If you are planning to spend a few days in Bangkok after your Phuket holiday, there isn’t enough time to see the entire city, which would take a few months, but you can plan a fun-packed schedule. The Internet hosts a wealth of information about local Bangkok attractions and to save you the time, we put together a list of must-see places that you should include in your itinerary.
- Sky Bar – Located on the top of the State Tower, this cool rooftop bar overlooks Silom Road and is one of the best spots for a panoramic view of the city lights. The bar opens at 4pm until 1am and they play some great live jazz music (short trousers are not permitted); enjoy your favourite cocktail and take a few selfies to upload to your Instagram page. There is a great restaurant on the 64th floor with a varied menu of Thai and international cuisine.
- Daytime tour of Pratunam clothing stores – If you love shopping for clothes, book a hotel in Pratunam, Bangkok and you are right on top of the best clothing and fabric stores. You’ll have great fun exploring the many boutiques and fabric stores when you can buy good quality Thai silk. If you are into IT devices and gadgets, check out Panthip Plaza, a huge mall with hundreds of independent vendors.
- Chatuchak Weekend Market – This is the biggest open market in Bangkok and the perfect place to buy all your gift souvenirs. We recommend spending your last weekend wandering the many aisles of this market; obtain a free map at the entrance and do keep your valuables in a safe place, as there are known to be pickpockets working here. So large is this market, you couldn’t see it all in a single day and there is an air-conditioned section if the heat is too much. You can even have teak Thai furniture sent by container to your home; the seller handles all the documentation and the price is all-inclusive.
- Jim Thompson’s house – Jim Thompson was the man responsible for reviving the Thai silk industry and he vanished while on a jungle expedition in the 1950s. You can see how Thai silk is made and buy some amazing garments and pieces of Thai silk. Enjoy a huge collection of Siam antiques and art items, which are adorned around the large property. There are English-speaking guides who take you on a tour of the house and the start every hour, which is a really interesting experience.
- Muay Thai, Lumphini Stadium – If you are into boxing or MMA, make sure you visit Lumphini Stadium to watch an evening of Muay Thai. The atmosphere is amazing and you can book tickets online and get ready for a unique experience.
One thing is for sure, if this is your first visit to Thailand, it certainly won’t be the last!