Melo Villareal
Best of Thailand: Top 17 Best Things to Do and See in Bangkok
(Bangkok, Thailand) The allure of Bangkok to the world is evident through the country’s position as one of the world’s most visited cities. According to one survey done in 2016, the city is ahead of London in terms of overnight visitors.
Being in Bangkok isn’t limited to a Thai massage (although that will be nice) or visiting temples. Bangkok’s nightlife, shopping, and other cultural spots are frequented by tourists all year round. What’s more, the locals’ captivating smiles also form new friendships that make tourists want to return to the city again.
Here are some of the best things to do in Bangkok.
Go on a Foodie Tour
Being in Bangkok will give you the most incredible foodie experience with many options. Eating street food is so popular in Bangkok, but there are upscale restaurants too. You’ll find dishes from Pad Thai, Thai Salad, Mango Sticky Rice, or coconut cassava cake. The street foods of Bangkok offer fast and cheap eats, while upscale restaurants offer a quieter and more sophisticated take on dishes.
Visit the Floating Market
The Floating Market is a market concept where boats are used by market sellers to offer their goods. It’s an exciting way to eat as you can find the food sellers riding their boats and call them so they can whip out something special for you. The Floating Markets of Bangkok have been around for ages to trade goods when there weren’t roads built yet.
Tour the Grand Palace and the Reclining Buddha
The Grand Palace used to be the King’s home and the office of the Thailand government. It consists of 214,000 sq. meters, so you’ll have to dedicate enough time to roam it.
Wat Pho’s main attraction is its reclining Buddha, which is 15m tall and 46 meters long. It features gold leaves all over its body, and you can find 108 bowls inside its temple. You’re allowed to buy coins for the bowls.
Go on a Water Taxi Ride in Bangkok
Ride the water taxi of Bangkok if you want to experience a thrilling adventure of the Chai Phraya River and the little canals it’s connected to. You’ll experience seeing the tall buildings of Bangkok through this ride. It’s also a great way to experience what the locals experience daily. There’s a blue flag boat for tourists, but it’s pricier than the orange one, which goes to the main piers.
Ride the Tuk Tuk
The tuk-tuk is a rickshaw using a small engine. It’s one of Bangkok’s popular means of transportation and is exciting, to say the least. It used to be the ride of Bangkok before other modes of transportation came. The tuk-tuk is an efficient way to smooth your way when there’s traffic. It’s pretty colorful, so you can take a selfie while riding but be mindful of your belongings.
Buy Flowers at the Flower Market
Pak Khlong Talat is a 24-hour market where various kinds of flowers used for decorations, attracting good fortune, and as an offering for religious and spiritual purposes are sold. They say that it started out as a floating market centuries ago. It’s called the flower market, but you can also find fruits and vegetables there. You can ride a taxi or tuk-tuk to get there from anywhere in Bangkok.
Get a Thai Massage
Buddhist monks developed the technique 2,500 years ago. Prepare your body to be relaxed through rhythmic movements to calm your muscles and nerves. You will undergo a series of techniques with your therapist, having you lay down with your face up or face down, seated or lying on your side. You will feel your mood elated after the massage but go to a reputable spa for your Thai massage.
Buy Souvenirs at Chatuchak Weekend Market
The market has been operating since 1942 and is known to many as JJ Market. There are more than 15,000 stalls, so any tourists who visit the place can buy things like food, plants, antiques, electronics, ceramics, etc. With that many kinds of items, it’s placed as the world’s largest and most diverse weekend market getting about 300,000 visitors each day. This is definitely one of the most recommended things to do in Bangkok. You can take the Skytrain or subway to Chatuchak Market.
Explore ICONSIAM Bangkok
ICONSIAM is a mixed-use development on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand. It includes a large shopping mall that opened to the public on 10 November 2018, with a hotel and residential buildings nearby. If you want to discover and shop for the best products from Thailand, Sook Siam on the ground floor is a must-visit place.
Discover Sathorn, Bangkok
Sathorn is located in the middle of Bang Rak, Pathun, Yan Nawa, and three other districts. It’s been increasingly popular through the years because of its attractions like restaurants and hotels. Bangkok Skytrain has routes in most parts of Sathorn. The old temple of Wat Yan Nawa is located in Sathorn. You must also see Sathorn’s skyline when you visit and check out The Blue Elephant Cooking School (restaurant).
Relax at Lumphini Park
Lumphini Park is Bangkok’s ‘Green Lung’, and it’s easy to see why. The 57.6-hectare park is full of trees that offer parkgoers a way to enjoy the city of Bangkok without harming the environment. People can rent boats at the artificial lake or run or biking because the park has many open spaces. The park is open until evening, and smoking isn’t allowed.
Party at Bangkok’s Rooftop Bars
Enjoying a few drinks with friends is more fun when you go to the rooftop bars, which you can find in most places in Bangkok. Some of these bars are on the 63rd floor, so you’ll have a magnificent view of the city. However, this adventure is not for the faint-hearted, as the buildings are incredibly tall. Sky Bar, Octave Rooftop Bar, and Vertigo are notable rooftop bars.
Watch a Kickboxing (Muay Thai) Competition
Muay Thai is Bangkok’s version of kickboxing, and when you’re in Bangkok, you should watch a competition to learn about the sport. Players of Muay Thai use numerous techniques which involve the whole body. You can watch a staged Muay Thai event called Muay Thai live or watch a real fight at Rajadamnern Stadium, which features a traditional setting. You can also watch it at Lumpinee Stadium.
Visit the Tigers at Dusit Zoo
Dusit Zoo is Thailand’s first zoo. A trip there lets you see unique attractions like the zoo, museum, and educational center. You can go sightseeing on a train ride and visit the animal hospital. The best part of the experience is seeing thousands of animal species, like albinos barking deer and Bengal tigers. You can go to the cafeteria, where several eateries can be found.
Celebrate Your First Songkran in Bangkok
Songkran is a yearly water festival (which also happens in other parts of Thailand) where people of all ages gather during the three days of the traditional Thai New Year for a massive water fight. There are street dancing, drinking, and lots of merrymaking. It’s a Buddhist celebration that started with a mild water fight that somehow turned into a huge event that even travelers from other countries join.
Be Amazed at the Bangkok Puppet Show
This may be the only puppet show which doesn’t hide its puppeteers, as they’re very much part of the show. Three puppeteers handle every puppet as they put it on display. The usual subject for each performance is a classic folktale, where an orchestra plays in the background providing a dramatic effect. You can see the Bangkok Traditional Puppet Show at Aksra Theater in Soi Rang Nam.
Bangkok is such a colorful place where every tourist can enjoy many attractions. What’s fascinating is that the locals are there to help in case you’re lost or looking for other places to visit.
Visit Bangkok Safari World
Bangkok Safari World is a tourist attraction in Bangkok, Thailand, consisting of two parks, Marine Park and Safari Park, operated by Safari World Public Limited. The park was opened in 1988 with a total area of 480 acres for its open zoo and 180 acres for its bird park.
Bangkok Tour Packages You Should Try
Let us know if you have other exciting things to do in Bangkok that you want us to include in this list. Safe Travels!
Also Read:
- Visit Amazing Thailand: Top 10 Best Things To Do In Thailand
- Bangkok – Awesome Place For Shopping And Relaxation
- Hotel Review: Sweet Stay At Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn In Bangkok
- Top 5 Luxury Hotels In Bangkok, Thailand
