The Best Things to Do on Khao San Road, Bangkok

Beside the main strip of guesthouses in Banglamphu is the shopping bazaar of Thanon Khao San Market. Here you’ll find cheap, luminous T-shirts and chic, trendy purses alongside contraband items such as bootleg DVDs and fake ID cards. It’s an Aladdin’s cave of homemade goods, quaint Buddha statues, fake leather and flimsy phone cases; be sure to barter for the best price, as some vendors can be dishonest when it comes to haggling with tourists. This is a top place to wander around and explore the bric-a-brac stalls of Bangkok, and if all this shopping has made you hungry, there are stalls offering refreshing orange juice and golden corn cobs on every corner.

Bangkok’s Ghost Tower is a structure boasting magnificent panoramic views and is an eerie, unfinished high-rise complex representing the dashed dreams of the city. The tower was 80 percent completed when the 1997 Asian financial crisis hit, a devastation which left this and many other Thai skyscraper projects incomplete. Sathorn Unique Tower, as it is known by its proper name, was planned to house 47 storeys of luxury apartments, all designed by renowned architect Rangsan Torsuwan. A contemporary and modern feature in a landscape of ancient and golden temples, the haunting qualities of this desolate site draws tourists in droves and is a sad reminder of the innovation and sophistication Bangkok almost achieved, but didn’t.

Thailand is not known for its museums, but the National Gallery just beside Khao San Road is a beacon of art and culture in Bangkok. This old colonial building once served as a royal household during the reign of King Rama V, and is now the setting for a rotation of temporary exhibits that illustrate the hardships and beauty of Thai life. Watch out for old black and white photographs of Bangkok, as well as some stunning and intricately woven ancient tapestries.

Wat Chana Songkhram is an 18th-century Buddhist temple with a name translating to Temple of Victory in War. Although it is not an especially famous example, it nevertheless has appeal, with its grand, golden interior and long history. Here visitors will find shiny, gilded designs and well as ornate colourings, and remarkably, the place manages to maintain a serene atmosphere despite being across the road from notoriously noisy Khao San Road. A place of tranquillity and prayer for locals, a visit to Wat Chana Songkhram provides a perfect slice of peace and quiet away from the surrounding busy streets.

Bangkok has more beautiful Buddhist temples than you will ever see in your lifetime, but make sure you visit one or two. Wat Bowonniwet is the residence of the Mahamakut Buddhist University, a royal-affiliated monastery and the national centre for the Thammayut sect of Buddhism. Still active and of national importance, the temple also provided the setting for the ordination of the present king. Wat Bowonniwet exudes a casual, laid-back atmosphere, and the pretty murals here artistically illustrate the influences westerners have on Thai life.

Just around the corner from Khao San Road is a majestic memorial dedicated to those who died under the military dictatorship on 14 October 1973, while demonstrating peacefully against the government. The event remains controversial, and the photographs on display illustrate the deaths of more than 70 activists. There’s a tranquil amphitheatre here where civilians still gather for non-violent protests, and for travellers seeking a true taste of Thai culture and politics, this is a gloomy yet thought-provoking must-see.