A Guide to Bangkok’s Old Town: What to See, Do, and Eat!

Discover why Bangkok’s Old Town should be your new area to conquer in Thailand!

Every traveller goes to the Old Town for a tour of the glitzy Grand Palace, but did you know there’s so much more to explore in this historic part of the city?

Located by the banks of the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok’s Old Town is often associated with Rattanakosin Island and the wider Phra Nakhon district. It is home to royal landmarks, temples, museums, longstanding communities and a growing mix of cafes, galleries and bars.

As you start your venture into this remarkable district, prepare to enter an area shaped by Thai royal history, local communities and layers of cultural influence.

How to get there:

If you’re not already staying within the Old Town, here are directions on how to arrive at this district.

The MRT Blue Line now provides one of the easiest ways to reach the area. Alight at Sanam Chai Station for Wat Pho, Pak Khlong Talat and the southern side of the Grand Palace, or Sam Yot Station for attractions around Wang Burapha, the Giant Swing and the eastern side of the Old Town.

For a more scenic journey, take the BTS to Saphan Taksin Station and leave through Exit 2. Walk to Sathorn Pier and board a Chao Phraya Express Boat or Chao Phraya Tourist Boat. Alight at Tha Chang for the Grand Palace or Tha Tien for Wat Pho.

The best would be to start near the Grand Palace, which is the centre of the Old Town!

Best things to do in Bangkok Old Town

1. Visit the Gate Guardians of Wat Phra Kaew

Image credit: @laura_clarc & @jjeune11

Let Rattanakosin’s gate guardians give you a warm welcome to the Old Town! Start off your journey in the heart of the district with a visit to Wat Phra Kaew, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

Wat Phra Kaew stands within the Grand Palace complex. The wider palace is traditionally divided into the Outer, Middle and Inner Courts, while the temple occupies its own section. Once the royal residence, the Grand Palace is now primarily used for ceremonies, state functions and official events rather than as the current home of the royal family.

Image credit: Hanny Naibaho | Unsplash

As you walk through each section, prepare to be enamoured by elaborate carvings, pagodas and paintings throughout the temple.

The complex normally opens daily from 8.30am to 4.30pm, with ticket sales ending at 3.30pm. Foreign admission currently costs ฿500. Royal ceremonies can result in partial or complete closures, so check the official calendar before visiting.

Visitors must dress respectfully, with shoulders and knees covered. Instead of relying on outdated third-party tour links, consider hiring a licensed guide or using the official information available at the complex.

2. Sniff fresh flowers

Near Memorial Bridge and Chak Phet Road is Pak Khlong Talat, Bangkok’s largest wholesale flower market. It remains active 24 hours a day and is busiest late at night and before dawn, when fresh deliveries arrive and vendors prepare flowers for the day ahead.

There, you can marvel at the colourful blossoms of freshly picked flowers!

3. Devour street food

Image credit: @eat_yolo_

You know what they say – street food is one of the best ways to explore the flavours of a city! Walk along the streets of the Old Town to find local favourites cooked up by individuals who are truly masters of their craft.

4. Experience a Spanish Tasca – but with Thai flavours!

Image credit: Ola Thai Tapas

Olá Thai Tapas is a bar and cafe that features the Spanish cuisine concept of tapas with famous authentic Thai cuisine. Its menu has expanded beyond the original description, combining Thai flavours with tapas, tacos and other international influences.

Offering drinks, food and a darts area, this place is a casual option for lunch, dinner or evening drinks in the Wang Burapha area. Recent listings state opening hours of approximately 11am to 11pm, but check the restaurant’s social channels for its current weekly schedule.

Address: 18/1 Charoen Krung Road, Wang Burapha Phirom, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200

Nearest MRT station: Sam Yot

5. Immerse yourself in books, teas and coffees

Image credit: @phrangthongj | Instagram

Imagine finding peace and quiet away from bustling Bangkok. In this tiny sanctuary, what greets you is a fine selection of teas, coffees and cakes. Oh, and perhaps what gets us most excited – books!

Image credit: @phrangthongj

Tucked in a street corner of Old Town is the Passport Bookshop, where dreams come alive for book lovers. Find a book to read — they have English and Thai titles — get yourself a quiet space and order a coffee! Doesn’t that sound like the perfect midday break from exploring the streets of Bangkok?

