Best of Budget Bangkok 2

Our Local Expert Says:

If you had to see one thing in Bangkok, this arguably would be it.

Description:

Over 200 years old, Wat Pho is one of Bangkok's largest and oldest temple complexes. For an entry fee of 50 baht, visitors can roam the grounds with or without a guide, stopping along the way at numerous notable temples and sites. The most famous of Wat Pho's relics is the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, wherein lies an impressive 46 meter-long gold-plated image of a reclining Buddha. A first grade royal monastery, Wat Pho is also Thailand's oldest learning center and the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. Take a Chao Phraya River ferry to Tha Thien (pier). The Grand Palace is a short walk from Wat Pho. You can also cross the river from the pier to see Wat Arun. Beware that scam artists (often tuk-tuk drivers) will try to claim that the temple is closed for the day. Don't believe it.

[Note: Pho is pronounced with a P like Paul not an F like a Vietnamese noodle soup]

Our Local Expert Says:

You may feel overwhelmed at the National Museum, but absolutely make time for the Buddhaisawan Chapel and the gilded funerary chariots, both of which deserve a spotlight.

Description:

Established in 1874, the National Museum provides for a half day of exploration and discovery. It has three permanent exhibition galleries: The Thai History Gallery, The Archaeological and Art History Collections, and The Decorative Arts and Ethnological Collection. The National Museum is huge, but manageable, especially considering the peaceful, shaded courtyards that offer breaks to visitors. Tours are available in English, German, French and Japanese from 9:30am until noon on Wednesdays and Thursdays, which is also when the museum offers free entry (otherwise, expect to pay 40 baht).

Our Local Expert Says:

The Grand Palace is a Bangkok must-see, but beware of tourist traps! If a tuk tuk driver tells you that the Palace is closed for the day, make sure to get confirmation. And definitely think twice before agreeing to take the city tour he'll probably offer.

Description:

Bangkok's Grand Palace served as the official residence of Thailand's kings from the time it was built in 1782 until midway through the 20th Century. Although the entry fee is considerably higher than most at 300 baht, the grounds are gorgeous and provide an unforgettable glimpse at Thai history and architecture. Sitting on over 215,000 square meters, the Grand Palace houses government offices, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and royal residences. A trip to the Grand Palace is worth combining with Wat Pho, its next-door neighbor of equal cultural importance.

Description:

Call it the holy of the holies. This 45-centimeter tall statue of the sitting Buddha is carved from jasper and is only "emerald" in color. Nevertheless its importance is such that only the King of Thailand may go near it and he does so three times a year to change its golden clothing. The temple is right next to the Grand Palace and both are part of a sprawling 1.5 square kilometer collection of buildings. Murals adorn the temple's walls with scenes from the Ramakian, what in India would be the Ramayana. Visitors must cover up -- no bare shoulders or legs -- and some rental clothing is available for anyone who didn't plan ahead. Audio tours can be rented.

Our Local Expert Says:

Make sure to plan your trip to Vimanmek Palace with enough time to catch one of the traditional Thai dancing shows. They take place on the lawn at 10:30am and 2pm daily.

Description:

Long used only as a storage place, Vimanmek Palace was converted into a museum in 1982 to commemorate King Rama V and has since become one of the biggest tourist attractions in Bangkok. The world's largest teakwood mansion, the interior of Vimanmek Palace is breathtaking and displays Rama V's personal photographs, art and handicrafts. The expansive grounds of the palace also house a number of other restored structures turned museums, each important to Thailand's cultural and national heritage. Admission is 100 baht for adults who wish to escape into a sanctuary of history and beauty.

Our Local Expert Says:

Just strides away from Central World, one of Bangkok's largest and most upscale shopping malls, the Erawan Shrine presents the shopaholic tourist with a convenient chance to soak up some culture.

Description:

In the middle of the glitz and traffic of downtown commercial Bangkok stands Erawan Shrine, a very unique place of worship that is a must-see. Devoted to the Hindu god Brahma, Erawan Shrine was built in 1956 to honor the spirits that once resided in trees that were chopped down during construction of the nearby Erawan Hotel. Nowadays, the shrine is constantly flooded with worshippers praying for good fortune as they burn incense, light candles and place carnation garlands at offering tables. Traditional Thai dancers perform on a stage around the clock, and tourists are welcomed to partake in the spirituality. The open-air fills with pleasant scents and the good vibes are abundant. Erawan Shrine is a Bangkok must.

Our Local Expert Says:

This Buddhist temple is undervisited by locals and tourists alike, despite its convenient location in the city's center. Nestled between Siam Paragon and Centralworld, two of Bangkok's largest and most upscale shopping malls, Wat Pathumwanaram is the perfect place to go for the shop-a-holic tourist who still likes to soak up some local culture.

Description:

This important Buddhist temple is small in size, but full of intricately painted murals and beautifully crafted décor. It is also home to the ashes of Prince Mahidol, father of Kings Rama XIII and IX.

