Discover the best things to do in the exciting city of Bangkok. All of my suggestions are family friendly activities and include free and low cost things to do.
Experience inspiring temples, floating markets, Thai cuisine, roof top cocktails and even a glass sky walk at the tallest skyscraper. In this blog I tell you about our top places to visit in this vibrant, cosmopolitan city.
This post is part of my complete Thailand Travel Guide, where I share itineraries, budget tips and DIY planning advice for visiting Thailand.
Contents
- Best things to do in Bangkok Introduction
- What is Bangkok like?
- Getting around Bangkok
- Where to stay in Bangkok
- Eating out
- Top things to do in Bangkok
- 1. Floating Markets
- 2. Temples
- 3. King Power MahaNahon Sky Walk
- 4. IconSiam Shopping Mall
- 5. Visit Khao San Road
- 6. Tuk-tuk ride
- 7. Drinks at a roof top bar
- 8. China town
- 9. Lumpini park
- 10. Street food tour
- Is Bangkok a safe city?
- Useful Links
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Best Things to Do in Bangkok Introduction
What is Bangkok Like?
Thailand’s capital is a wonderful, bustling city. The impressive Chao Phraya river runs through the centre, with boats and water taxis connecting the major tourist attractions.
Large, lively and full of contrasts, Bangkok is a place where you can experience authentic culture, fantastic cuisine and captivating sights. Bangkok has a multitude of things to do and places to see.
My suggestions give you an eclectic mix of the best things for your itinerary, to ensure you have a truly amazing experience.
🏩 Our Hotel Recommendation: Millennium Hilton Hotel
Getting Around Bangkok
Bangkok is easy to get around with options of taxi, boat, train, bus or tuk-tuk. The only thing I would not recommend is driving yourself because the roads are crazy busy.
🚕Taxis
Instead of Uber they have ‘Grab’ or ‘Bolt’. You pay the driver when you arrive at your destination but the price is agreed on the app before you commit.
⚠️ You will find their drivers are less worried about safety than we are in the West. We ordered a 6 man taxi to take 5 of us to the airport and the driver used the extra seat for our bags instead and had 4 of us sitting on the back seat.
⛴️ Water bus / ferries
The Chao Phraya River Express is an easy way to travel to places along the river. It is a water bus which has 34 stops. There are lots of ferries that take you from one side of the river bank to the other, and long tail boats operate too.
🚄 BTS Sky Train and MRT underground line
The BTS Sky train is an elevated train that connects 60 stations across 3 lines. You can pay for tickets at the machines in stations. It is efficient and clean and a great way to avoid the busy traffic.
The MRT is mostly an underground line. Again you can pay using ticket machines or the ticket office counter.
🛺Tuk-tuk
Tuk-tuks are the most fun way of getting around Bangkok but make sure you agree a price before you get in. You will find them stationed around most attractions.
🚌 Bus
Bangkok has a complex network of buses, with different types of services and coloured buses. It is the cheapest way to get around the city and its suburbs, however, the service is rarely used by tourists because of its apparent complexity and the low cost of other modes of transport.
🌟 Tip: The simplest way to navigate the bus service is to use Google Maps and choose ‘bus’ as your preferred transport. See Useful links for more information.
🏩Where to Stay in Bangkok
There are hundreds of accommodation choices, from 5* hotels to budget hostels.
We loved the Millennium Hilton, situated on the river bank next to the IconSiam Shopping Mall. The views were incredible. The interior is modern and luxurious, and the rooftop cocktail bar and lounge was a real treat.
We recommend this fabulous hotel to accentuate your Bangkok stay.
👉 See availability at Millennium Hilton Bangkok
Eating Out in Bangkok
You will find dining out a delight for the senses: the smell, sizzle, colours and tastes are intoxicating. Thai food is flavoursome and adventurous.
Street food is on every corner, mouth-watering dishes are served in markets day and night, and restaurant dining is plentiful too. You will have no problems finding delicious Thai food wherever you go.
Top Things to Do in Bangkok
1. Floating Markets
Bangkok is famous for its markets. There are huge night markets, floating markets and even a railway market. We enjoyed visiting the Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market.
It is one of the closest floating markets to the city. We took a long-tail boat ride from the market for 250 baht each and found this a truly authentic experience and one of the most fascinating during our Thailand travels.
🗺️ How to Get There:
You can take the BTS Sky Train (Silom line) and get off at Bang Wa Station and take a taxi from there. We just took a taxi from our hotel straight there.
Address:
30/1 Moo 15, Bang Ramat Road, Bangkok 10170
2. Temples
There are hundreds of temples to choose from when visiting Bangkok. We chose to see the Grand Palace and Wat Arun.
