Together with Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok is one of my favorite cities in South East Asia, and I love visiting whenever I can. There are so many things to do in Bangkok that I can spend weeks there without ever getting bored.
While the city is very modern, international and open minded, it’s also intrinsically Asian – it’s these contrasts that I am sure you will love. Here, you can have all sorts of experiences: visit a Buddhist temple in the morning, gorge on street food tour in the afternoon, enjoy drinks with a view in one of the city’s many rooftop bars, and finally dance the night away.
This is a fantastic city for solo travelers – and safe for solo female travelers too. Since I have been there several times (including very recently) I am ready to share my best tips for visiting Bangkok, and select the best things to do in Bangkok that you really should not miss.
Traveling to Bangkok soon? These are the attractions and tours that you should book in advance:
The Best Things To Do In Bangkok
Explore the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
Of all the things to do in Bangkok, this is really one you can’t miss. Officially called Phra Borom Maharatchawang, it’s located in the heart of the city and it has been the residence of the Thai King since it was first built in 1782 (though it’s worth saying that the King and the royal family haven’t actually lived in the Grand Palace since 1925 (they live in Dusit Palace).
More than an actual palace, this magnificent complex is a series of smaller buildings in a walled enclosure. The main things to see here are the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), the Outer Court (where there are still functioning administrative buildings), the Middle Court and the Inner Court (which is not open to the public).
The Temple of the Emerald Buddha dates from 1783, when it was meant to be the private chapel for royal family and the King’s court.
The Middle Court is where the Phra Thinang Amarin Winitchai (a throne hall used to receive foreign ambassadors) is located – though to be fair it can’t be visited. It’s also where you can see the Chakri Maha Prasat Hall, built in 1876 by King Rama V with traditional Thai style roofs beautifully adorned with red tiles and golden spires.
Avoid visiting during the weekend as that’s when the site gets most crowded. The first time I visited the Grand Palace I went on a Sunday and my experience was less than epic. It was beyond crowded, and I did not enjoy it at all. The second time around I visited on a Friday soon after it opened and while there were lots of tourists, it was significantly better.
For a more in depth experience, I recommend booking this guided tour that includes admission ticket and allows you to select a time slot for your visit. The overall tour lasts 2 hours.
Visit Bangkok beautiful temples
One the unmissable things to do in Bangkok is visiting its most significant temples. There are more than 400 temples in Bangkok, which is more than I can possibly mention in this post. So if you have to pick which ones to visit I recommend checking out Wat Pho and Wat Arun – they are the most popular, and the most impressive too.
Wat Pho is one of the oldest and largest temples in the city. It was founded by King Rama I and it is still a working Buddhist temple, though nowadays it’s also one of the most popular Bangkok attractions.
Inside Wat Pho you’ll find an impressive collection of Buddha images, and – its most important feature – the massive Reclining Buddha statue, a 46 meters (almost 151 feet) long statue housed in the Viharn Phranorn building, where you can also admire beautiful murals. You should also take some time to see the images on the statue’s feet, they are stunning!
Wat Arun, whose full name is Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchaworamaha Wihan, is also known as the Temple of Dawn – it is named after the Indian God of Dawn. It is located on the western side of the Chao Phraya River, directly on the river. It’s iconic location makes it one of the most popular places to visit in Bangkok.
The main feature of Wat Arun is the Phra Prang, a Khmer style pagoda that is striking to see from a distance as well as from up close, beautifully decorated with mosaics of porcelain and shells. Different sources suggest different heights for this pagoda: some say it’s about 70 meters (229.6 feet), others that it reaches 86 meters (282 feet).
Both men and women need to be dressed modestly to visit any temple in Bangkok. Wear long pants (but not leggings) or a long dress or skirt, make sure your shoulders are covered and preferably wear long sleeves too. Wear sandals as you’l have to take your shoes off any time you walk inside a temple.
A general tip is to avoid visiting Wat Pho and Wat Arun during the weekend, when the largest crowds also visit, and to plan to be there as soon as it opens. It can be an awful experience of being pushed, pulled and terribly loud people.
