Golden temples, guardian spirits and a river that tells the whole story.
Bangkok was born in 1782, when Rama I founded Rattanakosin on the east bank of the Chao Phraya, and ever since it has kept adding palaces, porcelain-clad temples, Chinese shrines and streets that never sleep. Three free walking routes to explore its history, its mysteries and the city's highlights, at your own pace.
Choose your free tour
All routes are free and can be combined. If it’s your first visit, start with the mixed route.
From the pillar that founded the city to the golden hill, by way of Rama I's city walls and the monument to the 1932 revolution.
Spirit houses, the Golden Buddha that spent centuries disguised in plaster, the city's oldest-claimed Chinese shrine and the alleys of Sampeng.
The Grand Palace, Wat Pho's Reclining Buddha, Museum Siam, Tha Tien pier and the boat ride across to Wat Arun.
The map
The routes cross in the old town. Tap a point to see which story awaits you there.
Filled points already have a published article; the rest are in the works.
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Itineraries
We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.
All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.
See the itinerary 2A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.
See the itinerary 3The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.
See the itineraryWhat to eat
The dishes you can’t leave without trying, and the classic spots that have been serving them for years.
Rice noodles stir-fried in a wok with tamarind, prawns, egg, tofu, peanuts and bean sprouts. Thipsamai has been serving it since 1939 by the old Ghost Gate, and its version wrapped in a paper-thin omelette is famous. Perfect for lunch after coming down from the Golden Mount.
Where to try it
Rice noodles rolled into little tubes in a pork broth sharp with white pepper, with crispy pork belly and offal. It's a Teochew dish from Chinatown; Nai Ek started out as a pushcart in the 1960s and stays open late, ideal for dinner after the mystery route.
Where to try it
A thick, golden omelette stuffed with crab meat, cooked over a fierce charcoal fire by the famous Jay Fai, who works in ski goggles and holds a Michelin star. She usually opens only during the day and not every day, with queues lasting hours: check her social media before you go.
Where to try it
Thailand's most famous soup: a hot and sour broth with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, chilli and river prawns. At T&K, one of the classic seafood spots on Phadung Dao Road, you eat at pavement tables amid the nighttime buzz of Yaowarat.
Where to try it
Sticky rice cooked with coconut milk, both salty and sweet, served with ripe mango. Kor Panich has been making it since 1932 on Tanao Road, near the Democracy Monument. Perfect as a dessert or afternoon treat, with an ice-cold cha yen, Thai milk tea.
Where to try it
