5 Best Sights in Pathumwan, Bangkok

After starting his career as an architect in New York City, Jim Thompson ended up in Thailand at the end of World War II after a stint at the Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor to the CIA. He eventually moved into the silk business and is credited with revitalizing the industry in Thailand. This alone would have made him a legend, but his former home is also a national treasure. Thompson imported parts of several up-country buildings, some over a century old, to construct his compound. Three of six are still exactly the same as their originals, including details of the interior layout. With true appreciation and a connoisseur's eye, Thompson furnished the homes with what are now priceless pieces of Southeast Asian art. Adding to Thompson's notoriety is his disappearance: in 1967 he went to the Malaysian Cameron Highlands for a quiet holiday and was never heard from again.

The entrance to the compound is easy to miss—it's at the end of an unprepossessing lane, leading north off Rama I Road, west of Phayathai Road (the house is on your left). A good landmark is the BTS National Stadium station—the house is north of the station, just down the street from it. An informative 30-minute guided tour starts every 15 minutes and is included in the admission fee.

The grounds also include a silk and souvenir shop and a restaurant that's great for a coffee or cold-drink break.

Completed in 1956 to accompany the opening of the Erawan Hotel (now the Grand Hyatt Erawan), this shrine is one of the more active and highly revered ones, with many people stopping by on their way home to pray to a gleaming image of Brahma, the Hindu creator god. Thai dancers in traditional dress and a small orchestra perform for a fee to increase the likelihood that your wish will be granted. Even with a traffic jam right outside the gates, the mix of rhinestone-costumed dancers and fervent worshippers is an intoxicating sight. Entry is free, but many leave a small donation. There are also fantastic views of the shrine from the Rajaprasong Skywalk up above, from where many visitors take pictures.

The large, striking white building opened in 2008 and is the main showcase for cutting-edge contemporary art, music, theater, and film in Bangkok. Frequent exhibitions include works by Thai and international artists. Inside, the curving stairway of the central atrium is reminiscent of the Guggenheim in New York City.

Fashion, education, and diverse shopping converge in a dense network of streets and alleys called Siam Square in the heart of downtown. Thailand's most prestigious college, Chulalongkorn University, is next door, along with neon-splashed malls, designer boutiques, trendy restaurants, and street food. At night along the sidewalk, a bohemian and latest-fashions outdoor market scene unfolds.

Eight antique teak houses built high on columns sit amid the undulating lawns and shimmering lotus pools of this lush complex. The houses, which exhibit porcelain, stone heads, traditional paintings, and Buddha statues, were dismantled at their original sites and reassembled here. At the back of the garden is the serene Lacquer Pavilion, worth a look for its gold-covered paneling with scenes from the life of the Buddha. Academics and historians debate how old the murals are—whether they're from the reign of King Narai (1656–88) or from the first reign of the current Chakri Dynasty, founded by King Rama I (1782–1809).