Visit Bangkok: TOP 30 Must-See Attractions

Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations. The mild climate, built-up infrastructure and lots of beaches make this South Asian country popular. Bangkok, Thailand's capital, is an easy place to dive into ancient culture. There are many museums, shopping malls, palaces and temples, nightclubs, amusement parks, restaurants and cafeterias.

Bangkok's top attractions can be split into two categories: historical and modern. Enjoy the ancient architecture in the historical center. Get a taste of Bangkok's modern life in the new urban areas, where the skyscrapers and shopping malls abound.

Families with children should definitely visit the aquarium and zoo, as well as the unique nature reserve. A trip to the crocodile farm, a boat ride on the Chao and visiting the ancient city of Ayutthaya will delight tourists of all ages.

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➤ Temple of the Emerald Buddha

There is a temple in the Royal Palace that houses the Emerald Buddha. Five centuries after the divine being attained full enlightenment, a monument depicting the spiritual master was built. The statue is now housed in a shrine built by Rama I.

Many tourists are mistakenly under the impression that the Buddha is made of emerald, not jadeite. It's forbidden to touch a creature that has reached the highest level of spiritual perfection.

• Working time: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every day.
• Cost: 13,6€ for foreigners, free for Thais.
• Address: Na Phra Lan Road, Grand Palace, Phranakorn, Bangkok 1020.

➤ National Museum Bangkok

The museum complex has a bunch of 17th-century buildings. Its main building was built in 1782. It was recognized by King Rama V of Siam as a museum. The national gallery has the biggest collection in Thailand. From the New Stone Age to the present, the exhibition features exhibits from various milestones in royal history.

• Working time: Wednesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday and Tuesday off.
• Cost: 0,8€ for Thais, 5,5€ for foreigners.
• Address: Na Phra That Rd sub-district of the Grand Palace, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok 10200.

➤ Khaosan Road

Originally a market for uncooked rice, Khaosan Road has become a popular tourist destination. It's a tourist mecca in Bangkok with a lot of entertainment options. This isn't the place for peace and quiet. It's all day partying, every day.

You won't get bored for a second in restaurants, bars, cafes, nightclubs, and discos. You can go to shopping and entertainment centers, souvenir shops, and Thai massage salons. At the expense of cheap hostels, it's the perfect place for tourists on a budget.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• Address: Khaosan Road.

➤ Lumpini Park

Enjoy the natural beauty not just on the outskirts of Bangkok, but also in the city center in Lumpini Park. King Rama VI built it on his own land in 1920. The monarch always dreamed of a place for recreation, entertainment, and outdoor activities.

It's 57 hectares of untouched greenery in the middle of the city. Age-old trees, lakes, and flowers create a relaxing atmosphere. There are striped monitor lizards, too.

• Working time: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.
• Cost: free.
• Address: 192 Witthayu Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.

➤ Dream World

Bangkok's largest amusement park, Dream World is a great place to relax with the whole family. Featuring art objects and a variety of attractions, it's a great place to go for adults and kids.

The recreation area is divided up into themed areas. One, near the entrance, has become a place for celebrations. The second is for rides. The third has an interesting landscape design. And the fourth is a stylized fairy tale world.

• Working time: Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Cost: 6,8€ for adults, 5,5€ for kids.
• Address: Dream World 62 Moo 1 Rangsit-Ongkharak Road (km.7) Thanyaburi, Pathumthani 12130.

➤ Marble Temple

The most beautiful temple in Bangkok, built by King Rama V's half-brother, is the Marble Temple. These buildings are made of Italian Carrara marble, painted red and white, and have stained glass windows.

There's a covered gallery with 52 Buddhas. They're made from the original images of the Buddha's founders by some of the world's best sculptors. Donations and alms are collected in the morning by the monks.

• Working time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Cost: 0.5€.
• Address: Dusit, Bangkok 10300, Thailand.

➤ Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World

The area of Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World is like a soccer stadium. 30,000 marine species live there, including giant tiger sharks. The realism of the facility makes visitors feel like they are in an aquarium.

It's best to visit before lunch, when the pets are being fed. The study of a huge variety of sea life will stay in the memories of tourists for a long time.

• Working time: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Cost: 38€ for adults.
• Address: B1-B2 Floor, Siam Paragon, 991 Rama 1 Rd, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330.

