Bangkok: Intro
At the time of writing this post, I have lived in Bangkok for over 6 months. I’ll go into more detail regarding my favorite restaurants, bars and off-the-beaten-path activities, but for this post, I’ll cover the essentials that every first-time visitor in Bangkok should see. Here they are:
See the temples
Bangkok has dozens of stunning temples all around the city, and each has its own unique traits. The best temples to see are:
Wat Arun - This temples is blessed with a stunning riverside location, making for magical sunsets. It’s beautifully decorated with white tiles and some pops of color, and is a must see on a trip to Bangkok.
Wat Arun is about as beautiful as it gets when it comes to temples.
Wat Pho - The grounds around this temple offer a serene environment with scattered, ornately decorated spires. Step inside the temple and you’re jaw will drop when you see the massive reclining Buddha (supposedly the largest statue of Buddha lying down). Plus, this is (again, supposedly) where Thai massages started, so be sure to get a massage while you visit this iconic temple.
The Grand Palace - Okay, yeah, technically not a temple, but its right next to Wat Pho and has a similar architectural aesthetic, so I’m putting it in this category. Walk through these huge and gorgeous grounds (but get out of the way of the soldiers marching around otherwise you’ll get in trouble - trust me, first hand experience over here).
Wat Benchamabophit - A beautiful, white marble temple that fuses European and Thai design also makes my list of must visit temples.
Wat Saket - Walk around the temple on a “spiral” staircase and enjoy sweeping views over the city from this man-made mountain on the edge of Bangkok’s Old Town. The views alone make this site worth it, but combine it with a beautiful temple perched on top and you have a must visit temple.
Round and round you go until you reach the top of this iconic Bangkok temple - Wat Saket
Go to a mall
Sounds super basic, but Bangkok seriously has some of the best malls I have ever seen. And it makes sense, given that Bangkok is considered to be the hottest city in the entire world. So no matter where you are staying in the city, you’ll definitely be close to a world-class mall with design and stores that will keep you entertained for hours. Some of the best malls in my opinion are:
Emporium/Emquartier: Located right off the Phrom Phong BTS Station, both these malls offer high-end shopping in a super renovated old parking lot. Be sure to check out the courtyard in the center of Emquartier where you’ll find weekend markets, performances, and more (plus an awesome waterfall).
Terminal21: This mall was right next to my first apartment, and its huge. Each floor is a different city with its own architectural theme related to the city (cheesy, yes, but fun nevertheless). Plus, there’s a Din Tai Fung here, so that was all I really needed.
ICON Siam: Located right on the edge of the river, this is an architectural gem of a mall. Like to the point where I felt as though I shouldn’t be walking in such a work of art. You can find basically every brand you can think of here. Stay through to the night and make sure to watch the fountain show as well.
Central World: This is a top 10 largest mall in the world, has the second largest Starbucks in the world, and one of the top 5 best Apple stores in the world. You can also find a Michelin-starred ramen joint (Tsuta Japanese Soba Noodles) and rooftop bars and restaurants. So yeah, you could spend quite a long time here.
Go to a market:
Chatuchak
This weekend market located to the north of the city is actually the FIRST place I went to when I got out of my first quarantine in Bangkok. And its an ideal place to start your trip in Bangkok. Here, you can find a little bit of everything, and get a taste for what Bangkok - its youth, its history, its cuisine and its culture - is all about. Buy some dope PornHub shirts (in protest of its ban, of course), eat local food, sample traditional dessert, and just stroll through the endless lanes of what is considered the largest outdoor market in the world.
Srinagarindra Train Night Market
This is a super cool place, with more of a trendy vibe in general. You’ve got your food stalls, second-hand clothing stores, and bars, along with weekend concerts and some dope artwork. You’ll hang out with the younger people of Bangkok here, and its a bit more of a local vibe than Chatuchak.
Go to a park
Lumphini Park
Take in the views of Lumphini Park from a pool like this one, at the SO/ Bangkok
This is the main park in the city, and she’s a beauty. Just be careful for the massive monitor lizards that hang out here (if you don’t know what a monitor lizard is, look it up).
Benjakitti Park
A massive pond is in the center of this park, and its a great place to go for a run. It’s also well located, near both the MRT and BTS.
Bang Krachao
I almost put this on the ‘local’ blog, but I changed my mind. Everyone should come to this place, considered the lung of Bangkok. It’s a massive area filled with beautiful biking paths, lush greenery and cute, hidden cafes. Take the ferry from Khlong Toei Pier, hop on a motorbike over to Wat Bang Nam Phueng Nok, rent a bike for the day, go to the Bangkok Tree House for a smoothie, have some wings at Hiddenwoods, take some pics at the Wat Bang Nam Phueng Nai, then check out the offerings at the adjacent floating market. You can easily spend a full day here, but it can be done in about 3 hours as well for sure.
Go to a rooftop bar
If Los Angeles is the king of rooftop restaurants and bars, then Bangkok is the (superior) queen. I’ll do a proper blog post including descriptions of all my favorite bars in the city, but for a first timer, my top 3 would be: Mahanakhon Skybar (the highest skybar in the city), Vertigo (ranked as the #1 rooftop bar in the world) and Tichuca (a favorite among me and my friends - more of a fun, loose vibe).
Eat street food
Go to the famous Yaowarat Road and enjoy the most vibrant, diverse selection of local street food the city offers. Grab some food off the street stalls, or go in to one of the small restaurants for a sit down meal (I recommend Nai Ek Roll Noodle for SURE - best crispy pork in the city).
The bustling Yaowarat Road is a must visit in Bangkok
Beyond Yaowarat, basically anywhere in the city you’ll find world-class street food. It’s all so so cheap and delicious, so don’t miss out on it. Again, for more information on the best food places in the city, check out the Bangkok: Eat blog.
Party
Look, Bangkok is famous for its raucous nightlife scene. Head to Khao San Road for a legendary (albeit HYPER touristy) night out, or hang out in Sukhumvit Road to party with some models, or head to Chinatown for a more low-key, traditional night of drinking.
Get a massage
This is a must. I mean, you can get a traditional Thai massage, with oils, for an hour, for about $8. Sign me up. Get one everyday, because why not! Just be sure not to do it at a hotel - way overpriced and not much better at all.
Enjoy tea time
The Mandarin Oriental is truly a landmark of the city. It’s design will make you feel like you’re in a scene of The Crown, and its iconic tea time will only further that feeling. There are many afternoon tea options around the city, but for the best of the best, head to the Mandarin Oriental (Author’s Bar, to be specific).