Best Bangkok day trips 🇹🇭
Photo Credit: @jessicachaw
Why stay within Bangkok when there's so much to explore just a few hours away? You'll be surprised by how many quaint towns and unique provinces are reachable from Bangkok via a fun and easy road trip (or even a day trip!).
If you're up for venturing out of the city, take your pick from these 18 day trips from Bangkok with much to offer from breathtaking landscapes to turquoise waters and ancient temples.
Rent a car on Klook for your road trip 🚗
🚗 Road trip essential: Rent a car on Klook from as low as RM140/day! You can opt to get it picked up at the airport or anywhere in the city that's convenient for you. Take your pick from comfy compact cars to spacious SUVs and even commercial vans if you're travelling with friends and family.
1. Samut Prakarn
Drive duration: 30 minutes from Bangkok
Not up for too long of a drive? Samut Prakarn is a great day trip destination if you're looking to escape the traffic and Bangkok crowds for a bit. Located just south of Bangkok at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River, Samut Prakan is a charming province to explore.
Here, you'll find the sprawling Ancient City featuring impressive replicas of popular Thai landmarks, local restaurants that serve fresh seafood, the majestic Erawan Museum, and a pier that offers beautiful sunset views by the sea. Besides getting here by car, Samut Prakarn can also be accessed via the BTS Skytrain!
2. Nonthaburi
Drive duration: 30 minutes from Bangkok (just 15 minutes from Chatuchak too!)
Immerse yourself in local culture in Nonthaburi, home to museums, a pottery island, and of course, sandy beaches. Visit Ko Kret, a man-made island created from a canal that’s known for its pottery. For those who are looking for unique tableware, or enjoy admiring pottery, you’ll find plenty of it here, alongside a floating market and plenty of food.
The Museum of Nonthaburi also has interesting cultural artefacts on display, and will give you an in-depth look into the history of the city.
3. Dream World (Thanyaburi district)
Drive duration: 45 minutes from Bangkok
Craving for an adrenaline rush after all that tom yum and mango sticky rice? Make your way to Dream World, affectionately known as Thailand's version of Disneyland! Located in the Thanyaburi district just 40km from Bangkok, Dream World offers 40 thrilling rides, family-friendly attractions, fun shows, and plenty of fun for people of all ages. You can skip-the-queue at the ticketing counter by booking your Dream World admission tickets on Klook
4. Nakhon Pathom
Drive duration: 45 minutes from Bangkok
Nakhon Pathom is another easy day trip destination from Bangkok, also reachable via a 45-minute drive from the city centre. Famous for being home to the world's tallest golden stupa, the largest pagoda in Thailand, as well as an ancient Buddhist monastery, Nakhon Pathom is a bit of a hidden gem despite being located so close to Thailand's vibrant capital city.
There are plenty of other attractions here as well, including the majestic Wat Samphran Temple featuring a pink dragon sculpture that wraps around the 17-storey temple (you can climb to the top of the dragon’s head to admire the views!) - the Thai Human Imagery Museum, some floating markets as well as a little local market that's been around for over 100 years.
5. Ayutthaya
Photo Credit: @zlfqr.mdnr
Drive duration: 1 hour from Bangkok
Up for a day trip that takes you back in time? Escape to the ancient town of Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located just an hour's drive from central Bangkok. This historical Thai city is known for its ancient ruins and rich history.
You'll find lots of monuments, palaces, and temples built decades ago left standing and waiting to be explored. You can get to Ayutthaya on a self-drive road trip, or by booking a convenient day trip on Klook if you'd prefer not to worry about how to get here.
6. Ratchaburi
Photo Credit: Andrew Ly (Unsplash)
Drive duration: 1.5 hours from Bangkok
Located in central Thailand to the west of Bangkok, Ratchaburi is a laid-back province most known for the iconic Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, where you can hop on a traditional wooden boat and go through the canals filled with vendors selling everything from food to handicrafts and souvenirs.
