3 Must-See Sights To Visit While You’re Vacationing In Thailand

Beautiful weather, reasonable prices, friendly faces, and a sense of adventure – it’s no surprise that you’ve decided to check out Thailand. Its capital, Bangkok, is one of the most popular cities in the world for international travelers. While there’s much more to do and see than one could cover in just one trip, here are three sights to put on your itinerary.

Wat Pho

Wat Pho is known to many tourists for the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, one of its primary attractions. The statue is 150 feet long and coated in gold plating with mother of pearl details. However, this isn’t all visitors can enjoy. Traditional Thai medicine, including massage, is a practice popular with people all over the world, and Wat Pho is its home.

In addition, Wat Pho is a must-see for art lovers. There are many impressive murals housed here, as well as hundreds of images of the Buddha, many of them adorned in gold across Wat Pho’s four chapels. The courtyard even boasts a Bodhi tree whose ancestor was the very sacred tree the Buddha would sit under.

The Floating Markets

Enjoy riverside shopping at one of Thailand’s several outdoor floating markets. The busiest and most popular market would be the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, where you can buy some of the best-tasting fruit in the world.

Also popular is the Amphawa Floating Market, where you can get great views on the way to stock up on souvenirs and fresh seafood. If you’re looking to avoid the tourist scene for a bit, choose the Khlong Lay Mayom Floating Market, which is popular with locals for low-priced housewares and great food alike. Whichever you choose, make floating markets your favorite way to get plenty of fresh, healthy, authentic Thai cuisine.

The Grand Palace

If it’s your first time in Thailand, you must join the crowd and take a tour of the Grand Palace. It’s located just 20 short minutes from your suite at the Courtland by Marriott Bangkok, and is an entire village unto itself.

The Grand Palace, modeled after Thailand’s old capital, Ayutthaya, is the former residence of the King of Siam, and encompasses more than two million square feet of courts and temples. Here you may see the most prized Buddha statue in Thai existence, which is carved from one large emerald. It is the King’s responsibility to change the Buddha’s clothing to match the season. The statue itself is more than 600 years old.

The public cannot visit the actual inner palace area, but there are many other points of interest, such as the inner court, which served as a residence strictly for women, including queens, princesses, and their ladies in waiting. The middle court is the site of many royal ceremonies, while the outer court is dedicated to state offices.

If you want to experience Southeast Asia, Bangkok, Thailand is the perfect primer for the rest of the area. Glean key factors influencing the region before broadening your horizons toward the more remote and relaxing areas of this friendly, gorgeous country.