There is a lot to be said about this exotic and extravagant 'city of angels': Founded in 1782, it is a bustling, humid metropolis rich in Thai culture, where gleaming skyscrapers exist alongside glimmering temples and palaces. It is the spiritual, diplomatic and cultural heart of Thailand, home to the Royal Family, the upholder of the Buddhist religion and more than 10% of the country's population.
Tour Bangkok
Walking is the best way of getting to know the chaotic and cultural sides of this pulse-racing city split by the winding Chao Phraya River. Rides along the canals (or 'klongs' as they are locally known) in water taxis give tourists an insight into the more traditional aspects of Thai life. If you can only visit one palace on your coach trip, the awe-inspiring Grand Palace is the place to head, an entire palace complex built in 1782. It's a tourist magnet, but the highlights, including Boromabiman Hall built by King Rama VI and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, are well worth it. Another temple on the tourist trail is the Wat Pho whose giant, gold plated Buddha decorated with Mother of Pearl definitely steals the limelight. The traditional Damnoen Saduak floating market is also another popular must-see.
- Bangkok is a shopper's paradise. Whether you're bargain hunting at the upmarket Suan Lum Night Bazaar, jostling for space at the anything goes Chatuchak Weekend Market or shopping in a multi-storeyed shopping mall, the city has it all!
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