Bangkok is such a vibrant city full of interesting things to do. I’ve been to Bangkok a few times now. The first time was back in 2017. It was my first stop on my solo trip in Asia and my first time ever traveling solo. Later, I flew in and out of Bangkok quickly without much time to see things. But this year, I went back with my husband and mom and we spent a few days checking off all the best things to do in Bangkok. Here’s the ones we loved the most.
Wat Pho
For a cultural experience, Wat Pho is one of the most beautiful temples in the city. The compound has a massage parlor, Thai medicine school, museum about Thai massage, as well as tons of gorgeous stupas to look at. It’s most famous for housing a 46m long reclining Buddha. (That’s 150 feet for my American readers.) The original date it was built is unknown, however, it is believed that some part of it was built in 1688. But it’s possible it may even predate that. In the 1700’s the capital of Thailand was moved to Bangkok and the Grand Palace was built near Wat Pho. In the late 1700’s the temple was renovated by King Rama I. It was renovated again in the 1800’s by King Rama III. Today, it’s maintained beautifully and is recognized by the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
Tuk-tuk Ride
Riding in a tuk-tuk is a rite of passage. The experience of finding a tuk-tuk, negotiating, and then flying around the city so fast that you think you might fly out the side of the vehicle on sharp turns is a special experience unique to Thailand. I highly recommend getting a tuk-tuk at night. Some of them have neon lights and music so that it feels like a mini party while you travel. Hop in, hang on tight, and enjoy the ride!
Chinatown Night Market
I absolutely love night markets! I hate going to restaurants and picking only one meal to eat. Night markets are perfect for trying a ton of different things all at once for a reasonable price. What I loved most about the Chinatown market was that you could see which lines had a lot of local people on them. We would hop on lines not even knowing what was being sold, and we would watch the people in front of us order and copy them. We got to try a few unique items including some kind of bun filled with jelly. I have no idea what it was called, but it had one of the longest lines in the market.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
The Chatuchak Weekend Market was a fun way to go shopping for souvenirs. Unfortunately, we went on the first day of our trip, because we would be returning to Bangkok on a weekday when the market was closed. If you can, plan your trip to end on a weekend so you can go shopping before leaving. We didn’t want to buy too much the first day, and I incorrectly assumed we could buy the same items everywhere in Thailand. Chatuchak had a great mix of items including some nicer and higher quality pieces that I loved. We weren’t able to find them anywhere else in Thailand. While the cheaper items were available most places, the mid to higher range items, I recommend buying when you see them.
Mae Klong Railway Market
The Mae Klong Railway Market is what some might consider a “tourist trap,” but it was still cool to witness. We had finished all of our shopping by the time we got there, but we did enjoy grabbing some fresh juices, walking around, and doing a little bit of last-minute shopping. The interesting part of this market is that a railway train cuts right through the market. It goes extremely slow because the market has gained so much attention that the tracks are packed with people taking videos as it passes, but it’s still fun. What’s cool about this market is that it existed before the train track was built. Instead of relocating in 1905 when the track was constructed, people just continued to set up their stalls and move them out of the way every time the train passed.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
The floating market is another area that some people label as a “tourist trap,” but again, I found it to be a ton of fun. How often do you get to shop along a canal by boat? Floating markets date back to the 1300’s in Thailand. These canals were an easy way for locals to sell their goods and trade. In the 1970’s, Thailand started to promote the floating markets to tourists and it became a hit for souvenir shopping. The first market to be promoted was Damnoen Saduak Floating Market which is now visited mostly by tourists. You can have lunch there, do some shopping, and just enjoy a relaxing boat ride. There are other floating markets, but this is one of the most popular.
Pro Tip: I recommend booking a tour which includes everything. We hired a taxi and had to negotiate so much that it almost ruined the experience. The first boat launch acted like they owned the whole market. They told us it was $100 for a one-hour ride and if we didn’t go with them, we couldn’t enter. I almost started crying because we had already taken a taxi all the way there and our taxi driver insisted there was no other way in. Finally, he took us to the next boat launch where they charged $26 for the same one-hour ride.
The Golden Mount
The Golden Mount is a temple located on top of a small hill inside the city. It’s a steep climb of stairs (around 300 steps) to get to the top, but it offers a beautiful 360 degree view and the sounds of hundreds of wind chimes singing in the wind. This temple dates back to the 1300’s, however, it was destroyed and rebuilt after collapsing. It was completed in the 1800’s by King Rama V.
Thai Massage
If you’re in Thailand, you have to try a Thai massage. I find that most massages around the world are similar, but Thai massage (also known as Nuad Thai) focuses on pressure points and stretches. It was founded over 2,000 years ago along with Buddhism. Most places charge around $10 USD an hour for a massage. Unlike other massages, you leave your clothes on and often have a shared room with just curtains in between. I always have to ask for a soft massage because otherwise it’s too intense for me. Overall, this is my favorite type of massage, and I leave feeling like I somehow got a new body. In Bangkok, we went to Chingcha Thai Massage. It’s a basic place, but they gave a great massage for a good price!
The Original Pad Thai
We ended up staying in a hotel that happened to be next to the oldest Pad Thai restaurant in Thailand. Every day when we walked by, there was a long line. One night we decided to try the place not even realizing that they pretty much invented what we know today as pad thai in 1938. During World War II there was a rice shortage and the government encouraged people to eat noodles and use local ingredients. Thipsamai was the first restaurant to make pad thai using shrimp oil and wrapping it in an egg. This gave it a unique flavor that became popular and is now one of the most popular and well-known Thai dishes in the world. Thipsamai is often considered the best pad thai in town.
Day Trip to Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya is the old capital of Thailand. You can take a local railway one hour north to get there. The train experience itself is an adventure, but the town is so unique compared to Bangkok. While Bangkok is modern, Ayutthaya is ancient. It’s like visiting the ruins of Athens, Greece or Rome, Italy. This little city gives a look back at the historic temples and ruins that remain to this day. The city was founded in the 13th century and remained the capital until the 18th century. A day trip here is a truly unique way to explore Thailand’s past.
Have any questions about the best things to do in Bangkok? Ask in the comments.
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Michelle Della Giovanna
Writer at Full Time Explorer
I’m just your average New Yorker who quit her job in the fashion industry to explore the world. Come find out what it’s like to trade in five-inch heels for squat toilets.
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