When traveling to Thailand as a tourist it is essential that you visit Bangkok, the capital of the country. Not only is it the most populated city in Thailand but it is also home to some of the most beautiful and exotic sights. But you may be on a tight schedule and would be hard pressed to see everything. So today I’d like to share two places to visit in Bangkok and why these particular tourist locations should be a high priority.
Floating markets are exactly as they sound, shops on the water. They are a staple and not seeing one when you visit Bangkok would be akin to going to Japan and not eating sushi.
But navigating your way to one can be tricky or far. And the ones that are popular can be flooded with other tourists, dampening the entire experience. Which is why I recommend going to the Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market.
The first benefit is that it’s an average sized floating market. Too big and it can be overwhelming. Too small and what’s the point? When you visit Bangkok you also want to stay close to the city and Khlong Lat Mayom is a short 20 kilometer taxi ride away. The number of other tourists should also be at a minimum, making your experience to this floating market more authentic.
The highlight of your visit should be the food. And there are plenty of vendors with wares ranging from fruit, snacks, and other local cuisine. Take a seat, soak in the atmosphere, and experience life like one of the locals.
The market open only on Saturday and Sunday, including public holiday from 9:30am to 4:30pm.
How to get there from Bangkok: Ride the BTS skytrain to Wongwian Yai station, get a taxi all the way to the market.The fare should be around 200 THB.
Address in Thai: ตลาดน้ำคลองลัดมะยม – ตั้งอยู่ถนน ตลิ่งชัน-บางระมาด มาทางพุทธมลฑลสาย 1 หรือหากมาจากทางถนนกาญจนาภิเษกก็เลี้ยวเข้าซอยใกล้ๆ เนติบัณฑิตยสภา จะมีป้ายบอกตลอดทาง
Next on our list of places to visit in Bangkok is Chinatown or the local call it ‘Yaowarat‘. You might be thinking, why am I coming to Thailand to look at something Chinese? Well the quick answer is that despite being around for over 200 years, a lot of the Chinese culture and atmosphere is still well-preserved.
My recommendation is to find any one of the many entry points, pick a direction, and walk. Don’t have a set destination and openly explore the many food stalls and shops that are dispersed around the area. Chinatown is one of the few remaining “un-urbanized” tourist spots in Bangkok so expect to encounter plenty of bartering, lots of gold, and people who barely speak any English.
Just like the floating market, the food will likely be the highlight of your journey. But whereas the floating markets close before nightfall, Chinatown’s food scene comes alive at night. Enjoy anything from Tom Yum Goong (hot and sour soup), to Malang Tod (fried insects).
You can visit anytime to Bangkok Chinatown anyday, except Monday where most street food vendors are shut down. Best time to get there is after 6pm.
Of course, Bangkok travel can be a bit intimidating. For those who are a little less adventurous and need a helping hand there are food tour groups and guides to assist when you visit Bangkok. Simply let them know where you want to go or what you want to see and eat and they’ll be more than happy to assist.
So even if you can’t see everything, just by seeing those two sites should be a great glimpse into what the great city of Bangkok can offer. I highly suggest you to join a food tour to spend an evening in Bangkok.