Photo: The Royal Grand Palace

One of the major attractions in Bangkok is the Royal Grand Palace, which for about 150 years was not only the home of the king and his court, but also the entire administrative seat of government. Thai kings stopped living in the palace full time around the turn of the twentieth century, but the complex remains the seat of power and spiritual heart of the Thai kingdom. The whole area is surrounded by a big white wall and covers about 1.5 square kilometers. Absolutely worth a visit.