Best Things To Do In Bangkok

Bangkok is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The city itself is a true tourist paradise, as evidenced by the increasing number of travelers coming every year. The city has a wide range of tourist attractions, mostly historic attractions and temples with elaborate architectures and arts, Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Wat Phu Khao Thong and Wat Traimit are among the most famous temples. There are also palaces, museums, parks, and a wide array of Shopping centers, from luxury malls to flea markets and street markets such as Chatuchak Weekend Market and Sampeng Market. The information below will guide you all the way to explore all the best things to do in Bangkok.

20 Best Things To Do in Bangkok

01 Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn)

Wat Arun or Temple of Dawn is among the best known of Thailand’s landmarks. As one of the most important temple in Thailand History, there are many unique attractions in Wat Arun in Bangkok especially the central prang, a stupa-like pagoda encrusted with colorful glazed porcelain tiles and seashells, Giant statues, the Ordination Hall, the Bell Tower, and many Buddha statues. Foreigner entrance fee: 50 Baht/ticket (as at January 2020).

02 Wat Pho

Wat Pho, is also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its official name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan. The temple is first on the list of six temples in Thailand classed as the highest grade of the first-class royal temples and is also one of the most visited Buddhist Temples in Bangkok. Marble inscriptions about medical sciences, anatomy and orthopedics are the origins of Wat Pho Thai traditional massage principles, which has made Wat Pho a world’s famous site. Foreigner entrance fee: 200 Baht/ticket (as at January 2020).

03 Wat Traimit Wittayaram

Wat Traimit, the temple of The Golden Buddha statue commonly known in Thai as Phra Sukhothai Traimit, is the largest gold Buddha statue in the attitude of subduing Mara and is recorded in the Guinness World Record. This gold Buddha statue is 3.01 meters wide and 3.91 meters tall with a weight of 5.5 tonnes. The gold in the statue (18 karat) is estimated to be worth 250 million dollars. The body of the statue is 40% pure, the volume from the chin to the forehead is 80% pure, and the hair and the topknot, weighing 45 kg, are 99% pure gold.

04 The Grand Palace

The Grand Palace was a former residence for King Rama I to King Rama V of the Rattanakosin Kingdom. The palace complex is roughly rectangular and has a combined area of 218,400 square meters (2,351,000 sq ft), surrounded by four walls. It is divided into three major areas: the Outer Court, the Middle Court, and the Inner Court. The Outer Court starts from Wiset Chai Si Gate to Phiman Chai Si Gate and includes the inner walls of the Grand Palace.

05 Snake Farm, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute

Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute is a farm of venomous snakes, founded in order to extract their venom and produce antivenom. The Institute main missions are, producing vaccines and serums, researching and providing scientific investigation, providing information about rabies and other tropical diseases as well as vaccinating people against those diseases.

06 Taling Chan Floating Market

Taling Chan floating market is in Bangkok’s Thon Buri side about 13 km from Siam Square. It is open only on Saturday & Sunday from about 9am to 5pm. Orchard produce such as fruits, and vegetables, as well as fish are sold from boats. A very good experience for those who has never been to floating market before.

07 Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market

Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Marketis located Bang Ramat Road, Thon Buri about 20 km from Siam Square. Highlights of this market were variety of Thai food such as grilled seafood, kai yang (Thai grilled chicken), som tam (papaya spicy sour salad), larb (Lao meat salad), pork satay, barbeque pork ribs and Thai sweets which many are rare dishes namely Khanom khai pla (fish roe sweet), Khanom ko (southern Thai sweet), Khanom nimnuan (Rayong local sweet) etc. by customers who sit at low tables all along the canal. Operation time is only on Saturdays–Sundays and public holidays from 9am to 5pm.

08 Bangkok Floating Markets Tour: Damnoen Saduak, Maeklong Railway, and Amphawa Markets

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Spend a half day or full day trip to the famous Mae Klong Railway Market, Amphawa Floating Market & Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.

Mae Klong Railway Market – is about 80km away from Bangkok city. The market is called ‘life-risking’ market because its stalls are attached to the Mae Klong-Ban Laem railway.
Amphawa Floating Market – is about 6km away from Maeklong Railway Market. This is one of the most popular floating market in Thailand.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market – is about 15km from Amphawa Floating Market. It is often considered the most famous floating market in Thailand.

Since these 3 places are relatively far from Bangkok city (80km – 100km), most tourists will join the local tour packages complete with a professional licensed tour guide and air-conditioned transfers.

