Dreaming of paradise? Look no further! Let Bangkok, the great City of Angels, fuel your fun this season with an exciting array of things to do and sights to see.
Whether you’re craving wild tuk-tuk adventures or want to do some soul-searching at grand Buddhist temples, this city’s got something for everyone. And if you ask us, what’s the best thing to do in Bangkok? Well, it’s a tough one! After all, we’ve only got 20 items on our Bangkok travel bucket list:
- Enjoy a Thai massage
- See the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho
- Feel like royalty at the Grand Palace
- Cruise along the Chao Phraya River
- Watch Wat Arun light up the night
- Climb the Golden Mount
- Hit up Khao San Road
- Shop ‘til you drop at Chatuchak Weekend Market
- Chill out at Bangkok’s malls
- Ride the tuk-tuk
- Relax and unwind at The Siam
- Find solitude at Wat Prayoon
- Do the Chinatown hop
- Stroll around Lumphini Park
- Admire art at the Jim Thompson House
- History 101 at Bangkok National Museum
- Watch a kickboxing (Muay Thai) match
- Go for a drink on the top of the city
- Take a trip to the floating markets around Bangkok
Ready to hop on tropical adventures? Hold your horses, and book your Bangkok airport transfers first with Klook! We offer transport services from both Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) and Don Mueang Airport (DMK) straight to your hotel to make travel a breeze!
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1. Enjoy a Thai massage
Looking for the perfect activity to wind down a bit? How about trying a traditional Thai massage! These ones will stretch you ‘til you can’t anymore. In Bangkok alone, there are plenty of salons scattered around every corner. Prices often start at 250 baht ($7) for a foot massage and 500 baht ($15) for a full-body sesh—a small price to pay for the ultimate pamper experience!
An all-new spa has just arrived in Bangkok! Once Upon A Thai Wellness offers spa and massage treatments, but what makes them stand out is their private onsen therapy. Your relaxing experience can go from 45 minutes to three hours, depending on the package that you choose. Your options include Floating Away Spa Treatment, Sky After Rain Spa Treatment with Onsen, Once In Thailand Signature Onsen Program, and more. 💆🏻♀️
But hey, if you want the full experience, we highly recommend the ✨Once In Thailand Treatment ✨ with a private oxygen white ion onsen or Thai herbal onsen and their signature therapeutic aroma massage. The signature therapeutic aroma massage includes a mini singing bowl ritual, traditional Thai oil technique, warm stones massage, hot herbal compress, foot reflexology, and a scalp massage. 💆🏻♂️ All those and an onsen therapy for two hours of a pampering experience!
To make it even better for you, all sessions include a post-treatment set where you get to cool down with your choice of Thai snack, fruit of the day, or homemade gelato! 🥰
2. See the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho
Wat Pho is also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Image credits: @alexsierra16 on Instagram
You might have seen Buddha statues in Chinatown, but we bet you’ve never seen one this HUGE! At Wat Pho, you’ll discover the world’s largest reclining Buddha statue. Stretching as long as 150 feet wide and 49 feet high, the figure encrusted in gold and pearls will make your jaw drop! Tourists often visit this sacred temple to marvel at its grand beauty as well as to wish for good luck by dropping coins inside the complex’s 108 bowls.
3. Feel like royalty at the Grand Palace
Be in awe of Thai architecture. Image credits: @makeupbydarsys on Instagram
If you venture a bit further from Wat Pho, you’ll stumble upon the Grand Palace. Nowhere else in the city is as grand and magnificent as the royal abode of the King of Siam. Built in 1782, the massive complex features over 100 magnificent buildings, pavilions, temples, and theaters to explore.
4. Cruise along the Chao Phraya River
Ready those cams, ‘cos you’re about to see Bangkok’s lively riverside sceneries! Image credits: Maksim Romashkin on Pexels
Some people regard Bangkok as the “Venice of the East.” And this is all thanks to the idyllic Chao Phraya River, considered the lifeblood of the city. Every day, at least 50,000 Thais climb aboard the ferries to go to work. And you can too! Taking a scenic boat trip down the river is one of the best things to do in Bangkok as you get to see the city’s skyline and its most iconic landmarks (Wat Arun, Wat Pho, and Grand Palace) from afar.
5. Watch Wat Arun light up the night
The most magical sunset view in Bangkok! Image credits: Chait Golli on Pexels
With a name that means “Temple of Dawn,” you better prepare your eyes for a truly magical sight when you visit the majestic Wat Arun at night! This 269-foot-tall Khmer-style temple juts out of the Chao Phraya Riverside and proudly glimmers against the dark sky, all lit up.
6. Climb the Golden Mount
How many steps does it take to see the entire city? We’ll answer it for you: 318. By climbing the Wat Saket’s Golden Mount, you’ll be spoiled with 360-degree views of Bangkok, so pack your cameras to steal some cute snaps! On the way up, you’ll also encounter giant gongs and classic Thai architecture.
7. Hit up Khao San Road
For a night you’ll never forget in Bangkok, head to Khao San Road! Image credits: @sohevler on Instagram
Feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the sightseeing? Here’s a great idea to switch up your scenery: by joining the party at Khao San Road. Located in central Bangkok, this vibrant neighborhood is jam-packed with boutique stores, hole-in-the-wall dining places, cheap hostels, and busy bars that are perfect for late-night revelers!
