Phra Nakhon

Bangkok today is made up of fifty districts, but none is more iconic than Phra Nakhon, whose name means “the royal city.” This is where it all began in 1782, when King Rama I founded the new capital and the city began to grow outward from here. Phra Nakhon is Bangkok’s historic heart and still its richest area for sightseeing. Within just a few streets you’ll find the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and other famous temples, along with the National Museum, the Museum of Siam, and the city’s bustling flower market, open around the clock. Every corner reveals a different side of Bangkok—its spirituality, its history, its culture, and its daily life. To stroll through Phra Nakhon is to explore both the roots of the capital and the vibrant energy that keeps it alive today.