Besides the floating market, Ratchaburi is also home to plenty of historical sights and nature spots such as the Bo Khlueng Hot Stream, Khao Ngu Adventure Park, and AlpacaHill, Thailand's first and only alpaca breeding farm!
7. Kanchanaburi
Drive duration: 2 hours from Bangkok
If you particularly enjoy places brimming with history and nature, you'll fall in love with Kanchanaburi. Dotted with fascinating sights including the 'Death Railway' (built by the Japanese using prisoner and slave labour during WWII) and war museums, Kanchanaburi offers fascinating insights into its haunting past.
You can also immerse yourself in nature at the national parks filled with beautiful waterfalls, caves, leafy forests, and limestone cliffs.
Looking for a hassle-free trip to Kanchanaburi? Check these out!:
8. Nakhon Nayok
Drive duration: 2 hours from Bangkok
One of the things that makes Nakhon Nayok unique and worth a visit apart from the surprisingly scenic cafes and great local food jaunts, is that it has its very own nine-tier waterfall. The tall and imposing Sarika Waterfall is a sight to behold as you watch water plunge off a high cliff, trickling down into a pool that you can take a dip in.
There’s also the Chulabhorn Wanaram Temple, known for its aesthetic bamboo grove walkway almost resembling the ones you’ll find in Kyoto! When you're there don't forget to catch the sunset from the Khun Dan Prakarn Chon Dam, with sweeping mountain and sea views to admire too!
9. Pattaya
Drive duration: 2 hours from Bangkok
If you enjoy art, history, and nature-related activities, Pattaya is one destination you won’t want to miss. The sprawling Nong Nooch Tropical Garden is a must-see, with 2.4 square kilometres of beautifully landscaped greenery, including some surprises like dinosaur sculptures and a recreation of Stonehenge.
After you’ve had plenty of tropical fun, beat the heat and stop by the IG-worthy FROST Magical Ice of Siam ice dome, where you can explore ice sculptures depicting Thai folklore as well as prehistoric creatures.
10. Khao Yai
Drive duration: 2.5 hours from Bangkok
Once an undiscovered gem, Khao Yai has become a popular road trip destination from Bangkok in the past few years, and it's easy to realise why. This laid-back town has an easy charm and is filled with picturesque sights, from sunflower fields to an impressive national park, and beautiful villages filled with European architecture.
For a hassle-free adventure, book your Khao Yai custom tour on Klook so you can sit back and relax in an air-conditioned private vehicle as you explore the beauty of Khao Yai.
11. Suan Phueng
Drive duration: 2.5 hours from Bangkok
Suan Phueng is a little known family-friendly day trip destination near Bangkok (technically a district within Ratchaburi) filled to the brim with alpaca farms, Japanese agro-tourism, a rock sculpture park, and more! Meet adorable alpacas at Alpaca Hill, and enjoy the petting zoo with ducks, sheep, and other cute animals - or head to Scenery Vintage Farm to spend time with the sheep.
You can’t miss Coro Field either, a Japanese-themed farm with aesthetic photo spots and of course, homegrown produce that you can taste at their cafe. Khao Ngu Stone Park is another unique spot to admire, creating stunning rock formations after it was formed from explosions. Hop on a private tour and explore Suan Phueng’s best attractions!
12. Hua Hin
Drive duration: 3 hours from Bangkok
Want the best of both worlds - a vibrant town and chill beaches? Drive 3 hours from Bangkok to Hua Hin (or book a private car charter custom tour on Klook), the oldest seaside resort in Thailand.
Hua Hin is generally more chill compared to other popular beach destinations like Phuket, and is perfect if you're hoping to have a relaxing beach vacation. Besides hanging out by the beach, don't forget to also check out the many sights in town such as the temples and local markets.
