Iga Siemieniec

Whether you’re a visitor or a local, Siam Square is one of those Bangkok spots you’ll probably end up coming back to. Unique clothes, accessories, good food and simply somewhere to spend an afternoon or evening, there’s little that Siam Square can’t provide. In the heart of Bangkok, Siam Square is the area folks here go to get their fashion fix. Packed with (mostly) affordable clothing and accessory stores, there’s a wide range of standalone boutiques and well known brands – both local and international – in a space that does the ‘mall’ experience a little differently. We take you on a tour of this famous shopping district and share the best it has to offer, as well as a few surprises along the way. What is Siam Square known for? Being here sometimes feels like walking through a never-ending maze. You wander down one soi, turn into another and somehow keep discovering new reasons to open your wallet – wisely, of course. Just when you think you’ve found your favourite store, the next one suddenly looks even better. Add coffee shops, restaurants, beauty and wellness spots, markets and plenty of places you didn't actually plan on spending money in, and it’s pretty easy to see why it’s a favourite hangout for the city’s coolest kids. And once it gets dark, Siam Square gets a completely different look. With bright neon signs, colourful storefronts and bright designs, all competing for your attention, it starts to feel a little like Bangkok’s very own Times Square. Add the crowds

Need a break from Bangkok? Swap skyscrapers, traffic and noise for bicycles, palm trees and jungle paths – just across the river.  Bangkok can be a tough one. The city moves at high speed, and with the combination of heat, smells, noise and crowds, it can easily get overwhelming. Luckily, I found a pretty good solution: escape it for a day, without actually leaving Bangkok.  Popping my head out from underneath the concrete ‘rocks’ of the city centre, I laid my eyes southeast just across the Chao Phraya River towards Bang Kachao –  a place many of us like to call Bangkok’s ‘green lungs’.  Between my studies in town, I needed a little break from the coursework and exams, and quite honestly, Lumphini Park just didn’t cut the mustard.  I needed to escape Bangkok’s concrete jungle and replace it with an actual one: palm trees, narrow paths, small ponds and bicycles.  If you’ve not been, or at least not been for a while, much is changing in this green corner of town – and all for the right reasons. After a few hours of cycling through greenery, getting slightly lost and stopping for an iced cappuccino along the way, I was ready to cross the river and keep up with Bangkok’s energy all over again.  So, if the city is starting to feel like a little too much, give yourself a day here. Here’s how I spent mine.   Start with a boat across the Chao Phraya River Photograph: Time OutThe best things to do in Bang Kachao Start your day relatively early and take a Grab to either Khlong Toei