Bangkok

Elegant roofline of Wat Arun and the main hall of Wat Suthat, Bangkok. Photos by Daniel Cheong and vangennip.

Thailand's capital city is known locally as Krung Thep, the "City of Angels," but foreigners know it as Bangkok.

Home to 10 million people, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and countless picturesque canals, Bangkok has also earned the nicknames "Big Mango" and "Venice of the East."

Founded when King Rama I moved the city across the river from Thonburi in 1782, Bangkok is not a particularly ancient capital, but it is a cool mix of modern and traditional. It is positively filled with fascinating temples (wats), which are adorned with priceless art and religious treasures but are not museums: they are populated by orange-clad monks and are still the focus of local spirituality.

Bangkok Map
Our interactive satellite map of Bangkok, plus more of the best Bangkok maps online and in stores.

Bangkok Photos
An index of our Bangkok photo galleries.

Bangkok Tours & Excursions
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Bangkok Hotel Bookings
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Bangkok Hotel Reviews
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Bangkok Travel Forum
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	Amulet Market This is the main place in Bangkok where Thais buy amulets for a wide variety of specific purposes, from staying healthy to staving off one's mother-in-law.
	Erawan Shrine A popular city shrine featuring the four-faced Hindu god Brahma. Built to appease evil spirits during a construction project in 1956, it attracts worshippers day and night.
	Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn) A beautiful Buddhist temple and major landmark on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. The great central chedi, covered in shells and porcelain, represents mythical Mt. Meru.
	Wat Benjamabophit (Marble Temple) Named for the white Carrara marble of which it's constructed, the Marble Temple is the most modern and one of the most beautiful of Bangkok's royal wats.
	Wat Mahathat (Great Relic Temple) Dating from the 18th century, Wat Mahathat is one of Bangkok's oldest shrines and the headquarters for Thailand's largest monastic order.
	Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha Temple) The oldest and largest temple in Bangkok, built in 1788 on the site of an earlier temple. It is known as the birthplace of Thai massage and the home of the giant golden Reclining Buddha.
	Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha) The most sacred Buddhist shrine in Thailand, this large temple complex with in the Grand Palace houses a revered statue of the Buddha made of smooth green stone.
	Wat Saket (Golden Mount) Wat Saket dates from the Ayutthaya era and was restored by King Rama I. It has long been used for cremation and burials, due to its location outside the walls. But most famous is its Golden Mount, topped with a golden chedi.
	Wat Suthat (Giant Swing) Wat Suthat is one of the oldest (c.1782) and largest temples in Bangkok, famed for its beautiful roofline, huge bronze Buddha, magnificent wall paintings of the Jataka Tales and giant red swing out front.
	Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha) Wat Traimit is home to the magnificent Golden Buddha, the largest solid-gold Buddha image in the world. Cast over 900 years ago, it was covered in plaster to disguise its value until it was uncovered by chance in 1957.