Top Oz Tours offers a great range of Bangkok tours and experiences. You can browse the options here.
It’s been a tumultuous decade for Bangkok, with ongoing political instability, the death of a much-loved monarch, the pandemic, and more recently devastating floods — but you can’t keep a great travel destination down!
The Thai capital constantly rebounds and reinvents itself like nowhere else can. It has long been popular with Aussie travellers — and whether you’re a foodie, fashionista, history buff, culture vulture, or all of the above, you’ll find a lot to love about this sprawling metropolis of just on ten million people.
Here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do in Bangkok on a first visit.
Browse Bangkok tours and experiences
1. Tour the temples
Buddhism is the main religion in Thailand and is practised by the vast majority of the population. There are many truly exquisite Buddhist temples (wats) and historical monuments to see in Bangkok, including Wat Pho (which houses the Temple of the Reclining Buddha), the Grand Palace’s Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha), and gorgeous Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn). While it sounds touristy, a temple tour with a local guide will ensure you get the most from your time inside each site.
Etiquette for visiting a Thai temple: dress modestly, covering from your shoulders to your knees. Remove your hat, sunglasses, and shoes before entering, and alway ask permission before taking photographs.
2. Visit the Grand Palace
Most temple tours also include a visit to the fabulously ornate Grand Palace — undoubtedly the city’s top tourist attraction. Construction of the palace began in the late 1700s and was completed a century later. While the royal family hasn’t resided here for several decades, the complex is a fascinating showcase of Thai royal history. It’s open daily.
3. Do a river cruise
Bangkok’s early history as a trading port is inextricably tied to the course of the Chao Phraya River. The river functioned as the gateway to the city for centuries, and many of Bangkok’s most historic landmarks (including the Grand Palace) and oldest neighbourhoods can be found along the banks of this winding waterway. Book a dinner cruise and watch the reflected light from glittering temples and monuments dance on the surface of the water. Most cruises include a buffet of traditional dishes, and live entertainment.
4. Explore the different districts
Bangkok is a city of many distinct cultural enclaves. Head out and explore utilising the MRT (Bangkok Metro) and BTS Sky Train. The bus boats that traverse the city’s khlongs (canals) are also a great, cheap, and very local way to get around. Key areas to check out are the Old City around the Grand Palace (including famous Khao San Road), Ratchaprasong, Siam, and Sukhumvit (home to the city’s best hotels, eateries, and shopping), Silom (where you’ll find the Patpong Night Market and most colourful nightlife), and Chinatown — a jumble of small streets, neon signs, eclectic eateries, and traditional shops.
5. Shop up a storm
Bangkok has transformed shopping into an art form. However, it’s generally fairly pricey to shop for authentic designer labels. While you may not want to blow your entire holiday budget at Prada or Versace, a visit to the high-end Central Embassy ‘lifestyle mall’ still comes highly recommended — if only for the people watching opportunities. The mall itself is very snazzy (it’s like wandering around inside a giant spacecraft). Head up to level five for a bite to eat or a restorative latte.
6. Hit the Chatuchak Weekend Market…
At the opposite end of the retail scale is the heaving Chatuchak Weekend Market, which is situated in the city’s north. Eight thousand stalls offer everything from souvenirs and second-hand fashion to homewares, antiques, and original artworks. When you first arrive the market will seem completely overwhelming, but it’s actually fairly easy to navigate. There’s one main central circuit, with branches that lead off to a network of lanes and alleys. There are maps available that outline where to find what.
7. …and the floating markets
For a different take on doing the weekly shop, book a day trip to the famous Damnoen Saduak floating markets — 1.5 hours’ drive west of the city. This log-jam of small wooden boats laden with either produce or tourists is a whole lot of fun. Street food of every description is also dished out from within the flotilla.
8. Eat out
There’s certainly no shortage of amazing place to eat in Bangkok, but here are two recommendations. If you’re looking for a spot to celebrate something special, the Marriott Sukhumvit’s Octave Rooftop Lounge and District Grill Room should fit the bill. Start with a cocktail or two up on the rooftop (the building is far enough down Sukhumvit Road to give you a great view back towards the city centre). Head downstairs for a sumptuous steak or seafood dinner, served in an edgy, contemporary setting.
