Bangkok’s Best Excursions

Closest Island Getaway [1]: Just a few hours from Bangkok by car and ferry are the beaches of Ko Samet [1], a popular but laid-back island.

Best Place to Explore Ruins [2]: Ayutthaya Historical Park [2] is filled with ruins from Thailand’s former capital.

Best Place to Learn About Recent Thai History [3]: The Thailand-Burma Railway Centre [3] serves to inform visitors about the brutality of World War II from inside Asia and commemorate the victims of the war from the region and abroad.

Best Wine-Tasting in the Great Outdoors [4]: Khao Yai National Park [4] has a wide variety of hiking and bird-watching options and beautiful scenery. You can also take a tour of the wineries near Khao Yai to taste some of the region’s wine and sample the exceptional food.

Best Non-Beach Excursion [5]: Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park [5] has hundreds of dramatic limestone peaks, freshwater marshes, and a rugged coastline—some consider it the most beautiful park in the country.