BANGKOK — Over just two centuries, Bangkok, known to its inhabitants as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (the City of Angels), has undergone a dazzling transformation from a sleepy settlement of palaces and temples to a pulsating metropolis that is home to more than 11 million people.
Kaleidoscopic, sometimes chaotic, yet friendly and never boring, the Thai capital has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic as a safe and vibrant metropolis. Tourists are back, drawn by the allure of historic architecture, world-class cuisine — from sizzling street food to Michelin-starred plates — chic rooftop bars, buzzy speakeasies and sunset river cruises.