Explore the ultimate guide to fun things to do in Bangkok! Discover ancient temples like the Grand Palace, savor world-famous street food, shop at Chatuchak Market, enjoy stunning rooftop bars, cruise the Chao Phraya River, and experience vibrant nightlife. Complete 2025 travel guide with tips & prices!
Thailand’s vivacious capital, Bangkok is a city of contrasts where ancient temples bump up against modern skyscrapers and street vendors sell their wares next to luxury malls. Whether it’s your first time or you have been 10 times, finding stuff to do in Bangkok is not a problem! This ultimate guide will detail the top things to see and do in Bangkok—the very best of what makes this city one of Asia’s most thrilling.
No list of cool things to do in Bangkok would be complete without including the Grand Palace. This impressive group of buildings was home to the kings for over 150 years and is Thailand’s holiest temple. Within lies Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), home to a venerated 66-centimeter jade Buddha figure.
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Close to the Grand Palace, Wat Pho is home to the huge, gold-leaf-covered reclining Buddha that stretches 46 meters long. This temple is also famous for giving birth to traditional Thai massage, and you can receive an original Thai massage at the temple’s prestigious massage school.
Wat Arun, or Temple of the Dawn, across from the Chao Phraya River is one of Bangkok’s most photogenic temples. Hey, don’t forget to climb the little steps up to the central prang for beautiful vistas of both the river and city skyline – especially at sunset.
Exploring Bangkok’s world-famous street food culture — some of the best things to do in Bangkok are eat! The city is host to some of the best and cheapest food in the world.
Each evening Yaowarat Road becomes a feeding frenzy centre for all foodmongers. Tuck into crispy pork belly, freshly caught seafood, mango sticky rice and many of the other Thai delights. Don't miss:
Most famous with the backpacker crowd, Khao San Road has great street food, including pad thai, grilled skewers of meat or banana, fresh fruit shakes and daring snacks such as fried insects.
Bangkok's best market with fresh produce and ready-to-eat food is Or Tor Kor. It’s not as touristy, and you can find authentic Thai flavors at decent prices.
Chatuchak is among the largest weekend markets in the world with more than 15,000 stalls. One of the best shopping things to do in Bangkok, it is your one-stop shop for clothing, handicrafts, antiques, pets, plants — and delicious food.
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It is one of the most famous floating markets in Thailand. Camp vendors offer fresh produce, souvenirs and local food from wooden boats.
A new night market that sells goods, as well as offers an open air buffet and shows all on the Chao Phraya River. With an impressive 1,500 shopping stores and 40 eateries, alongside a great big Ferris wheel which gives fantastic views of the river, Asiatique offers lots of what to do in Bangkok for families.
The capital’s skyline is punctuated with dazzling rooftop bars for awesome views and fancy cocktails.
Sky Bar, known thanks to “The Hangover Part II,” is located 247 meters above the city on the 63rd floor. At an open-air bar, enjoy 360-degree views and a variety of creative cocktails (at premium prices).
Situated on top of the Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit, Octave is a three-level bar with cheaper prices than Sky Bar but no less impressive panorama.
This swank watering-hole provides an experience you’ll never forget: 61 stories up and serving drinks in high style. The outdoor terrace offers panoramic views over the twinkling Bangkok skyline.
Cruising on a river is one of the most fun, relaxing things to do in Bangkok. The Chao Phraya River is the lifeblood of Bangkok, and cruising along it offering us a whole new angle on the city.
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Thailand’s tallest building offers a sky-high observation deck on the 78th floor with a nerve-racking glass floor that you can stand on 314 meters above the street. The 360-degree views are sensational, especially at sunset.
Situated below the Siam Paragon mall, this huge aquarium is one of the biggest in Southeast Asia. Great for families, it has thousands of ocean creatures to ogle over including sharks, rays and penguins.
Get up close to real-life wax replicas of international stars, historical icons and members of Thai royalty at this Party Room Place in Siam Discovery.
A beautiful restored teak house museum displaying the art collection of American entrepreneur Jim Thompson, who was instrumental in reviving Thailand's silk industry. The tranquil teak houses, set amid gardens filled with greenery, are a peaceful escape from the city.
