14+1 Things to do in Bangkok
We could write a book about the top things to do in Bangkok, since this city has it all. Full of history, street food, cafés, bars and the mix of local people with tourists makes this city perfect for backpackers or any traveler.
Of course, like every big city, you can find some negative aspects in Bangkok too, for example, the heavy smog created by crazy traffic. Despite this, it is an incredible city, suitable for every type of tourist and traveler who ventures into the land of smiles.
And since that tourist could be you, we have decided to write this post about the top things to do in Bangkok, so you will be able to visit this city in the best possible way.
Royal Grand Palace | Wat Pho | Wat Arun | Boat | Chinatown | Khaosan Road | Tuk-tuk | Lumpini Park | Sky walk | Iconsiam | The Great Buddha | Street food | Jay Fay | Mountain of gold | Chatuchak | Conclusions
In our list of the 15 best things to do and see in Bangkok, we will also give you some tips on how to plan your day, so you can easily see attractions that are close to each other.
Whether you stay 2-5-15 or more days in Bangkok, we can assure you that they will never be enough and that you will always have something to see or do in splendid Bangkok.
Here is the list of the 15 top things to do in Bangkok.
Our Tip: Wise is a great card when you are travelling to a country with a different currency than yours. We use this online bank during our trips and we never had problems, even in remote places around the world.
Grab our Travel Checklist and Let the adventure begin!
1. Walk inside the Royal Grand Palace – To do in Bangkok
Only this first attraction will be worth your visit in Bangkok. If we had to choose which part is the heart of the city, it would be the Grand Royal Palace.
This set of magnificent buildings was the home of the Royal family until 1972 and for this reason, wherever you look within its walls, you will be filled with beautiful temples, statues and structures.
Today, the Grand Royal Palace is one of the best places to see in Bangkok, and also one of the most visited attractions in the whole country. Still, don’t worry about that, you will be able to take amazing photos, since the place itself is huge, so the tourists spread around. We do not want to give you a lot of information about the history of the Palace, since it’s better that you experience everything on your own. However, we do recommend three things that could come in handy on your trip:
1. Buy the tickets online a few days in advance, the reason is that it is usually a very crowded place.
2. Plan at least half a day to be able to visit everything, since the Palace area is very big.
3. Check the two attractions below since they are close to the Palace and you can visit all of them in one day.
Whether we go, to the beach or to the mountains, on a day trip or for several months, we always carry this incredible product with us.
The portable water filter is an essential product on our trips, as it is sustainable, useful and super small, a real joy. Click here for more information!
2. Visit Wat Pho (see The Reclining Buddha) -To do in Bangkok
After your visit to the Grand Royal Palace (or before, whichever suits you best), the most advisable thing to do, given the proximity between these two attractions, is to visit the incredible Wat Pho temple.
This Buddhist temple built in the 17th century by King Rama I is worth a visit for its style and beauty and there is an extra surprise for you inside, a huge statue of the reclining Buddha. Even if you have seen many Buddha statues before, we are quite sure that its 46 meters long and 15 meters high will amaze you, since you probably have not seen anything similar in your life.
Wat Pho, besides being a religious temple, is also the location of the oldest university in Thailand. Since 1955 the ancient Arts of medicine and Thai massage have been taught at this university. So if you’re tired from a lot of walking, Wat Pho is the perfect place to recover your strength with a good Thai massage (although be prepared for long queues).
3. Visit Wat Arun – To do in Bangkok
Wat Arun is another temple that is very close to the first two attractions on our list of top things to do in Bangkok, so you can easily visit all three attractions on the same day. It is located exactly on the opposite side of the Chao Phraya River, and thanks to a simple boat trip, you will be able to move fast without too much walking.
What stands out from the whole temple is its Khmer-style tower (called Prang) of 77 mt. which you will be able to see from a distance.
We recommend a nice walk through its gardens, since only then can you appreciate its structures and the materials used (such as seashells).
The best time to take photos of this place is surely sunrise and sunset, which give a more mystical vision of the entire temple.
4. Boat trip on the Chao Phraya River – To do in Bangkok
Did you know that the boat is one of the main means of transport used by locals and tourists in Bangkok?
Yes, Bangkok is full of canals and thousands of people take advantage of the boats to move around the city every day, and we were no exception. We took the boat from the vicinity of our hotel, and precisely on the same day, we decided to visit the three attractions that we have previously mentioned.
Despite what it may seem, it is a comfortable, efficient, and quite affordable means of transport.
On the river you will find different types of boats, so the best way is to search for the public transport boat with an orange flag.
It is important to know this because these boats are usually cheaper than others, a ticket cost us 40 baht each way (August 2022). At the pier, you will find people who want to sell you tourist tickets from other private companies, remember they do the same route but for a higher price. Another way to enjoy a ride on the river is the boat restaurants, which usually work in the evening, and they are naturally more expensive due to the experience with dinner and show included.
Decisively, taking a boat ride is one thing you should do in Bangkok on your next stay.
