Insight Guides Explore Bangkok (Travel Guide eBook)

By Insight Guides

Insight Guides Explore Bangkok

Travel made easy. Ask local experts.
Focused travel guide featuring the very best routes and itineraries.

Discover the best of Bangkok with this unique travel guide, packed full of insider information and stunning images. From making sure you don't miss out on must-see, top attractions like the Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha and Wat Arun Ratchavararam, to discovering cultural gems, including the towering spires and stupas at Wat Pho, the blissful waterfall at Erawan National Park or the sky high flavours in Silom, the easy-to-follow, ready-made walking routes will save you time, and help you plan and enhance your visit to Thailand.

Features of this travel guide to Bangkok:
- 18 walks and tours: detailed itineraries feature all the best places to visit, including where to eat and drink along the way
- Local highlights: discover the area's top attractions and unique sights, and be inspired by stunning imagery
- Historical and cultural insights: immerse yourself in Thailand's rich history and culture, and learn all about its people, art and traditions
- Insider recommendations: discover the best hotels, restaurants and nightlife using our comprehensive listings
- Practical full-colour maps: with every major sight and listing highlighted, the full-colour maps make on-the-ground navigation easy
- Key tips and essential information: packed full of important travel information, from transport and tipping to etiquette and hours of operation
- Covers: Rattanakosin; Wat Arun and Wat Pho; Thonburi; The Old City; Dusit; Chinatown; Pathumwan; Silom; Banglamphu; Chatuchak; Nonthaburi and Ko Kret; West of Bangkok; Kanchanaburi; Samut Prakan; Ayutthaya; Phetchaburi; Hua Hin; Pattaya

Looking for a comprehensive guide to Thailand? Check out Insight Guides Thailand for a detailed and entertaining look at all the country has to offer.

About Insight Guides: Insight Guides is a pioneer of full-colour guide books, with almost 50 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides with user-friendly, modern design. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps as well as phrase books, picture-packed eBooks and apps to meet different travellers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Insight Guides
• Release date: Jan 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781839052187

Insight Guides

Pictorial travel guide to Arizona & the Grand Canyon with a free eBook provides all you need for every step of your journey. With in-depth features on culture and history, stunning colour photography and handy maps, it’s perfect for inspiration and finding out when to go to Arizona & the Grand Canyon and what to see in Arizona & the Grand Canyon. 

Book preview

How To Use This E-Book

This Explore Guide has been produced by the editors of Insight Guides, whose books have set the standard for visual travel guides since 1970. With ­top-­quality photography and authoritative recommendations, these guidebooks bring you the very best routes and itineraries in the world’s most exciting destinations.

Best Routes

The routes in this book provide something to suit all budgets, tastes and trip lengths. As well as covering the destination’s many classic attractions, the itineraries track lesser-known sights, and there are also ex­cursions for those who want to extend their visit outside the city. The routes embrace a range of interests, so whether you are an art fan, a gourmet, a history buff or have kids to entertain, you will find an option to suit.

We recommend reading the whole of a route before setting out. This should help you to familiarise yourself with it and enable you to plan where to stop for refreshments – options are shown in the ‘Food and Drink’ box at the end of each tour.

Introduction

The routes are set in context by this introductory section, giving an overview of the destination to set the scene, plus background information on food and drink, shopping and more, while a succinct history timeline highlights the key events over the centuries.

Directory

Also supporting the routes is a Directory chapter, with a clearly organised A–Z of practical information, our pick of where to stay while you are there and select restaurant listings; these eateries complement the more low-key cafés and restaurants that feature within the routes and are intended to offer a wider choice for evening dining. Also included here are some nightlife listings, plus a handy language guide and our recommendations for books and films about the destination.

Getting around the e-book

In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.

Maps

All key attractions and sights mentioned in the text are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map] just tap this to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.

Images

You’ll find lots of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of the destination. Simply double-tap on an image to see it full-screen.

© 2019 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd

Table of Contents

Recommended Routes For...

