Old City: The Layover Answer for Non-Shopaholics

Ricardo and I had less than two days to kill in Bangkok. So, we decided to spend the time in the Old City district.

Our destination, known to the locals as Rattanakosin, is an island flanked by the Chao Phraya and man-made waterways. In the 1780s, when Thai's capital was moved from Thonburi to Bangkok, Rattanakosin became the country's primary seat of administration.
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Our day started on foot from The Royal Princess Larn Luang Hotel (a pretty good place to stay I must add). Our destination - the Grand Palace complex - which is the heart of the Old City district.

Following the direction provided by the concierge, we walked past markets, a memorial building, several places of worship and maybe, a monk quarters. It took us a good one hour or so to get to the Grand Palace because we were just taking our time, doing the typical touristy activity of  taking photos - of everything!

Due to Rattanakosin's historical past, the Grand Palace complex, is filled with symbolic monuments, and grand architectural designs ranging from pavilions to temples. So if you're like me - one who is more interested in history and architecture than shopping (well, most of the time, anyway) - the Old City was an apt layover solution.

Note: If you're exploring the Old City on foot, you will have no problem identifying the Grand Palace complex - be it night or day. Located next to the Sanam Luang public square, it is all grandeur, with the shimmering Wat Phra Keaw (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and majestic Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha and is also Thai's leading massage university). On a bright sunny day, the whole complex area just sparkles and glitters under the sun.

5 things to do at the Old City:

1. Half a day exploration of the Grand Palace complex (it is just that big!)
2. At step 1 - get a foot massage at Wat Pho (definitely worth the time)
3. Take a river boat and cruised along the Chao Phraya 
4. Get on a shuttle boat to Wat Arun (less the glitter, yet more beautiful, in my eyes)
5. Explore Khao San Road - the backpacker's central made famous by "The Beach"

Sights around the Old City

Snippets of Wat Pho

Snippets of the Chao Phraya River Cruise

Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun) at noon