25 Amazing Things To Do

in BANGKOK

This is one of Mark Wiens' earliest videos - from ten years ago.  I was following him way back then.  He's gone on to become YouTube's most popular food vlogger.

When I travel, I enjoy having a list of things to do.  In a city as big as Bangkok, unless you have a few weeks to play with, it's a good idea to have a smart game plan.  Mark's list still holds up pretty well, but let me share my own list.

(no particular order)

Jim Thompson House Museum

I'd go on a weekday.  I'd tour the house, then I'd have lunch on the patio.  It's funny, but when Mark Wiens did his Bangkok list, he left off this one.  I made a comment about it on his video.  He had not been in Bangkok very long and likely didn't know about it.  Many don't.  Jim Thompson was an American (USofA).

Massages

I would certainly get a traditional Thai massage (2 hours) and an oil massage (90 minutes is ideal to me).  You might even find other massage experiences that will make you happy.  Treat yourself.  Don't be shy.

The Grand Palace & Wat Pho

Wat means temple.  Wat Pho, home of the Reclining Buddha, is right next door to The Grand Palace.  I would do both the same day - preferably a weekday, and early in the morning.  You're going to need 3-4 hours to do it right.  Don't forget to visit Wat Phra Kaew, which is on the palace grounds.  It safeguards the Emerald Buddha, Thailand's most cherished national treasure.

Night Markets

There's always some new night market popping up where you can eat, shop and just have fun.  It's a carnival-like atmosphere in Bangkok, every day.  Jodd Fairs is easily the favorite night market in the city right now.  But there are many good ones!  SWU (university) has a Friday evening market that's fun.  And then there's a night market named SW1.  It's easy to find and open every evening.

Exotic Fruits

You will find them everywhere: food carts, produce stands, supermarkets and inside malls.  And when it's durian season, be on the lookout for it.  When you're looking for a fine fruit like durian, a market like Or Tor Kor is best.  You could go there, eat some durian, then have a delicious lunch followed by a fresh coconut to drink.  And then after walking around a bit more and buying some items to take back, eat some mango sticky rice.  Or Tor Kor is great!  If you can't make it there, you still can have this type of experience at a Tops Supermarket or food hall in one of the city's giant malls.

River Cruise

I'd find a way to enjoy the River of Kings: the Chao Phraya.  You could take a ferry to cross it, or you could take a hop on - hop off boat that gets you to some the key landmarks as you go up and down it.  You could opt for a evening dinner cruise to see some of the temples and The Grand Palace and Wat Arun are lit up a night.  Long-tail boats can also be hired for a couple of hours and the skippers can even take you on some of the historic canals (klongs).  Bangkok was once a small fishing village, and the city was criss-crossed by canals. 

Malls

Malls are not the same everywhere.  When you experience them in Bangkok, you will see.  They have some of the biggest, most luxurius malls in the world, with any and every shop and brand you can imagine.  You can buy the world's most expensive cars in mall showrooms, and walk a bit down to an Apple store to get the latest iPhone.  It's that crazy.  I enjoy the food halls (courts), restaurants and cafes.  I also like the state-of-the-art movie cinemas.  Unreal.

Chinatown

On a weeknight, head to Chinatown (Yarowat).  You can go on a weekend, but the crowd is unbelievable.  I would try to go to one of the temples - Wat Traimit is an example - then walk the main road in Yarowat.  I'd snack along the way, then find a place to have dinner.  If you like to drink, Yarowat has some incredible cocktail bars.  Give those a try.  Bangkok's MRT (metro) has a stop or two in Yarowat.  The stations are well-designed and look like museums.  No need to worry about the city's infamous traffic if you can take the MRT.

BTS & MRT

Ah, perfect timing.  The BTS is the skytrain (elevated train) and the MRT is the metro.  There are 135 stations (and rapidly expanding, btw), and you can pretty much go anywhere in the city.  Going to be a lot of walking involved still, but you don't have to waste time stuck in traffic.  I use a little of all transportation options in Bangkok, but the BTS and MRT are the best.

Ruam Sab Market

You should look for places where office workers go for meals.  They know where the good food is.  Ruam Sab Market is one such market.  Get there by 10:45 and be considering what you'd like to eat.  Once you get that worked out, order it, take a seat and then hang out in until noon and after.  Crowds pour in.

