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15 Top Things to Do in Bangkok: A Guide to the City’s Best Attractions
Bangkok is a vibrant and exciting city that’s filled with fascinating history, stunning architecture, delicious food, and plenty of opportunities for adventure. In this guide, we’ll take you through the 15 top things to do in Bangkok, so you can make the most of your time in this amazing city.
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Where to Stay in Bangkok
Bangkok is a huge city with 50 districts, so you will find countless hotels for every budget. As a backpacker, we recommend the districts of Phra Nakhon and Watthana. The former is the central district, which also includes the old city of Bangkok. In the Watthana district, you should book your accommodation at or near Thanon Sukhumvit (Sukhumvit Street). Both are major business districts and have many tourist destinations and unique nightlife.
We have some recommendations for you for which you will get great value for money! In the Old Town where most of the classic sights are located, we can recommend the Chern Hostel. It’s only a 15-minute walk to the Khaosan Road or the Grand Palace. It also has a pool which you’ll definitely need as it can get extremely hot in Bangkok. We paid around 22/24$€ per night for a double room.
In Sukhumvit, the modern part of Bangkok where all the shopping malls or Lumphini Park is located, we can recommend the Tints of Blue Hotel. It has a great infinity pool and the metro station Asok and the infamous Soi Cowboy is just right next to it.
We didn’t stay at Hotel Ordinary Bangkok but friends of ours did and were happy with it. It’s around 20/22$€ per night for a double room. If you’re looking for a clean and well-located hostel, Lub d Siam Bangkok is a good choice.
Also, Bangkok has some of the best street food options in the world. Learn more about the must-try Thai dishes here.
How to get around
The most convenient way to get around Bangkok is by BTS Skytrain, MRT Subway, or taxi. Tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis are also available, but they can be more expensive and less reliable. We can recommend buying a local sim card and downloading Indrive and Bold. These apps are cheaper than regular taxis or Grab. Also, you can use the prices you get there to negotiate with the Tuktuk drivers.
The cheapest way to get around Bangkok is via bus. Using the Google Maps app, you can enter your current location and your desired destination, then click on the bus icon, and the next bus stop, the number of available buses and the route will be displayed. As soon as you want to get off, you have to give the bus driver a sign, only then will he stop at the bus stop.
1. Visit the Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
This huge palace complex is the most impressive sight to visit in Bangkok. We recommend yoou plan about 60-90 minutes for your visit, because it is so big. But it is truly stunning, and best seen in the morning when queues are smaller and it’s not so hot.
From 1782 to 1946 it was the residence of the kings of Siam (now Thailand). Now it is still home to some of the most iconic buildings in Bangkok, including the famous Temple of the Emerald Buddha (which, however, was made of jade), one of Thailand’s most revered religious icons. The admission fee is 500 Baht (13,40€/15$). „Wat“ means „temple“ in Thai and we promise you this will only be the first of many on your Thailand trip.
For all of them, you have to dress respectfully, which means covering your shoulders and wearing long pants. Most of the time a scarf is a good option to bring. But not at the Grand Palace! You need real shirts that cover your shoulders and long pants to cover the knees. Kevin was wearing shorts and tried to cover with our Sarong, but he had to buy long pants at the entrance.
Beware of a very popular tourist scam: when walking towards the Grand Palace, a lot of „guides“ will tell you that it’s closed today and you don’t need to go there. Then they will try to sell you a tuk-tuk tour through the city with them or with a friend which is crazily overpriced. So, just don’t believe them and walk by to the Grand Palace!
2. Explore Wat Pho
This ancient temple is known for its giant (46m long and 15 high) reclining Buddha statue, as well as its beautiful architecture and peaceful atmosphere. It’s open from 8 am until 6.30 pm and the admission fee is 200 Baht. It is one of Bangkok’s oldest temples and should definitely be on your list! You can connect the visit to Wat Pho with a visit to the Grand Palace as they are right next to each other.
3. Visit Wat Arun
Known as the Temple of Dawn, this stunning temple is one of the most iconic landmarks in Bangkok, with its intricate spires and stunning riverfront location. The entrance fee is 100 Baht (2,80€/3$) including a small water. If you’re coming from the city side (so the opposite side of the temple) go to the Tah Tian pier and take the boat for only 5 Baht (20 cents).
Insider tip: Go there at 8 am when it’s open. We were among the first ones inside and had this iconic temple for over half an hour for ourselves.
Another idea is to go for sunset, but it will be more crowded. You can visit the temple at around 5 pm, spend some time here, and then cross over to the other side of the river where you can witness the most magical experience. The sun will go down right behind it and will cover Wat Arun in the most amazing colors. A good place to go would be Vivi – The Coffee Place. Or you catch a table at the Supanniga Eating Room for a romantic dinner – be sure to make your reservation in advance!
4. Experience the nightlife on Khao San Road
This famous street is a hub of backpacker activity, with lively bars, restaurants, and street performers. The 400-meter-long road is located in the Phra Nakhon district and no matter what you are looking for, chances are high you will find it on Khao San Road. Try some bugs, scorpions, or simply a delicious Pad Thai. For food, we recommend heading to neighboring Rambuttri. Cross the road at the top of Rambuttri (toward Madame Musur) to find quieter spots to eat. Come back later to Khaosan for late-night chaos and get lost in the roaring bars of the Khao San Road. Have fun and party all night here with tourists and locals!
5. Take a boat tour of the Chao Phraya River
Did you know that Bangkok used to be called „Venice of the east“? Trade and transport was only done by boat, and there were many more canals than today. Way back when Ayutthaya was the capital it was surrounded by a huge moat to protect the city from the Burmese. A bunch of canals were filled in over a long time to create roads so now you will more likely think about Bangkok and its bad traffic in the streets than its canals.
