Bangkok, my home of 5 years, is one of the best cities in the world, in my humble opinion so read on for all the tourist activities and non touristy things to do in Bangkok. I have updated this post for post covid travel in Thailand.
The best activities to do in Bangkok range from cultural activities like visiting Buddhist temples and museums, to adventurous things to do in Bangkok like trying street food and being active all the way to Bangkok’s nightlife and partying.
Here is the list of my top 50 things to do in Bangkok that will never leave you feeling bored in this crazy Thai capital:
Visit Bangkok’s temples
Jim Thompson’s House Museum
Drink at a skybar
Party on Khao San Road
Watch a Muay Thai match
Do yoga
Go to Thailand’s oldest cinema – Scala in Siam
Eat street food
Go wake-boarding
Enjoy local nightlife at Bangkok’s clubs
Go to a Pilates lesson
Go swimming
Try a Muay Thai boxing class
Have a chocolate buffet afternoon
Rent a bicycle and cycle around a park
Have afternoon tea at a posh hotel
Go to a ladies night for free flow prosecco
Visit a cat café
Go rollerskating
Take a cycling tour
Visit a butterfly house
Go market shopping
Volunteer
Go to a theme park – Dream world
Have lunch by the river
Sing karaoke
Spot monitor lizards in Lumpini park
Explore Chinatown
Cross the river to cycle around Bang Krachao
Visit the flower market
Go to an art gallery
Visit the science museum
Go ice-skating
Take a cooking class
Take photos from a viewpoint – the Golden Mount temple
Go on a river boat
Visit a floating market – mostly food and souvenirs
Snack at the Unicorn Café
Go on Bangkok’s wheel at Asiatique
Get a manicure or pedicure
Relax with a massage – Thai or oil massage
Try SUP or knee boarding
Paint your own picture at Paintbar
Go surfing at Flow House
Spend the day at a water park – I love Jungle water park in the North of Bangkok
Party on a boat
Eat cheap at a food court or street food market
Watch a show at one of Bangkok’s theatres
Shop at a night market
Take a salsa class
If you are visiting Bangkok for a longer time and want to explore some Bangkok weekend getaways then read my blog post here about the best Bangkok weekend trips.
Here are 12 reasons why you should never visit this awful country! The first time I visited Thailand was 4 years ago and after all these terrible activities I’m still unsure why I moved back to Thailand 3 years ago. Please avoid visiting Thailand because you may just get addicted…
You will mostly likely get sunburnt while snorkelling the clear waters off of paradise islands
Yep, don’t remember this…but I have the photos to prove I did indeed eat a scorpion.
3. You’ll spend 7 days worth of Thai street food dinners on one cocktail at a swanky Bangkok skybar
Cheers to Bangkok, my big bad adopted city
4. You will most likely vomit after drinking too many fuck-it buckets. If you don’t then I am extremely impressed with you. But your liver is doomed., especially if you go to the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan
5. You’ll get a hangover from drinking cheap Chang every evening and decide maybe a Leo beer is worth the extra 10 baht. We nickname it a ‘changover’.
6. You’ll get so used to cockroaches in Thailand you won’t feel bothered by them any more… (just me?!). The big ones that run at your feet and the small ones hanging out by your toothbrush in the (slightly) dirty hostel, you are officially a real backpacker now. For wild animals you actually want to see, check out this post
7. In rainy season you’ll stroll through puddles the height of your knees trying not to think about what might be floating around in there
11. You will get seasick on a boat and possibly think you are about to die, probably on the way to Maya Bay ” The Beach” beach where there never seem to be enough life jackets for everyone… #youcanswimthoughright
For when you do decide to travel Thailand, consider these items to help deal with the above issues:
I’m a recent convert to the humble backpack as you can always fit in a bottle of water comfortably (that just never happens with my handbags!) I love this turquoise Everest Backpack from Amazon
2. Alternatively, if you might be here in rainy season (May-October) then I recommend a dry bag as you will definitely get caught in a thunderstorm at some point! I love these dry bags Dry Bag (5L) from Amazon
3. Mosquito spray is definitely one thing I recommend buying at home before you arrive in Thailand as I have never been able to buy stronger than 15% DEET here. Try this Repel 40% DEET Pump SprayRepel Insect Repellent 40-Percent DEET from Amazon
Staying or living in Thailand and looking for the best weekend getaways from Bangkok? After living in Bangkok twice, both pre-covid and post covid I have visited many destinations near Bangkok and have done a lot of weekend trips outside of Bangkok.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a booking I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Most Thailand visitors find themselves in Bangkok at some point during their trip. I find many people have a love/hate relationship with Bangkok and it’s my mission to try to convert tourists to loving this crazy city that I call home. If you love the beach, nature or history, read this Bangkok blog to find out where to visit for a weekend trip outside Bangkok.