Benjakitti Forest Park

Bangkok is a massive concrete jungle.  As it's grown, green spaces have not always a big priority - not big spaces anyway.  Luckily, though, forward-thinking people are now realizing that what people need are places where they can escape the grind of the city for their physical and mental health.  This new forest park is unbelievable.  Go check it out one morning or an hour or two before sunset.  Very impressive.

Flower Market

If you are arriving in Thailand from the West, where there's a significant time difference, you will be wide awake in the wee hours of the morning for a few days, at least.  In that case, get down to the huge flower market along the river.  That's when it's bustling.  2, 3, 4 AM.  It's enormous and interesting, plus it smells good.  All the big hotels, nice restaurants and temples send buyers out to get the best.  Thais love their flowers.

Mahanakhon Skywalk

This is where you can get the best 360 views of Bangkok.  You can also walk on a glass floor with a jaw-dropping view below.  Get to Mahanakhon a couple of hours before sunset to ensure you have time to get up there for good daylight views.  Then stay past sunset.  You can even get a beer or cocktail.  

Rooftop Bars

Bangkok is the rooftop bar capital of the world.  There are 100+, each with spectacular views.  Some are still better than others, so do your research ahead of time.  I have been to 89.  Yay! I like to get to them an hour before sunset, then stay a bit afterwards.  You can dine, you can dance, you can socialize with friends or you can experience it alone.  Let's face it, though, in Bangkok you're never really alone.  My favorite rooftop bars, of the big names, are Bar.Yard, Spire, Char, ABar and Tichuca.  

Floating Market

People associate Bangkok with floating markets, and rightly so.  However, find out where Thais like to go and go there.  But I would only do a floating market if you are staying a long time in the Big Mango.  The best ones are not exactly easy to reach.

Khao San Rd and Soi Rambutri

KSR is the world's most famous backpacker road.  It's been changing a lot over the past decade, and lots of young Thais are enjoying it, too.  It's not always as edgy and rough as it once was, but after the sun sets, it becomes really fun.  You can encounter people from all over the world.  Soi Rambuttri is a road nearby KSR.  I love the street stalls, especially the iced dessert and fruit shake stands at one end.

Temples

There are hundreds of wats in Bangkok.  I've been inside almost thirty - virtually all the most well-known ones.  Certainly if you're in Bangkok for a week, you can manage to visit five.  If you want to get away from noise and hustle & bustle, go see some temples.

Walk Some Neighborhoods

This is easier said than done, certainly if you're a tourist.  The old part of the city has many opportunities for this.  Song Wat Road and the Talat Noi neighborhood are very popular these days.  You can also just walk some of the sois (small lanes) off off the main roads.  There are also walking tours in Bangkok.  Even bicycle tours are a way to see the real Bangkok.  Have a go!

Red Light Districts

You want eye-opening?  Go spend a couple of hours on both Soi Cowboy and at Nana Plaza.  The city has a well-deserved reputation.

Monuments & Shrines

Just like in any major world city, there are monuments to past leaders, wars, significant moments and difficult times.  You can also find huge sculptures of elephants (Thailand's national symbol) and revered shrines to gods and spirits.  Erawan Shrine is popular.

Banthat Thong Road

This is my new favorite road for walking.  I would only go on a Friday or Saturday evening once it gets dark.  Make sure you have a big appetite!  There are so many dining options, it's going to be hard to select.  People-watching is also very fun.

Dusit Arun at Dusit Central Park

Dusit Arun is a beautiful sky garden park that has amazing views of Lumpini Park and the city's skyline.  I really recommend wandering around the park a good hour and a half before sunset.  After spending thirty minutes there, make your way quickly (through the luxury mall) to Spire Rooftop Bar at the nearby Dusit Thani Bangkok (hotel).  No reservation is needed on a weeknight if you sit at the bar.  Again, just arrive before it gets dark so you can see the cityscape before sunset.  When you're done, you can always go back inside the mall for a tasty meal at a reasonable price.

Bangkok National Museum

It has been renovated fairly recently and is very impressive.  Give yourself about three hours to make your way through all the halls and buildings.  Even better, find out how to get a certified tour guide for a private or small group tour.

Food Experiences

Try street food, food courts, night markets, mom-and-pop restaurants and nice establishments.  And although you can simply eat Thai and be very satisfied, you might enjoy trying a variety of international foods.  Japanese is one of my favorites in Bangkok.  Aroy!

Iconic Hotels

You don't have to be a guest at hotels to walk in and look around.  One of my favorite pastimes is stopping by world-renowned Bangkok hotels like Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-la or Sukhothai for a cappuccino and Basque cheesecake.

Updated - March 1, 2026