Bangkok the City of Angels

Bangkok is the largest gateway to Southeast Asia, and most people enter Thailand through Bangkok, beginning their trip in this dazzling city. Bangkok is a busy and fascinating city where you will find the familiar colliding with the exotic and is a significant part of any trip if you want to get a full Thai experience.

You will be overwhelmed and drawn in by the hustle and bustle of Tuk Tuk drivers, riverboats, city skylines, street food, and elaborately decorated temples pulling you in. The air is thick with a lasting and pungent scent of incense, and street food that permeates everything and everyone.

Bangkok was aptly nicknamed The City of Angels (a short excerpt out of the very long ceremonial name) given by King Rama IV, in this way he wished to bestow good fortune and joy for all his people living in this city. The extended version of this nickname reminds us that this is a holy place-based in Buddhist and Hindu traditions that helped to create such a culturally rich heritage and experience for all who visit.

A trip to Bangkok is never complete without a stroll through the colossal Grand Palace; here you will enjoy lovely gardens and courtyards, see the historical relics of years past and experience the Wat Phra Kaew Temple where the famed Emerald Buddha sits in peace. After the Palace tour, you will want to take the 10-minute walk over to Wat Pho Temple where you will witness the enormous Reclining Buddha that measures 15 meters tall and 46 meters long and is covered head to toe in gold leaf. Those who wish for a little bit of good luck and karma can purchase coins and drop them into the 108-brass bowls that line the walls.

Beyond the sights and temples, you will find endless entertainment in Bangkok from shopping in Siam Square where you can get a reprieve from the hot and humid air in the large, air-conditioned luxury malls to strolling through the labyrinth of over 8,000 booths in Chatuchak market. We favor the Taling Chan Floating Market where you will find a colorful array of fruits, vegetables and fish being sold from small boats all accompanied by traditional Thai music.

Food is everywhere you turn and certainly a significant reason that people venture to this dynamic city. Chinatown is part of the old-town Bangkok and is undoubtedly a great place to check out markets and authentic eateries and food stalls. Anywhere you go in Bangkok you will find yourself surrounded by vendors stirring up curries, sautéing noodles and chopping up fresh veggies. This can be a stimulating and exciting experience that will most definitely leave your belly bulging and your face grinning with delight.

We recommend 2-3 days in this bustling city before heading off to explore the rest of Thailand.

Bangkok is a vast and vibrant city with so many beautiful things to see and do, shopping and museums, breathtaking temples, an outrageous food scene and a crazy nightlife. This is a must-see destination for anyone visiting Thailand and Southeast Asia.