Khao Yai National Park
One of my favourite short trips from Bangkok is to spend the weekend in the jungle. Khao Yai National Park is one of Thailand’s oldest national parks. If you love nature and the wilderness then, this is the best weekend trip from Bangkok. It takes approximately 2 hours to travel there from Bangkok. You can see wild elephants, monkeys, gibbons, snakes, porcupines, deer and many more inside Khao Yai National Park.
My top recommendations are to book a jungle day trip with Greenleaf Tours, who have awesome, knowledgeable tour guides and I have been with many times before.
The best budget place to stay near Khao Yai is Wynnhouse. I stayed here in 2022 and it was fairly accessible to head into the park from there although there are not that many restaurants around.
If you love camping, consider camping overnight in the park by renting motorbikes and heading into the park independently.
Please note there is a National Park entrance fee of 400 baht. Once you have entered you will be required to pay again if you leave and re-enter but not if you camp overnight (information accurate at time of writing in 2022)
How to get to Khao Yai National Park from Bangkok: Minivans from Ekkamai take about 2/3 hours and will drop you in Pak Chong.
Koh Samet is one of the nearest islands to Bangkok and is therefore very popular with Bangkok residents. It has some lovely white sand beaches, particularly Ao Prao beach which boasts clear, turquoise water. At the weekends, it can become crowded and turns into more of a party island although it hasn’t yet returned to its pre-covid party glory.
I have stayed at two fantastic mid-range accommodation in Koh Samet and would recommend both. Pre-covid I stayed at the lovely Tubtim Resort which has spacious wooden bungalows bang on the beach, with green lily pads growing everywhere.
In 2021, post covid I enjoyed a very quiet beach on Koh Samet and loved staying at Silver Sands Koh Samet.
How to get to Koh Samet from Bangkok?
Take a minivan ride to Rayong from Bangkok and then either take the local ferry or a shared speedboat. Both can be booked when you arrive at the pier. Please note these boats do not run into the late evening.
Koh Samet – Bangkok’s famous weekend trip island getaway
Weekend Trips from Bangkok to Lopburi
A few hours on the train from Bangkok (costing approximately 40 baht) you can find yourself in the ancient city of Lopburi, famous for its monkeys and temples. It’s all slightly off the tourist trail which might be a welcome sight for many. I recommend collecting a map of the different temples from the temple opposite the station and deciding on where to visit. All temples that I visited were walkable and there are certain ones that are home to huge families of macaques. Please be aware of not feeding the monkeys any food that is not natural for them. They also will grab your sunglasses or anything else in range so be careful.
If you feel like renting a scooter then you can access the gorgeous sunflower fields (seasonal around November- January) and the Peacock temple is worth a visit as well. Along with the birds there is also a great viewpoint if you feel like some exercise up many stairs.
Monkeys in one of Lopburi’s temples
Whale Watching (seasonal Aug-Nov)
Only two hours from Bangkok, the enormous Bryde whales can be seen! Entering the Gulf of Thailand to feed on anchovies these gentle giants are incredible and one of the coolest experiences I’ve had in Thailand. Wildlife Encounters Thailand offer weekly trips for 2500 baht including transfer from Bangkok and lunch on the boat. An amazing day out and still possible post covid in 2022.
I have recently been on this trip twice to see both the Bryde whales and Irawaddy dolphins in Thailand and absolutely love this day trip from Bangkok.
