Bangkok Walking Tours

The golden doors and guardians around the building are also well worth your time before moving on. The Chao Phraya River may be dirty, congested, and noisy, but it is the best way to experience the Bangkok. These long, low profile boats called Ruea Hang Yao in Thai are able to carry a ton of people or goods at high speeds even in swallow water.

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There will be splashes here and there from the waves so to stay the driest sit toward the front of the boat or hold up the plastic protector on the side. If you are wondering why most of the boats are wrapped in colorful ribbons and decorated with fresh flowers it is not just for looks, but for good luck and safe travels. Hiring a Long Tail Boat: If you know where you want to go, especially on a map, it will help a ton with negotiating. A good deal is going to cost between Baht an hour and you will typically pay at the end of the trip. Most of the houses are very working class and without land, so be prepared to see children on the porches and parents doing laundry in the river.

Many tourists who travel the canals end up being invited to meet local canal dwellers and are offered to buy goods from them. A lot of the goods are junk, but there is something romantic about buying hand-made crafts from locals, even if they are a little junky. Sometimes the most amazing part about the ride through the canals if getting off of you feet for a little while after a lot of walking. Taling Chan Floating Market: If you driver suggested going out to the floating market first know that it is a full 3 miles from the Choa Phraya River. It is open on the weekends from 8am-5pm. Surprisingly the foot long boat is carved from a single piece of teakwood!

Almost all of the barges have large colorful Garuda figures protecting their every side and they are quite stunning. A good driver will be able to drop you off up close but many are not able to so it will be a short winding walk from the pier which is marked by signs. The market area near the Maha Rat Pier holds the largest amulet market in Bangkok every Sunday, but has street side stands 7 days a week.

Top Walking Tours in Bangkok, Thailand

Expect to see hoards of superstitious locals inspecting the amulets closely to determine which ones to but either for good luck or to ward of evil. Some of the people are pretty hard-core and even use magnifying glasses.

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We really like exploring the covered market area between Maha Rat and the River as it is fairly free of tourists. Temple of the Great Relic Wat Mahathat: There has been a temple here since before Bangkok was even a city, but it was in when one of their monks Prince Mongkut Chakri, became King Rama IV that the temple became famous. King Mongkut had been on a 27 year pilgrimage before inheriting the Siamese crown, which gave him a lot of exposure to outside cultures.

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During is reign this exposure carried over and he welcomed Western visitors and mixed in parts of their cultures. If this sounds familiar it is because King Mongkut is the one portrayed in the famous play and the movie The King and I. The temple itself has since grown into one of the top ten universities for Monks in all of Thailand and also serves as the Center for Vipassana Meditation. Sanam Luang is a wide open, oval shaped grassy field that has been used for royal ceremonies since King Rama I moved the capitol to this side of the river in While not used very often for Royal functions, Rama I felt it was an important part of the Royal complex so it could be laid out exactly like the ancient Northern capital of Ayutthaya had been.

Most of the ceremonies over the centuries have been for cremations for Royal family members, but on most days it is just home to a ton of pigeons.

City Pillar Shrine Lak Muang: With how superstitious the Thai people are, every Thai city has a City Pillar meant to bring good luck. While some cities like Chiang Rai have their City Pillars outside, Bangkoks has been surrounded by a shrine since shortly after it was put up. Over time these shrines have grown more grand and in the s Rama IV even added a second pillar for double the luck. During the Rattanakosin celebration for the cities th anniversary in the shrine around the pillar was rebuilt with the tall prang-shaped white tower you see today.

At one point all of the cannon pointed toward the Grand Palace, but luckily they have tastefully aimed them elsewhere. The building is not open to the public, but you are free to roam among the cannons which serve as a mini museum. City Pillar Visiting Hours: This beautiful salmon colored Palace was finished in and to us looks more Spanish than Thai.

It remained a zoo until Dusit Zoo opened and the animals were moved, but it still has some of its original flair including a beautiful red fountain. If you feel like exploring off the beaten path a block, Wat Ratchapradit sits just to the East of Saranrom Palace near the river and has a couple of interesting pagodas. Temple of the Reclining Buddha Wat Pho: His inspiration came from gathering fragments of Buddha statues in the former capitol of Ayutthaya, some of which were incorporated into his new temple complex.

In total there are over Buddha statues in the vast Wat Pho complex, but the main draw by far is the gigantic Reclining Buddha. The statue depicts Buddha laying on his side, not sleeping, but at the moment where he gained enlightenment. This pose is fitting as right next to the building is a large Bodhi Tree said to have grown from a cut off piece of the original tree in India which Buddha meditated under. The number if carried on throughout the building including the bronze bowls where visitors drop coins in for good luck.

You can buy a sack of coins inside and its said leaving one in each bowl will bring good fortune. Before leaving the Phra Virhara building, make to take in the murals covering the walls which show scenes from the life of Buddha. The 3 Chedis in a row hold ashes from generations of the Chakri Royal Family and the 4th one not in the row is called the Phra Si Sanphet Chedi which holds a sacred Buddha statue.

You are bound to see various statues of bearded Chinese Ballast , or stone giants, by most of the Temples gates. These guardians represent various segments of Chinese society, but 4 of the sets actually depict Farangs. Farang is the Thai word for Caucasian foreigners and the statues have big noses, European Clothes, and top hats. The character is out of respect of Marco Polo who was the first to introduce the European lifestyle to the Chinese. Wat Pho is said to be the birthplace of Thai massage and it is home to a massage school with eager students ready to work your muscles.

As part of the Institute of Massage visitors can also join in to learn the art of massage in day classes. Elements of the roots of massage can be seen all over the Temple. The Medicine Pavilion near the 4 Chedis is the best example as it is filled with 60 stone plaques from the s. The plaques are diagrams details Thai Massage therapeutic points and energy pathways, with 30 focused on the front of the body and 30 on the back. The most playful showing of massage is called Hermit Hill where small statues of naked images doing yoga poses and massage dot a series of grassy mounds.

Thai or Foot Massage for 30 minutes is Baht; 1 hour for Baht. Should have legs and shoulders covered. Sitting right on the edge of the Chao Praya River are a few restaurants with amazing views of Wat Arun. They can be a little hidden but they all have a terrace or at least a deck facing out over the water. Our favorite of these restaurants is called Arun Residence where you can get coffee early in the morning, lunch mid day, or even a late diner with Wat Arun lit up by flood lights.

The best views of Wat Arun come between dusk and sunset as the sun sets in the West behind the the temple. Temple of Bells, decently large sitting Buddha statue. Mid Town Walking Tour: Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox. Wats and Temples of Bangkok. Places of Worship Walk in Bangkok. Landmarks Walk in Bangkok. Museums Walking Tour in Bangkok. Chinatown Walking Tour in Bangkok. Bangkok Old City Walk. Fast Food for Foodies. A Day Tour of Bangkok. At Least 6 Reasons to Visit Bangkok.

3 days in Bangkok: A walking tour isn’t what you think!

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