What to Do in Bangkok: Sweet Attractions & Historic Landmarks
Interested in what to do in Bangkok? For visitors who have a flair for the unique, the modern, or the traditional, Bangkok offers the perfect mix of attractions to suit anyone’s appetite for adventure. Discover where to go in Bangkok for the city’s finest museums, best rooftop bars and most popular street markets.
Museums in Bangkok
Dating back thousands of years into antiquity, Bangkok has a history that is fascinating and full of rich culture. Historians, scholars, and tourists alike will find something to pique their interest when visiting one of the many museums of the city. Here are some of the most brilliant museums Bangkok has to offer.
Museum of Siam
Instantly grabbing the attention of all who walk by with its ornate neoclassical-like facade, Museum of Siam is Thailand’s premier history and culture museum. This museum has a commanding presence that begs visitors to step inside and discover all of the fun and interesting exhibits housed on the inside.
Upon entry, guests are welcomed into a reception lobby that is decked out in colonial-style decor and modern art. Once inside, guests will get to learn about the culture and traditions of the Thai people while interacting with exhibits that spark creativity and inspire the mind.
This museum features three floors of exciting exhibits for guests to explore. Take a trip back to the 1950s and learn about the clothes, cars, and culture of the Thai region during this wonderful age of fun and innocence. There are also exhibits that document the role of Buddhism and various wars in Thai history. While visiting, be sure to grab a bite to eat at the onsite cafe.
Museum of Siam is open to the public from 10am to 6pm, Tuesday-Sunday. Admission is 100 baht for adults. Children under 15 and senior citizens enjoy free entry.
Bangkok National Museum
Featuring 12 halls packed full of art and artifacts of the Thai culture, Bangkok National Museum is home to the largest collection in the country.
Bangkok National Museum was founded by former King Rama V and has expanded over the years to include an extensive collection of art, historical artifacts, and cultural pieces. Guests can wander through the old throne room, living quarters, modern rooms, the crematory, and other rooms of the palace. Plan on spending several hours checking out all of the fabulous exhibits on display at this museum.
Bangkok National Museum is open from 9am to 4pm Wednesday-Sunday and admission is 200 baht for out-of-country visitors.
Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall
While visiting Bangkok’s old town district, be sure to stop in and explore the exhibits housed in Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall.
The Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall are filled with exhibits that showcase the unique history of the island. Guests can listen to music, watch movies, and learn about the inner workings of the royal palace. Bring the kids and watch them learn as they get to participate in workshops and interact with some of the displays. Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall include nine halls to explore as well as a gift shop and coffee shop.
The halls are open from 11am to 8pm Monday-Friday and from 10am to 8pm Saturday-Sunday. Admission into Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall is 100 baht per person and all visitors are provided with an informative 2-hour tour.
National Museum of Royal Barges
A tribute to the ornate maritime travel vessels used by the royal family and Royal Thai Navy, National Museum of Royal Barges is a must-see attraction for those who want to experience the luxuries enjoyed by the elite of the region.
National Museum of Royal Barges is home to eight carefully-sculpted barges that are used for royal events and the occasional procession. While inside of the covered dock museum, guests can get an up-close look at each vessel and examine the intricate designs.
The dockside museum is open daily from 9am-5pm and costs 100 baht to enter. For guests who want to take pictures of the majestic barges, an additional 100 baht will be added on to the entrance fee.
The Bangkokian Museum
Tucked away in a quaint neighborhood near the Sirat Expressway is where tourists can find The Bankokian Museum, offering guests a look at what life was like for many Thai residents during the early 20th century.
The Bangkokian Museum consists of three homes that are tucked away among trees and greenery and showcase how the typical Thai citizen lived during the 1940s and 50s. Visitors might notice that the homes and decor within each looks strikingly American, which was the style during this era.
This fun house museum is open from 9am-4pm Tuesday-Sunday. Entrance into the museum is free, but the owner asks that guests donate 100 baht to help with preservation of the property.
Check In to Arnoma Grand, Step Out to Bangkok
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What to do in Bangkok | Siam Square shopping area
A melting pot of fun, unique, traditional, modern, and downright quirky items for sale from various local vendors and well as mainstream retail stores, Siam Square shopping area is an expansive shopping focal point in downtown Bangkok. Guests can wander through indoor and outdoor stalls run by local business people or head to a number of malls for an instant dose of retail therapy.
Along with exciting shopping opportunities, Siam Square shopping area also is home to a variety of hip and trendy coffee shops and cafes, night clubs and karaoke bars, movie theaters, and music venues. Here is a closer look at some of the top attractions visitors will find when they venture into Siam Square shopping area.
Siam Paragon
Featuring some of the hottest shopping opportunities in all of Thailand, Siam Paragon is one of the largest malls in the country and is open from 10am to 10pm daily.
