Bangkok Travel

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and with a population of over 11 million, by far its largest city. Its high-rise buildings, heavy traffic jamming, extreme heat and wicked nightlife do not directly give you a warm welcome but don’t let your first intuition mislead you. It is one of Asia’s most multinational cities with glorious temples and palaces, authentic canals, busy markets and a vibrant nightlife that has something for everyone.

Around Bangkok are the provinces of Nakhon Pathom to the west, Nonthaburi to the northwest, Pathum Thani to the north, Chachoengsao to the east, Samut Prakan to the southeast and Samut Sakhon to the southwest.

Most Popular Attractions of Bangkok

Bangkok is large, and the many different areas can be confusing – even for those who’ve spent years here. The most popular areas for visitors are Siam, Silom, Sukhumvit Road, Sathorn, Chidlom-Ploenchit, Pratunam and the Riverside – all charismatic parts of town that merge sights, nightlife, shopping, grand hotels and suitable locations with access to public transport. Budget travelers and backpackers, of course, still swear by Khao San Road.

Forensic Museum:
If you’re into all things horrible, this is for you. Preserved corpses of convicted killers, like Thailand’s most well-known mass murderer See-Uey, the Chinese cannibal, are exhibited alongside murder weapons, a gut-wrenching exposition of autopsy photos and glass jars containing stillborn children pickled in formaldehyde.

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 16:00 (Monday – Friday)
Location: 2nd floor, Adulaydejvigrom Building, Siriraj Hospital, 2 Phrannok Road
Tel: +66 (0)2 419 7000

The Ancient City:
Monuments, usual houses, and temples taken from Thailand’s past and then reproduced with lots of detail, give you a feel for the Siam of a hundred years ago. Many are almost as big as the originals. Other attractions include a street full of old handicraft stalls, royal barges, a sculpture garden and an old market town.
Opening Hours: 08:30 – 17:00
Location: Kilometre 33, Sukhumwit Hightway, Bangpoo, Samutprakarn

First Execution Chamber:
Chinatown’s Wat Pathum Khongkha is a gorgeous but ordinary temple that once served an extraordinary, rather grisly purpose. Not only a religious shelter, it was also used as effecting site for members of the Royal Family in the early Rattanakosin period. On its execution stone, several members from the first and third reigns were disposed of.

Location: Wat Pathum Khongkha, Yaowarat

Corrections Museum:
Located on Mahachai Road, the Corrections Museum is the place to learn about the gruesome punishments meted out to offenders in Thailand in the not so far-away past. It was once the site of the Bangkok Remand Prison, an old and overcrowded penal facility situated in the heart of Bangkok. In 1990, the cabinet relocated it to Lad-yao and curved the site into a public park called Rommani Nart. Three blocks, a cellblock, a side of the prison wall and two watchtowers were preserved, and converted into this Museum of the macabre.

Opening Hours: 09:30 – 16:00 (Monday – Friday, closed on public holidays)
Location: 436 Mahachai Road, near Rommani Nart Park
Tel: +66 (0)2 226 1706

Hotels of Bangkok:
Luxury Hotels : Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, The Peninsula Bangkok, Sukhothai Hotel, Four Seasons Bangkok, A Royal Meridien Plaza Athenee, InterContinental Bangkok, Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok

Budget Hotels: White Orchid Hotel, Bhiman Inn, Lub d Bangkok – Silom, Sawasdee Khaosan Inn, Floraville Serviced Apartment, Grand Pinnacle, At Hua Lamphong