Beyond Bangkok's city center lies a different side of the capital — one filled with mythology, sacred temples, and centuries of history. Spend a full day exploring three of the most iconic sites in and around the city.

Start at Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, a temple dating back to the mid-Ayutthaya period in Thonburi. The temple's crystal pagoda is a sight on its own, but the real highlight is Bangkok's largest Buddha image — a seated meditation statue standing nearly 70 meters tall and 40 meters wide. Take a walk through the grounds and see the detail up close.

From there, make your way to the Erawan Museum in Samut Prakan. You can't miss it — a massive three-headed elephant statue, over 40 meters tall, built to represent the mythical Erawan from Hindu-Buddhist stories. Inside the elephant's body is a museum filled with Buddhist artifacts, religious art, and antiques gathered from around Thailand.

Last stop is Ancient City (Muang Boran), the largest outdoor museum in the world. The grounds are shaped like a map of Thailand and cover over 200 acres, with more than 100 replica structures — temples, palaces, traditional villages — some of them modeled after places that no longer exist. It's a lot of ground to cover, so take your time and wander at your own pace.

Head back to your hotel having seen a side of Bangkok most visitors miss.