Bangkok is undeniably one of Southeast Asia’s most exuberant capital cities. The city centre is an enticing mix of old buildings, giant shopping malls and holy shrines, which take days to fully explore. Go in search of souvenirs in the Chatuchak Market, and visit the gleaming temples of Wat Arun and the Grand Palace’s Wat Phra Kaew, the latter regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.
After dark, Bangkok’s legendary nightlife kicks in. Take a walk down Khaosan Road, famous for its endless selection of busy bars, restaurants and street food vendors, all packed together beneath a jumble of blinking neon lights. Pad thai is the signature dish, but eats like mango sticky rice and ‘Gieow’ – a minced pork wonton wrapped in yellow dough – are also well worth trying.
Getting around in Bangkok is an attraction within itself, whether it’s balancing on the back seat of a tuk-tuk in Chinatown, or gliding among the floating markets on a long-tail boat. You can also travel by metro or on foot, and the airport is just over half an hour away by train or taxi.