The entrancing city of Bangkok is undoubtedly counted among the world’s top tourist destinations. In this captivating city, you will encounter many appealing and diverse attractions that will draw the interest of the sightseer. Irrespective of whether you seek lavish palaces, enthralling religious attractions or shopping venues, you won’t be disappointed in the Thai capital. Described below are some of the attractions you should include in your sightseeing itinerary.

Grand Palace - Image via Flickr

Taking pride of place in the capital of Thailand is the magnificent Grand Palace complex. This lavish compound which dates to the 18th century functioned as the residence of Thai royalty and the site of the royal court over a period of 150 years. Even today, the regal and elaborate buildings of the Grand Palace will impress and entrance visitors. A highlight of this complex is the greatly venerated temple known as Wat Phra Kaew which houses the invaluable Emerald Buddha statue, one of Thailand’s most treasured objects.

Another iconic temple in Bangkok is the splendid Wat Arun which happens to be renowned for its distinctive Khmer-style architecture. The striking silhouette of this place of worship dating to the 19th century may be counted amongst Southeast Asia’s most recognizable sights. You will see that the eye-catching spires of this noteworthy temple overlooking the Chao Phraya River have been beautifully adorned with minute fragments of Chinese porcelain and colourful glass that add to the site's allure.

An attraction of a rather different kind is the absorbing Chatuchak Weekend Market which will undoubtedly capture the interest of the discerning visitor. As you might expect, you will find a jaw-dropping collection of goods here, with almost any item imaginable to be found; you may browse through the clothing, accessories, ceramics, handicrafts, artworks, furniture, books, antiques and so on. Avid shoppers would enjoy visiting some of the over 8,000 individual market stalls to be found here. Look to get there a bit early to beat the crowds since each weekend, over 200,000 shoppers frequent this amazing market!

Your visit to the Thai capital wouldn’t be complete without experiencing its enthralling Chinatown where you will encounter many interesting sights and experiences. You will find that Chinatown which centres around Yaowarat Road, happens to be an exotic, colourful and appealingly lively neighbourhood featuring an abundance of gold shops, market stalls and eateries. Whilst this locality would be an absorbing place to visit at any time of the year, it is particularly attractive during events like the Chinese New Year or Vegetarian Festival. At these times, the celebratory spirit and vibrancy to be seen will captivate travellers. Serviced apartments in Sathorn to consider from which you could easily visit Chinatown and other key attractions would be Ascott Sathorn Bangkok.

Another captivating attraction in Bangkok is the alluring Asiatique: The Riverfront which successfully combines the concepts of a mall and a night bazaar. You will find that this appealingly laid-out site features more than 1,500 boutiques in addition to 40 restaurants. It will always be an interesting experience to spend an evening at Asiatique browsing through the various boutiques, selecting a gift or two and dining at one of the restaurants. You could also take the opportunity to take a ride on the Asiatique Sky Ferris wheel and enjoy a fascinating show here such as a calypso cabaret, Thai puppetry or a bout of Muay Thai.

The remarkable Jim Thompson House and Museum will be a captivating attraction that would draw the interest of avid sightseers and art lovers. Jim Thompson is well-known in Thailand for his contributions to the upliftment of the local silk industry; he is also renowned for his marvellous collection of engrossing Thai antiques and art which can be viewed at this site which is his former residence. Here, you will also encounter a selection of traditional teakwood houses which would enthral visitors.