Note the Grand Palace, Bangkok's most popular attraction, is purposely ''not'' include in this itinerary. As the Palace is located right next to Wat Pho, you can visit it instead or even try to squeeze in both if you wish, but the Palace grounds are so huge that it's probably best to visit on a separate day.
The starting point of the morning's itinerary will be '''Ratchathewi''' station (N1), on the Skytrain Sukhumvit line and thus easily reached from pretty much anywhere in the city center.
# Take Exit 1 and head a few hundred meters south (after walking down the stairs, turn 180 degrees and walk down the street) and over the bridge across the '''Saen Saep canal'''. To your right, you will see a small, rickety pier. # Board the next '''canal boat''' that comes barreling down towards the west (make sure the boat is heading left as you stand on the pier, from under the bridge) — but move quickly, because these boats don't wait for lingerers! Pay your fare (10 baht Jun 2008) and enjoy a view into the backyards of Bangkok. Some point of minor interest that you will pass along the way include: ## '''Jim Thompson House''', an attraction in itself and worth a visit if you have spare energy after the tour ## '''Bo-Be Market''', one of Bangkok's largest and cheapest clothing markets (not many tourists around here!) # Disembark at the terminus near the '''Golden Mount'''. To your left, you'll see a small bridge with oncoming traffic, and a large bridge with multi-lane traffic. Cross the large bridge, pass the white '''Mahakan Fort''' and cross the street for '''Wat Rajanadda''', one of Bangkok's unappreciated temples. Entry is free, just take your shoes off and climb into the tower for a bird's-eye view of Rattanakosin. (Just ignore people who try to stop you entering saying it is closed, or that they are praying.) # Once finished, head back to the main street and hail a taxi (not tuk-tuk) for a quick trip to '''Wat Pho'''; if you insist on the meter, this won't cost you more than 50 baht. # Entry into '''Wat Pho''' will set you back all of 50 baht. The world's largest '''Reclining Buddha''' is in the perennially busy building to your right as you enter. For good luck, you can do as the Thais do and buy a bag of 25-satang coins to plink, plink, plink into the pots behind the Buddha. Explore the rest of the large complex, and if you feel like taking a break, pop into the famous '''massage school''' towards the back of the temple grounds. (Building 17 on the maps scattered around the temple) # Exit through the west gates (behind the Reclining Buddha) and look for signs pointing towards the pier of '''Tha Tien''', which you will find half-hidden past a market alley full of stalls selling dried squid and such. # You will see the white spires of '''Wat Arun''' (the Temple of Dawn) across the Chao Phraya River. Hop aboard the angular little ferry and pay 3 baht (each way) for the trip. Entry to Wat Arun is free, although quite frankly, it looks better from a distance. You will be charged if you want to climb up. Note how the decorations of the spires are in fact all made from millions of bits of smashed white porcelain painted with patterns! # Head back across the river on the ferry you came on and cross the pier to the '''Chao Phraya River Express''' dock, clearly identified with blue-and-white signs. Wave down the next southbound (downriver) express boat and ride down all the way to '''Tha Oriental''' (N 1). # To get to the '''Oriental Hotel''', often judged the best in the world, just walk down the alley leading from the dock and turn left. Reward yourself with a drink at the famous '''Bamboo Bar''', although (alas!) live jazz is played only in the evenings. It's expensive though: a beer will cost you a whopping 250 baht. You won't get in if you are wearing sandals either.
From the Oriental, head for the Skytrain's '''Saphan Taksin''' station (S6) by either taking the ferry one last stop downriver to '''Tha Central''' or by walking out onto Th Charoen Krung, turning left and walking some 15 minutes south.
# Dine at '''Baan Khanitha''' (36/1 Soi 23, Sukhumvt Road, (Soi Prasan Mit), tel. +66 02 258 4181), a fair hike down the soi from Skytrain '''Asoke''' (E5). Excellent Thai food, because the amount of chili is toned down for tourists (although they'll spice it up if you're brave enough to try!). Particular favorites here are the pomelo salad (''tam som om'') and roast duck in red curry (''kaeng daeng phed''). Mains mostly range around B200. # Hop on the Skytrain and change trains at Siam for '''Sala Daeng''' station (S2). Follow the crowds a few hundred meters down the Silom Rd and through the street market until you spot the Carlsberg signs of '''Patpong''' to your right. Pick a go-go bar of your liking, perhaps '''King's Castle III''' if you're adventurous and want to see transvestites strutting their stuff. Beers around B70 a pop.
Trying to get taxis to charge by the meter is difficult, especially at the weekend when traffic is heavy - so often the best you can hope for is to agree on a fee upfront and try to barter down.