Not to be missed. King Rama I, who was first of the present ruling dynasty, built the Grand Palace walled city in 1782 and it is Thailand's most revered place. Thais, who visit for free, often come to pay respects. It has become more opulent with each new king ­ the current one is Rama IX ­ with many temples, buildings, murals and statues. Wat Phra Keo temple is Thailand's most important, where the green jade Emerald Buddha is housed. There's so much to see it's almost overwhelming during one visit and warrants several. The king no longer lives on the grounds, but some parts are occasionally used for official functions, such as ambassadorial visits.

During the second world war, Jim Thompson served with the OSS, the organization that later became the CIA. At the end of the war he finished up in Thailand and, after trying out some other business ventures, turned to the Thai silk industry. He is now credited with saving it. Having mysteriously disappeared in Malaysia in 1967, he has left behind a series of remarkable houses, made from homes he bought upcountry and rebuilt on his grounds in Bangkok. Add to this his collection of furniture and artworks and his home is a fascinating museum. A silk and souvenir shop as well as a restaurant are also on the grounds.

Klongs, the canals that crisscross Bangkok, have declined in number over the years and are not the waterways they were, when the city was dubbed the Venice of the East. However, enough remain on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River to make klong tours worthwhile. Pile into a longtail boat and watch the world pass you by. You'll get a fascinating insight into how the locals live their lives, floating as you do so close to their houses. Your hotel will be able to recommend klong tours, or you can simply turn up at the pier at the end of the Skytrain at Taksin bridge, next to the Shangri-La Hotel. Trips range from B600 and up for an hour or more and often stop by the Royal Barge Museum.

Home to one of the world's best collections of Southeast Asian art and a vast collection of Thai artifacts. Many masterpieces from the provinces are now here, sometimes to the consternation of provincial museums, but it's a great place to gain a real overview of Thai history. There are bronze tools and ceramic utensils from Ban Chiang, dating back to 3000-4000BC and on up through the rest of Thai history. The Khmer period is very well represented, as are the Sukhothai period of the 13th-14th centuries and the Ayutthaya period between the 1300s and 1700s.

The magnificent ceremonial royal barges are stored and maintained here between the special occasions when they are used. Various sized boats include the largest, red-and-gold royal Suphannahongse (Golden Swan), carved from a single 150-foot-long teak log, weighing in at 15 tons and requiring 50 oarsmen to move it. The king rides in this one, but there are many others to see, including some that are intricately carved to represent creatures from the Ramakien mythology. Most of the vessels were made in the early 1900s and restored only in recent years. You need to take a boat to get here.