Bangkok Travel Guide: The City That Never Sleeps

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Last Updated on September 25, 2026 by admin

So after a Koh Samui Trip which was very nice , we headed to Bangkok for some shopping and chilling before coming back to India . In the last couple of years this was my 2nd trip to BKK, you can read about my previous trip in my posts on Bangkok’s canals and orchid farm and Wat Arun, the Sky Bar at Lebua and Asiatique. Like Last time I had booked us in the Chatrium Riverside Hotel and the 2 bedroom river view suite there is something truly magnificent. You can read my detailed review of the hotel here.

Cafe Corgi in the Garden

The first which I want to mention in Bangkok is Cafe Corgi in the garden . My kids told me about this Cafe in Bangkok where you can play with very cute Corgi dogs the cafe has in a very neat, controlled and safe environments while having refreshments. The Corgis are extremely well cared for and I was frankly surprised to see that the people who run and manage the cafe prioritize the needs of the dogs first and the paying visitors second, which is how it always should be. There are fixed time slots for a limited number of people which are generally sold out in advance and each bath of visitors get nearly an hour with the Corgis in a friendly and pleasant environment along with choice of refreshments which are quite delicious too.

I would strongly recommend this place if you or anybody in your family is a dog lover . The best way to book is through there facebook page here and they respond quite promptly to messages . It is a fair distance – around 45-60 minutes from the city center so I would advise against simply turning up without reservation at the cafe thinking you will be able to spend some time with the Corgis. I think they have about 14-15 of them.

IconSiam Mall

One of the first stops after landing in Bangkok was the new Iconsiam Mall . The mall is unique in many ways , some of its highlights are:

Massive 7 storey Takashimaya store
Indoor Floating Market ( SookSiam )
Fancy Japanese Cuisine & Shopping
A very nice museum
A Glitzy Musical Fountain and cultural shows

Personally, I found the mall to be a bit over the top and not much to my liking, but that could be just because many of the high end Luxe stores there are way out of my league….:-) There appeared to be an Indian Restaurant Masala Art on the 6th floor but I didn’t try it…

The Grand Palace

I had not been to the Grand Palace on my previous visit and we decided to try it out one morning .

The Grand Palace is Bangkok’s most iconic landmark and a must-visit for anyone exploring the city. Built in 1782, it served as the official residence of Thai kings for 150 years and remains the spiritual heart of the Thai kingdom.

The sprawling complex covers over 200,000 square meters and features stunning traditional Thai architecture with intricate details, golden spires, and colorful mosaics. Within its walls, you’ll find several impressive buildings, including the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), which houses Thailand’s most sacred Buddha image carved from a single block of jade.

Visitors should dress modestly—covering shoulders, knees, and avoiding revealing clothing—as it’s still used for important royal ceremonies and religious events. The palace is located in the historic Rattanakosin Island area, near other major attractions like Wat Pho and the Chao Phraya River. Despite the crowds and strict dress code, the Grand Palace’s breathtaking beauty and historical significance make it an essential Bangkok experience that offers a glimpse into Thailand’s rich royal and religious heritage.

We had dinner outside at several restaurants, the best meal we had there would have to be at Sunrise Tacos at Terminal 21 ( a shopping mall ) I don’t dig Tacos so much but the amount of customization of type and quantity which was available there was amazing. Sarvana Bhawan at Si Lom had excellent dosas and north Indian food. We visited the highly rated Amritsar Restaurant but found the food to be underwhelming and spicy and the service very unattentive , maybe you will have better luck there.

Where to Stay in Bangkok: Five Places

Chao Phraya River winding past riverside hotels in Bangkok at dusk — Photo: Nik Cyclist / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Staying on the Chao Phraya River puts the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun a short boat ride away, while Sukhumvit and Siam are better for shopping and nightlife. Rates below are indicative starting points from published listings and booking sites.

Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok (upscale, where I stayed) — My go-to on both trips. The two-bedroom river-view suites are huge and perfect for families, and a free shuttle boat runs to Saphan Taksin BTS and Asiatique. Expect roughly ฿3,500–6,500 a night.
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok (luxury) — The grande dame of Bangkok hotels, on the river since 1876, with legendary service and afternoon tea in the Authors’ Lounge. Rates usually start from about ฿18,000–25,000 a night.
The Siam (luxury boutique) — An art-deco riverside retreat in the quiet old Dusit district, with pool villas and its own boat to the Grand Palace. Expect about ฿15,000+ a night.
Riva Surya Bangkok (boutique, mid-range) — A stylish small hotel on the river at Phra Arthit, walking distance from Khao San Road and a short boat ride from the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. Typically about ฿3,500–5,500 a night.
ibis Bangkok Riverside (budget) — Simple, clean rooms with river views and a pool on the Thonburi side, right by the Chatrium. Rates often run about ฿1,500–2,500 a night.

Where to Eat in Bangkok: Five Places

Neon signs on Yaowarat Road in Bangkok Chinatown at night — Photo: yeowatzup / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

The first two are places we loved on this trip; the rest are Bangkok classics worth the detour. Prices are rough per-person estimates.

Sunrise Tacos, Terminal 21 (Mexican) — The best meal we had on this trip. I don’t even dig tacos much, but the choice of fillings and portion sizes won me over. About ฿200–400 per person.
Saravana Bhavan, Silom (South Indian) — Excellent dosas and good North Indian dishes too, a comforting vegetarian meal when you need a break from Thai food. About ฿250–500 per person.
Jay Fai (Michelin-starred street food) — The famous goggle-wearing chef’s crab omelette and drunken noodles, cooked over charcoal. Expect long queues and about ฿1,000+ per dish; book ahead if you can.
Thipsamai Pad Thai — A Bangkok institution for pad thai wrapped in a thin egg omelette, plus its fresh orange juice. About ฿100–400 per person.
Yaowarat Road, Chinatown (street food) — After dark the whole street turns into a food market: seafood, dim sum, noodles and mango sticky rice. Graze for about ฿300–600 per person.

Five Best Places to See in Bangkok

Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, lit up at night across the Chao Phraya River — Photo: Mark Fischer / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

If it is your first time in Bangkok, these are the places I would put at the top of the list. Ticket prices are approximate.

The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew — Bangkok’s must-see, and home to the Emerald Buddha (see my visit above). Dress modestly. Entry is about ฿500.
Wat Pho — Next door to the Grand Palace, with the 46-metre Reclining Buddha and Thailand’s most famous traditional massage school. Entry is about ฿300.
Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn — The riverside temple covered in porcelain mosaics, best at sunset from across the river. Entry about ฿200. I wrote more about it in my Wat Arun, Sky Bar and Asiatique post.
Thonburi canals and an orchid farm — A longtail boat ride through the old khlongs to see stilt houses, a floating market and a working orchid farm. Private boats cost about ฿1,500–2,000 an hour. Read my full canals and orchid farm post.
Chatuchak Weekend Market — Over 10,000 stalls selling everything from clothes and ceramics to plants and street food, open Saturday and Sunday. Free to enter; go early before the heat.