There are a million reasons why you should visit Bangkok, and one of the main reasons is how affordable it is to travel to Thailand. As the country's capital city, Bangkok offers various fun things to do on a budget.
From temple-hopping to getting on a Chao Phraya dinner cruise, you don't have to worry about running out of activities to do in Bangkok.
Wat Saket is one of the most popular places to visit in Bangkok. This time Candice from Voyage-bound Girls will share her insights about how to make the most of your trip to Thailand by visiting Wat Saket in Bangkok and what else you can do around the area on a budget under $10.
So, why should you include Wat Saket in your Bangkok itinerary?
Why You Should Visit Wat Saket in Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok is more than just a hub for rowdy backpackers and pricey, overcrowded tourist sites. There is a certain charm that can be discovered amidst the hazy skies and ongoing traffic.
In Bangkok, $10 can take you pretty far, especially if you are searching for a relaxing evening. $10 is equal to about 300 baht which is a decent amount of money that can be stretched as far as six or seven servings of Pad Thai.
I would suggest, however, a visit to one of my favorite places in the city: Wat Saket aka The Golden Mount.
Wat Saket is a short 15-20 minutes walk from the popular Khaosan Road, which makes this a great option if you are a backpacker staying in the area but want to get away for a quiet evening.
The entrance fee is only 50 baht a person and is open from 8 AM until 7 PM.
Due to the Golden Mount being a temple, it is important that you adhere to the regular temple dress code and wear appropriate garments. I’d recommend getting there around 5:30-6 PM (depending on the time of year you go) in order to enjoy the full sunset.
Once you arrive at the Golden Mount, you will be greeted with about 300 shallow steps to the base of the temple. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be an athlete to climb these steps, it really isn’t anything too difficult. Once you get to the temple, there is another flight of stairs to get to the top and the view. You made it to the top and now you can enjoy a complete 360 of Bangkok and the city skyline.
I think this place holds a special meaning to me because my first visit to Wat Saket was the first time that Bangkok felt like home. I had a lot of reservations about my decision to move to Bangkok, but this place showed me that this city has more to offer than I initially thought.
Recommended Restaurant Near Wat Saket
That’s not it! We still have 250 baht to spend, are you hungry?
Let’s take a short walk over to this restaurant called Chubby Papaya. Although there are cheaper street food options on the way, we are going to splurge a little today.
Chubby Papaya has a great atmosphere. They sell traditional Isaan style food at decent prices. You can try their signature dish, Som Tum (papaya salad) and enjoy an iced tea for only 170 baht.
As I mentioned, it may not be the cheapest place I’ve eaten at in Bangkok, but the food tastes great and the ambience more than makes up for it.
Artwork can be seen everywhere on the walls and an art gallery located on the 4th floor. If you did not get enough of the views from the Golden Mount, Chubby Papaya also has a rooftop lounge where you can enjoy your meal and socialize.
All in all, a pleasant evening spent in Bangkok with a beautiful view and delicious food, all for under $10.
Contributor: Candice from Voyage-bound Girls
Candice is a Canadian currently living in Thailand. Back home, she used to work in a print shop, but she quit that with the dream of traveling. Her blog not only focuses on travel, but also about her anxiety as she has suffered from severe depression in her life and still deal with the consequences of anxious tendency.
Oh wow! This is absolutely beautiful! I went to Bangkok a few months ago and I wish I knew this place existed at the time! Thanks for sharing and I’ll definitely be making a trip there when I’m back in Thailand in the future.
i know, right? khao san road could be really great and annoying at the same time, like it’s great when you’re on the party vibes, but not really when you just want to chill and take some rest. 😛
i went there last year, and the trip booked with high expensive agency. Bangkok is high cost place to travel, specially the hotels and cab services. I paid money but i enjoyed a lot whole trip.
oh nooo, next time you go to bangkok, try to arrange it on your own. bangkok is one of the least expensive place you could visit, and this comes from someone like me who’s originally from indonesia where everything is cheap. 🙂 one of the reasons why the agency could be expensive in bangkok, it’s probably because there’s some regulation in thai government that it is mandatory to have a local tour guide, or an international tour guide with a license to guide the tour there. it’s for real, because there was one case where an indonesian tour guide had to pay the fine as she’s arranged a tour without the license. 🙂
Nathan
I can’t think of anywhere here I could sit on a rooftop lounge and eat for less than $7 here! That sounds awesome, and the golden mount’s view looks incredible! Definitely have to check out Thailand someday.
Thailand is definitely a heaven for not only anyone who’s keen to learn about a new culture, but also for those who love party and shopping. Definitely a place to visit before you die! 😉
Oh wow! This is absolutely beautiful! I went to Bangkok a few months ago and I wish I knew this place existed at the time! Thanks for sharing and I’ll definitely be making a trip there when I’m back in Thailand in the future.
was that the visit when you got so many awkward incidents to get back to south korea? 😛 glad it helps!
Love the blog! The story is so beautifully written and the pictures are so beautifully captured!
You had me at ‘a quiet evening away from the popular Khao San road’. I’d gladly pay extra for that – and a bonus that it still falls below $10!
i know, right? khao san road could be really great and annoying at the same time, like it’s great when you’re on the party vibes, but not really when you just want to chill and take some rest. 😛
i went there last year, and the trip booked with high expensive agency. Bangkok is high cost place to travel, specially the hotels and cab services. I paid money but i enjoyed a lot whole trip.
oh nooo, next time you go to bangkok, try to arrange it on your own. bangkok is one of the least expensive place you could visit, and this comes from someone like me who’s originally from indonesia where everything is cheap. 🙂 one of the reasons why the agency could be expensive in bangkok, it’s probably because there’s some regulation in thai government that it is mandatory to have a local tour guide, or an international tour guide with a license to guide the tour there. it’s for real, because there was one case where an indonesian tour guide had to pay the fine as she’s arranged a tour without the license. 🙂
I can’t think of anywhere here I could sit on a rooftop lounge and eat for less than $7 here! That sounds awesome, and the golden mount’s view looks incredible! Definitely have to check out Thailand someday.
Thailand is definitely a heaven for not only anyone who’s keen to learn about a new culture, but also for those who love party and shopping. Definitely a place to visit before you die! 😉