Vimanmek Mansion is a graceful three-storey palace built entirely of golden teak, assembled in 1900 from a summer residence that Rama V had moved from the island of Ko Sichang. For a time it was billed as the largest teak building in the world, its honey-coloured walls held together without a single nail in the main structure.
The king lived here for several years, and the rooms preserve a fascinating blend of Thai and imported European furnishings, photographs, and royal bric-a-brac from the turn of the century. Set in the leafy Dusit Palace gardens, it makes a serene counterpoint to the city's frenzy, though visitor access has been periodically restricted during restoration.