12 THINGS TO DO IN BANGKOK
1. EVERYBODY LOVES THE ZOO
Every major city has a zoo, each with its own character, and Bangkok’s Dusit Zoo is no exception. “Khao Din” was originally established as King Rama V’s private botanical garden over 100 years ago, and the 50-acre plot maintains its park-like atmosphere to this day.
Much of the zoo has been refurbished to provide a pleasant habitat for some 1,500 animals along the road circling the zoo’s 12-acre lake. Elephant, gibbons, hippopotamuses and reptiles are the main attractions, and there are plenty of eating areas and amusements. It’s great place to get away while still inside the city.
DETAILS :
ADMISSION : B30 for adults, B5 for children. Open daily from 08 : 00 to 18 : 00
TEL : 0-2281-2000, 0-2281-1039
HOW TO GET THERE :
Taxi : Ask for “Khao Din” on Ratchawithi Road next to Chitralada Palace.
Guide / Interpreter service:
Please contact guideforthailand@yahoo.com
2. TAKE THE TRAM AROUND RATTANAKOSIN
Rattanakosin Island holds a host of Bangkok’s most historic sites, and one can easily spend a day walking among them. For a proper orientation of the capital’s first settlement, take the tram on a short journey that passes more than dozen attractions. The replica 1880stram heads first to the City Pillar Shrine, Temples of the Reclining Buddha and the Pak Khlong Talat flowers market. The excursion continues along old river communities and pies, the city’s oldest universities fortresses, temples, museums and parks, and even goes by the backpacker Mecca of Khao San Road. After a tram-trip introduction, you’ll be ready to hit the streets.
DETAILS :
FARE : B30, Leaves the terminal every 30 minutes daily from 09 : 00 to 16 : 00
HOW TO GET THERE :
The trolley’s terminal is located between the Grand Palace and Sanam Luang
Guide / Interpreter service
Please contact guideforthailand@yahoo.com
3. GET A MEDICAL CHECK - UP
With the high cost of medical care in Europe, the U.S. and parts of Asia, travelers to Thailand are taking advantage of high quality, reasonably priced medical examinations at Bangkok’s world-class health facilities. Internationally trained physicians can conduct detailed tests and analysis, and issue a complete report within days.
Among the top medical centers is Bangkok-Hospital, which offers a highly regarded heart care programmed carried out by specialist, who conduct preliminary and follow-up consultations, blood and urine analysis, chest X-rays , an EKG and an exercise stress test. Why not put your mind at ease with an economical check-up while in Bangkok?
HOW TO GET THERE :
www.medretreat.com
4. VISIT THAILAND’S ANCIENT CITY
Imagine visiting over 100 of Thailand’s most historically and culturally significant buildings and sites all in one day. Well, you can…almost at Muang Boran, the Ancient City. This 320-acre heritage park houses reconstructed and painstakingly reproduced replicas of historic structures from around the kingdom.
You’ll find a small-scale Khao Pra Viharn, the mountain-top ten on the Cambodian border, along with buildings and wall paintings from the previous capitals of Sukhothai and Ayuthaya. Inspect the examples of Kha Era architecture and old elevated Thai houses. A visit is a full-day experiences.
DEAILS :
ADMISSION : B50 for adults and B50 if you bring a car. open daily from 08 : 00 to 17 : 00
HOW TO GET THERE :
TAXI : Samut Prakarn, Km 33 Old Sukhumvit Road the Crocodile Farm. Daytrips are available through local tour operators.
Guide / Interpreter Service :
please contact guideforthailand@yahoo.com
5. HOP THE SKYTRAIN WITH A1-DAY PASS
Get a BTS Sky train 1 – Day Tourist Pass and cruise the city without the hassle of traffic. The one-day, B100 pass offers unlimited rides on Bangkok’s modern mass transit system. You’ll find cosmopolitan shopping centers and department stores in the center of town, with excellent dining at a range of internationals restaurants found almost everywhere. The skytrain runs all the way to the Chatuchak Weekend Market, and down to silom Road and Saphan Thaksin, where you can pick up the Chao Phraya River Tourist Express Boat. The skytrain’s one-day pass is the most cost-effective way to see the city.
DETAILS :
FARE : B100, available at all BTS Skytrain stations. Operates daily from 06:00 to 24:00
TEL : 0-2617-7141
Guide / Interpreter Service :
please contact guideforthailand@yahoo.com
6. DINE AT THE WORLD’S HIGHEST OPEN – AIR RESTAURANT
This is a dining experience not to be missed. The Dome, located on top of Bangkok’s second tallest building, the Meritus Suites State Tower, is rising in popularity as a dining and entertainment venue. The Sirocco just into the city skyline like the deck of a flying ship, capped by the entrancing glow of the Sky Bar and live jazz. But the real revolution is the food, an accessible menu of Mediterranean starters and entrees.
Rare, simple elegance means attention to details that only Distil can claim. It serves fine single-malt Scotches like Macallan and Glenmoranghie , and accompany them with a small carafe of genuine Scottish water. Distil is also the exclusive venue for 42 Below, a quadruple-distilled vodka from New Zealand made from glacier water. Visitors can also enjoy delicacies at the oyster bar.
Mezzaluna provides a truly authentic Italian dining experience using fresh imported products from Italy. The restaurant even uses imported water for the pizza dough, just to get the exact right crispness. You could say that the food doesn’t really leave Italy until it reaches your table.
