The 7 Best Historical Sites in Bangkok, Thailand

Once a small village, now one of the most populous urban areas in the world, Bangkok, Thailand, has long been a top tourist destination. Beyond its striking food scene, over-the-top nightlife offerings, and buzzy night markets, Bangkok’s historical sites also offer an array of diverse experiences to inspire.

The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, also known as Wat Pho in Thai, is one of the largest temple complexes in Bangkok. It is home to over 1,000 Buddha statues, the country’s most extensive collection. The complex’s crown jewel is the 46-m-long gold-plated Buddha, which visitors can cycle through and feast their eyes on.

Wat Pho is Bangkok’s oldest temple complex; it is even older than the city itself, and historians believe that King Rama I first ordered the temple’s construction in the 1600s. At one point in the temple’s history, a French Star port occupied the southern section. However, after the 1688 Siege of Bangkok, the French were expelled from the city. The battle marked the beginning of a transition away from French military occupation in the city.

The famed reclining Buddha statue was built in the temple complex in 1832, during the reign of Thailand’s King Rama III. The giant statue signifies the Buddha’s entry into Nirvana and the end of all reincarnations. The temple also houses 108 bronze bowls representing the Buddha’s 108 auspicious traits. Visitors can donate coins in these bowls to bring themselves good luck. Today, the massive statue is one of Thailand’s most visited historical sites.

The temple complex was once one of Thailand’s earliest educational centers as the first public university. The site remains the educational headquarters for traditional Thai medicine and massage. Interested parties can take classes here to learn ancient techniques. The school also offers massage services to visitors for a fee.

Chinatown is one of Bangkok’s premier attractions. The main artery of this vibrant neighborhood is Yaowarat Road, which, by night, illuminates itself into a lively swarm of food, sweat, and surprises. Bangkok’s Chinatown is akin to stepping back in time, as the area has not changed much in the last 50 years. At one point, Bangkok’s entire Chinese population lived in this part of the city.

The Chinese first arrived in Thailand as traders in the 16th century. The area exists because, after the Grand Place was built in 1782, the Thai government ordered the Chinese to be expelled from the palace walls, which meant they had to settle in other areas of the city. And so Chinatown was born.

This city area has more than just excellent nightlife and food; it also has streets and alleyways lined with Art Deco architecture from the 1920s and 30s. The Art Deco stems from aggressive initiatives to modernize the city under the reigns of Rama V and Rama VI.

Chinatown also includes Bangkok’s oldest Cinema, Sala Chalermkrung. It opened in 1933 as a movie theater and is now the National Thai Traditional Dance Theatre.

3. The Grand Palace 

Right in the heart of lively Bangkok lies an expansive and impressive building complex (and tourist delight) known as the Grand Palace. Initially erected in 1782 when King Rama I decided to move the capital to this strategic location of the Chao Phraya River, the palace covers 218,000 square meters (over 2.3 million square feet) of real estate. Originally it was built to be not only a residence for the King but also the site for all administrative purposes of the Crown. Although it is no longer a residence for any royals, it is one of Thailand’s most popular tourist attractions.

The most noteworthy building in the complex is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Kaew. The Emerald Buddha, more likely made of jadeite than emerald, has long been a beloved icon. The first mention of the Emerald Buddha appears in a 15th-century text, and legend shows that it has long been a source of protection.

The Emerald Buddha found its final resting place at the Grand Palace due to King Rama’s military prowess. He captured the Emerald Buddha from Laos, giving it as a gift to the Thai ruler before him, King Taksin. After King Taksin’s dethronement, King Rama enshrined the Emerald Buddha at the Grand Palace.

This flourishing, frenzied market is one of the largest in the world and has been operating for over 70 years. Catering to over 200,000 tourists each weekend, the Chatuchak Weekend Market is a labyrinth of food, textiles, and artisan goods.

Also known as the JJ Market, the long-standing market was the brainchild of Thailand’s third prime minister, Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram. He believed local economies would find prosperity by creating flea markets and set his sights on Bangkok. The market opened as the city’s first in 1942 and changed locations several times throughout its history. The market found its final resting place in Chatuchak in 1982.

With over 15,000 stalls in 27 different zones, the market caters to every type of consumer. The stalls range from simple to high-end. It is best to get to the market early in the morning due to the heat and the fact that most vendors believe the first sale of the day is lucky, so they may be more willing to negotiate.

Speaking of bartering—it is common practice at the market, but keep in mind that prices are already low, and with the market’s vastness, it can sometimes be challenging to find stalls again if you’re not careful… Enjoy a famous coconut ice cream and bring your cash for ease; you will indeed find treasures.

5. Wat Arun 

Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan, or Wat Arun, is a magnificent Buddhist temple in Bangkok. It is on the other side of the river from the Grand Palace and once housed the famed Emerald Buddha. While not home to the most current iteration of the temple, the site has long housed a temple that dates from as early as the 17th century Ayutthaya Period.

Known as the “Temple of the Dawn,” it is a temple honoring the Hindu God of Dawn Aruna and is home to a beautiful prang. A prang is a common shrine element found in Hindu and Buddhist architecture. Akin to a spire, Wat Arun’s prang was built by King Rama II in the early 19th century. The prang is the highest in all of Bangkok at 82m (269 feet) and is covered in exquisite porcelain and glass. If you are lucky enough to be there at sunrise or sunset, the light reflects off these beautiful tiles to create a magical sparkle.

Something that makes a visit to this temple unique is that visitors are permitted to climb it. You can climb up to the middle level of the grand pagoda and take in a breathtaking view of the Chao Phraya River, the Grand Palace, and Wat Pho on the opposite side.

Erawan Shrine is one of Bangkok’s more unusual attractions. It is located outside a hotel and was originally built in 1956 to encourage good karma for its opening. This idea stems from the belief many Thais have that each piece of land houses a god or deity. The structure first appeared as a spirit house while the hotel was constructed.

The hotel’s construction had been subject to several problematic mishaps, so one of the contractors decided to pay a visit to an astrologer to fix the problem. After this visit, the shrine was built to appease the gods and to allow the hotel to open under more auspicious circumstances. The hotel still stands today as an outpost of the Hyatt brand, although it has since been renovated.

The shrine is now a popular place of worship for both Thais and foreign visitors. A golden statue of Phra Phrom, the Thai representation of Brahma, sits inside the shrine. The Hindu God of creation, Phra Phrom, beckons thousands of visitors to the shrine daily, seeking blessings. Often, the shrine is filled with local dance troupes hired by those whose quest for blessings has been answered.

The Phra Phrom statue is made from a combination of plaster, gold, bronze, and other metals, and it is often covered in ceremonial offerings such as garlands.

7. Phra Sumen Fort

The Phra Sumen Fort is located inside one of the capital’s oldest districts within the serene Santi Chai Prakan Park on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. It is a remnant of Bangkok’s watch towers and one of only two remaining of the original 14 set up to protect Rattanakosin, the old city. The fort is named after Mount Meru: a Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist cosmological fixture. In these three faiths, Mount Meru is considered the center of the universe.

King Rama I ordered the construction of the watchtowers in 1783 to protect the city from a river invasion, but the Phra Sumen Fort never saw usage during a battle. The fort, constructed of beautiful white stucco, is an interesting architectural landmark initially used to store ammunition and canons.

Thailand considers the fort a national monument and renovated it to its full glory in 1982, adding a museum to the top floor to celebrate Bangkok’s 200-year anniversary. The government completed further renovations in 1999.

A visit to the fort allows tourists a unique peek into Bangkok’s military and defensive past.