Bangkok is the capital and the most populous city in Thailand which covers an area of 1568.7 square kilometers. It is located in the Chao Phraya river delta in central Thailand with a population of about 8 million people. Including the Bangkok metropolitan area, the city's population is more than 14 million, accounting for more than one-fifth of the country's population and surpassing all other urban areas in Thailand.
From a small town in the Ayutthaya kingdom in the 15th century, Bangkok quickly expanded thanks to trade and became the place of the two capitals Thonburi in 1768 and Rattanakosin in 1782. As the capital of Siam, Bangkok has witnessed the rapid modernization of the country and the great political upheavals of Thailand from the 19th century to the present.
The city has flourished since the 1960s and today; it plays the leading role in politics, economics, education, and communication in the modern Thailand country. The economic boom of Southeast Asia in the 1980s and 1990s prompted many multinational companies to place their regional headquarters in Bangkok. Bangkok is currently a regional economic and financial hub.
Also, Bangkok is exceptionally famous for its rich diversity of unique cuisine, amusement parks, and shopping malls, etc. Tourists can easily find many shopping centers equipped with air-conditioning selling silk, gems, bronze, furniture, and countless handicrafts which are internationally admired. Bangkok is also voted as "friendly tourist city" and always in the top tourist attractions in the world.
Bangkok in the sunset
Where to stay when traveling to Bangkok
Top luxurious hotels
- Mandarin Oriental
- The Siam
- The Peninsula Bangkok
- Park Hyatt Bangkok
- InterContinental
- Shangri-La Hotel
Top budget hotels in Bangkok
- Lamphu House Bangkok
- Hotel Picnic
- Cubic Pratunam
- Bangkok Homestay by BK
- Bangkok Riverside Condo
- Bangkok Dream Apartments
Park Hyatt Bangkok
Top tourist attractions in Bangkok
Temples
95% of the Thai population is Buddhist. The capital of Bangkok is also home to hundreds of temples. Not only is a place of worship, but some temples also have halls and schools.
The three largest temples in Bangkok that tourists often visit are Grand Palace (Royal Palace), Wat Po (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) and Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). These places are not only great stops for visitors by impressive architecture but also have great historical significance.
Jatujak Weekend Market
Jatujak weekend market (also known as Chatuchak) is one of the largest markets in Asia. This place is nearly 150,000 m2 with thousands of suppliers, about 200,000 stores on weekends.
Coming here, visitors can easily find beautiful handicraft items "made in Thailand," clothes, household goods, and even pets. However, the market is very crowded. Visitors can easily get lost in the labyrinth network of stalls. If you do not like crowds but still want to go to Chatuchak, 9 am, and 4 pm is the right time.
Ancient City
The only way to visit Thailand's most important historical sites in a day is to visit Ancient City. About 45 minutes drive from Bangkok center, Samut Prakan has copies of dozens of famous landmarks of the golden pagodas, the Royal Palace to the Preah Vihear temple on the border with Cambodia. However, Ancient City is very large, and travelers should rent a tram or bicycle to go around this place.
Temples in Bangkok
Asiatique The Riverfront
Asiatique The Riverfront is an extensive shopping and entertainment complex next to the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. It is built on the inspiration of city days as a riverside mall in the early 1900s.
There are restaurants and bars with a range of high-end pubs serving Thai, French, Italian and Japanese dishes. The best way to get here is to take a train that regularly runs from BTS Thaksin.
Siam Niramit
Elaborately built with over 100 performers, Siam Niramit recreates the culture of 7 centuries in a wonderful 80-minute program with special effects. The program starts at 8 pm daily. Guests can dine at an on-site restaurant, offering a Thai buffet dinner from 17:30. After the show, visitors can also experience traditional Thai games, elephant riding, or enjoy other cultural performances
