Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand - Apr 25 - May 07, 2024
How to get from Bangkok Airport to Downtown
Travelling from
Suvarnabhumi Airport to downtown Bangkok was very easy and cheap. It can be
done by public transit, either by bus, shuttle bus or by Airport Rail Link. As
our hotel was centrally located, in Chinatown, we took the Aiport Rail Link (ARL
Brown line) to Makkasan station and then we walked to Pretchabury station where
we got onto Blue Line to Wat Mangkon station, 250 meters from our
hotel. But from the Brown Line you can connect easily with other metro lines
that will take you anywhere in the city. Before getting on the Blue line MRT
Metro, knowing that we will use this line the most, we got elders cards (over
60 years old) from the ticket office. This reduced our tickets price by 50% and
it was more convenient than to keep buying individual tickets every time.
Public transportation in Bangkok
Bangkok has a very good
public transit system. They have the ARL line, the MRT with two metro lines and
two monorail lines and also the BTS Skytrain with two lines.
In addition, they have an extensive network of public buses, more than one hundred, covering all Bangkok area and even cheaper than the subway. The cost of the buses is slightly different depending if the bus is air-conditioned or not. Some have only fans but we used them and they are very fast, cheap and effective. We paid for the tickets on the bus. You get on the bus, take your seat and then a tickets person comes to you to sell you the tickets while the bus already departed the station.
One of the cheapest ways to travel in Bangkok is by ferry or boats. The most popular with tourist is Chao Phraya Tourist Boat, a hop on hop off boat that costs 150 Bhat per person per day but can be used also as a normal ferry for few stops and the ride will be 30 Bhat. Even cheaper is the Chao Phraya Express Boat with its orange, red green and yellow lines depending of their routes. We travelled a lot by the Orange ferry and the cost was 16 Bhat per person.
Must-see attractions in Bangkok
Being first-timers in
Thailand we planned mostly attractions from Bangkok, museums, temples, malls,
parks but also a few day trips outside the city.
Chinatown
It is one of the largest
Chinatowns in the world and one of the liveliest places in Bangkok, both during the day
and at night. Stretching on and around Yaowarat Road, Chinatown Night Market
offers a unique experience especially after dark, when each little alley and
side road is filled with crowds of people, lots of shops and food stalls with numerous dishes to choose from.
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Not intentionally, but once
there we realized that our hotel was situated in the middle of Chinatown’s
bustle.
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The Palace, a complex of
historical buildings, served as the actual royal residence of the Kings of
Siam, King Rama I to King Rama V, until 1925. Some royal ceremonies and
state functions are still held on the palace grounds every year.
Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew Temple)
The Grand Palace is divided
into two main zones, the royal residence and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
The emerald Buddha figurine inside is made from one solid piece of green jade,
clothed in gold and diamonds. The Temple is regarded as the most sacred in
Thailand.
Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles
Also within the grounds of the Grand Palace is the Museum of Textiles that displays the Royal Wardrobe of Queen Sirikit.
Khon Performance at the Royal Theatre
The performance is
included in the Grand Palace ticket cost of 500 Bhat per person, together with
the Emerald Buddha Temple and a visit to the Museum of Textiles. Royal Theatre
provides a one-way shuttle from the Grand Palace grounds to the theatre where
there are 25 minutes’ performances daily from Monday to Friday. We chose to
walk to the theatre instead of waiting for the shuttle. The
masked dance performance was done by skilled dancers wearing colorful silk costumes
and nice crafted masks and was a display of authentic Thai culture and
rituals.
It is one of the most iconic
tourist attractions in Bangkok and the highest observation deck in Thailand. Our
experience started as soon as we stepped in the fast video-themed elevator that
took us at the Observatory on level 74. From there we had views of the city in all
directions. The outdoor observation deck was on level 78, at 310-meter-high and
we got there via a hydraulic glass lift. Once on top, with butterflies in my stomach, I walked across “The Glass Tray”, a see-through glass floor. From the
glass floor you can climb few more steps and be able to enjoy 360 degree views
of Bangkok. The tickets cost 880 Bhat per person but they also offer Senior
(Age 60+) tickets for 350 Bhat, so we saved a lot.
Bangkok Art and Culture Center
We took a break from the
heat outside and visited this contemporary arts centre, a place with commercial
art galleries, craft shops, book shops, cafes.
A very educational visit
for us as the museum showcases the history of Thailand, with exhibits from
different periods of time. The museum displays various cultural and
ethnological objects, ceramics, carved ivory, textiles, old royal
transportation and weapons, gold treasures or funeral chariots that can be
found in more than 20 rooms. The cost of the tickets was 200 Bhat per person.
