5 Must-Visit Cultural Attractions in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area
For those people who are interested in culture, here are 5 must-visit cultural attractions in the Bangkok metropolitan area you should have on your lists.
Bangkok is one of the most popular tourist destinations. This city is full of cultural based-tourism, temples, good food, activities and entertainment. For those people who are interested in culture, here are 5 must-visit cultural attractions in the Bangkok metropolitan area you should have on your lists.
Besides the famous Grand Palace and Wat Arun, the city has another 3 cultural landmarks worth visiting. From a local's perspective, this information might help you enjoy your journey and understand more of Thais’ beliefs and culture.
Wat Phra Kaew: 1st Must-visit Cultural Attractions in Bangkok
Wat Phra Kaew is one of the notable landmarks in the Bangkok metropolitan area. It is located in the northeastern corner of the Grand Palace, where you can also see its beautiful architecture while taking the Chao Phraya tourist boat. The temple is home to the Emerald Buddha, typically known as the most important Buddha statue in Thailand. Thais believe that the Emerald Buddha's power gives protection to the nation and only the king can touch the Buddha during a formal ritual.
When you are getting inside the temple, you are not allowed to take a photo of the Emerald Buddha. Most locals only bring flowers like lotus and jasmine garlands to pay respect to the Buddha while some people who fulfill their vow will offer other things they promised to the Buddha outside Phra Ubosot (Chapel).
Opening Hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (The ticket office closes at 3:30 PM)
Entrance Fee: 500 THB for foreigners
Wat Pho: The Biggest Reclining Buddha in Bangkok
Wat Phra Chetuphon is known as Wat Pho, and located right behind the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. This temple is also one of the cultural attractions in Bangkok. The temple is well-known for the city’s biggest Reclining Buddha statue and for its stunning Thai architecture and Chinese statues.
Normally, the temple has set the place to worship outside Phra Ubosot, but the Buddha’s feet is another area that locals love to make a wish. With 108 auspicious symbols on the Buddha’s feet, they believed that all great blessings in happiness, good fortune, career success, and love will be fulfilled.
Opening Hours: 8 AM–6:30 PM
Entrance Fee: 200 THB for international visitors
Museum Siam: A Lively Learning Space
Museum Siam was established with the concept of playing and learning under the National Discovery Museum Institute (NDMI). The institute hopes that a model of this fun environment will enhance the level of learning management in a new way for people, particularly Thai children and youth. So, they applied modern technology and creative activities to make learning about history more enjoyable.
The museum area is divided into 3 types of activities: permanent exhibition, rotating display, and creative learning activity. For the permanent exhibition, it is called "Decoding Thai-ness" and is organized into several small rooms that utilize new technological and museum media to emphasize the interaction of narrative, making the visit worthwhile. Through the exhibitions, visitors will see how Thailand and its connections with neighboring nations have evolved over time.
Opening Hours: Tue-Sun 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Closed on Mon.)
Entrance Fee: 100 THB per person and free for children below 15 years old.
Wat Arun: Temple of Dawn
Wat Arun Ratchawararam, also known in short as Wat Arun, has a unique pagoda called ‘Phra Prang’. It was built and influenced by the art style of the Ayutthaya era. Its decoration was impacted with Chinese-glazed tiles. Phra Prang Wat Arun, one of the popular cultural attraction check-in places in Bangkok, stands out on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and is so charming during the sun down. Phra Prang which we saw today is the latest version to be renovated in 2017.
Currently, the hottest new trend of visiting Wat Arun is about renting a Thai traditional costume to wear while walking around the temple. Both foreign tourists and Thais enjoy dressing and taking their photos in front of Phra Prang and other areas of the temple. There are many shops where you can rent Thai costumes outside Wat Arun. Some shops also offer makeup services with additional costs.
Opening Hours: 08:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Entrance Fee: 100 THB for international visitors
Muang Boran Museum: The Ancient City
Even Muang Boran Museum is shown its location in Samut Prakan province, but in fact, it is not far from Bangkok. You can take the BTS Skytrain and get off at Kan Kheha Station, then take a bus or a taxi just another 5 kilometers away.
The ancient city, where was built is a very popular private outdoor museum, garnering interest from numerous tourists, including the international entertainment industry. The city is divided into 4 main zones, each representing the distinct local cultures of the northern, northeastern, central, and southern regions. So, you can have fun and see the beautiful architecture that represents the local identity of Thailand in one place. The overall area is very big, but you can choose how to get around. There are bicycles and trams provided to explore the city.
Opening Hours: 09:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Entrance Fee: 700 THB for international visitors
Tips to Visit Cultural Attractions in Bangkok
- Dress appropriately when visiting temples and other religious places. It is important to cover your shoulders and knees as a sign of respect.
- If possible, research, plan and book your entrance tickets in advance.
- Recheck the opening hours, for example, at Wat Phra Kaew; the temple will be closed during a formal ritual. For example, it will be closed this coming April 15 due to Songkran Day.
From the uniqueness of each temple to the historical area, Bangkok offers a diverse range of cultural attractions that await you to be explored. Moreover, you may have many awesome cultural experiences along the way while traveling.
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