Bangkok

Bangkok moves at two speeds at once. Wander a few streets in the old city and you will pass gilded temple spires, then find yourself in a glass-fronted shopping mall, then duck into a market that has barely changed in decades. Thailand’s capital rewards those willing to sit with that contrast rather than rush through it. Give it a full day at least, ideally with a local guide who can navigate between the temples and the backstreet food stalls that most visitors never find.