Bangkok

A short history

Bangkok became the capital in 1782, when King Rama I moved the seat of power across the Chao Phraya and began building the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew to house the Emerald Buddha — a statue that had already changed hands between Thai, Lao and Cambodian kingdoms over centuries. Unlike almost every other capital in Southeast Asia, Thailand was never formally colonised, and the continuity shows in how completely the old religious city survives beside the towers that went up from the 1960s.

Why travellers love it

It is a six-hour flight to one of the widest halal food scenes in Southeast Asia, and one of the few cities where temples, serious shopping and a river worth travelling on all sit within the same day. Beaches and mountains are a short hop further if the city gets loud.

Before you go

Many nationalities enter Thailand visa-free for short stays and others can apply online; check your passport before booking. November to February is the cool dry window and the reason fares rise then. Use the river boats and the elevated trains rather than taxis — Bangkok traffic will otherwise decide your itinerary for you. Temples enforce a dress code: shoulders and knees covered, for everyone.

Highlights

• The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
• Wat Arun at sunset
• Chatuchak weekend market
• A longtail boat along the river

Flights to Bangkok

• From Riyadh
• From Doha