Both temples can be visited as part of a guided tour such as this City Highlights Temple and Market Walking Tour which lasts up to 4 hours. You also have the option of booking this private tour, perfect if you want a more tailored experience.
Check out Bangkok National Museum
Bangkok National Museum is located in the Front Palace (Wang Na), which dates from 1887. A former royal residence for 5 prince viceroys, once King Rama V eliminated the title and the position, the building started being used to host the collection that had until then been kept in the Grand Palace, at the Sala Sahathai Samakhom (Concordia Hall).
The new museum was first opened in 1934 and hosts a collection of antiques that walks you through the history of the Thai people and nation. Don’t miss the Gallery of Thai History, which covers the history of the country all the way back to Neolithic times and houses a collection that includes the King Ram Khamhaeng’s Inscription, a UNESCO Memory of the World since 2003.
You will also find a collection of regional Buddhist Arts from a variety of places.
Go on a boat tour along Bangkok’s Canals
There are so many canals in Bangkok that it is often referred to as the Venice of the East. Of course, locals see boats as a mere means of transportation, and it’s easy to hop on a boat to get from one place to another. But you may as well make the most of it while there…
It goes without saying that among the unmissable things to do in Bangkok there’s exploring the city by boat. You can hop on a traditional boat that goes by the Wat Arun temple before entering smaller canals where you get to glimpse at local life a bit more.
You will also come across smaller boats that locals still use to sell goods such as souvenirs, coconut ice-cream, flowers, oil and what not.
It’s a nice thing to do to get away from the traffic and noise of the city, though I recommend picking your boat tour wisely as scams are just around the corner – I was royally scammed my first time in Bangkok, as I trusted an overly friendly local who was obviously working for a percentage of the sale, and ended up paying about 10 times the actual price of the cruise.
To avoid the hassle of scams, you may want to consider this guided tour that includes a bike ride, a boat tour of the canals and even lunch. It lasts 3.5 hours and there are two departures daily.
Take a sunset cruise on the Chao Phraya River
For beautiful sunset and night time views of the city, join a cruise on the Chao Phraya River. It’s probably one of the most touristy things to do in Bangkok, but you will be a tourist there so there’s no shame in joining – besides, the views along the cruise are stunning.
There are all sorts of cruises – from traditional wooden vessels to catamarans. The experience will vary a lot depending on what boat you pick (and on how much you pay). The cheaper the boat, the more basic the experience. Cheaper cruises typically include a buffet style dinner, drinks and live music on board, whereas smaller boat will offer a more intimate experience.
This Chao Phraya River dinner cruise has two different departures – one at 5:00 pm and one at 7:45 pm and last two hours. I recommend picking the 5:00 pm cruise if you want to experience sunset on the boat.
Visit a floating market
There are floating markets all around South East Asia, but the tradition is not so much alive in Bangkok anymore (though you may spot some occasionally). The most famous floating market in Thailand is Damnoen Saduak, which is about 100 km (or 62 miles) from the city.
I liked visiting, though I shall warn you it is very touristy. Once you get to Damnoen Saduak, you will be hustled on a boat and soon enough other boats will approach to sell you whatever goods – typically coconut ice cream, drinks and small souvenirs, though there are also people luring you to pose for a photo with lemurs and boa snakes (I strongly advise you not to).
The boat ride lasts around 30 to 45 minutes, after which you can stop at the main dock to have lunch in one of the many street food places.
On my last trip to Thailand last October, I opted for this day tour from Bangkok to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market that also visited the Maeklong Railway Market. To be fair, the tour was nothing special – the guide spoke very basic English, and it basically was just transportation to the various places (where we had free time to explore) and a live commentary while on the bus. But it was very convenient.
For a less touristy floating market, consider going to Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market, a 35 minutes drive from the center of Bangkok.
Discover Jim Thompson House
Jim Thompson House is one of my favorite places to visit in Bangkok, an oasis of peace in the midst of a chaotic city.
