Bangkok

Panfa Leelard Pier

This wat is becoming more and more off the beaten path as it is quite hard to walk here from the Grand Palace. Wat Suthat is huge and actually one of the most important temples for the Thai people.

BTS Sala Daeng· Free

The English-speaking international church community residing in the church actually dates from the 19th century, when the first Protestant missionaries came to Bangkok.

BTS National Stadium

The infamous CIA operative Jim Thompson revived the Thai silk industry after World War II and had this house assembled from six traditional Thai-style houses.

Tha Chang Pier

Now the central building of the National Museum, the Front Palace used to be an enormous complex stretching from the Chao Phraya River across Sanam Luang to Lot Canal. It was built in the 18th-century, along with the Grand Palace.

Memorial Bridge Pier

The Santa Cruz Church is an interesting Catholic church right at the banks of the Chao Phraya River. After the fall of Ayutthaya by a Burmese invasion, King Taksin commanded that the peoples who escaped had to settle down in Thonburi, the…

Tha Chang Pier, near the corner of Phra Chan Road and August 16 Road· Free

You might stumble across a tree on a pedestal when walking from Phra Chan Market to Thammasat University. Why is this tree placed on a pedestal and decorated with garlands?

Tha Chang Pier· Free

When Rattanakosin was established as Siam's capital, King Rama I designed this vast open field between the northern wall of the Grand Palace and the eastern wall of the former Wang Na Palace.

Panfa Leelard Pier

Wat Saket was built outside of the former city walls in the late 18th-century in the reign of King Rama I. It served as the capital's crematorium, and throughout the next century became the dumping ground of over 60,000 plague victims who…

from Yaowarat Rd, take a left at the Odeon Circle

This temple is one of the highlights of Yaowarat, but was built in a traditional Thai architectural style. It houses the Phra Phuttha Maha Suwan Patimakon (พระพุทธมหาสุวรรณปฏิมากร), the world's largest solid-gold Buddha image, which…

BTS Saphan Taksin, then take the Asiatique river ferry

The establishment of this theatre was inspired by Sakhon Yangkhieosot, or Joe Louis, who wished to preserve the art of operating Hun Lakhon Lek puppets.

780/488 Charoen Krung Rd, Bang Kho Laem

This company offers whole-day tours, which are slightly different whether you're taking them on weekdays or weekends. The weekday tour starts at the Wat Sai Morning Market and then takes you to an exotic orchid nursery, the Wat Pa Chang…

999/1 Moo 1 Survarnabhumi 4 Road Nongprue Bang Phli District Samut Prakan· Free

It is a 25-kilometer, one-way cycle path around Suvarnabhumi Airport. Planes land and take off nearby—sometimes right above you. They’re very strict about the rules: no kids, no strollers, and no pedestrians allowed, so you can go full…

MRT Thailand Cultural Centre exit 1

A fully integrated venue for social education and cultural activities. There aren't many foreigners in this area, so most of the shows are aimed at locals. It is a world-class centre that has room for more than 2,000 visitors.

Tha Tien Pier

A good way to combine relaxation and understanding Thai culture is by taking a traditional Thai massage inside the Wat Pho temple compound. Thai massage is considered a medical discipline in Thailand, used for the treatment of many kinds…

bus 26, 60, 71, 96 or 501, get off at Fashion Island, then take a taxi to Safari World

Safari World is Bangkok's greatest open zoo and leisure park. The 300-acre complex comprises a safari park that is populated by African and Asian mammals, a marine park with amusing performances of well-trained dolphins and seals, a bird…

203 Suan Siam Rd

The water amusement park section contains a man-made sea with towering slides. Most of the park area is now covered with amusement park rides, a dinosaur exhibit, a dinosaur diorama safari, an African diorama safari, children's…

MRT Thailand Cultural Centre exit 1, diagonally across from Thailand Cultural Centre

A state-of-the-art cultural performances centre, which uses modern technology integrated with old fashioned drama to depict the history of each region of Thailand.

Panfa Leelard Pier

When the locals want entertainment, they head to the stadium for some Thai boxing. Or Muay Thai, as the Thais call it. It is very expensive though, expect to pay 1,000 baht for an outer-ring seat, 1,500 baht for a middle-ring seat and…

Tha Chang Pier

Operating from Tha Chang pier, there offers plenty of tours on offer. All of them include Wat Arun, the Royal Barge National Museum and a floating market.

BTS Chit Lom

Opened in 2010 by Gaggan Anand, an Indian chef who wanted to refine Indian dining to the level of French cuisine. And he has succeeded. Gaggan was ranked as the best restaurant in Asia in 2015, 2016 and 2017 by Restaurant magazine.

Wang Lang Pier

This luxurious restaurant is in the traditional Thai residence of Khunying Supatra Singholaga, a successful businesswoman who started the express boat service in Bangkok and a leading figure in women's rights.

near the Yaowarat Rd and Yaowa Phanit Rd intersection

Tea lovers rejoice. This hidden gem has the best tea selection of Bangkok. Just picking a tea from the menu shows the wide array of varieties available. First the teas are split by country of origin and then roughly by colour.

BTS Sala Daeng

The most famous gay nightclub in Bangkok and busy almost every night, with ladyboy show, disco, dance performance. Jam-packed on weekends, do not enter if you're even slightly claustrophobic.

from Yaowarat Rd, walk into Phadung Dao Rd towards the river, then a left into Phat Sai Rd, pass the China Town Hotel

As always in Yaowarat, this coffee joint does not sell the usual latte or cappuccino. The special treat is Chaozhou coffee, a bittersweet Chinese brew.

inside the Wang Lang pier building

This cheap restaurant is strongly recommended for its cheap prices and great view over the Chao Phraya River. When it is dark, Bangkok's highlights along the river are well-lit, such as the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and Wat Kalayanamit.

in the middle of Soi Rambuttri

Quiet series of uninspired buildings with small rooms, its main draw is its relaxing rooftop swimming pool. However, their website neglects to mention that it shuts down at 18:00 despite alluring photographs suggesting otherwise.

Get off at Taksin BTS station to take shuttle boat to the hotel

396-room hotel on Chao Phraya River with shuttle boat, outdoor swimming pool, Fitness Center and 4 restaurants (River Barge Restaurant has a buffet with local and international dishes, fresh seafood, appetisers, main dishes, a live cooking…

BTS Victory Monument

Opened in 2007, this modern luxury hotel may be better value than other similarly priced hotels, though the buffet breakfast is wanting compared to other luxurious hotels.

in the middle of Soi Rambuttri

Lamphu House is a resort-style guest house. Even its cheapest rooms have bamboo beds and rattan lamps, giving it a modern and airy feel. Cheap rooms only have a fan, shared bathrooms and no windows, while the more expensive rooms have…

MRT Hua Lamphong exit 1 to Bangkok Center Hotel, cross the small bridge over the canal, turn left into Tri Mit Rd, pass Wat Trai Mit and turn left at the Arch into Charoen Krung Rd, walk on and turn right into Song Wat Rd, walk for a while and turn left into Soi Phanu Rangsri, then follow the signs

This hotel is really difficult to find. It is hidden from the chaos in a filthy residential neighbourhood, but that's the charm: it feels like a serene, tranquil and village-like atmosphere, which is quite unusual in the megalopolis of…

BTS Phloen Chit

This is one of the best backpacker hostels in the Sukhumvit area. There are 4-bed and 8-bed mixed and female-only dorm rooms, as well as 3- or 4-bed private rooms with shared baths. All rooms have air-conditioning.