One Day in Bangkok

The Grand Palace, the residence of royals for several generations, is the perfect place to begin your historical tour in Bangkok. It houses one of the holiest Buddhist temples, Wat Phra Kaew, built in 1782. With over 100 buildings in its complex, the Grand Palace is home to some of Thailand’s finest structures. Plan to spend around 2 hours here.

An ancient structure dating back to the battles between the former Siam and Burma, Wat Arun is a place of worship with a rich past. Also known as the Temple of Dawn, the place was built by the remaining survivors and General Taksin. The temple is a massive structure with a key highlight being the 82m-high rahng (Khmer-style tower).

Wat Pho is a famous temple located immediately south of the Grand Palace precinct in Bangkok. The place is renowned for being the headquarters for teaching and preserving traditional Thai medicine. The temple is largely visited to view the large reclining Buddha within, thus also known as the 'Temple of the Reclining Buddha'. The temple also houses the country's most extensive collection of Buddha images.

The river of kings, Chao Phraya River is Thailand's prime river and waterway, used by an average of 50,000 commuters daily. The ferry rides on the Chao Phraya River are immensely popular among tourists. You can either book a hop-on-hop-off ticket on Chao Phraya Tourist Boat for THB 350 or book a 2-hour tour which also covers the canals of Thonburi. If booking the 2-hour tour, skip Wat Arun in the morning, as the boat stops at the temple.

Khao San Road, famously known as the backpacker's haven, is a 410-meter-long street in central Bangkok that will cater to your needs! Street food stalls, bars, shops, restaurants, nightclubs, cafes and massage parlours are all packed into this street. This road is also one of the most famous night markets in Bangkok.

Located along Yaowarat Road, Chinatown is a Chinese cultural and commercial hub. It is mainly known for its exotic culinary experience of street foods, several Buddhist temples, and traditional wooden shops selling Chinese goods. It is best to visit Chinatown at night, which is when it is vibrant with neon lights and chaotic fun.

Bangkok after dark spreads across a few distinct areas rather than one strip. Sukhumvit's side sois hold the rooftop bars and the clubs, Thonglor is where the city's own twenty-somethings drink, and Khao San is backpacker territory and unapologetic about it. Rooftops close earlier than you expect and enforce dress codes, so leave the flip-flops at the hotel.

The king of markets in Bangkok, and one of the largest markets in the world, Chatuchak is spread over 35 acres with more than 8,000 stalls. Everything from clothing, accessories, handicrafts, furniture, art, food, books, antiques and other interesting souvenirs is available here. It is divided into 27 sections (each intended to sell a different kind of product, although these sections often overlap).