I’ve been to Bangkok twice now, and it never disappoints! I’ve been surprised to discover while living in Asia that many people are simply not fans of Bangkok! People seem to think it’s a chaotic party city and there isn’t much else to it. While I see where they’re coming from, I have to disagree. Bangkok is full of things to do by the light of day, and in the evening.
Like most cities, you’ll find what you’re looking for. Are you looking for a Hangover-inspired night out? You’ll find it. Are you looking to explore Buddhist temples? You’ll find it. Are you looking for some of Thailand’s best food? You’ve come to the right place.
Bangkok is Thailand’s capital city and has a luxurious tourism side, full of bougie hotels and high end restaurants. It also maintains its culture in old Bangkok, full of street food, local housing, and hostels. The Chao Phraya River runs through the city and spreads into a series of canals throughout the city. Some of Bangkok’s top tourist attractions are floating markets – markets you can wander through on a boat in the canals.
I’ll admit that my trips to Bangkok have been mostly food-based, so a lot of my recommendations are going to be places to eat and an incredible food tour on tuk tuks! Whether Bangkok has stolen your heart or not, it’s an absolute bucket list city for any world traveler and I’m excited to share my favorite spots with you!
WHERE TO STAY
THE LANCASTER BANGKOK
The Lancaster Bangkok is a 5-star luxury hotel located in Makkasan District of Bangkok. I stayed here on my most recent trip to Bangkok and I cannot recommend it enough. We were welcomed by friendly staff who took our bags and brought them up to our room for us while we sipped on complimentary drinks at check in. The rooms are beautiful and spacious with large and comfortable bathrooms. Recover from your jetlag at the rooftop pool area, with a beautiful waterfall pool and hot tub.
For a extra fee, you can access a gym area to keep up with your workout routine. Also for an extra fee is the airport shuttle service, which we took advantage of. We were met at the airport and transported to the hotel with ease.
The hotel has a great bar and restaurant onsite serving Thai and Western food, and has a lovely buffet breakfast, for a fee, each morning. Dining at the hotel was a great way to start our day with plenty of beautiful food and made to order coffee.
The Lancaster Bangkok is located less than five minutes walking distance from the Airport Rail Link and underground railway station. This made it extremely easy to access the rest of the huge city and all it has to offer.
While The Lancaster is a luxury hotel, it costs a modest $71.00 USD per night. This isn’t a budget travel hotspot, but it is a great option for people looking for a luxurious stay for a fraction of the price you’d pay for it in the West.
WHAT TO DO
WAT PHO
Wat Pho is the most visited temple in Bankgok for a reason! I’ve visited this incredible place three times, and this was the first time that I hired a tour guide to walk through the temple with us and explain everything in English! This was such a game changer for me, and I probably wouldn’t have done it if my partner’s parents hadn’t suggested it!
The temple is easily accessible by public transportation and very near to a subway exit. We rode the subway and were able to walk just a few blocks to the temple. All Thai temples require you to dress modestly, so make sure to wear to cover your legs, chest, and shoulders. If you forget your modest clothing, there will be plenty of vendors around that will happily sell you some elephant pants! So it’s not the end of the world if you forget.
The cost of admission to Wat Pho is 200.00 Baht ($6.00 USD) and there will be tour guides waiting at the entrance for hire. Again, I would highly recommend it!
The temple is rich in both spiritual and scientific history. While it is an historic Buddhist Temple, it also is home to an ancient massage school. While wandering through the temple grounds you will see stunning images of the Buddha, including the famous “Reclining Buddha Statue.” You will also see ancient maps of the body that were used to teach massage and healing. Throughout the grounds you will also discover statues in an array of yoga poses – see if you can spot them amongst the lush gardens!
Wat Pho & Grand Palace
WAT ARUN
Wat Arun is another extremely famous temple in Bangkok. It’s truly a stunning scene to behold – the temple features a large pillar in its center and is situated on the Chao Praya River. The temple is located across the river form Wat Pho, but is close. You can easily put on your modest temple clothes, and make a day out of exploring these sacred grounds.
Wat Arun is a beautiful place to visit in late afternoon and early evening, as the sunset on the river is a breathtaking affair. You can also beat the heat of the afternoon and enjoy a picturesque and reverent ambiance at the temple.
Entrance to the temple costs 50 Baht (about $1.00) and is easily accessible by bus or Tuk Tuk.
JODD FAIR MARKET
I’m a foodie, so I absolutely LOVE a good night market! When we landed in Bangkok, I was on a mission to find a great night market nearby. It was the absolute first thing on my list after touching down in Bangkok! Night markets are where you are going to find the best, spiciest, Thai Food and the Jodd Fair Market didn’t disappoint!
This place is admittedly the most “touristy” night market that I’ve been to in Bangkok, but that didn’t get in the way of exceptional food and a lively night out! There are countless food stalls with fresh seafood, the sweetest fruit, ice cold coconuts, sweet treats, and beverages. I think we took 10+ laps around the market just taking it all in! Definitely put this on your Bangkok bucket list – and come hungry! The food is the main event.
Jodd Fair Market
BANGKOK FOOD TOUR
Food is really ALWAYS the main event when you are traveling with me. This was another gem that Jeremy’s parents found and it was BY FAR my favorite thing we did in Bangkok! Bangkok Food Tours offers a number of different tours, but we chose the “Midnight Food Tour.” Don’t worry…it starts at 7:00pm, not midnight!
