Destination Bangkok: Discover the Amazing

For many travelers, Bangkok is a first stop on their tour through Southeast Asia. Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is one of the region's largest and most trafficked airports. Flight options are plentiful and air travel is finally returning to pre-pandemic levels now that Thailand has relaxed restrictions on most incoming passengers. As long as you have proof you are vaccinated against COVID-19, you can travel to Thailand without having to undergo quarantine. At the time of writing, Thai authorities were no longer requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Travelers holding a Singapore-issued passport are allowed to enter visa-free, making a visit to Bangkok even easier.

First-time visitors can find themselves overwhelmed by Bangkok's labyrinthian streets and tangled neighborhoods. The Chao Phraya River slices through the heart of the city and the river's many tributaries and canals branch out in all directions. The Grand Royal Palace is centrally located and can be considered the heart of the city. When it comes to places to stay, here are several neighborhoods to consider.

Sukhumvit Road is a prominent thoroughfare that runs through Bangkok and out into the Thai countryside beyond. It is known for its fashionable hotels, bars, clubs, and restaurants. Several air conditioned shopping malls are located in this part of Bangkok, making it an excellent place to escape the city's searing heat. Public transportation in the form of the Bangkok Skytrain (known as the BTS) makes accessing Sukhumvit easy. The BTS and the Bangkok Subway (known as the MRT) are the two most convenient ways to travel long distances around Bangkok, which is known for its gridlocked traffic jams, especially during rush hour.

Silom is a neighborhood filled with contrasts. During the day, the area fills with high-powered office workers shuttling into the many high-rise buildings. By night, Silom lets its hair down as the many restaurants and cafes cater to crowds looking to sample a bit of the nightlife. As Bangkok’s main commercial district, Silom is a great place to stay. It is well-connected to the rest of the city and offers a lot by way of accommodations and dining options. Make sure to visit beautiful Lumpini Park and stop into one of the many fabulous Thai restaurants that dot the area.

If shopping is on your agenda, Siam is the neighborhood for you. Featuring some of Bangkok's best shopping malls including Siam Center, Siam Discovery, Central World, Siam Paragon, Central Chitlom, and MBK. Moving between them is quite easy so you'll have no trouble shopping until your heart's content. Siam is also home to several movie theaters and some supercool pubs and restaurants, which are popular among locals. The Scala Theater, one of the oldest movie theaters in Bangkok, hosts film festivals and other events throughout the year.

Riverside is one of Bangkok’s best regions for first-time visitors. This scenic area also happens to be one of the city’s calmest, offering a respite from the urban cacophony that pervades some other districts. Riverside is where you can find hotels offering majestic views of the Royal Palace and the famous temples lining the Chao Phraya. The Riverside is a great place from which to explore Bangkok's rich history. The area is replete with high-end accommodations as well as numerous traditional dwellings that have been transformed into quaint boarding houses.

Chinatown was once the purview of Bangkok's ubiquitous budget travelers. Redevelopments and an influx of new hotels has opened this area up to more visitors seeking to experience the neighborhood's flamboyant charms. Chinatown is filled with fun markets, great restaurants, and iconic shrines. In the evening, people flock here from all over the city to enjoy the famous street food. As one of the oldest parts of the city, there are countless hidden treasures waiting to be discovered in Chinatown.

Bangkok is a city that's impossible to cover in a short visit. From royal palaces and sacred temples to mesmerizing floating markets and stunning river views, Bangkok is a cosmopolitan city with a rich culture. The city's list of must-see attractions is long. If you are a first-time visitor or only have a few days to spend, here are some places you absolutely don't want to miss.

This spectacular palace was the home to Thai Royalty for over 150 years. Recognized today as a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site, the palace complex comprises several impressive buildings, each featuring stunning architectural designs and intricate details. Make sure to visit Wat Phra Kaew, which houses the famous Jade Buddha. The Grand Palace is considered a sacred site and visitors are expected to follow the rules for decorum. A dress code dictates that men must wear long pants and shirts with sleeves. Women are expected to wear modest clothing that covers their knees and shoulders. Bare feet are not permitted. Visitors will do well to arrive early in the morning in order to get in before the crowds and before temperatures start to rise.

Wat Pho is located just to the south of the Grand Palace, making it convenient to visit after exiting the palace complex. Wat Pho is home to the famous 46 meter long reclining Buddha. The statue's magnificence when viewed in person far surposses any feeble description we might offer here. Wat Pho is considered a royal temple and is associated with former King Rami I. The temple is an important site of Buddhist learning and contains the largest collection of Buddhist images in Thailand.

Wat Arun sits directly across the Chao Phraya River from Wat Pho. Visitors can cross the river by ferry or take the subway one stop between Sanam Chai and Itsaraphap, though this requires considerably more walking. Wat Arun is known as the Temple of Dawn and takes its name from the Hindu god Aruna, who is often personified in the image of a rising sun. A popular thing to do is visit the temple early in the morning when dawn's light seems to radiate off the temple's pearl colored exterior. Wat Arun's ornate architecture makes for great photographs as do the many impressive figurines located around the temple grounds.

Wat Traimit is home to the world's largest Buddha statue constructed entirely out of gold. If this sounds incredible, that's because it is! The statue weighs a staggering 5,500 kilograms (5.5 tonnes)! Its origins are not known precisely and for hundreds of years it was encased in a plaster shell meant to conceal its true value. Only when the plaster began to chip away was the gold discovered. This remarkable find must be seen to be believed. After visiting Wat Traimit, visitors can wander to nearby Chinatown where they can explore the area's famous food stalls and street vendors.

Khao San Road is a famous pedestrian street in Central Bangkok popular with backpackers and expats. It is located about a kilometer north of the Grand Palace and is full of budget accomodations, people milling about, and all manner of food and entertainment. The area is normally very lively after dark and visitors can wander through the night market hunting for souvenirs or other bargains. During the annual Songkran water splashing festival, Khao San Road turns into the setting for an enormous water fight.

Bangkok is famous for its racy nightlife. This includes the city's prominent Red Light Districts and steamy cabarets. Though technically illegal, sex tourism in Bangkok has flourished for decades in the narrow streets and alleyways in the Red Light District. Soi Cowboy is arguably the most famous place to experience this side of Bangkok. The area remains lively even after stepped-up enforcement in recent years has shuttered other once popular locations. No matter if this sort of entertainment isn't your cup of tea so to speak, Soi Cowboy is worth a visit for the sheer churioustity factor. It's a great place to people watch, just make sure to get consent before taking photos. A trip to Bangkok needn't be all about history and temples. Discover the city's other side with a visit to the Red Light District.

Bangkok is a city with an outsized reputation. Its magnificence is matched by its frenetic energy. Much like New York City, Bangkok is a city that never sleeps. There is always something to do and more to discover. If you've been considering a visit to Bangkok, now is a great time to go. Travel restrictions have relaxed significantly and the Thai capital is once again easily accessible to international visitors. Come discover all that makes Bangkok such a special destination.