Discovering Culture and History in Bangkok

There is a lot to do and see in Bangkok. Visiting Bangkok can easily stand alone as an entire trip, if you want to explore and experience everthing that the city has to offer.

Quick Tips:

If you have enough time, I would recommend doing a day trip to Ayuthaya. It's only an hour ride by train from Bangkok and serves as a nice break from the high urban energy of Bangkok.

Best Way To Get Around:

I found that the taxis and tuk tuks were very convinient when traveling around the city. They are relatively cheap, especially if you split the fare with others. However, be sure to bargain and get a aquote from the driver before getting in. I didn't brave the buses but it's a very inexpensive option, especially if you are traveling alone. Train is also a good way to travel when covering a lot of distance.

The museum has good collections that gives the visitor a very good and thorough overview of Thai history and culture. Being that Buddhism has had a significant influence in shaping Thai history and culture, I found it valuable to see it reflected in the art and artifacts. On Thursdays at 9:30am, they have English-speaking group tours.

The Grand Palace is a huge compound (218,000 sq meters) which houses the royal residence, throne halls, government offices, and the renowned Temple of the Emerald Buddha. This tour is a must-see when in Bangkok, especially if you appreciate architecture. The buildings, temples, and statues are magnificent. The gilded temples, the intricate designs and tiling are tantalizing to the eyes. The Emerald Buddha is a very sacred statue that is highly revered by Thai people. It is a small Buddha statue that is entirely carved out of jade. There are english-speaking tours given throughout the day.

When heading over to The Grand Palace, be careful of scam artists who will tell you that the palace is closed for a Buddhist holiday. Then they will try to steer you to a different location. When couple people fed me this line, I still went to the palace to see for myself if it was indeed closed and it was very much open, filled with hundreds of other visitors. A healthy dose of skepticism is a valuable tool when traveling.

Ayutthaya was the former royal capital city of Thailand, prior to Bangkok (1350-1767). Since then, its been turned into a historical park, which preserves the ancient temples and Buddha statues. The temples and palaces are scattered all over the city. The best way to see the sites is to get a ride on the sawng-thaws. You can rent one by the hour or for the whole day. If you are feeling athletic, you can ride a bicycle. However, if you do peddle your way through the city, I would allot a whole day or two for the visit. There is a lot of ground to cover. Ayutthaya is north of Bangkok and it takes about an hour by train. If you are spending several days in Bangkok, Ayutthaya is a perfect day trip for escaping the urban chaos of the capital.