The Grand Palace is right next door to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and one ticket gets you entrance to both. Many ancient kings lived in the Grand Palace, but currently there are no residents. Today, many important rituals are performed there. It was enjoyable to walk around the grounds of the Grand Palace, and they have an ancient weapons museum that you can see.

Elephant Rides. Some of us may have tried this when visiting South East Asia in places like Bali in Indonesia, and in the Chiang Mai area of Thailand.  It’s a popular activity for travellers to undertake. There are a few elephant sanctuaries around that allow you to do this. And then there are some who say you shouldn’t ride them because of how the elephants are treated in some places.

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There are hundreds of temples and holy sites around Bangkok but there are definitely a few must-see Buddhist highlights. Remember that knees and shoulders must be covered and no shoes are allowed inside the temple. Most of the temples will have vendors outside selling Thai fisherman pants, wrap skirts, and scarves to cover up before entering the holy site.

The city of Pattaya is located southeast of Bangkok [read our guide here], and the distance from Bangkok to Pattaya is about 147km. If you are wondering how to travel from Bangkok to Pattaya, we can tell you that your options are going by bus, mini-van, a rented car, or a private taxi. 

Bangkok’s Chinatown is a feast for the senses. As tuk-tuks race by in a hurry, the residents take a leisurely pace. The neighborhood is a sprawling district of residential buildings, clothing bazaars, jewelry shops, street-side restaurants, and sidewalk food carts. Chinatown is one of Bangkok’s oldest neighborhoods and has historically been a commercial district of predominantly Chinese immigrants.

If the sounds of the tuk-tuks and the air pollution are getting to you, then get yourself to Lumphini Park. Seriously, this place is a breath of fresh air compared to the hustle and bustle of the busy city. A public park with an abundance of grassed areas, trees, shade and wildlife, it’s the perfect place to head to if you’re needing to find some zen. You’ll see plenty of running clubs, Tai chi enthusiasts and school groups while you’re here, but be on the lookout for the monitor lizards that roam freely!

Don Muang Airport is an older and smaller airport, which currently serves the low cost airlines and domestic routes. It’s closer to the heart of Bangkok then Suvarnabhumi airport and easier access by taxi.

If you haven’t heard of the Patpong district, it won’t take you long to find out about it’s seedy reputation. 

There are heaps of great day trips in Bangkok that are worth visiting. Listed below are just a few of our top recommendations.

After the market we made our way down to Siam Paragon mall which is one of the newer big malls in town.  There wasn’t much to shop around for as it was almost purely brand names so we just went down to the basement floor to eat in the food court.  We had some fried fish (Candie’s recommendation) and picked up some other goodies too.

It’s your first day in Bangkok and you are excited to get the trip started. Hold on a second there cowboy. Let’s talk about transportation. With constant traffic in the city, most taxi drivers will negotiate rates or avoid charging the meter which is why we recommend taking the BTS Skytrain. Bangkok’s clean, air-conditioned Skytrain is an efficient form of transportation that will save you money and more importantly — time. However, if you want to experience a tuk-tuk here and there, go for it! Just don’t take one across .....the city or your pockets may become emptier than expected. Show less

You’ll be sure to see its magnificent spires that tower over the neighbouring river, as you make your way around the city. Easily among Thailand’s most beautiful temples, it’s really pretty with all the colourful mosaics that cover its intricate structure. The same conservative dress code applies, and climbing up and down the steep side isn’t for everyone. We remember there being a bit of a bottleneck because everyone was too scared to climb down.

Wat Phra Kae, or Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and the Grand Palace are Bangkok’s biggest tourist attraction.

After breakfast we got a tuk tuk out to the nearest metro station and took it to Chatuchak Weekend Market.  Now when I say that this market is enormous I am not exaggerating.  The area was filled with locals and tourists this day.   In our 3 hours there I think we may have only seem ¼ of the market?  Sections 3 and 4 were pretty neat and more organized than some of the others I felt like.  There was A/C too.  This is really a place to roam around at .....your own place and make your own discoveries as you never know what you’ll find.  For the most part vendors sell things clothing items – mainly t-shirts, used shoes, replica branded items.  It gets hot here so be prepared and make sure you hydrate often by buying things like shakes or coconut water. Show less

If you came to Bangkok for the Temples you are in for a treat there are over 400 of them in the Thai capital. You can find Odd, Quirky and Weird Temples  and the popular and most famous ones like the Grand Palace and the Royal Temple of the Emerald Buddha. One thing you need to keep in mind , if you’re visiting this temple, is the strict dress code. If you’re visiting any temple in Bangkok you’re expected to dress respectfully and at the Royal Temple the dress code is always enforced.

There are two airports in Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang International Airport. To get from the Suvarnabhumi Airport airport you can use the Airport Rail Link which takes you to Phaya Thai station. From there you could then transfer to the MRT lines, or use local taxis or Tuk Tuks to continue your journey.

Get away from Bangkok to explore it’s other side – the Thonburi district on the west side of the Chao Phraya River. It is a lesser-known area and one where the vast majority of tourists don’t go – you may have it all to yourself.

To get a real taste of Thailand’s history, make your way over to the Bangkok National Museumwhich offers tours in English only on Thursdays. Home to a large collection of artifacts, this museum was first opened by King Rama V as a token of appreciation of all the gifts his father gave to him. Inside you will see Chinese weapons, precious stones, puppets and even Khon masks; drawing the line to Thailand’s rich history.

My first day in Bangkok was to the Safari World and I have never felt so elated, clapping hands like a six-year-old, oblivious to others’ eyes on me. A fantastic day with so many unique animals from all across the world was what you had to offer me, to celebrate my last birthday as a 20-something.

One of the most comfortable public transport options I’ve experienced throughout my travels in Southeast Asia is Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain network. The BTS connects the city incredibly well and it’s fast, frequent and has the most amazing air conditioning! I think I’ve ridden it in the past just to escape the heat. Taking a ride on the BTS is actually one of the best things to do in Bangkok on TripAdvisor!

We’ve done the work and we’ve mapped it out, so drumroll, please…… No, Bangkok is not what we’d consider expensive. In fact, a three-day visit is pretty affordable. Obviously, the cost of a trip to Bangkok is slightly higher than in other areas of Thailand. This is the capital city curse. But with our nifty tips and reasonable city prices, you’re looking at a banging budget Bangkok trip.