Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. If you’re traveling in Thailand, you should definitely spend a few days in the city. It may not appeal to you at first glance. This metropolis is home to 11 million people, which can be quite overwhelming. However, you should definitely not skip Bangkok because once you’re in the city, it’s not as bad as it seems. You may end up wanting to stay much longer, as there is a ton to do, especially if you look beyond the typical tourist attractions. Moreover, the food is incredibly delicious! You won’t get bored here very quickly. Want to know more? I lived in the city for a while and I’m happy to share my tips on what to do in Bangkok!
Things to Do in Bangkok | Thailand
→ Vliegtickets naar Bangkok
→ Hoteltip: Bed Station Hostel or Khaosan Palace Hotel
Celebrate Songkran
Songkran is the Thai New Year that takes place every year from April 13 to 15. It is known worldwide as a grand water festival. It is a Buddhist celebration in which splashing water on each other symbolizes the cleansing of the body. This has evolved into a massive water fest where everyone soaks each other with buckets and water guns while having a great time.
Jungle Bike Tour in Bangkok’s ‘Green Lung’
It can be really nice to escape the busy city and head to the urban jungle of Bang Kachao. This lovely spot is often referred to as the green lung. You take a little boat across the river and almost immediately come across some bike rental shops. For just a few euros, you can rent a bike for the entire day and explore the jungle at your leisure. The bike is also the most convenient way to discover this area, as there are paths laid out for cycling. In some places, it’s as if you’ve left the city and are biking out in the countryside. There are also some small markets along the way where you can stop for delicious food and refreshing drinks.
→ Handy: You can book beautiful bike tours in Bangkok with Bajabikes.
Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
Visiting the palace is likely on your to-do list when you visit the capital. It’s very touristy, but it’s almost a must-see. It’s an extravagant complex of buildings where you’ll find brightly golden pagodas and ornate decorations on the structures. It might be the biggest tourist attraction in the city. If you want to visit the palace without too many other people, go as early as possible in the day, and don’t forget to wear proper clothing, as your shoulders and knees need to be covered.
On the grounds, there is also a temple complex with the Emerald Buddha. This temple complex, called Wat Phra Kaew, not only features one of the most beautiful temples in Bangkok but is also one of Thailand’s most important temples. Here you’ll find not just the Emerald Buddha but also plenty of splendor around the temple itself. There are pagodas, many Buddha statues, and you can also see the rest of the Royal Palace from Wat Phra Kaew.
Wat Pho Temple
This might be the most famous temple in Bangkok, if not Thailand. Many will recognize the temple by its incredibly long (36 meters!) reclining, golden Buddha. Besides the reclining Buddha, there is much more to see at the temple complex, so take your time and stroll around. Don’t forget to admire the feet of this reclining Buddha, which are inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
Bike Tour Through Bangkok
The Co van Kessel bike tour is a popular activity in Thailand. Choose your time slot (tip: not in the heat of the day) and bike past the beautiful spots in Bangkok. It’s a fun way to discover the city’s highlights as well as lesser-known places. Fun fact: ‘van Kessel’ is Dutch, and they also support smaller local businesses!
Visit Wat Arun
A magnificent temple on the Chao Phraya River in the heart of Bangkok. This is a stunning temple that you shouldn’t miss during your visit to Bangkok. From Wat Pho, walk to the water and take the boat to Wat Arun. The temple complex is suitable for walking around yourself. Extra tip: it looks even prettier at sunset! Wat Arun is located close to Wat Pho and the Grand Palace. Still not temple-weary and want to soak in more culture? You can also visit Wat Traimit, a beautiful marble temple.
The Deck Restaurant
What a great restaurant with a beautiful view over the Chao Phraya River and Wat Arun. You can enjoy delicious meals here (from breakfast to dinner) and also have nice drinks. Another advantage of this restaurant is that it’s centrally located, so you won’t have to go far.
Take a Ride in a Tuk Tuk
When you’re in Thailand, you should experience riding in a tuk tuk at least once. It’s an experience to zoom through the streets like this and be transported from A to B. It’s important to know that tuk tuk rides are generally much more expensive than taxi rides, so don’t make it a habit to only use tuk tuks and be sure to agree on a price beforehand!
