Bangkok - Top 10 Must-See Sights

Grand Palace

This is the archetypal Thailand tourist sight. Going to Thailand and not visiting the Grand Palace would be like visiting Windsor castle and not stopping by to have tea with the Queen (or something). The architecture is superb, the treasures (such as the famous Emerald buddha) breathtaking, the atmosphere uncannily "un-Western", you feel like you really have arrived in Asia as you walk around the Palace taking in the sights and smells.

Wat Pho

Wat Pho is another astonishing temple. This is a real working temple, with a traditional medicine centre and a massage school (you can learn how to do a Thai massage there). I'm a massive fan of Thai massage and can vouch for its effectiveness. Having suffered back pain for over 13 years it was completely eliminated after one Thai massage session and has never given trouble since. Quite incredible. Wat Pho is a fascinating place with lots of nooks and crannies to explore and some substantial treasures such as the Reclining Buddha statue.

Wat Arun

Less glamorous than the previous two Wats, Wat Arun is, however, often the sight that appears on those haunting postcards showing a Wat at sunrise or sunset - perhaps with a mist rolling up the Chao Phraya river. In fact, sunrise (or more typically sunset) is the best time to enjoy the ancient splendour of this ancient Wat. The architectural detail of the Wat is nothing short of amazing - take a boat trip there and enjoy the views from the river.

Oriental Hotel

Some would argue the Oriental Bangkok is the best hotel in the world. While that may have been true 10 years ago, that claim may be less valid today, but is not without considerable merit. While for most of us staying in the Oriental is a little beyond our budget, you can still enjoy the splendour of this fine hotel by spending an evening there. There is much to recommend it. You can sit by the river and enjoy some drinks (and a cooling river breeze), or book one of the fantastic evening dinners, complete with entertainment such as Thai dancing and music. Dinner is taken at traditional Thai "tables" - where you are effectively sitting in the ground and the food is more or less at floor level - fascinating stuff.

As you walk through the Oriental, don't forget to take a look around and especially up - the beautiful architecture of this hotel, built in 1876, is to be savoured.

Baiyoke Sky Hotel

Bangkok is a pretty stunning city with many strangely shaped and very tall buildings. The tallest is the Baiyoke Tower. It's an amazing building and you can't help to notice it on the taxi journey from the airport to downtown Bangkok. The Sky Hotel has a cafe and bar at the very top, which non-residents can use. There is live entertainment, good food and the views can't be beaten.

Mahboonkrong shopping centre (MBK)

MBK is a very famous shopping centre in Bangkok and deservedly so. It is an amazing "Aladdin's Cave" of products. Electrical, t-shirts, cameras, DVDs, CDs, souvenirs, coffee shops, watches, phones...they can all be found in MBK and lots more besides. There is also a whole floor devoted to restaurants...everything from Japanese to Thai to Western and everything in between.

As well as being a great venue for shopping, MBK is also a great place for people watching. Just find a cafe, get yourself an iced tea and relax!

Jim Thompson's House

Jim Thompson is a very well known character in Thailand, not least due to his mysterious disappearance while walking in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia. Conspiracy theories abound and involvement of the CIA is rumoured. What is known is that Jim Thompson is credited with re-generating the Thai Silk market and becoming a very successful and rich businessman in the process. Jim Thompson was also an avid collector of Thai cultural artifacts, which are still to be seen in his house, which is open to the public. The house is the traditional Thai house style.

The house is also a museum and is one of the most interesting places in Bangkok in my opinion. the architecture and design of the house is amazing and the interiors and breathtaking.

This is an absolutely must-see venue.

Chinatown

There is a very significant Chinese influence in Thailand - many Thais are descended from Chinese immigrants. As such Bangkok has a huge Chinatown, much bigger and more spectacular that either the Chinatowns of San Francisco or London in my opinion.

It's a great place to eat - there are so many restaurants and food stalls to choose from that the best thing to do is just go there and find a place you like the look of. There are also many vendors along the streets and you can buy all manner of souvenirs. I really like buying the distinctly Chinese style products such as mirrors, lanterns and religious items.

Make sure you take your camera - there will be many photo opportunities.

Dusit Park

Sometimes it's nice to get away from the hectic pace of life in Bangkok and dusit Park provides a beautiful and relaxing destination. There's a lot to the park, as well as the beautiful gardens there are several museums on site, including the King Bhumibol Photographic museums, the Ancient Cloth and Silk Museum and the Rank and Portrait Museum. They are a lot more interesting than they sound! The lakeside pavilion is also not to be missed.

Floating Market

The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is the best of the floating markets. It is located around 60 miles out of Bangkok, so is a bit of a trek, but it is worth it as most of the nearer floating markets in Bangkok are just tourist traps and unpleasant places to visit. This market has retained something of its original character. It's possible to get organised tours out of Bangkok to go there if you don't want to make your own way there.

Johnny Farang has been visiting, living in, and writing about Thailand since 2003. He hopes to retire there one day and is working towards that end. Johnny is founder of the site http://www.dreamofsiam.com which he has been running since 2004.

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