At this modern art museum in the center of Bangkok, see changing exhibitions by Thai and international artists. It’s free to enter so its one of the cheap fun things to do in Bangkok.
You can see excerpts of classical Thai dance and learn about the country’s culture at places like the Sala Rim Naam at the Mandarin Oriental or the Thailand Cultural Centre. The performances highlight intricate costumes and traditions that are hundreds of years old.
The sprawling green oasis in the heart of Bangkok is the city’s largest public park. Rent a paddle boat (or gaze at the monitor lizards), join a free aerobics class or just sit under some trees.
This contemporary-style park has a huge lake lined by walking and cycling paths which attract devoted joggers and cyclists alike. The park has great views of Bangkok in the distance.
This sprawling green space on the opposite side of the Chao Phraya River is a concrete island draped with parks, farms and sleepy hamlets. Rent a bike and follow the elevated paths of tropical foliage.
Although Bangkok is known as the red light capital of Asia, there are lots of different things you can do in the city after dark.
It's the trendy part of town, with bars, nightclubs and live music venues to match. Some favorite places are Levels Club, Insanity Nightclub, and Sing Sing Theater.
RCA is clubbing central in Bangkok and abounds with big, international D.J.-led nightclubs. Always popular are Route 66 and Onyx.
These fancy districts lure Bangkok’s cool crowd, who hang out in chic cocktail bars, craft beer pubs and fashionable restaurants.
Located only 80 kilometers north of Bangkok, Ayutthaya is the former capital which boast naturally spectacular temple ruins from 1350. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a great day trip.
Not as touristy as Damnoen Saduak, Amphawa provides genuine floating market experiences on weekend afternoons and evenings. Pair your visit with a boat tour to see the fireflies.
You can walk around war museums, visit the Bridge over the River Kwai and enjoy Erawan National Park with a beautiful seven-step waterfall.
Classic Thai massage and spa are the most fun things to do in Bangkok for anyone looking for relaxation.
Cheap, professional Thai massage chain. Also a chain – great value Traditional Thai Massage in nice, professional surroundings around Bangkok.
And on the more posh end of the spectrum, Divana offers high-end spa treatments in serene surroundings at several locations.
This one-of-a-kind wellness center in Sukhumvit offers Japanese onsen (hot spring baths) and Thai spa treatments.
Asia’s second largest mall, Siam Paragon features high-end shops, a huge food court, SEA LIFE aquarium and a multi-screen cinema.
This 8-story mega mall is renowned for its inexpensive electronics, clothes and souvenirs. Great Thai food at local prices in the 6th floor food court.
A different city (Paris, Tokyo, London — you get the idea) occupies each floor, so shopping is fun. The Pier 21 food court serves an array of international and Thai dishes.
One of the best fun things to do in Bangkok, but also very useful, is taking a cooking class which allows you to take home Thai flavors with ease.
In a 100-year-old house, this school provides half-day and full-day classes that begin with market tours.
There you will find authentic Thai cooking lessons at Baipai, which is set in a tropical garden and looks absolutely idyllic.
This hands-on city for children allows kids to experience almost a-hundred occupations in an entertaining educational environment at Siam Paragon.
The best fun park and water based theme park in Bangkok with amusement rides, water slides and family entertainment.
This public zoo and marine park offering drive-through safari zones & animal shows.
Bangkok has those who want to sightsee covered, as well as those looking to party up a storm or just simply rest and relax. Thailand’s capital has it all, from majestic temples, to mouthwatering street food, grand palaces and even rooftop bars perched on high-rise buildings. Just flip around this city and its world of contrasts and paradoxes, take half famous landmarks – half “you are now only human if” discoveries; and you’ll believe that Bangkok according to rankings is most visited cities in the world.
So book your trip to Bangkok now and get ready for the best experience of your life. The City of Angels eagerly awaits you with its own juxtaposition of old world charm and new world madness, softly whispering in your consciousness as a relic occasionally lost yet always found.
Ready to explore? Bangkok’s countless things-to-do are beckoning you!
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