Discover Bangkok
This weekend, for you
Photo: Davidlohr Bueso, CC BY 2.0Somewhere to go this weekend: Ayutthaya.
Weekends away
12Trips people from Bangkok make again and again.
AyutthayaThe ruined temples of Thailand's old capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.1.5 h by train or carTrains, buses and vanson 12GoPhoto: Davidlohr Bueso, CC BY 2.0
AmphawaA canal-side town with an evening floating market at weekends.1.5 h awayBuses and vanson 12GoPhoto: Marida1996, CC BY-SA 4.0Damnoen Saduak Floating MarketThe best known of Thailand's floating markets, on a canal dug in the 1860s to join two rivers. Today it is mostly for visitors: boat vendors and shops along the water.1.5 h awayErawanLimestone hills in the Tenasserim range, and the Erawan Waterfall. Thailand's 12th national park, founded in 1975.3 h away
Hua HinA relaxed seaside town with a long beach and a royal history.3 h away or trainTrains, buses and vanson 12GoPhoto: Elmschrat, CC0
KanchanaburiThe bridge over the River Kwai, war history, and river rafts.3 h away or trainTrains, buses and vanson 12GoPhoto: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0
Khao YaiForest, waterfalls and wild elephants, with cooler air than the city.3 h awayTrains, buses and vans to the park's townon 12GoPhoto: Nawit science, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ko SametThe nearest proper island beaches to Bangkok, inside a national park.3.5 h, then a ferryBus or van, then the ferryon 12GoPhoto: Headshop5, CC0Ko Si ChangAn island 12 km off Si Racha where three kings came to rest. The ruins of King Rama V's summer palace are here; part of it was moved to Bangkok in 1900 and became Vimanmek Mansion.Chon BuriLopburiAn old royal town with 13th-century Khmer towers, Phra Prang Sam Yot the best known, and the long-tailed macaques that live around them. King Narai made it his second capital in the 17th century.2 h awayPhra Pathom Chedi, Nakhon PathomThe second-tallest stupa in the world, its spire 120 metres high, in the middle of Nakhon Pathom town.1 h awayWat Sothon, ChachoengsaoA temple on the Bang Pakong River, first built in the late Ayutthaya period, home to Luang Pho Sothon, the province's most revered Buddha image.1 h awayClose to home
10Where Bangkok goes to walk, run or sit under a tree.
Lumphini ParkBangkok's central park — a lake, running loop and open-air gym, busy at dawn and dusk.Silom–SathornPhoto: Terence Ong, CC BY 2.5BenjakittiA newer park with elevated wetland walkways and a long cycling loop.Sukhumvit
Bang KrachaoBangkok's green lung: a loop of the Chao Phraya full of orchards, parks and cycle paths.Phra PradaengPhoto: Jr8825, CC BY-SA 1.0Benchasiri ParkA park on Sukhumvit Road next to the Emporium, built around a lake with 12 sculptures by Thai artists.Sukhumvit, by Phrom Phong
Chatuchak ParkA big, shady park next to the weekend market.ChatuchakPhoto: Supanut Arunoprayote, CC BY 4.0
Chulalongkorn University Centenary ParkA green roof and wetland park built to hold rain water, in the middle of the city.SamyanPhoto: Crcolas, CC BY-SA 4.0Queen Sirikit ParkGardens with ponds and flowering trees, next to Chatuchak and Rot Fai parks.ChatuchakSantichaiprakarn ParkA small riverside park in the grounds of Phra Sumen Fort, where locals and visitors from nearby Khao San Road gather in the evening.Phra Athit Road, by the riverSuan Luang Rama IXBangkok's largest park, 80 hectares of botanical gardens and a lake, opened in 1987 for King Bhumibol's 60th birthday.Prawet, east Bangkok
Wachirabenchathat ParkA large park with a long cycling loop and bikes to hire.ChatuchakPhoto: Lerdsuwa, CC BY-SA 3.0Markets
5Where Bangkok shops for food, and eats out on a weekend night.
Chatuchak Weekend MarketOne of the world's biggest markets — thousands of stalls, open at weekends.ChatuchakKhlong Toei MarketBangkok's biggest fresh market: meat, seafood and produce at low prices, near Khlong Toei and Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre MRT stations.Khlong Toei, on Rama IV RoadOr Tor Kor MarketA covered fresh market in zones: fruit, vegetables, meat, seafood, dried food, an organic corner with Royal Project produce, and a food centre.ChatuchakPak Khlong TalatBangkok's main flower market, also selling fruit and vegetables, on Chak Phet Road near Memorial Bridge. Busiest before dawn, when boats and trucks bring flowers in.Rattanakosin (old Bangkok), by Memorial BridgeSampheng MarketA historic Chinatown market street, settled by Teochew Chinese when Bangkok was founded in 1782, now a narrow alley lined with shops.Chinatown
Temples and museums
13How Bangkok came to be, and what it still holds dear.
Bangkok Art and Culture CentreThe city's contemporary art centre, with galleries around a spiral atrium and shops and cafés below.Pathum Wan, Rama I RoadBangkok National MuseumThailand's main national museum, in the former palace of the vice king, opened in 1874 by King Chulalongkorn. Thai art and history back to Neolithic times, including King Ramkhamhaeng's inscription.Rattanakosin (old Bangkok), facing Sanam LuangErawan ShrineA shrine to Phra Phrom, the Thai form of Brahma, at the Ratchaprasong crossroads. Worshippers often hire Thai dance troupes to perform in thanks.Ratchaprasong, by Chit LomJim Thompson HouseJim Thompson's teak houses and garden, seen on a compulsory guided tour.Pathum Wan, Soi Kasem San 2MOCA BangkokA private museum opened in 2012, one of the largest contemporary art venues in Asia: five floors of Thai artists, among them Thawan Duchanee and Chalermchai Kositpipat.Chatuchak, north BangkokMuseum SiamA hands-on history museum in the old Ministry of Commerce building, a few minutes from Wat Pho.Tha Tien, Sanam Chai RoadThe Grand Palace and Wat Phra KaewThe royal palace complex, with Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, inside its walls.Rattanakosin, Na Phra Lan RoadWat ArunThe Temple of Dawn, with its tall central prang, on the Thonburi bank of the Chao Phraya.Thonburi, on the river opposite Wat PhoWat BenchamabophitA royal temple built in 1899 under King Rama V, clad in Italian marble.Dusit, Rama V RoadWat PhoThe temple of the great Reclining Buddha, beside the Grand Palace.Rattanakosin, beside the Grand PalaceWat RatchanatdaramA temple built in 1846 under King Rama III, known for the Loha Prasat, the "metal castle" with 37 metal-topped spires.Rattanakosin (old Bangkok), Ratchadamnoen KlangWat SaketA temple on a 19th-century artificial hill, with one of the highest views over old Bangkok.Rattanakosin (old Bangkok), Chakkraphatdiphong RoadWat TraimitA Chinatown temple best known for its golden Buddha statue. It also houses the Yaowarat Chinatown Heritage Center.Chinatown