One of my favourite weekend getaways from Bangkok is Koh Lan which is an island just off of Pattaya. Cheap accommodation and a couple of beautiful white sand beaches are there to welcome you. This used to get very busy (pre-covid) with huge tour groups. Jump in a songtaew (truck) or motorsi taxi for 20-30 baht and spend the day exploring lesser known beaches and taking in great views of the island! I really enjoyed my stay at Castello resort, it’s walkable to the pier. However, my last weekend trip top Koh Lan was pre-covid so I am looking forward to a Bangkok weekend getaway there soon!
Monks on a beach in Koh Lan, Thailand. A lovely Bangkok weekend trip
A weekend trip from Bangkok to Ayutthaya
An interesting and cultural Bangkok day trip or weekend trip to experience some Thai history. Head to this ancient temple town, one hour by train or minivan from Bangkok. Rent bicycles cheaply and enjoy cycling around and soaking in the culture of these ancient temples and a former capital of Siam. Don’t forget to try my favourite dessert roti sai mai – kinda like a rolled up candyfloss.
The ideal cultural Bangkok day trip: explore the ruins of Ayutthaya
Best Weekend Trips from Bangkok: Kanchanaburi
If you are interested in World War II history, then Kanchanaburi is a must visit as a weekend or slightly longer trip from Bangkok. Tourists come here to see the bridge over the River Kwai and understand more about the dark history of this area where prisoners of war were held by the Japanese during World War II. It is quite far for a Bangkok day trip but I have done it before in one day. I recommend staying one night though. Two hours by car/minivan or a little longer on the train.
Weekend Trips from Bangkok to Erawan Waterfall
You can combine this with a Bangkok day trip or overnight stay from Kanchanaburi. Visit these stunning, blue coloured waterfalls with 9 steps inside Erawan National Park. Around 45 minutes by car from Kanchanaburi, bring a picnic and spend the afternoon swimming in stunning pools, cliff jumping and getting back to nature.
Bangkok Day trips: Swimming in blue waterfalls in Erawan National Park
Beaches near Bangkok – Hua Hin
One of Bangkok’s nearest beaches and very big for kite surfing, this is definitely possible as a Bangkok day trip or weekend getaway. A large stretch of yellow sand beach for hanging out on and a wide range of accommodation is on offer here. Swimming is not always recommended as there are jellyfish lurking! Cha-am is another beach stop just before Hua Hin. You can take minivans or the slow train to either place from Bangkok.
View of Hua Hin from Takiap Beach, a good Bangkok day trip or weekend visit.
Bangkok Weekend Trips: Water Park
Water parks are a great Bangkok day trip and a fun day out. There are many both towards Pattaya or towards Hua Hin. I loved Splashdown, near Pattaya. It is more of an inflatable obstacle course, this brightly coloured water park will have you and your mates running around behaving like big kids, plus a few beers!
Big Kids Day out in Splashdown – funnily enough no-one made it all the way across these giant floating obstacle courses!
Where are your favourite places for a Bangkok weekend getaway? I’m always looking for more inspiration!
Visiting Thailand? Here are the top 10 adventures and activities that you can do here, written by someone who lives here! Thailand has so much to offer, especially when you dig a little deeper than just the beach parties and Khao San Road in Bangkok!
4. Visit a Bangkok skybar, avoid the incredibly expensive Lebua Sirocco Tower and head to Vertigo or Octave instead. Just as impressive a view and (slightly) more purse friendly.
5. Go market shopping at Chatachak Weekend market. It’s open Saturday and Sunday and has probably everything you will ever need to buy in your life. Haggle with a smile and be open to getting lost in the middle (items tend to be cheaper there than around the road on the outside).
7. Eat Thai food. Street food, mango smoothies, desserts, the list goes on. Be adventurous and try some new dishes, sometimes in pays off
Just not when you’re drunkenly trying scorpions on Khao San Road in Bangkok…
8. Snorkelling Trips are an absolute must do activity. The coral and the fish are worth seeing in all their colours and they trips are great value for money, often full days including a pretty island spot for lunch too. Beware that national park fees will be added in some places so check when you book the tour.
Snorkelling in Koh Chang
9. Try scuba diving for the first time. Koh Tao, while not the beauty that it once was for diving, is still one of the cheapest places in the world to get qualified as an Open Water diver with PADI or SSI. Be warned, once you start you will be spending all your money on diving around the world in the future. If you’re already qualified or keen to do more then read about the best dive spots in Thailand here
Top 3 Things to Enjoy your Adventures and Activities in Thailand
GoPro HERO4 BLACK Never miss a moment above or under the water with a Gopro. I’m obsessed with mine and love the results it produces, particularly diving and snorkelling shots
A bag like this Dry Bag (Green, 5L) to keep all your valuables dry on boats and in monsoon season. Also it generally keeps things sand free too!
