Hooked on Bangkok: 7 Things That Got Us Addicted to Thailand’s Capital

Treat Yourself

Just staggered off a plane? Heat-sick and footsore? You look like you could use a massage. Thai massage techniques are a little more active than you may be used to, incorporating stretching, rolling, and bending and twisting like a pretzel. (It's OK to ask for less pressure, but be forewarned, your massage therapist may be a bit … mercenary.)

Spas are a dime a dozen in Bangkok, ranging from cheap $10-per-treatment studios in shopping malls and tree-lined squares to swish spas tucked into five-star hotels. (Before you step foot in any of the less expensive options, a cursory Google search will let you know if it's legit.) Divana Spa is a relaxing option with plenty of ambiance for little money; traditional Thai massages with foot soaks start at just $30. And Health Land is a local chain and a favorite among tourists—make a reservation way in advance.

On the higher end is the ultra-luxury Six Senses Spa at the Pacific City Club. A 30th-floor oasis high above bustling Bangkok, Six Senses merges its brand's customary upscale calm with Eastern and Western techniques. Follow your treatment with an herbal steam and a rejuvenating juice in the sky-high lounge; it's the perfect antidote to jet lag and late nights.

Climb a Temple

Wat Arun, or the Temple of Dawn, is one of Thailand's most recognizable landmarks, a place where tourists climb up 270 feet on steep, shallow stone steps for city views. The temple's porcelain prang (spire) towers over Bangkok, and in the morning, sunlight glints off the gilded roofs onto the Chao Phraya river below. Sure, it's touristy, with rows of souvenir shops and longtail boats that deposit camera-toting crowds. Yet Wat Arun is still a deeply sacred place, a functioning temple where monks in persimmon robes pray and Buddhists give alms.

Dress appropriately and remove your shoes before entering the ordination hall, where you can see the giant golden Buddha and beautiful murals along the walls. During my visit, a senior monk was chanting and blessing a group of schoolchildren, tying white rattan strings called sai sin around their wrists. Outside, other monks lit lotus incense and prayed. Even for non-Buddhists and the non-religious, it's a sincerely spiritual experience and shouldn't be missed.

Walk in the Footsteps of Royalty

The official royal residence since the late 18th century, when Thailand was still called Siam, the Grand Palace is actually a sprawling complex of architecturally eclectic buildings, halls, pavilions, and temples. Perhaps its biggest, grandest draw is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Housed inside is a very sacred and yet very small statue of the Buddha, dating back centuries. Despite its name, it was actually carved meticulously from a single piece of jade; three times per year, the reigning king changes the Buddha's robes to ensure good fortune for the country. Aside from the Emerald Buddha, the palace complex is filled to bursting with Buddhist sculpture, religious and decorative art, and other fascinating artifacts—it's a definite must-see for visitors.

Note that a dress code is strictly—and I mean strictly—enforced, so long pants are must-pack items. (For 100 baht, I bought a pair of cotton elephant-print pants, perfectly breezy and suitable for temple visits.) Thailand is conservative, fashion-wise, so dress the part and ditch the short shorts.

Eat Everything

Bangkok more than earns its reputation as a street-food paradise. Nearly every street corner and shop has a vendor hawking delicious bites for next to nothing. Find everything from simmering curries, crisp satay, and mango sticky rice to—well, no one knows what that is exactly, but it looks delicious.

My favorite place to eat is the flower market, Pak Klong Talad, a hectic bazaar on the northern edge of Bangkok's Chinatown district. Not only are the beautiful flowers and fresh produce heart-stoppingly cheap, but the street eats spread throughout are well worth a visit. Pictured above are my khanom bueang, rice-flour crepes filled with sweet coconut cream and strands of egg yolk. Ten or so were about $1.50, and alongside a strong, rich Thai coffee poured over ice, they made a perfect pre-sightseeing nibble.

Another must-stop is the more touristed Sukhumvit Soi 38, a stretch of alleyway open until the wee hours of the morning, where vendors sling pad thai, papaya salad, and other favorites. All you need are a few Thai baht, an open mind, and a big appetite.

Dine Up

Bangkok isn't all street food scarfed from a Styrofoam plate under the glare of 2 a.m. streetlights. Indeed, the city's high-end restaurants rank among the world's best. You'll find Asian- and European-inflected meals at most of Bangkok's four- and five-star stays, but my pick is Nahm, a celeb-studded restaurant in The Metropolitan hotel. (During my visit, I spotted a Top Chef or two.) The restaurant—dimly lit and beautifully attired—has racked up awards from TripAdvisor and San Pellegrino for its true-to-its-source Thai fare from Chef David Thompson, an Aussie. The food is traditional but dressed up, with pristine produce and the freshest seafood imaginable. My favorite dishes were a blue-crab curry, sweet with lime, turmeric, and coconut, and a dish of prawns and pickled ginger folded into coconut wafers.

Also worth a stop is the dressy Bo.lan, another member of San Pellegrino's 50 Best Restaurants in the World. Traditional Thai techniques marry well with fresh ingredients in dishes like stir-fried local ferns. Bring an adventurous palate (and a yen for heat).

Get Culture

Art lovers aren't limited to just religious works and temple frescoes. At the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), a five-story building housing a veritable history of Thai arts and crafts, everyone can get a little bit of culture. Nearly 1,000 pieces in its permanent collection plus rotating exhibits offer guests a chance to discover Thailand's most progressive, even controversial, art, including thought-provoking pieces on some touchier subjects like prostitution. Nowhere else in Bangkok is the collision between Thai tradition and contemporary Western thought more palpable—and more fun to explore. Admission is only 180 baht (about $5.50), and children under 15 are free, which makes this a cheap and enlightening break from the sun.

Learn to Cook

These days, vacation meals no longer have to be wan, last-minute affairs, shoveled down at the hotel between sightseeing stops. More and more, travelers are searching for authentic experiences that jump-start the exploration of a destination’s history and food culture. And there is no better way to experience the complex, carefully spiced stir-fries, soups, and other dishes that make up the core of Thai cuisine than to take a cooking class. Not only is it a great break from dining out, but it's an immersive way to meet locals and expand your palate.

There are plenty of classes on offer in this food-savvy city, but I highly recommend Amita Thai Cooking Class, led by Tam Piyawadi Jantrupon. Under her sassy tutelage, you'll learn to cook four dishes (three savory and one dessert) at her waterside home. The course includes a lovely boat ride on the Chao Phraya, a lesson on spices and techniques, and a leisurely lunch shaded by mango and rose-apple trees. Learn the traditional method for making coconut milk (hint: it involves a lot of forearm strength), and take a tour of the kitchen gardens fragrant with kefir lime and lemongrass and studded with tiny candy-like chilies, all of which you'll use in your dishes. Leave with recipe cards and a full stomach.

So there you have it, readers: my favorite bits of Bangkok, one of the most vibrant, electric cities I've experienced. Any recommendations of your own? Share below—I can't wait to return.

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