Architecture

Children

Escaping the crowds

Culinary delights

Hands-on culture

History fans

Night owls

Outdoor enthusiasts

Explore Bangkok

City of angels

City layout

Navigating the city

Exploring on foot

Faith and beliefs

The monarchy

Power plays

Bangkok’s people

In the name of fun

Food and Drink

Regional cuisines

Northern cuisine

Northeastern cuisine

Southern cuisine

Central cuisine

Common dishes

Kaeng

Fish

Meat

Noodles and rice

Foreign influences

Fusion food

International cuisine

Thai-Chinese

Desserts

Refreshments

Shopping

Traditional products

Lacquerware

Ceramics

Antiques

Gems and jewellery

Where to shop

Malls

Markets

Nightlife

Nightlife zones

Venues

Nightclubs

Live-music venues

Bars

Gay scene

Katoey cabaret

Dance drama

Night-time sports

History: Key Dates

Early history

Growth of Siam

Modern Thailand

21st-century Thailand

Rattanakosin

Tha Chang

Grand Palace complex

Coins and decorations

Wat Phra Kaew

Emerald Buddha

Grand Palace

Grand Palace Hall

Dusit Maha Prasat

Wat Phra Kaew Museum

Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles

Lak Muang

City Pillar compound

Sanam Luang

National Museum

Buddhaisawan Chapel

Amulet Market

Wat Mahathat

Wat Arun & Wat Pho

Wat Arun

The temple today

Wat Pho

Reclining Buddha

Thai massage

Museum of Siam

Chinese shophouses

River attractions

Around Tha Oriental

Oriental Hotel

Thonburi

Royal Barge Museum

Ban Bu Village

Wat Suwannaram

Wat Sisudaram

Siriraj Hospital

Siriraj Market

The Old City

Wat Ratchanatda

Wat Saket and Golden Mount

Monk’s Bowl Village

Thanon Bamrung Muang

Giant Swing

Wat Suthat

Wat Ratchabophit

Flower Market

Phra Buddha Yodfa Monument

Dusit

Wat Benjamabophit

King Chulalongkorn Monument

Throne Hall

Parliament

Dusit Park

Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall

Royal Paraphernalia Museum

Chinatown

Wat Traimit

Thanon Yaowarat

Wat Tian Fah

Commercial hub

Thanon Phlapphlachai

Trok Itsaranuphap

Wat Mangkon Kamalawat

Leng Buai Ia

Sampeng Lane

Tang Toh Kang

Wat Chakrawat

Temple resident

Back on Sampeng

Pahurat Market

Pathumwan

Lumphini Park

Outdoor retreat

Erawan Shrine

Shopping Street

Central World

Siam Paragon

Siam Ocean World

Siam Square

Mah Boon Krong

Bangkok Art and Culture Centre

Jim Thompson House Museum

Ban Krua

Silom

The Dome

Sirocco and the Sky Bar

Maha Uma Devi Temple

Patpong

Patpong night market

Silom nightlife

Little Tokyo

Banglamphu

King Prajadhipok Museum

Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall

Democracy Monument

Wat Bowoniwet

Phra Sumen Fort

Santichaiprakarn Park

Towards Wat Chana Songkhram

Wat Chana Songkhram

Khao San Road

Chatuchak

Ceramics, puppets and essential oils

Bags, blouses and beads

Opium weights and massage

Pop T-shirts and revolution

Cowboys and fashion

Thai Boxing

Nonthaburi and Ko Kret

Wat Chaloem Phra Kiet

Lunch

Ko Kret

Wat Poramaiyikawat

Food stalls

Pottery Village Number One

West of Bangkok

Sampran Riverside

Nakhon Pathom

Phra Pathom Chedi

Chedi Museum

Overnight stop

Floating market

Exploring the market

Rama II Memorial Park

Benjarong workshop

Don Hoi Lot

Kanchanaburi

Bridge on the River Kwai

World War II Museum

Lunch stop

JEATH War Museum

Railway Centre

War cemetery

Blue sapphires

Optional second day

Erawan National Park

Samut Prakan

Erawan Museum

The Ancient City

Ayutthaya

Bang Pa-In

Shrines and pavilions

Garden of Secured Land

Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya Historical Study Centre

Viharn Phra Mongkhon Bophit

Wat Phra Sri Sanphet

Grand Palace

Wat Phra Ram

Khun Paen’s House

Wat Phra Mahathat

Wat Ratchaburana

Back to Bangkok

Phetchaburi

Local temples

Day Market

King’s retreat

Hua Hin

Railway Station

Khao Takiab

Colonial hotels

Shopping

Pattaya

The Sanctuary of Truth

Nong Nooch

Tiffany’s Cabaret

