What is Bangkok most famous for ?

You’ll also find air conditioning and icy drinks, which are always welcome after a day of exploring the humid outdoors.

Extra fun fact: In 2013, Siam Paragon Mall was the most Instagrammed place in the world. Say cheese!

It is a foodie paradise
Aside from the street food, Bangkok has a mouth-watering culinary scene that has garnered much recognition on the global stage.

The San Pellegrino Top 50 Asia named Bangkok restaurant, Gaggan, number 1 for three consecutive years (you might have to book a few weeks ahead, though.)

Nahm by David Thompson is also a high-scoring contender at number 5, and Suhring, a German fine-dining restaurant, is 13. Add to this scores of world-class restaurants, by global culinary stars (Joel Robuchon) and by local heroes (Ian Kittichai), and you have one very full stomach.

Bangkok has amazing architecture
When you think of Bangkok you probably don’t immediately think of incredible skylines, but you should.

Bangkok has a building in the shape of a robot and one that looks like an elephant. It has a brand-new ‘pixelated’ residential tower called Mahanakhon, and a handful of skyscrapers with open-air rooftop bars perched way up over the urban grid.

Then there are all the abandoned buildings that were never completed after the Asian Financial Crisis, the most famous of which – Sathorn Unique – is the subject of much intrigue with visiting adventure-seekers. (It is illegal – and very dangerous – to ascend this derelict tower, though there are some documented cases of it online).

Chatuchak market is the world’s largest weekend market
With more than 15,000 stalls, it really is a must-see.
Keep hydrated with coconut ice cream and Thai iced tea. Get a foot massage to revive. Get a map and use it. Expect to get lost at least a half-dozen times and just enjoy the bargains that come your way

And there are myriad more markets to meander
Chatuchak is no Bangkok secret, but did you know that most areas in Bangkok will have their own market at least once per week

There are night markets, lunchtime markets, university markets, fresh markets, flower markets, retro markets, train markets – all sorts of markets

The night markets at Phraram 9 MRt station are a good option if you want to visit somewhere smaller and more manageable than Chatuchak.

JJ Green is also lovely on a Sunday afternoon if you like retro stores and live music.

There are green spaces for you to relax in
One of the most popular places is the aforementioned Lumphini Park in Silom, which hosts free open-air jazz concerts in the high season and where you can see open-air aerobics every afternoon.

For a jog, head to Benjakiti Park near Sukhumvit MRT – you can even jog (or take a leisurely stroll) from here to Lumphini on an underutilized cycle path.

There is a similarly named Benjasiri Park in Phrom Pong with kids’ playgrounds, basketball courts, a swimming pool and a lake with turtles – a popular place with families at the weekends

Bangkok has a ‘green lung’
There is an entire chunk of land in a bend of the Chao Phraya river covered in dense forest.

With building development prohibited above the treeline, it’s come to be a lush, green reprieve from the city.

Called Bang Krachao, this area is well-known among locals for its cycle tracks and quaint guesthouses.
You can do day trips there or stay overnight and cycle around the entire island.

You must try Thai iced tea
It’s orangey-brown, it’s super sweet, it contains around half a tin of evaporated milk, but if there’s a beverage that will keep you energized in the heat, it’s a cha nom yen (cold milk tea).

We don’t recommend drinking them all the time, but for a taste of Thai culture, they’re as authentic as any pad Thai.

Bangkok has two airports
Sometimes it happens that you arrive at one and have to transfer to the other, in which case you can use the airport shuttle.

Suvarnabhumi also has a very affordable airport link train that operates from very early to very late for only 40 baht per trip, which takes roughly 35 minutes.

It’s cool to stay cool
The phrase ‘jai yen’ is a popular one in Bangkok. Meaning ‘cool heart’ – it is akin to ‘stay calm’ and is deployed when someone starts showing signs of being jai ron (hot-hearted AKA annoyed). Basically, being jai yen means keeping an icy cool composure – a handy skill when faced with traffic, crowds and humidity.

There are more than a few amazing temples
Aside from Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) and Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn), which are all quite close together, you may want to see these temples

Golden Mount – Wat Saket. An Ayutthaya-era temple on top of a hill in the middle of Bangkok.

Wat Khaek – Sri Maha Mariamman Temple. A Hindu shrine in Silom.
Wat Mangkon Kamalawat – A chinese temple in Chinatown with Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian deities