➤ Grand Palace

There are several buildings in the Royal Palace, spread over 200,000 square meters. Construction started in 1782, when Rama I ruled. Palace complexes are now a venue for celebrations involving the ruling families.

Along with the palaces, there were 95 cult objects – pagodas. Tourists love the Throne Hall with its frescoes depicting the life of the first monarch.

• Working time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
• Cost: free for Thais, 14€ for foreigners.
• Address: Na Phra Lan Road, Grand Palace, Phranakorn, Bangkok 10200.

➤ Temple of Dawn

In honor of the god of the sea, Aruna, the Temple of Dawn was built in the early 17th century. It's also known as the «Sanctuary of the Morning Dawn». It used to be a royal residence. The temple complex has been rebuilt many times.

Now it's the most impressive structure in Bangkok. Chedi, which is about 80 meters tall, gets a lot of attention from tourists. Is decorated with Chinese porcelain. It was originally a Hindu temple, but now it's a Buddhist temple.

• Working time: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
• Cost: 2,7€ for adults.
• Address: 158 Tano Wang Doem, Wat Arun, Bangkok 10600.

➤ Siam Paragon

Thai's largest mall in the capital is not just for shopaholics, but also for adventurers. The building is 6 stories high and has 350 shops. Fashion houses like Gucci, Armani, and Versace sell their stuff.

The entertainment complex has a movie theater, concert hall, bowling alley, and karaoke. You can also grab a bite to eat at one of the cafeterias or restaurants. Guests love going to the oceanarium in the basement.

• Working time: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Cost: free.
• Address: 991 Rama I Rd, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330.

➤ Muang Boran Ancient City

Muang Boran Ancient City, the largest museum complex on the street, is known as Ancient Siam. It spreads over 130 hectares. Founded in 1963. Park exhibition features life-size replicas of Thailand's architectural and cultural treasures.

The pictures here are copies of cultural heritage items that are irretrievably lost. Here's a map of the museum complex. The attractions are where they were in reality.

• Working time: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.
• Cost: 19€ for adults, 9,5€ for children.
• Address: 7 296/1 Sukhumvit Rd, Bang Pu Mai, Mueang Samut Prakan District, Samut Prakan 10280.

➤ Royal Barges National Museum

Bangkok has a river connection called the Chao Phraya. Royal barges were used to sail the river during the reign of kings. The museum complex of royal barges was built to commemorate those times.

Currently, eight surviving vessels are used for festivals and celebrations. The vessels are made of teak, a kind of wood that's getting exported a lot right now. The longest barge is 46 meters long. It's propelled by almost 50 rowers.

• Working time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Cost: 2,7€ for adults.
• Address: 80/1 Arun Ammarin Road Bangkok Noi.

➤ Dusit Zoo

Founded in 1938, Thailand's Dusit Zoo is popular with tourists. The site used to be a botanical garden owned by the royal family. King Rama VII converted the park into a place to keep animals.

Generally speaking, it's a comfortable, well-kept park with ideal conditions for pets. Ride a bicycle, scooter, or walk around. More than 1,300 animals from around the world are in the collection.

• Working time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Cost: 1,4€ for adults, 0,3€ for kids.
• Address: 71 Rama V Road, Chitrlada Sub-district, Dusit District, Bangkok 10300.

➤ Erawan Museum

This copper elephant is on a pedestal, not like the usual museum. Erawan Monument is 29 meters tall and weighs 250 tons. In fact, the monumental object represents Siam in the epic Airavan.

Millionaire Lek Viriyapkhanta came up with the idea. Three halls symbolize three different worlds. Spirits live in the lower world, people live in the middle world, and gods live in the upper world. The collection includes porcelain, jewelry, and sculptures of deities, including Buddha.

• Working time: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Cost: 10,9€ for adults, 5,5€ for kids.
• Address: 99/9 Moo 1 Bang Muang Mai Subdistrict, Muang Samut Prakan District.

➤ Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo

Samut Prakan was once the world's largest crocodile farm. It covers 120 hectares. There were 100,000 crocodiles there. The organization was formed to preserve reptiles because they were being slaughtered for meat and skin.

