Bangkok
26 July 2024
Bangkok is where we started our 3 months of travel through Asia. We were so excited to begin the adventure here!
Bangkok is the central travel hub of Southeast Asia. Many international flights in the area include a layover in Thailand’s capital. Most travelers spend some amount of time in this city, but many leave after only a day or two. Bangkok is a massive city. It’s the 3rd largest population in Southeast Asia with 9 million people. The traveler with a few days to spare can only begin to scratch the surface of what this eclectic city has to offer. If you enjoy city traveling, I recommend spending at least a few days checking out the sights and bites.
We spent 3 full days exploring Bangkok. We’ve actually spent more time than that in the city but I was sick for part of it, so I have edited out that part as it isn’t very exciting.
Día 1
- How to get around Bangkok
- Museum Siam
- Wat Phra Chetuphon
- The Grand Palace
- Wat Arun
- Chinatown
How to get around Bangkok
Bangkok is a massive, sprawling city, and getting around can seem overwhelming at first. You can use the Grab app to call a ride, or even take a bus, but the best way to travel is through metro. The metro is cheap, clean, and really intuitive for first time visitors. Just use the kiosk to select where you want to go and then put money into the machine. That’s the method I decided to use for transit but I know there are other options like transit cards. The BTS Skytrain y MRT subway are the most common lines to take you to the most popular tourist destinations.
The BTS Skytrain runs above ground and covers key areas like Sukhumvit, Silom, and Siam, making it perfect for hitting major shopping districts and business areas. The MRT subway runs below ground and is great for reaching the main cultural sites as well as Chinatown and the Chatuchak Market.
Bangkok has two main airports: Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK). Suvarnabhumi, the primary international gateway, handles most long-haul and full-service flights. Located 25 km east of downtown, it offers modern facilities, premium airlines, and convenient Airport Rail Link access.
Don Mueang, 23 km north of the city, serves mainly low-cost and domestic flights. While smaller and older, it’s a key hub for budget airlines like AirAsia and Nok Air. Transport options include taxis, buses, and ride-hailing services.
We landed in Bangkok at 11:30 pm and the metro system stops running at 12:00am. We managed to ride the ARL metro line close to our hotel but we couldn’t switch to the MRT before it shut down. So, we took a Grab the rest of the way there. Our hotel was located right next to a 7/11. After we checked in, we went straight down to buy some water and snacks. We bought their famous toasties, onigiri, and some chips.
Museum Siam
La Museum Siam in Bangkok is worth a quick stop if you’re in the area. The building’s interior is clean and modern, with enough design detail to make it interesting but not overwhelming. We chose to move through it pretty quickly—honestly, the exhibits didn’t exactly demand a long visit, but the space itself made it a pleasant enough break. It’s one of those places where you can get a taste of history and culture without investing hours, which, for us, was perfect. If you’ve got the time, it’s definitely worth checking out, but don’t expect it to be the highlight of your trip.
Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan
Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan is a must-see if you’re in Bangkok. There are so many Buddhas here, it’s almost overwhelming, but in a good way. The laying-down Buddha was even bigger than we imagined—definitely one of those sights that catches you off guard with its scale. The architecture is stunning, too; intricate details everywhere you look, from the temple walls to the statues. We didn’t spend hours here, but it’s one of those places where the beauty and scale of things leave a lasting impression. If you’re in the area, it’s worth a visit.
The Grand Palace
The Grand Palace was closed when we visit because it was the King of Thailand’s birthday and they were hosting an event in his honor there. I learned that the King – Vajiralongkorn is the oldest Thai monarch to ascend to the throne and also the wealthiest monarch in the world. He is a controversial figure in Thai politics and something of a checkered past and reputation. Look up his marital history for an insight into his wild personal life.
Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan
Wat Arun was easily the coolest site we saw in Bangkok. The temple’s design is striking, with its central spire rising above everything else and intricate details that really catch your eye. We took a ferry across the river to get there, which added a nice touch to the experience—seeing the temple from the water made it even more impressive. Once you’re up close, the colors and patterns on the structure stand out even more. The views from the top of the temple are solid too, offering a great perspective of the city and the river. If you’re in Bangkok, this is the one place you shouldn’t miss.
Chinatown
Bangkok’s Chinatown didn’t disappoint! The market is cramped and full of exotic foods. A lot of seafood and a little of everything. There were people passing on scooters on the tiny walking path where only two people can walk abreast.
We got food from two different places. At the first place I got duck and Indi got crab rice. The next restaurant served a kind of soup with noodles and pork for just 50 bht.
