ตลาดนางเลิ้ง
Far from the tourist's eye is the Nang Loeng Market, a market that has been going since 1899 until a fire destroyed it about ten years ago. It has been rebuilt since, and is a great visit for trying some Thai sweets. There is ample supply of sticky rice snacks or khanom bueang at the carts, or have some egg noodles at the surrounding noodle shops.
Mon-Sat 10:00-14:00·50 baht
A Thai-Chinese restaurant that has been consistently excellent for the last 40 years. It used to be run by Mr. Sow at Sampheng Lane, but moved to its current location at Phlap Phla Chai intersection as his son took over business. Foreigners praise the tom yam kung, but the locals come here for pan-fried hoi tod (fried mussels with eggs). You can also try the muu sa-ded, pork rubbed with garlic. The owner does not boil the pork as other restaurants do, but grills it on a hot cooker until it is black. This place is so popular that it can be difficult to find a seat in the evening.
10:00-22:00 daily·50 baht
วัดสระเกศและภูเขาทอง
Wat Saket was built outside of the former city walls in the late 18th-century in the reign of King Rama I. It served as the capital's crematorium, and throughout the next century became the dumping ground of over 60,000 plague victims who were too poor to afford a funeral. Wat Saket's major feature is the Golden Mount, an artificial hill dating from the early 19th-century. A huge chedi was built on top of the hill in the reign of King Rama III, but it collapsed during the construction process as the soil was too soft to support it. King Rama IV used a 1,000 teak logs to secure the mound and started construction on a more modest chedi that still exists today. Later, King Rama V chose the chedi as the place to inter relics of the Buddha that had been discovered among the ruins of Piprāwā, India and presented to him by the British Government. A spiral staircase of 318 steps leads from the ground to a terrace and shrine-room — the Buddha's relics are housed in a gold-leaf-covered shrine at the centre of this area. In the first week of November, the mount is illuminated with coloured lanterns and the compound turns into a large fun fair.
08:00-21:00 daily·100 baht
พิพิธภัณฑ์พระบาทสมเด็จพระปกเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว
The building is designed by the French-Swiss architect Charles Beguelin in 1906 in a neo-classical style that popular with King Rama VI and King Rama VII. It was renovated by the King Prajadhipok Institute to serve as a museum exhibiting a rare collection of King Rama VII's personal belongings, including photographs, documents and his biography. King Rama VII ruled in a turbulent time of Thailand's history; he was the last King who enjoyed absolute monarchy, as well as the first King under a constitutional monarchy. Significant events and stories relating to King Rama VII are exhibited, including his succession to the throne, royal activities, political reform, promulgation of the constitution, royal utensils and memorabilia, as well as his life after abdication and death in the United Kingdom. The demolished Sala Chaloem Krung Theatre that used to stand in the nearby area is imitated with old films being projected.
Tue-Sun, hols, 09:00-16:00·40 baht