Things to Do in Thailand

1The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaeo

Wat Phra Kaew, commonly known in English as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and officially as Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand. The complex consists of a number of buildings within the precincts of the Grand Palace in the historical centre of Bangkok. It houses the statue of the Emerald Buddha, which is venerated as the country's palladium.

Preecha.MJ (CC BY-SA 4.0)

2ICONSIAM

Iconsiam is a mixed-use development on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand. It includes a large shopping mall, which opened to the public on 9 November 2018, as well as hotels and residences. The ฿54 billion Baht project was jointly developed by Siam Piwat, a Thai retail developer, MQDC Magnolia Quality Development, and Charoen Pokphand Group. The complex includes the tallest building in Thailand: the 70-floor Magnolia Waterfront Residences, and the country’s sixth tallest building: the 52-floor Mandarin Oriental Residences. It is served by Charoen Nakhon BTS station on the Gold Line.

3CentralWorld

CentralWorld, is a shopping plaza and complex in the Siam area of Bangkok, in Thailand, opened in 1989. It is the ninth-largest shopping center in the world. The complex, which includes a hotel and office tower, is owned by Central Pattana. In 2006, after three years of design and renovation, CentralWorld was expanded to 550,000 m2 (5,900,000 sq ft) of shopping mall and 830,000 m2 (8,900,000 sq ft) of remaining complex, topping nearby rival Siam Paragon in terms of size.

4Wat Arun

Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan or Wat Arun is a Buddhist temple (wat) in the Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand. It is situated in Thonburi on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple derives its name from the Hindu god Aruṇa, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun. Built with a fusion of Indian influences, incorporating elements of both Hindu and Buddhist symbolism, as well as reflecting Siamese tradition and identity. Wat Arun is among the best known of Thailand's landmarks. Although the temple has existed since at least the 17th century, its distinctive prang (spire) was built in the early 19th century during the reigns of Rama II and Rama III.

Diliff (CC BY 2.5)

5Grand Palace

The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam since 1782. The king, his court, and his royal government were based on the grounds of the palace until 1925. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, resided at the Chitralada Royal Villa and his successor King Vajiralongkorn resides at the Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, both in the Dusit Palace, but the Grand Palace is still used for official events. Several royal ceremonies and state functions are held within the walls of the palace every year. The palace is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Thailand, with over eight million people visiting each year.

Caspar (CC BY-SA 2.5

6Siam Paragon

Siam Paragon is a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. It is one of the largest malls in Thailand, along with Iconsiam, CentralWorld and Central WestGate. It is located right in front of Siam BTS station, an interchange station on both Sukhumvit Line and Silom Line of the BTS Skytrain.

7Wat Pho

Wat Pho, also spelled Wat Po, is a Buddhist temple complex in the Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok, Thailand. It is on Rattanakosin Island, directly south of the Grand Palace. Known also as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its official name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan. The more commonly known name, Wat Pho, is a contraction of its older name, Wat Photaram.

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8MBK Center

MBK Center, also known by its former name as Mahbunkhrong, is a large shopping mall in Siam area, Bangkok, Thailand. At eight storeys, the center contains around 2,000 shops, restaurants and service outlets.

9Asiatique The Riverfront

Asiatique The Riverfront Destination, simply known as Asiatique is a large open-air mall in Bangkok, Thailand. It occupies the former docks of the East Asiatic Company, and faces the Chao Phraya River and Charoen Krung Road. The complex opened in 2012 after extensive renovation of the site.

Slyronit (CC BY-SA 4.0)

10Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, also called Nongnooch Pattaya Garden, is a 500-acre (2.0 km2) botanical garden and tourist attraction in Chonburi Province, Thailand. Located on Sukhumvit road, it can be reached via bus, taxi or private land transportation. It is also a major scientific center dedicated to cycads, with its own Cycad Gene Bank.

11Phuket Big Buddha

Phuket Big Buddha, or The Great Buddha of Phuket, is a seated Maravija Buddha statue in Phuket, Thailand. The official name is Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Eknakiri, shortened to Ming Mongkol Buddha. Sitting atop Nakkerd Hill near Chalong, construction began in 2004. Expansion of the base was ongoing as of 2015. By 2017, 80 percent of the project had been completed. It is the third-tallest statue in Thailand behind only the Great Buddha of Thailand and Luangpho Yai.

CEphoto, Uwe Aranas (CC BY-SA 4.0)

12The Sanctuary of Truth

Luka Krstulović (CC BY-SA 3.0)

13King Power Mahanakhon

King Power Mahanakhon, formerly known as MahaNakhon (มหานคร), is a mixed-use skyscraper in the Silom/Sathon central business district of Bangkok, Thailand. It was opened in December 2016 by MahaNakhon Managing Director Kipsan Beck. It features the unconventional appearance of a glass curtain-walled square tower with a cuboid-surfaced helix cut into the side of the building. Following transfer of the first residential units in April 2016, at 314.2 metres (1,031 ft) with 77 floors, it was recognized as the tallest building in Thailand on 4 May 2016 by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). The building contains a hotel, retail and residences, which are priced between around $US1,100,000 to US$17,000,000, making it one of the most expensive condominiums in Bangkok.

Ram Samudrala (CC BY-SA 4.0)

14Chatuchak Weekend Market

The Chatuchak Weekend Market (Thai: ตลาดนัดจตุจักร, RTGS: Talatnat Chatuchak ), on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, is the largest market in Thailand. Afectionately known as JJ Market, it has more than 15,000 stalls and 11,505 vendors (2019), divided into 27 sections. Chatuchak Market sells many different kinds of goods, including plants, antiques, consumer electronics, cosmetics, pets, fresh and dry food and drinks, ceramics, furniture and home accessories, clothing, and books. It is the world's largest and most diverse weekend market, with over 200,000 visitors every weekend.

Azreey (CC BY-SA 3.0)

15Wat Yai Chaimongkol

16Lumphini Park

Lumphini Park, also Lumpini or Lumpinee, is a 360 rai park in Bangkok, Thailand. The park offers rare open public space, trees and playgrounds in the Thai capital and contains an artificial lake where visitors can rent boats. Paths around the park totalling approximately 2.5 km in length are a popular area for morning and evening joggers. Officially, cycling is only permitted during the day between the times of 10:00 am to 03:00 pm. There is a smoking ban throughout the park. Dogs are not allowed, except certified guide dogs only. Lumphini Park is regarded as the first public park in Bangkok and Thailand. The park is the provenance of Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.

Chainwit. (CC BY 4.0

17Wat Mahathat

Wat Mahathat (Thai วัดมหาธาตุ พระนครศรีอยุธยา, Temple of the Great Relic) is a Buddhist temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand.

18Safari World

Safari World is a tourist attraction in Bangkok, Thailand that consists of two parks named Marine Park and Safari Park, operated by Safari World Public Limited. The park was opened in 1988 with a total area of 480 acres (190 ha) for its open zoo and 180 acres (73 ha) for its bird park. A major renovation to enhance effectiveness of land use began on 17 April 1989 and its total area developed for the leisure park now consists of an open zoo and a marine park on 500 rai of land.

Joachim Lutz (CC BY-SA 4.0)

19Wat Phra That Doi Kham

Wat Phra That Doi Kham is a Buddhist temple in the Mae Hia sub-district, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Situated atop Doi Kham hill at an elevation of approximately 200 meters above sea level, the temple is a significant historical and religious site that enshrines relics of the Buddha. Its original name was Wat Suwannabanpot. The temple houses the sacred Buddha hair relic, the 1,300-year-old chedi, and a 17-meter-tall seated Buddha image.

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20Jomtien Beach

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