Passport Bookshop remains active but has moved from the Phra Sumen Road address published in the original article. The independent shop now occupies a narrow shophouse in Samran Rat and continues to specialise in thoughtfully selected literature, travel writing and books about Southeast Asia.

Address: 28 Soi Samran Rat, Samran Rat, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, approximately 11.30am to 7pm; closed on Mondays

6. Discover local artistic talent at the Queen’s Gallery

Image credit: @flyingsky_fai

The Queen’s Gallery, formally named in honour of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, was established in 2003 following her wish to create a permanent venue supporting Thai artists.

This gallery dedicates itself to showcasing local artwork. Its rotating programme includes exhibitions by established artists, emerging talent and art students, so what you see will depend on the dates of your visit.

Current visitor information lists admission at ฿50, with the gallery closed on Wednesdays. Exhibition installations and special events may affect its operating hours, so check the current programme before travelling.

Address: 101 Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, Wat Bowon Niwet, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200

7. Bottoms up by the riverside

Image credit: @bling__tae

One of Old Town’s biggest perks is its riverside view. Sala Rattanakosin Bangkok remains an excellent place to enjoy dinner or drinks opposite Wat Arun.

The property’s riverfront eatery serves meals throughout the day, while its open-air rooftop bar offers cocktails, Thai craft beers, wine and light bites with views towards Wat Arun and Wat Pho.

Sunset is one of the most popular times to visit, so reserve ahead if you want a table with a clear river view. The rooftop is accessed by stairs and may close temporarily because of rain or other weather conditions.

Address: 39 Maha Rat Road, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200

8. Launch into Thailand’s history

Image credit: udexvivorum

At the National Museum Bangkok, expect an extensive collection covering Thai archaeology, art, royal history and traditional culture.

Take a stroll down Thai history here through relics which include weaponry and even musical instruments!

The museum occupies the former Wang Na, or Front Palace, and contains galleries covering periods from prehistoric Thailand to the Rattanakosin era. Allow at least two hours if you want to explore more than the principal exhibition halls.

It currently opens from Wednesday to Sunday and on most public holidays from 9am to 4pm. It is generally closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, New Year’s Day and during the Songkran holiday. Admission costs ฿200 for foreign visitors.

Address: 4 Na Phra That Road, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200

9. Sleep & snap at Baan Wan Chart

If you’re looking to stay within easy reach of Old Town’s attractions, Baan Wanchart remains bookable near the Democracy Monument and Ratchadamnoen Road.

Image credit: @kornsexy

Address: 152/1 Prachathipatai Road, Ban Phan Thom, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200

10. Get cosy in a traditional Sino-Thai neighbourhood

Image credit: 1905 Heritage Corner

What better way to become one with the city’s old charm than to stay in a century-old residence?

1905 Heritage Corner promises to bring you back in time — to the year 1905, to be exact.

The individual guesthouse should not be described as a residence personally built by King Chulalongkorn. Instead, it occupies a carefully restored shophouse within Phraeng Phuthon, a preserved neighbourhood developed around 1905 under King Chulalongkorn’s reign.

Image credit: 1905 Heritage Corner

Four years later, what looks like an old shophouse from outside is transformed into a magnetic delight of colonial-meets-modern aesthetic.

Image credit: 1905 Heritage Corner

Charmingly situated in an officially preserved neighbourhood, this luxury guesthouse started with the dream of its two Thai-born founders — to preserve remaining buildings together with their original communities.

Today, the property operates as a small luxury guesthouse with only three ensuite rooms. Its interiors retain historic architectural details while introducing modern comforts, creating a more intimate experience than a conventional hotel.

Image credit: 1905 Heritage Corner

Wake up your senses by visiting one of the oldest morning fresh markets in Old Bangkok. Catch the locals as they go about their morning hustle and experience the liveliness of Trok Mor Market.

The market remains a short walk from the guesthouse and is best visited in the morning for prepared dishes, fresh produce, curries and local snacks.

So, what are you waiting for? If what you’re looking for is an accommodation option that offers an eclectic mix of tradition and modernity, located right in the heart of a traditional neighbourhood, 1905 Heritage Corner remains one of Old Bangkok’s most distinctive small stays.

Address: 66–68 Phraeng Phuthon Road, San Chao Pho Suea,