Bangkok

The capital is loud, hot, beautiful, and impossible to see in a single trip. The Grand Palace and Wat Pho are the headline sights; Wat Arun across the Chao Phraya is best viewed from the river at sunset. Chatuchak Weekend Market is the largest in Asia and a full-day commitment. The river ferries are the most efficient way to move between the old city and the modern centre, and a long-tail boat tour into the Thonburi canals shows the older, water-borne city most visitors miss. Eat boat noodles at least once, and an entire dinner at a street stall at least twice.

Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew at golden hour with ornate gilded spires and emerald glass mosaic chedis catching warm afternoon light, traditional Thai roof finials silhouetted against soft cumulus clouds — Grand Palace at golden hour.

Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, at dusk with the towering Khmer-style prang covered in colorful porcelain and seashell mosaic illuminated above the Chao Phraya River under a deep purple twilight sky, long-tail boat passing in the foreground — Wat Arun at twilight.

Slender wooden long-tail boat with a roaring outboard engine cutting across the Chao Phraya River at sunset, distant temple spires and the modern Bangkok skyline silhouetted against a fiery orange sky — Long-tail boat at sunset.

Yaowarat Chinatown at night, narrow street choked with food carts and red-and-gold Chinese signage glowing in neon, dense crowd weaving between tuk-tuks and steam rising from woks — Yaowarat at night.

Khao San Road at night, a packed backpacker street lined with pad thai carts, bars, and tattoo parlors, neon signs reflecting on wet pavement after a tropical rain — Khao San Road after rain.

Chatuchak Weekend Market with narrow covered alleys overflowing with textiles, antiques, and street food, hot midday light slipping through tarpaulin roofs as locals and tourists shop shoulder to shoulder — Chatuchak Weekend Market.

Jim Thompson House garden, a traditional teakwood Thai house surrounded by lush tropical foliage and a quiet klong canal, soft afternoon light filtering through banana leaves — Jim Thompson House garden.

Wat Saket Golden Mount at blue hour, the gleaming gold chedi atop the artificial hill ringed by prayer bells, illuminated city skyline below under a deep cobalt sky — Wat Saket Golden Mount at blue hour.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Ratchaburi, wooden sampans laden with mangoes, dragon fruit, and steaming coconut soup, vendors in straw hats trading on a narrow canal in warm morning light, a popular day trip from Bangkok — Damnoen Saduak floating market — a day trip from Bangkok.

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