Riverside & Rattanakosin Bangkok Holidays
Riverside & Rattanakosin
Holidays
Bangkok's historic heart — the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun and the Chao Phraya river all in one extraordinary neighbourhood
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Flight Time
11h from London
Best Time
November to February
Country
Bangkok, Thailand
Suppliers
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Riverside & Rattanakosin Holiday Guide
Rattanakosin Island is the historic heart of Bangkok — the original royal city, built in 1782, home to the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun and the most important temples in Thailand. This is the essential Bangkok — ancient, extraordinary and unlike anywhere else on earth.
The Grand Palace complex is the essential starting point — allow at least 2–3 hours. Wat Pho (the Reclining Buddha and Thai massage birthplace) is adjacent. Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn) is a short ferry ride across the river and best seen at sunset.
The Chao Phraya river is Bangkok's lifeblood — the Chao Phraya Express Boat is the best way to see the city from the water. Sunset dinner cruises are romantic and memorable. The Mandarin Oriental, on the riverfront, is one of the great hotels of Asia.
The Pak Khlong Talat flower market (best at midnight) and the Amulet Market are two of Bangkok's most atmospheric and unusual experiences. The long-tail boat canal tours of Thonburi are excellent.
The best time to visit Bangkok is November to February. We search across Travelpack, Emirates Holidays and JTA Holidays for the best deals, with the FIBI discount applied automatically.
Popular Areas in Riverside & Rattanakosin
Average Temperatures
Jan
29°C
Feb
31°C
Mar
33°C
Apr
34°C
May
33°C
Jun
32°C
Jul
31°C
Aug
31°C
Sep
31°C
Oct
30°C
Nov
29°C
Dec
28°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Riverside & Rattanakosin
The temples, river and historic sites that make Rattanakosin and the Riverside the most extraordinary and essential part of Bangkok.
Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
The Grand Palace complex is Bangkok's most iconic sight — a dazzling collection of temples, halls and pavilions built in 1782 that served as the royal residence for 150 years. The Emerald Buddha inside Wat Phra Kaew is Thailand's most sacred object, carved from a single block of jade and dressed in seasonal golden robes. Allow at least 2–3 hours. Dress code strictly enforced (shoulders and knees covered).
Wat Pho & the Reclining Buddha
Wat Pho, adjacent to the Grand Palace, is Bangkok's oldest and largest temple — home to the extraordinary 46-metre Reclining Buddha covered in gold leaf, one of the most impressive religious images in Southeast Asia. The temple complex is also the birthplace of traditional Thai massage — the on-site school is one of the best in Thailand and a 30-minute massage costs approximately £5.
Wat Arun — Temple of Dawn
Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, is Bangkok's most beautiful and distinctive temple — a 79-metre prang (tower) covered in colourful porcelain mosaic, rising from the west bank of the Chao Phraya river. The temple is best seen from the river at sunset, when the spire glows in the golden light. A short ferry from Tha Tien pier (near Wat Pho) crosses to the temple.
Chao Phraya River
The Chao Phraya river is Bangkok's lifeblood — the original highway of the city, still busy with express boats, long-tail boats, rice barges and luxury hotel shuttles. The Chao Phraya Express Boat (orange flag) is the best way to see the city from the water, stopping at temples, markets and the Grand Palace. Sunset dinner cruises (from Asiatique or the River City pier) are romantic and memorable.
Pak Khlong Talat — Flower Market
Pak Khlong Talat is Bangkok's extraordinary flower market — a vast, fragrant wholesale market on the Chao Phraya riverfront that operates 24 hours a day, at its most spectacular between midnight and 4am when the flowers arrive from the provinces. Orchids, jasmine garlands, lotus flowers and marigolds are sold in extraordinary quantities. One of the most atmospheric markets in Bangkok.
Mandarin Oriental & Riverside Hotels
The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, on the Chao Phraya riverfront, is one of the great hotels of Asia — open since 1876, with extraordinary service, beautiful gardens and the famous Authors' Lounge (where Somerset Maugham, Joseph Conrad and Noel Coward all stayed). The Peninsula Bangkok (on the west bank) and the Capella Bangkok are equally extraordinary.
Amulet Market & Sanam Luang
The Amulet Market, near Wat Mahathat on the edge of the Grand Palace complex, is one of Bangkok's most fascinating and atmospheric markets — hundreds of stalls selling Buddhist amulets, sacred objects and religious items. Sanam Luang, the large ceremonial ground in front of the Grand Palace, is where royal ceremonies are held and where Bangkok residents fly kites in the evening.
Long-Tail Boat Canals Tour
Bangkok's canal network (the klongs) was once the city's main transport system — and the best way to explore it is by long-tail boat. Tours depart from the Chao Phraya piers and wind through the narrow canals of Thonburi on the west bank, passing wooden houses on stilts, temples and orchid farms. A 1-hour tour costs approximately £10 per person.
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