Bangkok mixes gilded temples, roaring street food lanes and air-conditioned megamalls. The trick is to follow the heat: sightsee in the morning, rest in the afternoon and eat outdoors at night.
The Grand Palace and temples
Start at the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha. The dress code is strict: shoulders and knees must be covered. A short walk away, Wat Pho holds an enormous reclining Buddha covered in gold leaf.
Traditional Thai massage
Wat Pho is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage, and you can get one in the temple grounds. Massage shops are everywhere in the city, a welcome break for tired legs after a day in the heat.
The river and street food
The Chao Phraya Express boats are a cheap way to skip the traffic between riverside sights. In the evening, head to Yaowarat, Bangkok’s Chinatown, where stalls serve seafood and noodles late into the night. On weekends, Chatuchak Weekend Market has thousands of stalls to browse.
Before you go
- Money: the currency is the Thai baht. Markets and street stalls are cash first.
- Getting around: the BTS Skytrain and the MRT subway avoid the worst of the traffic.
- Beat the heat: bring a hat and drink plenty of water, and carry a light layer to cover up for temples.