Bangkok

Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew

Attractions

★★★★★

The dazzling royal complex and the Emerald Buddha. Go at 8:30am sharp, cover your shoulders, and beat the tour buses.

Thipsamai

Food

★★★★★

The most famous pad thai in Thailand, wrapped in a thin egg crepe and cooked over charcoal since 1966.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

Shopping

★★★★★

15,000 stalls across 35 acres, selling everything that exists. Go early, follow the coconut ice cream, embrace getting lost.

Lumphini Park

Outdoors

★★★★★

Bangkok’s green lung, complete with paddle boats and resident water monitors the size of small crocodiles. Best at 6am with the tai chi crowd.

Roots Coffee

Coffee

★★★★★

Thonglor’s specialty pioneer, roasting Thai-grown beans from Chiang Rai. The cold brew is engineered for the climate.

After You

Dessert

★★★★★

The dessert café behind Bangkok’s shibuya-toast obsession. In mango season, the mango sticky rice kakigori is the only correct order.

Tep Bar

Drinks

★★★★★

Thai herbal spirits and live traditional music in a Chinatown shophouse. Order the ya dong sampler set.