The American military officer-turned-entrepreneur Jim Thompson almost single-handedly revitalised Thailand’s silk industry in the 1950s, before disappearing in mysterious circumstances in 1967. His legacy lives on at Jim Thompson House, a museum where tours of the traditional teak structures offer insights into the industry’s history and Thompson’s remarkable life.

Commissioned by King Rama VI in the 1920s, Lumphini Park is a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city. Bring a picnic and lounge by the lake, watch Muay Thai boxers train for their next fight, or join outdoor aerobics classes.

Be prepared to get lost at Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of Bangkok’s most famous attractions, where you’ll find moreish street food and everything from vintage clothing to spices in its 15,000 booths. At nearby Rot Fai Ratchada Market, hang out among VW vans converted into food trucks and bars among the hundreds of stalls.

Bangkok’s thriving contemporary art scene is centred near Chatuchak, around the Museum of Contemporary Art. The 215,000-square-foot museum hosts more than 800 paintings and sculptures amassed by entrepreneur and collector Boon-chai Bencharongkul. Permanent exhibitions include work by Chalermchai Kositpipat, who designed Chiang Rai’s famed White Temple.

The city’s historic Chinatown has some of its best bites. Head to Yaowarat Road for dishes that fuse Chinese ingredients with Thai flavours like pad see ew (flat noodles doused in soy sauce) and khao man gai (steamed chicken and rice) – both readily available in the cluster of shophouses.

Escape Khao San Road’s backpackers for serenity at 300-year-old Wat Chana Songkhram. Come early to beat the crowds and hear Buddhist monks chanting. Wat Pho is a glittering 46-metre-long gold reclining Buddha, just a short walk from the vast Grand Palace complex.

Sail up the Chao Phraya to the former capital of Ayutthaya, a Unesco World Heritage site, with ruins of ancient towers and Buddhist monasteries. En route you’ll see the ornate European-style Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, inspired by Versailles; and the Gothic-inspired Wat Niwet Thammaprawat, complete with stained-glass windows.

If you travel to Bangkok regularly, you might want to explore further afield. A three-hour train ride from the capital, the town of Kanchanaburi is best known as the home of the Bridge on the River Kwai. The region also boasts amazing nature spots including the Erawan Falls, an undulating landscape of plunge pools and rainforest.