Bangkok

An intoxicating blend of Eastern and Western influences, Bangkok is an assault on the senses. For first-time visitors, Thailand’s capital can be overwhelming; hot, humid and chaotic, its traffic-packed roads and pavements lined with street vendors and market stalls are a challenge just to navigate. Spend a little time exploring the city and adjusting to its frantic pace, however, and you’ll come to love its vibrant, bustling atmosphere. There are few cities in Asia that feel as alive and thriving as Thailand’s capital.

The Chao Phraya River, running through the centre of Bangkok, is emblematic of the city as a whole; it’s a busy thoroughfare, along which river taxis and noisy long-tailed boats rush to and fro past gorgeous temples, high-rise buildings and stilt houses. It’s also one of the best ways to explore the city, stopping off at its central historical attractions and busy trading places, including the famous Bangkok floating markets.

There are a number of must-sees in Bangkok, but if you have time for nothing else, make sure you take in the glorious Grand Palace and the spectacular Wat Phra Kaeo, Thailand’s holiest site. In contrast to the glittering spires of the palace, the former home of Jim Thompson, who launched the booming Thai silk industry, is stylish and understated.

In and around Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok is a thrill to explore. Simply getting around the city is an adventure—you can choose to ride through the chaotic traffic in a tuk tuk, travel on the efficient metro, or enjoy the view as you crisscross the city on the sky train. Make sure you dress respectfully to visit the Royal Grand Palace, home to several glittering buildings including Wat Phra Kaeo, which houses the Emerald Buddha. Bangkok is rich in temples, with the reclining Buddha at Wat Pho and the iconic Wat Arun, on the banks of the river, two of the most important.

Former royal residences abound and Suan Pakkad Palace is now home to an impressive collection of arts and antiquities. Vimanmek Mansion, a royal summer retreat which was dismantled and moved to Bangkok in 1900, is made entirely of golden teakwood.