Jim Thompson was an American architect that became a silk entrepreneur. He fell in love with Thailand and decided to live there, and built a house that followed the traditional architectural style of Thailand.
Jim Thompson disappeared mysteriously during a visit to Malaysia in 1967 – his body was never found. Years after his disappearance, his house was turned into a museum. You can now visit on guided tours that will explain the architectural style of the house, the use of the many artifacts found inside, and the life of Jim Thompson.
Jim Thompson House is open daily and can be visited on guided tours available in a variety of languages and that are included in the admission fee. You can get tickets directly at the door – but plan to get there a bit in advance to ensure availability of a tour.
Visit the flower market
Pak Klong is the most famous flower market in the city, and one of the must visit places in Bangkok. The market is open 24/7, and most tourists end up going there after dark as it’s usually a stop on all street food tours of Bangkok. But whether you are doing a street food tour or not, you should go.
Here you will find all sorts of flowers sold at family run shops. But the prettiest ones are by far the lotus flowers, which are usually worked in various shapes and forms to be taken to the temples as offerings.
When you go around the market, you can also spot various areas where produce and snacks are sold (my favorite are the coconut sweets) and shrines with various offerings.
I recommend this street food tour of Bangkok that also visits the Flower Market. The tour lasts 4 hours and includes several tastings and a stop at the market to admire the most beautiful flower compositions.
Join a street food tour
If you only take one tour in Bangkok, then it has to be a tour of its street food. This is a fantastic way of discovering the city, learning about its flavors and – through that – its culture. I took a street food tour the first time I visited, and sure enough I took one the last time I was there.
There are many street food tours to pick from, for any budget (but most of them are quite budget friendly). You can pick among bike tours, walking tours, tuk-tuk tours, day-time tours, night-time tours. The whole point is having a guide that will show you the best places to eat, and the best food that you may miss out on if you explore on your own.
You’ll also learn how to pick the best street food places – for example, a trick is to see if there’s a line (in that case, you can rest assured the food is fresh and delicious). You will also appreciate the culture of sharing food and eating together that is so important in South East Asia.
Guided tours will typically stop at popular local street food places where you get to try various dishes – on the last tour I took, we tried Tom Yam soup (a delicious soup with coconut milk, shrimp and mushroom), duck, papaya salad, barbecued chicken wings.
They also go to Chinatown for more delicious street treats – there, we had these thin pancakes stuffed with merengue that looked a bit like tacos, and all sorts of coconut sweets.
The took I took also stopped to try mango and sticky rice, a traditional sweet in Thailand that consists of slices of ripe mango with sticky rice cooked with coconut milk – it’s so simple, yet so delicious.
Another stop is at a Michelin Bib Gourmand street food place where you get to try flat rice noodles with egg – it’s what the locals eat (vs Pad Thai which is more of a thing for tourists).
I took this Bangkok: Midnight Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk that starts at 7:00 pm and includes 15 tastings. I was so full by the end of it that I did not even try everything. The tour also goes to the flower market and includes a final stop for drinks at a rooftop bar with stunning views of the city.
Eat at Jay Fai
I have already said that eating street food is what to do in Bangkok when you are hungry, but a visit to street food paradise Jay Fai is a whole new experience. This small place in Phra Nakhon on Maha Chai Road elevates Thai street food to the point that it even achieved one Michelin Star.
Chef Jay Fai (her full name is Supinya Junsuta) became a star after appearing in the first episode of Netflix series Street Food: Asia.
Jay Fai doesn’t take reservations, but it’s become so popular that people line up from the early hours to be able to get a table and get a taste of their heavenly crab omelette (a very thin layer of perfectly cooked egg stuffed with a pound of the flakiest crab meat), the perfectly cooked noodles, the fragrant soups and more.
I am a real foodie, so I was set on visiting and ready to stand in line for some time. My friend and I arrived there at 7:30 am, knowing they’d open at 9:00 am, and found there already was a line. We were able to sit at 9:30. Once you get seated and pick your food, service is very quick. They take cash payments only.
