The dazzling, spectacular Grand Palace is undoubtedly the most famous landmark in Bangkok. It's one must-see sight that no visit to the city would be complete without. It was built in 1782 and for 150 years was the home of the Thai King, the Royal court and the administrative seat of government. The Grand Palace of Bangkok is a grand old dame indeed, that continues to have visitors in awe with its beautiful architecture and intricate detail, all of which is a proud salute to the creativity and craftsmanship of the Thai people. Within its walls were also the Thai war ministry, state departments, and even the mint. Today, the complex remains the spiritual heart of the Thai Kingdom. A strict dress code applies. The Grand Palace, with the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is Thailand's most sacred site. Visitors must be properly dressed before being allowed entry to the temple. If you show up at the front gate improperly dressed, there is a booth near the entrance that can provide clothes to cover you up properly (a deposit is required). I suggest you to go there very early at the opening (8:30AM) because usually the hordes of chinese tourists arrive around 9-10AM, so you will have a good hour with few people around to take photos. It will take you between 1 to 2 hours to visit the whole complex, but there are many interesting other temples and places to visit around Old Town (Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Wat Ratchabophit, Wat Si Saket, Loha Prasat and the khlongs for example). You can easily spend the whole day walking around Old Town, one of my favorite thing to do in Bangkok.

Wat Pho (the Temple of the Reclining Buddha), or Wat Phra Chetuphon, is right behind the Temple of the Emerald Buddha- it's a must-see for any first-time visitor to Bangkok. As one of the largest temple complexes in the city, it's famed for its giant reclining Buddha that is 46 metres long, covered in gold leaf. It's an easy 10-minute walk between here and the Grand Palace, and we recommend coming to Wat Pho second because even though the golden Buddha here is just as popular, many people don't take the time to wander around the rest of the complex, making for a more relaxing experience. Wat Pho is also a great place to get a traditional Thai massage. It's often considered the leading school of massage in Thailand, so you really are in good hands here. It's really worth taking a look around the rest of the temple. Wat Pho was the first public university in Thailand, specialising in religion, science and literature. It is now more well-known as a centre for traditional massage and medicine. After a walk around the temple, there's nothing quite like a relaxing foot or head and shoulder massage. If you've never tried a traditional Thai massage, Wat Pho is a good place to experience it. It's quite different from most other forms of therapeutic massage and tends to be invigorating rather than relaxing, incorporating yoga style postures to relieve stress and improve blood circulation (480 THB / 1h).

Wat Ratchabophit is a cool Buddhist temple in Bangkok that was built during King Chulalongkorn's reign. It's got a funky layout with a circular courtyard connecting the wiharn and ubosot, and a shiny golden chedi at the center. The interior is inspired by Italian architecture, and there's even a Royal Cemetery on the grounds with memorials to members of the Thai Royal Family. Plus, there's a Christian church and lots of chedis and towers to check out. Overall, it's a pretty rad spot to explore in the bustling city!

Hidden Bangkok Tours offers a unique and immersive experience for travelers looking to explore the hidden gems of Bangkok. With their Hidden Bangkok Boat, you can cruise along the majestic Chao Praya River and navigate through the city's century-old canals, taking you back in time to the 1940s. The tours are limited to a maximum of 8-10 people, ensuring an intimate and personalized experience. They provide all the essentials like drinking water, ice, cooler, cups, tissue, raincoat, Bluetooth speaker, and even travel insurance. You can bring your own drinks and food, play your own music, and truly make it your own adventure. Whether you choose the 2-hour or 1-hour route, you'll get to see iconic landmarks like Wat Arun, the Royal Barge, Grand Palace, and more. Plus, they offer an English-speaking tour guide for an additional fee. So hop on board and discover the hidden side of Bangkok with Hidden Bangkok Tours!

