12 essentials: what to see and do in Bangkok (Thailand) in 1 or 2 days

Bangkok It is one of the most attractive cities in the world for travelers.

The capital Thailand It is the gateway to the country and all of Southeast Asia, but it is also a destination in itself.

Beyond the centuries-old temples and street markets the modern city appears with its skyscraper and their fabulous malls.

En Bangkok the new and vibrant combines perfectly with the history and tradition, and so there is nothing better than going from a luxury shopping center to a session of authentic traditional massage.

Bangkok is a shopping paradise and has some of the best hotels in the world.

Here the night begins at roofs having a drink hundreds of meters above the streets, but the main avenue is still the river and, restaurants more sophisticated have the competition of street stalls.

Everything described are real aspects of Bangkok, an endless city with many faces that is very stimulating.

It takes time to get to know the Thai capital in depth, but a few days are enough to enjoy its thousand faces and attractions.

The best things to see and do in Bangkok for tourism

Next we propose you 12 activities to do and places to visit in Bangkok.

Marvel at the art and atmosphere of Bangkok's temples

A good part of the historical monuments of bangkok are in Ratanakosin, an artificial island formed by the Chao Phraya River and a channel.

This place is the cultural center of the Thai capital.

The essential visit in Ratanakosin es Wat Pra Keo, the royal temple located next to the Grand palace.

Wat Pra Keo defines the apogee of thai religious art and it is the most sacred religious center in the country since it keeps the Emerald Buddha, the most revered image.

The set of chapels, with a fabulous collection of mural paintings which represent the Thai version of the Ramayana, offer one of the summits of the thai art.

Across the street is Wat Po, oldest temple in bangkok, famous for its image of reclining buddha of 45 meters.

En Ratanakosin There are also many other places of interest, such as Lak Muang, the temple where the guardian spirits of the city reside, and the National Museum.

Very close, but already out of Ratanakosin, you can visit the amulets market, Golden Mount and many more temples that allow us to delve into Thai history, art and religiosity.

Say goodbye to the day on the rooftops of Bangkok

One of the Bangkok delicacies is to enjoy the bars and restaurants located in the skyscraper roofs.

When evening falls, the sun loses strength and the lights begin to turn on. The time has come to go to these places that offer the best views and a very pleasant atmosphere.

It is spectacular to enjoy a drink or dinner from above while watching the city light up.

Among the first venues open to the stars of the Thai capital are Vertigo, on the 61st floor of banyan tree hotel, and Sirocco, on the 63rd floor of the State Tower.

But now there are many more, among which Above Eleven it is one of the best known.

Get lost in Bangkok's traditional markets

You can almost say that all Bangkok is a market.

No matter where you go they always appear traditional markets of all kinds, food, clothing, household items, electronics or everything at the same time.

They are very interesting food and flower markets since they offer very different products from what we normally see in Europe.

In fact, and especially when it comes to dry food, it is very difficult to even guess what is being sold.

You have to walk through these markets observing the atmosphere and enjoying the spectacle of daily life that always takes place in these places.

Chatuchak Market in Bangkok

Special mention deserves the Chatuchak market, which operates fully only during the weekend. It's a bit far from the center but it's something special.

Chatuchak It has more than 10.000 stalls and is one of the largest in the world.

Of course, almost everything is sold there, from clothing, furniture and food to works of art, pets and antiques.

Relax with a traditional massage in Bangkok

En Bangkok, as in all Thailand, there is a formidable massage offer. Many hotels have spas or other facilities where it is possible to enjoy this thai specialty.

There is nothing better after getting off the plane than a good massage to end the Jet lag and the fatigue of the flight.

A highly recommended option is to take advantage of the hotel's spa facilities, if they have them, or else go to the Wat Po School of Massage and Traditional Medicine.

The place does not offer intimacy or luxury, but it is very effective and economical; by being in the Temple of the Leaning Buddha, you are now in the area of ​​the most interesting cultural visits.

For a more sophisticated massage, in more refined facilities, we can recommend Oasis Spa and Oriental Spa, perhaps the most famous hotel in all of Bangkok.

There are a thousand other different options available; We must not forget that probably Bangkok Be the urban spa capital of the world.

Stay in one of the best hotels in the world in Bangkok

Bangkok stands out for its extraordinary hotel offer, with accommodations of all types and prices.

Competition makes prices very attractive and we can take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy a luxury hotel to a much more affordable price than in a similar establishment in Europe.