Explore Chinatown
There’s more than street food in Chinatown (though admittedly, that’s one of its perks). If you visit during the day, you can see stalls after stalls of just about anything – pens, toys, suitcases and bags, whatever you may need you will find it in Chinatown.
When the sun sets, one of the best things to do in Bangkok at night is to head to Chinatown to enjoy the lively atmosphere, eat street food, admire all the lit up signs and people watch. It’s a feast for the eyes.
I also recommend visiting Wat Traimit temple. For a small fee you can step inside to see a a massive 3 meters (9.8 feet), 5.5 tons golden Buddha statue. This used to be placed in a different temple, also in Chinatown, but when this was destroyed the statue was moved.
Moving such a large statue proved difficult: the stucco covering the statue cracked and it became clear that the statue isn’t made of solid gold!
Go for a walk in Lumpini Park
Lumpini Park is one of my favorite places to visit in Bangkok whenever I feel like going for a walk away from traffic and chaos. It’s a fun place to spend an hour or two just relaxing. You’ll see people walking or running (in fact, you may want to bring your running shoes and do some loops if you can stand the heat).
Depending on the time you visit, there will be people practicing Thai Chi. There’s also an indoor poor inside the park, and an open air gym.
But honestly my two favorite things about Lumpini Park are the resident population of monitor lizards (they may look like giant iguanas or even small crocodiles if you don’t look carefully!) and of cats, typically chilling on benches, under trees or even at the gym.
Have a drink with a view
For more things to do in in Bangkok at night, head to a rooftop bar – there are many, but beware that some of them have real rip-off prices (not only by local standards). My favorite bar with a view is Eagle Nest. It’s located on the rooftop of a nice guesthouse, it has impressive views of Wat Arun, and the prices are reasonable.
Other bars you may want to consider are Vertigo and Moon Bar, located on the 61st floor of the Banyan Tree Hotel. And if you are in the area of Khao San Road, there’s a rooftop bar that you can access at the corner between Khao San and Thanon Tanao. It’s not cheap but it’s also a peaceful oasis in the otherwise chaos of Khao San.
This night-time bike tour of Bangkok is a fun way to explore the city at night with the help of a local guide.
Hang out in Khao San Road
In 2018 Thailand legalized the use of cannabis for medical purposes, and in 2022 use of cannabis altogether was decriminalize. Many cannabis shops opened in Bangkok, and Khao San Road almost lost its purpose. However, 18 months after the decriminalization of the plant (Thailand was the first to do this in South East Asia), it seems like the ban is coming back.
Don’t get me wrong though. Khao San Road remains the epitome of touristy. Back in the day, this was where all backpackers would hang out. The street was lined with hostels (for whatever little sleep you may get, given the noise), bars and nightclub, and many would head there to buy substances too.
Now, you will find a series of bars that play excessively loud music, each offering some sort of happy hour deal, and lines of cheap souvenir shops or Thai massage places. If you don’t mind the noise, it can be a fun place to be, but otherwise you are probably better off turning into one of the nearby streets.
Go shopping at Chatuchak Market
Bangkok is a bit like a shopping mecca, and if you are a shopaholic, you will have plenty of fun. There are many shops as well as large shopping malls in the city where you can shop for bargains as well as designer stuff.
However, the one place you need to visit – whether you intend to shop or just look around – is Chatuchak Market. It’s spread across 35 acres and there are more than 15,000 stalls spread across 26 sections. You can find anything from art to clothes and food, and the prices are unbeatable.
While I had no intention to shop when I visited (I just wanted to look around), I ended up buying a colorful backpack, a fun cat t-shirt, a bottle of coconut oil for the body and other small trinkets for just a few dollars. While most shops have set prices, in some places it is perfectly ok to haggle a bit.
