Bangkok is a lively, active city where there’s always something to do.
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19+ Things to do in Bangkok, Thailand
Check out the top 19+ things to do in Bangkok.
Airplane Graveyard
A subway line is being constructed nearby so this might not be around much longer.
I don’t know who named this the Airplane Graveyard but good on them because graveyard is so much more appealing than scrapyard.
Time Needed: 60 minutes
Price: varies (฿300 is common but could be more or less)
Day: 3
Visitor Tips:
- Be careful! Watch for corroded metal that could break off under you, and things hidden in the grass (like jagged pieces of metal and snakes).
Bangkok Art & Culture Centre
The Bangkok Art & Culture Centre is a large centre with exhibitions, galleries, shops, and food.
The biggest reason to visit is to see the (totally free) temporary art exhibitions. They’re high quality and change regularly!
Time Needed: 90 minutes
Price: free
Day: 2
Visitor Tips:
- If you have some extra time and want to do some shopping, the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre is across from MBK Shopping Centre.
Calypso Cabaret
The Calypso Cabaret performers are Thai transgender artists.
It’s a stunning show with elaborate (and amazing) costumes, excellent performances, and complex choreography.
Time Needed: 90 minutes (showtime is 70 minutes)
Price: ฿1,200
Day: 2
Visitor Tips:
- seating is first come, first serve.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
The Chatuchak Weekend Market both is and is not a tourist market.
It’s a HUGE market (~10,000 vendors) that you could spend hours wandering around in. You can find pretty much anything you’re looking for!
Time Needed: 90 minutes
Price: free
Day: 2
Visitor Tips:
- Haggle. Seriously, haggle hard. Prices are inflated.
Erawan Shrine
This is a very small Hindu shrine. It’s a genuine place of worship that’s always crowded with worshipers (and tourists).
Time Needed: 10 minutes
Price: free
Day: 2
Visitor Tips:
- You can pay for a dance prayer which is said to fulfill your wishes.
The Grand Palace
The Grand Palace is a must-visit in Bangkok. It’s huge with many different areas and buildings.
Time Needed: 2 hours
Price: ฿500
Day: 1
Visitor Tips:
- Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) is inside the Grand Palace grounds. It’s considered the most valued temple in Thailand and features the Emerald Buddha. Be sure you don’t miss it!
- Many places in Thailand have a dress code but the Grand Palace enforces theirs very strictly:
- No sleeveless shirts
- No vests
- No short tops
- No see-through tops
- No short hot pants or short pants
- No torn pants
- No tight pants
- No bike pants
- No mini skirts
Jim Thompson House Museum
Jim Thompson was an American living in Thailand who basically started the international Thai silk industry. His house was converted into this museum and it’s fantastic.
Time Needed: 2 hours
Price: ฿200
Day: 2
Visitor Tips:
- Take the (free) guided tour. It’s a great, highly informative tour.
Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market
The Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market isn’t the biggest or most popular floating market. I consider both of those to be pluses AND it’s closer to the city than other floating markets.
Once upon a time, floating markets in Bangkok were places locals went to shop. Nowadays? They’re mostly places tourists go to take pictures and buy souvenirs.
The Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market is no exception. However, if you venture further into the dry market you’ll find more local shopping.
Time Needed: 60 minutes
Price: free
Day: 1
Visitor Tips:
- If you choose to take a long tail boat ride (about ฿100 per person for 40-60 minutes), you’ll see some traditional homes, plants, and nice scenery.
- Go early to avoid the crowds!
Khao San Road
Full disclosure: I’m not a fan of Khao San Road. But, if you want to be where the tourists are, this is the place.
Khao San Road is a lively area (and that’s putting it mildly). It’s crowded and busy and you’ll never be bored.
It’s not just ‘backpackers’ here, but all tourists. You’ll find people from all over the world (including Thai tourists) in all age groups.
There are TONS of restaurants, massage parlors, and souvenir shops.
Time Needed: at least an hour
Price: free
Day: 1*
Visitor Tips:
- Expect people to approach you trying to sell you trinkets. Don’t buy from them, the prices are outrageous.
Lumphini Park
Lumphini Park is the largest and oldest park in Bangkok.
