Most visitors to Bangkok stick to the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Khao San Road.
Nothing wrong with that, but you’re missing out on some truly remarkable places just beyond the usual tourist trail.
Think giant three-headed elephants, dragon-wrapped temples, and riverside alleys filled with art. Each spot reveals a side of Bangkok most tourists never see.
The best part? I’ll show you exactly how to reach every spot, even if it’s your first time in Thailand. Let’s check them out now! 😊
1. The Erawan Museum
a. What Makes It Special
Imagine walking inside a giant three-headed elephant made of 250 tons of copper. That’s the Erawan Museum.
This isn’t your typical museum with glass cases and wall labels. The entire building is designed as a spiritual journey through Buddhist cosmology.
You start in the “underworld” basement, rise through the “human world” with its stunning stained-glass ceiling, and finally climb into the elephant itself to reach “heaven”.
The man behind this vision, Lek Viriyapant, wanted visitors to experience Thai spirituality, not just read about it.
b. Highlights
- The cosmic ceiling painted in deep blues, designed to create a meditative atmosphere
- The stained-glass ceiling in the main rotunda, created by German artist Jacob Schwarzkopf, maps the world and zodiac in breathtaking detail
- The spiral staircase inside the elephant’s leg leading to the heaven
- Ancient Buddha statues from different Thai periods displayed in the elephant’s belly
c. How to Get There
By Grab (most convenient):
If you prefer door-to-door comfort, Grab is your easiest option. The ride from central Bangkok takes about 1 hour depending on traffic. Just enter “Erawan Museum” as your destination and you’re all set.
By BTS (budget-friendly):
- Take the BTS Green Line to Chang Erawan Station
- Use Exit 2
- Walk about 15 minutes to the entrance
Guided Tour Option:
If you’d rather leave the logistics to someone else, consider booking a full-day tour that combines the Erawan Museum with the nearby Ancient City.
This tour offers both join-in and private transfer options, complete with hotel pickup.
It’s a great way to see both attractions without worrying about transportation.
d. Opening Hours and Entrance Fees
- Hours: Daily, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM)
- Entrance fee: 400 THB for foreigners, 200 THB for children
Important: There’s a strict dress code. No sleeveless shirts or shorts above the knee. Wraps are available to rent if needed.
2. The Ancient City
a. What Makes It Special
The Ancient City is Thailand in miniature. Spanning over 316 acres in Samut Prakan Province, this open-air museum features more than 100 scaled replicas of Thailand’s most important historical monuments, temples, and palaces.
The park is roughly shaped like the map of Thailand, with monuments placed geographically.
Northern temples sit in the north section, southern stupas in the south.
You can bike, ride a golf cart, or take a tram through centuries of Thai heritage in a single day. It’s the largest private outdoor museum in the world.
b. Highlights
- Sanphet Prasat Palace, a reconstruction of the royal palace burned by the Burmese in 1767, offering the only visualization of Ayutthaya’s peak grandeur
- The Pavilion of the Enlightened, a stunning lakeside structure with sweeping roofs and intricate wood carvings
- A 1:2 scale replica of Preah Vihear temple, letting visitors experience Khmer architecture without traveling to the Cambodian border
- The floating market, a functioning reproduction of traditional riverside life where you can eat boat noodles and snacks
c. How to Get There
- Take the BTS Green Line to the final station, Kheha
- Use Exit 3
From the station:
- Songthaew 36 (minibus): Passes frequently and stops right at the Ancient City gate
- Taxi: 5 to 10 minutes
- Free shuttle: Runs on weekends, but less frequently than the Songthaew
Guided Tour Option:
Want to skip the planning entirely? You can join a group or private car tour that covers both The Ancient City and The Erawan Museum in one day. It’s a hassle-free way to explore both attractions without figuring out connections yourself.
d. Opening Hours and Entrance Fees
- Hours: Daily, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Entrance fee: 700 THB for foreigners at the gate, 350 THB for children
Getting around inside:
a. Bicycle
150 THB per rental
b. Electric Bike (E-Bike)
- 250 THB for 3 hours
- 100 THB for each additional hour
c. Golf Cart
- 2-seater: 350 THB for 1 hour, 100 THB for the next hour
- 4-seater: 350 THB for 1 hour, 200 THB for the next hour
d. Free Electric Tram
- Included with the day pass
- One round takes about 2 hours
3. Khlong Bang Luang Market & Artist House
a. What Makes It Special
This quiet canal community feels like stepping back in time.
