HomeAsiaSoutheast AsiaThailandBangkok 12 Places to Visit in Bangkok + Things To Do By Marcos Detourista. Updated on July 31, 2020. Where to go in Bangkok? Achieve your travel goals with this list of beautiful destinations, things to do, best places to visit, Bangkok tourist spots, attractions & more. Bangkok should be on everyone’s bucketlist in Thailand, and for good reason! Start with a trip to the Grand Palace for a quick peek at the famed Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha). Then, go on a tour of the city’s most sacred Buddhist temples including Wat Pho (Temple of Reclining Buddha), Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn), Wat Saket (Golden Mount Temple), and Wat Traimit (Temple of Golden Buddha). Shop ’til you drop at CentralWorld, Terminal 21, Siam Paragon, MBK, Platinum Mall or Chatuchak Weekend Market. For yummy local eats, head to Yaowarat (Bangkok’s Chinatown). Take a break from the busy city life at Jim Thompson House, Lumphini Park or go on a scenic cruise/ferry ride along the Chao Phraya River. Cap off your night at Khaosan Road or Bangkok’s best rooftop bars. If that’s not enough, take a day trip to floating markets nearby like Amphawa & Damnoen Saduak. To help with your trip planning, I’ve added links to the locations on Google Maps. Feel free to click/tap on the links posted below. Then, use the “save” feature on the Google Maps app for easy reference. But before you start ticking goals off your bucketlist, here are travel essentials & discounts you’ll need to check. Pre-book online for a hassle-free trip! Bangkok travel essentials Click below to compare rates & read reviews: Bangkok HotelsTours + discountsFlights See also: Bangkok Itinerary + Travel Guide. Popular tours & discounts booked by other travelers: Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link (ARL) Ticket Bangkok Chao Phraya Princess Cruise Ayutthaya Day Trip with Sunset Boat Ride from Bangkok Damnoen Saduak Floating Market by Oriental Holiday Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) – Bangkok/Pattaya/Hua Hun Private Transfers Thailand Unli 3G/4G Sim Card – Bangkok-BKK/DMK Airport Picket View all travel tips on: Bangkok. Where to stay in Bangkok: Shangri-La Hotel Splurge / Bangrak Riverside See discounts lebua at State Tower Splurge / Silom See discounts Casa Nithra Mid-Range / Khao San See discounts SSIP Boutique Dhevej Mid-Range / Khao San See discounts Baan Dinso Budget / Khao San See discounts Thanabhumi Budget / Khao San See discounts Been Hostel Ratchathewi Budget / Siam See discounts Inn Stations Hostel Budget Backpacker / Siam See discounts Nacorn Hostel Budget Backpacker / Khao San See discounts 1. Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand An impressive complex of finely-decorated buildings, statues & courtyards. Here, you can find the 26-inch tall Emerald Buddha, the kingdom’s most sacred image, Wat Phra Kaew, the holiest temple in Thailand. Opening hours — 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Admission/entrance fee — THB 500 per person. How to get to the Grand Palace — The entrance gates are located within an easy walk from Tha Chang pier if you want to go by ferry. The Grand Palace is just over 1 kilometer from Khao San Road. On foot, it takes around 15 to 20 minutes. From the National Stadium, Phaya Thai or Hua Lamphong BTS/MRT station, it’s easily reached by taxi/Grab. The fare shouldn’t cost more than THB 100. Or, ride bus #47 from National Stadium, Silom or Lumphini BTS/MRT station. Bus fare is THB 7 on weekdays and FREE! on Saturdays & Sundays. Location: Na Phra Lan Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand. Save on Google Maps. See rates & book online Bangkok Grand Palace & River Cruise Half Day Tour by Oriental Holiday Grand Palace, Bangkok temples and River of Kings tour For more travel inspiration, follow Detourista on: InstagramFacebooktiktokPinterest 2. Wat Pho Home to the famous reclining golden Buddha. Opening hours — 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission/entrance fee — THB 100 per person. How to get to Wat Pho — Located near Tha Tien Pier, beside the Grand Palace, but on the other side of the entrance gate. Wat Pho is a short walk away. Bring an umbrella because it gets really hot & humid in Bangkok during the day. Location: 2 Sanam Chai Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand. Save on Google Maps. See rates & book online Bangkok City & Temples Tour by Tour East Wat Pho Wat Pho (Temple of the Giant Reclining Buddha) in Bangkok, Thailand 3. Wat Arun This temple is famous for its beautiful spire that towers over the Chao Phraya River. You can climb up the steep stairs for a breathtaking overlook of Bangkok’s skyline. Though, my favorite view of Wat Arun is from the riverside bars across the river (near Tha Tien pier). The sunset & dusk views from here are not to be missed! Opening hours — 8:00 am to 6:30 pm. Admission/entrance