I tried a couple of roasted sausages on a stick on a whim. They were divine! They seemed to be made of glass noodles, pork, and lemongrass. I’m pretty sure they were a northern sausage that is popular across the country. I would go on to chase the high of that northern sausage across all of Asia, but I never found one was so delicious as this one.
Día 2
- Chatuchak Weekend Market
- Siam Paragon
Chatuchak Weekend Market
We went to the Chatuchak Weekend Market, which is likely the largest open-air weekend market in Asia. You can buy just about anything at the market. The booths are fairly well organized, grouped by ware. There are tons of food vendors to accommodate the market’s 200,000 daily visitors. We walked all over the market attempting to explore each aisle. In so doing we stayed much longer than we had anticipated, but it was time well spent.
We found an Indigo clothes store that seemed to be legit. We knew we could get authentic indigo-dyed clothing for much cheaper in Bangkok than in Japan, so we each got something. I bought a cool indigo coin purse from a different vendor which I ended up losing later in my travels. We ate lunch at a Halal joint because it seemed quite popular and the food looked good. I got a Massaman curry and Indi got a Papaya salad. The curry was pretty cold but really good. Indi loved the papaya salad. I was expecting food poisoning just based on the temperature of the food but luck was with me.
Malls and Molars
Thailand is becoming more and more well-known for medical tourism. The country has world-class hospitals, health clinics, and dental clinics. I decided to take advantage of this while there by getting my teeth cleaned and a cavity filled. No complaints!
Thailand is also well known for its incredible malls. We have been to multiple across different trips to Bangkok, but a few stand out as particularly impressive. Siam Paragon is massive. We walked around part of the mall and the food court, but I don’t think it’s physically possible to see the whole thing in one day! We hardly scratched the surface. We watched Wolverine and Deadpool in the mall movie theater. It was meh, the 4D choreography was weak, and the tickets were expensive. All in all, definitely not worth it.
Another hugely popular mall is Icon Siam, located on the Chao Phraya River. This mall is seriously impressive so it’s no wonder it makes it onto travel lists. I got there by taking a boat across the river, which took longer than expected and made me feel sea sick while I sat in the rocking boat waiting for it to fill before it departed. There were hundreds, even thousands of people in and around the mall, but the building is so massive it could accommodate the horde. The food court is magical. It’s designed to look like a floating market and is positively packed with peculiar platter possibilities. It ended up being too much for me, though. While walking the market, that sea sick feeling grew in me as my nose was assaulted with a million warring scents. I made it to the bathroom where I learned that it wasn’t just sea sickness but full-on food poisoning. I’ll spare you the details of the rest of the day.
Day 3
- Floating Market
- Chao Phraya River
Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market
When I was feeling better, we took a taxi to a floating market. My impression was that this was a market built specifically to attract tourists. I just looked it up and turns out it was built in 2004 to preserve the floating market tradition. If you’re looking for an older floating market, check out Damnoen Saduak. When the canal was completed in 1968, farmers began to use it for trade and the floating market was born. It died out when land travel improved in the area but was revived as a tourist attraction in the 1970’s and is the most popular floating market. The reason we didn’t go is because it sits about 60 miles outside of Bangkok and we didn’t have enough time to get there.
The food at Khlong Lat Mayom was great though, and we had a lovely time. We tried many different dishes and some were truly delicious. There are a lot of stalls and a lot of options for fresh food. We also met two fun older women with whom who we shared a table.
Chao Phraya River
We returned to town via taxi (Grab) and took the ferry to see the city from the river. We started at Sathon Pier and went upriver on the Chao Phraya Express until near the end of the line. At some point we decided to head back and got on a boat to take us back towards our hotel. I’m not sure how far we went, maybe Rama 5 Bridge. I know there are tours that are a lot more comprehensive, but the ferry is cheap!
For about half of this trip I was finishing a semester of online classes so I had to devote some time for that each week. I went home to study and Indi went on a solo adventure looking for mango sticky rice. She got rained on but managed to get the last mango sticky rice at K Panich Sticky Rice. She arrived, soaking wet, after they had closed but she lurked outside of the door until they took pity on her and asked her if she was okay. She told them she had walked through the pouring rain for over an hour to try their mango sticky rice. They had one portion left.
Back at the hotel we discovered the wonder that is ordering food via Grab. It is so much cheaper than ordering food in the states. Because of this we ordered and ate way too much food.
Next time
On our next adventure, we explore the ruins of Thailand’s first capital – Sukhothai Historical Park.
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