Beach Road

Accommodation

Rattanakosin

Thonburi

Old City and Dusit

Chinatown

Pathumwan

Sukhumvit

Silom and Bangrak

West of Bangkok

Kanchanaburi

Ayutthaya

Phetchaburi

Hua Hin

Pattaya

Restaurants

Dusit

Chinatown

Pathumwan

Sukhumvit

Silom and Sathorn

Banglamphu

Kanchanaburi

Hua Hin

Nightlife

Music, theatre and cabaret

Bars and pubs

A-Z

A

Addresses

B

Budgeting

Business hours

C

Children

Eating out

Accommodation

Climate

Clothing

Crime and safety

Customs

E

Electricity

Embassies

Emergencies

Etiquette

H

Health

I

Internet

L

Language

LGBTQ+ travellers

Lost property

M

Maps

Media

Money

P

Photography

Postal services

Public holidays and festivals

R

Religion

T

Telephones

Time difference

Tourist information

Overseas offices

Transport

Getting there

Getting around

Travellers with disabilities

V

Visas and passports

W

Websites

Language

The five tones

General

Numbers

Getting around

Online

Social media

Books and Film

Books

Art and culture

Fiction

Food

General

History and society

Film

Recommended Routes For...

Architecture

Explore Dusit’s Thai-Euro grandeur (route 5), the splendour of royal Rattanakosin (route 1), towering spires and stupas at Wat Arun and Wat Pho (route 2) or faded colonial designs at Tha Oriental (route 2).

iStock

Children

Kids will love the tropical fish at Sea Life Bangkok (route 7) and taking an express boat ride up the Chao Phraya River (route 11).

Shutterstock

Escaping the crowds

Tap in to Ko Kret’s rural pace of life (route 11), see the waterfall at Erawan National Park (route 13) or explore the quiet canals of Thonburi (route 3).

Apa Publications

Culinary delights

Catch the heady aromas of Chinatown’s steaming food stalls (route 6), savour seafood by the seaside at Hua Hin and Pattaya (route 17 and route 18), or hunt out sky high flavours in Silom (route 8).

Peter Stuckings/Apa Publications

Hands-on culture

Watch Thai boxing at Channel 7 Boxing Stadium (route 10), or learn the techniques from the masters at Sor Vorapin gym (route 7), then heal your aches with a Thai massage course at Wat Pho (route 2).

Peter Stuckings/Apa Publications

History fans

Marvel at the Chakri legacy of Rattanakosin (route 1), the ancient capital Ayutthaya (route 15), Old City temples (route 4) and the eternal bustle of Chinatown (route 6).

Apa Publications

Night owls

Drink beers at backpacker bars in Banglamphu (route 9), go go-go mad in Patpong (route 8) or Pattaya (route 18), or shop until late in Patpong Night Market (route 8).

iStock

Outdoor enthusiasts

Trek in the jungle near Kanchanaburi (route 13) or cycle around compact Ko Kret (route 11).

Apa Publications

Explore Bangkok

Cosmopolitan Bangkok blends evocative street markets with glitzy modern malls, Buddhist philosophy with animism, and traditional reserve with lashings of sanuk (fun). The result is an effervescent milieu that draws visitors by the million.

With an area of 1,565 sq km (604 sq miles), Bangkok is over 30 times larger than any other city in Thailand and has a population of about 6 million (10–12 million in the greater metropolitan area). Although it is increasingly globalised and has readily adopted Western, Chinese and Japanese influences, the city remains steeped in its own fabulously rich culture and beliefs.

Bangkok’s skyline

iStock

City of angels

Until the mid-18th century Bangkok was a duty port for tall ships bearing the world’s cargoes, bound for the capital, Ayutthaya, 76km (48 miles) up-river. At the time it was a small but growing community called Bang Makok (Village of Wild Plums), although even by the 16th century it was already designated a town rather than a mere village. After the destruction of Ayutthaya, following a siege by the Burmese in 1767, the new king, Taksin, chose Thonburi, on the opposite river bank to Bang Makok, as his new capital.

