In a city with a worldwide reputation for nightlife, it might seem silly to schedule anything before the sun sets over the Chao Phraya River. But then you would miss out on some of the cultural attractions that infuse Thailand with its special character: the effortless ability to strike a fine balance between the serene and the supersonic. Bangkok’s legendary traffic congestion remains as maddening as ever; but with a clean, modern public transportation system (the elevated BTS Skytrain and the subterranean MRT subway system), it’s now possible to schedule more than a single daily diversion.

Once a staple of Bangkok’s roadways, the motorized three-wheeled tuk-tuk is fast becoming a vanishing transport species. You can still enjoy an open-air ride — and take in some of Bangkok’s most venerable temples and quirkiest markets — on a distinctive morning Tuk-Tuk Tour (www.urbanadventures.com). The itinerary includes 17th-century Wat Po, the city’s oldest Buddhist temple; the Amulet Market; and Phra Sumeru Fortress, one of Bangkok’s last surviving original defenses.

For total retail therapy, head to the city’s northern outskirts and Chatuchak Weekend Market (http://www.chatuchak.org) in the cool of the day. One of the world’s largest such bazaars, 27-acre Chatuchak holds 15,000 booths which attract Thais and tourists looking to haggle over anything from antiques and artwork to tropical fish and houseplants. Chatuchak is too overwhelming to simply browse; it’s best to study the website map, find a section of interest, ride the MRT to Chatuchak Park Station and shop, shop, shop. There’s even an onsite post office to mail home bulkier items.

At one of the world’s great hotels, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Bangkok
(48 Oriental Ave., tel 66 2 659 9000, www.mandarinoriental.com/bangkok), the guest list has included Joseph Conrad, Noel Coward and too many princes and pashas to count. See what all the fuss is about by enjoying an alfresco lunch at The Verandah along the busting Chao Phraya River.

Bangkok’s best museum experience is arguably The Jim Thompson House
(tel 66 2 216 7368, www.jimthompsonhouse.com). Tucked away on a narrow soi, or lane, just a five-minute walk from the hubbub of Rama I Road (BTS National Stadium Station), this urban oasis commemorates the remarkable life of its American owner, a World War II intelligence officer who revived the Thai silk industry. In 1959, Thompson assembled this canal-side residence from several vintage teak Thai homes and then filled the place with a world-class collection of exquisite Oriental antiques. Thompson vanished in 1967 while on holiday in Malaysia. His house, however, isn’t a mystery — it’s incredible.