Grand Palace

Built by King Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok (known as Rama I) who was also the founder of the current royal dynasty, this palace used to house the royal court until 1925. Today, most of it serves as a museum and is open to the public.

The palace is, in fact, a large complex of buildings. There are many individual palaces, gardens, halls and courtyards. It is divided into three main zones - the Outer Court houses the royal offices and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which is the main draw for tourists with its gigantic statue of Buddha. The Middle Court is home to residential and state buildings, and the last section of the complex, known as the Inner Court, is a private area reserved for the king and the queen.

A strict dress code applies to all visitors so be sure to check the rules in advance. Also, due to its massive popularity, the Grand Royal Palace gets crowded quite often. If you want to avoid the crowds, head there soon in the morning. The weather in Thailand is usually quite hot so consider bringing water bottles with you since there are not many opportunities inside the palace to get beverages. Consider visiting the quiet and overlooked museum showcasing the history of the palace and how it was renovated, here you can cool down thanks to the AC.