Don’t forget your mosquito spray. I’ve yet to find strong repellent in Thailand so recommend buying in advanvce from somewhere like Amazon Repel 40-Percent DEET
I am not quite a local but three years here isn’t nothing! I also love tourist time and have lots of visitors passing through (you suddenly become very popular when you live in Thailand!) So I am always looking for activities to do here that isn’t the Grand Palace yet again…
Bangkok…gateway to hell or Southeast Asia or whatever Dicaprio says in The Beach! Crazy, overwhelming, polluted, noisy, hot, sticky, smelly, crowded, this is the place that I have called home for the last 3 years.
If limited on time, visit:
Temple Time – Wat Pho with the reclining Buddha is my favourite and only 100 baht entry. Get the river boat to Tha Thien.
Party on Khao San road – you haven’t been to Khao san if you haven’t drunk a bucket. Check out Golf Bar and then Da Club for dancing. They do charge entry but are open late so you can keep boozing until 5am.
Massage – if you’re brave enough to get a Thai massage, do it. But don’t say I didn’t warn you… Soi Rambuttri has lots of shops near Khao San that offer relaxing oil massages instead 😉
Jim Thompson’s House Museum – Visit the house belonging to former CIA agent who revived the Thai silk industry, small but worth doing. Near MBK. 100 baht entry. BTS National Stadium or short walk from Siam BTS.
Chatachak Weekend Market – Everything you could possible want to buy and more. You’ll need an extra suitcase (you can buy that here too!). BTS Mochit/MRT Chatachak
A bike tour – Get a guided tour around Chinatown on a bicycle, see the flower market and cycle along the Chao Praya river. CoVanKessel company are your guys. Depart: Chinatown
A skybar – my personal favs are Octave and Vertigo. Lebua from the Hangover 2 movie has a fantastic view too but prices to match. Above 11 on Soi 11 near Nana BTS is also a good shout.
Street food – Pad Thai, Noodles, Spring Rolls and fresh fruit or smoothies from the street and the ultimate dessert Mango Sticky Rice.
Rent bicycles and cycle around Bang Krachao/Prapadaeng. Take a small wooden boat across the river, rent your bikes and head into one of Bangkok’s last green areas, known as the Green Lung. Narrow elevated paths snake through the jungle and even on the main roads there are very few cars around. Avoid Mondays as most things are closed.
If here for longer and can explore more:
Wat Pra Kaew or the Grand Palace. 500 baht entry but it also includes the Ananta Throne Hall with a lot of gold and bling inside!
A manicure&pedicure for 300 baht on Soi Rambuttri
Vimanmek Mansion – museum, an interesting insight into how the Royals lived. Near Victory Monument
Lumpini Park – a green area of Bangkok and great place for spotting the impressive Monitor Lizards that roam around…don’t get too close!
Chinatown – large main street to stroll down, avoid the shark fin restaurants and go for some ‘sala pao’ buns by the side of the road!
Party like a local at RCA (Royal City Avenue) where a collection of bars and Thai clubs are. Route 66 is a popular one!
Explore Asiatique. Take the free boat from Saphan Taksin and eat at fancy restaurants, shop and go on Bangkok’s wheel!
Drink at a fancy interior designed bar such as Maggie Choos or Iron Fairies. Not backpacker prices but this is where you can find the hi-so’s of Bangkok.
Shop at MBK if you can’t make Chatachak’s weekend market. Similar idea with reasonable prices if you haggle! Great for technology but be warned of the fakes! BTS National Stadium or walk from Siam.
Try Muay Thai boxing. Take classes at RSM and be prepared to get sweaty! BTS Asok
Go wakeboarding at Thai Wake Park at Lake Taco. BTS Bang Na then a taxi
Any activities or places you think are missing from my list?
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Never miss a moment above or under the water with a Gopro. I’m obsessed with mine and love the results it produces, particularly diving and snorkelling shots
