A green start
Begin your morning at Lumpini Park, a welcome green escape right in the middle of the city. Spread across 58 acres, the park has flat walking paths, shaded benches, manicured lawns around an artificial lake. One of Lumpini’s most fascinating residents are its (growing) population of monitor lizards, often seen basking near the water. While they look dramatic, even menacing, they are pretty harmless and very much part of the park’s charm.
If you have more time for green spaces, then Suan Luang IX Park (in honour of King Rama) is the city’s largest green space, known for its serene lakes and beautifully laid-out botanical gardens. Closer to the city centre, Queen Sirikit Park is a lovely oasis that houses 2,000 plant species and several conservation zones.
Tip: Visit before 9 am to avoid heat and crowds.
Step into the city’s royal past
No cultural visit to Bangkok is complete without seeing the Grand Palace. This vast and ornate complex is one of Thailand’s most important landmarks, showcasing traditional Thai architecture at its finest. Once the royal residence, it now stands as a powerful reminder of the country’s history, artistry and spiritual traditions.
Within the palace grounds lies Wat Phra Kaew, home to the revered Emerald Buddha. The detailing here, from gilded spires to intricate murals, is astonishing, even if you choose to explore only a small section.
Tip: Join a guided tour or hire an audio guide to avoid walking to and fro within the complex, and to get a better understanding of the history.
Temple run
Start your Bangkok temple run with Wat Arun. This 17th-century riverside temple is best known for its elegant spires and richly decorated with colourful ceramic tiles salvaged from old ships. The nicest way to experience this temple complex is to take a slow walk through its grounds while soaking in views of the Chao Phraya River.
Note: For a fun keepsake, you can also rent traditional Thai attire for photographs to take back home.
Nearby Wat Pho is another temple famous for Reclining Buddha, and is also considered the birthplace of traditional Thai massage, which adds an interesting layer of cultural significance to this site.
For a quieter experience, head to Wat Saket, also known as the Golden Mount, a temple dating back to the Ayutthaya period. While the full climb up the 320 steps may not be for everyone, the lower grounds and surrounding temple areas are calm and rewarding.
Tip: this temple experience is particularly brilliant during the week-long annual loi krathong, or the Thai Buddhist festival of lights (usually around November).
Another serene option is Wat Benchamabophit, often called the Marble Temple. Its clean lines and pleasing symmetry, European marble walls and pillars, and the open courtyards together make it one of Bangkok’s most graceful temples.
Tip: Keep a scarf handy to cover your knees and shoulders for temple visits.
See Bangkok from the water
If you love something offbeat, why not explore Bangkok by taking a canal (klong) tour. These long-tail boats glide through Bangkok’s lesser-seen waterways, offering a glimpse of stilt houses, local markets and temples, and other scenes from everyday life that feel far removed from the modern-day traffic-filled roads.
The ride itself is slow and scenic, which is a wonderful reminder that Bangkok was once a water-based city, and in many ways, still is.
Eating your way through the city
As evening sets in, a stroll through Khao San Road gives you a clear idea of why Bangkok continues to be listed among the world’s best cities for foodies.
Once known primarily as a backpacker hub, Khao San today is a sensory mix of shops, cafés, bars and street food stalls. And don’t fret - you don’t need to stay late in the night to enjoy the vibe, because early evenings are perfect for browsing through souvenir stalls, people-watching and sampling street foods.
From chicken satay and pad Thai to more adventurous bites like fried insects, the street offers a snapshot of Bangkok’s bold food culture. Whether you actually try them or not, just strolling past and (perhaps) photographing these bizarre foods is a fun way to explore the area.
If you are eating in any restaurants, food kiosks or malls, some of the must-try classics include som tam (papaya salad), pad Thai, tom yum goong (hot and sour shrimp soup), mango sticky rice, Thai milk tea, and grilled satay skewers. Street food is best enjoyed the local way — grab a seat at one of the basic plastic tables and eat while the city moves.
Tip: look for the crowded places where locals eat, for they tend to have the tastiest and often the freshest food.
A great way to sample the best in Bangkok is to go on the Bangkok Food Tour. The duration is 2-4 hours with a guide explaining the origins and flavours of the dishes.
Another enjoyable way to experience Thai cuisine is by signing up for a cooking class. The class begins with a market visit to select fresh ingredients, followed by a half-day session learning classic Thai recipes and later sitting down and enjoying everything you’ve cooked. This is a great choice - Blue Elephant Bangkok Cooking School.