Delights for the Sightseer

The splendid Grand Palace compound is unquestionably one of Bangkok's foremost tourist attractions. As its name indicates this magnificent royal complex contains a host of impressive buildings that will capture the interest of the sightseer. Constructed in the 18th century the Grand Palace complex served as a residence for the Thai royalty and is still used to host significant events as well as to accommodate important visiting leaders. The Grand Palace also contains the significant temple known as Wat Phra Kaew which houses the greatly venerated Emerald Buddha statue. The Grand Palace serves to emphasise the rich culture and traditions of the nation of Thailand.

The temple known as Wat Pho is regarded as being one of the city's most significant Buddhist shrines. This engrossing temple was constructed by order of the monarch Rama I and is considered to be one of the oldest temples in Bangkok. This temple is also regarded as a place of healing and contains a school for traditional medicine where you can obtain a relaxing massage. Taking pride of place at this temple is the colossal reclining Buddha statue which you will find here; this mammoth statue has a length of no less than 45 m. On this Buddha statue, you will be able to observe the various signs of virtue and Enlightenment which characterise the Buddha.

No tour of the attractions of Bangkok would be complete without visiting the remarkable Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn. In fact, the image of this temple's imposing towers is regarded as being an iconic symbol of the city of Bangkok. Wat Arun's central feature is the magnificent central spire, which takes the distinctive shape of the architectural traditions of the Khmer culture. Wat Arun is also inextricably linked with the heritage and history of the Thai nation. If you make the effort to climb the stairs to the top of the spire you will be rewarded with splendid views of the surrounding areas. A choice of accommodation that you could consider from where this temple may be conveniently visited would be Citadines Sukhumvit 8 Bangkok which may be regarded as one of many an apartment hotel in Bangkok.

Bangkok's vibrant Chinatown is unquestionably one of the city's most distinctive and attractive areas. Chinatown is a lively, exotic and colourful locality which offers a host of attractions for the visitor. In this part of the city, you will encounter a myriad of interesting stalls filled with appealing merchandise. Chinatown is also renowned for its array of gold boutiques of which you will find a great number here. This part of the city is at its most attractive during festive occasions like the Vegetarian Festival and Chinese New Year, during which the atmosphere of celebration and dynamism pervades the area.

Bangkok's most important floating market Damnoen Saduak can be considered to be one of the city's outstanding tourist attractions. Despite this reality, this popular floating market continues to provide a genuine insight into the local culture and lifestyle. At this vibrant marketplace, you will find an array of wooden boats filled with goods such as fresh vegetables, fruits and flowers. You will also come across a host of food sellers at this market, who carry grills and cauldrons within their vessels. Visitors will have the opportunity to savour local foods such as skewers of seafood and bowls of boat noodles.