Top 5 Things to Do in Bangkok - Sightseeing, Tours, Shopping and More!

Those visiting Bangkok for the first time must certainly make time to visit the Grand Palace and the neighbouring Temple of the Emerald Buddha, known as Wat Phra Kaew. These two sites remain the most popular tourist attractions in the country. These two attractions are located within a 94.5-hectare ground which hosts over one hundred buildings that are both religiously and historically significant. One can enter both these attractions on the same admission ticket, and tourists can also opt to hire a guide. Make sure that you hire a guide from the kiosk selling the tickets for the best service. Alternatively, tourists can opt for an audio guide for an extra fee.

When residing in a boutique hotel in Bangkok, it is quite easy to get a skewered sense of how the locals live. Bangkok itself appears rather cosmopolitan, and as a result, it often seems as though its inhabitants enjoy a high quality of life. Shatter this illusion and witness the poverty that underlies the city by opting for a Khlong tour. A Khlong tour will take you to the waters of the old capital which is located on the western banks of the river. Those who opt for such a tour will be able to see how old homes built on stilts still dot the river bank and are still used by locals to live in.

The city of Bangkok is a well-known tourist and shopping destination in South East Asia. With numerous street markets such as the famed Chatuchak Market, as well as high-end shopping malls and retail outlets selling globally renowned brands, tourists are spoilt for choice when it comes to quality shopping in Bangkok. One of the best places to start your shopping expeditions is Sukhumvit, the shopping destination of the city, and this is made easier if you reside in Sukhumvit accommodation such as Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18. Those residing in or visiting Sukhumvit can commence their shopping expedition at EmQuartier Bangkok which opened only three years ago, the Terminal 21 Shopping Mall, the Gateway Ekamai Shopping Mall, Rain Hill Plaza or at the Sukhumvit Market.

The Chao Phraya River is the main artery following through the heart of Bangkok. In addition to its aesthetic and natural benefits and advantages, the Chao Phraya River also operates as a mode of transportation for tourists and locals alike. Tourists who wish to visit major attractions along the river such as the Grand Palace will find it convenient to use the riverboats as their means of transport. However, when night falls, a number of establishments offer tourists the option of selecting a dinner cruise that will also allow them to take in the marvellous Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of the Dawn, as it is lit up at night.

Chinatown in Bangkok has become quite a tourist attraction with its unique ambience and delicious street food. located adjacent to Charoenkrung Road, Chinatown runs along for about one kilometre and is dotted with street food stalls, restaurants, Chinese temples and gold shops.