Bangkok is a city I’ve grown to enjoy more and more each time I’ve visited. For first timers I recommend popular sites like Wat Arun, Wat Pho and The Reclining Buddha, Chatuchak Market and the Grand Palace. There’s definitely much more to experience but if you only have two or three days the basic sites are good to start with. I like to save the market for my last full day in Thailand to avoid lugging my shopping around for the entire trip.

Wat Arun

Wat Pho

Restaurants vary from local inexpensive street stalls to high end restaurants with modern and fine dining options. On my last trip I tried the following restaurants.

• Blue Elephant (Thai) $$$
• Nadimos (Lebanese) $$ – Great Falafel
• Sala Eatery and Bar $$ – Go for the view of Wat Arun
• Kor Panich (Go for the Mango Sticky Rice) $

Hotels I’ve stayed at.

• Anantara Riverside Bangkok $$: Nice massive luxury hotel, but a bit far from popular sites. They do offer a free 12 minute boat shuttle to Saphan Taksin skytrain station which is a good hub for getting around the rest of Bangkok.
• Millennium Hilton $$$: Standard modern hotel with river views and convenient for visiting Chatuchak Market and Wat Arun.
• Sala Rattanakosin $$: My hotel recommendation for first time visitors as it’s walking distance to Wat Pho, the Grand Palace and water taxis to Wat Arun. Rooms facing the river have a great view of Wat Arun. Email to ask for room 307 if you want to ensure a river view room . Only stay if you can get a room with the river view. Rooms without the view face an alley. Getting to the hotel from the street you walk through some small alleys and the neighborhood around the hotels doesn’t offer many shopping or restaurant options. It’s great for a short 2-3 day stay and overall it has more of a boutique hotel vibe with a rooftop bar to enjoy in the evening.

Room 307