On Foot For A Day, Bangkok: Photojournal
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So, you only have one day in Bangkok before you head south to the beaches. Don’t fret! There is plenty to do to make you feel as though you have seen it all. All you’ll need is a little bit of cash, and your walking shoes!
On Foot For A Day: Itinerary
8am: Breakfast
If you are staying at a hotel/hostel that serves food, grab a quick bite to eat there. If not, start walking towards the Golden Mount and you are bound to find a delicious food stand. Try something… Try anything!
But before you set out, read this: Avoid wearing short sleeve shirts, skirts above the knees or shorts if you plan on visiting temples. This is a sign of disrespect to the Gods and you will be forced to rent or purchase appropriate clothing. If its too hot to wear them, bring a change of clothes in your bag.
9am – 10am: Wat Saket & Golden Mount
Between Th Wora Chak and Th Boriphat, Admission 10b, 8am – 5pm, bus 508, 511 Blong taxi to Tha Phan Fah
The Golden Mound is a small stupa that offers 360 degree views of Bangkok. If you can wake up any earlier, try being here by 8am to watch the sun rise over Bangkok.
11:30a – 1:30p: Lunch, Democracy Monument and Wat Arun
After all the heat, you are bound be hungry and in need of a cool place to sit. Head towards the Grand Palace and the bank of the Mae Nam Chao Phraya. Don’t forget to take a quick snapshot of Democracy Monument along the way. Democracy Monument was erected in 1932 to celebrate Thailand’s transformation from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one.
Head onwards towards Th Maharat, find a restaurant overlooking the water and grab yourself a Pad Thai (notice how much spicier it is then in the states, yum!), a beer Chang and gaze over at Wat Arun. If you have a bigger budget, try The Deck restaurant located on the water (Arun Residence, 36-38 Soi Pratu Nok Yung, Th Maharat, dishes 170 – 690bB, river ferry Tha Tien).
Wat Arun is a Khmer style tower situated on Th Arun Amarin (Admission 20b, 9am – 5pm, river ferry Tha Thai Wang). If you are pinched for time or planning (or returning) from a trip to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, you can afford to see this from a distance.
2:00pm – 3:30pm : Wat Phra Kaew & Grand Palace
Admission 350B; 8:30am – 3:30pm, bus 508, 512, river ferry Tha Chang
Wat Phra Kaew is the name of the compound that contains The Grand Palace, the former residence of the Thai Monarch. The main attraction here is a surprisingly small Emerald Buddha (66 cm). If you are starting your trip and/or you are not yet sick of all the monuments in Thailand, spend an hour here; I wish I had done it first, the architecture is phenomenal. Crowd Alert: This is the most popular tourist attraction in Bangkok.
4pm – 5pm: Wat Pho and Wat Pho Traditional Medical and Massage School
Wat Pho: Admission 5ob; Wat Phra Chetuphon, 8am – 5pm, bus 508, 512, river ferry Tha Tien/Wat Pho Traditional Medical and Massage School: Soi Pen Phat, 8am – 10pm
Wat Pho is home of the largest Reclining Buddha, and the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand. After you take a walk around this impressive golden statue depicting Buddha entering Nirvana, get a 30-minute massage at the national headquarters for the teaching and preservation of traditional Thai massage (220b for one hour massage). They have massage centers within the temple area!
5:30pm – 6:00pm: Amulet Market
On your way home, adjacent to Wat Mahathat and between Maharat Road and the river, you might be able to catch the last of the vendors selling Amulets on the sidewalk. Here you will find monks, collectors, and the like searching through an abundance of amulets to ward off, well… everything!
6:30pm – ?: Dinner, Drinks and Shopping on Khaosan Rd.
Last stop, Khaosan Rd. You have arrived in Backpacker heaven. Anything and everything that you are looking for can be found here: Thai fisherman pants, beer, sex, a boy/girlfriend, jewelery, hair braiding, drugs, cheap hotels and restaurants, and tourists galore. I would recommend some places to eat and drink but only because of the wonderful people (and thus memories) I made in them and not the meals I had. It would be wrong if I stole that experience from you and so, it is up to you to find your favorite spot (among many) on this wild ride. Enjoy!
Morgane Veronique Richardson, Writer/Editor
Source: Prices, hours of operation, address and monument facts taken from Lonely Planet Thailand Guide, 13th Ed.
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