7 Must-Sees in Bangkok

Bangkok is the heart of South-East Asia and you will most likely be stopping here at some point during your travels if you’re in the area. Bangkok is intense, to say the least, and not everyone’s cup of tea. It still however has a lot to offer in terms of history and culture. Here are my top 7 things to see when in Bangkok!

1. Wat Phra Kaew, or the ‘Emerald Buddha’ temple, is a stunning sight, with gleaming stupas, embellished walls and pillars and lots of marble detail. The entrance ticket grants access to The Grand Palace as well!2. The Grand Palace – the former royal residence, this palace is full of stunning buildings and colourful mosaics. You can’t actually go inside the buildings but it’s worth seeing nonetheless. The entrance ticket includes entry to a traditional khon (Thai masked dance) performance at the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theater. Definitely worth a visit and you can get a shuttle bus from outside the palace gate to the theatre.3. Wat Pho – the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok, Wat Pho is famous for the 46m long, 15m high reclining Buddha that resides here.4. Floating Markets – very touristy but it was still great fun experiencing the floating markets. We booked our tour through Get Your Guide (click here for details).5. Jim Thompson House– this was the house of the American entrepreneur, Jim Thompson, who worked in the Thai silk industry, successfully promoting it to western markets. I’d highly recommend coming here as you’ll get to see what a traditional Thai house looks like, including seeing some fascinating antiques that were part of Jim Thompson’s private collection.6. Wat Traimat – Known for the 3 metre high, 5.5 tonne gold Buddha, this temple is worth visiting, especially if you’re in China town nearby.7. MBK – you can’t come to Bangkok and not experience it’s gigantic malls. MBK is one of them and is full of all kinds of shops and food options. Try the mango sticky rice (doesn’t matter where, just try it!).

[I didn’t have a chance to visit Wat Arun but it’s also one of the main temples so do check that out if you have time! Also, rooftop bars is a major thing in Bangkok and there are loads to choose from so make sure you visit one 😊]