It’s a great place for a picnic (bring something, pick something up on your way, or grab something from one of the vendors there).
Time Needed: 60 to 90 minutes
Price: free
Day: 2
Visitor Tips:
- Rent a boat (rowing, foot paddle, or arm paddle) and take a tour around the lake.
- Do not feed the lizards!!
National Museum
The National Museum in Bangkok is gigantic. It’s considered the largest museum in Southeast Asia.
The collection of Royal Chariots is amazing!
Time Needed: 2 hours
Price: ฿200
Day: 1
Visitor Tips:
- You have to remove your shoes, so slip-on shoes are best.
Pak Khlong Market (Flower Market)
The Pak Khlong Market (Flower Market) is open 24 hours a day!
It’s not a shopping market, it’s a wholesale market. However, it’s huge and beautiful which makes it a popular spot for tourists.
Time Needed: 30 to 60 minutes
Price: free
Day: 1
Visitor Tips:
- There are many fruit and vegetable vendors nearby to grab a good snack.
Rajadamnern MuayThai Stadium
Rajadamnern MuayThai Stadium is the place to go and see a Muay Thai fight.
Fights happen on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday every week.
Time Needed: up to 4 hours
Price: ฿1,000+
Day: 3*
Visitor Tips:
- 2nd tier tickets are often considered the best (solid view, (often) with the locals, reasonably priced).
Sathorn Unique Tower (aka Ghost Tower)
This is illegal and potentially dangerous. Just so you know.
Sathorn Unique Tower is a 49-story abandoned skyscraper in Bangkok. Construction was 80% complete when the 1997 Asian financial crisis hit and they stopped building.
I’ve never been up the tower because climbing 49 flights of stairs just doesn’t appeal to me. But it’s something a lot of people are into.
If you go you may or may not encounter a guard (if so, your options are to leave or attempt a bribe).
Time Needed: however long it takes you to climb up (a couple of hours)
Price: free (potential bribe needed)
Day: 2*
Visitor Tips:
- Bring plenty of water because climbing 49 flights is a long way up (and down).
- As of late 2019, there are more and more reports of people being unable to go in. Don’t give anyone money unless you can see the stairs up are open.
Talad Rod Fai (Train Night Market)
I love markets. Contrary to the name, there’s no train nearby though.
This place is crowded! While there are plenty of food options, there’s limited seating.
Time Needed: 90 minutes
Price: free
Day: 1*
Visitor Tips:
- This is a weekend (Thursday to Sunday) night market.
Wat Arun Ratchavararam (Temple of Dawn)
This is the most iconic temple in Bangkok. Which means it’s also a really busy place.
It’s a gem and worth the visit (instead of just admiring it from afar, although you should do that, too).
Time Needed: 90 minutes
Price: ฿50
Day: 1
Visitor Tips:
- Get there by taking the tourist boat across the river (for ฿3 per person) from Central Pier.
Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple)
Wat Benchamabophit is a very ornate temple made of white Italian marble.
Fun fact: Wat Benchamabophit is pictured on the 5 baht coin.
Time Needed: 60 minutes
Price: ฿20
Day: 3
Wat Phra Chetuphon (aka Wat Pho or Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
This is one of the oldest temples in Bangkok and it features the over 150-foot long Reclining Buddha.
While the Reclining Buddha tends to steal the show, there is a lot more to see at Wat Pho.
Time Needed: 60 minutes
Price: ฿100
Day: 1
Visitor Tips:
- to get a full-length (or nearly) photo, you’ll need to take it by the feet.
Wat Saket (the Golden Mount)
Wat Saket is less crowded than many other temples in Bangkok (perhaps because of the stairs?).
You’ll have to climb 300 steps (monk steps so each one is lower than a normal staircase). There are numerous rest stops along the way if you get tired.
At the top, you’ll have a 360-degree view of Bangkok.
Time Needed: 90 minutes
Price: ฿50
Day: 1
Visitor Tips:
- This is another place with a strictly enforced dress code (no knees, no shoulders, nothing tight).
Suggested Itineraries for Bangkok
1, 2 or 3-Days in Bangkok Itinerary
I think that everyone should do Day 1. If you have 2 days, choose between day 2 and 3 (whichever is more appealing to you). If you have three days, great! You can see it all.
