Bangkok is Thailand's sprawling, electrifying capital and one of the world's great cities — a place where gilded temples stand beside futuristic shopping malls and street food vendors cook beside Michelin-starred restaurants. The Grand Palace and adjacent Wat Phra Kaeo (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) are the city's spiritual heart, while Wat Arun shimmers on the Chao Phraya riverbank and the bustling Chatuchak Weekend Market offers everything imaginable under one roof. Bangkok is also the gateway to all of Thailand, with two international airports and excellent transport connections to every corner of the country.