Hopefully you didn’t burn all your energy on that huge first day in Bangkok, because it’s time to get back out there and keep your epic journey in the Thai capital going. On tap for the second day are a couple of markets, one of the city’s best museums, mega-malls, what just might be the best food court ever, and a look at Bangkok’s naughtier side. This plan is best done on a weekend, although if visiting during the week it’s possible to swap the first stop for something else. Ready for another kick-ass day in Bangkok? Here we go!

Chatuchak Weekend Market

Get lost at Chatuchak.

The biggest market in Thailand and one of the largest in the world, this weekend market is one of the top tourist attractions in the city. Spread out over many acres and featuring thousands upon thousands of stalls split amongst 27 categories, you can find just about anything here. Although there is definitely some method to the madness when it comes to the organization of Chatuchak, you’ll most likely get lost in the maze of stalls that seem to go on forever.

Just some of the random things you’ll find here.

From silly t-shirts, to wood carvings, to beautiful artwork, and even to live pets, this place is a one stop shop if there ever was one. There are over 200,000 visitors per day here, so to keep people at the market they’ve also got plenty of food and drink stalls, and you can even sit down and enjoy a massage in between all the shopping!

Or Tor Kor Fresh Market

Lovely displays at Or Tor Kor market.

Considered to be one of the best fresh markets in the world, Or Tor Kor is located steps away from Chatuchak and is the place to get your food shopping done in Bangkok. Here you can pick up fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, and everything in between. It’s a bit pricier than other local markets, but the quality can’t be beat here. One of the best things about this market – and grocery shopping in general in Thailand – is that you can find a wide variety of classic Thai dishes cooked up and ready to take home. No wonder so few apartments in Bangkok actually have a working kitchen – you can buy all your meals pre-cooked from the market!

An amazing lunch in the market.

Even if you’re just a tourist staying in a hotel and don’t need to do any grocery shopping, this is a great place to come for a cheap, tasty, local lunch. Simply point to the dishes that you want and load up a plate. It’s a great way to fill your belly without emptying your wallet.

If you happen to find yourself in Bangkok during the week, you might want to consider visiting a floating market in the morning and then dropping by Or Tor Kor if you’ve got the time. To take a closer look at both markets, check out this short video:

Jim Thompson House

Jim Thompson house.

Bangkok has plenty of fantastic museums, with one of the most famous being the Jim Thompson House. This museum is the former home of an American businessman who had a deep fascination with Thai culture, especially traditional teak-style houses. He collected many of them from different parts of the country and set them up in Bangkok to house his vast art collection. Mr. Thompson disappeared on Easter Sunday in 1967 while traveling in Malaysia, and this remains a great mystery to this very day. Compulsory guided tours leave every 20 minutes, so it’s easy to just show up and join the next available group.

Shop til You Drop

One of many giant malls in Bangkok.

Going to the mall with friends and family is obviously one of the favorite pastimes of Bangkok residents, and more power to them – it’s understandable why you’d want to get out of the heat and off the crowded roads to shop, eat, and be entertained. The city is home to countless mega-malls, with more and more popping up each and every year. Even if you loathe shopping malls (as I do), it’s worth it to take a stroll through at least one of them. At the very least, you get to enjoy air con and get a short break from the stifling heat outside. Some of the most popular malls are the MBK Center, Siam Paragon, and Siam Center.

Eathai

An amazing food court.

Do you love eating street food, but not necessarily enjoy eating in the street? Would you like to indulge in all of the best street food of Thailand, minus the sweltering heat and the rats? Well then you should probably check out Eathai. Located in the fancy Central Embassy mall of Bangkok, this is quite possibly the best food court ever. Highlighting the cuisine from all regions of Thailand in a clean and cool environment, this is one dining experience not to be missed in BKK. Just make sure you come here hungry, because there are so many options you’ll want to try it all!

Bangkok’s X-Rated Side

Nana Plaza – one of the most famous areas.

Love it or hate it, the X-rated side of the city’s nightlife is what made it notorious worldwide. Full of neon and bikini-clad ladies (and ladyboys, for that matter), Bangkok’s go-go bars are located in a few different districts around the city. The most famous places are Patpong, Nana Plaza, and Soi Cowboy. Things have calmed down a bit since the military took over, but the party is still going strong and these bars still attract a wide variety of people, from curious tourists to “sexpats” looking for some company. These places are much different from the strip clubs or gentlemen’s clubs that you might be used to, and are actually a lot more fun if you ask me.

Chances are you’re going to feel a little bit dirty after hanging out in these parts of town, but don’t worry – we’ll take care of the soul cleansing tomorrow with a visit to the country’s most sacred temple. Get a few hours of sleep and don’t have too many Chang beers, because the last day in BKK is a good one!