Nakhon Pathom is a compact day-trip destination anchored by the great chedi and the royal palace park. The market stalls around the chedi are worth half an hour, and the Rose Garden cultural park is nearby for those who want a taste of traditional performance shows. Two lesser-known sites — the Songdhammakalyani Monastery and the Phra Prathon Chedi — reward visitors who venture a little further from the main circuit.