As with any capital city, many visitors flock to the well-known historic landmarks, and Bangkok is no different! Bangkok is bustling with day and night markets, street food vendors, exquisite temples, and ornate shrines. Full of life and energy, Bangkok is a destination we are sure will not disappoint!
While Thailand’s capital city is one of the country’s most visited destinations, there are secret corners throughout this city with enticing attractions and experiences just waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re a shopping enthusiast or temple seeker, there are many hidden gems for you to see.
Following the reopening of Phuket, Thailand has extended its reopening to more destinations in Thailand, including Bangkok, and we can’t wait to welcome you back to the capital city!
To learn more about Thailand travel, visit our travel page. For FAQs about traveling to Thailand for its reopening, click here.
Let’s take a look at six hidden gems in Bangkok to add to your travel itinerary.
Pak Khlong Talad
The sweet aromas of florals will draw you into this 24-hour flower market with over 3,000 stalls of wholesale flower merchants. Rows and rows of freshly cut flowers fill the market with vibrant colored bouquets, garlands, and other flower arrangements.
Did you know Thailand is the largest exporter of orchids in the world? If you love orchids, Pak Khlong Talad will be your floral paradise as there are numerous varieties of orchards in all sizes, colors, and arrangements.
As you’re browsing through the market, watch skilled merchants arrange exquisite displays. Here you can learn how to make garlands and other floral related crafts at the market. You can also find tropical fruits and vegetables within the market and herbs, spices, edible flowers, and more.
Baan Silapin
Baan Silapin is a century-old teak house that was transformed into a gallery in 2010 by Thai artist Chumphon Akhpantanond. The gallery, also known as the Artist’s House, was transformed into a gallery with local art and photography and a theater where visitors can watch traditional Thai puppet shows, or Hun Lakhon Lek. Every Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm, handcrafted puppet shows are put on display enacting Thai folktales.
While many forms of entertainment are found across Bangkok, Baan Silapin is one hidden gem that offers a unique side of Thai culture, offering entertainment that is rare to find these days. Find yourself surrounded by the charm of local art sipping on a lemon tea, and watch the puppetry unfold. For health and safety, temperature checks and hand sanitizer are provided at the entrance.
Caturday Cat Café
Calling all cat lovers! You’re minutes away from the cafe of your dreams. Off the main roads of Bangkok sits a quaint cafe that is home to four-legged fur babies! While sipping on a hot coffee, prepare to be greeted by a curious, friendly feline at the Caturday CatCafé.
This special cafe is adorned in cat Renaissance paintings and boasts adorable decor, including watering can water bowls and tree-themed cat trees. Cafe goers can take a seat next to a cat-napping queen who may even nestle up for a cuddle!
Erawan Museum
A forty-three-meter tall three-headed elephant sits atop a large pink structure with curved stairways and zodiac glass ceilings at Erawan Museum. According to the Hindu tradition, Erawan is a white elephant with 3 heads who travels in the realm of Earth and Heaven. Within the museum are three levels. These levels represent earth, heaven, and the underworld.
Outside the museum is a charming garden with detailed Thai sculptures and plants, including the beautiful lotus flower. The museum is close to Suvarnabhumi International Airport, so if you have some extra time to kill before a flight, head to Erawan Museum!
Airplane Graveyard
One of Bangkok’s most unusual hidden attractions will surprise you by its name alone: Airplane Graveyard. In the suburbs of Bangkok is a field of deteriorating aircraft that has become an almost museum-like outdoor attraction. The planes have been on site since 2010 on land owned by a Thai businessman. The wreckage includes a massive Boeing 747, which is seen towards the center of the graveyard.
Visitors are permitted to enter the graveyard, although there is a small admission fee and a limited time of one hour to explore. However, once you enter a number of these abandoned planes, you’ll be in awe of your surroundings. While exploring the bones of the aircraft, be sure not to touch anything as there are scraps of metal and sharp surfaces.
Wat Phra Dhammakaya
Our final stop is a little outside of Bangkok, but one that is worth visiting when in the area. Few visitors know that Thailand is home to one of the largest Buddhist temples in the world, and it’s right outside the capital city. Wat Phra Dhammakaya, located in Pathum Thani province north of Bangkok, was established in 1970 with 300,000 gold-coated bronze Buddha statues on the outside and 700,000 on the inside.
One million statues make up this tremendous temple, and it’s truly a sight to behold. It is said that this 1,000-acre temple can also be seen from the sky in airplanes leaving Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport!
Start Planning Your City Getaway in Bangkok!
We can’t wait for you to travel to Bangkok and experience the capital city’s attractions and secret hidden gems! After hitting your favorite hot spots in Bangkok, go off the beaten path for more treasures, whether it’s the cat cafe or airplane graveyard. For more information on the Thailand reopening, visit here.
