Things To Do In Bangkok

Bangkok Travel Tips

G-Free Travel Rating

6/10

Major Airport

Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK)

Official Language

Thai (most tour guides will know some English)

Currency:

Thai Baht

Power Outlets:

Types A, B, C & O

Voltage is higher = 220V

Eating Gluten Free in Bangkok

With the enormity of Bangkok we dedicated a separate post to eating gluten free whilst traveling through Bangkok. Here we are primarily focusing on things to do while visiting.

Our Top List of Things to do While in Bangkok

One of the most immersive things to do in Bangkok is visiting the temples. With Thailand being 95% Buddhist there are hundreds of temples to explore just in Bangkok. Temples are not just visual spectacles but an integral part of life in Thailand, offering a space for prayer and meditation. Please, when visiting temples dress modestly (long pants and covered shoulders) and remove shoes and hats upon entering. Most of the frequented temples are going to have an entrance fee- Baht only.

Wandering through the temples allows you to observe massive golden structures, intricate mosaics and the peacefulness of their place of worship all whilst dipping your toes into the rich Buddhist traditions. Below are some of the frequently visited temples “wats” in Thai.

Wat Arun

Known as the Temple of Dawn. It is one of the most iconic temples in Bangkok and it sits on the bank of the Chao Phraya River offering a perfect picture at sunset. It is a little bit farther from the other temples because you have to take a ferry across the river.

Entrance Fee = 200 baht/pp
Dress code strictly enforced.

Wat Pho

The Reclining Buddha. It is Thailand’s largest collection of Buddhist figures highlighting the 46-meter long gold-plated Reclining Buddha. The position of Buddha signifies he has reached complete spiritual enlightenment; meaning he is free from all worldly desires. Because it is one of the most ancient temples it has been classified as a first-class royal temple.

Entrance Fee = 300 baht/pp

Wat Phra Kaew

The Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha. Thailand’s most sacred temple houses its most precious religious icon. The Grand Palace constructed over centuries ago was originally constructed out of wood, but as different kings resided there it has evolved into the eclectic architectural style it has now. While the royal family no longer resides at the Grand Palace, other royal ceremonies and official events are still hosted there.

The Emerald Buddha is a statue made out of one solid piece of green jade clothed in gold and diamonds. Interestingly, this Buddha goes through three costume changes throughout the year. Each costume valuing around 3.8 million USD and is performed only by the King of Thailand.

Entrance Fee = 500 Baht
- Can purchase online ahead of time.
Dress code strictly enforced.

Wat Paknam

The Big Buddha. While the temple itself dates back to 1610 the Big Buddha was only finished in 2021. It is a 69-meter tall Buddha seated in a meditation pose.

Entrance Fee = FREE

Wat Traimit

Temple of the Golden Buddha. This temple’s main attraction is a 3 meter tall Buddha made of solid gold. It has an interesting history that dates back to the 13th century but was only recently discovered 65 years ago. Since they were trying to keep it hidden from invading Burmese they had wrapped it in plaster, but when they were moving it to another location in the compound the crane dropped and the plaster cracked revealing the beautiful Golden Buddha.

Entrance Fee = 100 Baht

These are some of the highlights of the temples to explore. Again, there are hundreds of temples in Bangkok and you can immerse yourself however deeply you would like to go. They are very welcoming in sharing their religion. Please be respectful!

King Power MahaNakhon Skywalk

Located in the heart of Bangkok’s central business district this architectural masterpiece is a must-see. It is Bangkok’s tallest building coming in over 1000 feet and offers a rare experience. Because of the modern design of the building they were able to put on a glass tray lookout, where you can look straight down at everything beneath you. Don’t worry if that is too much for you, you can climb to the “peak” were you get unparalleled 360 degree views.

Tickets are required to get to the top. You can book in advance or onsite.
- Tickets for adults are ~$30-35 USD depending on the time of day.
- They accept credit cards as a form of payment.
They offer snack and drinks on the rooftop if you are interested in enjoying the view with a refreshment…not much shade though!

Attend a Muay Thai Fight

Muay Thai is a form of martial art that goes back centuries. It is so effective that the Thai army was trained to utilize this when on battlefields. It became a sport because during downtime from wars little competitions started forming around the country. Known as the “Art of Eight Limbs,” they are able to use hands, elbows, knees and shins. Watching the intensity and quickness of this sport is quite intimidating. We still recommend you catch a fight while there. If you are looking for a show then we recommend heading to Rajadamnern Stadium.

Shopping

The best places to shop are either the Chatuchak Weekend Market for a wide variety of goods at bargain prices or Siam Paragon for high-end luxury shopping. They are complete opposite shopping experiences so it up to you to decide which shopping will meet your needs the best.

Chatuchak Weekend Market: Can easily become an overwhelming shopping experience. It is an outside market with over 15,000 stalls to wander through. One can find an array of goods, clothing, food and plants here. Most places only take cash so be prepared and watch for pick-pocketers.

Siam Paragon: Known as the Pride of Bangkok it has not only luxury shopping and fine dining, but it also houses a theatre, bowling alley, spa AND an aquarium. A whole day can be spent enjoying the activities this mall has to offer.

Get a Thai Massage

I love myself a massage and couldn’t pass up an opportunity to get an infamous traditional Thai massage. While most people go to a massage to feel relax this may not be the case for this technique. Since it focuses on circulation and pressure points the massage therapist will use their whole body to help relieve cramped muscles. They utilize stretching and pulling to help get you to a certain position. No oils are used during a traditional massage.

While we were in Thailand we received numerous massages but I think we would both agree the best one (and most authentic) was in Bangkok at Pai Spa Massage.

Enjoy Unique Forms of Transportation

The forms of transportation in Thailand are endless; one of the more unique ones is the tuk tuk. It is the Thai version of a 3-wheeler. They are nice for going short distances and because they are smaller in size they can weave in and out of traffic and maneuver easily in crowded areas. You do need to be careful when trying to hire a tuk tuk driver because they often over charge tourists. This would have been what happened to us, but we had downloaded the Grab App which told us we could get a ride for more than half the cost of what the tuk tuk was offering. Long story short, we started to walk away and then they accepted our price. Still 40 baht more than what Grab said we could get a ride for; however, we didn’t have to wait and we wanted the experience.

Grab

We definitely recommend you download the Grab app. This helped us a lot throughout our travels in Thailand. You can schedule pick-ups for early morning transfers, order food and, of course, book the typical ride. You can even book a moped Grab if you are adventuresome!

Mopeds

You will definitely see these zigzagging in and out of traffic. It is a convenient way to get around especially if you want to go to a lot of places. Many places rent to tourists throughout Thailand. While they don’t mandate you to wear a helmet we still highly recommend you rent from a company that also rents helmets. Also, Thailand requires you to have an international driving permit. This is not asked for upon rental of the moped.

Other Forms

Bicycling: many places offer tours or hotels offer rentals. Please be cautious while bicycling in heavy trafficked areas.

Canal Boats: Primarily in Bangkok. It is a fast and unique travel experience. It operates similar to a subway where you hop on and off and set stops.

SkyTrain: Only in Bangkok. You need to buy a ticket, which we recommend buying based on the number of days you will be using the skytrain (BTS). It is easy to navigate with stops stated in English.

Longtail Boat: You can ride through the canals of Bangkok or explore the beautiful beaches down by Phuket. This is a traditional wooden boat native to Southeast Asia. It’s most characteristic feature is the long propeller at the back of the boat they use to steer. They are often used to traverse shallow water.

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