What is not to be missed in Bangkok? Bangkok is a delightful, chaotic, large and busy city. Thailand‘s capital is much loved by some travelers while others would prefer to leave as soon as possible. We think Bangkok is a wonderful city so we have listed the 15 most fun things to dio in Bangkok here!
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Make sure you set aside at least 3 days for Bangkok to do some fun activities. If you have longer time, we recommend even a week’s stay here. There are so many fun things to do in Bangkok!
1. Wat Arun
Wat Arun is a large Buddhist temple complex. The name Arun means god of dawn. This beautiful, 82-meter-high temple, many say is the most beautiful temple in Bangkok. Up close, you can see the highly detailed porcelain decorations on the temple. It is a beautiful place in Bangkok where you can easily walk around for an hour. The details on the temples will never cease to amaze you!
Wat Arun is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (the last ticket is sold at 5 p.m.). Make sure you either visit Wat Arun in the morning around opening time or in the evening near closing time. These are the least busy times in terms of tourists, and the best time considering the hot climate during the day. An entrance ticket to Wat Arun costs 100 baht (€2.80) per person. Wat Arun is a temple so be sure to dress appropriately. This means that your shoulders and knees should be covered and that you should not wear challenging clothing. You get to Wat Arun easily by boat that crosses the Chao Phraya River.
2. Bicycle tour in Bangkok
The Co van Kessel tour is a household name in Bangkok. This fun bike tour takes you through all the known and unknown spots of the gigantic city. Not only will you be biking but you will also take a ride on the boat in between. The Co van Kessel tour is a fun bike tour to plan at the beginning of your Bangkok trip so you get a good idea of the city right away. Book through Co van Kessel ‘s website or check out the other best bike tours in Bangkok below.
3. Muay Thai competition
Muay Thai is a popular martial art in Thailand. There are several places where you can get Muay Thai training. Tip: check all training locations in Thailand and Bangkok here. If you prefer to watch the professionals do it, you’re in luck: there are many different places where you can watch Muay Thai matches. To see the really good games, you have to be at Lumpinee Stadium. Read all about the most fun Muay Thai competition visits in Bangkok.
4. Cooking course
Thai cuisine is known to be very tasty, flavorful and spicy. In Thailand they have many local specialties, think massaman curry, pad thai, papaya salad and the delicious dessert mango sticky rice. At Green Garden Cookery school, you will take a super fun cooking course where you will learn to make 8(!) different dishes. Also read our article on this great cooking course.
5. Wat Pho
Wat Pho is Bangkok’s most famous temple. It is better known as the temple of the reclining Buddha. In the complex of Wat Pho, besides the 46-meter-long Buddha, you will find many beautiful buildings and smaller Buddhas.
Be sure to dress appropriately and be respectful of the many Buddhas. Wat Pho is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission costs 200 baht (€5.50) per person. You can only pay in cash in baht.
6. Grand Palace
The Grand Palace is an 8-minute walk from Wat Pho. You can easily visit these two sights one after the other. Today the king no longer lives in this palace but it is still used for official occasions.
The Grand Palace is very photogenic and there are numerous beautiful buildings. You can easily walk around here for 1 or 2 hours. It is open from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Be sure to arrive first thing in the morning so you can get ahead of the crowds and heat. After this, you can walk on to Wat Pho. An entrance ticket to the Grand Palace costs 500 baht (€14) per person. You can pay by cash or pin.
7. Khao San Road
Khao San Road is the nightlife street of Bangkok. It’s a busy street where crazy things happen. For backpackers, it is the most visited street because the drinks are cheap and there are always lots of parties. In fact, everyone who is in Bangkok must have walked down this street once. You will find various fried insects, scorpions on a stick, nitrous oxide balloons, buckets of alcohol, crocodiles being roasted, restaurants, bars, clothing shops and much more. You name it, Khao San Road has it.
Tip: read all about transportation in Bangkok here.
