A Bangkok city break is a sensory overload. From colorful temples and bustling night bazaars to the aromas of street food and hum of tuk-tuk taxis, there’s never a dull moment on a stay in a Bangkok hotel.
Bangkok’s historical legacies
A highlight of any Bangkok city break is the historical
Ratanakosin district, west of the centre. The sprawling riverside
Grand Palace houses many of Bangkok’s 400 Buddhist temples including the ornate
Wat Phra Kaeo, home of the revered Emerald Buddha. See the 46m-long, 15m-high Reclining Buddha at nearby
Wat Pho and visit the
National Museum for a Thai history tour through artefacts and artworks.
Capital shopping
Ever-expanding malls like the famous MBK have transformed Bangkok into a shopping Mecca. West of busy Sukhumvit road is
CentralWorld, one of South-east Asia’s largest malls. By night, the nearby covered
Suan Lum Night Bazaar by Lumphini Park is the perfect spot to pick up Thai cushions, bags and jewellery. At weekends, barter your way around
Chatuchak Market’s 15,000 stalls, selling everything from fashion to furnishings.
Bangkok nights
Clubs and bars abound along
Sukhumvit road, its most famous haunt the trendy
Bed Supper Club with its four-course weekend dinner. The Oriental hotel’s riverside
Bamboo Bar is renowned for live jazz in a jungle-themed setting, while
Patpong’s night market, near Lumphini Park, hides a hive of Bangkok’s infamous go-go bars. You’ll be more than ready to collapse into your Bangkok hotel bed.
Local dining
Bangkok is a 24-hour city. Night markets, street vendors and classy restaurants serve tantalising fare like spicy
tom yum gai soup and bowls of green, red and yellow curry. Dinner cruises along Bangkok’s
Chao Phraya River and
Chinatown’s noodle shops are a must-try, as is Thai fusion cuisine in
Lemongrass on Sukhumvit road. Make the most of exotic fruits from mangos to passion fruit.