Taksin was overthrown in 1782, and his successor King Rama I moved the capital across the river, digging canals to form the artificial island, Ko Rattanakosin, which he planned in the image of Ayutthaya. After building the stunning Grand Palace, he chose an equally stunning name for his new city – Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Nopphosin Ratchathaniburirom Udomrathaniwetmahasa Amonphiman Awatansathit Sakkathatiya Witsanukamprasit, or ‘City of Angels, Great City of Immortals, Magnificent City of the Nine Gems, Seat of the King, City of Royal Palaces, Home of the Gods Incarnate, Erected by Visvakarman at Indra’s Behest’. It is the longest place name in the world. Thais call it Krung Thep (City of Angels), for short, while foreigners stick close to the original settlement’s centuries-old name.

City layout

The low-lying capital grew slowly; it was a city of canals and elephant paths, with communities dwelling outside the old walls of Rattanakosin in Phra Nakorn (the Old City) and along the river in Chinatown and Dusit. Rapid 20th-century expansion – particularly from the economic boom in the 1980s – has resulted in a population 10 times bigger than that during World War II; today, one in every six Thais lives here. Modern Bangkok has no definitive city centre, with major business and shopping areas now occupying Pathumwan, Silom and Sukhumvit. Across the river, in parts of Thonburi, canals thread past temples and wooden houses for a glimpse of earlier times.

What’s a wat?

You will see wats, or Buddhist temples, everywhere in Bangkok. Other common architectural terms include: bot – the ordination hall of a temple, where religious rites are held; viharn – a replica of the bot that is used to keep Buddha images; prang – an ellipse-shaped stupa based on the corner tower of a Khmer temple and also housing images of the Buddha; and chedi (stupa) – the most venerated structure, a bell-like dome that originally enshrined relics of the Buddha, later of holy men and kings.

Bangkok floating market

Shutterstock

Navigating the city

Bangkok has major daytime traffic problems, one reason being that many roads are built over old canals, so they are often narrow. A network of expressways alleviates some of the city’s major daytime problems, it is better when possible to travel by either the overhead Skytrain or the underground MRT systems, both of which are being extended.

That said, air-conditioned taxis are comfortable, metered and inexpensive by international standards. Tuk tuks are fun, but rarely cheaper than taxis, and motorcycle taxis are quick, but nerve wracking, and you are exposed to traffic fumes. Buses cost just a few baht but have little English signage (tourism booths have bus maps). A pleasant and airy alternative is to travel by river, either by express boat to major piers or by longtail boat along the canals.

Exploring on foot

Walking is an adventure. The colourful streets give a peek into everyday life as you pick your way through vendors selling all manner of goods from stalls, wheeled carts and blankets on the ground. The going is easier in the older parts of the city, but you will still be walking in the heat. Make use of the many convenience stores and itinerant traders to buy water or fruit; the latter is ready-cut in a bag with a cocktail stick so it is easy to eat on the move. And take your time: there is a good reason why the local people walk so slowly.

Four routes in this book – Rattanakosin, The Old City, Wat Arun and Wat Pho, and Banglamphu – are in and around the original walled city. The edges of some routes are close to the edges of others, so it is easy to mix and match the attractions.

Wat Pho temple

Apa Publication

Faith and beliefs

The postcard images of Buddhist monks in saffron robes may be clichéd, but they accurately reflect the importance of religion in the country. Around 95 percent of the nation subscribes to Theravada Buddhism, and there are signs of its significance everywhere, from the white bar on the national flag to Buddha images in the workplace and monks collecting alms in the street. Most men will spend at least a few days in a monastery, often following a family death, and even the monarch is required to have been ordained at some time in his life.

But Thailand, historically located on trade routes between larger powers, has always been populated by crossroads communities. As such, the

Reviews for Insight Guides Explore Bangkok (Travel Guide eBook)

[thatsfresh_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I bought this, not knowing when I’d be going to Tokyo, but found out I would be going there sooner than I thought. Less that a year after buying this book I found myself in Tokyo for a 4 hour layover. I hadn’t bookmarked anything in this book, and had barely read it, but I had broughtit along with me so when I landed in Japan, I’d know what to do. Thanks to this book I was able to go through the very difficult task of taking all the trains into the city from Narita Airport and rushing to Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku. It was stressful and confusing, but I managed it, and am so happy I did. It totally worth the effort (not to mention money). If this book can guide me in a rush through Japan, then I’m sure it can do its job wonderfully if you actually read the whole book! And the maps Insight Guide includes with numbers, matching with sites being described is so helpful. It also includes a small fold out map (not entirely helpful) with a bunch of restaurants pinpointed on it. Defiantly a necessity for all planning on going to Tokyo.