Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is full of culture and history. So, it can be hard to know where to start when planning a trip there with so many attractions and things to do. This guide will provide an overview of some of the best must-see destinations in Bangkok for visitors in 2022. Whether you’re interested in ancient temples or modern skyscrapers, there’s something for everyone in this vibrant metropolis!
Take the Ferry to Koh Lanta
One of the most exciting things that you can do when visiting Bangkok (and Thailand in general) is to take one of the many ferries available from Phuket to Koh Lanta. There are different ways to get there, and you can check out your options at Bangkok Attractions.
While it might not strictly be in Bangkok, Koh Lanta is a great place to travel to if you enjoy nature and wildlife. For example, you can spend half a day kayaking in Koh Lanta or visit its many caves and go snorkeling. In all honesty, even just the ferry ride itself will be entirely worth it.
Visit the Giant Swing
The next must-see destination in Bangkok was built over 300 years ago in the 1700s and was part of traditional ceremonies. This destination is called the Giant Swing and stands right in front of Wat Suthat. Unfortunately, the swing was damaged by lightning and is now just a decorative structure.
Moreover, the practice or tradition of swinging as high as you could was banned in 1932 due to many unfortunate accidents. Regardless, there’s nothing quite like it in the world, so it is definitely a sight to see.
Go to the Many Markets
If you are in Bangkok, the one thing that you have to do, even if you don’t get a chance to do anything else, is to visit all of its available markets. If you don’t mind rubbing shoulders and elbows with many tourists, these markets are exciting to behold. For example, there is the Chatuchak Market where you can get any souvenir your heart desires from the more than 15,000 stalls, making it the largest market in Thailand.
And if you would like a more surreal experience, you could visit the floating market, also known as the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, which, as you might have already guessed, is on a river.
You’ll have to visit this market by boat, which is one of the main reasons this is a surreal experience and has also earned the nickname the Venice of the East. However, keep in mind that the products you’ll be able to buy at this market are usually fresh foods and not touristy things.
Finally, if you genuinely want to experience Bangkok as one of the natives, you will need to try out their local cuisine. The best way to do this is at many of Bangkok’s street food stalls. One of the main reasons you should give this a try is that even if you have eaten Thai food back home, the food that you’ll find at these food stalls will be entirely different and much more diverse.
Shop at Terminal 21
If visiting markets and rubbing elbows and shoulders with other tourists doesn’t strike your fancy, you should definitely consider shopping at Terminal 21. Even though you might think by the name that this is an airport mall, this is not the case.
Terminal 21 is a shopping mall and has some of the best shops available in Bangkok. One of the things that makes this mall so magical is that every flaw has been designed and themed to match a different international city.
See the Golden Buddha
Finally, your trip to Bangkok will not be complete unless you see the Golden Buddha. To be quite frank, the word giant is quite an understatement since this Buddha sits at 3.5 meters high and weighs 5.5 tons of solid gold.
The story goes that the Buddha was meant to be transported but was unable to be lifted and, as a result, fell. The next day, when some monks were walking past, they saw gold glinting from beneath the plaster that they thought the Buddha was made from. Once all the plaster had been removed, the entire Buddha was discovered to be made from gold, much to everyone’s amazement.