The entire food tour is done on Tuk Tuks, which right off the bat makes the experience magical and exciting. You’ll work your way around Bangkok eating food from all over Thailand. The tour started with dishes from Northern Thailand, and we ate dishes from Central and Southern Thailand as well as some Chinese/Thai Fusion!
The tour does a great job of balancing savory and sweet dishes, and even includes a tour of the Bangkok Flower Market AND a rooftop bar stop that overlooks Wat Pho and Wat Arun at night! For all my sober travelers – they have a kick ass mocktail menu! I absolutely loved my virgin Pina Collada made with coconut cream! It was decadent and the perfect treat to enjoy while taking in the stunning views.
The tour ends at my favorite restaurant in Bangkok – Thipsamai Pad Thai! I visited this restaurant for the first time in 2017, completely by accident. I stayed at the sweetest hostel across the street (which unfortunately was a casualty of Covid) and found the place due to the long line that extended down the street, and the charcoal grills in front of the restaurant!
The place was super bare-bones back then – the staff cooked over charcoal on the street and they had a huge hall for dining. You could only get two things – pad thai or pad thai in an omelet! The pad thai in the omelete CHANGED MY LIFE and I continued to talk about it incessantly for years (ask anyone in my life – it was very annoying).
This was actually my number one destination on my Bangkok Bucket List when I went back, and I was over the moon to see this place added as a stop on the food tour! When we got there, I took a double take. The restaurant has completely blown up and undergone a major renovation. Apparently, the original owner’s grandson has taken over, and he certainly understands modern marketing.
The staff isn’t cooking on the street anymore due to charcoal cooking being harmful for the environment. Instead, they have a restaurant-grade kitchen indoors. They have a line of packaged goods and kits that you can purchase to make the pad thai at home, although I’d recommend leaving it to the professionals!
The place is much different than it was in 2017, but it’s still DELICIOUS. Please, Dear God, order the Pad Thai in the omelete. It’s still the best Pad Thai I have EVER had. They’ve claimed a Michelin Star as well, and it’s well deserved.
Reserve your space on a Bangkok Food Tour HERE!
Bangkok Food Tour
CHINA TOWN
Bangkok’s China Town is on every Bangkok Travel List, and for good reason! It’s funny that you’d come to Thailand and seek out a China Town, but it really is THAT good. We visited China Town during the day and in the evening, and both were worthwhile experiences. During the day, you’ll see shops selling gold, a handful of food vendors, and tons of clothing and bag markets.
If you’re a foodie like me, the real fun happens when the sun goes down! The gold vendors aren’t permitted to sell gold in the evening, so they rent out their store fronts to street vendors! The entire area is lit up and packed with incredible street food! You can get Thai and Chinese delicacies, and its where I had the best mango sticky rice in my life! I didn’t try it, but there’s also plenty of awesome looking Peking Duck restaurants and other Chinese favorites!
China Town by Day & Night
SAK YANT TATTOO
I studied Southeast Asian Religion in Undergrad, and the Sak Yant Tattoo was something that fascinated me for years before I ever visited Thailand. Sak Yant Tattoos are an ancient practice in Thailand and their lineage is rooted in Tantric Theravada Buddhism, a mystical form of Thai Buddhism. Historically, they were given to warriors before they went into battle and remain a symbol of power, protection, and blessing for the recipient.
These tattoos are traditionally hand-tapped and are given by certain monks called “Arjarns.” There are hundreds of different sak yant designs, but there are a handful that are most popular today. Traditionally, if you are seeking a Sak Yant Tattoo, you will meet with a monk and discuss where you are in your life and spirituality. The monk will then decide which tattoo is the best fit for you, and chooses where it will go on your body.
“But Lexie, ANYWHERE ON YOUR BODY?! WHAT IF THEY CHOOSE YOUR FACE?!”
They won’t. While the monks will choose where to give you the tattoo, you have say in the decision. You can agree or disagree to any placement and have influence if that’s what you desire. Now, these designs can be done at most tattoo shops in Thailand, but if you are looking for a spiritual experience, you need to seek out a Buddhist Arjarn, and hire a translator to go with you. This will lead to the highest and most authentic Sak Yant Experience.
I got my Sak Yant Tattoo in 2017, and admittedly, I was naive and a bit of an idiot. I kind of winged it and didn’t have a translator with me. When I arrived, I was lucky to meet two American women who had hired a translator and I payed him some money to translate for me as well! There are a number of companies that you can work with for this, one of the most common is Where Sidewalks End. You can find their website and register for a Sak Yant experience in Bangkok or Chiang Mai HERE.
I visited Arjarn Neng on the outskirts of Bangkok, and it was the most incredible experience. I’m going to save that story for another blog post, so stay tuned!
Arjarn Neng’s Sak Yant Tattoos – 2017
CONCLUSION
Those are my top experiences in Bangkok! You will also want to visit the famous floating markets, the Bangkok Flower Market, an array of temples, and more! Bangkok is full of trully unlimited things to do and has something for everyone.
I’m sober, so I didn’t seek out the party side of Bangkok, nor did I look for kitschy things like Ping Pong shows or take part in any animal-based tourism. Bangkok can get a bad reputation for being a big city with too much going on, but in my opinion, it’s incredible and worth some considerable time while you’re in Thailand! There’s so much more to Bangkok than its party scene, and you can have a truly deep and beautiful experience while you’re there if you know where to look.
Happy Travels!
All my Love,
Lex
