Incredible things to do in Bangkok
If you plan to visit Bangkok, in this travel guide you will discover what are the best things to do in Bangkok and what main attractions you should include on your Bangkok itinerary.
Bangkok is a very interesting city and one full of contrast. One of the things which will shock you are the confusing smells. While walking the same street you can go from smelling flowery fragrances to rotten food in just a couple of minutes. In one part of the city, there are skyscrapers, while elsewhere you will pass by dilapidated houses.
Our holiday in Thailand started with 3 days in Bangkok and because our stay was short we wanted to see as much as possible. Now, if you google “things to do in Bangkok, or what to see in Bangkok?”, the result is quite overwhelming. The first thought: we have to see everything!!! But ultimately a plan and a list of stuff to see what was made.
While I enjoy randomly exploring the cities I travel to, I must say, Bangkok it’s not suitable for exploring freely by foot, for a couple of reasons. The most important one is that the Thai capital is huge and the main attractions are scattered all over the city. Further, the heat and humidity will get to you faster than you think. This is why having a plan and an itinerary is the best way to go. This way, you make sure you don’t miss any important landmarks because you got too tired and lost on the endless streets.
To be honest, our visit to Bangkok lacked a well-structured plan, which caused us to miss out on some fascinating places. I don’t want you to encounter the same situation, which is why I’ve put together this article highlighting the best things to do in Bangkok.
From its awe-inspiring temples and bustling night streets to enchanting floating markets and delectable street food, this travel guide presents an array of captivating experiences to make the most of your time in Bangkok.
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Are you planning a trip to Bangkok?
Be sure to book/buy sim cards, train tickets, accommodation and tours in Bangkok ahead of time to ensure availability!
Top tours in Bangkok:
- Three BEST Temples Bangkok City Tour “Must Visit” By The River
- Private Tour: Best of Bangkok in A Day
- From Bangkok: Ayutthaya Temples Small Group Tour with Lunch
- One More Thai Massage & Spa Experience at Chit Lom in Bangkok
- Bangkok: Backstreets Food Tour with 15+ Tastings
- Private Excursion to Maeklong Railway and Floating Markets
Top picks for places to stay in Bangkok (luxurious or on a budget):
- Eastin Grand Hotel Phayathai
- The Quarter Ladprao by UHG (SHA Plus+)
- BED STATION Hostel Khaosan
- Hotel Royal Bangkok China Town (SHA Plus+)
- Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel
- Jasmine City Hotel Bangkok
- Ibis Bangkok Siam
Looking for the best way to get around and explore most of Bangkok and Thailand? Then you should go on a train ride! Check out best prices rates here.
Don’t forget for travel insurance, check it out here!
Other essentials:
Things to do in Bangkok
Explore the Floating Market
Yes, this is a market that is floating on a river! Sounds amazing and odd at the same time, right? Exploring the Floating Market is one of the most interesting things to do in Bangkok. Until Thailand, I didn’t know such places existed.
We were on our way to visit a temple and of course, we got lost and confused even if we had the map that the hotel provided for us.
Help came from a man that saw our bewildered faces and he tried to give us some indications. This is how we found out about the floating market and how to get there. This dude told us that we needed to get to a meeting point and take a boat that would take us to our destination. He explained that this was a unique and interesting landmark in Bangkok and we decided to abandon our first plan and visit the intriguing market. We hopped on a Tuk Tuk, arrived at the rendezvous place, bought a ticket and got on the boat.
The mini boat trip was very cool because we could see some nice views of the city and got a new perspective on Thailand’s capital. We passed some poor areas that were in contrast with the ones we already visited.
After approx. 15 minutes we arrived at the floating market and everything there was so odd to us. Some boats were selling food that was cooked there on the spot. We spent some time roaming around because there was also a traditional market there that sold food and fruit.
You need to add this unique experience on your list with things to do in Bangkok.
Embark on Tuk Tuk Adventures
If you want to have an overall overview of Bangkok and at the same time experience a terrifying experience, get a Tuk Tuk ride.
I didn’t know this, but taking Tuk Tuk rides is an experience that absolutely belongs on the list of things to do in Bangkok.