Description:

Located at Siam station where the two lines of the BTS SkyTrain interchange, this modern shopping complex is the latest in design and draws window shoppers even more than the buyers themselves. After all not many people are picking out a Lamborghini at the mall. The top floor Paragon Hall hosts expos and a Cineplex shows the latest movies and is home to Bangkok's only IMAX cinema. Siam Ocean World is in the basement and the food court has abundant restaurant options. Something is always going on in the adjacent Parc Paragon, often free concerts or late in the year some sort of beer garden or other product-sponsored venue. Siam Paragon is not to be confused with Siam Discovery, another smaller and less dazzling shopping complex right across Parc Paragon. The mall is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the ground floor restaurants are open until 11 p.m.

Description:

This shopping area stretches from Rama 1 Road down to the Chulalongkorn University campus and from Phayathai Road over to Henri Dunant. The area is home to Bangkok's Hard Rock Cafe and is full of pubs, small shops, restaurants, cyber cafes, fast food outlets, clothing shops, cinemas, bookstores, schools; just about everything. It is immensely popular with young Thais who come here to hang out, be seen, party and have a good time.

Description:

Located right off the On Nut BTS SkyTrain station, the On Nut open-air market is a decent spot to get a little shopping in (mostly women's clothing and accessories), but more importantly, a superb place to eat in the evenings. The collective menu of all the food vendors at On Nut is impressive. Grilled salted fish, the usual assortment of noodles, wok food (including pad thai), deep-fried items, grilled meats and seafood, curries, tom yung goong, a Turkish-style doner stand, juice stands, spring rolls, som tam, kao man gai and more. One can grab a table and pull together an elaborate meal from multiple sources. There are also two beer gardens serving bottles and several drafts with the accompanying beer towers: one beer garden is clearly visible right beneath the SkyTrain platform and often features some live acoustic Thai music. Right next to it is a milk garden you might say: a pink VW van serving milk drinks. A collection of tables is located between both and customers from the surrounding food stalls dine here. Farther back from Sukhumvit Road toward the back corner of this large market is another collection of tables and chairs and yet another beer garden. This one also serves... read more

Description:

Tucked into a side street off the happening Sukhumvit Soi 11, this hostel puts guests close to the Nana SkyTrain station and in the middle of the bustle of downtown Bangkok. All rooms are nonsmoking and clean and come with air-conditioning. The building is decorated in the style of a traditional Thai house and for what is essentially a back alley, there is a surprising bit of potted greenery here. Breakfast is included. Prices are not the cheapest for a hostel in town but the location may justify the slight bump in baht. Book ahead of time for sure because Suk11 fills up fast. The airport shuttle makes a stop in Soi 11.

Our Local Expert Says:

This museum offers great insight into the origins of Thailand's modern politics. A fascinating chapter in Thai history.

Description:

In real life Rama VII (King Prajadhipok) was a very small man but he played a major role in Thailand's (then Siam) move from absolute monarchy to a government which allowed greater input from the people. But a 1932 coup, political infighting and the threat of autocratic rule despite the new constitutional monarchy led him to abdicate the throne and live out his life in England. He was a member of the House of Chakri, a son of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). Housed in the colonial-style Secretariat Building, the King Prajadhipok Museum has three floors: one dedicated to the fascinating Queen Rambhai Barni, the other two to the life of Rama VII and the history of the Kingdom during his reign, the coup of 1932, and World War II.

Admission is free. Buses 2, 15, 44, 47, 59, 60, 79, 157, 169, 183, 511, 512 pass nearby. Or you can take the Saensaep Canal Express Boat which passes from east to west roughly parallel to the SkyTrain but between Sukhumvit and Petchaburi Road (recommended adventure!). The last boat stop (Phanfa Pier) is right near the museum's intersection at Lan Luang Road, Nakhon Sawan, Ratchadamnoen Nok. Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Mondays.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is the temple with the best city view!

Description:

Before Bangkok became a city of skyscrapers and high-rises, this artificial hill, Golden Mount, was its highest point. The view is still great, however, and a visit to the golden chedi at top should be on anyone's itinerary. Wat Saket lies at the bottom of the hill and then a path with over 300 steps curves up to the chedi. The hill Golden Mount stands upon was constructed under King Rama III in the early 19th century when previous chedi construction collapsed. Bangkok's sinking earth was already a problem back then so the hill of mud and brick was constructed first. Rama IV followed up with a chedi and Rama V added the one we see today. Wat Saket was the site of cremations which had to be done outside the city walls. Entry to the temple and the climb to the top of Golden Mount are free but entrance to the chedi area costs about 10 baht.

