivors vowed to march "until the sun rose again" and to build a temple here. Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn, was that temple. It is where the new king later built his royal palace and a private chapel.
If you climb to the top of the prang just before sunset, you will be rewarded with an unforgettable view as the sun sinks over the Chao Praya River. Even if you don't plan on doing any climbing, sunset is really the time to take in this place in all its glory.
Address: Arun Amarin Road, Bangkok
3. Wat Traimit, Temple of the Golden Buddha
Sheer luck (or lack thereof) makes this attraction special. During the 1950s, the East Asiatic Company purchased the land around the temple.
A condition of the sale was the removal of a plaster statue of Buddha, but the statue proved too heavy for the crane being used. The cable parted and the figure was dropped, being left overnight where it fell. It happened to be in the rainy season, and when next morning some monks walked past, they noticed a glint of gold shining through the plaster. The coating was removed, revealing a 3.5-meter Buddha cast from 5.5 tons of solid gold.
All attempts to trace the origin of this priceless statue have so far failed, but it is assumed to date from the Sukhothai period, when marauding invaders threatened the country and its treasures, and it became common practice to conceal valuable Buddha figures beneath a coating of plaster. No one knows how it came to Bangkok, but here it stands, available for the admiration of visitors from all over the world.
4. Wat Suthat
Wat Suthat, adjacent to the Great Swing, is one of the oldest and most beautiful of Bangkok's Buddhist temples. Three kings had a hand in its construction: it was begun soon after the coronation of Rama I (founder of the Chakri dynasty) in 1782, continued by Rama II, and completed 10 years later by Rama III.
Apart from its delightful architecture, the temple boasts some exceptionally interesting wall paintings. Wat Suthat is less popular than some of the other temple complexes in the city, so you'll enjoy a more peaceful and intimate experience here.
Address: Bamrung Muang Road, Sao Chingcha, Phra Nakhon
9. Shop by Boat at the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
For an even more interesting market experience, you can arrange a tour to Damnoen Saduak, a famous floating market located in Ratchaburi (about 1.5 hours outside Bangkok). The popularity of floating markets once earned Bangkok the nickname "Venice of the East."
Keep in mind that floating markets are now highly touristic enterprises, so don't expect an exclusive morning of shopping by boat-but you will be able to buy fresh and delicious foods and interact with locals in an authentic way.
The best way to reach the market is to join a tour such as the Floating Markets Cruise Day Trip from Bangkok, which takes about six hours and includes pickup right from your hotel and transport in an air-conditioned coach.
10. Discover Khao San Road
This is Bangkok's infamous backpacker district, a neighborhood jam-packed with guesthouses, food vendors, clothing stalls, and travelers from every corner of the globe. You'll need to tap into your patience when hanging out here, because while it is colorful and exciting in its own way, the crowds and scents and blaring music can test even the calmest soul.
All that said, Khao San Road is also a great place to pick up a few pairs of baggy fisherman pants, the perennial staple of every backpacker's wardrobe when trekking through Thailand; browse the treasures in a used bookstore; and dig into some delicious Indian food from a neighborhood restaurant.
11. Jim Thompson House
The historic home of a "self-made American entrepreneur" who disappeared while traveling in Malaysia now stands as a relic of an older time in Bangkok. Jim Thompson settled in Thailand after spending time there as a serviceman around the end of WWII and quickly became a well-known name in the Thai silk industry.
Thompson was awarded the Order of the White Elephant, an important honor given to foreigners who have made significant contributions to Thailand. Thompson's home has been turned into a museum offering insights into his life and business, as well as the history of the city and the Thai silk industry.
Address: 6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road, Bangkok
12. Walk around Lumpini Park
Lumpini Park provides visitors with a green oasis amid the traffic and chaos of Bangkok. Hang out on one of several lawn areas, enjoy the shade of a Chinese pagoda, or take a boat out on the lake. Lumpini Park is a great place to spend an afternoon enjoying the contrast of the tranquil park with the skyscrapers rising all around it.
Note that the park has been the site of anti-government protests that have occasionally turned violent in the past, so be sure to check on the current political situation before visiting. Keep an eye out for the massive Asian water monitors as well-they can often be found taking a stroll around the lake.
Location: Rama IV Road, between Ratchadamri and Witthayu (Wireless) roads
13. Shop at Terminal 21
Don't let the airport-like name fool you - this shopping mall is one of the best places to visit in Bangkok if you're looking for a mix of local and international brands, as well as plenty of unique buys.
Terminal 21 is unique in more ways than one-even by Thailand's shopping standards. Every floor of the mall has been themed to a different international city. Enter at the level of the BTS station and you'll be in Paris; go up a floor and it's Tokyo; another floor and you're staring at the iconic red phone booths of London. The Caribbean, San Francisco, and Istanbul also figure into the design theme.
Other malls of note include the high-end Siam Paragon, and adjacent Siam Discovery, which has more moderately priced chains, fun cafés, and the super luxurious Virgin Active Siam Discovery, self-dubbed "the largest gym in Southeast Asia"-here, visitors can rock climb, try anti-gravity yoga, or visit the unique "Sleep Pod" rooms for the ultimate in relaxation.
14. Experience Street Food Stalls
To really experience Bangkok, you have to try the local cuisine. You haven't really "done" the city without chowing down on grilled meats and fish, spicy noodles, fresh fruit, and curries. If you think you know Thai food, you're in for a surprise-whatever you've tried before is nothing like the dishes you'll find here.
You'll have no trouble at all finding vendors to tempt you with treats all around Bangkok and help you live through a quintessential Thailand experience, tucking into a delicious (if mysterious) meal, surrounded by the chaos and heat of the city.
Surprisingly, some of the best street food in Bangkok is on Khao San Road - both in the little stalls lining up the street and in the small shacks and restaurants just off the main road selling pad Thai, pad see ew, and mango sticky rice.
15. Take a River Cruise
