What to see in Thailand: 10 interesting places to visit

If you've made it here, you can be sure you'll have a blast. Beach in the morning, royal palaces and temples in the afternoon, dancing and flexible girls' bodies in the evening — this is the schedule of approximately every vacation day in the Land of a Thousand Smiles. Here are the top 10 best attractions Thailand according to the "Bangkok and Pattaya" guidebook for the "Orange Guide" series.

1. Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha

The heart of the Siamese monarchy and Thai Buddhism marvels in gleaming gold and glistens in the sun with snow-white marble to the point of tears in the eyes.

Once it was a royal palace, but the king moved out, leaving behind a museum — a vast complex of more than a hundred buildings and temples in the very heart of Bangkok. For most visitors, the Grand Palace is where their introduction to the “Land of a Thousand Smiles” begins. The country’s most important temple, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, houses the monarchy’s greatest treasure: a small (only 66 cm) statue of Buddha carved from a single piece of green jadeite. The inner side of the two-kilometre wall surrounding the temple is covered with murals depicting scenes from the Thai version of the Ramayana epic.

2. Ayutthaya

For four centuries, Ayutthaya was the permanent capital of Siam and one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world, until it fell to the Burmese army in 1767.

The city was destroyed and abandoned by the inhabitants. Ayutthaya is now a World Heritage Site, and its symbol is the Buddha's head framed by the roots of trees growing on the ancient ruins. A stroll through the green lawns surrounded by temple stupas and long rows of stone Buddhas in orange cloaks is especially calming.

3. Wat Po Temple of the Lying Buddha

A huge 46-meter-high figure of Buddha, completely covered in gold leaf, lies on his side, symbolizing the transition to the state of nirvana.

Wat Po was once the birthplace of traditional Thai medicine, and there are still massage parlors around the temple, where idle tourists combine sightseeing with relaxation.

4. Wat Arun Towers

This temple is especially beautiful at sunrise because it is dedicated to Arun, the Indian god of the morning dawn.

It is important to go beyond the view from the river and climb the 82-meter-high dome of Wat Arun to view the delicate glazed ceramic floral ornamentation at its top.

5. Walking street

Pattaya's main nightlife artery.

Hundreds of pubs, go-go clubs and massage parlors have deservedly made Woking Street world famous as the sex capital of Thailand.

6. Dusit Park Palaces

Dusit Park was created by King Rama V in an attempt to recreate European palace parks.

Back in Siam, Rama V bought up empty rice fields and started building. It began with the construction of the world's largest teak wood building, the three-story Vinamnek Palace, built without a single nail. This was followed by the Abhisek Throne Hall, decorated with fine Moorish lace. Toward the end, it was the turn of Ananda Samokhom, a palace with a dome in true European style. The palace zoo can be neglected.

7. Bangkok's canals

The best way to discover Bangkok's klongs (canals) is to take a ride on a long-tail passenger boat.

It's a roller coaster ride: narrow, long motorboats make tight turns at full throttle and dive under low bridges, whizzing along narrow canals between rows of houses on stilts and floating marketplaces.

8. Myang Boran Ethnographic Park

It's impossible to cover the vastness of trying to get around the whole country in one vacation. But you can make it to the ancient town of Myang Boran Park, where models of all the country's historical monuments are assembled.

By skillfully using the zoom of your camera, you can bring home a lot of "me in front of the temple" photos, and your friends will never guess that the temple is barely waist-high.

9. Nong Nuch Tropical Garden

The territory of the botanical garden is huge, and its collections are to match it: the largest collection of butterflies with the largest butterfly in the world, the largest palmonarium, the largest collection of orchids.

10. The collection of the Chinese Museum at Wat Yang Temple

There are statues of Shaolin monks and clay sculptures of terracotta warriors, carved furniture and rich paintings.