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Bangkok became Thailand's capital in 1782, when King Rama I founded a new royal city on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. It has since grown into a sprawling metropolis of temples, canals, malls and street food stalls. Its Thai name begins with Krung Thep, often translated as city of angels.
The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha, form the ceremonial heart of the old royal quarter, and next door Wat Pho shelters a huge reclining Buddha and a respected massage school. Across the river, the porcelain-studded spires of Wat Arun are especially striking at sunset. Stairs spiral up the Golden Mount at Wat Saket for city views, and Yaowarat Road in Chinatown comes alive at night with seafood and noodle stalls. Jim Thompson House, a cluster of teak buildings, recalls the American who revived Thai silk. On weekends, the endless stalls of Chatuchak Market reward patient browsers, and Lumphini Park offers green relief. Longtail boats explore the Thonburi canals, and day trips reach Ayutthaya, the ruined former capital.
Bangkok suits travelers who thrive on energy, food and contrast. November to February is the coolest and driest period, while the months before the rains are very hot. The BTS Skytrain, MRT and river boats help beat the traffic, and Riverside, Sukhumvit and Silom are popular bases.
WiserMap travel guideBangkok Thailand Temples Street Food and River BoatsPlan Bangkok: the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun, Chinatown street food, Chatuchak, river boats, the best areas to stay and when to go for cooler weather.Read the guide
The former royal residence, built from 1782, with gilded halls and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Thailand's most sacred image. It is very busy, so arrive at opening time. Shoulders and knees must be covered, and ignore anyone outside who says the palace is closed today.
A large temple complex next to the Grand Palace, home to a gilded reclining Buddha 46 meters long with mother of pearl inlay on its feet. It is also the birthplace of traditional Thai massage, and its massage school offers treatments on site. Visit early in the morning when it is cooler.
The Temple of Dawn stands on the Thonburi bank of the Chao Phraya River, with a tall central prang covered in pieces of colored porcelain. You can climb part way up its steep steps. Cross by a short ferry from Tha Tien pier, and see it lit up from the east bank at sunset.
An artificial hill topped with a golden chedi, reached by about 300 steps past bells, gongs and small shrines. The terrace at the top gives a wide view over the old city. In November a temple fair is held here with candlelit processions. Mornings and late afternoons are the coolest times.
Known as the Marble Temple, it was built in 1899 from Italian Carrara marble under King Chulalongkorn. The ordination hall mixes Thai and European styles, and a gallery behind it holds dozens of Buddha images from across Asia. It is quieter than the riverside temples and near Dusit.
Bangkok's Chinatown is busy with gold shops, Chinese temples and narrow markets like Sampeng Lane. At night Yaowarat Road becomes one of the city's best street food areas, with seafood, noodles and desserts. Wat Traimit, with its solid gold Buddha, is at the western end.
The former home of an American silk merchant who revived the Thai silk industry and disappeared in Malaysia in 1967. Six traditional teak houses hold his collection of Asian art, set in a tropical garden by a canal. Visits are by guided tour, and there is a cafe and silk shop.
One of the largest markets in the world, with thousands of stalls selling clothes, crafts, plants, antiques, pets and food, open on weekends. Grab a map at the clock tower so you do not get lost. Go early before the midday heat, and use the MRT or BTS stations right next to it.
A floating market about 100 km southwest of Bangkok where vendors sell fruit, noodles and souvenirs from small boats on the canals. It is very touristy, and prices are high, but it is colorful. Go early in the morning when the market is most active, and agree on boat prices first.
Bangkok's best-known green space, with a lake, paddle boats, shaded paths and outdoor gyms. Locals jog and do tai chi in the early morning, and large monitor lizards roam the lawns. It is free, and the evening hours are pleasant when the heat drops and aerobics classes start.
Across the river from the old city, Thonburi still has canals lined with wooden stilt houses and temples. Khlong Bang Luang has an artist house with puppet shows, small cafes and craft stalls. Long-tail boat tours leave from piers along the river, so agree on the price before you board.
The ruins of the old Siamese capital, sacked in 1767, about 80 km north of Bangkok and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Brick prangs, chedis and the Buddha head in tree roots at Wat Mahathat are highlights. Reach it by train or minivan, and rent a bicycle or tuk-tuk to get around.
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