Bangkok, The City of Angels in Thai, is the capital city of Thailand. Bangkok is the hub for most of the commercial and economical activities of the Kingdom. At the same time, the City is very famous and appreciated by visitors for its versatility and multiple points of interests
Bangkok welcomes more visitors than any other city in the world and it doesn’t take long to realize why. This is a city of extremes with action on every corner: Marvel at the gleaming temples, catch a tuk tuk along the bustling Chinatown or take a longtail boat through floating markets.
Getting to Bangkok
By Air
Bangkok is well connected by air to the rest of the world and there are two airports in the city. The Suvarnabhumi Airport is located 25 kilometres east of Bangkok and the Don Mueang Airport located 24 kilometres to the north. Most international and domestic airlines operate at the Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is linked to the city by buses, taxis, and Airport Rail Link, a high-speed train service into downtown Bangkok.
By Train
Bangkok is well connected by rail to the rest of Thailand and to neighbouring countries like Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos. The main railway station of Bangkok is the Hua Lamphong Railway Station where trains from neighbouring countries and other parts of Thailand operate. The Thornburi Train Station (formerly known as Bangkok Noi Station) serves for local or nearby travel.
Sights and Activities
Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaeo, (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), located in the same compound in the very heart of Bangkok, are most frequently visited by foreign tourists and local people alike. The Grand Palace is famous for its impressive buildings. Wat Phra Kaeo is renowned as the most beautiful and important Buddhist temple in Thailand. It houses Phra Kaeo Morakot, the most highly revered Buddha image carved from a single block of fine jade. It is so richly and intricately decorated that, once entering the temple, visitor will feel as if they were in a real “city of angels”.
Vimanmek Mansion, the biggest golden teakwood building in the world, was built in 1901 by King Chulalongkorn the Great (Rama V) as a royal residence. It is located behind the old National Assembly Building . After having been deserted for decades, it was renovated recently by order of HM Queen Sirikit and opened to the public as the private museum of the late king where priceless treasures and a collection of the king’s memorabilia are displayed.
Wat Chetuphon (Wat Pho), founded in the 16th century, is the oldest and biggest temple with the largest number of pagodas (95 in all) in the city. Wat Pho was the first open university of Thailand which used to offer courses in several branches of knowledge like literature, archeology, astrology and medicine. It is well known for its huge Reclining Buddha, 46 m. long and 15 m. high.
Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), is attractive in its striking prangs (a kind of pagoda) which are decorated with millions of pieces of Chinese porcelain. Its central prang, at a height of a 20-storey building, is the tallest prang of Thailand where a good view of the nearby surroundings can be obtained.
Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple), is one of the most modern works of Thai religious architecture. Graceful and tranquil, it is famous for its main chapel built in white Carrara Italian marble to house a replica of Thailand’s most beautiful Buddha image, Phra Phutthachinarat.
Where to stay
Bangkok is filled with luxurious 5 star chain hotels so if sliding across a ridiculously shiny marbled floor in the lobby is your thing (but you still want some Asian style), check in at the Siam Kempinski or the Banyan Tree. For somewhere a little bit different and unique to Bangkok’s usual style, try Muse.
Food
Food is another Bangkok highlight, from local dishes served at humble street stalls to haute cuisine at romantic rooftop restaurants.
Bangkok boasts a stunning 50,000 places to eat; not only thousands of Thai restaurants, but a wide selection of world-class international cuisine too. Prices are generally high by Thai standards, but cheap by international standards; a good meal is unlikely to cost more than 300 baht, although there are a few restaurants (primarily in hotels) where you can easily spend 10 times this.
When to go
Avoid the rainy season between May and October, when it can also be unbearably muggy. Bangkok is wonderful for winter sun.
Travel guide to Bangkok
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