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With a population of over eleven million, the capital city of Thailand, Bangkok is one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities. Beautiful temples, palaces, markets, and nightlife. Bangkok has it all. Bangkok stays warm throughout the year, making it ideal for tourism and one of the most traveler-friendly cities in the world.

If you are planning a trip to Bangkok, this guide is a must read. This is part 1 of 3 part series on Bangkok guide. In this guide, I will be listing down my Top places to see in Bangkok. I will publish a post on Bangkok shopping guide and food guide in the coming days. So stay tuned and subscribe to my blog to receive my latest posts right in your inbox.

Palaces

The Grand Palace

The official residence of the kings of siam is partially open to the public as a museum, but it remains a working palace, with several royal offices still situated inside. Open daily from 8.30 AM to 3.30 PM, The Grand Palace has immense size and is made up of many buildings, gardens, and courtyards. Expect to easily spend your whole morning and afternoon here. You can buy tickets on the official website.

Wat Phra Kaew

Wat Phra Kaew known in English as the temple of the Emerald Buddha is the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand. It is located within The Grand Palace. The Wat Phra Kaew is a collection of holy buildings. The main building is the central phra ubosot, which houses the statue of the Emerald Buddha, considered the most sacred Buddha image of Thailand.

Dusit Palace

The ticket to Grand palace gets you free entry into Dusit Palace in Dusit. The Palace was built between 1897 and 1901 Rama V to escape the heat of the Grand Palace.
There are two museums in Dusit Palace. Vimanmek Mansion, the oldest residential building of the Dusit Palace complex now serves as a museum. Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall now serves as Thai Handicraft Museum.

Temples

Wat Pho

Wat Pho is located directly south of the Grand Palace. The temple houses a large collection of Buddha images, including a 46m long reclining Buddha. The temple is the birthplace of Thai massage, which is still taught and practiced at the school of Thai medicine located in the temple compound.

Wat Arun

After visiting Wat Pho, take the ferry across Chao Phraya River to Thonburi to reach Wat Arun. The main structure of the Temple is its central prang. The central prang is decorated with colorful porcelain and with a height between 66 to 86 meter (different sources).

Keep your camera handy as this is one of the most picturesque Temple in Bangkok. The Temple is easily recognizable as it is the logo of the TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand).

Museums

Jim Thompson House

Located near Siam Square, Jim Thompson’s House is a Museum housing the art collection of American businessman and architect Jim Thompson. The Museum was built in 1959 and after Thompson’s disappearance in 1967, has been under the control of The James H. W. Thompson Foundation.

The Museum consists of a combination of six traditional Thai-styled houses and is very popular among tourists. The Museum is open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Bangkok National Museum

The Bangkok National Museum is the main branch of the National Museums in Thailand. The Museum contains galleries showcasing Thai history and archaeological remains. This Museum is a must visit, if you are a history buff.

The Museum of Siam

Established in 2007, The Museums of Siam teaches the history of Thailand and their relationships with foreign cultures. The Museums has many interactive exhibits showing the development of Thailand from the past to the present. If you are not into the history of Thailand, do give it a miss. But I recommend it as it presents a different perspective of Thailand for foreigners.

Art Galleries

National Gallery

Art lovers should head to National Gallery located Chao Fa Road in Bangkok’s historic Phra Nakhon District. The gallery showcases traditional Thai art and Western-influenced portraiture of the 19th century.

Bangkok Art and Culture Center

Bangkok Art and Culture Centre has risen in popularity over the past decade. With over 2 million yearly visitors the center has provided Bangkok an operational base on the international art scene. The center includes cafes, commercial art galleries, bookshops, craft shops, and an art library. Check out the events on the official website.

Family attractions and Parks

Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World

The Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World is one of the top tourist attraction of Bangkok and is the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia. With over 8000 sea creatures and over 110,000 sq ft of space, the aquarium is a must visit. The aquarium also features a 270-degree glass tunnel and a glass-bottomed boat. The aquarium is open every day from 10 AM to 9 PM. You can buy tickets on the official website.

Lumphini Park

Lumphini Park offers rare open public space in Bangkok. The park has an artificial lake where visitors can rent boats. The Park is popular among joggers and the can be found in abundance during the morning or evening hours.

Do tell me your thoughts on my post in the comment section. I am always looking for suggestions and tips from my readers. I will be publishing part 2 of the series covering Shopping in Bangkok in the coming days. If you have not subscribed to my blog, please subscribe to get all the lates posts in your inbox.

If you are looking to book flights to Bangkok, do look at my ultimate guide on how to book the best flight in your budget. Remember no Magic tricks just pure research. Also, do check out my Paris travel guide.