Rattanakosin & Thonburi

Resplendent riverside temples and strikingly polished palaces
Word to the wise: To get to Thonburi from Rattanakosin, take the Chao Phraya Express Boat.

Packed with golden temples and grand monuments, historic Rattanakosin is one of the most popular areas of the city—so prepare yourself for the crowds of visitors who flock here daily to marvel at the gilded Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Phra Kaew. But it's not just snap-happy tourists who populate this spirited area: worshiping forms a fundamental part of day-to-day life in Bangkok so expect to see locals paying homage to the gods in the most spectacular of surroundings.
When you've exhausted yourself temple-hopping, nip across the river to Thonburi—Bangkok's reputed birthplace, home of Wat Arun and the one-time capital of Siam. Despite still being one of the most densely populated areas of the city, the pace here is far more peaceful and distinctly traditional, with floating vendors on twisting canals replacing the expressways and motorbikes of the city centre.