3 Best Sights in Bangkok, Thailand

This is one of Bangkok's most revered spots and one of its most visited. King Rama I built this walled city in 1782, when he moved the capital across the river from Thonburi. The palace and adjoining structures only got more opulent as subsequent monarchs added their own touches. The grounds are open to visitors, but the buildings are not. They're used only for state occasions and royal ceremonies. On rare occasions, rooms in the Chakri Maha Prasat Palace—considered the official residence of the king, even though he does not live here—are sometimes open to visitors. Admission for the complex includes entrance to Dusit Palace Park. Note, proper attire (no flip-flops, shorts, or bare shoulders or midriffs) is required, if you forget, you will be loaned unflattering but more demure shirts and shoes at the entrance (deposit required). You can buy tickets online.

All Thai kings since Rama V have resided at this sprawling palace compound, where the residential part of the property is sometimes referred to as Chitralada Royal Villa. Although it's closed to the public, the surrounding walls and moat are a lovely sight, especially when lighted to celebrate royal-related holidays. The extensive grounds shelter a small herd of royal white elephants and a farm established by the late Rama IX, although these can't be seen from outside. A small, beautifully designed train station reserved for royal use can be seen along the rail line parallel to Kamphaeng Phet 5 Road.

Eight antique teak houses built high on columns sit amid the undulating lawns and shimmering lotus pools of this lush complex. The houses, which exhibit porcelain, stone heads, traditional paintings, and Buddha statues, were dismantled at their original sites and reassembled here. At the back of the garden is the serene Lacquer Pavilion, worth a look for its gold-covered paneling with scenes from the life of the Buddha. Academics and historians debate how old the murals are—whether they're from the reign of King Narai (1656–88) or from the first reign of the current Chakri Dynasty, founded by King Rama I (1782–1809).