For something more intimate, book a table at the wonderful Issaya Siamese Club in Thung Maha Mek. It offers an innovative menu, served with great aplomb in a beautifully restored 19th century villa. Request a downstairs table.
9. Go to a spa
Sore feet are a part of life for visitors to the Thai capital. For some respite, head for the Renaissance Hotel Bangkok’s tranquil and top-rated Let’s Relax Spa in the heart of the Ratchaprasong shopping and dining district. It offers a full suite of soothing treatments and bookings are essential.
10. Get a great massage at Wat Pho
While you’re trekking around Bangkok’s temples, take some time out at Wat Pho to visit the onsite Massage School. It opened back in 1955 and has been instructing students in the art of delivering quality Thai massage ever since. It’s possible to enrol in a massage course yourself, or simply enjoy a great value treatment from one of the current pupils.
Need a place to stay?
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
There are few hotels these days like the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. For a century and a half, this riverside property has hosted the who’s who of travellers, including royalty and rock stars. If you want to push the boat out on a truly memorable stay in the Thai capital, this is the place to do it!
The guest rooms feature plush furnishings, a sitting area, a well-appointed executive desk, and a luxurious marble bathroom. There are lots of small details that make the experience of staying here even more special, including the embossed notepaper and complimentary boxed body lotion from the hotel spa. Enjoy!
For more travel inspiration, visit www.tourismthailand.org.
Browse our range of Bangkok tours and experiences here.
Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the top things to do in Bangkok on a first visit? We would love to hear from you. Join the conversation on our Facebook page.
Additional images: Depositphotos and Bigstock
About the writer
Adam Ford is editor of Top Oz Tours and Travel Ideas, and a travel TV presenter, writer, blogger, and photographer. He has travelled extensively through Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. Adam worked as a travel consultant for a number of years with Flight Centre before taking up the opportunity to travel the world himself as host of the TV series Tour the World on Network Ten. He loves to experience everything a new destination has to offer and is equally at home in a five-star Palazzo in Pisa or a home-stay in Hanoi.
Travel essentials
You can book many aspects of your holiday on the Top Oz Tours & Travel Ideas website, including flights, hotels, car hire, travel insurance, and more. When you purchase a product or service using the following links from our partners, we receive a small commission. It does not affect the price you pay, and it enables us to continue to provide readers with amazing travel inspiration.
Flights
Compare airlines, flights, and fares in one place with Booking.com. They don’t charge any credit card fees and you can always see exactly what you’re paying for in the price breakdown. You can book one-way, round-trip, and multi-city flights, and change your travel dates with ease when you opt for a flexible ticket option (an additional cost applies). It all adds up to a great flight! Search for flights with Booking.com
Hotels
If you’re looking for a great deal on your next hotel or homestay, look no further than Booking.com. Their mission is to make travel affordable and accessible to more people, and to deliver seamless accommodation experiences that complement your holiday. Search for hotels and homestays with Booking.com
Car hire
Discover Cars is an award-winning (World Travel Awards) car rental comparison website, which helps customers find, compare, and hire cars at the most competitive prices globally. Search for hire cars with Discover Cars
Day tours & experiences
Search and book day tours, guided experiences, and attraction tickets and passes worldwide with Top Oz Tours and Viator. There are no booking or credit card fees when you book through us, and you’ll have access to the widest choice of activities and most competitive prices. Browse day tours and experiences
Multi-day tours & trips
Top Oz Tours has joined forced with Tour Radar to bring you a fabulous range of multi-day tours and trips from the world’s leading operators. Travel with like minded people and get the best possible price on the holiday of your dreams. Browse multi-day tours and trips
Travel insurance
World Nomads aims to be a part of every traveller’s journey by providing a reassuring range of travel insurance services. Benefits include coverage for emergency medical and evacuation or repatriation, lost baggage, trip cancellation, and more than 150 adventure activities. Get an insurance costing