Guide / Interpreter Service :
please contact guideforthailand@yahoo.com
7. TAKE IN FIGHT NIGHT
You might have heard about the furious punches, crushing elbow strikes, lethal kicks and powerful grappling. But, nothing compares to seeing the battle take place amidst loud cheers accompanied by a traditional wind-and-percussion ensemble. Welcome to the exciting world of Muay Thai, a tough martial art and the source of pride of a nation.
Thai boxers use their feet, elbows, legs, kness, and shoulders in techniques acquired through rigorous training from an early age. Those who are successful can achieve cult status. The big fights happen at Lumpini Stadium at the weekend, but there’s also action during the week. Don’t miss it.
DETAILS :
ADMISSION : B220-B800. Fights every Tuesday and Friday from 18:30 – 23:00 and Saturday 17:00 – 20:00 and 20:30 – 24:00
HOW TO GET THERE :
TAXI : Lumpini Stadium, RamaIV Road. Subway : Lumpini Station
Guide / Interpreter Service :
please contact guideforthailand@yahoo.com
8. CRUISE AROUND KOH KRET
Take a longtail tour around this quaint island community founded 200-years ago by ethnic Mons, who continue to make their traditional pottery. Walk through cosy villages built over the water, see local artisans create wonderful ceramic pieces and stop by the Thai Dessert House with colorful sweets that look too good to eat. You’ll find centuries old temples, an earthenware museum, and plenty shops selling souvenirs created by the resident craftsman. A trip to Koh Kret is a relaxing way to spend the day in a rural atmosphere in northern Bangkok.
HOW TO GET THERE :
The Chao Phraya Express Boat offers tours every Saturday and Sunday from the Sathorn Pier at the Saphan Thaksin BTS Skytrain Station.
TAXI :
Go to Sanam Nua Pier at the Nonthaburi and hire a longtail boat for a personnel tour for B400 for two hours and B100 for additional hours.
Guide / Interpreter Service :
please contact guideforthailand@yahoo.com
9. GO GO-KATING
slide into the cockpit of a French-built go-kart powered by a 200cc Honda engine, and race around the twisting 700-metre track of the PTT Indoor Go-Kart Speedway at speeds of up to 55 kph. Located in RCA Plaza, an entertainment district for young Thais, this 7,000 sqm facility is perfect for bringing a group to hold your own mini Grand Prix. Everyone can squealing tyres. The speedway’s facilities include a snack bar, viewing area, pool tables and scoreboards with digital timing. It’s a first-class track for first-class fun.
DETAILS :
ADMISSION : B550 for a 10-minute race.
open daily from 12:00 –02:00
HOW TO GET THERE :
TAXI : Located above Tops Supermarket in RCA Plaza on Royal City Avenue between Sukhumvit and Petchburi Roads.
Guide / Interpreter Service :
please contact guideforthailand@yahoo.com
10. SHOP AT CHATUCHAK MARKET
No trip to Bangkok is complete without a visit to the world’s biggest weekend market. The sprawling, sometimes confusing and always crowded market features almost 9,000 stalls selling everything from clothing, handicrafts and old books to animals, furniture and plants. It’s a great place to pick up souvenirs, curios or a piece of art as a memory of your trip. Be prepared to bargain with the best of them, but you’ll be rewarded some really great deals compared to shops in the city. And, after all that shopping, you’ll find loads of food stalls selling cold drinks, bowls of noodles, spicy curries and other Thai fast foods.
DETAILS :
Open Saturday and Sunday from 08:00 – 18:00
HOW TO GET THERE :
BTS Skytrain or subway : Chatuchak Station
Guide / Interpreter Service :
please contact guideforthailand@yahoo.com
11. ENJOY A PERFORMANCE AT THE JOE LOUIS PUPPET THEATRE
This puppet performance is a fun, fascinating and entertaining way to enjoy Thai culture. The show features from acts the epic Indian tale Ramayana, with all its mystical characters and plots. The choreography and co-ordination of the three visitors puppeteers it takes to create the lifelike movements is truly captivating.
Once a popular art, puppeteering declined and almost died out, but Joe Louis (pronounced Liew) continued the art making his own puppets and giving performance throughout the country. When he died, his wife continued with the theatre. The puppeteers are classically trained dancers, bringing the puppets to life in an impressive performance.
DETAILS :
ADMISSION : B600 for adults and B300 for children 7-15 years. One performance daily from 19:30 – 20:45
HOW TO GET THERE :
Subway : Lumpini Stadium
Guide / Interpreter Service :
please contact guideforthailand@yahoo.com
12. CLIMB ABOARD THE MANOHRA DINNER CRUISE
Sail up the “River of Kings” under the stars on a dinner cruise aboard the Manohra. This 40-year-old, polished teakwood rice barge has been painstakingly converted into a floating five-star dining outlet that that gives passengers the chance to experience life along the Chao Phraya River, passing Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn), the Grand Palace and the Royal Barges along the way. The plush upholstery and soft lighting add to the charm of this exquisite evening cruise in the intimate ambience of an authentic relic from years gone by.
DETAILS :
PRICE : US$40. Departs the Marriott Royal Garden Riverside Hotel pieer daily from 19:30 – 21:30
HOW TO GET THERE :
Taxi : Marriott Royal Garden Riverside Hotel