8. Shop ‘til you drop at Chatuchak Weekend Market
In Bangkok, haggling is an art form you’ll master. Image credits: @ii_wander_er on Instagram
Of course, what’s a trip to Bangkok without shopping! Among our top things to do in Bangkok is spending an evening at the biggest market in the city and in the world. Chatuchak Weekend Market has over 15,000 stalls selling almost anything to everything—from traditional Thai handicrafts and quirky trinkets to knock-off Nikes!
Klook tip: The market is open every Friday to Sunday, 6 PM to 12 AM.
9. Chill out at Bangkok’s malls
Though if you’d rather do your shopping comfortably (AC on full blast!), Bangkok’s got plenty of malls too. Head to Siam District, where you’ll find all the modern and trendy shopping centers. The Siam Paragon offers all the authentic luxury goods, while CentralWorld is the 11th largest lifestyle shopping mall in Southeast Asia.
10. Ride the tuk-tuk
Ride the kings of the road in Bangkok and cross it off your “things to do in Bangkok” list Image credits: Jakob Owens on Unsplash
Anyone who’s been to Bangkok has a story or two about tuk-tuks. These unique motorized rickshaws are icons of the city itself, zooming in and out of the roads. Fares start from 50 baht to 150 baht (that’s about $2 to $4!), which makes tuk-tuks cheap and convenient rides for those who want the local Thai experience!
11. Relax and unwind at The Siam
Experience a luxurious escape at The Siam! Image credits: @nidayorkshire on Instagram
After a long day of shopping and hobbling off rickshaws, you might want to relax and recharge at the most luxurious piece of paradise in Bangkok. The Siam Hotel offers a tranquil escape in the heart of the city. Wear your best ‘fits and get ready to ogle all day long at the hotel’s art-deco style rooms, hammam spas, large courtyards bursting with floras, and collection of vintage toy cars inside. Then, at night, enjoy evening cocktails on the terrace with a stunning view of the Chao Phraya River, away from the crowds.
12. Find solitude at Wat Prayoon
All white at Wat Prayoon. Image credits: @chari.st on Instagram
Another unmissable site in Bangkok that not a lot know about is the Wat Prayoon. This temple, with its signature big white stupa, sits on the quieter side of Thonburi, often only stumbled upon by well-traveled tourists. Here, you’ll find plenty of prayer halls where chanting monks and locals gather to pay their respects to Buddha.
13. Do the Chinatown hop
Lively market lanes, glittering gold shops, amazing arrays of street food, and heaps of Daoist temples crowding around? You bet Thailand’s Chinatown’s got everything under the sun! Come to Talat Mai, if you’ve got the appetite for fusion dishes and culinary oddities, including the world-famous Stir Fry Crab with Yellow Curry and some Chong Kee Pork Satay!
14. Stroll around Lumphini Park
Sneak in some morning yoga during your trip! Image credits: @bew.bewtydose on Instagram
Had too much Thai food? Time to walk off that food baby and stroll around Lumphini Park. This serene park is filled with greeneries, relaxing paths, and a lazy lake, where you can paddle around in swan-shaped boats.
15. Admire art at the Jim Thompson House
Jim Thompson House is among the top Instragrammable places in Bangkok! Image credits: @travel.dialog on Instagram
Let your creative side take over! At the Jim Thompson House, you’ll chance upon some of Thailand’s most impressive works of art and handicrafts. From Thai silk to traditional wooden houses that come all the way from the ancient kingdom of Ayutthaya, this old art collector’s home-turned-museum will feed your Instagram and Tiktok accounts!
16. History 101 at Bangkok National Museum
It’s no secret that Thailand’s got its fair share of fascinating historical facts, and you can learn all about it at the Bangkok National Museum. Revisit the past as you go through its 12 massive halls filled with royal relics and precious artifacts dating back to prehistoric times. Our favorite bit is the Funeral Chariot Hall which houses golden carriages and jaw-dropping Thai architecture.
17. Watch a kickboxing (Muay Thai) match
Muay Thai is Thailand’s national sport. Image credits: Pablo Rebolledo on Unsplash
As for the sports fan, get ready to gear up for a fight! One of the top things to do in Bangkok is to watch a thrilling match of Muay Thai—aka kickboxing and Thailand’s national sport! Players strike each other to win using spinning kicks and cool tricks. You can catch the biggest fights at either the Lumpini Stadium or Rajadamnern Stadium.
18. Go for a drink on the top of the city
See Bangkok from above! Image credits: SiravitPlug on Unsplash
Like any proper bucket list, ours include boozy drinks at the city’s swankiest rooftop bars! Drink in the sight of Bangkok’s lively skyline as you sip crazy cocktails, get glammed up, and experience Baiyoke Tower’s revolving roof deck and food buffet from 84 floors up!
19. Take a trip to the floating markets around Bangkok
Sample some Thai fruits while on board. Image credits: Chat Goili on Pexels
Still not yet ready to head home? If you’ve got a spare day or two, why not take the time to venture out of the capital city and into the famous floating markets of Thailand. At Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, you’ll be introduced to the Thai sport of haggling! Haggle your way through boat-side sellers, and even taste freshly made spring rolls while cruising down the busy canal. This floating market is only an hour and a half away from Bangkok by car!
Klook Tip: Go around the city by renting a car in Thailand!
With Klook, we make it so much easier to travel! Just choose your ride, book it with Klook, pick it up, and blast off to great adventures! This allows for a more flexible travel experience as you can hop on and off wherever you want and wherever you want.
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