Things To Do in Bangkok

Planning to go to Bangkok? As one of the best place for tourist to visit, Bangkok offer lots of things to do. Here are the Things To Do in Bangkok for your guide while visiting Bangkok:

Bangkok Sights

 

The Old City is a major destination for travelers, as it is home to opulent temples like Wat Po and Wat Phra Kaew. Across the river is Thonburi, a mostly residential neighborhood, where you can find Wat Arun. At the northern tip of the Old City is Banglamphu, one of Bangkok's older residential neighborhoods. It's best known now for Khao San Road, a backpacker hangout, though the neighborhood has much more to offer, especially when it comes to street food. North of Banglamphu is Dusit, the royal district since the days of Rama V.

East of the Old City is Chinatown, a labyrinth of streets with restaurants, shops, and warehouses. Farther down the Chao Phraya River is bustling Silom Road, one of the city's major commercial districts. Patpong, the city's most famous of several red-light districts, is also here. Bang Rak is home to some of the city's leading hotels: the Mandarin Oriental, the Peninsula, the Royal Orchid Sheraton, and the Shangri-La. To the north of Rama IV Road is Bangkok's largest green area, Lumphini Park.

Continue north and you reach Sukhumvit Road, once a residential area. More recently, Thong Lor, farther east along Sukhumvit, has become the "in" neighborhood for those want to see and be seen. The Nana and Asok areas of Sukhumvit are now home to the even busier red-light entertainment districts (Nana and Soi Cowboy) than Patpong.

Bangkok Shopping

Each year more and more tourists are drawn to the Thai capital for its relatively cheap silk, gems, and tailor-made clothes. But there are a slew of other goods worth discovering: quality silverware, fine porcelain, and handmade leather goods—all at prices that put western shops to shame. The already low prices can often be haggled down even further (haggling is mainly reserved for markets, but shopkeepers will let you know if they're willing to discount, especially if you started walking away).

Don't be fooled by a tuk-tuk driver offering to take you to a shop. Shop owners pay drivers a commission to lure in unsuspecting tourists. Avoid getting scammed on big-ticket items like jewelry by patronizing only reputable dealers.

The city's most popular shopping areas are along Silom Road and Surawong Road, where you can find quality silk; Sukhumvit Road, which is rich in leather goods; Yaowarat Road in Chinatown, where gold trinkets abound; and along Oriental Lane and Charoen Krung (New Road), where there are many antiques shops. The shops around Siam Square and at the World Trade Center attract both Thais and foreigners. Peninsula Plaza, across from the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok in the embassy district, has upscale shops. If you're knowledgeable about fabric, you can find bargains at the textile merchants who compete along Pahuraht Road in Chinatown and Pratunam Road off Phetchaburi Road. You can even take the raw material to a tailor and have something made.

Bangkok Nightlife

 

The city that was once notorious for its raunchy sex trade is now entertaining a burgeoning class of professionals hungry for thumping discos, trendy cocktail lounges, and swanky rooftop bars. There are also stricter rules that limit the sale of alcohol and most closing times now hover around 2 am (although nighthawks can probably find a club or two open until 5 or 6 am).

There are a few notable nightlife spots: the area off Sukhumvit Soi 55 (also called Soi Thonglor) is full of bars and nightclubs; Soi Sarasin, across from Lumphini Park, has lots of friendly pubs and cafés frequented by yuppie Thais and expats; and Narathiwat Road, which starts at Surawong, intersects Silom, then runs all the way to Rama III has trendy new bars and restaurants opening every month.

If you want to take a walk on the wild side, Bangkok still has three thriving red light districts: Patpong, Nana Plaza, and Soi Cowboy. Patpong is the largest, most touristy, and includes three streets that run between Surawong and Silom roads. Nana Plaza, at Soi 4, is packed with three floors of hostess bars and is considered the most hard-core in terms sex shows and shock value. Soi Cowboy, off Sukhumvit Road at Soi 21, is a less raunchy and an easier-going version of Patpong, though it's still a red light district and so be prepared.

Even though it may not seem like it, live sex shows are officially banned and prostitution is illegal. The government doesn't always turn a blind eye, so exercise caution and common sense.