Exploring Bangkok – Thailand – Everything for your citytrip Bangkok

Bangkok is such a city that you must have visited as a tourist who loves Asia, of course. You can hardly escape it since almost every flight goes through Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. Some cities are definitely worth exploring, and after several visits, I found Bangkok to be a really fun city!

I often need to return a few times to really get to know a city and appreciate it. I managed to do that with Bangkok as well 🙂 I walked a lot, cycled, and took trips to familiarize myself with the area, so that I can now stroll around at my leisure.”

Exploring Bangkok – Temples

Visit the Temples

Bangkok has many Buddhist temples. You probably know the well-known names: Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Wat Phra Kaew, etc. I’ve visited quite a few of them as well. The major well-known temples are definitely worth it, but also visit the smaller ones. Those temples that stand just somewhere on the street and remain unseen by the average tourist.

I also did an evening/night tour and that does give the place that little bit extra!

Temple Wat Traimit

Wat Phra Kaew

And ofcourse Wat Pho

And ofcourse the big Sikh Temple right next to China Town is worth a visit.

Gurudwara Siri Guru Singh Sabha

Exploring Bangkok – Trying Streetfood

You can’t miss the streetfood of Bangkok

When you go to Asia for the first time, you can be quite hesitant to eat just anything on the street. I can assure you that the food in Bangkok is generally very good. When I flew from India to Bangkok, I was really surprised at how clean Bangkok was. Sometimes it also depends on the perspective you have 🙂 But for Asian standards, you can eat at any time on the street corner of Bangkok.

@ Sukhumvit Road

@ Khao San Road

It is cheap and gives you the best local flavours!

Exploring Bangkok – China Town

Discover the hustle & bustle of Chinatown

China town is alive and kicking in every place and so it is in Bangkok. I love the busy streets and the tasty food. Go walk around and be amazed!

But most of all go wander in those small streets where only the locals dissapear in. It is not prohibited…it is just not a place where most tourists go look.. I do and I love that!

You’ll get to see the real Asian relaxed afternoons 🙂

Just lying around and getting a nap!

Exploring Bangkok – From the Khlong..

Experience Bangkok from the Khlongs

Looking at a city from the water is different. So I can recommend you to take a tour and use the boats to visit the Khlongs, see the local life! You will visit the suburbs you wouldn’t come if you stay in the busy touristic centre, see some local shops and schools! You experience a little bit of the local Thai life. I think it is a must do in Bangkok!

View on Grand Palace

Look at this big varana, they are swimming or sunbathing all over the place! This was a platform at a resident on the shore. So yes, also in a big city as Bangkok you can spot some wildlife! And big also!! Couple of years ago I walked in Benjakiti Park, next to Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre and I saw a huge one swimming in the water. And that is in the middle of the bustling city centre!

Exploring Bangkok – Baiyoke Tower

View over Bangkok from Baiyoke Tower

A great building to get a birds eye view on the city is Baiyoke tower! It has 84 floors and is 343 mtr high so you can imagine the view! On the 84th floor you can stand in open air to get some good shots. You won’t be behind glass and just enjoy the wind, heat and view 🙂 If you get hot again just  lower to the 77th floor and walk around and look at some historical facts. After you can enjoy a drink or something to eat too. There are multiple options for tickets!

Exploring Bangkok by Bicycle

Cycling through a city is always good. I cycled on the famous yellow of Co van Kessel! Co has past away but he is still alive in the company through the imployees. He was a famous Dutch guy that started this company and they are still really happy with what he started. He started to explore the suburbs by bicycle and at some point he decided to start a business to show the tourists every day life as it was so interesting to see!! The Co van Kessel tour has a lot of option to go into the city, outside the city or going for specific area in the city. It is a great and fun way to explore the city of Bangkok and its locals!

As you see you’ll cycle in really narrow streets of Bangkok! And see that big pan? It is boiling! So look out for streetkitchens!

I think you’ll skip these streets as a local …let alone that you will go in them on your bicycle!

I loved it!