They are located close to each other and can be seen on the same morning or afternoon so ideal if you are only in Bangkok for a short time. They are completely contrasting from each other.
The Grand Palace is colourful and ornate, and was once the residence of the Kings of Siam.
Wat Arun is named after the Hindu god of dawn. It consists of a huge light grey spire, with steps all around and it is surrounded by 5 smaller spires. All are covered in ornate mosaics. At night it is lit up and looks truly majestic .
🗺️How to Get There and Prices
Take the Chao Phraya River Express – the stops for the Grand Palace and Wat Arun are only 3 minutes away from each other. Check Google to see the least busiest times.
The Grand Palace costs 500 baht per person and Wat Arun is 100 baht. You can purchase ‘skip the line’ entry tickets for the Grand Palace with Get Your Guide on the link below:
👉Book tickets for Grand Palace
What to Wear
There is a strict dress code for visiting temples in Bangkok. Shoulders and knees must be covered and you should dress modestly. See my blog below about what to wear while visiting temples for further advice:
3. King Power MahaNahon Sky Walk
A family favourite, King Power Tower is the tallest building in Bangkok. We called it the Jenga building because of its unusual design. It is a great activity, even the lift is an experience to remember.
At the top of the tower there are floor to ceiling glass windows with views across the whole of Bangkok city. The roof top has a glass skywalk for you to walk across over the top of Bangkok. There are also café and restaurant choices.
How to Get There and Tickets
🗺️ Take the BTS Sky Train to Chong Nonsi Station (Silom line). The tower is 2 minutes from the station.
👉Book tickets for King Power Tower and Sky Walk
4. IconSiam Shopping Mall
IconSiam Mall is located close to the river, next to the Millennium Hilton Hotel. This is more than your average shopping mall. Its modern and exquisitely designed interior is fantastic.
Neon lit waterfalls cascade from the ceiling, the cinema has gold plated columns, and a beautiful floating market covers the ground floor. The cinema even has a children’s soft play area and slide to keep little ones entertained.
There is a great choice of restaurants and plenty of shopping. At night you can watch a light show and firework display in front of the fountains.
🗺️How to Get There / Address:
Located on the Chao Phraya river, the easiest way to get there is by ferry or taxi by road. It is located on Charoennakom Road, Klongsan.
5. Visit Khao San Road
Khao San Road is famous for its raucous nightlife but in the daytime it is calm and family friendly. Take a stroll and see the unusual souvenir gifts, taste a chocolate covered insect or try some street food.
We had lunch, a few cocktails and a game of pool. We travelled there by taxi and took a tuk-tuk home.
6. Tuk-Tuk Ride
A must do activity while you are in Bangkok is to take a tuk-tuk ride. We managed to fit all 5 of us onto one tuk-tuk. Speeding through the roads with the wind in your hair and seeing all the sights and sounds of Bangkok was exhilarating and we all loved our experience.
7. Drinks at a Roof Top Bar
The most famous roof top bar in Bangkok has to be the Lebua Tower, featured in the film The Hangover 2. But there are lots of other wonderful roof top bars across the city.
We were lucky enough to have a fabulous sky lounge and bar at the Millennium Hilton. This bar is open to the public too. You can enjoy mocktails and cocktails and watch the sun set over the city. You will find the Millennium Hilton next to the IconSiam Mall in Khlongsan.
8. China Town
Another popular place to visit is Bangkok China Town, one of the largest Chinatowns in the world. Colourful and bustling, it is an ideal place for market shopping and eating street food.
🌟 Tip: You should come for dinner at night so you can see the pretty lights.
9. Lumpini Park
If you need a quiet retreat away from the buzz of the city, Lumpini park provides a peaceful oasis. Located in Pathumwan, the park is the equivalent of New York’s Central Park but smaller. There are walkways, fountains, statues, trees and nature.
How to Get There:
🗺️ Take the BTS Sky Train (Sukhumvit Line) to Ratchadamri station. It is a 10 minute walk to reach the park.
10. Street Food Tour
Tasting street food can be a daunting experience when you are in a country where you do not understand the language and customs.
🌟 Tip: Taking a street food guided tour gives you the opportunity to taste a wide variety of menus and flavours and helps you to discover new tastes and delights.
👉 Book Street Food Walking Tour with Viator
Is Bangkok a Safe City?
We felt safe the whole time we were in Bangkok. My daughter has since been back by herself and says that she finds it to be one of the safest cities she has been to, and her favourite city.
Thailand has a low crime rate. The most common types of crime against tourists are pickpocketing and tourist scams. It is advisable to be alert as you would in any city in the world.
You will find the Thai people to be friendly, welcoming and excellent hosts and I am sure you will want to return as soon as you can.
Have you been to Bangkok? Do you have any good recommendations?
✨ This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Bangkok.
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