Bangkok Attractions - What to See and Do in Bangkok Thailand

Palace | Museum | Historical Places | Temples | Park | Sightseeing | River & Canal Tours | Road | Shopping | Thai Crafts | Entertainment | Others

When King Rama I took the throne as the first monarch of the Chakri Dynasty in 1781, he moved his capital from Thonburi to the other bank. He then ordered the construction of the Royal Grand Palace as the centre of the new city.

Inside the Royal Grand Palace are the Maha Monthien group of buildings, the Throne Halls, and other palaces and buildings. These have been renovated, refurbished, repaired, extended and added to continually as appropriate to every reign since then.

This oval public ground in front of the Grand Palace enclave is used for various royal ceremonies, including the Royal Ploughing Ceremony each May, and is edged by several noteworthy institutions.

On the southeast corner is the City Pillar Shrine or San Lak Muang placed there by King Rama I as the foundation stone for the new capital of Bangkok.

The Pak Khlong Talaat ("Talaat" means "market") is mainly, a wholesale market for fruit and vegetables, but also a consumers market. The wholesale area is concentrated near the river. The market is on Chak Phet Street and in side-streets on both sides of it, very close to the Memorial Bridge. If there is one market worth seeing, this is it. Pak Khlong is a wholesale clearinghouse for Bangkok flower vendors, it is considered Bangkok's main wholesale market. You can enjoy the best-smelling market in Bangkok. The best time to go is very early morning, when boats on the Chao Phraya River and trucks from nearby provinces arrive with immense quantities of fresh cut flowers, vegetables, spices, and fruits, all piled high inside the market and along nearby streets. Things start to get frenetic around 2:00 A.M. to 3:00 A.M. There are great photo opportunities as all the flowers, particularly the orchids, are sold under fluorescent lighting.

The vegetable market too has a good smell. You can regard Pak Khlong Talat as the "Covent Garden" of Bangkok. This is indeed the main trading place for vegetables. Do not forget to visit the riverside (to see the wholesale area) and the building with a market inside.

If you are at Wat Pho, follow Maharaj Road with the Chao Phraya River on your right hand side. Walk up and down the market a few times. Do not forget the small streets at both sides and enjoy the best-smelling market in Bangkok.

The Democracy Monument is a public monument in the centre of Bangkok, capital of Thailand. It occupies a traffic circle on the wide east-west boulevard Thanon Ratchadamnoen Klang, at the intersection of Thanon Dinso. 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 (Phu Kao Thong).

The monument was commissioned in 1939 by the military ruler of Thailand, Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram (known as Phibun), to commemorate the June 1932 military coup which led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in what was then the Kingdom of Siam. Phibun saw the monument as the centre of what he envisaged as a new, westernised Bangkok, "making Thanon Ratchadamnoen the Champs-E'lyse'es and the Democracy Monument the Arc de Triomphe.

The monument was designed by Mew Aphaiwong, an architect whose brother Khuang Aphaiwong was a leading member of Phibun's regime. The Italian sculptor Corrado Feroci, who was a Thai citizen and used the Thai name Silpa Bhirasi, executed the relief sculptures around the base of the monument.

Bangkok's China Town is an old business center covering a large area around Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Roads. There are many small streets and alleys full of shops selling all types of goods. The area is always lively and market stalls abound. It has been the main center for trading by the Chinese since they were moved from their old site some 200 years ago. Nearby is Phahurat Market, one of the city's renowned cloth centers.

This beautiful park is located on Soi 3 Somdet Chao Phraya Road, Khiong San District. It was built near the Wat Anongkharam community where Somdej Phra Srinaganndra Boromarajajonani, Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother had resided during her childhood. The park comprises a full scale model of the Princess Mother's house and the old buildings renovated as exhibition halls displaying the life story of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother as well as the history of the Wat Anongkharam community.

The 200-acre botanical garden-cum-public park is located deep inside Sukhumvit Soi 103 (Udomsuki and was opened in 1987 to commemorate the 60th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The park is open daily from 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission fee is 10 Baht.

Located near Chulalongkorn Hospital, on the corner of Henri Dunant Road and Rama IV Road, this institute contains a collection of poisonous snakes which are "milked" daily for their venom in order to produce invaluable anti-snakebite serum.

Venom is extracted from the snakes everyday, at 11.00 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. on weekdays, and 11.00 a.m. on holidays. Admission fee is 70 Baht per person.

Dusit Zoo (Khao Din) is a very popular place for family with children or even for young couple and all ages. This zoo and park is located at Rama V Road, Dusit, Bangkok, and adjacent to the Old Parliament. Local Thai people know that Dusit Zoo has lush green surrounds and many flowering shrubs and trees with large ponds complete with foot-paddle boats, playgrounds for the kids and shady picnic areas. There are some restaurants with pleasant scenery and a lot of parking areas.

Just only 1 kilometer before the Rose Garden, this 60-acre farm is another interesting attraction housing many different wild animals and thousands of crocodiles. Fascinating performances such as Crocodile Wrestling, Magic Show, and Elephant Theme Show commence everyday at 12.45 p.m. and 2,20 p.m. with additional shows on holidays at 10.30 a.m.

This farm is open daily from 8.00 a.m.-5.30 p.m. Admission fee is 300 Baht for adults and 200 Baht for children.

Bangkok's greatest open zoo and leisure park is located in Mm Buri, via Km. 9 on Raminthra Road. The 300-acre complex comprises a Safari Park populated by African and Asian mammals, a Marine Park with amusing performances of well-trained dolphins and seals, a Bird Park and a Games Corner.

It is open daily from 9.00 a.m.-5.00 p.m. Admission fee is 600 Baht for adults and 360 Baht for children.

Located in Samutprakarn, just outside Bangkok, the Crocodile Farm is the brainchild of Thailand's highly publicised 'Crocodile King', Mr. Utai Youngprapakorn. Recognised as the world's largest centre for crocodiles, the Crocodile Farm aims to help preserve crocodiles by breeding them in captivity. The farm also acts as an education and research centre for the conservation of wildlife.

The main reason for a visit to the Crocodile Farm is though to see the shows they put on! It is possible to witness 'Crocodile Wrestling' and keepers putting their heads into crocodile's mouths -- quite amazing spectacles. In addition, there are a number of other activities for visitors. 'Acrobatic elephant' shows, elephant and camel rides, paddle boats on the lake and a visit to the 'Monkey Playground' all serve to keep children thoroughly entertained. Given its location and the amount to be seen and done, a visit to the Crocodile Farm is an all day affair. If you have plenty of time in Bangkok, it is certainly worth a visit.

Details: The Crocodile Farm is open daily from 07:00 to 18:00. Admission is 300 Baht for adults and 200 Baht for children.

How to get there: Located way out of Bangkok, a tour might prove the most effective for those with children. If you want to go on your own, a taxi is recommended and a round trip is likely to cost somewhere in the region of 500 Baht.

The following buses will get you there:

Air-conditioned bus number: 7, 8, 11, 102, 142 and 145 (take a local minibus service - S1-S80 - to the farm from Samutprakarn)

35 minutes from Wat Sai Floating Market, is another stop for sightseeing and watching a snake show.

The farm is open daily from 8.30 a.m.- 5.00 p.m.

Palace | Museum | Historical Places | Temples | Park | Sightseeing | River & Canal Tours | Road | Shopping | Thai Crafts | Entertainment | Others