Bangkok in Thai is called Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep. In actuality the full name of the city is so long that it’ll take up 3 lines on a piece of paper (163 letters to be exact), so we’ll just stick to the English translation of Krung Thep i.e. ‘City of Angels’.
When we had to come out with a list of the best things to do in Bangkok we were bewildered about what to include and what not to! The city has everything for everybody- countless options to experience luxury and even more to have fun on a budget.
This list is your absolute guide to a short or a long holiday in Bangkok. Get up, pack and fly; thank us later!
1. Watch the Siam Niramit Show
Siam Niramit Grand Theatre hosts an 80 minute show on the Guinness certified ‘World’s Highest Stage’. This show is a one of a kind depiction of several stages of Thai history by over 150 performers. The act is bound to make you go ‘wow’ and surprise you every now and then. There are some unexpected elements like a river being created on the stage and a man diving into it! This perfectly directed and impeccably executed show will keep you glued to your seats for sure.
The show begins at 8 pm every day, before which you can enjoy an appetizing Thai meal. (Served from 5:30-8pm)
The act is a treat for the eyes and should feature high on your list of ‘What to do in Thailand’.
How to reach- Take the metro to Thailand Cultural Centre Exit 1 and access by shuttle bus.
2. Shopping
There are way too many options available in the city to empty your pockets and fill up those extra suitcases. Shopping malls, street markets, floating markets, 24 hour markets, bazaar by the river, flower market etc. Make your list of items and accordingly pick a place to shop because it is humanly impossible to see them all during your short trip.
a) Shopping malls
Siam Paragon Mall in Bangkok
Siam Paragon, MBK, Central World, Platinum Fashion Mall, Pantip Plaza, and Terminal 21 these are some of the best shopping malls in Bangkok. MBK offers all things affordable, Platinum is like an indoor flea market, Terminal 21 transports you to downtown Bangkok and Pantip is the boss of all IT malls! Siam Paragon and Central World are the plush malls with everything from high street fashion to high tech gadgets.
b) Markets
CHATUCHAK WEEKEND MARKET in the night
Bangkok offers you a great street shopping experience. The markets are so huge that it is impossible to cover them all in a few visits. The most popular market is the Chatuchak Weekend Market. It is one of the largest markets in the world with more than 8000 stalls. It’s impossible to name all the types of goods available in this market but some categories would be clothing and accessories, books, antiques and collectibles, handicrafts, ceramics, furniture, home decoration, food and beverages etc. A visit to this market during your trip will not leave you disappointed. Pratunam Market (Thailand’s biggest clothing market), Th Khao San Market, Talat Rot Fai, Talat Mai, Thanon Sukhumvit Market are some of the many markets in Bangkok which you should consider visiting.
How to reach Chatuchak Weekend Market- Take the metro to Kamphaeng Phet
c) Floating Markets
Narrow canals in Bangkok serve as floating markets where sellers use boats as their shops and tourists are paddled to the shops in boats too. The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is the most famous in Bangkok. It was used for shooting some scenes of a Bond film. The boats are piled high with fresh tropical fruits and vegetables, traditional puppets, handbags, bamboo hats and a variety of other stuff. Amphawa Floating Market, Tha Kha, Khlong Lat Mayom, Taling Chan Market are few of the other popular floating markets in Bangkok. Visit at least one of these as a must do when in Thailand.
3. Pampering
This city offers you the best way to rejuvenate yourself after an energetic day of shopping. The streets of Bangkok are lined with massage shops where you can get a good one hour Thai massage for 200 Bahts (on an average). The ground floor has row chairs where you can get a relaxing foot massage, upstairs you can enjoy a proper Thai massage.
Apart from the local massage shops all luxury hotels also offer spa facility. The service is exorbitantly priced but they offer the best treatment in the city. The Dusit Thani Hotel in Silom and Eugenia Spa in Sukhumvit are the popular ones.
4. Visit Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds London has a branch in Bangkok too! This could be your once in a lifetime chance to walk the red carpet with your favourite celebrities (their wax statues I mean). When inside you’ll get the real feel of being around celebrities thanks to the continuous flash and click! Click Click Click till you drop!
How to reach- Take the BTS Skytrain to Siam Station.
5. Go on a Night Tuk Tuk Tour
Bangkok is known for its partying culture. But what you might forget is you can enjoy the pretty city in different way at night too. Travel the local way with a guide in a tuk-tuk (like autorickshaws in India) and explore the famous and not so famous temples, markets and food in the night light. They take you to the 24 hour markets and make you try out the best street food.
6. Explore the City on a Bicycle
You can burn a few calories while on your trip to Bangkok. No it’s not a boring workout, pedal across the city or to the outskirts and enjoy the great scenic beauty this part of Thailand has to offer you. There are options of half-day and full-day bicycle tours to different places in Bangkok. You can go on to explore the countryside or a nearby jungle called Bang Ka Jao. Or else you can stay within the city and pedal your way to Chinatown or the floating market of Damnoen Saduak. Some tour companies also provide Night bike tours to enjoy the view of the city when lit up. What a great way to sightsee the eco way right?!
7. ‘Party All Night’
Bangkok is popular for its notorious night life. There are plenty of clubs, dive bars and Go Go bars for you to choose from. Many clubs have different sections for live music and the regular house/electronic music. Some of the clubs which you might want to visit when in Bangkok are Levels, Route 66, Brick Bar, Viva & Aviv The River, Demo. Enjoy the loud music, get drunk and dance till your feet ache; make it one hell of a night but just stop before you recreate your very own Hangover II.
8. Sightseeing
We can go on and on with what all can be seen in Bangkok. There are hundreds of temples in the city but the 3 must visit ones are- Wat Pho, Wat Arun and Wat Phra Kaew in Grand Palace.
Wat Pho is a Buddhist temple where you will find the 15m high and 43 m long reclining Buddha. This temple is also known as the birthplace of the traditional Thai massage. It is also home to one of the earliest Thai massage schools.
Closest to BTS Skytrain station Saphan Taksin.
Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan or Wat Arun is a Buddhist Temple on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. It is one of the most beautiful temples in Thailand. It is engraved on the inner part of all ten-Baht coins and is the logo of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Grand Palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Thailand. It is a complex of buildings which is still used for official events. Wat Phra Kaew or Temple of the Emerald Buddha inside the palace is the most sacred temple of Thailand.
Other major temples that you can visit in Bangkok are Golden Mount, Wat Suthat and Wat Ratchanaddaram.
Lumphini Park, Queen Saovabha Institute Snake Farm, Dusit Palace, Vimanmek Mansion, National Museum, Phra Sumen Fort and Siam Ocean World are some of the other places worth visiting in Bangkok.
9. Try The Street Food
Explore the culinary scene in Bangkok by eating like a local. Plenty of food stalls line up the streets of Bangkok. They offer different types of noodle dishes, omelettes, soups, broths, rice dishes and desserts. To make the best of your experience eat whatever looks good. Be experimental here, it is okay to forget all inhibitions and try a crab or an oyster omelette.
10. Enjoy of the Glitz of a Cabaret
Ladyboys of Thailand are the most beautiful and talented transvestites in the world. Calypso Cabaret, Playhouse Cabaret and Mambo Cabaret are some of the popular night-time entertainment shows you should witness when in Bangkok. The shows are packed with talent, entertainment, laugh-out-loud moments and some erotic dancing. This cabaret scene adds glam to the night life of Bangkok, cross this off your list of ‘Things to do in Thailand’ when you visit Bangkok this year.
Simrat Ahluwalia
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