The sights, the sounds, the sensations, even the smells are all part of the experience of eating in Bangkok. The Thai capital has many markets, temples, palaces, and world-class food and nightlife experiences.
The weather is perfect for exploring, but the crowds can look a lot like the start of Woodstock. It's easy to leave the hordes behind and connect with a calmer view of the Land of Smiles on a day trip from Bangkok.
When the streets, traffic fumes and pushy tuk-tuk drivers start to close in, just venture out beyond the city limits to historic towns, ancient ruins and even golden beaches. The best day trips from Thailand are listed here.
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It feels like stepping into rural Thailand instead of the chaotic city of Bangkok. A floating weekend market, a scattering of 250-year-old temples and an eco-resort are some of the things to see and do in this peaceful district.
Largely covered by farmland, this island is filled with mangrove forests, small homesteads, and elevated pathways perched above winding canals. It's popular with cyclists, who zip past the houses shaded by clusters of palm trees, but it's worth coming on foot to properly explore what remains of the hamlets now absorbed by the city.
Si Nakhon Kheun Khan is a public park with bike trails and a bird lookout where you can spot many striking Thai bird species.
There is a five-minute river crossing from Wat Klongtoey Pier in the southeast of the city to Bang Krachao. The pier can be rented for 80B a day.
It takes one hour to travel.
The Mon people from Thailand ruled central Thailand from the 6th to the 10th century. The backwater of the island is mostly untouched by modern developments. Only bikes and motorcycles are allowed on its one road, which is a place to escape the crowds and cars of the Thai capital.
If you want to buy ceramics directly from local artisans, you can visit the workshops and see how they are made. The best way to explore is to rent a bike or moto-taxi. There is a marble Buddha statue and a museum at Wat Poramai Yikawat.
At weekends, a busy morning market full of vendors selling Mon dishes and Thai desserts attracts both locals and travelers. It will open at 9am for the best selection of dishes.
There is a way to get to Ko Kret. You can get to Wat Sanam Neua by taking a taxi or bus 166 from the Victory Monument. A longtail river taxi can be rented from Nonthaburi. The journey from central pier to nonthaburi pier takes 40 minutes.
It takes one hour to travel.
The official seat of the kingdom of Siam before it became Thailand's capital was Ayutaya. The ancient city was founded in 1350 and had hundreds of temples and palaces. Most were destroyed when the invaders arrived.
Cambodia's Angkor Wat is considered to be the best place to visit for sightseeing money. The spires at Wat Ratchaburana are the same height as they were in the 15th century. Ancient Thai pottery was once housed in the temple's crypts and is now in the national museum.
The best way to see the temples is by bike. Rental wheels are available for pick up at the train station. Alternatively, take a tuk-tuk for a quick ride around the site.
One hour away by car or shared minivan from the Victory Monument is the northern city of Ayutaya. The journey from the ruins to the station takes about 2.5 miles.
It takes 2 hours to travel.
The popularity of Kanchanaburi is due to its dark past. The town is the location of the Death Railway Bridge, which was built by Allied prisoners during WWII and was the subject of a movie starring Alec Guinness.
The town has a number of fascinating war museums, including the JEATH War Museum, which has an unexploded bomb. There are somber cemeteries that give a human face to the events that took place here.
There is more to Kanchanaburi than is known. The surrounding countryside has a lot of low-key outdoor activities to offer. Admire the handsome buildings along the town's Heritage Walking Street and then take a tour of the ancient temples such as Wat Ban Tham, which has an entrance that looks like a dragon's mouth. You can take a bamboo raft down the river or swim in the waterfall in Erawan National Park.
It is possible to get to Kanchanaburi by car. It's easy to get to Kanchanaburi by train, but it takes three hours to get there. minivans leave from Victory Monument on average every 30 minutes.
It takes 2 hours to travel.
Do you think the beach resort of Pattaya is worth a visit? It depends on who you are talking to. For some, it's just a beach resort that's convenient for the capital and has attractions for all ages, including two water parks and a zipline course.
Since off-duty American GIs first started coming here in the 1960s, the sex industry has fueled the popularity of the area. Beer bars, go-go clubs and massage parlors are easy to spot.
To the north and south of the city, there is a couple of decent strips of beach for those who want to get away from it all. There is a good selection of bars and nightclubs for night owls.
It is possible to get to Pattaya by road. 12Go Transport runs direct buses and minibuses to Pattaya from Makkasan Station on New Petchaburi Road in Bangkok.
It takes 4–5 hours to travel.
The original beach resort in Thailand is all the better for it. Instead, you can find a mix of city and sea with lively markets, good golf courses and water parks. Many visitors never walk on the sand.
The former fishing village became a resort town for the nobility of Thailand in the 1920's. The resort was built by the kings of the summer palaces, but it still attracts people from all over the world.
Most day-trippers decided to stay at the resort for at least one night. There are a lot of guesthouses in the area that cater to princes and the poor. The town's restaurants offer a lot of low-priced seafood.
The beaches don't compare to Thailand's southern islands, and are a bit too shallow for swimming, but they are the capital of kiteboarding in Thailand. Kiteboarding Asia is one outfit that offers lessons.
It takes just under three hours to get here by car or public transportation. Around four hours is the time it takes for direct trains to connect the two train stations.
The article was first published about a year ago.
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