Bangkok: River Rides, Shopping and Cafes
Mix Bangkok’s temples with high quality shopping and flavorsome dining, and you’ll end up with one amazing holiday destination. Filling up your day out in Thailand’s capital city shouldn’t be any problem at all, so here’s what I’d do.
Breakfast
Na Phra Lan Cafe
If you are heading to Grand Palace, the best place to eat authentic , yet affordable Thai cuisine is the restaurant just in front of the palace entrance, Na Phra Lan Café. It has a nice ambiance and great Thai dishes, especially the iconic noodle dishes Pad Thai and sticky mango rice with coconut. The place is a popular hangout of students at night. From here, you can watch people go to the Grand Palace.
Morning Activity
Chao Phraya River
For the first timer, a temple tour along Chao Phraya River is a must when you visit Bangkok. Going to temples like Grand Palace, Reclining Buddha and Wat Arun along the Chao Phraya River is very easy through the BTS train going to Saphan Taksin station, then take the express boat with orange flag to pier 8.
If you want temples, check out the largest Buddhist temple in Jogja.
Start temple hopping with the Reclining Buddha then follow it up with a visit to the Grand Palace, which is located just across the temple of the Reclining Buddha. You have to walk 15 minutes to get to the entrance of the palace because the Buddha is at the back of the Grand Palace. Inside the palace you will see the Emerald Buddha and the former home of the royal family of Thailand. Just across the river, you can visit the Wat Arun and you can go to the top of the temple. Remember to wear long trousers if you go temple hopping.
Afternoon Activity
Chatuchak Market
If shopping is the reason you want to visit Bangkok, you made the right choice because it’s the mecca for bargain goods. Chatuchak or JJ Market is the best place to shop and eat. You can find apparels to home decorations, refreshments to exotic dishes and unique souvenir items.
If going to JJ market, take the BTS train to Mo Chit station, then at the left side is the famous market. If you want a full blast shopping experience, visit Chatuchak market during weekends because only few shops are open on weekdays. If you don’t like open air bargain hunting, MBS and Platinum malls are the perfect spot because the whole building of the malls are equipped with full blast air conditioning. You can have your lunch in Chatuchak market, try many variations of the spicy mango salad.
Dinner
Greyhound Café
Greyhound Café is the perfect restaurant to have dinner. It has the coolest ambiance in Bangkok and offer great food with fusion from different parts of the globe.
Try their Pad Thai for main entrée then for dessert, nothing can go wrong with Banana and Nutella Cheesecake. For beverage, choose any drinks in their Healthy Cocktail Menu. My favorite is Passion Fashion. There are several branches of Greyhound Café, but the best spot is in Siam Center near the Siam BTS station.
