Hugging the banks of the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok City Centre lies at the heart of the Thai capital. It’s home to the elaborate Grand Palace complex and many of the city’s most important temples, as well as leafy parks with royal roots.
Things to do in Bangkok City Centre
In the heart of Bangkok City Centre is the Grand Palace, which has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam since Rama I. It comprises several impressive buildings that include the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, home to a revered statue that dates from the 14th century. Step inside the European-style Grand Palace Hall and explore the on-site museum, which houses Buddha images and scale models of the complex.
Located just south of the Grand Palace is Wat Pho, which is famed for its giant reclining Buddha that stretches 46 metres in length. Get up close to its five-metre-long feet that are decorated with mother-of-pearl illustrations, then relax with a massage at the well-respected Wat Pho Thai Traditional Massage School.
Plants collected from around the globe are on display in Saranrom Palace Park, which was once a royal garden for King Rama V. It offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok City Centre, with picturesque ponds and landscaped flower beds. Dominating the southern end of the park is a marble monument dedicated to Queen Sunantha Kumarirat and Prince Kannaporn Phetcharat, who tragically died during a boat accident.
Getting around Bangkok City Centre
Bangkok City Centre is 35 minutes’ drive from Suvarnabhumi Airport and 10 minutes from the Bangkok railway station. Subway services and buses travel throughout the city centre and tuk-tuks are readily available for getting around. Ferries on the Chao Phraya River connect many of the area’s attractions.