Siam Paragon is a six-floor shopping complex that offers a little of everything luxury. The main floor is exclusively for those who are looking to spend money on the finer things in life. Visitors can wander through designer stores such as Chanel, Versace, and Dolce & Gabbana.
On the first floor, visitors will find shops like Armani, Hugo Boss, and Coach. The second and third floors are devoted to furniture stores, car showrooms, electronics stores, beauty salons, and other lifestyle services. The fourth floor is reserved for electronics and computer shops as well as more restaurants, and the fifth floor is devoted to entertainment and relaxation. On the fifth floor, guests can take in a show, go bowling, or relax for a presentation.
Upon entering the ground floor of Siam Paragon, visitors will be treated to a huge food court that features traditional Thai food restaurants and vendor stalls as well as international restaurants and fast-food favorites like IHOP and Taco Bell.
CentralWorld
Known as the “creme de la creme” of shopping malls in Thailand, CentralWorld is a high-rise indoor complex featuring 500 stores and a whole lot more. This mall is located in the heart of the Siam neighborhood and is open from 10am-10pm daily.
At CentralWorld, shoppers will be in complete awe with the selection of stores offering just about anything anyone could possibly need. CentralWorld showcases an open-concept design and is clad in futuristic furnishings and decor.
CentralWorld is designed to be fun. It is home to a skating rink, movie theaters, a fitness center, a yoga studio, and an event house. For visitors who are hungry after all of the excitement of shopping, there is a newly renovated food court on the 7th floor that offers traditional Thai food and international food as well as a supermarket and independently-owned street food stalls.
Siam Center
Open from 10am to 10pm daily, Siam Center is a place where the young and young at heart collide. Adorned in trendy urban decor, Siam Center welcomes visitors to support up-and-coming retailers as well as well established chain retailers.
Siam Center is adorned in artistic lumber-wrapped stores, flashy lights, a multitude of cartoon displays, and crisp furnishings. Aside from all of the stores within the mall, visitors can head up to the top floor of this astounding mall and dine at an assortment of international restaurants.
Gaysorn Village
Looking for designer label merchandise that can be purchased for affordable prices? Head over to Gaysorn Village and shop brands like The Mandarin Oriental Shop, Luis Vuitton, Hugo Boss, and more. This mall is open from 10am to 8pm daily and offers an exceptional shopping experience for all guests who enter.
Gaysorn Village is connected to InterContinental Hotel and is a convenient choice for those who are staying at the hotel for business or pleasure. Gaysorn Village offers over 100 stores and boutiques plus a variety of top-notch restaurants to choose from. The fun does not stop here – Gaysorn Village is considered to be the gateway to Pratunam where guests will get to continue shopping at all of the Siam Shopping Area stores.
Terminal 21
Not technically in the Siam Square shopping area, but just a few stops down at Asok BTS Station, Terminal 21 is a nine-story shopping complex that features goods and services from all around the world. Terminal 21 is open from 10am to 10pm daily and visitors will want to carve out several hours to enjoy all that there is to see and do at this amazing urban outpost.
At Terminal 21, visitors can watch a movie at one of the two state-of-the-art movie theaters as well as dine on food from all over the world. There is even an international grocery store that sells ingredients catering to the tastes of many different cultures. Each floor of this mall is adorned to mimic the cultures of France, the Middle East, United States, and much more.
Check In to Siam @ Siam Design Hotel Bangkok, Step Out to Siam Square
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What to do in Bangkok | Pratunam
Home to Baiyoke Sky Hotel, the tallest hotel in Southeast Asia, and Baiyoke Tower II, the second tallest skyscraper in Bangkok, Pratunam is another shopping district that is absolutely worth checking out. This shopping district is fitting for those who want to experience the local culture of commerce in Bangkok with mainstream chain stores added to the mix. Pratunam primarily focuses on uniting independent business owners with the public in a bustling marketplace. While in Pratunam, visitors will be treated to a plethora of farmer’s markets, bazaars, and local vendor stalls with unique goods and services. Bargains are abundant around every corner!
Baiyoke Gallery Fashion Mall
Appearing as though it were designed by the makers of Minecraft, Baiyoke Gallery Fashion Mall is located next to Pratunum Market and offers a variety of clothing stores for those who are looking for something that is unique, hip, and trendy. Baiyoke Gallery Fashion Mall is open from 10am to 9pm daily and is a five-story shopping complex, mostly consisting of local independently-owned boutique retail stores.
Pratunam Market
Showcasing a hodgepodge of items for every budget, Pratunam Market is a lively shopping center that consists of local businesses selling clothing and accessories in a bazaar-style set-up where negotiating will get visitors the best deals on items they crave. Pratunam Market is technically open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but shop owners set their own open hours.
