[Bangkok, the amazing and vibrant capital of Thailand, is one of my favorite cities on our little planet. Beyond the amazing culture, food, kindness of the people, and much more, the blend of ancient architecture and traditions with the modern city is a paradise for travel lovers and photographers
I first wrote about Bangkok in 2021. My recent 2026 trip revealed new places that deserved to be included. It now combines mostly earlier photographs with fresh images, highlighting locations that extend beyond the city’s most famous downtown landmarks.
With many identities, from a holy city to the city of Sin 😅, it is, of course, difficult to pick the “best” spots, but here is my selection (in no specific order) with a photography bias
Samphran Dragon Temple
As an example of wonders beyond downtown Bangkok, Samphran Dragon Temple rises in Nakhon Pathom province, about one hour west of the capital.
This extraordinary temple is unlike anything else in Thailand, with its towering red/pink cylindrical structure wrapped by a colossal green dragon spiraling toward the rooftop shrine.
Colorful national flags line the grounds, symbolizing international harmony and reflecting the temple’s message of unity and peace among nations.
At the gate, a pair of towering dragons stand watch, setting a dramatic and almost surreal tone from the very first steps inside.
High above ground, near the dragon’s head, a small rooftop sanctuary welcomes worshippers who gather to receive blessings from the abbot while gazing over Nakhon Pathom’s landscape.
For once, I find myself in front of the lens rather than behind it, receiving a blessing — a rare moment where the photographer becomes part of the story 😂.
Marble Temple (Wat Benchama Bophit)
The Wat Benchama Bophit (Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram) was built only at the end of the 18th century and is therefore the most recent of the major temples in Bangkok. While smaller than others it is a must-see place if you like travel photography as it is quite unique with its white marble walls
It is particularly famous for the reflections of the beautiful temple on the marble floor. The ideal is to get there after a rain shower but even with a dry floor, this is pretty cool if you really bend very low in front of Buddha 😂…
You can find here beautiful photography perspectives in the courtyard of the temple with the 52 buddha statues (all different) that surround the marble courtyard
That spot is great at sunrise and sunset. Sunrise is best if you can get it before opening somehow but sunset offers as well nice photo opportunities from outside
Wat Arun
A classic must-see of any visit to Bangkok is Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn that sits on the western banks of the Chao Phraya River (just opposite to Wat Pho) in the old capital of Thonburi.
That majestic white temple with five towering prangs (towers) is covered with vibrant porcelain and colorful ceramic tiles, many of which look like pieces of foliage. And the Great Pagoda is really an impressive construction
It is beautiful early morning and late evening without the tourist buses and with great light
After being under scaffolding for a long time (I tried 5 times to get a proper sunset shooting there), it is now all finished to unlock one of the most iconic images of Bangkok, the Wat Arun sunset, from the opposite side of the Chao Praya riverbank.
Obviously, wait for the twilight, when the magic happens with the boat and temple lights …
Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen
A key reason for revisiting this old post is that iconic structures like the colossal Buddha of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen did not even exist when I first published the article in 2021!
Located in Bangkok’s Thonburi district, it is well worth arriving early, before opening hours, to enjoy the soft twilight light and unobstructed views from across the canal.
Rising approximately 69 meters high, the golden Buddha dominates the skyline and has quickly become one of Bangkok’s most striking modern religious monuments.
Within the same complex, Phra Maha Chedi Maha Ratchamongkhon features a radiant green glass stupa at its center, crowned by an elaborately detailed ceiling depicting cosmic imagery and Buddhist symbolism.
Grand Palace
While the victim of its magnificence (crowded with tourists -but unfortunately much fewer during the COVID time-), the Grand Palace is absolutely a must-see place in Bangkok
The royal chapel, Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), is probably one of the most iconic monuments in Thailand (out of many) for good reasons.
The Emerald Buddha itself is “just” a tiny Buddha (not an impressive shooting spot), but it is known as ‘the palladium of Thai society”. The Emerald Buddha is supposed to watch over the Thai nation as it is believed to bring legitimacy and prosperity to all those who possess it.
If you like travel photography, the Wat Phra Kaew will provide you with endless opportunities …
The Golden Kinnari statues all around are really stunning
And the amazing demon guardians statues everywhere are so beautiful!
Don’t forget to say hello to the beautiful golden Garuda sculptures around the chapel
Keep looking for perspectives on the amazing temples!
If you are a photographer or simply what to avoid the crowds, I strongly advise you to arrive before the opening and start around Wat Phra Kaew before the crowds of tourists arrive.
Take your time to explore all the wonders of the complex (minimum 2 or 3 hours), including some of the beautiful murals of Ramayana paintings around the Palace.
Asiatique Riverfront Night Market
Need a break from temples? Spend some time for something different at the “Asiatique: The Riverfront”) on the banks of the Chao Phraya River with a mix of stalls, restaurants, and entertainment.
To be honest, I ended there following a communication mistake with a taxi driver (on where I wanted to go for sunset shooting 😢), but this is still a nice spot for night photography
With more than a thousand stalls and around 50 food and drink bars and restaurants (including all the boring global chains), Asiatique is still a very popular and nice place for an evening, but not the most authentic of Bangkok obviously.
Erawan Museum and temple
Located in Samut Prakan, south of central Bangkok, the Erawan Museum stands out as a vividly ornate sanctuary far removed from the capital’s classic landmarks.
Atop the pink pedestal rises a monumental three-headed elephant, representing Airavata (sacred mount of Indra) and embodying cosmic harmony across the three worlds.
