This was our first time in Bangkok and it was a blast. We spent 4 days, 3 nights in the capital of Thailand and with little time, we tried to see all the city had to offer. The city is bustling with tuk-tuks, food stands, and the sheer volume of people everywhere. It’s the metropolitan city of the country and even though it may seem crowded and busy, the people are friendly to tourists and we felt completely safe! Read on for our list of must-see-must-do’s in Bangkok, Thailand.
Hotel
We checked into our hotel – the S-Box Sumkhumvit, which is relatively center to the city and is quite accessible. It is less than 10 minutes of walking to the nearest SkyTrain BTS station; Phung Phrom. If you’re really lazy, there are motorcycle taxis right outside the hotel to take you around the city as well.
The price for a night on average was $50 CAD, which is quite affordable! We found it very similar to a boutique hotel; with the building having no more than 10 floors. Rooms are on the smaller side but it’s definitely enough for 2 people. Most importantly, the staff are friendly and willing to help with whatever you need – baggage, hailing taxis, booking tours, or giving recommendations for restaurants and attractions. Last but not least, they provide complimentary breakfast – eggs, sausages, and pastries served with coffee and juice.
Food
The one best thing to do in Bangkok is stuff yourself with delicious food! You will find many options for food but rather than going into for a sit-down meal, we always tend to be more adventurous and try the street foods. They also have tea shops on almost every street where you can get a Thai Milk Tea which is absolutely delicious, not to mention super refreshing! It is also more affordable to eat from the street stands rather than restaurants.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try some protein-filled insects! We found a stand in the Chinatown area which had salted fried insects. The stand served larvae, silk worms, cockroaches, and even scorpions! We braved through everything except the cockroach and although I can’t say we loved it, it wasn’t disgusting either. It was memorable, to say the least!
Here is a list of must-eats in Bangkok (in no particular order):
- Mango Sticky Rice
- Pad Thai or Pad Siu Noodles
- Coconut Ice Cream
- Fried Crabs
- Grilled Honey Pork Chops
- Tom Yum Goong Soup
Temples
When in Bangkok, you have to see at least a few temples. They are magnificent and worth the journey. Most of the famous ones are within the city and is either easily accessible by the SkyTrain BTS Metro system or it is less than 30 minutes in a taxi.
Wat Pho
One the most famous land marks is the Wat Pho – Temple of the Reclining Buddha. We spent around 2 hours in this complex so plan your day accordingly. The buddha stretches more than 45 metres long! It is definitely a must-see!
- Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 – 17:00 (Massage available until 18:00)
- Admission Fee: 100 baht
- Location
The temple resides in a large complex which also has a few other things to do:
- Get a massage at the Traditional Massage School. TIP: If you are planning to get a massage (foot or full body), go to the school first and book a timeslot as there is usually a waiting list. They will tell you to wait 45 minutes or so, which gives you enough time to explore the complex.
- See the many buddhas around the complex as there are a thousand of them!
- Check out the souvenir store which also has some Thai snacks and drinks to freshen up
- Take pictures of the amazing architectural work, including stupas, shrines, statues, gardens, pavilions, and more!
Wat Arun
From Wat Pho, we walked to the pier and took a water taxi across the river. There will be signs that point towards Wat Arun. If you have any doubts, ask one of the staff who will be more than willing to guide you in the right direction. Once you get off the water taxi, there is really only one path that leads you to the entrance of the Wat Arun temple. There is a small admission fee of 50 Baht, which you pay to get your ticket. You then go to the entrance gate where they check your ticket which grants you access to the temple grounds.