Description:

This temple was built during the reign of King Rama III in 1846. Its main attraction is its architecturally unique Loha Prasat, which stands 36-meters high with 37 surrounding spires. Next to the temple is an area for welcoming important foreign guests and a memorial statue of King Rama III. The temple has a well-known market selling Buddhist amulets, or magic charms, in all shapes and sizes. These are believed to protect the wearer from physical harm or are considered 'love charms'. Admission is free and the temple's full name is Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan.

Description:

As the name of the restaurant is written in Thai, it probably won't matter that this superb pad thai joint isn't commonly known by the name on the building: Thip Samai. Most locals will refer to it as Pad Thai Pratoopee which means "Door of the Ghost." Fortunately the street number is clearly on the red sign above the open storefront. With an opening date of 1966 you can figure the secret of success for this long running business is the quality. Call it Thip Samai or Pratoopee, the menu is the same: pad thai, the famous wok-fried rice noodle dish typically mixed with egg, dried shrimps, tofu, bean sprouts, garlic, palm sugar, fish sauce, tamarind and lime juice and fresh prawns as well. Ground peanuts are also often added (so allergy sufferers take note of your order) . The whole thing can be wrapped in a thin omelet. To keep up with the orders, three cooks, each with his or her own big wok, are whipping up oversize batches of pad thai and sharing two big burners and dividing them out on plates as quickly as possible. The odd man out takes a break to clean the wok until one of the burners opens up. It's worth standing by to watch them work their magic a bit before you go to your table... read more

Description:

Opened in 2007, the Yaowarat Chinatown Heritage Center is a nice modern museum exhibit housed inside Wat Traimit Wittayaram. A visit begins with a ten-minute video which is shown in Thai, Chinese and English so you may have to wait for your preferred language's turn. Bangkok's Chinatown emerged in the late 18th century beginning during the reign of King Rama I. Six rooms present exhibits of the journey from China by the traditional ship, the junk, dioramas dedicated to social life during the 1950s when Chinatown was Bangkok's business and entertainment center, a video hall of fame, photos of the Royal Family, and touch-screen computers with information on attractions in Yaowarat (Chinatown). Admission is 100 baht for foreigners.

Description:

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If you are in Bangkok's Chinatown, stop here for some great carry-out dim sum. Chen's sells some Chinese kitchen equipment and ingredients but also has a deli counter along the front where customers line up for dim sum selections that include shrimp, gingko, pork, and scallops. Take some for the day or even the next morning. The address here is approximate but you can find Chen Dim Sum across the narrow market lane of Issaranuparb from Hong Kong Noodle. There are two other locations: in New Sam Yan Fresh Market (089-886-4647) and Or Tor Kor Market near Chatuchak Market (083-759-7453)

Description:

Chinese immigrants -- first under the benevolence of King Rama I and then after several other kings -- settled in Bangkok in Sampheng near the Grand Palace. The community quickly became a thriving business center and in the next century moved to Yaowarat, the current location of Bangkok's Chinatown. Rice trading brought great prosperity and by the 1950s Bangkok's business and entertainment center was Chinatown. Today shops, stalls, and of course Chinese restaurants line the streets and alleys centered around Yaowarat Road which lights up with neon at night like a miniature version of Hong Kong. Some of the major sights to see include the Golden Buddha at Wat Traimit and the Yaowarat Chinatown Heritage Center. But the most popular reason to go here is the food. Many eateries stay open long into the night or even 24 hours.

Our Local Expert Says:

The World's Largest Solid Gold Buddha

Description:

It's not every day you get to see a World Record worthy of the Guinness Book. Known in Thai as Phra Buddha Maha Suwanna Patimakorn, the Golden Buddha weighs 5.5 tons making it the world's most valuable (money-wise) sacred object. Amazingly the 13th century Sukothai-style statue spent centuries hidden under a layer of lacquered plaster which King Rama III ordered to disguise it when he moved it to Bangkok. An accidental crack in 1955 revealed the solid gold interior. The three-meter tall statue in the Subduing Mara, Calling the Earth to Witness posture occupies the fourth level of a somewhat pyramid-like shrine inside Wat Traimit. Entry to the temple is free and it is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, for foreigners there is a 40-baht fee to see the massive gold Buddha image. On the third floor is an exhibit telling the history of the statue and its move to Bangkok.

The second floor is home to the Yaowarat Chinatown Heritage Center. Both exhibits are closed Mondays but otherwise follow the hours of the temple. Wat Traimit and the Golden Buddha should be the first stop on an exploration of Bangkok's Chinatown.

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Description:

It is unlikely to hear Chatuchak Park's weekend market called by its official name. Commonly referred to even by the Thai as J.J. market (from an Anglified spelling of Jatujak) this is the mecca for bargain hunters and a good place to find a variety of street food. The labyrinth of covered vendors -- which is only open on the weekends -- gets hot in the midday heat and haggling is the norm. Food vendors are spread throughout the open spaces. Both the SkyTrain (Mor Chit) and MRT Subway (Chatuchak) stop here.