Did you know that Thailand is the most popular tourist destination throughout 2016? This was revealed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand which stated that the Land of the White Elephant received more than 32.5 million tourists last year. Not only that, MasterCard Seventh Annual Global Destination also placed Bangkok as the city most visited by tourists in the world.
The many tourist attractions make the capital of Thailand able to attract many Asian and foreign tourists. Starting from cultural tourism, shopping destinations, to unique street food , you will easily find them. So, what are the tourist attractions in Bangkok that attract tourists? Here are 18 recommendations for tourist attractions that are mandatory destinations for tourists:
Royal Grand Palace
The Grand Palace is a historical building complex that is a major tourist attraction in Bangkok. Inside, there is the Royal Grand Palace which is the residence of the kings of Thailand. Although closed to the public, this palace remains a must-visit spot for tourists just to take pictures in front of its courtyard.
The Grand Palace complex is open daily, from 08:30 to 16:00. If you want to enter the palace complex, you must pay an entrance fee of 500 THB. Morning is the best time to visit the Grand Palace because you will not be jostling with other tourists. When visiting, make sure you wear modest clothing.
Wat Phra Kaew
After you are satisfied taking pictures in front of the Royal Grand Palace, you can visit Wat Phra Kaew which is still inside the Grand Palace complex. The most sacred temple in Thailand looks magnificent and luxurious because the building is covered in gold. In this temple, you can also see the most sacred Buddha statue in Thailand, namely the Emerald Buddha.
This temple, which is open to the public, is always crowded with tourists, both those who want to worship, or just take photos or want to know its history.
Wat Arun
Wat Arun is the oldest Buddhist temple located in Bangkok Ya District. Unlike most temples in Bangkok, Wat Arun has a unique architectural style. You won’t find any gold walls here, because almost all the walls and towers of Wat Arun temple are covered in colorful porcelain and ceramics from China.
To enter the Wat Arun complex, you need to pay a ticket for 50 THB. Interestingly, there are many souvenir stalls here that offer their wares in Indonesian and accept payments in Rupiah. So, don’t miss this unique experience when visiting Wat Arun, okay!
Wat Pho
Not far from Wat Arun, you can find the largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok called Wat Pho. The main attraction of this temple is the statue of the reclining Buddha which is 15 meters high and 46 meters long. The longest Buddha statue in Thailand is also covered in gold, making it look magnificent.
By paying 100 THB, you can go around Wat Pho and get free mineral water. All visitors are allowed to enter the temple and take pictures with the Buddha statue as the background, but you must dress modestly and remove your shoes.
Wat Hua Krabeu
Bangkok is full of unusual surprises. One of them is Wat Hua Krabeu located on the west side of the Chao Phraya River, precisely in Ban Khun Tien. Known as the Buffalo Head Temple, this temple offers a view of thousands of buffalo skulls neatly arranged decorating the temple grounds.
The collection of buffalo skulls is a reminder that the buffalo population in Thailand experienced a drastic decline in 1987. It is estimated that 400,000 buffaloes are slaughtered each year to meet the needs of meat consumption for residents. If you are curious about the pile of skulls, a visit to Wat Hua Krabeu is certainly not to be missed. This place is open to the public and free.