Things to see in Bangkok

Museums & galleries

Grand Palace

The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam since 1782. The king, his court, and his royal government were based on the grounds of the palace until 1925. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, resided at the Chitralada Royal Villa and his successor King Vajiralongkorn resides at the Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, both in the Dusit Palace, but the Grand Palace is still used for official events. Several royal ceremonies and state functions are held within the walls of the palace every year. The palace is one of...

Views & landmarks

Baiyoke Tower II

Baiyoke Tower II is an 88-story, 309 m (1,014 ft) skyscraper hotel at 222 Ratchaprarop Road in the Ratchathewi District of Bangkok, Thailand. It is the third tallest completed building in the city, after MahaNakhon and Magnolias Waterfront Residences at ICONSIAM. The building comprises the Baiyoke Sky Hotel, the tallest hotel in Southeast Asia and the seventh-tallest hotel in the world.

Nature

Rattanakosin Island

Rattanakosin Island is a historic area in the Phra Nakhon District in the city of Bangkok, Thailand. It is bordered by the Chao Phraya River to the west and multiple canals to the east that were dug to serve as moats for what was originally the fortified city center. Situated on the eastern convex bank of a meander in the Chao Phraya River, the island is the site of the Grand Palace and Bangkok's City Pillar Shrine, among other places of historical significance.

Museums & galleries

Bangkok National Museum

The Bangkok National Museum is the main branch museum of the National museums in Thailand and also one of the largest museums in Southeast Asia. It features exhibits of Thai art and history. It occupies the former palace of the vice king, set between Thammasat University and the National Theater, facing Sanam Luang.

Shopping & districts

Khaosan Road

Khaosan Road or Khao San Road is a short street in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is 410 metres (1,350 ft) in length and was constructed in 1892 during the reign of Rama V. It is in the Bang Lamphu area of Phra Nakhon District about 1 km (0.62 mi) north of the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew.

Parks & gardens

Lumphini Park

Lumphini Park, also Lumpini or Lumpinee, is a 360 rai park in Bangkok, Thailand. The park offers rare open public space, trees and playgrounds in the Thai capital and contains an artificial lake where visitors can rent boats. Paths around the park totalling approximately 2.5 km in length are a popular area for morning and evening joggers. Officially, cycling is only permitted during the day between the times of 10:00 am to 03:00 pm. There is a smoking ban throughout the park. Dogs are not allowed, except certified guide dogs only. Lumphini Park is regarded as the first public park in Bangkok a...

Shopping & districts

Chatuchak Weekend Market

The Chatuchak Weekend Market, on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, is the largest market in Thailand. Afectionately known as JJ Market, it has more than 15,000 stalls and 11,505 vendors (2019), divided into 27 sections. Chatuchak Market sells many different kinds of goods, including plants, antiques, consumer electronics, cosmetics, pets, fresh and dry food and drinks, ceramics, furniture and home accessories, clothing, and books. It is the world's largest and most diverse weekend market, with over 200,000 visitors every weekend.

Heritage & monuments

Democracy Monument

The Democracy Monument is a public monument in the city centre of Bangkok, capital of Thailand. It occupies a traffic circle on the wide east–west Ratchadamnoen Avenue, at the intersection of Dinso Road. The monument is roughly halfway between Sanam Luang, the former royal cremation ground in front of Wat Phra Kaew, and the temple of the Golden Mount.

Temples & religious sites

Erawan Shrine

The Erawan Shrine, formally the Thao Maha Phrom Shrine, is a shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, which houses a statue of Phra Phrom, the Thai representation of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. The name also refers to Mahabrahma, the ruler of the Brahma realm in Buddhist cosmology.

Parks & gardens

Sanam Luang

Sanam Luang, officially Thong Sanam Luang, is a 74.5 rai (119,200 m2) open field and public square in front of Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand. Sanam Luang is in the Phra Nakhon District, the historic center of Bangkok.

