Bangkok makes a good base for excursions into the surrounding countryside. The easiest escape is by water: take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to its northern stop and you reach Nonthaburi, a greener, slower riverside city of Ayutthaya-period temples, breadfruit orchards, and the Mon pottery island of Ko Kret — a relaxed half-day trip you can do on a single boat ticket.
Families tend to head for the wildlife parks. Safari World, in Minburi District northeast of the centre, has a drive-through animal section and a walk-in aviary, while the long-running Crocodile Farm at Samut Prakan keeps tens of thousands of crocodiles and runs shows through the day. West of the city, Sampran Riverside (the former Rose Garden) pairs a polished Thai cultural show with an organic farm and gardens along the Mae Klong.
For something more ambitious, the ancient capital of Ayutthaya lies about 80 km north — a UNESCO-listed sprawl of brick prangs and riverbank monasteries that rewards a full-day excursion by train, bus, or river cruise.
