Top Reasons to Go

The Canals: They don't call it "Venice of the East" for nothing. Sure, boat tours are touristy, but the sights, from Khmer wats to bizarre riverside dwellings, are rare and wonderful.

Street Food: Bangkok may have the best street food in the world. Don't be afraid to sample the more exotic offerings. They're often fresher and better than the food you'd get at a hotel restaurant.

Amazing Shopping: Some of Asia's most high-tech malls sell high-end designer goods in amazing settings.

Sky-High Sipping: "Bar with a view" is taken to the extreme when you sip martinis in open-air spaces atop lofty towers.

Temple-Gazing: From the venerable Wat Po to the little wats that don't make it into guidebooks, Bangkok's collection of temples is hard to top.