The monument celebrates the
Siamese coup d’état from 1932, that resulted in the formation of a
constitutional monarchy.
A short street in Bangkok,
famous for its nightlife and entertainment, with lots of bars, and known to be the city’s Red Light District.
While walking to the Golden
Mount Temple, we passed by Mahakhan Fort, one of the two remaining historic
forts of Rattanakosin Island (historic area and the site of the Grand Palace).
Situated on the banks of Chao Phraya River, it is an original fort built to guard the Rattanakosin city.
Visiting Ancient City was an
easy day trip from Bangkok. The cheapest way was taking BTS Skytrain- Sukhumvit
Line towards Kheha and then getting down to Kheha Station which was the last
stop. We followed Exit 3 and after climbing down the stairs we hopped on
Bus 36, (songthaew). The buses are usually waiting there. We told the driver where we wanted to go, paid 10 Bhat per person and in 10 minutes arrived at our destination.
This museum park is considered the largest private outdoor museum, occupying over 200 acres and constructed in the shape of the map of Thailand. Scale models and replicas of ancient ruins and historical monuments are spread throughout the park. Because of the large area covered, people can opt to rent a golf cart and bicycles for a fee or to take the free tram, all offered at the entrance to the park. We choose to walk through the park in order to see most of the attractions. It took us four hours to cover everything after walking about 17 km. When we almost finished, had a stop at Pavilion One Restaurant for a buffet lunch. The price of the lunch was included in our advance online ticket from Klook, together with the Erawan Museum for 26.40 CAD per person.
Getting to the museum is easy, by
taking the BTS Skytrain - Sukhumvit Line. The giant three-headed elephant
display is considered the first and biggest hand-crafted sculpture in the
world. The museum has three levels representing the underworld, human earth and
heaven. The amazing interior has many antique sculptures and a stunning
stained-glass ceiling. Outside, the museum is surrounded by beautiful tropical
gardens and ponds. The cost of a ticket is 400 Bhat but we purchased it in a
combo ticket with The Ancient City and it was cheaper.
Most beautiful temples in Bangkok
Among the must see
attractions in the city, there are many Bangkok temples that should be included.
Temple of the Dawn (Wat Arun Temple)
This temple is probably the
most visited and famous temple in Bangkok after the Emerald Buddha (found on the
Grand Palace grounds). The temple is situated on the west bank of Chao Phraya River and because of its location, stunning architecture, colourful design
and illumination at night, it is probably one of the most photographed temple in
Bangkok. The entrance fee is 200 Bhat.
Temple of The Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho Chetuphon)
Located next to the Grand
Palace, it is one of the largest temple complexes in the city. Wat Pho houses
the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand and the largest reclining
Buddha in the country. At 46 meters long this statue is completely covered in
gold leaf. The entrance fee was 300 Bhat per person.
Temple of The Golden Buddha (Wat Traimit WithayaramWorawihan)
This was the first temple
we visited in Thailand , found in Chinatown area. Even if not as large
as other temples, Wat Traimit houses the largest solid Buddha image weighing
five and a half tons.
Wat Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram
A beautiful temple with
colourful tiled rooftops, golden spires and a golden chedi at the center,
topped with a golden ball.
The Golden Mount Temple (Saket Temple)
The temple is situated on
the only hill in Bangkok and it takes 320 steps to the top which offers amazing
panoramic views.
One of the attractions of this
Buddhist temple is the main chapel painted with beautiful 19th
century murals.
This temple is known for
its metal castle, a 7-storey building with 37 iron spires. In the middle of the
castle is a spiral staircase that takes you to beautiful views on top.
Royal Pavilion Mahajetsadabadin
A great looking place near
Democracy Monument, built for the king to meet royal visitors.
A very colourful Hindu
temple, carved with Hindu gods and goddesses.
Wat Prayurawongsawat Worawihan
Located near the Memorial
Bridge, this temple has a large round white chedi with a diameter of 50 meters and a height of 60 meters.
Wat Phitchaya Yatikaram Worawihan
A Buddhist temple with a
nice architecture that reflects Chinese influences. Inside the main 42 metres
high tower are four seated Buddha images looking out at each of the four
cardinal directions.
The temple is situated on
the banks of Chao Phraya river and was built in the shape of a Chinese sailing
ship. The two chedis on deck represent the masts of the boat and the altar to
the rear represents the wheel house.
It is one of the most
popular Hindu shrines in downtown Bangkok. Located in a busy intersection in
Bangkok busiest commercial district, this small shrine was full with
worshippers at the time of our visit.
Located next to Yaowarat Road
in Chinatown, this colourful shrine is dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy.