So explore Bangkok from a different perspective by taking a scenic boat tour of the city’s main river: the Chao Phraya River. But instead of booking a whole tour, you can just do it like the locals. Go to one of the piers and buy a public transportation ticket for 30 Baht (0,80€/0,90$). Good central starting points are the Tha Maharaj Pier or the Tha Chang Pier. Many stops are close to attractions.
6. Stroll through the (Night) Markets
With over 10,000 stalls selling everything from clothing to souvenirs, Chatuchak is the world’s largest weekend market. Pathpong is one of the most famous night markets happening every evening. Our favorite is Jodd Fairs. It’s located between the skyscrapers and has a more modern look. You will not only find good food for cheap prices there but also a lot of cheap clothes stalls and souvenirs.
7. Try street food at Chinatown
Bangkok’s Chinatown is a foodie’s paradise, with an array of delicious street food stalls and restaurants serving up Chinese and Thai specialties. It’s one of the biggest Chinatowns in the world and you have to add it to your Bangkok bucket list. We came over on a busy night and loved all the buzzing little stalls. We filled ourselves up with only 10€ and had fun trying all the different street foods. The weirdest discovery we made: the Thais love chestnuts!
8. Relax in Lumpini Park
This tranquil park in the heart of the city is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and enjoy some greenery and fresh air. Lumpini Park is the largest one in the center at 360 rai (576,000 m²) and is located in the Pathum Wan district. There’s a high chance you will spot some warans here. Or you can just watch the locals following their workouts from Tai Chi to Aerobics.
Alternatively, go to Benjakitti Park. It’s a bit more in the eastern part of the city but we only heard great things about it. There’s also a skywalk which should be worth a visit!
9. Have a Drink at a Rooftop Bars
Bangkok has plenty of stunning rooftop bars which have amazing views over the whole city. They’re not only famous since Hangover 2, but became quite hyped with the help of the movie. If you want to go to the exact same bar, you must go to Sky Bar on the 63rd floor of the Lebua State Tower.
Other famous bars are the Above Eleven, Vertigo and Moon Sky Bar, Octave Rooftop Lounge and Bar, and the Red Sky Restaurant and Bar. The drinks will be more expensive but the views will be worth it!
10. Enjoy a Sunset at the Golden Mount Temple
One of our favorite temples in Bangkok so far and not so crowded as others. The Golden Mount temple, also known as Wat Saket is located close to the city center. The entrance fee just was increased to 100 Baht (2,80€/3$) but it’s still worth it. It is on a 77m high hill where you have a nice view over the city.
Insider tip: go to the temple at dusk. It’s not so hot anymore and you can enjoy the beautiful sunset over Bangkok. It closes at 7 pm but the sun usually sets around 6.30 pm, so you’ll have enough time and there’s no need to rush.
11. Shop at the Huge Malls
As usual in Asia, the capital of Thailand also has many large shopping centers to offer. It’s fun to visit the shopping malls in bigger cities. Especially because you have the opportunity to discover many different restaurants in the food courts. For us, it was also a great way to cool down a little, cause we visited Bangkok in April (the hottest month of the year). But if you wanna stay inside longer maybe bring some clothes because it’s freezing sometimes.
In the MBK Center, you can find everything, just everything. But please be careful, there are a lot of fake goods sold here for exorbitant prices.
In centralwOrld, on the other hand, you will find a large number of brand stores. We spent 6 hours there and didn’t even see half of it. In front of this mall, you can find another famous sight: The Erawan Shrine. This Hindu shrine is famous for its powerful spiritual energy and its reputation for bringing good luck and fortune to those who visit.
Other famous malls are the Siam Center, Siam Paragon, Siam Square One, and Terminal 21 (all around the Sukhumvit area). Terminal 21 is known for having the best and cheapest food court.
On the other side of the city, there is the modern ICONSIAM. This one is our favorite. It has an indoor waterfall on the 6th floor and a nice terrace on the 7th floor where you can overlook the city for free. And there is a free light show at 6.30 pm and 8 pm every day.
12.-15. What we missed but you shouldn't
We didn’t manage to get to these sights but it’s high on our list for our next visit to Bangkok:
Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen is famous for its 69-meter-tall, golden Buddha statue. The construction of the biggest Buddha statue in Bangkok started in 2019 and took til 2022 to finish. It’s definitely worth 15-20 min. ride out of the city center to Thonburi. You could take MRT to Bang Phai MRT station and walk to Wat Paknam. It is worth walking up the stairs in the Chedi behind him. There you will find a Chedi in emerald green and have a 360-degree panoramic view of the city.
Wat Samphran, better known as the Dragon Temple, is located 40 kilometers west of Bangkok. You can go there by public transportation which will take longer (2 hours) or grab a taxi, Indrive or Bold. The second alternative will cost you around 300-400 baht oneway. It is a 17-story dragon tower that extends 80 meters into the sky. It is open from 6 am to 6 pm and there is no entrance fee!
We also wanted to go to the Manahakhon Sky Walk. It is Thailand’s highest observation deck at 314 meters and offers 360-degree panoramic views from an indoor and outdoor viewing area. It’s not a cheap option to see the city as it costs 880 Baht (23,50€/25$) at day time or 1080 (28,80€/30$) Baht for sunset.
Bonus one:
It’s not Bangkok directly, but please consider a day trip to Ayutthaya. You don’t need to book a tour for that. Just go by train from Bangkok’s main station as it runs frequently and costs only 30 BHT per person each way. Check the train schedule in advance as the times aren’t perfect. It takes about 2 hours on the slow train and it can get pretty hot (no AC). Once in Ayutthaya, it is best to rent a bike after you crossed the river. The historical center is not that big (4km by 2km) so you can easily bike around and see all the sights.
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