fee — THB 100 per person. How to get to Wat Arun — From Tha Tien pier & ride the local ferry to Wat Arun. The ferry ride costs THB 4 per person. Location: 158 Thanon Wang Doem, Wat Arun, Bangkok Yai, Bangkok 10600, Thailand. Save on Google Maps. Wat Arun Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn), at dusk along Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand 4. Bangkok markets & shopping malls Golden Gate Bridge Replica at Terminal 21, in Bangkok, Thailand Siam Paragon (shopping mall), in Bangkok, Thailand Bangkok is a shopping paradise! There are a lot of exciting markets, malls & bargains here to keep you busy all day. Don’t go only to shop, most malls have excellent food courts where you can eat affordable & delicious Thai food. Chatuchak Weekend Market — The market of all markets in Bangkok. This is a must-visit for shoppers visiting during the weekend. Chatuchak Weekend Market is located near Mo Chit BTS & Kamphaeng Phet MRT station. Terminal 21 — My favorite mall in Bangkok because of its many Instagram-able spots inspired by London, Paris, Rome, Tokyo, Istanbul, San Fransisco and & Hollywood. The food court is huge with lots of delicious options. The boutique shops (upper floors) are more upscale than the stalls at Chatuchak Market but the clothes are way more interesting. Terminal 21 is located near Asok BTS & Sukhumvit MRT station. Platinum Fashion Mall — Shopping for affordable clothing in Bangkok? This is a mall you should not miss. Siam Paragon, Siam Center & Siam Discovery — Located just outside Siam BTS station, it’s very easy to visit & one of Bangkok’s most popular malls. There’s a huge food court on the ground floor of Siam Paragon with a good variety of food options. Siam Center & Siam Discovery is located next door. You can find Madame Tussauds & SEA Life Bangkok on the 6th floor of Siam Discovery. Pantip Plaza — THE destination in Bangkok for electronics & IT products. Its five floors area full of small shops selling cameras, phones, computer hardware, software & accessories. Pantip Plaza is located beside Platinum Fashion Mall. MBK — Originally called Mahbookkrong, is one of the city’s oldest & biggest malls with over 2,000 shops. MBK is located across the street from Siam Discovery. Central World — The largest mall in Bangkok & among the largest shopping complexes in the World. Central World is located near Chit Lom & Siam BTW stations. Emporium — Mostly caters to high-end shoppers. Beautiful views from the sky gardens & open-air terraces. Emporium is located near Phrom Phong BTS station. Asiatique — Nice views of Chao Phraya riverside, especially at night. Shops cater to the tourist crowd. Many products are the same as what you’d find at Chatuchak Weekend Market & Platinum Fashion Mall but sold at higher prices. To get to Asiatique, ride a free shuttle boat from Sathorn/Central Pier near Saphan Taksin BTS station. Pratunam Market — Fashion-focused version of Chatuchak Market. Pratunam Market is located near Platinum Fashion Mall. See rates & book online Madame Tussauds Bangkok Admission Ticket SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World 5. Jim Thompson House Marcos at Jim Thompson House, in Bangkok, Thailand Houses the impressive art collection of Jim Thompson, an American expat famous for revitalizing the Thai silk industry in the 1950s and 1960s. The site also features traditional Thai-style houses surrounded by cool greeneries. Opening hours — 9 am to 6 pm. Admission/entrance fee — THB 150 per adult. THB 100 per student (under 22 years old. How to get to Jim Thompson House — Ride the Skytrain to National Stadium BTS station. Then, ride the free shuttle or take a short walk to Jim Thompson House. Location: 6 Kasem San 2 Alley, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. Save on Google Maps. 6. Bangkok nightlife Chang Beer, a popular local beer in Thailand Bangkok’s infamous nightlife needs no introduction. Different areas in the city cater to various crowds. See the list below to keep you guided on night spots you shouldn’t miss in Bangkok. Where to go at night in Bangkok Khao San Road — The ultimate place to party & meet backpackers from all over the world. Silom & Sukhumvit — Home to most of the finest clubs and bars in Bangkok. Rooftop bars — Gorgeous views overlooking Bangkok’s skyline. Here are some of the most famous bars. Beautiful rooftop bars in Bangkok: Vertigo & Moon Bar — Banyan Tree. Sirocco & Sky Bar — lebua at State Tower. Attitude — Avani. Park Society — Sofitel So.See discounts Octave Rooftop Bar — Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit. Cloud 47 Rooftop Bar and Bistro Zense Gourmet Deck & Lounge — Centralworld. Patpong — Where to see the famed “ping-pong” shows. Siam Niramit Cultural Show & Dinner — Theatrical show featuring grand set pieces, hundreds of performers, traditional music, dances & stories of early Siamese heritage. See discounts Chao Phraya