Wat Paknam Phasi Charon is a roval temple located in the Phasi Charon district, on the banks of several Bangkok canals. Mostly known to Thais, ti has become a little more popular with foreign tourists since the construction in 2012 of a big stupa with a superb vault on the top floor. In 2017, began the construction of a large 64-meter tall Buddha image in front of the stupa. It will be the tallest Buddha image in Bangkok and should be completed in the middle of 2020. In term of photography, there are so many good ways to enjoy this temple, you should definitely walk around and visit thevisit the canals to have many good views of the giant buddha. Another good vantage point would be directly from a boat. For this the best way is to jump on a water taxi. Of course you should visit inside the temple too to see the green pagoda which is very impressive.

Wat Arun, locally known as Wat Chaeng, is a landmark temple on the west (Thonburi) bank of the Chao Phraya river. It's easily one of the most stunning temples in Bangkok, not only because of its riverside location but also because the design is very different from the other temples you can visit in the Thai capital. Wat Arun (nicknamed the 'Temple of Dawn') is partly made up of colourfully decorated spires and stands majestically over the water. Wat Arun is almost directly opposite Wat Pho, so it's very easy to get to. From Saphan Takin boat pier you can take a riverboat that stops at Pier 8. From here, a small shuttle boat takes you from one side of the river to the other. I'd recommend spending at least an hour visiting the temple. Although it's known as the Temple of the Dawn, it's absolutely stunning at sunset, particularly when lit up at night. Even so, the quietest time to visit is early morning, before the crowds.

Rongros, located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, is a cozy spot serving up traditional Thai cuisine with a modern twist. With a stunning view of Wat Arun, this "House of Flavours" offers dishes like green curry with rib eye beef and tangy glass noodle salad. The vintage décor adds to the charm, making it a perfect spot for a romantic dinner at sunset. Just remember to book ahead because it's a popular spot for tourists!

The sights, sounds and smells of Bangkok's Chinatown are an assault to the senses, so you should come prepared. For anyone with a sense of adventure, a day lost among the many market alleys and street food vendors can be the most memorable of any spent in Bangkok. Thanks to the mix of Chinese and Thai cultures, this part of town is unique and fascinating, especially for photographers who'll find stunning temples, exotic street food and everyday street scenes just begging to be captured. It can be daunting to enter this bustling area without a plan, so check out my pick of the best things to do in Chinatown so you can make the most of your day. At night, Yaowarat Road - the high street of Bangkok's Chinatown - transforms into one of the largest street food spots in the world. Popular offerings include dim sum, oyster omelettes, flat noodles in a pepper broth, and lots of fresh seafood. There are also many exotic fruits on offer, as well as homemade ice cream (coconut, durian). Traffic is very congested in this area, so I recommend taking the MRT to Wat Mangkon MRT Station and walk for about 5 minutes to Yaowarat Road, passing by China Gate and the car park top floor at the Odeon building, you might need to pay 200 THB to the security guard if he sees you enter.

Tourists flock into Wat Traimit to see the largest gold Buddha in the world (5.5-tonnes). The revered statue, seated on an altar and surrounded by traditional Thai golden arches, is breathtaking and is a regular pilgrimage for Buddhists and inquisitive tourists. The Buddhist temple is a great stop on your way to or from the Hua Lampong MRT Station. The view from the top of Wat Traimit offers a sight of the ornate Chinatown Gate nearby and receives a refreshing breeze, which blows through the open doors of the temple, meaning you can enjoy marvelling at the dimensions of the Buddha statue without perspiring from the heat.

The Kuan Yim shrine is located at the Thian Fa Foundation o n Yaowarat Road in Bangkok's Chinatown. It is one of the most popular shrines in the area being particularly busy on Chinese holidays. Locals come to make offerings and pray for blessings such as fertility, success, health, and happiness. This is not the biggest chinese temple in Chinatown, but for me this one is more photogenic, and it's situated right between China Gate and the main area in Yaowarat road, so very easy to stop by.