- Opening Hours: 08:00 -17:30
- Admission Fee: 50 Baht
- Location
Wat Arun is also known as Temple of the Dawn. It is considered one of most beautiful landmarks in Bangkok. The name comes from the fact that during the break of dawn, this temple will be one of the first buildings to catch its light and reflect it off to the rest of the city. However, when we visited this landmark, it was still absolutely stunning during sunset. You have the option of climbing the central pavilion but beware that the stairs get steeper as you go up. Wear comfortable shoes and remember to cover up if you plan to go inside the temple.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ-qCC2gXGl/?taken-by=jho._
Night Markets
If you ever visited Thailand, you will know that night markets are absolutely worth visiting. Some of them are only opened during the weekends (such as the Chatuchak Weekend Market) so be sure to check their opening hours online. Night markets in Thailand is not just for shopping or just for food – it gives you a full experience (shopping, food, bars, and massages) in one place!
Here is one tip I have to mention – ALWAYS BARGAIN! My rule of thumb is always start at half of what they are pricing their items at. You will work your way to about 25-40% of the original price. Don’t be discouraged if the vendor does not want to lower any further because chances are, you will find the same product 50 meters down the same aisle. If not, you can always go back. It’s always about finding a great deal!
After walking for a few hours, you’ll find that your feet might be hurting. Fear not! There are many massage vendors in the night market that will give you a quick foot massage (30 minutes) for only 150 Baht. If you would like to opt for a full body traditional Thai massage, it would cost around 250 to 300 Baht. The prices are quite standardized from place to place so you wouldn’t be able to negotiate much for the massages.
Here are 3 of the markets that we visited over our weekend trip.
1. Patpong Night Market
Known as one of the entertainment districts, the Patpong night market is also a popular place for tourists who want a bit of shopping and partying. We found that the set up of the market was quite interesting. In the middle of the street would be your typical night market with pop-up shops and stands selling various goods and products. On the outer ends, you will find bars and clubs with promoters trying to reel you in for a drink.
There are also men holding laminated papers and booklets promoting a variety of shows and while they do seem aggressive, if you politely decline, they will stop bothering you.
While it was worth the visit and was interesting to feel the atmosphere of Patpong market, it didn’t appeal to us as much as the other markets we visited. However, if you’re more of a nightlife person, then Patpong might be the place for you!
2. Chatuchak Night Market
This is by far the biggest market I’ve ever visited. It is only open on weekends and consists of thousands – yes, thousands – of vendors both occupying space indoors and out on the streets. If you are visiting Bangkok over the weekend, I highly recommend coming here for at least 3-4 hours simply because you will need that time to go through and see all the various shops and stands. They sell everything from clothes, shoes, and socks, to toys, gadgets, and passport covers. You’ll find places to sit down for food as well as some bars that can stir up a refreshing cocktail for you.
3. Taling Chan Boat Market
We visited the Taling Chan market on our second day and one of the unique features is that it has a section dedicated to vendors on boats. The vendors would set up their goods on their boats and you can buy fruits and produce from them directly from the pier. There are also restaurants where the kitchens also sit on the boats and you can see them cooking in their fishing boat – a very interesting sight. Without a doubt, the seafood dishes come recommended but they also have various traditional Thai foods such as black bean sticky rice in bamboo and more familiar foods such as fried chicken or grilled corn.
Since the market is by the river, they also offer boat tours every hour. Each ticket (on a public boat) costs about 75 Baht. It lasts an hour or so and you will sit in one of the long tail boats which takes you down the river to a temple. What’s interesting is that you get to see some of the local lifestyles of the people who live there. You will literally see houses on water and canals that look like roads for boats with street signs.
On the way back, the guide will stop by a fish-feeding station where you can purchase loaves of bread to feed the fish in the river (20 Baht per loaf) as well as a dessert station if you are a fan of bamboo sticky rice with coconut milk.
With only 4 days’ worth of time, we tried to see as much as we could, do as much as could, and without a doubt – eat as much as could. While we were out and about in Bangkok, I have to say Thai folks are very friendly and you will see smiles everywhere you go. I will agree with almost all of you who will say that 4 days isn’t enough – because it actually wasn’t! However, we made the best of our trip and while it was short, it was definitely exciting, adventurous, and very satisfying. Needless to say, Thailand is a lovely country and I hope to visit again in the near future.
