Walking Day Tour of Bangkok

There's a lot to see and do in and around Bangkok, Thailand. But the top three tourist destinations in Bangkok are all within walking distance of each other and can be seen in one full day.

It's fairly easy to start with the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Keao and end at Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). Depending on where you stay and weather conditions, it's possible to begin the day's tour with a walk from the hotel-I managed to take the long walk from my guesthouse near Khao San Road. Visitors should prepare with sunscreen and plenty of water because the Grand Palace and temples are mostly outdoor activities with little shade or relief from the humidity.

Travelers should dress appropriately as all of these sites are sacred to Thai people. Be prepared to remove your shoes whenever you go inside a building-it can get particularly annoying as you walk in and out of buildings around the Grand Palace. You should start this tour early to avoid larger crowds at the Grand Palace and take your time so you can catch the sunset from Wat Arun, which provides the best view across the Chao Phraya River.

The Grand Palace has been the residence of Thai kings and queens since the 18th century, but is no longer the residence of King Rama IX and Queen Sirikit Kitiyakara, who live in Chitralada Palace. It is now the most popular tourist destination in Bangkok. The palace grounds contain some of the most amazing architecture and historical Thai artistry-murals of Thailand's history adorn the hallways. Inside the walls of the Grand Palace is Wat Phra Keao (Emerald Buddha Temple). The space for the palace and temple is enormous, and it will take the average visitor more than two hours to see most of it.

After exiting the Grand Palace is an ideal time to stop at a local restaurant for a light lunch and cold drinks. There are plenty of restaurants and shops between the two destinations, and some of them may be air conditioned.

Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhlaram Ratchaworamahawihan (Temple of the Reclining Buddha), more commonly known as Wat Pho, houses a reclining Buddha that measures 46 meters long and fifteen meters high. This is one of the oldest and largest temples in Bangkok. The Buddha's feet are inlaid with mother-of-pearl depictions of Buddha. It is extremely difficult to capture the entire Buddha in a single photograph.

From Wat Pho, you can catch a river taxi for less than 50 cents across the Chao Phraya River to the Khmer-style Wat Arun. Very few taxis and tuk-tuks will drive across the river to take you there. This is generally the least crowded of the three sites and it is entirely outdoors. Unlike the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, there is very little on the grounds around the temple. Tourists are invited to climb up the steps of the temple and view Bangkok as the sun sets. From the top of Wat Arun, you can take some magnificent photos of the Grand Palace with the Chao Phraya River in the foreground.

There are river taxis that will take visitors back across the river near Wat Pho. Or, visitors can take other river taxis to alternate locations along the river, such as Phra Arthit Pier near Sumen Fort and Khao San Road.