Thailand has everything and there are so many things to see, attractions to enjoy and sites to visit so that it can fit any type of vacation, in any vehicle and throughout the year. Among the most touristic places in Thailand you will find the capital city Bangkok. The fact that almost everyone who comes to the exotic country visits it, either as a stopover on the way to another destination in the country or for a vacation in the city itself.
A vacation in Bangkok is suitable for those who like a hardcore urban vacation. Because Bangkok, how can we say, can be tough at first impression and therefore you have to give it its time. digest her And after you get used to the unusual noise and smells - we're sure you'll find quite a few things to fall in love with. like what? All the details are in front of you!
A tour of the center of Bangkok - all the things you should not miss
KhaoSan road
The most central street in this area of Bangkok and also the one around which many tourists are concentrated, mainly young people and backpackers who want to enjoy a happy atmosphere and meet travelers from all over the world. In addition, this is an area from which many lines depart to the main tourist centers of Thailand and there is a high movement of people in this area and it is lively and active 24/7.
Although it is a very busy and touristy place, Khaosan Street It is considered pleasant and the atmosphere is great. It covers a total of half a kilometer where you will find many places of entertainment, restaurants, shopping centers and more. If you have just landed in Bangkok, this is a place you will surely come to because branches of most of the travel agencies are concentrated there and at the end of the street you will even find the local branch of the Chabad house where you can meet other Israelis, enjoy a Friday dinner and observe the tradition of the Israeli holidays.
Grand Palace
On the banks of the Chao Phraya River there is a palace from the 18th century AD which was built at the request of King Rama I and is still there today The official palace of the King of Thailand. This place is currently used for official ceremonies only, while the king lives in another palace that is not open to visitors, so the last time the king's palace was used as a royal residence was in 1925.
During the visit to the place you will be able to admire the wall that surrounds the complex, magnificent buildings and famous tourist sites in them Phra Kaew Temple - The Emerald Temple (Wat Phra Kaew) It houses the Emerald Buddha statue and the Grand Palace Hall (Chakri Mahaprasat), which is built in a traditional style with elements drawn from the Renaissance and where the Ephraim of the kings and princes of the Chakri dynasty is kept.
Lumpini Park
One of the most beautiful and pleasant urban parks in Bangkok and probably also the largest. This park was established at the request of King Rama VI and is named after the birthplace of Buddha in Nepal - Lumbini. Its location near the business center of Bangkok and near the main avenue and the shopping centers emphasize that it is the green lung of the city and an excellent place to find relaxation from the everyday hustle and bustle.
Many visitors come to the park to enjoy various sports activities such as walking on the pleasant paths, running, tai chi, yoga and ball games. Others come to find a small, quiet corner and rest there, look out over the artificial lake or sail in a pedal boat... but in our opinion the most recommended activity in the park is a picnic in the great outdoors. This is of course if a pleasant sunny day comes your way.
Madame Tussauds wax museum
For everyone who is young at heart and especially for anyone who is traveling in Bangkok as a family, the wax museum is an attraction not to be missed. This is the Thai branch of the world museum "Madame Tussauds" and just like the Paris and London branches, the Siam-style branch is also a great success.
In the museum there are dozens of figures and reconstruction of historical events using wax statues of a realistic size, with them you can take a picture and if you don't use the flash - the result is expected to look completely real. Among the figures in the museum you will find the Dalai Lama, Madonna, Barack and Michelle Obama, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Spider-Man, Queen Elizabeth and more.
Pratunam market
In the capital of Thailand there is Quite a few markets But it turns out that this market is the most famous or at least the cheapest compared to others. How cheap? So much so that you will feel uncomfortable haggling over the price, and that's a good thing, because even if you do, you won't go down much beyond the stated price.
Among the stalls in the market you will find stalls of every type you can think of, while the most recommended and highly regarded among the Israeli travelers are the clothing stalls (including custom-made evening wear and luxury dresses) and stalls selling high quality replicas of the best prestigious companies. It is important to note that prestigious brands are also sold there that are not imitations and at a third of the price compared to the prices in Israel.
World Central Mall
If we're talking about shopping, another place you shouldn't miss is this monstrous shopping complex that spans no less than 8 floors with over 500 stores, 50 places to dine and pay attention - over 20 movie theaters! So if one of those present on the trip is not enthusiastic about this hardcore shopping experience, he will easily find plenty of things to do in the huge complex.
In relation to the Pratunam market, this is a "serious" mall and the prices accordingly. They are indeed much (much) cheaper compared to the prices in Israel, but compared to the Thai shopping experience, this is not a cheap place, so it is recommended for those who want to purchase items from global brands such as Zara, Toys R Us, Castro, Pierre Cardin, etc.
And finally…
You must be hungry after a fascinating, tiring and exciting tour in downtown Bangkok. So where do you eat? It's entirely up to you.
Along the entire route you will find a wide variety of places to eat where the best tip is to follow the locals (except if you keep kosher, then the best tip is to eat at a Chabad house restaurant). In Bangkok there are plenty of excellent restaurants including Michelin restaurants, authentic laborer restaurants And the creme de la creme (spoiler: plot twist) - The street stalls.
It is a true culinary paradise and a perfect place to get to know traditional Thai cuisine for its multitude of dishes, special tastes, characteristic smells and spices that are considered anonymous to the average Israeli tourist. Just be careful - drink a lot of water, because it's going to be spicy.