Explore Chinatown
An evening of delicious food in Chinatown must definitely be on your list. This part of the city really comes alive around 8 p.m. Let all the impressions sink in, walk through the streets, and take a seat at one of the many street stalls to enjoy fantastic food. You can also stroll around and check out the many shops and stalls for gold and souvenirs.
Attend a Thai Boxing Match
As the name suggests, Thai boxing is extremely popular in Thailand, including in the capital. You can watch matches at many different venues and levels. Good places to watch a Thai boxing match are Rajadamnern Muay Thai Stadium and Lumpinee Boxing Stadium. Tickets start from about €25. It’s definitely worth getting to know this aspect of Thai culture.
Visit a Rooftop Bar
Thailand, and Bangkok in particular, is known for its rooftop bars. There are numerous beautiful bars that offer insane views over the city. Examples of famous rooftops include: Vertigo, Sky Bar Lebua, Sirocco, and Octave rooftop bar. Bar Sirocco has become even more famous because part of ‘The Hangover 2’ was filmed there! Please note that most rooftops are quite pricey and feature fine dining. Additionally, smart clothing is required at many.
Relax in Lumpini Park
Looking to unwind? Head to Lumpini Park. This green oasis in the center of the busy city is easy to reach. Bring some delicious snacks and drinks, sit in the park, and enjoy all the greenery around you. There are also many large monitor lizards; they are not dangerous, but they certainly look impressive!
Khao San Road
What an experience! This street is one of the most famous places in Bangkok. Everything comes together in this central area. It’s a collection of restaurants, clubs, bars, entertainment, stalls, fried insects, and much more. Stroll through the street in the evening and let the impressions wash over you.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
You’ll find several cozy markets in Bangkok. There are floating markets, evening markets, morning markets, and markets open all day. So there are plenty of options to shop for a nice souvenir for home. One of the most enjoyable weekend markets we found was the Chatuchak Market, where you’ll find countless stalls selling not only clothing but also Buddha statues, jewelry, home items, and occasionally an antique.
This market is extremely impressive and can also be quite overwhelming. It is a weekend market, so it’s only open on Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It’s the largest market in all of Asia! There are 15,000 stalls selling everything. Handy: the largest portion of the market is divided into different sections (like clothing, home décor, food). Take your time to get lost in the market, shop, and of course, ideal if you want to buy a souvenir.
From Khao San Road, you can easily take a tuk tuk or taxi to this market, or you can go by metro. Want to visit a floating market? Head to the Damnoen Saduak market. You can take a taxi here from the center or join a tour.
Husky Restaurant
If you’re in the mood for something different, or are a dog lover, you can visit True Love Cafe in Bangkok. Here you can enjoy a nice coffee with pastry. After that, you can spend an hour in the garden, cuddling and playing with the many dogs that roam around!
Massage
A classic Thai massage definitely should not be missed during your trip to Thailand. There are massage places everywhere where you can get a massage according to your wishes.
Shopping at MBK Center
Bangkok has enormous shopping centers that we are definitely not used to in the Netherlands. It can be nice to find some cooling off and pay a visit to one of the many shopping centers. MBK is a massive shopping center with eight floors. It’s a great place for shopping, but on the top floor, there’s also a food court with delicious restaurants!
Floating Markets
In the past, water was extremely important for trade in Thailand. Many places have made way for roads, but a few floating markets still exist. Damnoen Saduak is a somewhat touristy market, but it gives you a good impression. Hop in a boat, sail through the market, and enjoy excellent eats and treats. If you want to see a more authentic market, you can visit Amphawa floating market.
7/11
The 7/11 is a supermarket in Asia that you see everywhere. Especially in Bangkok, there’s one on every street corner. The best part is that you can buy a lot of things here and they have surprisingly tasty snacks, as well as meals. Recommendation: the toast! You can have it warmed up, and it’s really delicious if you want a snack in between. Definitely worth trying!
Maeklong Market
This market is a bit out of Bangkok but is quite special. The market mainly sells fresh, local products. What’s unique is that several times a day, a train runs through the market. An alarm sounds, and all vendors clear their products in no time to make way for the train. Once the train passes, everything is immediately displayed again as if nothing happened.