13. Khao Kho
Drive duration: 5 hours from Bangkok
Known as the magical town above the clouds, Khao Kho is further away from Bangkok but totally (in our opinion) worth the 5-hour drive. This mountainous district in the Phetchabun province offers out-of-the-world views and mystical beauty with its thick forests, valleys, and amazing viewpoints.
It's also blessed with a cool climate almost all year round, making it a refreshing getaway destination for those hoping to escape the tropical heat of Southeast Asia. (When we were last here, the temperatures in the day dropped to a very shiok 16ºC!)
14. Lampang & Lamphun
Drive duration: 8 hours from Bangkok
Having been to both Lampang and Lamphun (and eaten the most unforgettable soy milk and fried dough fritters here) - we would always recommend combining a trip to these places if you're ever planning on heading to Chiang Mai, or looking to make the drive from Bangkok to the north of Thailand (which we actually did and would totally do it again).
A hidden blue lagoon surrounded by a grove full of trees is one of Lampang’s many hidden gems. And the scenery is truly unparalleled here with places like Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Phrachomklao Rachanusorn, also known as the temple in the clouds.
Lamphun, which is just 3 hours from Lampang, is also home to the Koh Luang Waterfall, a grand 7-tier waterfall that you can take a dip in, or explore the cave system in the area. And don't forget to get your hands on the famous longan cakes here too!
Looking for a hassle-free trip to Lampang and Lamphun? Check these out!:
15. Chiang Mai
Drive duration: 9 hours from Bangkok
Did you know that you can drive from Bangkok to Chiang Mai? 😯 Drive up north on a truly memorable road trip from Bangkok (personally tried and tested!) and you'll pass through a quaint towns (great for pit stops, extra adventures along the way, or spending a night) before you reach the lovely city of Chiang Mai.
Home to 300 Buddhist temples and breathtaking landscapes, Chiang Mai is filled with impressive sights (hello, Doi Inthanon and Doi Ang Khang), friendly people, delicious food, and night markets with tons of creative finds! Not to mention, unique ceramics from a mere RM3 (20 baht).
16. Nan
Drive duration: 9 hours from Bangkok
While getting our nails done at a night market in Bangkok a few years ago, the local Thai manicurist shared that Nan was her absolute favourite place to travel to in Thailand and it's no wonder why. #truestory
Take your drive through the picturesque green landscapes of Nan and discover rich culture, history, and tradition. Visit the Nan National Museum to learn about the ethnic communities, religious practices, and historical treasures of Nan.
At the Wat Phra That Khao Noi temple, you can admire the the iconic, 9-meter-tall golden Buddha, or visit Wat Phumin, a temple from the 19th century, one of Nan's most fascinating sights, and be mesmerised by the murals that portray daily life there while you're exploring the city!
17. Chiang Rai
Drive duration: 11 hours from Bangkok
After reaching Chiang Mai, you can also continue your way up to Chiang Rai (or book a one day tour from Chiang Mai on Klook), a really, really underrated town located an extra 3 hours away.
Home to the majestic and intricate temples - Wat Rong Khun white temple and Wat Rong Suea Ten blue temple (absolutely gorgeous almost mermaid-y temple to see in person like in the sculpture in the photo above!) - the picturesque Singha Park, our favourite Choui Fong Tea Plantation (best oolong osmanthus tea ever), and the beautiful Doi Tung.
Chiang Rai is full of beautiful sights and great experiences waiting to be discovered!
18. Pai
Drive duration: 11.5 hours from Bangkok
Continue further north from Chiang Rai and you'll find yourself at Pai, a secret hippie gem with a relaxing atmosphere and bohemian vibe. It's absolutely lovely to explore this locale with places like Santichon Village, a Chinese village that looks a little more like a Chinese castle, and Pai Walking Street (plenty of incredible street food and crafty buys!).
Otherwise, simply spend time roaming through the lush rice fields and quaint streets away from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, and be sure to check out the majestic Pai Canyon, known as Thailand's version of the Grand Canyon!
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