While most tourists fight crowds at the famous floating markets, Khlong Bang Luang offers something more authentic: real canal life, without the chaos.
The heart of this place is Baan Silapin, a 200-year-old wooden house built on stilts.
What makes it truly unusual? The house was constructed around a 600-year-old stupa that was already standing there. You won’t find that combination anywhere else.
b. Highlights
Artist House (Baan Silapin):
- A 200-year-old wooden house built in the traditional Manila style on stilts over the canal
- Artist’s House Gallery and Café, an atmospheric riverside house where you can enjoy local art and a quiet canal view
- Traditional Thai puppet shows featuring stories from the Ramakien, performed by three visible puppeteers who dance in sync with each puppet. Shows run daily at 2:00 PM, except Wednesdays.
- A sanctuary for nearly extinct art, as this puppetry tradition was close to disappearing before the Artist House helped preserve it
The Canal Community:
- Canalside Scenery, a peaceful wooden boardwalk where you can stroll and watch daily life unfold
- Feeding giant catfish that swarm the canal waters below the wooden platforms
- Painting plaster masks and sipping Oliang (traditional Thai coffee)
- The peaceful “slow life” atmosphere that feels worlds away from Bangkok’s traffic
c. How to Get There
- Take the MRT Blue Line to Bang Phai Station
- From the station, take the Exit 4 and walk about 15 minutes to the market
Pro tip: This station also serves Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen, so you can easily visit both in one trip.
By Long-Tail Boat Tour (Scenic Option):
For a more memorable experience, join a long-tail boat tour (Tour 1 or Tour 2) through Bangkok’s canals.
These tours bring you directly to Khlong Bang Luang while cruising through the city’s historic waterways.
Along the way, you’ll also get the chance to capture beautiful photos of Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen and its giant Buddha from the water, a perspective most tourists never see.
d. Opening Hours and Entrance Fees
- Market hours: Daily, around 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Entrance fee: Free
4. Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen
a. What Makes It Special
The 69-meter bronze Buddha at Wat Paknam has changed the Bangkok skyline. You can see it from the MRT, from the river, and from rooftops across the city.
But the real magic is inside the white pagoda behind the Buddha.
Climb to the top floor, and you’ll find a glowing emerald-green glass stupa beneath a ceiling painted with swirling, neon-colored Buddhist cosmology.
The effect is almost psychedelic, and nothing like what you’d expect inside a traditional temple.
b. Highlights
- The emerald glass stupa on the pagoda’s top floor, containing Buddha relics
- The psychedelic ceiling that creates an otherworldly, almost celestial atmosphere
- The quirky museum on lower floors, featuring vintage classic cars and ancient amulets
- The Great Bronze Buddha, the largest seated Buddha in Bangkok, made of copper and bronze
c. How to Get There
- Take the MRT Blue Line to Bang Phai Station
- Use Exit 1
- Walk about 10 to 12 minutes to the temple
Guided Tour Option:
You can also join a tour that combines Wat Paknam with Khlong Bang Luang Market, so you can see both spots without planning the logistics. Check out: Tour 1 | Tour 2.
d. Opening Hours and Entrance Fees
- Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Entrance fee: Free
- Dress code: Shoulders and knees must be covered.
5. Wat Sam Phran (The Dragon Temple)
a. What Makes It Special
About 40 kilometers west of Bangkok sits one of Thailand’s most striking temples: a 17-story pink tower wrapped in a gigantic green dragon.
Wat Sam Phran has become internet-famous for this otherworldly design.