river cruise — Enjoy the night lights along Bangkok’s riverside while indulging in a sumptuous buffet dinner onboard. Bangkok Apsara Dinner Cruise by Banyan Tree Bangkok Chao Phraya Princess Cruise Bangkok buffet — Excellent way to feast on different Thai dishes and international cuisine. Bangkok Crystal Grill Dinner Buffet Baiyoke Floating Market Buffet Bangkok Sky Balcony Buffet Bangkok Sky Dining Buffet 7. Explore more Bangkok temples Wat Saket (Golden Mount Temple) in Bangkok, Thailand Marble Temple in Bangkok, Thailand Wat Inthrawihan (Temple of the Giant Standing Buddha) in Bangkok, Thailand Wat Suthat in Bangkok, Thailand Giant Swing & Wat Suthat, in Bangkok, Thailand Wat Traimit (temple) in Bangkok, Thailand Thailand’s capital is home to over 40,000 Buddhist temples. In addition to Wat Pho, Wat Arun & Wat Phra Kaew, here’s a list of beautiful temples in Bangkok. Wat Saket (Golden Mount Temple) — Near Grand Palace/Khao San Road. Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple) Wat Inthrawihan (Temple of the Giant Standing Buddha) Wat Suthat — Beside the Giant Swing. Near Grand Palace/Khao San Road. Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha) — See the World’s largest solid gold Buddha statue. Located in Yaowarat/Chinatown. 8. Bangkok Chinatown Location: Samphanthawong, Bangkok, Thailand. Save on Google Maps. Where to go near Bangkok (Day trips from Bangkok) 9. Floating Markets An easy day excursion from Bangkok. The most popular floating markets are found in Damnoen Saduak & Amphawa. Location: Damnoen Saduak, Damnoen Saduak District, Ratchaburi 70130, Thailand. Save on Google Maps. Bangkok Floating Markets Travel Essentials Tours + discounts 10. Ayutthaya Ayutthaya is filled with massive ancient temples ruins that is just one-hour away by land from Bangkok. This ancient city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, served as the second capital of Thailand. Location: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thailand. Save on Google Maps. Ayutthaya Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discounts Top discounts Ayutthaya Day Trip with Sunset Boat Ride from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) – Bangkok/Pattaya/Hua Hun Private Transfers Ayutthaya Private Car Charter from Bangkok 11. Pattaya Famous beach town just 2 hours south of Bangkok famous for its lively nightlife. Location: Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri 20150, Thailand. Save on Google Maps. Pattaya Travel Essentials Where to stay Top discounts Pattaya-Nong Nooch Tropical Garden Ticket The Sanctuary of Truth Pattaya Floating Market 12. Hua Hin Less popular, but also a lot less crowded & family-friendly version of Pattaya. This beach town has many themed Instagram-able spots like The Venetian & Santorini Park. Travel time from Bangkok is around 2.5 to 3 hours. Location: Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand. Save on Google Maps. Hua Hin Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discounts Top discounts Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) – Bangkok/Pattaya/Hua Hun Private Transfers Private City Transfers between Hua Hin and Bangkok Hua Hin Private Car Charter from Bangkok (8, 10, or 12 Hours) See more: Hua Hin travel tips 18 Places To Visit in Hua Hin Beyond Bangkok Siem Reap, Cambodia Home to Angkor Wat, one of the World’s grandest temples & ancient structures. Travel time from Bangkok to Siem Reap takes 1 hour by flight or around 9 hours by bus. Location: Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. Save on Google Maps. Siem Reap Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discounts Top discounts Angkor Wat & Little Circuit Guided Join-In Tour Banteay Srei & Angkor Grand Circuit Guided Join-In Tour Siem Reap Private Car Charter See more: Siem Reap, Cambodia travel tips 9 Places To Visit in Siem Reap Siem Reap Itinerary + Travel Guide Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Vibrant capital city & the southern gateway to Vietnam. Travel time from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh takes 1.5 hours by flight. Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Save on Google Maps. Ho Chi Minh Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discounts Top discounts Full Day Mekong Delta Excursion from Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh City-Mekong Delta River Cruise Ho Chi Minh City & Cu Chi Tunnels Full Day Tour See more: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam travel tips 14 Places To Visit in Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh Itinerary + Travel Guide Chiang Mai A City of Temples, home to hundreds of beautiful temples and museums in & beyond the Old Walled City. This place is not only a beautiful place to visit, it’s also one of the cheapest travel destinations in Southeast Asia. Location: Northern Thailand. Save on Google Maps. Chiang