Located near the Temple of
the Emerald Buddha, it is the city’s foundation pillar. With a top shaped like a
crown, it was raised when King Rama I established Bangkok as the capital of
Thailand.
To get to Ayutthaya we left early, in order to catch an morning train and have more time there. Starting
in 2023, all the long distance trains leave from the new ultra modern train
station, Krung Thep Aphiwat Terminal Station (Bang Sue Grand Station). After travelling by MRT Blue Line from Wat Mangkon station in Chinatown to Bang Sue Station for about 40 minutes, we followed the signs to the train station. We walked through an underground walkway for about 1 km, missed a turn and found ourselves outside. But the station was in front of us so we just crossed the lines. Having purchased the
tickets already the day before from the other train station, Hua Luampong, we
proceeded to our gate.
The ride was close to one hour with the Express train. The ticket cost for us was 241Bhat per person, one way, because we purchased advance tickets. We could have purchased tickets for only Bhat 20 per person, one way, if we waited to purchase them from the ticket office one hour before the departure. Travelling to new places and not knowing the boarding procedure or how long it will take us to get to the train station, we preferred to pay extra for the piece of mind. We will know next time.
After arriving in
Ayutthaya, we walked 250 meters from Ayutthaya Train Station to East Passenger Ferry Landing and took the ferry across the
river, for 10 Bhat. In Ayutthaya we walked to all the temples, overall we
walked 16 km and it took us 3 hours and 30 minutes.
The place is managed as an historical park but it is actually the premises of the historic City of Ayutthaya. The City was founded in 1350 and was the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom. What we visited were the actual ruins of the old city of Ayuttaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We could not visit all the temples in the area, since it will probably take two days to do it but the temples we visited were impressive and made us feel we were back in time.
Wat Phra Mahathat – known mainly for the famous sand-stone head of the Buddha image
entwined in the tree’s roots.
Wat Ratchaburana – situated opposite to Wat Phra Mahathat and famous for its detailed
decorated main pagoda.
Wat Thammikarat – the main ruins are a large bell-shaped chedi guarded by lion figures, a massive sermon hall with large columns and a few pieces of Buddha images inside.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet – an important temple during Ayutthaya old times, with three iconic chedis.
Wat Lokaya Sutharam – a 42-metres long old Buddha, the biggest reclining Buddha in Ayutthaya is in perfect condition, with its head supported by a platform in the shape of a lotus.
Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit – a restored Buddhist monastery with a large bronze Buddha image inside.
Wat Phra Ram – temple with a Cambodian-style prang (carve tower-like spire) that served as the burial of the first king of the Kingdom of Ayuttaya.
While visiting the temples
we also stopped at Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Krall, to see and feed the elephants. The Krall is a
historic place, as during Ayutthaya period the catching elephants was considered
a festive activity by the royal family.
Best malls in Bangkok
Bangkok malls are among the
biggest and most luxurious in the world. Called mega-malls, they have hundreds
of stores and some of the best food courts we have ever seen.
They are two many to visit during a trip but here are some of the best we
visited.
More than just a mall, it is a large complex that offers something for everyone, shopping, entertainment and residential spaces. The Wisdom Hall with its four 16-metre-tall golden pillars and the Patterned Sculptures on the third floor or the Golden Teardrop Chandelier are only some of the art pieces displayed inside the mall. On the top floor, the free Napalay Sky terrace offers some of the best views of the Chao Phraya River waterfront. In front of the mall is River Park, a community space, busy with tourists and locals enjoying the view of the river.
In the evening we watched the Iconic Multimedia Water Features show, one of the longest water
fountain show in Southeast Asia. Hundreds of shops, authentic Thai food courts,
artistic restrooms and everything we have seen made our visit to this mall a unique experience.
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This mall has two locations
in Bangkok and we visited the newest Rama 3 location situated along the river.
All the mall’s floors are themed floors, designed and decorated to represent
different cities: Paris, London, Istanbul, Tokyo, San Francisco or Hollywood. The mall has also one of the best food courts, a large supermarket,
nicely decorated washrooms.
Different from the other
malls, it is similar to a street market, with vendors selling everything at slightly higher prices as you can enjoy shopping without the heat and the crowds
from outside.
One of the city’s luxury
malls with a contemporary architecture.
Located close to the Royal Theatre, we spent some time here
while waiting for the Khon Performance to start.
Asiatique The Riverfront Market
This shopping and
entertainment complex located in a warehouse, is a mall and a night market with
an outdoor covered dining area. Situated along the river, with its own pier,
the market has many little shops and boutiques selling everything from clothes to
hand crafts and souvenirs. On the pier, you can see the Asiatique Sky, a ferris
wheel, the Mistery House, a carousel and the Sirimannahop Tall Ship, the place offering shopping, food and entertainment for everyone.