The dragon coils from the base to the roof, and remarkably, you can climb inside through the dragon’s body to reach the top.
It’s a working monastery where monks live and practice, yet it feels like something out of a fantasy film.
b. Highlights
- Walking through the dragon tunnel, a spiral climb inside its body that leads to a rooftop viewpoint near the dragon’s head
- Touching the dragon’s beard at the top for blessings
- The animal statues scattered around the grounds, including a giant turtle that serves as a tunnel entrance to an underground shrine
c. How to Get There
Best option:
- Take a Grab taxi directly from Bangkok (600 to 700 THB)
- Important: Arrange a round-trip fare or waiting fee with your driver. Grabbing a ride back from the temple is a bit difficult.
Guided Tour Option (hassle-free):
If navigating to this remote temple sounds stressful, consider joining an organized tour from Bangkok.
Several tours will handle all the transportation for you and often combine the Dragon Temple with other nearby attractions.
Check out these options: Tour 1 | Tour 2 | Tour 3. It’s the easiest way to visit without worrying about finding a ride back.
d. Opening Hours and Entrance Fees
- Hours: Daily, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Entrance fee: Free, but donations of 50 to 100 THB are expected and help with maintenance
- Dress code: Modest clothing required. Remove shoes before entering the dragon tunnel.
6. Wat Pariwat (The David Beckham Temple)
a. What Makes It Special
Wat Pariwat might be Bangkok’s quirkiest temple.
Nicknamed the “David Beckham Temple” because a tiny gilded statue of the footballer is embedded in the main altar, this place takes traditional Thai temple architecture and fills it with pop culture.
Superheroes, cartoon characters, Disney figures, and even Che Guevara appear among the gilded Buddhas and decorative patterns.
The monks and artists undertook this creative approach to make Buddhism engaging for younger generations. It’s whimsical, unexpected, and surprisingly beautiful.
b. Highlights
- The David Beckham statue at the base of the main Buddha altar
- Pop culture Easter eggs hidden in the mosaic artwork, including Pikachu, Batman, Captain America, Luffy from One Piece, and even Albert Einstein
- The beautiful Benjarong mosaic work covering the ordination hall
c. How to Get There
- Take the BTS Silom Line to Chong Nonsi Station
- Walk across the skybridge to Sathorn BRT Station
- Board the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) to Wat Pariwat Station
- The temple entrance is right next to the platform
d. Opening Hours and Entrance Fees
- Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Entrance fee: Free
7. Talat Noi
a. What Makes It Special
Talat Noi, meaning “Small Market”, is one of Bangkok’s oldest neighborhoods.
Located just south of Chinatown on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River, this area was once a bustling riverside market for Chinese immigrant traders.
Today it’s a living community turned creative quarter, known for narrow lanes filled with antique shophouses, automotive workshops, colorful street art murals, and heritage Chinese shrines.
Unlike famous tourist markets, Talat Noi is simply a neighborhood you explore on foot to soak in the atmosphere.
b. Highlights
- So Heng Tai Mansion, a stunning 19th-century Hokkien house with a diving pool in its central courtyard (buy a drink to enter and explore)
- Mother Roaster, a coffee shop you reach by walking through an active scrap metal junkyard
- Street art murals in the alleyways depicting local blacksmiths, Chinese opera performers, and neighborhood life
- Holy Rosary Church for historical contrast
c. How to Get There
By boat (the scenic route):
- Take the Chao Phraya Express Boat (Orange Flag boat) to Marine Department Pier (N4), which is directly adjacent to Talat Noi. You’ll be in the heart of the neighborhood as soon as you disembark.
By MRT:
- Take the MRT Blue Line to Hua Lamphong Station
- Use Exit 2 and walk about 10 minutes toward the river
d. Opening Hours and Entrance Fees
- Hours: Talat Noi is a public neighborhood, accessible 24/7. Shops and workshops generally operate 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Admission: Free to explore
- Best Time: Visit in the morning (8 to 11 AM) or late afternoon (4 to 6 PM) for cooler weather and better lighting for photos.
