Take a cruise on Chao Phraya River, which flows through the heart of Bangkok, to Wat Pho (the Reclining Buddha Temple).
Walk through Wat Pho, a must-see for any first-time visitor to Bangkok. It is famous for the giant reclining Buddha covered in gold leaf, the royal stupas decorated with ceramic tiles forming intricate floral patterns, and the ancient inscriptions detailing the tenets of traditional Thai massage.
Take a fun Tuk Tuk ride through Bangkok Old Town and a walking tour to discover Bangkok’s scrumptious variety of street food.
Make the first stop at Sae Phun restaurant, one of the Bib Gourmand restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide Thailand. The place offers traditional chicken stew on rice, cooked authentically using a family recipe that has been passed on through generations.
Continue to the Sam Phraeng neighbourhood consisting of Phraeng Phuthorn, Phraeng Nara and Phraeng Suppasart to visit stalls selling pork meatballs with sweet chilli sauce, steamed garlic chive dumplings locally known as Gui Chai, traditional Thai tacos offering both unique sweet and savoury fillings or Khanom Bueng with recipes from the Royal Thai Palace, and Khanom Khai Hong, Thai-style doughnut balls that resemble swan eggs.
Try the world-famous Pad Thai, Thai stir-fried noodles with a sweet-savory-sour sauce, from Chote Chitr restaurant and Ban Pad Thai restaurant in the area, and not to forget the mouth-watering mango sticky rice from K. Panich, a Bib Gourmand Thai dessert shop established in 1932.
Take a refreshing break and sip iced tamarind sodas or coffee mojitos at Craftsman Roastery & Brew Bar, a 127-year-old European-style building. This building was once the site where the Royal Gazette was printed and has since been transformed into a heritage café, welcoming visitors not only for quality drinks but for a glimpse of history.
Conclude this exploration of the essence of Bangkok at the riverside Sala Rattanakosin restaurant, which serves authentic Thai fare with a stunning view of the Temple of Dawn on the Chao Phraya River.