Get a Thai massage
Getting a Thai massage in Bangkok is a fantastic experience. I was actually quite reluctant to do it, but when I saw it was such a bargain I decided to give it a try. It was even better than I expected, and I left the spa completely relaxed (plus my skin looked radiant as I had also opted for a full body scrub).
There are massage parlours everywhere in Bangkok, but for a unique experience you can actually get a massage in Wat Pho, which other than being a temple it’s also an important traditional medicine center and where a massage school has been established in 1955.
You could consider having a massage at the end of your visit – massages are offered every day from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. It’s a bit more expensive than the massage you’d get anywhere else in Bangkok, but still quite budget friendly. You will know for certain that your massage therapist is a certified one, and the experience is definitely worth every penny.
Ride the Skytrain
Bangkok has a very efficient network of public transportation, and you can count on buses (with or without air conditioning), Grab (it’s a bit like Uber, but even cheaper), the subway, boats and even the Skytrain (for longer distances) to get around – whereas nowadays tuk-tuks are mostly for tourists, and you’d have to haggle the price fiercely not to be ripped off.
Riding the Sky Train is a fun experience and, much like the subway, it’s really the fastest way to move around. There are trains every few minutes (the longest wait is 8 minutes at night), from 6:00 am to midnight.
Using the Skytrain is very easy. Once you are at the station, you will find a map of the two lines (Gold Line and Green Line) and the stations. You can get tickets at the vending machine which also works in English. Insert the ticket at the gate and it will open for you – do the same once you need to exit.
Attend a Muay Thai match
For a truly unique experience, consider going to a Muay Thai match. Known internationally as Thai Box or kickboxing, this is a popular sport in Thailand, and locals not only love practicing, but also watching matches.
There are many stadiums where you can go watch a match, but the best athletes compete at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium (which is no longer located in Lumpini) or at Rajadamnern Boxing Stadium (built in art-deco style at the end of WWII).
It’s a fun thing do – you will not just get to watch the match, but you can also appreciate the fun atmosphere with the music, the ceremonial beginning, the betting.
I recommend getting your Muay Thai match tickets in advance as the matches regularly sell out (it happened to me once when I tried to get tickets at the door!). You can get these Muay Thai Boxing Tickets at Rajadamnern Stadium. The match lasts two hours. In terms of seats – the best views are on the 3rd row.
Go on a day trip from Bangkok
As you can see, there are many fun things to do in Bangkok. But the city is also a great base to explore other places. Here are my top picks for day trips from Bangkok.
Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya is the ancient capital of the kingdom of Siam. It’s located about 80 km (50 miles) north of Bangkok, and it’s home to ancient ruins with a long, interesting history. Once there, you can visit the Wat Phra Sri Sanphet and the royal palace, Wat Mahathat (one of the most impressive temples) and Wat Ratchaburana.
Ayutthaya is easy to reach by bus from Victory Monument. Alternatively, for an even easier experience you can join this private guided tour that includes transportation and a guide just for your group, or this small group tour which is significantly more budget friendly.
Maeklong Railway Market
Another place that’s easy to reach from Bangkok is the Maeklong Railway Market. It’s about 80 km (50 miles) from Bangkok. The railway is actually still active, though admittedly the only ones riding the train are now tourists, and the market really isn’t much more than a tourist attractions.
When I visited, I took this Damnoen Saduak Market and Maeklong Railway Market from Bangkok that also went to the floating market. The tour is not the best one I have ever done, but it’s well organized and you also get to ride the train, so you also see the market from the perspective of the train.
Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi is famous for the Bridge over the River Kwai. While the city is fairly big and deserves more than a few hours, it’s ok to also go just for the day to wander around a bit. You can get there by train – I recommend the first one in the morning so that you have more time to explore.
Another option to visit Kanchanaburi is to join this guided tour that also includes a stop at Erawan Falls National Park, home to beautiful natural pools where you can also swim. It’s a long day away – the tour lasts 14 hours. But you get to spend enough time in all places visited.