09 Baiyoke Sky Tower

The 88 stories Baiyoke Sky Tower is the highest building in Thailand where you can enjoy the spectacular view of Bangkok and beyond the metropolis, up to the Gulf of Thailand. You will be impressed by the view of Bangkok in the night time by the 360 degrees revolving rooftop on the 84th floor. Only 200 baht fee for each person. Baiyoke Sky Tower also offers international luxury restaurants like Bangkok Sky on 76th and 78th floor or international buffet on the 79th floor where you can sing Karaoke with your friends. – Best thing to do in Bangkok for couples.

10 Chinatown Street Food

Bangkok Chinatown is known as a bustling shopping district and a popular street food destination. The street is packed with food stalls and Chinese restaurants where you can eat till vomit at very good price here. Besides the food, visit the Chinese cultural landmarks such as Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, China Gate, Guan-Yin Goddess at Thian Fah Foundation, or Guan-U Shrine at the Old Market. The famous rotating restaurant in Sky View 360°@Grand China Hotel is also part of the favorite landmark here.

11 Chatuchak Weekend Market

Chatuchak Weekend Market or JJ Market, is the largest market in Thailand. Imagine, it has more than 15,000 stalls and approximately 11,500 vendors that spread across 35 acres and 27 sections which range from Food, Art, Antiques, Fashion and much more! You might need to spend days to walk around this market. It is also the world’s largest and most diverse weekend market, with estimated over 200,000 visitors every weekend. Whole Market open on Saturday and Sunday 9am-6pm.

12 Chao Phraya River Cruise – Best Things To Do in Bangkok For Couples

13 Muay Thai (Thai Boxing)

Muay Thai is an extremely popular sport throughout Thailand and almost every town and city has its own stadium for the sport. There are 2 stadiums in Bangkok, Rajadamnern & Lumpinee Stadium. Personally I would prefer Rajadamnern Stadium, as it’s closer to central Bangkok and relatively cheap to reach in a taxi. A downside is that there are more tickets touts waiting for you when you get there, again it’s best to buy tickets through your hotel, online or inside the stadium itself.

14 Safari World

Safari World consists of two parks named Marine Park and Safari Park with a total area of 480 acres (190 ha) for its open zoo and 180 acres (73 ha) for its bird park. Visitors are offered a drive through Safari Park for the closest encounter with wild animals such as giraffes, zebras, Marabou storks, painted storks, ostriches, camels, nilgais, Watusi cows, bulls, Impalas, white rhinos, blackbucks, grey crowned cranes, lions, tigers, eld deer and bears. Marine Park Visitors can enjoy various shows such as orangutan show, sea lion show, live stunt performance, dolphin and Beluga whale show, bird show, and elephant show.

15 National Museum Of Royal Barges

The National Museum of Royal Barges will give you an insight into the colorful Culture of Thailand. The Royal Barge Procession was once seen by millions of viewers around the world when it was specially staged for the 2003 APEC Conference in Bangkok and broadcast live to the participating countries. All these Royal Barges are still well kept in the museum. The most impressive and important boat is the Kings personal barge, Suphanahong which was built in 1911. It is 46 meters in length hewn from a single tree and covered with intricate gilt carvings and colorful pieces of glass.

16 Rot Fai Market Ratchada or Train Night Market

Train night market Ratchada Located on Ratchada Road and near the Esplanade Department Store, the Market is accessible by the MRT: Thailand Cultural Centre Station. The market is the excellent place to shop for antiques, shoes, handbags, clothes,souvenirs, toys or anything you name it. But, the main attractions for me here are the various kind of food stalls with good price.
Opening time: 5pm- 1am (Thursday to Sunday only)

17 Flow House Bangkok

Flow House Bangkok is the right place for watersport lovers by bringing swells to the center of Bangkok for surfers. You can enjoy the wave whenever you want. Flow House Bangkok is currently the biggest surfing place in Southeast Asia and is the place where athletes can show off their cool moves. The safety is guaranteed with the standard from the US. Besides FlowRiders, there is a restaurant for riders who are exhausted from surfing and swimming and also a bar to chill out and relax by chatting or listening to music.

18 Massage & Spa

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19 Siam Paragon Mall

Siam Paragon is the first and the biggest world-class shopping destination in Thailand that has become a legend and a must-see Bangkok landmark for both local and international visitors. It includes a range of branded stores and restaurants as well as a multiplex (15 large screen cinemas), the Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World aquarium, an exhibition hall, the Thai Art Gallery and an opera concert hall. It also has a bowling alley and karaoke centre.

20 Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World

Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World (formerly known as Siam Ocean World) is the largest aquarium (approximately 10,000 square meters) in Southeast Asia exhibiting more than 30,000 species worldwide. Visit to discover the amazing marine life like Giant Spider Crabs, Giant Pacific Octopus, Stingray Sharks, Sand Tiger Sharks, Jackass Penguins or African Penguins and many more in this spectacular aquarium. Siam Ocean World is on the 1st and 2nd floors of the Siam Paragon Mall.