Visitors under 12 can play on the playground and check out the dinosaur museum. Adults could eat crocodile eggs and buy souvenirs in the shop. This program's highlight was the crocodile show, which demonstrated how animal trainers handled the predators in a courageous manner.

• Working time: permanently closed.
• Cost: not available since it's closed.
• Address: 555 Thanon Thai Ban, Pak Nam, Samutprakan 10270, Thailand.

➤ Snake Farm

The Royal Saowabi Memorial Institute has been offering snake farm tours since 1923. In addition to being an amusement park, it's a place where scientists research snake venom and make antidotes. Thailand has 50 varieties of dangerous reptiles.

Therefore, effective antidotes are crucial for the safety of visitors and locals. Many of the snakes in the serpentarium are poisonous. More than 40,000 people visit the farm every year, mostly tourists.

• Working time: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every day.
• Cost: 5,4€ for adults, 1,4€ for children.
• Address: At the intersection of Henri Dunant Road and Rama IV.

➤ Wat Pho

Travelers love Wat Pho, which is inside the royal palace. There's a big lying Buddha there. This is a truly massive monument. The statue sits on a 46-meter pedestal.

Gold sand makes up the thinnest layer of its surface. A reclining Buddha, waiting for nirvana with his hand resting on his head. This is where Thai massage got its start, according to legend. The temple still trains masseuses today.

• Working time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
• Cost: 13,6€ for adults.
• Address: 2 Sanamchai Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand.

➤ Chatuchak Weekend Market

Chatuchak is the heart of Bangkok's commerce. It was founded in 1942 and has moved several times. It's now near the park of the same name. Its daily trade turnover is over 1$ million.

There's everything a sophisticated shopper could want here, and prices are more than fair. People usually buy clothing, jewelry, wood, and leather goods. You can even find antiques if you're looking for them. You can relax in the cafeteria, bar or spa.

• Working time: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except Mondays.
• Cost: free.
• Address: Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.

➤ Vimanmek Mansion

King Rama V lived in the European-style Vimanmek Palace. In the 20th century, log cabins in the Victorian style appeared on the island of Sichang. The mansion has lots of bedrooms, lounges, dining rooms, and a concert hall.

The multi-story house even had a manual elevator. A unique period in the history of the palace was when it moved, when the building was dismantled and reassembled. In today's version, it's a museum with 31 rooms filled with paintings, porcelain, and carved furniture.

• Working time: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Cost: 2,7€ for adults.
• Address: 5 1 Ratchawithi Rd, Dusit District, Bangkok 10300, Thailand.

➤ Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan

The Buddha is Thailand's main shrine. It was made of gold in the 13th to 15th centuries. In those days, precious stones and metals weren't an issue. They were used for making utensils and religious objects.

Buddha is seated in a lotus position in a three-meter statue that weighs almost five tons. It's the world's largest and most expensive shrine. Locals bring daily gifts to the deity. In fact, the idol is inside a museum that tells the history of the monument.

• Working time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Cost: free.
• Address: 661 Charoen Krung Rd, Talat Noi, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand.

➤ Wat Saket

Wat Saket, also known as the «golden mountain», has a chedi covered in gold. It's considered the most interesting attraction in Bangkok, especially among Buddhists.

On a hill, the temple has a great view of the city. The area surrounding it is planted with trees and surrounded by traditional Buddhist buildings like the chapel, library, and devotional hall.

• Working time: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Cost: 0,5€ for adults, donations welcome.
• Address: 344 Thanon Chakkraphatdi Phong, Ban Bat, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100.

➤ Wat Ratchanatdaram School

Thais call the striking Buddhist architectural monument Wat Ratchanatdaram «Granddaughter of the King», built in honor of Prince Lakhananuhun's daughter Somanas. The shrine was built in the nineteenth century and finished in the twentieth century. The main part of the temple building is Loha Parsat.

It's decorated in Burmese style. It's called «Iron Palace» because metal was used in its construction. The site's most striking feature is a succession of 37 iron spires. It's the number of virtues that lead to enlightenment.

• Working time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.
• Cost: free.
• Address: Tanon Maha Chai, Bowon Nivet, Phra Nakhon.

➤ Jim Thompson House Museum

Visit the Johnson Thompson Museum Complex to find ancient Thai structures lost in the jungle. The museum was founded by an American architect and businessman in 1959. There are ancient Buddha statues and national paintings on a cloth base in its halls.