If you need more reasons to give this experience a go, let me add these incentives: with a Tuk Tuk you can get faster to your destination and it is also a cheap way to travel in Bangkok (besides walking of course). Bangkok is a big city with a lot of things to see and experience and there are moments when walking isn’t an option. A Tuk Tuk can get you to your destination, but keep in mind that you can take it only for short distances. Also, I would recommend picking up one during the day, because you can take the opportunity to also see more of the city.
It’s relatively easy to get a Tuk Tuk, ask your accommodation to guide you to the closest Tuk Tuk gathering or “station”. Further, you can find one everywhere just by roaming the streets.
Shop at Chatuchak Market
Who doesn’t like shopping? When I visit a new place, I usually don’t like to waste time going to malls, but street markets are another story. In Bangkok, Chatuchak Market is a place you cannot miss, even if you are not a fan of shopping.
After visiting this market, you will see why shopping at Chatuchak is one of the most vital things to do in Bangkok.
This is one of the largest open-air markets in the world, so you should keep in mind that getting lost while exploring the endless aisles it’s very possible. In order to avoid a certain amount of confusion, get a free map from an informational post. If you want to avoid the crowds try to arrive at the market early in the morning.
If you didn’t have time to grab breakfast, don’t worry, in Chatuchak, you’ll discover stalls offering food, drinks, and fresh fruits, among the many things to do in Bangkok. You can indulge in a variety of activities at this bustling market, from shopping for clothes, shoes, art, to jewels. The prices here are notably more budget-friendly compared to European rates, although the quality may not always match. During my visit, I purchased dresses, beach slippers, pants, and souvenirs, just a few of the things to do in Bangkok. It was an absolute delight to spend an entire day exploring the vibrant streets of Chatuchak.
Wander Through Bangkok's Vibrant Chinatown
I think that Chinatown was one of my favorite places in Bangkok. I am fascinated by all the colors, the hustle and beautiful Chinese temples. My husband and I love food and we wanted to eat great Chinese dishes, so of course, we went to Chinatown for that. And let me tell you, this place didn’t disappoint. Unfortunately, I forgot the name of the restaurant, because at that time I didn’t know how to do all this travel blogging stuff. I mean, if you want to travel blog, you need to note all the places you visit, right?! Sounds like common sense, but not to me at that time.
Anyway, if you want to pick a great Chinese restaurant in Bangkok, just use Google Maps and select the “restaurant” filter. This way you can choose the ones with the higher rates.
Besides indulging in amazing Chinese food, in Chinatown, you can explore a variety of things to do in Bangkok, such as visiting Chinese temples or strolling along the vibrant and colorful streets. The most renowned street in Chinatown is Yaowarat Road (or Thanon Yaowarat). It’s easily recognizable due to its adorned with Chinese characters, vibrant neon signs, and numerous shops. While walking down this iconic street, you might momentarily forget that you’re in Thailand and not in a bustling Chinese city.
Walking the street without any purpose is one of the most important things to do in Bangkok, if you want to feel the atmosphere of the Thai capital.
Visit the City's Spectacular Temples
Even if you aren’t into religion, you can leave Bangkok without visiting one of the most famous temples. It goes without saying that visiting temples is one of the most impressive things to do in Bangkok. These cultural spaces are beautiful and peaceful and are among the top attractions of the city. There are a lot of temples to choose from and I know it’s impossible and tiring to see all of them, so I thought I could help you out with this shorter list.
Here are the best temples you need to visit in Bangkok:
- Wat Phra Kaeo & Royal Palace
Wat Phra Kaeo is also called the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and is located inside the grounds of the Royal Palace, which is another must-see place you need to put on your Bangkok itinerary. This place will amaze you with outstanding ornaments, golden beautiful details and unique statues.
- Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
This temple is located in the city center and you guessed it, the main attraction is a golden reclining buddha that is approx. 45 meters long.
- Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)
- Wat Ratchaburana
This temple is located next to Chinatown. Maybe you will not find this temple on the list of the most popular temples in Bangkok, but for me, it was an unexpected and beautiful surprise. We didn’t include it on our Bangkok itinerary and bump into it while roaming the streets.
- Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple)
The contrast between the white marble and golden ornaments makes this place a masterpiece and a must-see kind of place.
- Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha Temple)
This one is located in Chinatown and the main attraction of this temple is a Buddha statue that has approx. 5 tons and consists mostly of pure gold. Pretty awesome, right?!
