Attractions in Bangkok

Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) is Thailand's most sacred Buddhist temple, located within the Grand Palace complex. It enshrines the Emerald Buddha, a 66-centimetre jade figure considered the palladium of the Thai kingdom.

Wat Arun Ratchawararam, the Temple of Dawn, is one of Bangkok's most recognizable landmarks. Its 82-metre central prang (Khmer-style tower) rises dramatically on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, encrusted with colourful porcelain and seashells.

Wat Pho is one of Bangkok's oldest and largest temple complexes, famous for its enormous 46-metre-long Reclining Buddha covered in gold leaf. It is also the birthplace of traditional Thai massage and a centre of public education since the early 19th century.

Wat Benchamabophit — the Marble Temple — is Bangkok's most refined monastery, its ordination hall faced entirely in white Italian Carrara marble. The cloister behind the ubosot houses a remarkable gallery of 52 Buddha images representing different styles from across Asia.

The Erawan Shrine is a Hindu shrine to Phra Phrom (the Thai representation of Brahma) located at the bustling Ratchaprasong intersection. Despite sitting amid modern skyscrapers and shopping malls, it draws a constant stream of devotees and Thai dance performances.

Democracy Monument is an Art Deco monument at the centre of a traffic roundabout on Ratchadamnoen Avenue. Designed by Italian sculptor Corrado Feroci (known in Thailand as Silpa Bhirasri), it commemorates the 1932 Siamese revolution that ended absolute monarchy.

Wat Saket — the Golden Mount — is a 79-metre artificial hill topped by a glittering golden chedi. The spiral walk to the summit passes bronze bells, banyan roots and wall murals, culminating in a 360° panorama of Bangkok's skyline that includes the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and the Chao Phraya River.

Sao Ching Cha (Giant Swing) is a 21.15-metre tall red teak swing frame standing in front of Wat Suthat in the old city. Once the centrepiece of a death-defying Brahmin ritual, it is now a striking landmark and photo opportunity.

Vimanmek Mansion in the Dusit Palace complex is the world's largest building made entirely of golden teak — 72 rooms connected by a labyrinth of staircases and verandas. Built as King Rama V's residence, the mansion displays royal furnishing, photographs and personal effects from Thailand's modernisation era.

The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall is a grand Italian Renaissance-style building of gleaming white marble topped by a massive dome. Built as the throne hall of the Dusit Palace, it served as Thailand's parliament until 1974.

The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall is a masterpiece of Italian Renaissance architecture in Dusit — a marble palace built for King Rama V with a dome rivalling St. Peter's in ambition.

The ornamental Chinatown Gate (Odeon Circle) marks the formal entrance to Yaowarat Road and Bangkok's vibrant Chinatown district. The gate was erected to celebrate the 72nd birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The Sri Maha Mariamman Temple is Bangkok's oldest Hindu temple, its towering gopuram (entrance tower) a kaleidoscope of painted deities visible above Silom's shopfronts. Inside, shrines to Mariamman, Ganesh and Vishnu are tended by Tamil priests.

Wat Traimit houses the world's largest solid-gold seated Buddha, a 3-metre, 5.5-tonne Sukhothai-era statue made of 18-karat gold. The gleaming image was hidden under plaster for centuries until accidentally revealed in 1955.

The Corrections Museum occupies a former women's prison compound near the Golden Mount. Exhibitions document Thailand's penal history, including reconstructed cells, punishment devices and prisoner artwork — a sobering and thought-provoking contrast to Bangkok's glittering temples.

Loha Prasat (Metal Castle) at Wat Ratchanatdaram is a remarkable 37-spired metal structure — one of only three surviving metal Buddhist castles in the world. The tiered spires represent the 37 virtues toward enlightenment, and the winding interior staircase ascends to a rooftop viewpoint.