What are the best things to see and do in Bangkok?
- Katie Goldstein
- Correspondent
- New York City, New York
Bring your sense of adventure along with you to beguiling Bangkok, where one minute you’ll be strolling through breathtaking Buddhist temples and noshing on authentic Thai street food, and the next be rubbing shoulders with well-heeled fashionistas in a sparkling megamall and dining on world-class international cuisine. There’s so much to experience in this fascinating city, but our Forbes Travel Guide editors feel these are the best things to see and do before leaving Bangkok:
1. Eat, eat, eat. Delicious dishes, both odd and familiar, are everywhere; food is, indeed, a way of life in Bangkok. While you’ll likely be tempted to taste whatever looks appetizing — and, for the most part, you should — when picking snacks from street-food vendors try to stick to those stands that look busy. Be careful, too, about eating fruit stored on ice. Siam Paragon has an excellent food court sprawling across the first floor that’s a great place for trying lots of Thai-style street food in a clean environment.
2. Visit Pak Khlong Flower Market. The rows upon rows of colorful, piled-up flowers at this 24-hour market are an absolute wonder for budding photographers and aspiring florists. We think the best time to go is in the evening, but just about anytime is a good time to take in this floral splendor.
3. Get a massage. Thailand is justifiably famous for its massages, which range from the grabbing and pulling and stretching and twisting of the traditional Thai massage to less-intense oil massages and everything in between. Two recommended spots are Ruen Nuad, located off Thanon Convent in a beautiful Thai-style teak house, and the luxe Thann Sanctuary Spa at Gaysorn mall.
4. Shop till you drop. Bangkok is the shopping capital of Southeast Asia and a fantastic place to stock up on, well, just about anything. Your retail options include street vendors selling everything from knock-off watches to t-shirts emblazoned with ridiculous sayings, maze-like markets winding through many parts of the city, monolithic megamalls and wholesale fashion malls. For outdoor market shopping try winding Sampeng Lane in Chinatown or the weekend Chatuchak Market, while our favorite malls are Siam Paragon and CentralWorld Plaza.
5. Stroll Lumpini Park. It’s blazing hot during the afternoon, but a visit to this lush oasis in the heart of central Bangkok between 5 to 8 p.m. is truly magical on clear nights. You might see massive monitor lizards slithering in the grass, can take a spin in a paddle boat shaped like a swan or, during the winter months, hear a live symphony orchestra on select weekend afternoons. Filled with lush greenery and small ponds, Lumpini is simply one of our favorite spots in the city.
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On November 21Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
Where are the best places to eat at in Bangkok?
Some of the best and most authentic Thai food in Bangkok is served at casual, open-air restaurants that with their simple plastic stools, metal folding tables and small kitchen may not look like much from the outside. Don’t be shy about popping into such places and trying a dish or two — it’s not always true, but a general rule of thumb to follow is that if it’s heavily frequented by locals, it’s probably worth checking out, even if just for an appetizer or two.
With that said, our Forbes Travel Guide editors have recommendations for some of the best places and areas to eat both Thai and international cuisine in Bangkok:
1. Blue Elephant. Located near the Surasak BTS Skytrain station in a beautifully renovated colonial-style house, Blue Elephant enjoys a well-earned reputation for both its comprehensive Thai cooking classes as well as its authentic cuisine served in a sophisticated setting. The international wine selection is excellent, and even includes select labels from Thailand's emerging wine producers in Khao Yai and Hua Hin.
2. Kin Lom Chom Saphan. This open-air fresh seafood joint is located right on the Chao Phraya River, at the end of Samsen Soi 3, and offers excellent views of the passing dinner cruises as well as live entertainment during the evening. This is a great pick for groups.
3. Soi Rangnam. This street off the Victory Monument BTS Skytrain stop is jam-packed with open-air restaurants serving Isaan-style Thai food. Browse and choose one that looks most appealing — you can’t go wrong with just about any spot here, though be prepared to eat some seriously spicy cuisine.
4. May Kaidee’s Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant. Carnivores and vegetarians alike will leave raving about May Kaidee’s amazing Thai food. We still daydream about the pumpkin hummus and massaman curry, but the best way to try a variety of May’s cuisine is to visit the soon-to-reopen branch at 59 Tanao Road (near Khao San Road) on Saturdays, from 7 p.m. to midnight, for an excellent all-you-can-eat-buffet priced at just 120 baht.
5. Red Sky. Finally, for a phenomenal dining experience under the stars and high above the streets of Bangkok, we recommend visiting the Centara Grand Hotel at CentralWorld and ascending to the 55th-floor Red Sky, where you’ll enjoy expertly prepared international cuisine in one of the most memorable settings in the city. -
On August 3Katie Goldstein answered the question:
What is the best way to see Bangkok in one day?
Though one day isn’t nearly enough to see and experience everything Bangkok has to offer, with a little advance planning it is possible to hit many of the highlights.
If you’re here on a Saturday or Sunday, our Forbes Travel Guide editors recommend starting your whirlwind tour of Bangkok with an early-morning trip to Chatuchak Market, the city’s famous weekend market that covers over 35 acres of land and has over 5,000 stalls. You’ll find just about anything imaginable here — the trick is finding it. Try to arrive sometime between 9 and 10 a.m. to avoid the crowds and sweltering heat, grab a bite to eat and a fresh coconut from one of the many food vendors and limit yourself to about 2 hours or so since there’s a busy day ahead of you still.
After dropping off your goods at your hotel and perhaps taking a quick dip in the pool if there is one, head to the expansive Grand Palace, the most popular tourist attraction in Bangkok and the former home of Thai royalty. (Start your day here if you’re not visiting the city on the weekend, again arriving as early as possible.) Wat Pho and its stunning Reclining Buddha, located right by the Grand Palace, is your next stop — pick up bottles of water, Thai snacks and a fresh coconut on the way over there from one of the many street food vendors in the area.
As you exit Wat Pho take a left and go straight to Tha Tien Pier, where you’ll hop on an express boat and cruise down the Chao Phraya River to Saphan Taksin, from which you can head back to your hotel by hopping on the BTS Skytrain or hailing a cab. (If possible opt for the former since traffic is likely to be insane at this time of the day.)
Your options for food and drinks in Bangkok after the sun goes down are endless, but after a hectic day, we think you’ll likely want to take it somewhat easy. Do so by starting with a glass of Thai wine and expertly prepared cuisine at Blue Elephant, which is a short walk from the Surasak BTS Skytrain station. The Thai food here is reliably tasty and not too spicy, unless you want it to be; we recommend indulging either the Thai Royal Symphony or Royal Thai Banquet set menu, but only if you've brought an insatiable appetite along with you. After dinner, end your evening with a glass of wine or signature cocktail at Red Sky, the stunning rooftop bar on the 55th floor of the Centara Grand Hotel at CentralWorld.
