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Bangkok

The Thai capital for more than two centuries, Bangkok offers excitement, comfort and a shopping experience par excellence. Excel at the arts of shopping and dining and revel in the entertainment amidst a thoroughly modern metropolis that preserves its traditional Oriental splendor.

For tourists, Bangkok has a feast of attractions to offer. The city is dotted with 400 glittering Buddhist temples of great beauty and fascination, magnificent palaces, classical dance extravaganzas, numerous shopping centres and traditional ways of life, especially along the "Venice of the East" timeless canals and the Chao Phraya River of the "River of Kings" winding through the city. It is worth taking a trip along its waters before exploring further into different canals to take a glimpse of old Bangkok.

Explore Bangkok

Attractions

The Grand Palace

Since the founding of Bangkok as the Nations capital by King Rama I, The Grand Palace has been the major architectural symbol of The Thai Royal Family. In the present time, The Royal Family resides at Chitralada Palace while The Grand Palace is used for ceremonial purposes.

How to get there
The most enjoyable route is to take the BTS Skytrain to Taksin Station. From here take a Chao Phraya River Express boat to Tha Chang Wang Luang Pier. It is a short walk from the pier to the entrance to The Grand Palace public entrance.

Opening Hours:
Open to the public everyday, except during special Royal Ceremonies, from 8.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.

Admission Fee
Baht 250 - includes admission to Wat Phra Kaeo, The Royal Thai Decorations & Coins Pavilion in the same compound and to Vimanmek Mansion Museum on Ratchawithi Road

Baht 100 - for rental personal audio guide in English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese or Mandarin
(Please be informed that from July 1,2008 the admission fee will be Baht 300 and including admission to visit "the exhibition of Art of Kingdom" at Anantasamakom Throne Hall and from Jan 1,2009 the admission fee will be Baht 350)

Dress Code
Visitors are required to dress appropriately. Thus the following dress - code (applicable to both ladies and gentlemen) is requested:

  • Shorts, mini-skirts, short skirts, tight fitting trousers, as well as tights can not be worn as outer garments.
  • See-through shirts and blouses, as well as culottes or quarter length trousers can not be worn.
  • Sleeveless shirts or vests can not be worn as outer garments.
  • Sandals (without ankle or heel straps) can not be worn.
  • All shirt sleeves, whether long or short, can not be rolled up.
  • Sweat shirts and sweat pants, wind-cheaters, pajamas and fisherman trousers can not be worn.

The Giant Swing

The Giant Swing is located in front of Wat Suthat Thepwararam on Bamrung Mueang Road, Phra Nakhon District. This religious structure of Bangkok was originally constructed in 1784 and was proclaimed as the national historical site since 1949. With 21-metre height, painted in red color and the unique structure of wooden pillars it has become one of the symbols of Bangkok.

In the past, the Giant Swing was used in the Tri-Yampawai, the Brahmin religious ceremony. The rite was performed as to pay homage to Shiva God as to commemorate the God’s annual visit to the earth. The ceremony was finally cancelled in 1935 during the reign of King Rama VII.



Royal Barge National Museum

The Royal Barge Procession is one of the most spectacular events in the world. It is performed occasionally during the Tod Kathin Buddhist Festival when H.M. The King delivers new robes to the monks at Wat Arun. It was also seen by millions of viewers around the world when it was specially staged for the 2003 APEC Conference in Bangkok and broadcast live to the participating countries.

These ornately decorated boats are maintained by the Royal Thai Navy and docked at The Royal Barge National Museum on Bangkok Noi canal on the Thonburi side. The Royal Barge fleet consists of 52 vessels. Each is a masterpiece of marine and traditional craftsmanship. They feature a variety of figureheads on their bows, including a sacred Garuda, Hanuman and the seven heads of Naga.

How to get there: By Chao Phraya Ferry cross the river at Tha Pra Chan Pier near Thammasat University to Bangkok Noi (Thonburi) Train Station Pier or by chartered boat from Tha Chang Pier.

Timings: 9 am to 5 pm.

Admission: 30 baht



At the Muak Lek District, there are vineyards open all year for tourists. Visitors can either taste fresh grapes, processed grape products such as wine, seedless grapes, grape juice, grape candy, grape jam, raisins, preserved grape jam, etc. or join a grape picking activity.

Gemopolis

Gemopolis is the first and only fully integrated industrial estate for diamond, gems and jewelry in Thailand, occupying 800 rai of land (approx. 300 acres) and it is a complete international centre for gems and jewelry manufacturing and trading. Within its large production base for export, Gemopolis Outlet is a naturally the perfect source for a wide selections of Bangkok cut diamond at highly competitive prices. Visitors are welcome to see for the manufacturing process of diamond polishing in Gemopolis.

For those interested in observing the manufacturing process or visiting the factory, please write a letter to ask permission in advance to Gemopolis. For more details, please call 0-2727-0000 www.gemopolis.com.

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I love this place, I’ve been to Thailand lots of times,...

- Sho Yokouchi

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  • Appearing in the Guinness World Records, watch Siam Niramit, a spectacular performance featuring over 150 performers with around 500 costumes in Bangkok.
  • Every weekend, 9000 individual booths sell an infinite variety of goods at Chatuchak Weekend Market, also called as a paradise for bargain hunters.
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