Things to do in Bangkok

A former industrial site in the heart of Bangkok was transformed into the 102-acre Benjakitti Park in 2022.

There’s no denying that Bangkok buzzes with energy—the bustling modern city located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River is filled with towering skyscrapers, ancient temples and vibrant street life. The Thai capital, home to 11 million people, boasts a sleek, air-conditioned public transit system making it easy to zip between neighborhoods at an affordable rate while avoiding the city’s notorious traffic. The hardest part of visiting Bangkok is deciding what to do.

From temple hopping to perusing the stalls at the Chatuchak Weekend Market, this guide covers the best things to do in Bangkok, including where to stay and eat.

Left: Monks at Wat Suthat, one of Bangkok’s most stunning temples; Right: The 82-meter-high Wat Arun photographed from across the Chao Phraya River.

The Best Things to Do in Bangkok

The Grand Palace, the former royal residence, is a must for your first trip. One of the highlights is the stunning golden 1782 temple complex of Wat Phra Kaew, home to the Emerald Buddha, the most revered image in Thailand that dates to the 13th and 14th centuries. (Admission: 500B/$14 USD) Consider booking online through Klook to skip the lines. Cover your knees and wear long sleeves or you’ll be forced to rent clothing.

Wat Pho is near The Grand Palace and home to the largest reclining Buddha in the city.  (Admission: 100B/ $2.80 USD)

Wat Arun. Take a boat across the river from the Grand Palace to visit the 82-meter-high Khmer-style tower of this grand Buddhist temple complex located on the Chao Phraya River. You can no longer climb to the top sadly. On your right after the ticket booth, you’ll see two giant guardian statues by a temple—Phaya Yak Wat Chaeng, which has a courtyard surrounded by Buddha statues that are lovely to photograph. (Be warned the temple is now overflowing with people dressing up in traditional clothing to take photos. Arrive early to beat the madness!) The best photo spot of the temple is across the river, which you can get to easily on a water taxi for five baht that leaves right by the temple’s entrance.

In Thailand, there is a different Buddha for each day of the week. Saturday is the naga Buddha in this image. These protective amulets are often worn as necklaces.

The Amulet Market is another great spot to hit if you’re by The Grand Palace. The market is a series of covered stalls selling amulets, protective talismans and Buddha statues. These trinkets are highly sought after by monks, taxi drivers and people in dangerous professions. I have bought several from here that I made into necklaces.

Jim Thompson House: This is the best thing in Bangkok. The house/art museum is the former home of American silk trader and antique collector Jim Thompson. The complex consists of six Thai-style houses moved from other parts of Thailand to the current location, which is within walking distance from the MBK center and the BTS Skytrain National Stadium stop. His art collection includes Buddha sculptures dating back to the 8th century along with paintings and porcelain. The art is what makes this place stunning. Photography is not allowed inside the houses. (Admission: 200B/$6 USD)

Wat Suthat holds one of the highest ranks of royal temples in the country. The photogenic courtyard is lined with Buddha statues, which is why it’s one of my favorite temples to photograph in Thailand! (Admission: 100B/$3 USD)

Lotus flowers at Chinatown’s bustling 24-hour flower market, Pak Khlong Talat.

Pak Khlong Talat (Bangkok’s Flower Market): One of my favorite photo spots in Bangkok is the flower market in Chinatown, which doubles as the city’s largest vegetable market during the day. It was once a street market but now resides in a giant warehouse lined with stalls overflowing with orchids, carnations and women stealthy making temple offerings and good luck charms. It’s open 24 hours, but I prefer to go at sunrise to photograph the fresh flowers, which are delivered late at night. Klook offers guided tours if you’d rather not go solo

Wat Saket And The Golden Mount is a golden chedi located on the only hill in Bangkok. It’s worth climbing the 320 stairs to the top and spending some time exploring the sprawling complex. (Admission 50 Baht/$1.50 USD)

Giant Buddha at Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen: This 230-foot-tall Buddha was completed in 2021 on the outskirts of Bangkok. It’s a 15–20-minute walk from the BTS (Wutthakat station) and MRT stations (Bang Phai or Tha Phra stations). (Be warned –it’s covered in scaffolding as of November 2024.) There’s a great view from the Tha Phra MRT platform but often that end of the platform is closed.

Erawan Museum: A 14-story statue of Erawan, a mythical three-headed elephant known as Airavata, is one of the main attractions, known for its colorful interior staircase. The museum was the brainchild of antique collector Lek Viriyapant, who built the structure to house his collection but sadly passed away before it opened in 2003. It’s a bit of a trek to get here on the BTS (Chang Erawan Station (E17) exit 2), but I enjoyed my visit because I love Buddhist art. The grounds are lush and great for photos as well. I recommend visiting in the morning to avoid the crowds. Tickets are normally 400 Baht, but I bought mine almost half price on Klook.

The Golden Mount Chedi is located on Bangkok’s only hill.

Where to Stay in Bangkok

Always choose accommodation near one of the train lines to make it easy to get around. I like to stay near the Siam area because it’s central but have also enjoyed staying near Lumphini Park.

Hotels: The Holiday Inn Express Siam ($88 USD/night) by the National Stadium BTS is my go-to when I need to work because it’s a great location with clean rooms, free breakfast and a gym. If you want to splurge, I recommend VIE Hotel Bangkok ($188 USD/night).

Hostel: I stayed at Bed Block One Hostel ($16 USD/night) for years and loved how close it was to Siam, Ratchathewi BTS station and the airport train

Moo ping, grilled pork skewers with a sweet marinade, at Chatuchak Weekend Market.

