Things to do
The 12 things to do in Bangkok
Bangkok is a city of contrasts — gilded temples and skyscraper rooftops, street stalls and Michelin restaurants, river barges and BTS trains. These 12 things span the spectrum and define what a 3-4 day Bangkok trip should actually feel like.
Grand Palace + Wat Pho
The royal palace complex with the Emerald Buddha temple, plus the nearby Wat Pho with its 46-metre Reclining Buddha. Two of Thailand’s most important temples, walkable from each other.
- Why do it
- The most iconic temples in Bangkok. Wat Pho is also home to Thailand’s original Thai-massage school — book one after touring.
- How long
- Half day for both
- What it costs
- Grand Palace 500 THB ($14); Wat Pho 300 THB ($8.50)
- When to go
- Pre-9am for crowd avoidance. Both close around 4-5pm. Strict dress code: cover shoulders and knees.
Wat Arun at sunset
Temple of Dawn on the west bank of the Chao Phraya. Climb the central prang for sunset views over the river back to the old city.
- Why do it
- The most photographed temple in Bangkok. The river-ferry crossing (3 THB) from Tha Tien pier is half the experience.
- How long
- 1.5-2 hours
- What it costs
- 100 THB ($3) + 3 THB ferry
- When to go
- 1 hour before sunset. Saturday evenings are crowded; weekdays are calmer.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
15,000 stalls covering 35 acres. The largest market in Asia, organized in 27 sections from antiques to vintage clothing to street food.
- Why do it
- The serious shopping experience in Bangkok. Plan ahead; bring water; expect to get lost.
- How long
- 3-5 hours
- What it costs
- Free entry; food/items vary
- When to go
- Saturday or Sunday only. Morning (9-11am) is coolest; afternoon (1-4pm) is most crowded.
Street food crawl in Chinatown (Yaowarat)
Yaowarat Road transforms after sunset into a street-food parade. Bird’s nest soup, pad see ew, satay, dim sum, mango sticky rice. Walking stomach.
- Why do it
- Bangkok’s most concentrated street-food density. Each stall specializes in 1-2 dishes refined over decades.
- How long
- 2-3 hours
- What it costs
- 30-100 THB ($1-3) per dish
- When to go
- After 6pm when stalls open. Sunday is the most chaotic; Tuesday is the calmest.
Rooftop bar at sunset
Sky Bar at Lebua, Vertigo at Banyan Tree, or Octave at Marriott Sukhumvit. Cocktails 60 floors above the city.
- Why do it
- Bangkok’s skyline is one of Asia’s most underrated. Sunset hits at 6-7pm.
- How long
- 2-3 hours
- What it costs
- 400-800 THB ($12-23) per cocktail
- When to go
- Arrive 30 min before sunset. Dress code: smart-casual, closed-toe shoes for men.
Boat tour through the klong (canal) network
Long-tail boat ride through the canals of Thonburi (west side of the river). See temples, traditional stilt houses, and how Bangkok looked before the city expanded.
- Why do it
- Bangkok was called the Venice of the East for a reason. The klongs are how the city moves traditionally.
- How long
- 1.5-2 hours
- What it costs
- 1,500-2,500 THB ($43-72) for private boat (negotiate)
- When to go
- Morning (8-10am) is best for light; mid-day is hot. Maeklong railway market tour packages combine well.
Thai massage at Wat Pho’s official school
Hour-long Thai massage from students at Wat Pho’s official school. The cheapest serious Thai massage in Bangkok.
- Why do it
- Wat Pho is the historical home of Thai medicine. Massages here are the genuine practice, not the watered-down street version.
- How long
- 1-2 hours
- What it costs
- 260 THB ($7.50) for 30 min Thai massage; 480 THB ($14) for 1 hour
- When to go
- After your Wat Pho visit. Walk-in usually possible; reserve for evening slots.
Day trip to Ayutthaya
Train to the former Siamese capital (sacked 1767). UNESCO-listed temple ruins, the Buddha head in tree roots at Wat Mahathat.
- Why do it
- Thailand’s second-greatest historical site. Easier to reach than Sukhothai.
- How long
- Full day
- What it costs
- 20-300 THB train round-trip; 50-200 THB per temple
- When to go
- November-February for comfortable heat. Hire a bicycle in town for the temple loop. See our day-trips-from-bangkok guide.
Khao San Road (briefly)
The 1990s backpacker street. Banana pancakes, fishbowl cocktails, fake IDs, fire shows. Tourist-only but iconic.
- Why do it
- Touristy but Bangkok-historic. Worth 1-2 hours of observation if not actually drinking.
- How long
- 1-2 hours
- What it costs
- Drinks 80-150 THB ($2-4); meals 80-300 THB
- When to go
- Friday-Saturday evening for peak chaos; daytime for the more relaxed scene.
Asiatique evening market + Ferris wheel
Reformed warehouse district on the Chao Phraya. Shopping, dining, and a Ferris wheel with city skyline views. Free shuttle boat from Sathorn pier.
- Why do it
- Cleaner, calmer alternative to night markets. Best with kids or for a family-friendly evening.
- How long
- 3-4 hours
- What it costs
- Free entry; Ferris wheel 500 THB ($14)
- When to go
- After 6pm. Tuesday-Thursday is quieter.
Modern Thai dining (Gaggan/Sorn/Le Du)
Bangkok has the highest density of top-50-world Asian restaurants. Gaggan’s progressive Indian (closed), Sorn’s southern Thai (3 stars), or Le Du’s modern Thai.
- Why do it
- Bangkok now seriously competes with Tokyo and Singapore at the high end. Bookings 1-2 months ahead.
- How long
- 3-4 hours
- What it costs
- 5,000-15,000 THB ($140-430) per person
- When to go
- Reserve well ahead. Sorn is closed Sunday-Monday.
Morning at Lumpini Park
Bangkok’s Central Park. Tai chi practitioners, joggers, water monitors (yes, real ones, in the lake). Free entry.
- Why do it
- The everyday Bangkok rhythm. A complete contrast to temple-tourism Bangkok.
- How long
- 1-2 hours
- What it costs
- Free
- When to go
- 6-8am for the tai chi sessions and morning cool. Visit the monitor lizards in the lake.