5. Hang out and eat in Chinatown
Chinatown is a unique place in Bangkok. During the day it is full of markets and people who buy and sell anything, at night it magically lights up with colors and everything smells of extraordinary and delicious food.
Most of the movement is concentrated on Yaowarat Road and its surroundings, and if you are looking for anything really, we assure you that you will find it in this neighborhood.
If you visit Chinatown at night to experience the food scene here, we advise you not to concentrate only on the main street. We recommend exploring the secondary streets, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the number of great restaurants and stalls, all with delicious food.
Among the things you should visit in Chinatown are the Sampeng Market (products of all kinds), the Pak Khlong Talat (flower market), the Wat Traimit (temple famous for the Golden Buddha) and the Chinatown Gate.
If you want to know more about the history of the Chinese community in Bangkok, Yaowarat Chinatown Center is the right place to visit.
Visiting Chinatown is definitely one of the things you have to do in Bangkok, don’t miss it.
6. Nightlife on Khaosan Road – To do in Bangkok
If you have come to Bangkok to party, or you are looking for cheap accommodation, this is exactly the place you were looking for.
Perhaps how many times have you seen on social media photographs of this incredible street with colorful neon lights and many, many people. Khaosan Road (and its surroundings), is probably the largest backpacker neighborhood in the world.
All the buses that come from the airports have a stop here and the wide variety of cheap hostels, food of all kinds and incredible clubs, make this backpacker ghetto one of the busiest areas in all of Bangkok.
From our experience (at least in terms of drinks and food) the prices are usually not much cheaper than other places. In fact, they are a little more expensive than other more local neighborhoods however, even if you are not a fan of parties, we recommend visiting this street anyway, because it’s worth seeing.
7. Make a tour with the Tuk Tuk – To do in Bangkok
You can’t say you’ve been to Thailand if you don’t use a Tuk tuk at least once!
And what better place to try this experience than Bangkok.
As we have already mentioned, the Thai capital is very big and the tuk tuk often turns out to be a comfortable means of transport, always if you do not want to use a boring taxi.
We advise you to always bargain the price, since the drivers seeing foreigners usually shoot high prices for each journey.
Remember that tuk tuks are usually more expensive than taxis, so far we don’t know why, but that is the reality. One piece of advice we give you is not to feel scammed if a short trip of maybe 5 min can cost you 60-100 baht. Think about it more like paying for the experience and just enjoy.
8. Visit and stroll through Lumpini Park – To do in Bangkok
If you are tired of the city chaos, and you need a peaceful and quiet moment, we have a nice place for you.
Lumpini Park is the green lung of the city and a place that you have to see in Bangkok. Although it is the most famous park in the city, within its 56 hectares you can breathe peace and tranquility. Thousands of locals, expats and tourists use the park to relax or play sports every day. We did a regenerating walk and rested for a while in total tranquility.
To get to the park you can take a taxi from anywhere in the city or the famous tuk tuk mentioned above and if the BTS (sky train) is nearby, you have a stop right in front of the park.
Rest, relax and add Lumpini Park to your list of things to do in Bangkok, we absolutely recommend it.
9. Walk in the void at Mahanakhon Skywalk – Things to do in Bangkok
Si estás buscando algo que hacer en Bangkok que te suba un poco la adrenalina, el Mahanakhon Skywalk te hará vivir decisivamente una intensa experiencia.
El mirador más alto de Bangkok con sus 314mt y una vista de la ciudad a 360 vale ya su precio, aún si tenemos otra sorpresa. Si le añadimos la experiencia de poder caminar sobre una pasarela de vidrio suspendida en el vacío a una altura de 310 mt (78 plantas), ¿qué dices? ¿Suficiente adrenalina, o no?
El precio de la experiencia no es del todo asequible, a pesar de eso si quieres ver la ciudad de un mirador llega hasta el punto 14.
10. Shop at Bangkok’s most impressive mall – To do in Bangkok
Do you think that 7000 stores is enough to satisfy your desire for shopping?
The ICONSIAM shopping center is absolutely crazy, you could spend the whole day inside without visiting everything. In addition to all kinds of international brands and a luxury shopping area (the Icon Luxe), you can eat street food from the 75 provinces of the country on the ground floor or something more glamorous like restaurants. You can also play sports, watch movies or participate in a conference, because this mall has it all.
Since its opening in 2018, ICONSIAM has become one of the most visited attractions in all of Bangkok. In fact, we recommend it to you, and that is why we have added it to the list of things to do in Bangkok.
The best way to get to ICONSIAM is by bus or boat (some are free). Another way is the BTS, here I leave the link with the various possibilities. Click here.
11. Visit the Big Buddha in Bangkok – To do in Bangkok
A place that literally left us speechless. This 69mt tall Buddha is the tallest Buddha statue in the entire city of Bangkok and the second tallest in Thailand after this statue.
His name is Buddha Dhammakaya Thep Mongkol or simply Big Buddha.