Read all about the bicycle trip in Bangkok
Book a similar bicycle tour in Bangkok

The Flowermarket of Bangkok

At the Yodpiman Riverwalk, you will find the large covered flower market Pak Khlong Talat. It’s definitely fun to walk through. If you move a bit further away from the river, you’ll also encounter many more flowers. It’s interesting to see how everything works in the small, narrow streets or covered halls of Bangkok.

Exploring Bangkok – Grand Palace

Grand Palace is a must visit! Learn about the history of Thailand and understand its culture. If you stay in or near Khao San Road, where lots of backpackers are, you can go walk towards it. It’s a 10 minute walk. The first time I visited Bangkok (2005) I went inside but when I came for the last time it was too busy. King Bhumibal had passed away and the Thai came to pay their respects. It was too busy for me to go in again.

Streets / Shopping areas you need to visit

Exploring Bangkok – Sukhumvit Road

I love Sukhumvit Road, it is a great street. It is a bit more expensive and more luxurious in comparison to Khao San Road. You can find the best streetfood, restaurants and massage here. What else do you need while traveling?

Looking throug my pics I see I only enjoyed that to the maxx and didn’t even made a good pic to show you the street 🙂 I stayed here for 2 times and multiple days 🙂 haha! Believe me, it is a great street to enjoy your eveningstroll and get some great food!

Exploring Bangkok – Khao San Road

Khao San Road is the most famous straat of Bangkok and a must visit because of that. I do like the surrounding streets more I must say. The area is a great to explore in an afternoon, shops, temples and before you know it, it is time for dinner!

Exploring Bangkok – Sam Phraeng

In this little neighborhood, you will find the streets with the beautiful iconic blue and white houses. They are all still in excellent condition and well-maintained. The woodwork is wonderfully crafted and still exudes style.

In almost every little house, there is now a shop, and you’ll be amazed at what they can house in those small spaces.

ICONSIAM Shopping centre

The immense shopping center ICONSIAM is quite the happening place. It houses almost every type of shop you can imagine and has multiple floors. The building itself demands attention as you pass by on a boat over the river. Be sure to explore the ground floor thoroughly, where you’ll encounter a ‘floating market’ and hundreds of stalls with delicious food! But you can also enjoy great dining on the top floor at one of the many restaurants.

If you’re at the top of the ICONSIAM building, be sure to take a stroll out onto the terrace. From here, you have a beautiful view of the river and the neighborhoods of Bangkok on the other side. You should always take a moment to enjoy a nice view, right?

How to get around Bangkok

Metro MRT Metropolitan Rapid Transit / BTS  Bangkok Mass Transit Station Skytrain has great tracks around the city.

But how about sitting on the back of the fast scooter. I downloaded Grab and had choices between a car or a scooter. Being a solo traveler the best and cheapest choice is the scooter. And ofcourse also the quickest choice!! I loved it too!

Which hotels I liked – Bangkok

• Woraburi Hotel & Resort

So when I came back later I booked Woraburi Hotel also with a great swimmingpool. It is a bit older and because of that not spotless. But it was great relaxing at the end of the afternoon before going out for dinner in Sukhumvit!!

• Charlie House Pinklao

When I was in Bangkok again that same year I decided to chose another area. And I found Charlie House! I loved it! It has a great garden and swimmingpool! It is in walking distance of Khao San Road, passing the Pinklao Brigde with view on Rama III Brigde. The street walking towards the hotel is filled with shops and restaurants!! i

Poor quality…. But you’ll get the picture right?

Just a small workout in the gardenhouse next to the swimmingpool!

Ibis Bangkok Riverside

Or enjoy a delightful stay by the river at the IBIS Bangkok Riverside. I stayed here during my last visit to Bangkok and found it quite nice. It is a hotel with many children, but I still found it relaxing to cool off each afternoon at the medium-sized pool

Safe these tips and share with others

Curious about my adventures in Thailand?

Want to  make some great Thai food? Go to Silom Cookingschool in Bangkok!

3 days in the Khao Yai National Park

Getting my Open Water PADI on the island of Koh Tao – Thailand