Pratunam Market is designed to be a wholesale market, so stop by with a wallet full of cash and empty shopping bags ready to be loaded to capacity in order to get the best deals. This market offers five floors of retail therapy fun. Visitors can purchase a whole new wardrobe without breaking the bank. To enjoy the most relaxing shopping experience, hit up this market during the middle of the work week when it is less crowded.
Pantip Plaza I.T. Mall
Home to Thailand’s largest collection of electronic equipment, components, devices, gadgets, and gizmos, Pantip Plaza I.T Mall is sure to satisfy the inner “computer nerd” in everyone! The entire mall consists of nothing but electronics stores featuring brands like Samsung, Acer, Sony, Apple, and more. Pantip Plaza I.T Mall is open from 10am to 9pm daily and offers four floors of fun.
Check In to Centara Watergate Pavillion Hotel Bangkok, Step Out to Pratunum Market
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What to do in Bangkok | Popular Street Markets
Bangkok is known for its delightful street markets that offer a worldly assortment of fine casual cuisine and unique gifts. The street markets offer merchandise and food that is unique to the city and will not be found at the shopping malls of the region. Be sure to stroll through these popular markets and discover the rich culture that makes this city so special.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
A bustling vendor fair where guests will find traditional Thai food, gifts, accessories, clothing, flowers, and everything else imaginable, Chatuchak Weekend Market is for those who are looking for something to buy that is just a little different. The market is open to the public on the weekends from 6am to 6pm. Visitors can spend hours wandering through the vendor-owned stalls and get bargain deals on items they did not know they even wanted.
Chatuchak Weekend Market is home to over 8,000 stalls, making it one of the largest street markets in the world. Be sure to dress in light clothing when going as it gets very crowded during the day. Stall owners compete for business and guests benefit from getting some of the best prices on a huge collection of different items. The market is divided into 27 categories ranging from furniture to clothing, and maps are available so visitors can find what they are looking for efficiently.
Train Night Market Ratchada
Featuring rows upon rows of vendor-owned stalls, Train Night Market Ratchada is world-famous for its excellent selection of goods that visitors didn’t even know they wanted. It is a place where guests can spend the evening getting lost in the Thai culture while tantalizing their taste buds with local street food made with local ingredients and authentic flavors.
Train Night Market Ratchada is open from 5pm to 1am each night of the week and provides the perfect nightcap after a day of sightseeing in the city. At the market, visitors can belly up to one of the many bars and enjoy a cold beer or sip on a signature cocktail. The vendor stalls offer merchandise from all over the world including books, media, clothing, hand-crafted gifts, jewelry, herbs, local produce, and accessories. Should visitors need to take a break from all of the wandering, be on the lookout for local musicians who stage themselves along the street playing music for all who wish to stop and listen.
Train Night Market Srinakarin
Also known as Rod Fai Market, Train Night Market Srinakarin is larger than Train Night Market Ratchada and appeals to those who are looking for a variety of vintage and antique goods. This incredible market is open Thursday-Sunday from 5pm to 1am and is divided into three different sections, offering hundreds of vendor stalls.
Whether guests are looking for rare vintage records or collectible cars from the early 20th century, they are sure to find what they crave at this eclectic outdoor market. Along with antiques and collectibles shops, guests will find a delicious assortment of food vendors and even some local music and theater acts.
Pak Klong Talad (Pak Klong Flower Market)
Wake up and smell the flowers (or let the sweet scents help you find your inner zen before falling asleep) when visiting Pak Klong Talad in old town Bangkok. This famous market caters to the flower lover in everyone. It is open 24 hours a day and helps visitors create the best arrangements for weddings, date nights, home display, or plain “just because” moments in life.
Pak Klong Talad has hundreds of vendors who offer wholesale and retail single flowers, flower baskets, wrapped arrangements, wreaths, and gifts. Vendors offer a vast assortment of lilies, roses, orchids, and other popular oriental flowers that grow in the tropics. Even visitors who are just in the city for a few days can benefit from having a wonderfully-scented arrangement prominently displayed in their hotel room.
Wang Lang Market
Nestled in along the banks of the Chao Phraya River across from Bangkok’s historic district is where visitors will find Wang Lang Market. It is accessible by boat or by public transportation and offers a variety of goods that cater to residents and tourists alike. Wang Lang Market is an ideal people-watching spot for those who would like the opportunity to see the residents of Bangkok go about their day.
Wang Lang Market is an indoor/outdoor market that is open daily from 6am to 8pm. At Wang Lang Market visitors will find local produce, shoes, clothes, gifts, and everyday household goods at excellent prices. Wang Lang Market is a great place to grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner if you are looking for an authentic Thai dining experience where the food is priced reasonably.
Check In to Maruay Garden Hotel, Step Out to Chatuchak Weekend Market
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