10 Things to do in Bangkok

Bangkok is an incredible city, and there is so much to see and do there. I recommend staying at least 3 nights here to see the highlights. It won’t be enough to see it all, but I’m sure you’ll find your way back soon. I’ve included some top sights in the city, on its outskirts, and both in and out of the tourist hotspots. I hope it’s useful in planning your trip.

If you’re looking for more on Thailand, check out my full one month itinerary and guide here.

Wat Pho and Wat Arun

Wat Pho and Wat Arun are two of Bangkok’s most iconic temples. They are very close to each other on the river so are easy to visit as well. Make sure your shoulders and knees are covered.

Wat Pho is the one with the giant reclining Buddha and is very impressive. There is a huge temple complex around the Buddha itself which is very interesting too. It costs 300 baht (approx. £6.70) to enter. 

From Wat Pho you can take the ferry across the river to Wat Arun. Wat Arun is much smaller than Wat Pho but has beautiful designs on the temple and you can go up some of it. It costs 200 baht (approx. £4.45) to enter and includes a bottle of water. The river ferry stops here so you buy tickets here (30 baht (approx. 67p) for a single trip or 150 baht (approx. £3.35) for a day hop-on-hop-off ticket), get on, and continue down the river to see more highlights of the city.

Icon Siam

Icon Siam is an upmarket shopping mall but I went for the views from its terrace on the top floor. I took the ferry from Wat Arun and it stopped right outside. The view from the terrace is over the river and the city which is really nice, so it’s worth a stop! There is also a cheaper food court area on the bottom floor to get snacks or a meal.

Chinatown

Chinatown is a great place to walk around - it is full of life, especially at night with all the lights and street food. It is all very cheap there, and it’s easy to get to - only a 40 minute walk from the Khao San Road area if you don’t want to take a bus.

Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak Market is only fully open on weekends but this place is incredible. With over 15,000 stalls, you can find everything you’d ever want there. It obviously has the touristy stuff, but also has great shops with nice clothes, quality souvenirs, art, and a lot more. There is a huge food area as well which is very affordable. It’s easy to reach Chatuchak via the BTS Skytrain or by bus and it’s definitely worth spending at least half a day here if you can. It goes on forever and you can easily get lost looking at everything!

Floating Markets

Visiting the floating markets are always on the list of things to do around Bangkok. I went to the biggest one, Damnoen Saduak. Honestly, it was overrun with tourists, the waterways are completely blocked with boats (such that most of the time you are just sitting in the middle of the canal), and most places just sell classic tourist souvenirs that you can buy anywhere. I don’t actually think going to this one is worth it, as there are many more local ones closer to Bangkok that still have some charm. 

However, if you are dead set on going, here are some logistics. Damnoen Saduak is about a 1.5-2 drive from central Bangkok, and the Grab cost around 950 baht (approx. £21) one way, split by the number of people in your car. It is only worth doing it by yourself as opposed to a tour if you are 4+ people to split this cost, because it is expensive. You can usually ask your driver to wait for you to drive you back. Agree on the price beforehand, and don’t pay until the end. The boat ride is 400 baht (approx. £9) per person for a one hour tour. You can go with any of the companies that are there when you enter the market, all of the boats are the same price. They take you around the market, take you close to stalls that you want to look at, and then take you back at the end of the time. The best part was when we left the market itself and went into the ‘back waters’ which had much more of a local vibe to it.

Wat Samphran (Dragon Temple)

Wat Samphran is a very cool temple located about a 30-40 minute drive from central Bangkok. The easiest way to get there is to take a Grab, which costs around 400 baht (approx. £9) each way. Again, ask your driver to wait there and agree on a price beforehand. There aren’t many Grabs around so definitely do this to avoid getting stranded! You will need to have your shoulders and knees covered to visit.

The temple is free to enter but you are pressured to donate when you go inside and up it. I gave 20 baht (45p) and this seemed to be the accepted rate. To go up to the top, you walk up the actual dragon which winds around the outside of the temple. It’s a concrete tunnel with no windows so it is very stuffy and hot, despite the fans. It doesn’t take long at all to go up though, so you will be in the breeze soon. The views from the top aren’t the most incredible, but it’s cool to be so close to the dragon’s head. 

There are also forested paths around the temple which you can walk around and get good views of it through the trees. You don’t need much more than an hour here to explore.

Lumpini Park

Lumpini Park is out of the main touristy area of Bangkok so is really quiet and peaceful. There is a lake there where you can rent a boat if you want, or you can walk around it.

Open House in Central Embassy

Central Embassy is another very upmarket shopping mall which has a lovely top floor. It is very aesthetic with lots of bookshelves to browse, nice cafés and restaurants, and lots of coworking space. It’s worth seeing if you’re in the area for the relaxed vibe.

Rooftop Bars

Bangkok has countless rooftop bars, but not many suit you if you’re on a tight budget. I found the Brewski at the Radisson Blu Plaza hotel to be very budget friendly and still provide a great atmosphere and view. There was no dress code, no entry fee, and the drinks were relatively reasonably priced for a rooftop bar in Bangkok. We went at sunset and it wasn’t overly busy either, we had no trouble getting a table.

I hope this provides you a good guide of things to do in Bangkok. It’s a huge mix of cultural, food, and general sightseeing things, which makes for a really interesting visit. Enjoy, and as always, look after the places you go and only leave your footprints behind :)