Most popular markets in Bangkok
Considered the world
largest weekend market, Chatuchak Market is a place where you could spend all
day shopping and eating. The market is divided in 27 sections and sells
everything, souvenirs, clothes, crafts, Thai foods, cosmetics, furniture and where you can haggle to get the best prices.
Located inside Patpong, one
of Bangkok’s famous red-light districts, this busy market is another good place
to shop and bargain for cheap prices and to eat some of the best street foods
in the city.
Train Night Market DanNeramit (former Jodd Fairs)
This market was less
crowded than others, had more space between the vendor stalls, plenty of varied
good foods and a life size castle where we could ascend to the top for good
views of the market and the skyscrapers surrounding it.
We booked Maeklong Railway
Market as a day trip excursion through Viator, together with Damnoen Saduak
Floating Market and it cost us only about 42 Canadian dollars per person. The trip was
done in an air-conditioned 15-person mini van and the Thai guide was really
friendly, trying to make our trip a special experience. After about 1 hour 40
minutes driving from Bangkok, we stopped first at a salt farm and learned about its importance for Thai people. Then we walked to a local train station where we boarded the local train for a ride through the market.
We alighted from the train when we arrived and followed the guide to a safe spot where we could stand on the sides of the railway to watch the train coming through the market. We knew about this market from a TV travel documentary, the vendors gathering their merchandise or fresh foods quickly until the train passes and setting them on the ground again after and how close they are to the train tracks. But to experience it in person, both from the train and then on the ground, it was really an amazing experience.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
From the train market we
drove another 30 minutes and arrived at Damnoen Saduak, one of the
Thailand’s largest and most famous floating markets. The long tail paddle boats
were included and we were boarded on the boats right away. The boats moved
gently along the canal so we could observe all the vendors along the canal or in
the boats selling their produce, fruit, drinks, foods or souvenirs and had the
opportunity to buy if we wanted. After the boat trip ended we had some free
time to eat and shop until we departed. Both markets were authentic Thai
life experiences and left us with good memories.
Best public parks in Bangkok
Even though Bangkok is a
big city, with skyscrapers, modern office buildings and raised concrete
transportation highways, there are still enough tranquil places where you can
get away from the busy city and relax.
Situated close to Chatuchak
Weekend Market, it is one of the oldest parks in Bangkok.
More like a botanical
garden with lots of trails, a free Butterfly Garden and Insectarium and a Bird
Watch Tower, it is located next to Chatuchak Park.
Situated in the middle of
the city, the park is busy with people of all ages performing recreational
activities, running, yoga, dancing, walking and is full of wildlife like birds,
squirrels, turtles or monitor lizards.
It was one of the parks we
enjoyed the most, with ground and elevated walkways, a lake offering good views
of the city, a forest park and a water park all in one place.
Bangkok City, Thailand
Bangkok is a city going through huge changes, mixture of old and new, modern, a city where historical temples and old abandoned buildings coexist with mega malls and modern skyscrapers. We visited mostly Bangkok attractions but Thailand is a developing country with an unique culture, friendly people and amazing cuisine, with a lot of other places to discover so we hope to come back in the future.
How to spend an evening in Singapore
On our way home from
Thailand we spent an overnight layover in Singapore. We arrived at our hotel at
6 in the afternoon and after settling into the room left to explore as much as
we could in the few hours we had. We knew our way around since we visited the
city in 2023.
Marina Bay
We walked around Marina Bay
by the Merlion Statue, on Jubilee Bridge, Waterfront Promenade and Helix Bridge, on our way to the Gardens of the Bay.
Gardens by the Bay-Gardens Rhapsody light show
The 15 minutes’ show
started at 7:45 pm and immediately after we were surprised to hear the
announcement of another 15 minutes’ show starting, Borealis, a show simulating
the Northern Lights sightings.
Marina Bay Sands- Spectra – A Light and Water Show
A short 1 km walk from the
Gardens of the Bay we looked for a good spot at the Events Plaza to watch the
free nightly 15 minutes 'outdoor show of fountain jets, laser projections, lava
and mist effects.
Changi Airport
The morning before
departing we wandered through the newly renovated Terminal 2 at Changi Airport and enjoyed some
of its attractions: Wonderfall, one of the newest attractions, a digital
waterfall surrounded by green walls, and two other amazing attractions we missed seeing last time we visited, Dreamscape and the Enchanted Garden.
Singapore is undergoing a continuing transformation into a Smart City, being considered the smartest city in the world. Constantly introducing smart technologies in all its sectors, mobility, transportation, contactless payment, travel, it is a city driven by digital innovation and technology that will keep us longing to return again and again.
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