Thon Buri

Thon Buri was Thailand's capital before Bangkok existed. In 1767, after the Burmese destroyed Ayutthaya, King Taksin established his palace here on the western bank of the Chao Phraya River. Fifteen years later, the capital moved across the water, but Thon Buri has never lost its sense of history.

The district's crown jewel is Wat Arun — the Temple of the Dawn — whose 82-meter central prang is one of Southeast Asia's most recognized silhouettes. At sunrise and sunset, the porcelain-encrusted spire catches the light in ways that have drawn pilgrims and photographers for centuries. Nearby, Wat Prayoon houses Thailand's largest bell, while Wat Kalayanamit contains Bangkok's largest Buddha image.

But Thon Buri's magic is in its canals. The klongs that once crisscrossed all of Bangkok still flow here, lined with wooden houses, temple compounds, and communities that travel by longtail boat. The Khlong Bangkok Yai offers a glimpse of how the entire city once functioned. Artists and writers have long been drawn to Thon Buri's quieter pace, establishing studios in converted warehouses and shophouses along the riverside.