Nakhon Pathom - Dragon temple, Chedi, Royal Palace, Floating Market, Auto Museum, Old market

Wat Sampran (dragon temple)  looks like it came right out of the Game of Thrones. You can climb (or lift) all the way up to the dragon's head where there's a shrine and a great view, there are huge animal statues and buildings everywhere, various (religious) activities to join, and lots of monks and nuns ready to talk about the temple in English.

Nakhon Pathom also sports hailand's highest chedi, the Phra Pathom Chedi, which stands 120 meters tall and is bell-shaped. It was constructed in 1853 at the command of King Rama IV. The chedi is visible from most places in Nakhon Pathom. The city is also famous for its nightly food market at the foot of the chedi, with the flying ice-cream as it's strangest attraction, and there's a huge indoor market just north of the chedi. To make it a fun day out, take the train from Thonburi train station.

Sanam Chandra Palace was built by crown prince Vajiravudh (later King Rama VI) as retreat and residence during pilgrimages to the chedi. The palace consists of 4 separate residences in different style: a European castle (Chaleemongkolasana Residence), 2 traditional Thai wooden houses (Mareerajaratabulung and Thub Kwan Residence) and a brick-and-concrete house in Western style with Thai wood carvings (Thub Kwan Residence). Update 2018: the palaces are NOT open to the public anymore; the park only opens early morning and late afternoon.

A visit to the huge, local Lam Phaya floating market is a good idea. There are many floating foodstalls and some little rowing boats, selling all kinds of Thai food and local delicacies. Ashore are more stalls selling local products, toys and fruits and vegetables. Activities comprise a local handicraft museum, feeding the fish and various boat trips on the Tha Chin river in a small samphan or a bigger boat with food included. Vendors start packing up from 3 pm onwards. As the market is located on temple grounds, smoking on the premises is not allowed.

On the way from Bangkok, close to Nakhon Pathom in Nakhon Chaisri, you can find the Jesada Technik Museum which is well worth a visit with its thousands of vintage cars, motorcycles, bicycles, helicopters, planes, toy cars and more on show and for sale. And the best part is, you can touch them all and taking photos is allowed.

Once there, you can make a quick stop at the Thana fresh market. It's touristy but for local tourists, with shops selling antiques and old-style coffee shops in wooden houses that are over a hundred years old.

The mildly interesting Owl Art Museum is just across the bridge, and if you're lucky may be able to catch the annual Tattoo Festival.