You can also find several temples here, such as Wat Pak Nam, which in addition to a museum with many statues of Buddhas, also have a beautiful dome that you cannot miss.
The Great Buddha has been finished recently (2021) and at the moment it is not so visited by foreign tourists, making this site a true jewel of peace and beauty.
This statue has once again changed the skyline of the city and for sure, it will soon attract a lot more curious and devoted people.
Ps: You can combine this visit with the ICONSIAM because it is on the same side of the city.
12. Eat authentic Thai street food
If there is one thing that made us fall in love with this city, it is incredible and delicious street food.
In Bangkok you can eat 24 hours a day and for sure you will never be hungry. An incredible thing that we have noticed is that it smells like food everywhere, even in the metro where there is no food around. If you ask us for the best places to eat street food in Bangkok, we can’t really tell you since everything is worth a visit.
If you find yourself in Chinatown, on Khaosan Road, in ICONSIAM, in the Jodd Fairs or in any place around the city, we are sure that you will love it, because the best food in Thailand is cooked on the street (and it’s not just us saying that).
13. Eat at the best street food in Thailand (or in the world)
Jay Fai deserves a separate place, because she is the queen of street food in Bangkok and so far the only street food restaurant to have a Michelin star and be part of the TOP 50 in the world.
If you are a foodie like us, you will have to add Jay Fai restaurant to your things to do in Bangkok as well.
Warning: There are thousands of places with more affordable prices in Bangkok than Jay Fai, however, seeing this 73-year-old lady cooking every single dish is an authentic experience that you can only live in Bangkok.
Her star dish, the crab omelet, which is an explosion of flavors that alone is worth a visit.
We recommend going early in the morning, if you don’t want to wait in line for hours. The restaurant opens at 9am, however we advise you to go before 8am or earlier. We arrived at 7:30am and we were sixth on the list which meant eating at 10am. The day before we arrived at 9am, and it was already full for the whole day.
Arm yourself with patience and get ready to enjoy some street food with a Michelin star.
14. Visit the Mountain of Gold – to do in Bangkok
One of the popular tourist attractions in Bangkok is the Golden Mountain, or also called Wat Saket.
The Golden Mountain was for centuries the highest point in the city, and now remains a good vantage point for much of the city. It was built at the time of the reign of King Rama III and its first location was totally destroyed by a landslide.
The name of the Gold mountain derives from the Great Golden Stupa that crowns this peak of Bangkok.
To reach the top you will have to climb 318 steps and with the heat of the city it turns out to be a bit tiring. However, once you are on top you will see that it was totally worth it.
The Gold mountain is close to the Jay Fai restaurant and Khaosan road, so if you visit these places in one day.
15. Chatuchak Market Walk (Weekend) – To do in Bangkok
Chatuchak or also JJ Market is the name of the market which is held every weekend in Sanam Luang next to the Chatuchak park.
If you like shopping, you are looking for a souvenir or anything else that comes to your mind, you will find it here. We can be quite sure since there are more than 15,000 stalls or shops in an extension of 140,000 m².
The JJ Market has become the largest weekend market in the world, with its 200,000 visitors each weekend, and one of the largest open markets in Southeast Asia.
It is divided into 30 different sections, so you can buy anything that comes to your mind. We spent a pleasant morning walking through this market, well, pleasant until we arrived at the animal area. We saw thousands of different animals locked in super small cages, and we decided to get out of there as soon as possible.
According to us, the prices are usually a little lower than the other markets in the city, and for this reason, if you like to bargain, this is the perfect place for you. If you don’t want to buy anything (like us) it is also an experience that we recommend doing in Bangkok.
This market is open on Saturday and Sunday from 6am to 6pm. Here is the link to the official website.
Conclusions
Bangkok is a big city and there are definitely more things to do and see.
We shared with you our TOP 15 places and we hope that you enjoyed our post.
If you want to add any information or advice, do not hesitate to write them in the comments below, we will answer you as soon as possible.
Don’t forget, Bangkok is the city which doesn’t leave you bored at any moment.
Have fun!
Are you looking for interesting places outside of Bangkok but still in Thailand?
Then come along on a virtual tour to the Umbrella Village in Chiang Mai in this post.
Do you like our blog?
If you want to help this blog stay afloat and move forward, you can use our links to buy something, either at our e-shop www.funfoodtravelgear.com, or with our affiliate partners.
We guarantee that with affiliates you will have the same price as buying normally, and directly on their website, only using our links the companies give us a small commission (it will never be your money).
Thanks for reaching the end of this article, if you are interested in more travel and food tips around the world, every month (more or less) we come out with a new post in Spanish and one in English.
A hug for you, friends, travelers and foodies of Fun Food Travelling.
Our tip: When we travel we always make sure to have travel insurance. Our personal recommendation is Truetraveller as they have great support and health coverage around the world. And don’t worry if you forget about it, you can purchase the insurance during your trip!
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE and Travel with us!
Continue to read our most POPULAR posts:
[…] […]