The Best Places to Eat and Shop in Bangkok

Chatuchak Weekend Market is Thailand’s largest market and my favorite place to shop. The sprawling complex is separated into 26 sections ranging from local artists to trendy boutiques to potted plants. The entire market is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is close to both the BTS Skytrain (Chatuchak Park stop) and MRT (Kamphaeng Phet stop). Early birds beware—the shops are never all fully open until at least 10 a.m.

Mall Food Courts

No one does malls as well as Thailand. The food court at MBK, a sprawling multi-level maze-like shopping mall in Siam, is the best. The food court is called Food Legends and is hidden on the sixth floor behind all the chain restaurants and vendor stalls. It consists of a series of side-by-side food stalls serving everything from curry to papaya salad with most meals costing less than 100 baht ($3 USD). (Don’t get it confused with the restaurants on the fifth floor, which is more obvious from the escalators than this hidden spot.)

To buy food, you have to put money on a meal card, which you use to pay for your food. Turn in your card before leaving to get a refund of any unused money. You’ll see the card booth as you enter.

Both the Terminal 21 and Siam Paragon shopping malls also have food courts. The food court is located on the top floor of Terminal 21 and the bottom floor of the Paragon behind all the normal restaurants. Both use a similar meal card system.

Thong Lo Neighborhood

If you are a foodie, then this is your neighborhood. Khao Jao is great for no-frills, authentic Thai food with high spice levels. Sit and Wonder is a hidden spot with a great atmosphere and delicious Thai food! Roast is a good treat if you’re craving Western food.

Looking to splurge? Treat yourself to the seasonal high tea at the Arthur’s Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Chinatown.

High Tea at the Arthur’s Lounge

Located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the historic Oriental Hotel was a haunt for famous writers such as Graham Greene and W. Somerset Maughan during the early 19th century. Now, the five-star hotel, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, is part of the Mandarin Group and offers seasonal high teas daily in the light-filled atrium of the Arthur’s Lounge lined with wicker chairs. I thought it was a fun experience to get dressed up and treat myself. Cost was roughly $50 USD. Reservations recommended.

Craft Beer in Bangkok

While there are a bunch of glitzy pricey rooftop bars in Bangkok, I’m a big fan of the craft beer spot called Brewski, located on the top floor of the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel near the Phrom Phong BTS stop. It’s a chill vibe with Thai and foreign beers on tap and tasty pub food. Don’t miss their BOGO deal for happy hour from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Benjakitti Park’s four lakes can hold a million cubic liters of stormwater. The lakes and wetlands naturally filter polluted water and act as a sponge during monsoon season.

The Best Parks in Bangkok

Lumpini Park is Bangkok’s oldest and largest green space covering 58 hectares. Rent a paddleboat for a loop around the artificial lake or go for a run along the trails between the well-manicured lawns. There’s usually always a Tai Chi class, too.

Another favorite is Benjakitti Park, a 102-acre park built on the site of a defunct tobacco factory with the former buildings now doubling as sports facilities. The natural space is mostly wetlands, frequented by birds, bats and monitor lizards, intersected by a series of elevated walkways. The park acts as a green lung for the city and works like a sponge during monsoon season rains. A flower-lined walking track circumnavigating a pond across the street from a series of skyscrapers is a great space for running or walking.

A naga, a mythical serpent, adorns the stairway of a temple inside The Grand Palace

Bangkok FAQ

Where’s the best place to buy a SIM card in Bangkok?

Do NOT buy a SIM card at the airport because they are ten times the price of an eSIM or local SIM. The easiest thing to do is buy a Thailand-specific eSIM card from Airalo that will work instantly when you arrive. If you are traveling to multiple countries in Southeast Asia on a short trip, then consider one of their Asia Regional eSIM cards. (Both the country-specific and regional eSIMs have worked wonderfully for me and even have a mobile hotspot option that’s critical for me because I’m always working remotely.)

Keep in mind it’s always cheaper to buy a country-specific eSIM than a regional one.  Be sure to join the free Airalo Loyalty Program to earn 5% cash back for every purchase, which can be redeemed on future purchases. For more about eSIM cards, check out this post!!

If you are staying for a month or more in Thailand, go by an AIS store and buy a local SIM or eSIM card for the cheapest deal. (AIS is Thailand’s largest mobile network operator.)

Bangkok Transport Tips

Subway and Skytrain

The cheapest and fastest way into the city from either airport is to take a train. Don Mueang International Airport is connected to the city by a 17-minute train from Krungthep Apiwat Station.

From Suvarnabhumi Airport, take the Airport Link Train, which connects seamlessly to the BTS Skytrain. Some BTS stations are located near MRT stations. Elevators are at stations but not on all sides of the road. There’s always an escalator going up but sometimes, you might have to carry luggage down a set of stairs.

There are multi-trip passes available for both the BTS Skytrain and MRT subway individually. The MRT now lets you tap credit cards FINALLY but not the BTS.

Taxis are ALWAYS cheaper than auto rickshaws/tuk tuks. Taxi drivers rarely want to go by the meter anymore so expect to haggle. It usually takes me three taxis to get one to take me where I want to go at the meter rate. (Sundays are their day off so expect to pay exorbitant prices.) There are motorcycle taxis on most street corners that will take you nearby for a small fee. You’ll see the drivers wearing orange vests hanging around big intersections.

Grab, the rideshare app, does work in Bangkok, but I’ve really struggled to ever get one to pick me up in the Siam area without canceling because of traffic.

Where is the best English-speaking salon for a haircut in Bangkok?

I’ve been going to Shingo at Sensui Salon in the Sukhumvit area for over a decade. The owner, Shingo, is Japanese and speaks perfect English—he even lived in London for a while. I message him on the Facebook page to make my appointments.

Where is the best massage in Bangkok?

I love Nature Thai Massage on Soi 5 in the Siam area. There is a 20% discount for all appointments before 5 p.m. I usually do an oil massage that comes in a private room.