There's no getting around it: Bangkok is intense. Temples swarm with crowds. Street food sizzles into the early hours. The heat doesn't quit. And the nightlife—from the Patpong entertainment district to ritzy rooftop bars—is nonstop. For travellers craving local secrets and 24/7 energy, there’s nowhere like it. Marvel at Wat Pho's enormous gold Buddha and Wat Arun's epic view, or spend a Saturday souvenir-hunting at Chatuchak Weekend Market. Come evening, hit Chinatown's food stalls for khao geng or kuay jab, then bar-crawl your way through hipstery Soi Nana. It can be a lot, so if you need to recharge, book a traditional Thai massage or relax in Lumpini Park, one of the city's only green spaces. It doesn't stop there—we've got lots more recs below.