Tourist Attraction
The Grand Palace - The Temple of The Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew)
The Grand Palace complex was established in 1782 and it consists of not only royal and throne halls, but also a number of government offices as well as the renowned Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It covers an area of 218,000 square metres and is surrounded by four walls, 1900 metres in length. After King Rama I ascended to the throne in 1782, the palace was built. Prior to this, the royal palace and centre of administration had been located in Thonburi, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. For various reasons, the new King considered the former capital to be unsuitable and decided to establish a new capital on the other side of the river.
Wat Phra Kaew (also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha) is arguably the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand; however, it is not a Buddhist monastery as neither monks nor nuns use the temple complex as their residence or primary place of congregation. Instead, Wat Phra Kaew was once the private chapel to the kings of Thailand and members of the court. Today, like the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, where the temple complex is located, it is open to the public.
The admission fee is free of charge for Thais and 500 baht for foreigners.
Opening Hours: Daily from 8:30 AM - 3.30 PM
Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimonmangkalaram Ratchaworamahawihan Or Wat Pho
It is located immediately south of the Grand Palace precinct, Wat Pho makes an excellent addition to your palace tour, provided your feet are up for more walking. The temple was built by King Rama I and is the oldest in Bangkok. It has long been considered a place of healing, and was famous centuries ago for its pharmacy and as Thailand's first "university"-both established by King Rama III.
In addition, wat pho has a large reclining Buddha image that was constructed during the reign of King Rama III of masonry, mortar, and covered with gold. Its length is 46 metres and its height is 15 metres. On the sole of each foot, there are 108 auspicious images decorated with pearls, which is one characteristic of a great man according to the principles of India. Open daily 08.00 - 17.00 hrs. Entrance fee: 200 baht
Taxi / Grab Taxi / Tuk Tuk
Take BTS to Saphan Taksin Station Exit 2 Walk to the Chao Phraya River. Under the bridge there is a Sathorn Pier. Take the Chao Phraya Express Boat, orange flag to Tha Chang Pier (N9). The royal palace is on the right.
Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan
Wat Arun, "Temple of Dawn" is a Buddhist temple (wat) in the Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand, on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple derives its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun. Wat Arun is among the best-known of Thailand's landmarks. The first light of the morning reflects off the surface of the temple with pearly iridescence. Although the temple had existed since at least the seventeenth century, its distinctive prang (spires) were built in the early nineteenth century during the reign of King Rama II.
Open daily 08.00 - 18.00 hrs. Entrance fee: 100 baht.
Take BTS to Saphan Taksin Station. Then, head to Exit 2 of the station. From there, hop aboard the Chao Phraya Express Boat (costs 15 Baht) to Tha Tien Pier. Then catch the cross-river ferry (costs 4 Baht) to the temple.
Asiatique The Riverfront
It is located on Charoen Krung Road and is a gigantic shopping venue on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. It modified the former port warehouse of the East Asiatic Company, and the colonial-style structure is according to the culture of the reign of King Rama V the Great. It is divided into four zones: Charoen Krung District with more than 1,000 shops selling souvenirs and decorative products. Town Square District has an integration of Eastern and Western cultures with different performance activities, e.g., Joe Louis Puppet Show, the Calypso Show, etc. as well as various types of restaurants. Factory District is a 100-year-old sawmill area decorated to be modern to make it a fashion store, both costumes and accessories. Waterfront District comprises restaurants in the atmosphere of the Chao Phraya River and a walkway along the Chao Phraya River, a distance of 100 metres to see the scenery like a panoramic view. In addition, within the area there are seven wonders: a World War I bunker, an old tram, an old sawmill, a sawmill crane, an arched warehouse over 100 years old, a historical port, and a separate crane of the waterfront. There is also modern playing equipment of the Asiatique Sky Ferris wheel that is 60 metres high. Sit and watch the surrounding scenery and the Mystery Mansion that was built from innovation and imported from Italy. Inside, there is a light and sound show and games that are interesting, including a small puppet show by Joe Louis. Open daily 11.00 - 24.00 hrs.
Take BTS to Saphan Taksin Station. From there walk about 100 meters to Sathorn Pier for the free shuttle boat to Asiatique Bangkok (operates from 16:30 to 23:30.)
THE JIM THOMPSON HOUSE MUSEUM
Located in the heart of Bangkok, The Jim Thompson Art Center is situated in the same compound as the unique and famous Jim Thompson House Museum. Serving as a haven for Bangkok’s local and international arts and cultural communities, the Center’s reputation as a place to mingle, interact and exchange dialogues is rapidly spreading. In conjunction with its exhibitions, the Center’s activities include parties, events, seminars, lectures and workshops.
The Jim Thompson Art Center is operated under The James H.W. Thompson Foundation, named for the American who assembled a Thai and Southeast Asian art collection in his traditional teak home. The mission of the Art Center is to nurture artistic activities and create public awareness of both contemporary and traditional arts within today’s context. Among its many activities, the Art Center organizes exhibitions; conducts educational and outreach programs; produces publications; and networks and collaborates with local and international cultural institutions. Previous exhibitions included Pinaree Sanpitak, Arahmaiani, Christian Lacroix, Interweaving cultures, Metissages, a crossbreeding of contemporary art and textiles. Traditional exhibitions focused on Southeast Asian textiles including ikats, costumes and maps painted on cloth.
Opening hours: Every day from 10.00 AM to 6.00 PM with the last guided tour at 5.00 PM
Entrance fee: Adult 200 baht, visitors under 22 years 100 baht (ID required), free entry for children under 10 years of age when accompanied by an adult.
Take BTS to the National Stadium and follow the exit sign marking Soi Kasemsan 2. There will be a signpost leading you to the house. It will take you around 5 minutes to get there.
China Town
China Town or Yaowarat Road is known by tourists worldwide as a source of popular street food. There are restaurants both inside buildings and set up along the road. In other words, there are all kinds of international dishes to choose from. This includes savoury dishes and various desserts, as well as a market selling fresh food and foods that are ingredients used for cooking and the selling of colourful Chinese clothes. In addition, Yaowarat Road is the venue for important Chinese festivals, e.g., Chinese New Year (during January) and the Vegetarian Festival (around October). Also, on this road, there are religious sites of many religions, e.g., Theravada-Mahayana Buddhism, Christian, Muslim, and shrines of many Chinese deities, including many old buildings with beautiful architecture.