One of Bangkok’s most famous attractions is the Grand Palace, and it’s a must-see on any visit to the city. The Grand Palace was the official residency of the Kings of Thailand from the 18th century until the 1940s, and it is comprised of a number of buildings, including the Wat Phra Kaew (or the ‘Temple of the Emerald Buddha’). Wat Phra Kaew is the most important of Bangkok’s Buddhist temples and houses the Phra Putta Maha Mani Ratana Patimakorn (the ‘Emerald Buddha’), which was carved from a single piece of jade and dates back to the 15th century. There are also many other temples in Bangkok that are worth visiting, including Wat Pho (the ‘Temple of the Reclining Buddha’), which is the city’s largest temple, and Wat Arun (the ‘Temple of Dawn’).

The Bangkok National Museum is situated in the grounds of Wang Na Palace, close to the Grand Palace, and houses exhibits of Thai art and crafts dating from ancient times to the present day. Other museums and galleries in Bangkok include the Bangkok Folk Museum, the Royal Thai Air Museum, the Children’s Discovery Museum, the National Gallery, the Forensics Museum and the Royal Barges Museum.

CentralWorld Shopping Centre

Bangkok has a wide variety of places to shop, from contemporary shopping malls to traditional markets. The CentralWorld Shopping Centre, in the Petchburi district, is the largest of its kind in South East Asia and contains restaurants, cinemas and a food court, as well as more than 500 stores. For designer items, head for the Emporium in Sukhumvit Road or the Siam Paragon, the basement of which also houses the largest aquarium in Asia, Siam Ocean World.

Chatuchak Market

For a more traditional Thai shopping experience, try one of Bangkok’s many markets, which include the weekend Chatuchak Market, which is packed with stalls selling jewellery, clothing and handicrafts, and the Suan Lum Night Market. If you take a trip outside of the city, you can also visit one of Thailand’s famous floating markets, such as the Taling Chan Market.