Castles & palaces

Dusit Palace

Dusit Palace is a compound of royal residences in Bangkok, Thailand. The palace was constructed over a large area north of Rattanakosin Island between 1897 and 1901 by King Chulalongkorn. The palace, originally called Wang Suan Dusit or 'Dusit Garden Palace' (วังสวนดุสิต), eventually became the primary place of residence of the King of Thailand, including King Chulalongkorn, King Vajiravudh, King Prajadhipok, King Bhumibol Adulyadej and King Vajiralongkorn. The palace covers an area of over 64,749 square metres (696,950 sq ft) and is dotted between gardens and lawns with 13 different royal res...

Heritage & monuments

Victory Monument

Victory Monument is a military monument in Bangkok, Thailand. The monument was erected in June 1941 to commemorate the Thai victory in the Franco-Thai War. The monument is in Ratchathewi District, northeast of central Bangkok, at the center of a traffic circle at the intersection of Phahonyothin, Phaya Thai, and Ratchawithi roads. The area is served by Victory Monument BTS station (N3) on the Sukhumvit Line of the BTS Skytrain, which is located above Phaya Thai road. The station opened on 5 December 1999.

Temples & religious sites

Assumption Cathedral

The Assumption Cathedral is the principal Catholic church of Thailand, located at 23 Oriental Avenue, New Road, in the Bang Rak District of Bangkok. It is the main church of the Archdiocese of Bangkok. The cathedral hosted both of the papal visits to Thailand: Pope John Paul II in 1984 and Pope Francis in 2019.

Parks & gardens

Chitralada Royal Villa

Chitralada Royal Villa is a royal villa located within Dusit Palace. This villa was permanent-residence of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the longest-serving monarch of Thailand and Queen Sirikit. He moved there after the death of his older brother, King Rama VIII in the Grand Palace. The palace grounds, which are surrounded by a moat and guarded by the royal guards, also contain the Chitralada School, initially established for the children of the royal family and palace staff. Chitralada Royal Villa has a Chitralada railway station which served for the royal family who lived in the villa. Prince Di...

Zoos & aquariums

Dusit Zoo

Dusit Zoo or popularly known as Khao Din Wana (เขาดินวนา) and Khao Din (เขาดิน) was a zoo in Bangkok, Thailand. Located at Khao Din Park in Bangkok's Dusit District next to the old parliament house and Dusit Palace, it was the oldest zoo in Thailand.

Museums & galleries

Bangkok Art and Culture Centre

Bangkok Art and Culture Centre is a contemporary arts centre in Siam area, Bangkok, Thailand. Art, music, theatre, film, design and cultural/educational events take place in its exhibition and performance spaces. The centre includes cafes, commercial art galleries, bookshops, craft shops, and an art library. It is intended as a venue for cultural exchange, giving Bangkok an operational base on the international art scene. The number of visitors has risen from 300,000 in BACC's first year in 2007 to 1.7 million visitors in 2017. It is served by the National Stadium BTS station on the Silom Line...

Temples & religious sites

Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Bangkok

Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, also known as Maha Uma Devi Temple (Thai: วัดพระศรีมหาอุมาเทวี; RTGS: Wat Phra Si Maha Umathewi and Wat Khaek in Thai, is a South Indian architecture style Hindu temple on Si Lom Road in Bangkok, Thailand. It was built in 1879 by Vaithi Padayatchi, a Tamil Hindu immigrant.

Attraction

Sao Chingcha

The Giant Swing, also known as Sao Chingcha or Sao Ching Cha, is a 21.15 m (69.4 ft)-tall, swing-shaped religious structure and a prominent landmark in the Sao Chingcha Subdistrict of Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok, Thailand. Located in front of Wat Suthat, it was formerly used in a traditional Brahmin ceremony and is now one of Bangkok's notable tourist attractions.

Parks & gardens

Chatuchak Park

Chatuchak Park is a public park in the southwest part of Chatuchak District, Bangkok, Thailand. It is also the name of the Chatuchak Park MRT station that lies under the park. Its name is the origin name of Chatuchak district.

