Places to Visit in Bangkok – A Tourists Paradise

Home of Thai royalty for over 150 years this is a must visit site when in Bangkok. The sacred grounds of the palace and temple welcome hundreds of visitors who gaze in wonder at its magnificent structures. Housed within the wat is the famous Emerald Buddha –Phra Kaew Morakot - which is skilfully carved out of a single chunk of emerald.

The golden spires of beautiful Wat Arun are an iconic sight in Bangkok. Visible for miles across the Chao Pharya River, the temple represents the start of the magnificent Rattanakosin era in Thailand. The temple was constructed in the 19th century according to the architectural styles of the ancient Khmer Dynasty and is considered one of the most beautiful in the country.

Of all Thailand's floating markets Damnoen Saduak is by far the most famous. Retaining its authentic feel of the past, the premier tourist attraction still boasts sights of wooden row boat stalls, selling fresh fruits, flowers and vegetables. The floating food boats come complete with charcoal grills where hawkers will skilfully cook up a batch of delicious 'boat noodles' for you to try.

The largest number of gold shops in Bangkok is concentrated within the busy streets of Chinatown. Best times to visit are when the Chinese New Year and Vegetarian Festivals are being celebrated. At this time the area is a riot of colours, sounds and sights. Otherwise you will love browsing the vintage shop-houses and purchasing authentic souvenirs.

It is wise to consider accommodation at a Bangkok Asoke hotel for easy access to sites. The location of the BTS Skytrain there makes travel convenient to any part of the city. AVANI Atrium Bangkok is a city hotel located in the area just minutes from the wonders of Sukhumvit Road.

The riverside is one of Bangkok's biggest lures. Offering attractions and activities to be enjoyed day or night the rivers and waterways of Bangkok are quite interesting to explore. Hop on a water taxi and float past olden stilt-houses, cross huge rice barges and wave to the friendly locals. At night the river is a magical location offering champagne dinner cruises and marvellous sights of the well-lit temples and palaces on the banks.

A must visit destination for all shopaholics, the Chatuchak Weekend Market is brimming with fabulous bargains, handicrafts and many more interesting goodies. Over 8000 stalls offer a variety of goodies and quite rightly at least 200,000 visitors grace the market over the weekends.

Vibrant Khao San Road is an interesting mix of east and west. The area is frequented by a large tourist crowd who throng the cocktail bars, food stalls and love browsing the market stalls and shops.

Jim Thompson was responsible for the revival of Thailand's fabulous silk industry over three decades ago. His house is now an iconic legacy that stocks within its folds an innumerable collection of Thai silks and vintage treasures. Adding to the lure of the ancient teak wood Thai house, is the legend of Jim Thompson who disappeared within the jungles of Malaysia.

This is just one of the quirky sights to be enjoyed in Bangkok. When visiting the Erawan Museum the first sight to greet you is a statue of a huge three headed elephant. It is 29 metres high and a quiet prelude to what awaits you within the museum. The museum is housed within the huge elephant and other buildings, and skilfully displays the Thai Cosmos, Eastern antiquities and a huge number of religious artefacts. The architecture is stunning while the whole tour of the museum promises to awe and thrill all visitors.