- Wat Suthat
This is one of the largest temples in Bangkok and you can consider it a hidden gem. I’ve read that this place is peaceful and very quiet, and hidden from the tourist crowds. We didn’t have time to visit it and I’m sad that we didn’t get a chance to enjoy some tranquility away from the city’s buzzing and fussing. I encourage you to put visiting this temple on your list with things to do in Bangkok.
If you don’t have enough time to visit all the temples by yourself, then consider booking this guided tour that will take you to three of the most famous temples in Bangkok. It has great reviews and a free cancellation policy up to one day before your booking. I know that exploring every temple can add a lot of pressure on your list with things to do in Bangkok and this is why I support the idea of booking a tour.
Experience the Bustling Vibes of Khao San Road
We found this street by mistake and after our trip, I learned that Khao San Road is famous in the whole world, especially for backpackers for the cheap hostels. On this street you can do anything you want: eat, shop, dance or listen to music all night long. We stopped our daily exploration of the city, at a beautiful restaurant where live music was blasting, ordered some cocktails and enjoyed our evening. I loved the energy and atmosphere that Khao San Road was all about. I can see why strolling through Khao San Road is part of the things to do in Bangkok during your vacation.
Quench Your Thirst with Fresh Fruit Juices
I should’ve put this point much higher on this list because it was one of my favorite things to do in Bangkok. As I already mentioned in another article, give me watermelons instead of chocolate cake and you will make me a very happy girl. While exploring Bangkok’s streets we found these spots where fresh fruits were squeezed in front of us. The fruits and bottles were kept on ice. You can imagine that after you stayed in Bangkok’s burning sun and walked for hours, drinking cold fruit juice is heaven. My favorite picks were pomegranate and mango juices. You need to try them out and you will thank me, you’ll see.
Indulge in Authentic Thai Cuisine
Even if you are not a foodie (like me), don’t tell me that you plan to visit Thailand and not try out every Thai dish. And let’s be honest, eating it’s one of those things to do in Bangkok that will become part of your itinerary really fast after you see my photos below.
Thailand has one of the best foods that I ever tasted. I love that they serve rice with every dish (for them rice is similar to bread) and they like to share their food (to find out more things about Thailand, including the food, check out this article).
In Thailand, I ate for the first time rice with scrambled eggs and I fell in love from the first bite. I’m a big fan of noodles and rice dishes and in Thailand, I couldn’t get enough of them. In Bangkok, we ate a lot of Thai food and also, Chinese food and every dish was delicious.
One thing that is very popular in Bangkok, but we tried to avoid, is street food. Even if we love going to street food markets, in Bangkok the contradicting smells made us choose only restaurants. Enjoying street food in Bangkok can be an interesting and great experience if you are into it. Expect the areas with street food to be hot, loud and with a mix of smells. If this is your thing, then you should add it to your list with things to do in Bangkok. You will find a lot of places to try street food, including at Chatuchak Market and the Floating Market.
If you are interested in exploring Thai food, then I recommend you check out this Bangkok Midnight Food Tour by Tuk Tuk, or thisBangkok: Backstreets Food Tour with 15+ Tastings.
Enjoy a relaxing Thai massage
Who doesn’t like a relaxing massage during their travels?! It goes without saying that one of the most relaxing things to do in Bangkok is to enjoy a professional Thai massage. After days of walking the streets and visiting landmarks, your body deserves some relaxation and what better way to do it, than to go to a spa and book a Thai massage. Check out this One More Thai Massage & Spa Experience at Chit Lom in Bangkok! I love that it also includes a free dessert! Sounds like the perfect day in Bangkok.
Go on private tours and learn more about Thailand
Depending on the number of days you plan to spend in Bangkok, I encourage you to book one-day trips (or more), in order to make the best of your trip. This is one of the most exciting things to do in Bangkok, if you have the time.
First of all, by going on private tours you will have the opportunity to explore other important destinations in Thailand and thus, make your trip even more exciting. Second, you will learn a lot about the culture, people and their important landmarks and I find this one of the best things to do during any trip.
Here are the most interesting and exciting things to do in Bangkok (or from Bangkok) in one day (or more):
I hope you find this travel guide with things to do in Bangkok very helpful in planning your own itinerary.