The interior unfolds around a richly decorated staircase that curves upward toward a spectacular stained-glass cupola, creating one of the most visually striking interiors in Thailand.
Despite the steady flow of devotees, it remains an excellent place to capture portraits of visitors dressed in traditional Thai attire who come here to pray and pay respects.
Beyond its monumental scale, the Erawan Museum blends spirituality, mythology, and theatrical architecture into one of the most distinctive cultural sites near Bangkok.
Ancient City open-air museum
From the Erawan Museum, it is only a short drive south to Muang Boran — the Ancient City — a vast outdoor complex designed to replicate Thailand’s most celebrated architectural landmarks.
I mention it for completeness, as it is extremely popular, but personally, I prefer discovering the authentic temples in their original settings.
That said, the site is undeniably photogenic, and if you are nearby, it is worth stopping to form your own opinion.
Wat Pho
This is another must-see eight-hectare temple complex on the bank of the Chao Phraya River just south of the Grand Palace.
The Wat Phra Chetuphon temple (or Wat Pho) is surrounding an amazing 46-meters (151 foot) long gold reclined buddha to whom it owes its official name, Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Ratchaworamahawihan.
This statue depicts Buddha on his deathbed, about to access parinirvana.
Watch for the small statues at the foot of the reclined Buddha. Those are offering photographers like me that like shooting buddhas covered with gold leaf providing beautiful pictures opportunities …
Wat Pho is also a renowned place to teach traditional Thai massage. Since 1962, it has hosted a renowned school of massage and traditional medicine and it is not rare to see monks at work (if you get out of mass tourist visits times)
That massive complex offers amazing perspectives…
Like for the Grand Palace, take the time to explore the (huge) temple complex. Try to find the stunning lines of gold, seated Buddhas, with beautiful wall and ceiling paintings.
As a photographer, the blend of gold and black Buddha statues with orange and saffron yellow robes are worth the visit on their own.
So, keep exploring the complex for more wonders…
Floating markets
While getting very touristic and honestly less traditional, floating markets remain however great places to visit like the famous Damnoen Saduak floating market below (from the previous post, I did not go back that time as it is one hour away from downtown).
If you’re a photographer, this will offer endless travel photography and portrait opportunities.
Ratchaprarop Tower Mansion rooftop
For a completely different perspective on Bangkok’s modern side, the Ratchaprarop rooftop offers sweeping views over the city’s tangled expressways, glowing in the early morning light.
Access requires advance registration and payment at the building’s business office — a slightly laborious process, but one that grants entry to a truly unique viewpoint.
The web of highways below reflects decades of intense urban development, showcasing how the infrastructure has grown vertically to support one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic megacities.
From a Ratchaprarop rooftop, Bangkok’s elevated expressways sweep across the skyline, forming layered curves above the dense urban landscape
Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan (Loh Presat)
The Wat Ratchanatdaram is a Royal temple best known for the Loha Prasat (“Metal Castle”), a very unique structure in Bangkok. It has 37 black metal spires symbolizing the 37 virtues that are required to reach enlightenment, and it is a cool place for photography
Some of the architectural details are really beautiful
A good time to visit is, as always, during golden hours, when you might look for reflections of the golden spires on the floor
Wat Saket golden mountain (Phy Khao Thong)
Wat Saket is a Golden Buddhist temple, built on an artificial hill of 75 m (hence his nickname of Golden Mountain Temple). It is a popular place for sunset/overview on the city but I like the view from.the Wat Ratchanatdaram
Explore the river Khlongs
As flagged in a previous post about Bangkok, I advise you to rent a private long-tail boat and get for a few hours in the authentic canals (Khlongs)
You’ll discover people real life and beautiful travel photography opportunities like the many tiny floating boat shops all around
Chinatown
Chinatown lies on the elongated Yaowarat Road in Bangkok and is known for its many shops and Chinese medicine sellers. This is really a cool spot for travel lovers and photographers
Obviously, the covid masks make street shooting a bit less appealing but this is still a great place to explore with its many narrow busy side streets with food stalls, restaurants, and market stalls.
One of the iconic Bangkok landmarks for world travelers is Yaowarat Road at twilight, with its amazing neon lights
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The atmosphere and the “organized chaos” of that wonderful place make it a great place for photography as well
One of my favorite spots is the Chinatown Gate, beautiful from above with the car light trails. As I could not negotiate the access with the car park guard, a big thanks to Camilla from the Over the Influence beautiful modern art gallery, which allows me to access her rooftop to get that shoot
Rooftops skylines
There are many amazing rooftop view opportunities in Bangkok if you know people who can give you access to some buildings.
The easiest (and safest) are obviously the many bars and restaurants with amazing views like the one below. For photographers, a tripod is not often allowed in most bars, unfortunately, so I advise you to bring a rice bag from the market to stabilize your camera. The hotel you stay in might be an easier one to negotiate with to get access during sunset or sunrise (like the Intercontinental roof below on that trip)
Anyway, the different viewpoints from different rooftops with a drink can provide you with an endless collection of magic panoramas …. see you soon again Bangkok …
Love these images?
Selected photographs from this journey are available as fine art prints and for licensing on Shootplanet.com galleries link:
THAILAND
NB: The website galleries showcase only a small selection of photographs from my journeys. All images featured in the article are also available as fine art prints or for licensing.
Please contact me at marcturcan@shootplanet.com for further information.