Day 1:
You might have time for both Khaosan Road and the Night Market, but you’re probably going to need to choose the one that suits you best.
Cost: ฿850
- Pak Khlong Market (Flower Market)
- Wat Arun Ratchavararam (Temple of Dawn)
- Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market
- Grand Palace
- National Museum
- Khaosan Road*
- Talad Rot Fai (Train Night Market)*
Day 2:
Cost: ฿1400
- Chatuchak Weekend Market
- Jim Thompson House Museum
- Bangkok Art & Culture Centre
- Erawan Shrine
- Lumphini Park
- Sathorn Unique Tower (optional!)
- Calypso Cabaret
Day 3:
Day 3 is a great day to add in some shopping or see anything you missed on the other two days.
Cost: ฿1370
- Airplane Graveyard
- Wat Saket Temple (Golden Mount)
- Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple)
- Muay Thai
Have More Time?
If you have more than 3 days in Bangkok, here are some more (time-consuming) things to do and great day trips out of the city:
Things to Know About Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok is a huge and lively city. Here are the practical things you should know about the city.
Money in Bangkok
Thailand uses the Baht (฿).
Tipping is not customary in Thailand however due to tourism it is informally expected in some places.
Personally, I tip honest taxi drivers (the ones who use the meter), and above-average service (restaurants, guides, etc).
Remember, there is no expectation to tip. Ultimately the decision is up to you.
Language in Bangkok
The official language of Thailand is Thai.
English is widely spoken in Bangkok (and everywhere tourists frequent).
How to Get Around Bangkok
Bangkok has nice sized sidewalks so walking around areas is easy. However, the city is LARGE so you’re not going to be able to walk everywhere. When you can’t walk, there are numerous other options.
Taxis
Taxis are inexpensive. However, traffic in Bangkok can be a nightmare. Try to avoid taxis during rush hour and limit your use during the daytime.
You can take a car taxi or a motorbike taxi. Cars should be using a meter (I don’t haggle, if they don’t want to run the meter I’ll get out and find a taxi that will). Motorbikes you’ll need to haggle the rate and make sure they give you a helmet.
The other taxi-like option is a Tuk Tuk. If this is your first trip to Bangkok, you need to take a Tuk Tuk at least once. Prices vary, so bring your haggling skills. Also, there are no seatbelts and some drivers are … daring … if you get what I’m saying.
Boats
My favorite way to get around Bangkok is by public boat. You can take a ferry boat to cross the river (for just ฿3) or you can take an express ferry along the river (for ฿15). There are signs at the stops (in English) and it’s easy to figure out which boat you should get on.
You can also charter a private longtail boat, you’ll have to haggle the rates.
Public Transit
The BTS (skytrain) and MRT (underground) train systems are clean, efficient, and inexpensive (max fare is ฿42). There are three different lines, each with excellent English signage.
Buses are available (and cheap) but navigating the bus system can be complicated. It’s really not necessary (or worthwhile) to figure it out. Stick to one of the other methods of getting around.
Things to Eat in Bangkok
Thai food is SO GOOD. You could eat anything. I’ve never been served food that didn’t taste delicious (even if it was nothing like I expected). Here are two tasty items that you should definitely try in Bangkok.
Kanom Bueang (Crispy Pancake)
These are nothing like a pancake. They’re really kind of like a crispy, thin taco shell with a variety of fillings.
They come in sweet and savory options with fillings and toppings depending on vendor. Buy a whole bunch and try them all!
Tom Yum Goong (Thai Shrimp Soup)
A good Tom Yum soup is going to be spicy and sour (thanks to a mixing of chilis, lemon grass, and kefir lime).
There are two variations – Tom Yum Goong Nam Sai (which has a clear broth) and Tom Yum Goong Nam Khong (which has a creamy broth).
Both are delicious, so try them and let me know which one you prefer (I prefer Tom Yum Goong Nam Sai).
Enjoy Bangkok!
Bangkok is a busy, exciting city! Even if you only have a few days, you can still see a lot of awesome stuff.
Ready for more? Head over to nearby Vietnam and find out about 19+ things to do in Da Nang.
Have you been to Bangkok? What was your favorite thing in the city? Let me know in the comments below!
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