Bangkok is famous for its rooftop bars, temples, street food, crowded streets, and wild nightlife! 

When exploring Bangkok, it’s essential to be mindful of certain scams to ensure a smoother vacation experience. Additionally, this blog post highlights the top three temples to visit, along with other attractions and activities in the vicinity of Bangkok.

Bangkok Scams

1. The Grand Palace is Closed

While you are walking around the vicinity of the Grand Palace you will most likely be approached by tuk-tuk drivers who will tell you that “The Grand Palace is closed today” which is a lie. They then proceed to tell you that they can take you to all these free temples for 20 to 40 Baht. What they don’t tell you is that they take you to jewellery stores/tailor shops etc. as they get some form of payment from the shop owners. 

2. Khlongs Boat Canal

If you want to explore the Khlongs by boat, book a trip with a tour agent or at the pier. Avoid people who approach you on the street even near the pier. They will try to charge you a lot more than you it should be. If it’s a cheap price be aware that they may take you on the boat but stop close to the pier demanding more money to take you back. 

3. Tuk Tuk Rides

This is similar to the “The Grand Palace is closed” scam. Negotiate a price with the Tuk Tuk drivers before you ride one and that you are clear with them to only take you to the places you want to go and not to jewellery shops/tailors etc. unless you want to. Download the “Grab App” and check how much it roughly costs to get to and from destinations. This will help you know what price you can ask for. 

4. Unmetered Taxi’s

Some taxis don’t run on a meter and will just tell you a price that is usually a lot more than it should be. Always make sure to get metered taxis or use Grab so you know exactly what you can expect to pay.

3 Must-Visit Temples in Bangkok

The three must-visit temples in Bangkok listed below are conveniently located close to each other, allowing you to explore all of them within half a day.

1. Wat Arun

Wat Arun is located on the opposite side of the river from The Grand Palace and Wat Pho, so you’ll need to take a ferry taxi from nearby Wat Pho. It costs only 5 Baht and takes only 5 minutes. 

Entrance Fee: 100 Baht per person including a bottle of water 

2. Wat Pho

Next to the Grand Palace, Wat Pho stands as Bangkok’s oldest and largest temple complex, housing the giant reclining Buddha, one of Thailand’s largest Buddha sculptures. 

Stupas, chedis, and other historical statues can also be found in the temple. 

Entrance Fee: 300 Baht per person 

3. Temple of the Emerald Buddha

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is located inside The Grand Palace. There’s a strict dress code in place. Both men and women must cover their shoulders and knees. If you don’t adhere to the dress code you will be given the option to buy pants and/or a top from the entrance. If you must purchase, local stalls outside the Grand Palace sell clothing at much lower prices. 

Entrance Fee: 500 Baht per person (be sure to watch the free masked theatre show, included with your ticket). 3 shows run daily at 1 pm, 2:30 pm and 4 pm. Take the free shuttle bus to the theatre near the exit of The Grand Palace close to the show time. 

For an authentic experience that includes both must-see attractions and hidden gems, consider booking my tour with City Unscripted: Bangkok Temples and Markets: Must-Sees & Hidden Gems

3 Things to Do Near Bangkok

1. Chocolate Ville

Chocolate Ville is like a miniature Disneyland located about 30-40 minutes outside of Bangkok. It’s a vibrant eatery with a European village theme. There are tons of spots to take photos here.

The entrance fee is 100 Baht per person, but if you buy food or drinks at the park, you can have this deducted from the bill. It’s the best place to take your kid or be a kid. Visit after 4:30 p.m. to see the village during the day and the beautiful decorations at night. 

2. Ancient City

Ancient City is one of the world’s largest outdoor museums featuring a 200-acre city with 109 scaled-down copies of Thailand’s most famous monuments and architectural attractions. Since the park is huge it’s best to either rent a golf cart (350 Baht for the first hour, 100 Baht for every hour after), rent a bicycle or there is a complementary tram service that runs at certain times of the day. Plan to spend at least half a day here or even the whole day as there is lots to see. 

The entrance fee is 700 Baht per person if you pay on entry, but if you book online through the Klook website, you can save 50% and only pay 350 Baht per person. 

3. Wat Samphran

Situated approximately a 50-minute drive from Bangkok, Wat Samphran, also referred to as the Dragon Temple, welcomes visitors without an entry fee, operating on a donation basis. Walk to the top of the temple for an opportunity to capture a selfie with the dragon’s head.

Before entering the temple, you will be given a banner on which to write your name and hang it once you reach the top. Locals will explain the significance of the dragon temple and the rituals that take place here.  

An elephant and turtle statue stands to the right of the temple. The best place to photograph the dragon temple is at the top of the large gold Buddha structure. 

Bangkok is a city that most people will either love or hate but it’s worth visiting at least once to see what all the hype is about! 

If you love tropical islands and visiting off-the-beaten-path destinations, don’t forget to include Koh Lipe in your travel plans. Dive into my blog post “Koh Lipe Guide: What to do in Koh Lipe” for a deeper insight into this paradise island!

Make sure to check out my blog post “Thailand Travel Tips” for tips you need to know before travelling to Thailand.

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