The river is the lifeline of the city. A ride on the Chao Praya must be easy! You can enjoy the ride itself, the express boats are cheap and one of the best modes of transport in town (often faster than a taxi!). You can also see and visit many of the city's most beautiful sights from the boat. And really nice is an evening dinner on a small cruise ship including a Thai buffet and traditional dance performances. The river also offers the best opportunity for a trip to Ko Kret or the ancient royal city of Ayutthaya

Wat Pho Adjacent to the palace, this temple complex is truly magnificent and contains some of the country's most impressive cultural heritage. For example the 45 m long reclining Buddha. But also the beautiful main temple Phra Ubosot. But it is particularly worthwhile to explore the many hidden corners with stupas and chedis away from these main attractions. The magnificent murals from the 19th century. with the basics of Thai massage. And finally - if there aren't too many in line - to be treated in the most famous massage school in the country.

Royal Palace Since Bangkok was founded in 1782, the entire complex has been constantly rebuilt and expanded. At its core, it consists of the country's most important sanctuary, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha Wat Phra Kaeo, and the actual palace, which was the seat of the kings until 1946.

IMPORTANT! Since both of the city's main attractions attract numerous tourists, I strongly recommend being at the entrance by 8 am in the morning! In this case, it is also worth taking a guided tour that lasts 2-4 hours and is carried out in small groups!

Skybars

I only got to know sky bars in Bangkok. The first was on the 64th floor of the State Tower. In the meantime world-famous thanks to the Hollywood blockbuster Hangover 2. In addition to the wonderful evening view of the bustling city with a nice drink in hand, the fresh air up here is a real relief. There are now around 40 Roof Top Bars. You should start one of your evenings in Bangkok by visiting a sky bar!

Street food

Bangkok is world famous for its street food. It is really an experience to stroll through streets like the Yaowarat in China Town in the evening and to experience the numerous food stalls left and right of the way with their beguiling scents.

An absolute highlight for me is a seafood restaurant (street food because the food is cooked on the street). Namely the T&K Seafood on Yaowarat Rd. (Chinatown) !! You can also enjoy really good street food in the food courts of the big shopping malls or in the many night markets. Just try it. Because you don't get a lot in our Thai restaurants or it just tastes different!

Years ago it was unthinkable. But now bicycles are part of the cityscape. You don't have to drive right away on the Sukhumvit in the densest traffic jam. But there are bike rental stations, especially around Sathon Rd. But also bike tour agencies like "Follow Me" or "Go Bangkok Bycicle Tours", which offer tours that are really worth seeing!

Biggest market in Thailand with more than 10000 stalls! You can get everything from household items, handicrafts, textiles to groceries and exotic animals. Important: when you come to the market, be sure to take a map from the information stand and then look where the toilets are. And since it can get very hot, always bring some water with you. Prices are not negotiated when a product is marked with a price board. In order not to lose your bearings in the crowd, I recommend always keeping an eye on the market tower. The market is open on weekends. It can be reached via the BTS station Mo Chit.

Shopping Malls

Each of the big malls in Bangkok has something special for me. When it comes to shopping, Thailand is number 1 in Southeast Asia. The city has changed dramatically in this regard over the last 30 years. When I went shopping for the first time, I was mainly looking for something inexpensive. Brand jeans for DM 10, polo shirts for DM 3. Bangkok was the shopping paradise for product piracy. The tourists were more backpackers and normal family vacationers. Then the offer around Siam Square was expanded to include a few malls with real world brands such as Gucci, Prada or Lois Vuitton. Original goods at the original price. The rich of Asia discovered Thailand's capital. The next wave of purchases came from the Arab countries, which wanted to get their petrodollars among the people. The number of Chinese tourists has been exploding for about 7 years. The country's nouveau riche like to fly to nearby Thailand for a few days to really go shopping without regrets and observation! The new malls that have emerged in the past 5 years are aimed at this rich group of visitors. The Corona Pandemic stopped the development dramatically. In the long term, this will probably also cost some of these super malls their existence.

Chao Praya cruise

An evening or two in this cosmopolitan city is not much. It is all the more important to use the time wisely. A really nice experience is the evening two-hour small cruise on the river past the brightly lit sights such as Wat Arun, the Royal Palace or the world-famous Oriental Hotel. The trip lasts from 6:00 p.m. to around 8:00 p.m. So you can then enjoy the rest of the evening and let it end!

It is recommended and most convenient to book the trip online, eg via Getyourguide.

An early morning jog in the middle of Bangkok? Then Lumphini Park is the place for you! Here you can relax with tai chi or simply sit by the lake, watch large monitor lizards and enjoy the much better air here. A visit is also worthwhile during the day. Just buy some delicious street food in the city and then walk here from the Silom subway station or the Saladaeng skytrain station and relax a little or stroll around.

Bester Photo Spot:

From the Roof Top Bar Hi SO/ Bangkok on the Sofitel (29th floor) you have a wonderful view of the park!

Why is it worth going to a tailor in Bangkok in your limited time?

Nothing fits like a tailored shirt, trousers or even a suit. It simply costs a lot less than ours. About what you pay here in a good mass-produced store.

You can easily have a full suit, trousers or tailored shirts made in Bangkok within 2-3 days. Just go to a tailor first thing in the morning ( list of tailors ), have your measurements taken, and then go back the next day to make sure it's all right. Be sure to take this time. If you only discover at home that it pinches somewhere, it's too late and just annoying. Be sure to discuss the exact schedule with the tailor and leave a telephone number. Then you can pick up your things on the second or third day - depending on the arrangement.

I have tested a number of cutters over the years. Now I only go to St. Marco on Sukhumvit (between Soi 10 and 12). Reliable and excellent quality!

Thai Massage - no pain no gain !

Thai massages are legendary. That's why you have to be a bit careful. You will often be approached on the side of the road by masseuses waiting in front of their salon for walk-in customers. However, some tourists are probably less interested in kneading tense muscles than in paying for the additional time, which is simply called "happy ending".

But don't worry: there are also many reputable salons. If necessary, just make it very clear that you are really ONLY interested in the massage.

TIP: basically two types of massage are offered: the original Thai massage, which is a combination of gentle acupressure with light stretching and stretching exercises to work on the body's energy lines and can be quite strenuous. But all the more effective!

And the so-called oil massage, which is more of a gentle oiling and caressing of the body. Massages last 1 hour and cover the whole body down to the feet.

Learn massage: You can also learn oil massages including aromatherapy yourself in Bangkok. Duration: 5 days (30 hours) Costs: approx. €270

RECOMMENDATION!

Massage by the blind (e.g. Perception on Sathon Rd.) is one of the best you can experience!.

Dining at the Red Sky Bar

Maybe you want to go to one of the sky bars in Bangkok just for a drink in the evening and enjoy the wonderful sunset. There are now around 40 rooftop bars in the city. But if you perhaps want to combine the last evening with a special experience and a wonderful meal, then reserve seats in the Red Sky Bar! It's really worth it, even if it's a bit more expensive. And you will remember what the French chef Christian Ham conjures up!