Rising to the top of nearly every traveler’s must-see list, Bangkok is fast becoming one of the most popular destinations for world travel. This capital city of Thailand offers an incredible array of experiences, and it is everything you would hope for in an international hotspot: exciting, colorful, filled with culture, and teeming with the powerful energy of people from all corners of the globe. If you’re looking for the next place to cross off your bucket list, Bangkok is exactly what you are looking for – the list of places to visit in Bangkok has something for everyone.
With the massive number of exciting things to do in Bangkok, visiting Bangkok can be overwhelming if you don’t have some idea of a must-see list. Luckily, we’ve done some of the legwork for you and put together a list of the 10 top-rated tourist attractions in Thailand’s capital city. This list hits the biggest cultural, historical and even modern sights to see, so you can truly experience Bangkok and all that it has to offer.
Grand Palace
(Na Phra Lan Road, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon; open 8:30am-3:30pm daily)
The top spot on our list of tourist attractions in Bangkok unquestionably goes to the Grand Palace, a royal compound that was constructed over two centuries ago, in 1782. The spectacular collection of luxurious structures has been preserved beautifully, and the Grand Palace also houses the majestic Wat Phra Kaeo, where you can see the truly impressive Jade (or Emerald) Buddha.
Wat Pho
(2 Sanamchai Road, Grand Palace Subdistrict, Pranakorn District; open 8:30am-6pm daily)
Wat Pho is the oldest temple in Bangkok, built by King Rama I and regarded as a place of healing. Wat Pho is most famous for the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, an unbelievably large statue at nearly 150 feet long and 50 feet high. The icon is embedded with a variety of meaningful symbols of faith, including a lotus-bud design on the hand to represent purity and beauty and 108 signs of true faith decorating the feet, inlaid with a variety of precious stones.
The Giant Swing
(located in the square in front of Wat Suthat at Bamrung Muang Road, Sao Chingcha, Phra Nakhon; open all hours).
When you’re considering what to see in Bangkok, the Giant Swing is a unique sight that should be included on your list. As you might guess from its name, the Giant Swing is a nearly 90-foot tall swing built from teak wood. It was formerly the focus of an annual religious ceremony, during which daring participants would balance on a slim board, swinging almost to the top of the swing.
Wat Arun
(Arun Amarin Rd; 8:30am-5:30pm daily)
Wat Arun is a temple built after the legendary battles between the Siam and Burma, constructed by a surviving Siam general who vowed to continue marching "until the sun rose again." Wat Arun, or the "Temple of the Dawn," later became home to the new king. The best time to visit is just before sunset when you can climb to the top for an unbelievable view of the Chao Praya River.
Chatuchak Market
(Adjacent to the Kamphaengpecth Station (MRT); open weekends)
The largest weekend market on the planet, Chatuchak Market has something to offer everyone. With 15,000 stalls, you can browse an incredible selection of goods and enjoy authentic Thai street food. Give yourself a full day to truly soak up as much of the experience as you can.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
(about 1.5 hours outside of Bangkok; open 6am-12pm daily)
An entirely different market experience from Chatuchak, the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is made up entirely of vendors selling from their boats. Nicknamed the "Venice of the East," it is an inarguably interesting experience that is unique to Thailand.
Khao San Road
Located in the heart of the famous backpacker district of Bangkok, Khao San Road is a bustling collection of food vendors and stalls, offering an interesting collection of goods for sale. Filled with people, music, and scents, it can be an overwhelming experience for some, but it is an unbeatable opportunity to experience a taste of the local culture.
Wat Traimit, Temple of the Golden Buddha
(661 Charoen Krung Road, Talad Noi, Samphanthawong; open 8am-5pm daily)
The 5.5-ton solid gold Buddha at this temple has an interesting backstory that goes down in history as one of the biggest surprise finds ever: when the land was sold in the 1950s, it was requested that a large plaster Buddha be removed as a condition of the sale. It ended up snapping the crane’s cable, and the cracked plaster revealed a mysterious metallic glint beneath, which would turn out to be solid gold. The origins of this Buddha are unknown, adding a sense of mystery to the site.
Jim Thompson House
(6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road; open 8am-5pm daily)
This historic home belonged to WWII veteran Jim Thompson, who settled in Thailand after the war and became a leader in the Thai silk industry. He disappeared during travels in Malaysia, and the home was transformed into a museum exploring his life, business, and the history of the Thai silk industry.
Terminal 21
(88 Soi Sukhumvit 19, Khwaeng Khlong Toei Nuea, Khet Watthana, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon; open 10am-10pm daily)
Contrary to what the transportation-inspired name might suggest, Terminal 21 is actually a unique shopping mall that is an experience in and of itself. Each of the mall’s floors is themed as a different international city, ranging from Paris and London to San Francisco and Tokyo.
The city of Bangkok offers a wealth of experiences for all that visit, whether you are looking to experience history, culture, modern shopping and dining, or a mix of everything. Wherever you choose to journey in Thailand’s capital city, it goes without question that you will be making lifelong memories that can never be forgotten.
