Explore Thailand: 10 Unforgettable Bangkok Sights

Few places possess the unique combination of hidden treasures, bucket list appeal and out-of-the-ordinary experiences like Thailand. Today, its everlasting popularity comes to the forefront in the third season of the hit streaming series “The White Lotus.” The show’s rich imagery makes destinations such as glittering Bangkok as much a character as Parker Posey’s portrayal of the memorable Victoria Ratliff.

Not only does Oceania Cruises take you to all the destinations featured in the show, including the best sights in Bangkok, but does so at an exceptional value with a variety of tours to experience all that the city has to offer. Among the 10 most unforgettable experiences are several must-see sights.

1. Pick a Temple, Any Temple
   Among the city’s most beloved attractions are its temples catering to a variety of spiritual traditions, and several have become Oceania Cruises guest favorites.
• Bangkok’s most dramatic temple, Wat Arun, is known as the Temple of Dawn and features a soaring tower-like spire covered with porcelain mosaics that reflect the rays of the sun.
• Wat Pho, referred to as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, holds the country’s largest statue of a reclining Buddha.
• At Wat Traimit, the Temple of the Golden Buddha, the massive statue of Buddha was once covered with plaster to hide its gold composition from invaders.
• Inside the Grand Palace complex, the Buddha at Wat Phra Kaew, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is carved from a single piece of emerald-green jasper.
• With its white Italian marble, Wat Benchamabophit is one of Bangkok's most significant and beautiful temples, earning the moniker Marble Temple.
• You also may want to climb the 320 steps to Wat Saket, a Buddhist temple atop the only hill in Bangkok, or visit the incredible Wat Suthat, guarded by the Giant Swing known as Sao Ching Cha.
2. There’s Nothing Grander than the Grand Palace
   One of the most popular attractions in Bangkok, the Grand Palace is an ancient Siamese court from the Chakri Dynasty and has served as the residence of Thailand’s kings since 1782. Be sure to notice the murals on the walls of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha that depict the life of Buddha and steps to enlightenment.
3. Relax and Discover the Soul of Bangkok
   Understand the essence of Bangkok on a relaxing Wellness Discovery Tour by Aquamar. Choose to cruise the Chao Phraya River on a classic deep-bottom rice barge and enjoy the benefits of a therapeutic reflexology foot massage. Or at a Buddhist temple surrounded by lotus ponds, enhance your own meditation techniques with a monk who will instruct you in enlightening new techniques.
4. A Capital Idea
   Just outside Bangkok, peek into the past splendor of the Siamese kingdom in the 14th-century city of Ayutthaya, the realm’s capital until 1767 and an acclaimed UNESCO World Heritage site. Don’t miss the Buddhist temple Wat Mahathat and, on an island in the middle of a lake, the royal summer palace of Bang Pa-In.
5. Join the Raw Food Movement
   Unleash your inner chef with an exclusive hands-on Oceania Cruises cooking class at May Kaidee restaurant where, with an expert chef’s guidance, you’ll learn to make Thai delicacies such as banana flower salad, seaweed rolls with a carrot dipping sauce and tom yam soup. Naturally, dining on your creations is the highlight of the experience.

6. Get Your Art On
   Bangkok is an art lover’s paradise. The Prasart Museum features real estate tycoon Prasart Vongsakul’s jaw-dropping private collection of Thai porcelain, pottery, paintings and furnishings. The gardens, populated with dozens of Buddha statues, provide an oasis of serenity thanks to a lotus pond that may bring to mind a certain TV show. At the Arts of the Kingdom Museum, see the handiwork of the country’s craftspeople, including diamond encrusted and inlaid silver creations, embroidered silk panels and even a golden sailing junk.
7. Shop Morning to Midnight
   If shopping is your thing, start your day at the bustling morning market in the Silom district for a glimpse into daily Thai life. You’ll find everything from grilled river fish to papaya salad and sticky rice desserts. Then as the sun sets, explore nearly 1,500 storefronts and stalls at Asiatique, a vibrant open-air night market with sweeping skyline views along the banks of the Chao Phraya River.
8. Cycle the Lungs of Bangkok
   Join a Wellness Discovery Tour by Aquamar and take a relaxing bike ride through Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park, a lovely urban oasis known to locals as the Lungs of Bangkok thanks to the many plantings, trees and flower beds that provide a respite from the surrounding city.
9. Ride Like a Local
   A common conveyance in Bangkok and loved by both visitors and locals alike, tuk-tuks are an easy and exhilarating ride. Concerned about going it alone? Join an Oceania Cruises Exclusive Excursion featuring an emission-free electric tuk-tuk ride and navigate the busy streets like a pro.
10. The Charms and Cuisine of Chinatown
    While Oceania Cruises is proud to offer a selection of local Thai dishes as part of its destination-focused regional cuisine program, if you’re feeling adventurous, visit Bangkok’s Chinatown for some dim sum-style dumplings stuffed with a variety of meats and vegetables, served in the acclaimed restaurants among the colonial buildings lining Yaowarat Road.

While “The White Lotus” might help you imagine what it’s like to visit an exotic destination like Bangkok, Oceania Cruises can make those dreams reality. Discover why Thailand has become the hottest destination in Asia and how Bangkok has become its crown jewel.

Ready to start planning your trip? Check out these cruises that visit this vibrant capital:

Oceania Riviera Paper Lantern Luminaries: October 22 – November 6, 2025, 15 Days from Hong Kong to Bangkok

Malaysian Memories: November 6 – November 18, 2025, 12 Days from Bangkok to Singapore

Oceania Sirena Glorious Southeast Asia: December 26, 2025 – January 5, 2026, 10 Days from Singapore to Bangkok - Holiday Cruise

Exotic Asian Kingdoms: January 5 – January 19, 2026, 14 Days from Bangkok to Bali

Treasured Temples of Asia: January 19 – February 6, 2026, 18 Days from Bali to Hong Kong

Lands of Buddha: February 6 – February 21, 2026, 15 Days from Hong Kong to Bangkok

Enclaves of Indochina: February 21 – March 11, 2026, 18 Days from Bangkok to Mumbai

Oceania Nautica Temples & Tropical Isles: November 13 – November 23, 2026, 10 Days from Bangkok to Singapore

Lanterns & Lotuses: December 7 – December 21, 2026, 14 Days from Bali to Hong Kong

Oceania Regatta Indochina Revelations: January 25 – February 9, 2026, 15 Days from Singapore to Hong Kong

When will you next visit Bangkok with Oceania Cruises? Tell us on Facebook.