Restaurant Jai Fay
If you love good food, this is a must-visit. There is one restaurant in Chinatown Bangkok with a Michelin star: Jai Fay! It’s definitely worth dining here. Keep in mind that you cannot make reservations, so there may be a wait.
Mahanakhon Skywalk
This viewpoint in Bangkok is definitely a stunning experience. Take the lift to the 78th floor where you can grab a drink and look out over the city. It’s the highest viewpoint in Bangkok. Plus, you can walk over a glass floor and look 314 meters straight down. Quite thrilling, but definitely a fun experience.
Sail with the River Taxi
When you’re in a boat in Bangkok, it feels like being in Asia’s Venice or Amsterdam. From the big river, the Chao Phraya, you get a whole different view of the Thai capital, often for not many Thai Baht. The river taxi also usually stops fairly close to attractions and markets, so it’s not only a fun ride but also a handy way to get around. Vehicle traffic can be quite busy in Thailand, so at such moments, a boat is a refreshing relief. We took the boat a few times near Khao San Road (at Phra Arthit) and then for instance went to Chinatown. There you find a gigantic market, and massive neon lights dominate the streetscape.
Plan Your Trip to Bangkok
Bangkok is easily accessible in many ways. Is the city the start of your journey? There are several ways to fly to Bangkok. If you’re coming from another Asian country, there are often good connections as well. Bangkok is also well connected from within Thailand by buses, trains, and planes. Transportation is excellently arranged in Thailand, so you don’t need to worry about that.
→ Easy: Compare flights via Skyscanner to always find the best flight for your trip.
Bed Station Hostel: The Best Place to Stay
In Bangkok, you have incredibly many places to stay, from basic to pure luxury. I had my own apartment on the outskirts of the city. At some times (like during Songkran) you’d prefer to be in the center, and I would recommend Bed Station Hostel. Right in the heart of the city (5 minutes from Khao San Road), with a lovely pool and cozy sleep cabins.
Extra tip: Download GRAB. This app works like UBER but for Asia. It’s incredibly handy for all your taxi rides. In the app, you enter your starting and ending locations, and it immediately shows a price. When using GRAB, you won’t need to negotiate with taxi drivers anymore, so you’re sure you won’t be scammed or pay too much.
These are the 23 top things to do in Bangkok itself. From Bangkok, there are also many fun day trips to make, such as to Ayutthaya and the Erawan waterfalls. There are so many other things worth experiencing, but I think this list will get you quite far. Enjoy your wonderful trip!
Looking for more fun hostels or hotels?
Check out:
- Khao San Road Rainbow Hostel (backpackers budget)
- New Siam (hotel for medium budget, a bit nicer than a hostel)
- Khaosan Palace hotel (with pool)
- Here hostel (backpackers hostel)
- Rambuttri Village Inn & Plaza (with pool)
What to Do After Bangkok?
Your journey in Thailand doesn’t stop after Bangkok. Bangkok is quite centralized in Thailand, so from this city you can really take various routes. For example, head north to adventurous areas like Sukothai or Chiang Mai, or go down south to relax (think of the island Koh Phangan or Khao Sok nature reserve).
Prefer to stay close to the city? Then Ayutthaya is a great recommendation, where you will find countless temples for a nice bike ride. However, you can also choose to take the bus and boat to the islands of Thailand, like Koh Phangan or Koh Tao. Prefer to go all the way north? Then head to Chiang Mai or visit Khao Sok reserve in the south.
To all these places, you often can go by bus and sometimes by train or boat. You will find several bus companies in Thailand, and often your hotel in Bangkok can also advise you while booking a bus. Just make sure to ask fellow travelers or look at various companies, as it’s often necessary to negotiate a bit.
To read more about Bangkok and Thailand?
Read also:
- Discover general tips & routes in Thailand
- Airplane Graveyard in Bangkok for something different
- Party and chill on Koh Phangan, check here for all tips for this island in Thailand
- Visit the beautiful unknown islands of Thailand
- What to do in Chiang Mai and the surrounding area?
- What to do in Kanchanaburi in Thailand?
Do you want to go to Thailand?
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- Flight deals to Bangkok
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→ Check out all our Thailand articles here.