Further Readings
Make sure to read my other posts about Thailand if you are planning to visit:
- How To Lose Yourself In Koh Wai, Thailand
- A Short Guide To Koh Chang, Thailand
- 10 Awesome Things To Do In Koh Samui
- 19 Incredible Things To Do In Chiang Mai (Plus 3 To Avoid)
- The Best Places To Visit In Thailand
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Love your article, please take a look at my blogs and maybe we can work together sharing content in the future?
Woah ! Straight and to the point, as always….you managed to capture several basic elements for us, your readers. Definitely charming! Waiting for the coming bits..!
You’d eat like crazy there, Marco… So many things to do in Bangkok, so much good food to eat!!
Hi Claudia
Bangkok is my favorite city ever I think. So much to do there! You’re right. Il tuo blog e bouno 🙂
I can’t wait to go back!!
I’m just back from SEA and two nights in Bangkok – I had the same thought going in – I wasn’t really interested in a giant city and it was just a transit point for me. As a result, I didn’t love it – reading this, though, I wish I’d stayed in Lumpini Park instead of Sukhumvit – the heat and crowds just really got to me. I did take a fun tuk tuk tour at night, which took us to the flower market, Chinatown, etc. I attempted an expensive ride across town to the Royal Palace only to be told it was closed, after my taxi sped away. Chiang Mai was much more my speed! (Similarly, I Prefer Boston/Chicago over New York!)
Such a pity!! I found it fabulous and will go back for sure – too many things to do in Bangkok in just one visit, so I need to go again. Yes, Lumpini Park is a great area. I need to stay in quieter parts of town to disconnect from the chaos and that proved to be a great choice!
I went to Bangkok Last year & my self-experienced some of the stuff you have mentioned.
Must Visit when in Bangkok: Ban Nokkamin Foundation…
When visiting Bangkok, don’t just go look at temples and nice places. Check the Ban Nokkamin Foundation. It’s a shelter for homeless children, which you can pass by all the time. The kids are incredible and warm hearted. Check it out here ->
Awwww this is so kind of you to point this out!
Bangkok, one of my most favourite citie. I went there last month and was in the same hotel as you! I have been there several times, but last time i decided to do something new and went to visit an orphan house with my girlfriend. A complete new experience. Really!! We fell in love with them. You must check it out if you stay longer than 3 days in Bangkok.
Hi Vilanda, can you actually send the link to the gallery in private? I’d love to see it!
Great post – as someone who has just spent time in Bangkok, it made me realise how much more there always is to do! The street food was definitely my favourite part 😉 xx
I’d go back to Bangkok just to gorge on the street food!!
It’s contentious but I think in modern Bangkok it is hard to ignore the malls and the contemporary city living. The new EmDistrict etc. is really quite fascinating. Also the rooftop bars which tend to be pricy but for a ddrink or two they are often worth the price tag. Otherwise the street food and Isaan barbecues keep me happy on a budget.
Hi Allan, thank you for your comment and for adding to my list of things to do in Bangkok. It is an incredible city. I am considering moving there for a while 🙂
Nice post
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful travel guides to Bangkok.
Admin note: I removed the link as my comment policy doesn’t allow to insert links to commercial websites. Thanks for respecting this rule. Claudia Tavani
Bangkok is crazy, I got here yesterday. There’s so much to do and see. The shopping is epic 😀
Thanks for the list
This thing about locals telling you that the place is closed and offering to show some other place is becoming an increasingly common scam! Glad you pointed it out. And also, loved the article! Very detailed!
You bet!
You can smoke in bars and nightclubs on Koha San Road still. Went there last night, everyone was smoking up a storm.
That’s gross. I hate cigarettes!
I’d highly recommend staying in a local AirBnB by the canals in Bangkok. It is a far better way to experience the city than in a hotel!
good idea!
Hi Claudia, Thanks for putting together such an awesome guide! I loved the Chatuchak Market and actually ended up staying in the Somerset Park! What an amazing place to stay!
Glad you found it useful!
Great post Claudia, makes me miss the time I spent in Bangkok! 🙁
Tell me about it 🙁