Modern buildings combine with Thai temples, while Buddhist monks weave their way amongst the endless flow of traffic. Traditional markets operate in the shadows of skyscrapers and the flicker of neon lights-up the shops and restaurants 24 hours a day.

The city is reasonably new, having been a small village on the banks of the Chao Phraya River up until the late 1700’s when one of the Kings of the region decided to build a great palace on the opposite bank of the river.

Since then, Bangkok has exploded in terms of size and population (as well as popularity as a destination for travellers) and is today a huge city of over 11 million people. Bangkok is easily one of the most visited cities in Asia. As well as being the largest city in the country, Bangkok is also the capital city of Thailand.

No only is the city the hub of Thai culture, but it is also very multi-cultural and this adds to the vibe of the city.

Temples and Palaces
The Grand Palace was commissioned by King Rama 1 and covers a huge area. The Palace is filled with throne rooms, dressing rooms and chambers. There is a massive amount of Royal history on display as well as Wat Phra Kaew (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha), site of royal religious ceremonies.
Also part of the complex is Wat Pho, home of the world’s largest reclining Buddha – roughly 15 metres (50 feet) at it tallest point and about 46 metres long (150 feet).
Thung Phra Men (sometimes called Sanam Luang) is a huge open park area, again rich in Thai Royal history. It is also the city’s largest public gathering place and is the site of the King’s birthday celebrations each year.
Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn) near the Royal Palace is nearby the Grand Palace and is famous for its beautiful pagoda, designed to make the most of the brilliance of the rising sun.
h2. Shopping and Markets

Bangkok is a shopper’s paradise and even though prices are reasonably cheap, bargaining and bartering is very much part of the experience.

The city is literally filled with shops, malls and markets but undoubtedly the main shopping street is Sukhumvit Road. This super-long road as well as the side streets and squares are filled with all sorts or retail stores, while the sidewalks are covered in small individual markets.

Easily one of the most happening parts of the city during the day, Siam Square is more of a collection of streets than a big, open square but this part of Sukhumvit is home to the most up-market shopping in the city. Even if you’re not into shopping, the Square is one of the most famous and well known parts of the city and is well worth a visit.

Most districts of the city have their own markets; however the most well know and famous are those in the Silom district.

The Patpong markets exist here only in the evenings and can be found alongside the neon lights of bars and clubs along Patpong Road. The prices are not cheap (even by Thai standards) but its fun to take in the atmosphere of night markets.

Lumpini park, also in the Silom district, is also home to scattered markets. The Suan Lum and Silom Village markets are a tourist shopper’s paradise while the Klong Toey Markets are noticeably more local in nature.

Nightlife

The Silom district is a professional business area of the city during the day, but once the sun goes down and the lights come up, the whole area transforms into the heart of Bangkok’s best nightlife. The small side streets off Silom Road are filled with bars, clubs and restaurants of all descriptions and tastes.

The district is also home to night markets while the more retail-style shops and stores also stay open late.

No visit to this part of the city is complete without taking a stroll down Patpong Street, to see its mix of shops, stalls, markets, bars, clubs and sex shows. Although noticeably different to the Red Light District of Amsterdam, it’s worth taking a stroll down the two main streets of Patpong to check out this unique part of the world.