Mai Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discounts Top discounts Chiang Mai Airport Transfers (CNX) for Chiang Mai City & more (northern Thailand) Chiang Mai Car Charter – One Day or Multiple Days Surrounding Areas Doi Inthanon National Park See more: Chiang Mai travel tips 9 Places To Visit in Chiang Mai Krabi & Phi Phi Islands Go south & visit Thailand’s World-famous beaches. Krabi is home to the country’s most spectacular island landscapes with picture-perfect beaches surrounded by towering limestone cliffs. Location: Krabi, Thailand. Save on Google Maps. Krabi Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discounts Top discounts Krabi Airport Shuttle – Shared Transfers for Ao Nang, Krabi Town & more Krabi Car Charter – Half Day And Full Day Private Car/Shuttle Private Phuket International Airport (HKT) Transfers for Phuket and Nearby Areas by TTD See more: Krabi & Phi Phi Islands travel tips 12 Places To Visit in Krabi Phuket Thailand’s most popular beach destination. Location: Phuket, Thailand. Save on Google Maps. Phuket Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discounts Top discounts Phuket to James Bond Day Tour by Longtail Boat, Speedboat or Big Boat Phi Phi Cruise Transfers from Phuket – Round Trip Ferry Krabi/Phuket Airport to Krabi Hotel Transfer – KBV/HKT Private Car/Shuttle See more: Phuket travel tips 8 Places To Visit in Phuket Ko Samui, Ko Phangan & Ko Tao Head to the east coast of Thailand for amazing underwater views and epic “Full Moon” beach parties. Location: Ko Samui District, Surat Thani, Thailand. Save on Google Maps. Ko Tao Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discounts Top discounts Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan Snorkeling Tour Koh Tao Diving Experience by Nava PADI Scuba Diving Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan Day Tour from Koh Samui – w/ Snorkeling Experience by Catamaran See more: Ko Samui, Ko Phangan & Ko Tao travel tips 9 Places To Visit in Ko Tao What places have you added to your bucketlist? Have you been to beautiful places in Bangkok that should be on this list? Feel free to share your thoughts! Places to visit in Bangkok Bangkok tourist spots, things to do in Bangkok, where to go in Bangkok & more. 1. Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew 2. Wat Pho 3. Wat Arun 4. Bangkok markets & shopping malls 5. Jim Thompson House 6. Bangkok nightlife 7. Explore more Bangkok temples 8. Bangkok Chinatown 9. Floating Markets 10. Ayutthaya 11. Pattaya 12. Hua Hin Siem Reap, Cambodia Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Chiang Mai Krabi & Phi Phi Islands Phuket Ko Samui, Ko Phangan & Ko Tao Note: Destinations featured above are not listed by rank. Where to Stay in Bangkok The most popular place to stay for budget travelers is Khao San Road area. It is an easy base to explore Bangkok & beyond because of many hostels, travel agencies & transport options that can be found here. Want better views & comfort? Try the mid-range & luxury hotels on the Chao Phraya Riverside. If you're after the exciting shopping scene in Bangkok, stay near the BTS/MRT train stations preferably in the area of Siam, Silom, Sukhumvit, or Hua Lamphong BTS station. A big advantage of staying nearby is fast access to Suvarnabhumi Airport (via the airport express), and major transport hubs like Morchit (Mochit)-Northern Thailand Bus Station & Hua Lamphong Railway Station. Shangri-La Hotel Splurge / Bangrak Riverside See discounts lebua at State Tower Splurge / Silom See discounts Casa Nithra Mid-Range / Khao San See discounts SSIP Boutique Dhevej Mid-Range / Khao San See discounts Baan Dinso Budget / Khao San See discounts Thanabhumi Budget / Khao San See discounts Been Hostel Ratchathewi Budget / Siam See discounts Inn Stations Hostel Budget Backpacker / Siam See discounts Nacorn Hostel Budget Backpacker / Khao San See discounts Where to book Click below & search recommended Bangkok hotels/hostels/home rentals within your budget. Remember to set your min/max price, travel dates, and sort by review ratings. I often book online with these trusted booking sites below for rock-bottom prices & convenient bookings. AgodaBooking.com Book sooner rather than later if you already have your dates set. Cheaper-priced rooms and hotels with high reviews tend to get fully booked faster, especially during busy days like weekends, holidays & peak tourist seasons. Don’t Stop Here Click below for more travel inspiration: Bangkok Itinerary + Travel Guide 20 Places To Visit in Thailand Bangkok Itinerary + Travel Guide Don’t leave yet. There’s more! 8 Places to Visit in Lumbini + Things To Do18 Places to Visit in Baguio and Benguet + Things To Do14 Places to Visit in Clark and Pampanga + Things To Do15 Places to Visit in Cagayan de Oro and Northern Mindanao +… Discover more blogs and travel tips in: Bangkok ThailandSoutheast AsiaAsia See all places Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.