Exhibits were acquired from all over Asia. It consists of six buildings, decorated in traditional Thai style. Thomson is known as the custodian of ancient silkmaking techniques. In the gallery there is a weaving house and souvenir shop that sells quality silk clothes.

• Working time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Cost: 5,4€ for adults, 2,7€ for students up to 22 years old, free for kids under 10.
• Address: 6 Kasem San 2 Alley, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330.

➤ Baiyoke Tower II

Bangkok's Baiyoke II tower is rightly hailed as the tallest in the city. It has parking and comfortable rooms. Plenty of retail and office space. The 309-meter structure sits on an area of 179,400 square meters. It was built in mid-1997 and the antenna was finished in 1999.

You can see the city's magnificent panorama from the observation deck on the 77th floor. Near the store there's a working post office box where they sell postcards. Tourists can send a message anywhere.

• Working time: 9 a.m. to 23 p.m. every day.
• Cost: free admission, room for one night is 10,9€.
• Address: Thanon Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Thailand.

➤ Museum of Contemporary Art

In Thailand's capital city, a museum complex dedicated to contemporary art opened in 2012. It was founded by billionaire Boonchai Bencharongkul. He spent more than 30 years collecting the exhibits.

This exhibition features 400 paintings by contemporary artists from the founder's collection. There are a lot of paintings by master Thai brush painters that show a half-century of Thai history. The gallery occupies a five-story building that covers 20,000 square meters.

• Working time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Cost: 6,8€ for adults.
• Address: 499, Kamphaengpet 6th Road Lad Yao, Chatuchak.

➤ MahaNakhon

MahaNakhon Tower is Bangkok's tallest building. The 77-story tower is 314 meters tall. The building has an unusual «pixel facade» with separate sections, as if made by aliens. It makes it look like it's falling down.

The observation deck is popular with visitors. Not just tourists can be impressed by the views of the city.

• Working time: 10 a.m. to midnight.
• Cost: 23,9€ for adults, 6,8€ for children under 12.
• Address: 114 Naradhiwat Rajanagarindra Rd, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500.

➤ Wat Phra Chetuphon

It's in the oldest temple in Bangkok, founded in the 12th century. The site marks the beginning of the royal dynasty and the proclamation of Rama I as king. There's also a stupa here, and symbols of future monarchs in the Chakri dynasty.

Despite its somewhat strange appearance, the Buddha sculpture is considered a shrine. Traditional spiritual teachers take a lotus pose, but here he's waiting for enlightenment, leaning his head on his hand.

• Working time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
• Cost: 13,6€ for adults.
• Address: 2 Sanamchai Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand.

➤ Chinatown

Chinatown is in the old city, particularly in the south. Before large malls, it was a gathering place for merchants from all over Bangkok, and locals would go there every day. It's still popular.

A number of tourists visit the area each year. It shows the true spirit of Chinese life back then. Even China doesn't have an authentic place like that. Red lanterns, dragons, and hieroglyphic signs decorate the streets of the district, creating a magical atmosphere.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• Address: Yaowarat Road, Bangkok.

➤ Giant Swing

Bangkok's Giant Swing is seen as a religious symbol. These were in front of the entrance to another shrine – the temple complex Wat Sutkhat. Burmese ceremonies were held there not long ago. Now it's just a tourist spot.

The landmark was built by Rama I in mid-1784. However, it stands in front of the Devasatan Temple. After lightning struck, the «swing» ceremony was abandoned, and the swings were moved to where tourists can enjoy them today.

• Working time: 24/7.
• Cost: free.
• Address: 239 Dinso Rd, Bang Khun Phrom, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand.

➤ Siam Paragon Shopping Mall

There are three huge shopping centers, Center, Discovery, and Paragon, which are connected by special passageways. It has over 1,000 stores, cafes, and entertainment venues.

Only Siam Paragon is a world-class shopping mall in Bangkok. The scale and architectural sophistication take your breath away. Visitors are greeted by dancing fountains at the entrance, which are a favorite spot for young tourists. On the lower level there's an oceanarium that's really popular.

• Working time: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Cost: free.
• Address: 991 Siam Paragon Rama 1 Rd. shopping center, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330.