Museums & galleries

National Art Gallery

The National Gallery officially recognized as “The National Gallery ,” stands as the premier state-owned art museum and the primary guardian of the nation’s visual artistic treasures.Under the direct jurisdiction of the Fine Arts Department of the Ministry of Culture, the gallery acts as the central national repository for Thailand’s vast artistic heritage.Its collection serves as a comprehensive visual record of the country’s aesthetic evolution, encompassing everything from traditional Thai masterpieces to modern and contemporary works.The museum is situated on Chao Fa Road in the historic h...

Shopping & districts

Pratunam Market

Pratunam Market is one of Bangkok's major markets, and is Thailand's largest clothing market. The name Pratunam means 'water gate'.

Views & landmarks

Rama VI Bridge

Rama VI Bridge is a railway bridge over the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, in Thailand, connecting the districts Bang Sue and Bang Phlat.

Museums & galleries

Jim Thompson House

The Jim Thompson House is a museum in central Bangkok, Thailand, housing the art collection of American businessman and architect James Harrison Wilson Thompson or simply Jim Thompson, the museum designer and former owner. Built in 1959, the museum spans one rectangular rai of land.

Views & landmarks

Phra Pin-klao Bridge

The Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge is a bridge near the Grand Palace over the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand. It links Rattanakosin Island with Thonburi.

Museums & galleries

Suan Pakkad Palace

Suan Pakkad Palace or Suan Pakkard Palace is a museum in Bangkok, Thailand. It is located on Si Ayutthaya Road, south of the Victory Monument. The museum has Thai antiques on display, including Ban Chiang pottery which is over 4,000 years old. Originally the home of Prince Chumbhotbongs Paribatra (1904–1959) and his wife, they converted it into a museum which opened in 1952. The museum features a group of four traditional Thai houses with covered hallways between them. There is also artwork on display in its Marsi Gallery.

Views & landmarks

Sathorn Unique Tower

Sathorn Unique Tower is an unfinished skyscraper located in the Sathon district of Bangkok, Thailand. Planned as a high-rise condominium complex, construction of the building was halted during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, when it was already about 80 percent complete. The Sathorn Unique Tower is now among the most prominent of Bangkok's many derelict buildings, and has become a destination for urban explorers.

Temples & religious sites

Devasathan

Devasathan or Royal Brahmin Office of Thai Royal Court is a Hindu temple near Wat Suthat in the Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok, Thailand. The temple is the official centre of Hinduism in Thailand. The temple is the home of the Court Brahmins, who are descended from an ancient lineage of priests from Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. The Brahmins perform many important royal and religious ceremonies for the Monarchy of Thailand every year. The temple was founded in 1784 by King Rama I, the founder of the Chakri dynasty.

Views & landmarks

Rama VII Bridge

Rama VII Bridge is a bridge over the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok and Nonthaburi, in Thailand, connecting the Bang Sue District and Bang Phlat District. The roadway is in a dual carriageway configuration, with 3 lanes in each direction. The bridge was named in honour of King Prajadhipok. The bridge was constructed to ease the increase in road traffic volumes on the adjacent Rama VI bridge.

Temples & religious sites

Ton Son Mosque

The Ton Son Mosque is a historic Sunni mosque, located on the left bank of Khlong Bangkok Yai canal, Wat Arun Subdistrict, Bangkok Yai District of Bangkok, in Thonburi, Thailand. The mosque is situated opposite the Wat Moli Lokayaram temple, and across the canal is Bang Luang Mosque.

Museums & galleries

The Museum of Siam

Museum Siam is a discovery museum that is located at Sanam Chai road in Bangkok, Thailand. The museum was established in 2007 in the former building of the Ministry of Commerce. It was created to teach the national identity and history of the people of Thailand, and their relationships with neighboring cultures. The motto of the museum is “Play + Learn = เพลิน” ; through a series of interactive exhibits, the museum shows the development of Thailand from the past to present.

Views & landmarks

Elephant Building

The Elephant Building or Chang Building is a skyscraper at Paholyothin Road and Ratchadaphisek Road in Bangkok, Thailand. It lies in the north Bangkok business district and Chatuchak District. The building is one of the better known buildings in Bangkok as it resembles an elephant. It was a collaboration between Dr Arun Chaisaree and architect Ong-ard Satrabhandhu The building has 32 floors and is 102 metres (335 ft) high. It was completed in 1997. The Elephant Building was ranked number four of the "20 World's Iconic Skyscrapers [sic]" by CNNGo in February 2011.

