Getting to the Grand Palace, Bangkok
From the awesome AirBnB condo I was staying at in the Thong Lo (Soi Sukhumvit 55) area, here’s how I got to the Grand Palace:
1. Walk to BTS – 18 Sois, about .8 mile. Could have cabbed it but no need. On the way, I was started by a bang and then what appeared to be a small fire in front of a storefront. I instinctively pivoted and started walking in the opposite direction.
No one else flinched and almost as quickly as I had turned around, I realized that whatever it was, was probably no reason for alarm. Turns out, it was small fireworks of some type to celebrate the Chinese New Year! The entire walk to the BTS had shops with offerings to their ancestors out front ranging from very small to quite elaborate. I saw more than one chicken.
Just one blurry photo because I didn’t know what the etiquette was. Just took it and kept hustling by.
Cost: Free
2. BTS Thing Lo to Saphan Taksin Station – BTS is the Skytrain. t’s amazing. Once I figured it out, it was my favorite way to get around. It can get quite crowded b is the Skytrain. It’s amazing. Once I figured it out, it was my favorite way to get around. It can get quite crowded but it’s clean, inexpensive, and beats sitting in traffic in a city of 8 to 10 million people.
BTS Station
Found Waldo waiting for the BTS at the Thong Lo Station.
From Thong Lo station, I took the Sukhumvit Line towards Mo Chit then connected at Siam to the Silom Line towards Bang Wa, getting off at the Saphan Taksin Station.
That’s actually a lie. I did make one mistake an initially took the Silom Line in the wrong direction to National Stadium. It was an easy fix, just got off and back on in the other direction.
Whoops! Wrong way. At the National Stadium Station
The one pro of my little mistake was it was short and I got to enjoy an almost empty skytrain carriage for one stop. The rest of the weekend was standing room only.
Cost: About 57 Baht (Can’t recall exactly)
3. Chao Phraya Express Boat aka “Tourist Boat” to Maharaj Pier.
This was so easy, you exit the train station and boom! The dock is right there along with throngs of other tourists. Being around that many other tourists was initially very overwhelming after a pretty calm week. Then I realized that I could wear my camera around my next with no shame! Well, maybe a little shame but not nearly as much as the tourists with multiple fanny packs and massive camera lenses.
The boat ride over itself was a scenic way to see some other parts of the city and the action on the Chao Phraya river which ranged from large tourist boats like the one I was on to small wooden boats that rocked in the wake of the larger boats.
Cost: 40 Baht*
* For 150 you can do a hopper ticket where you can get on and off and different docks like one for China Town and another for Wat Pho. If I had more time I might have done that.
4. Walk from Maharaj Pier to Courtyard Near the Grand Palace.
Another of the steps that was crazy easy. The second you get off the boat there is an announcement in English telling you where to walk to get to the Grand Palace (forward and right).
On the walk from the dock.
Just before you get there there’s a courtyard with shops on the right. I stopped to buy clothes appropriate for the temple. I ended up buying a long wrap elephant skirt (tourist uniform) and shawl from a hustling Thai woman. As soon as she saw me looking at the skirts, she took one off the rack, tied it around my waste, and directed me to look at my reflection in the window (note: not in a mirror). It made the decision easy so I had her pick out a shawl for me too.
Cost: 250 baht (clothing)
5. Walk from Courtyard to Grand Palace.
On the walk from the courtyard to the Grand Palace, I had a mini-heart attack when I heard a tour guide tell the group, “prepare your passports.” Oh shit.
When entering, I showed the guard the photo of my passport on my phone an he said it was OK. Then I stood in another line for bag check. Then ANOTHER line for tickets. Then finally, it was time to enter! I walked past one guard who was turning every other person away because of a violation of the attire rules. I felt pleased that I was all set in my skirt and shawl.
Until the second guard made me show him what was under the shawl (top of a sleeveless dress) and said no go. Rather than walk back to the market courtyard, I bought the cheapest t-shirt available in the store right next to the security line: plain black t-shirt. There was, of course, a location premium.
Cost: 500 baht (ticket) + 200 baht (t-shirt)
6. Enter & Enjoy the Grand Palace..Finally! Pics and a few thoughts from my visit to the Grand Palace are here.