Apart from the comfort of the facilities, these hotels stand out for the careful attention they offer and the attention to detail.

Explore the mysteries of Bangkok's Chinatown

south of Ratanakosin is Chinatown, Bangkok Chinatown.

It is one of the most interesting areas to walk. as it offers a very different atmosphere from most of the city.

Yawarat Road It is the main avenue that runs through the area. The signs in stores and hotels can make you think that you are in another country.

Enter the alleys full of shops and stalls with all kinds of merchandise and small restaurants necessarily leads to getting lost, but it is enough to return to Yawarat Road to get oriented again.

En Chinatown Must visit Wat Traimit, temple of the golden buddha y Wat Mangkon Kawalawat, a Buddhist temple that shows influences from Confucianism and Taoism.

Enjoy street food in Bangkok

La street food part of the thai lifestyle. It's cheap, delicious and always on hand.

There is no problem finding a place to eat since the small stalls and restaurants open to the street (many times the kitchen is outside even if you eat inside) they abound in all neighborhoods.

Whether in Chinatown, riding a Silom, riding a Sukhumvit, riding a Khao San, riding a Phra nakhon oe any other neighborhood, the street restaurants They offer a delicious culinary adventure.

Most stalls operate throughout the day, but they are almost always busiest in the late afternoon and early evening.

You just have to avoid raw food, like oysters, and see that what they serve is cooked fresh. And bring cash, as these stalls do not accept credit card payments.

Sailing down the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok

El Chao Phraya It is the great river that crosses the Thai capital, and remains a fundamental route to move from one place to another.

It is interesting to travel along the river for the experience itself. In addition, it allows you to reach certain destinations without facing traffic problems.

Many of the places to visit are next to or very close to the river.

El Chao Phraya It is a small river by the size of Asian rivers, but quite impressive if we compare it with European ones.

All types of boats pass through the river, from the boats of the Chao Phraya River Express (the closest thing to a water bus), to hotel boats, through all types of industrial transportation.

Shopping in a Bangkok shopping center

Another aspect of the Bangkok shopping life are malls. where hundreds or thousands of stores of all kinds are grouped together.

Unlike the malls that we know in Europe, here each store or each stall is completely independent from the others.

Even in the same center you can find stores that offer clothing or electronics from leading world brands, and next door, the copies, which are sometimes of good quality and other times very bad.

It goes without saying that your air conditioned environment It is very appreciated during the hours when the heat is on the streets.

There are dozens of malls in all Bangkok neighborhoods.

If only one had to be mentioned, it would be necessary to refer to MBK Center, which although it is more than 35 years old, is still considered the largest in Asia.

More than 2500 shops, as well as cinemas, restaurants, bowling alleys and karaoke bars make the MBK a place not to be missed.

Take a tour of Bangkok's canals

In its origin Bangkok it was kind of Venice of the East since it was crossed by a multitude of canals. Transportation was mainly done by water.

Over time, most of the canals have dried up and now very few remain.

However, there is still regular transportation through the canals, as well as through the Chao Phraya River.

Thon Buri, the part of Bangkok that lies west of the Chao Phraya River, maintains to a certain extent the atmosphere of the channels and daily life has to do with them.

Tradition in the floating markets of Bangkok

Closely related to life in the canals are the floating markets.

They have always generated one of the most romantic images of Bangkok and have therefore been highly sought after by visitors.

The saleswomen with their big hats rowing through the canals offering their merchandise has always been one of the most desired photos.

However, their success among tourists has led many of them to lose much of their essence.

Logically, the further we go from the center of Bangkok, the more likely we are to find authentic floating markets.

But let's not fool ourselves, even floating markets as Damner Saduak o Amphawa They are now just tourist markets.

At least Amphawa It largely attracts Thai tourism, which is why it is probably the most interesting; You find it about 80 kilometers west of the center of Bangkok.

Go in search of ancient Ayutthaya from Bangkok

Ayutthaya is a former capital of the kingdom of Siam and his remains are included in the list of the World Heritage for the Unesco.

It is located about 80 kilometers north of Bangkok, and is a good day trip, although we would recommend spending at least one night to visit in the late afternoon and early morning.

Most of the historic city is in a river island formed by the Chao Phraya River and two tributaries.

In the complex there are numerous temples, among which that of Wat Na Phra Mane It is the best preserved.

However, the one that everyone wants to know is the Wat Phra Mahathat temple, famous for Buddha head that is surrounded by a fig tree that grows around him.