Temples & religious sites

Holy Rosary Church

The Holy Rosary Church, also known as Kalawar Church, is a Roman Catholic church in Bangkok. It is located in Samphanthawong District, on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River. The history of the church dates to 1769, when a group of Portuguese Catholics resettled in the area after the fall of Ayutthaya; the current church building, in Gothic Revival style, was built in 1891–97 on the site of two previous structures.

Temples & religious sites

Bang Luang Mosque

Bang Luang Mosque is a historic mosque, located in Soi Arun Amarin 7, New Arun Amarin Road, Wat Kanlaya Subdistrict, Thon Buri District, of Bangkok. The mosque is situated on the Thonburi side within Kudi Khao Community by the Khlong Bangkok Yai near mouth of Chao Phraya River. The mosque is also known as Kudi Khao and Kudi To Yi.

Parks & gardens

Benjakitti Park

Benjakitti Park is a public park located in the Khlong Toei District of Bangkok, Thailand. Since its opening in 1992, Benjakitti Park has become a popular destination for outdoor recreation and exercise in Bangkok.

Views & landmarks

Four Seasons Private Residences Bangkok

Four Seasons Private Residences Bangkok at Chao Phraya River is a 73-floor residential skyscraper in the Sathon District in Bangkok, Thailand. The tower has a total structural height of 299.5 m (983 ft).

Zoos & aquariums

Bangkok Aquarium

The Bangkok Aquarium, founded in 1940, is the oldest aquarium in Thailand. Located at the Kasetsart University main campus in Bangkok, the aquarium is home to about 560 species of freshwater fish native to Thailand as well as about 100 species of aquarium plants. The showcase species include Chao Phraya giant catfish, Siamese giant carp, and Siamese tigerfish. The aquarium is owned and operated by the Thailand Department of Fisheries.

Views & landmarks

Rama IX Super Tower

The Grand Rama 9 Tower was a proposed skyscraper in Bangkok, Thailand but has been cancelled. It was planned to be 615 m (2,018 ft) tall. When completed, it would have been the tallest building in Thailand, a record which is now held by Magnolias Waterfront Residences, which is 316 m (1,037 ft) tall.

Zoos & aquariums

Queen Sirikit Park

Queen Sirikit Park is a botanical garden in Chatuchak District, Bangkok, Thailand. Covering an area of 0.22 km2, it is part of the larger Chatuchak Park complex. It was established in 1992 and named after Sirikit, Queen of Thailand to celebrate her 60th birthday. It contains many fountains and pools where lotus flowers bloom. The park has a high biodiversity in an ecosystem which has a great variety of plants and butterflies. There is a great variety of banana cultivars, a great variety of palm tree cultivars, a great variety of hibiscus, a great variety of lotus, more than 200 species of wate...

Zoos & aquariums

Pata Zoo

Pata Zoo is a private zoo on the 6th and 7th floors of Pata Pinklao Department Store, Bang Yi Khan Subdistrict, Bang Phlat District, Bangkok between Borommaratchachonnani and Arun Amarin Intersections close to Phra Pinklao Bridge. Pata Zoo has operated since 1983, along with the department store. Pata Zoo has been the subject of ongoing attention from Thai animal welfare organizations, who have raised concerns about the conditions of certain enclosures, particularly those housing primates such as the gorilla Bua Noi. 

Castles & palaces

Phaya Thai Palace

The Phya Thai Palace or Royal Phya Thai Palace is on the banks of the Samsen Canal on Rajavithee Road in the Ratchathewi District of Bangkok. King Rama V bestowed on it the royal name of the Royal Residence of the Phya Thai or the Phya Thai Palace, with Phya Thai meaning "lord of the Thais", during his reign and so it was built with this bearing on design.

Temples & religious sites

Chakraphong Mosque

Chakraphong Mosque is a historic mosque in Bangkok. It is considered the oldest mosque located in the inner city area, or Rattanakosin Island near the Grand Palace and royal field Sanam Luang.