8. Rambuttri Road
Looking for a cozier setting than Khao San Road? Then walk to nearby Rambuttri road. At Rambuttri road you will find several bars and restaurants with live music, lots of cozy lights and a relaxed atmosphere. Again, it is often very crowded but it is a lot more relaxed than at the garish Khao San Road.
9. Wat Benchamabophit
Haven’t had enough of the temples yet? Good news, we have another fun temple for you! What Benchamabophit is made of Italian marble which gives it a charming look. The temple is located slightly outside the center of Bangkok but you can still get here easily with a Grab. What Benchamabophit is still fairly unknown to the general public. You will most likely only visit this temple with a few others at a time. Be sure to go here early in the morning because from 09:00 tour buses with many Chinese tourists arrive.
10. Chinatown
Like every major Asian city, Bangkok has an extensive Chinatown. Chinese characters, lights and the smell of food soon come to meet you. Especially in the evening, Chinatown comes alive. The markets here are built up in no time and the plastic chairs are brought out. Chinatown is the perfect place to get something to eat in the evening or just wander through.
11. Rooftop bar
In Bangkok, everything has to be high, higher, highest. Everywhere you look you see people at work pounding a building with dozens of floors out of the ground. As a result, there are many different rooftop bars in Bangkok. We ourselves have been to Vertigo and Moon bar and can definitely recommend it. Be here promptly at 5 p.m. Then the rooftop bar opens. If you arrive half an hour later, all the spots are already full and you have to wait a few hours before you can get a table.
All rooftop bars in Bangkok require you to be neatly dressed. For the men, this means long pants and closed shoes. Slippers are not allowed. Women should also wear long pants, skirts or dresses. Flip-flops are also not allowed for women, open shoes are allowed only if they have a heel underneath and otherwise closed shoes (sneakers) are also fine. The drinks at the rooftop bar are expensive, very expensive. For a beer, you pay 300 baht (€8) and a cocktail costs 500 baht (€14). To this is added 7% VAT and 10% service fee. Still, it is an unforgettable experience and recommended to do it once. The Vertigo and Moon bar is in this hotel. Take the elevator to the 57th floor and there you will be helped further.
12. Iconsiam
Iconsiam is an enormous luxury mall in Bangkok. The shopping mall features brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Dior. If you walk a little further you will discover a part of the mall where the slightly more affordable stores are located such as an H&M and Zara. Way down in the basement of the building you will find an insanely large hall with hundreds of different food stalls and a floating market. Here, for normal prices, you score a delicious lunch.
13. Lumpini park
Located in the middle of the city, Lumpini Park is Bangkok’s largest, green park. In the morning, you will encounter many sporting locals here. In the afternoon, it is lovely to relax here in the shade of the many trees. Lumpini Park is further known for the many monitor lizards found here. These can grow up to 2 meters tall! Make sure you don’t get too close or run after them.
14. Boat tour
The Chao Phraya River crisscrosses Bangkok. From the water you can easily spot the city’s many highlights and the temperature here is often more pleasant. There are many different boat tours that take you across the water in one or more hours.
15. Stay at the nicest accommodations
Bangkok does not have one center. You can choose to stay near Khao San Road, or just near Chinatown. Each neighborhood has its own charm. We have listed the nicest accommodations in Bangkok: there are 12 recommendations for hostels, hotels and apartments!
How to get to Bangkok?
From the Netherlands, a direct flight will get you to Bangkok in as little as 11 hours. If you choose a cheaper option, you often have a transfer in Jeddah. For the best deals on airline tickets, check out Skyscanner.
From Bangkok, travel on to the islands of Southern Thailand or to the beautiful Khao Sok national park. For all bus, boat, and minivan connections in Thailand, check out 12GO.Asia.
Need more inspiration for your Thailand trip? Then also check out our popular travel itinerary for 3 weeks in Southern Thailand or the authentic travel itinerary. Is Bangkok your last destination and want to travel on to another country? From Bangkok, you can easily take a bus to Siem Reap, Cambodia!
