Going Awesome Places

Detailed itineraries + travel guides

  • Destinations
  • Itineraries
  • Guides
  • Packing
  • Travel Blog
    • Travel Tips
    • Travel Hacking
    • Travel Gear & Tech
  • Deals
  • Toolbox

Top 10 Things to Do in Bangkok, Thailand

Last Updated August 23, 2022 William Tang

You are here: Home » Attractions & Experiences » Top 10 Things to Do in Bangkok, Thailand

Share6
Tweet
Pin9
Email
More
15 Shares
This article may contain affiliate links where we make a small commission for purchases you make from links that you click from this article. For more details, read the disclosure page.

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and as much as it is a big city, it's a crazy mish-mash of cosmopolitan, intensely rooted culture, shopping heaven, tourist treasure and culinary surprise.  It's fast-paced and wild and the perfect place to start your adventures in Thailand.

Let's jump right into my top 10 things to do in Bangkok.

Read more about Thailand

  • Review of Conrad Koh Samui
  • 8 cities you have to visit before you die
  • 5 reasons why you need to visit Chiang Rai
  • Our Best Asia Content

How to find the best travel deals?

  • Hottest deals – Bookmark the frequently updated travel deals page.
  • Car rentals – Save the most money through car rental coupon codes.
  • Hotels – Use corporate codes or get Genius 2 tier with Booking.
  • Flights – Have you ever heard of the “Everywhere” feature?
  • Insurance – Make sure you're covered for all of your adventure activities with the best travel insurance.

Here's what we're covering:

  • The best 10 things to do in Bangkok
    • #10 – Chinatown
    • #9 – Golden Mount
    • #8 – Siam Paragon
    • #7 – Wat Po Massage School
    • #6 – Rooftop Bars
    • #5 – Chatuchak Weekend Market
    • #4 – Khao San Road
    • #3 – Wat Arun
    • #2 – Wat Pho
    • #1 – Grand Palace

The best 10 things to do in Bangkok

#10 – Chinatown

top 10 things to do in bangkok chinatown

Chinatown is bustling with activity and more importantly a lot of cheap local eats.  There are a lot of hidden treasures here including food stands on the streets.  Don't be deceived, you don't necessarily come down for the Chinese food but for some awesome Thai food.

#9 – Golden Mount

golden mount in bangkok

The sad part of this is that I never got to go up to the top of the Golden Mount because they close quite early but the views from here are supposed to be amazing.  The temple itself is also quite unique, nestled atop a hill in the middle of the city which is what gives its commanding view of the city.

#8 – Siam Paragon

siam paragon shopping mall in bangkok thailand

Bangkok is also big into shopping and the Siam Paragon is one of the newest ones of the bunch on the main drag of Sukhumvit.  There are a ton of shops here if you're into that.  If you just want to check it out, I'd recommend heading down to the basement like I did to grab food in the food court.  Lots of food surprises here!

#7 – Wat Po Massage School

wat po massage school in must-do things in bangkok

I found out about this one through the guide books and for something supposedly very popular, it is pretty damn hard to find.  The maps I had were completely useless and it was pretty difficult to explain to the locals where you wanted to go because they'd think you're talking about Wat Pho or any sort of random massage place.   We eventually did find it, in one of the small alleyways and true to the reviews, I was able to get an authentic Thai massage that was no frills.  Prices are cheap, surroundings aren't the most luxurious but they get the job done there!

#6 – Rooftop Bars

bangkok rooftop bars

Something I was really excited about heading into Bangkok was checking out one of their many rooftop bars.  There are quite a few to choose from including Sky Bar at Sirocco and Moon Bar at the Banyan Tree Hotel.  We ended up picking the Moon Bar because a lot of reviews said it was less touristy as Sky Bar and there was a good chance to just sit down, enjoy a drink and some nuts.  We did just that and took in the incredible view from the top.  Loved it!

#5 – Chatuchak Weekend Market

chatuchak weekend market

This is a little dependent on if you're in Bangkok for the weekend but if you are, this is something not to be missed.  It's a crazy market that you can pretty much call a flea market on steroids.  The amount of space this market covers is just incredible.  Even though we spent half a day there, I think we must've only seen half of the market.  Lots of knick knacks to buy, food and drinks to get and of course lots and lots of clothes.

#4 – Khao San Road

khao san road in best things to do in bangkok

A trip to Bangkok just wouldn't be complete without a visit to the well-known backpacker street of Khao San.  If you need any sort of touristy souvenirs this is the place to get it.  If you want to find a cheap place for drinks and to party, this is the place to be.  If you want to meet other backpackers and travellers on the road, you won't find them any more concentrated than here.  This place livens up at night and is just packed with energy.  I had a fun time just roaming around through these streets, checking out the stores and trying out various food.

#3 – Wat Arun

wat arun temple is must-visit in bangkok

Across the Chao Phraya river, Wat Arun is just a ferry ride away.  There are a ton of temples to see in Bangkok but I would say this one is pretty unique.  There's a steep climb to the mid level of the temple but even a vertically challenged guy like me was able to handle it.  There are lovely views from the top and overall is quite different from the other temples as it is almost fully outdoors and centered around the main tower that you see.

#2 – Wat Pho

wat pho reclining buddah is second on list of top things to do in bangkok

Who am I kidding, this one is pretty damn cool.  Most of the time you see Buddha's in a very serious, cross legged position but the Buddha in Wat Pho is fully reclining and chilling.  We opted to get a guide for this temple and had a blast with him even though he was quite a bit eccentric, strange and we only understood half of what he said.  Lots of history here and quite a few more buildings outside of the reclining Buddha.

#1 – Grand Palace

top place to visit in bangkok is the grand palace

The grand daddy of them all which is probably why it's called the Grand Palace.  If you're to pick only one temple to go to in Bangkok, this is undeniably the one you should go to.  Plan at least a half a day here and I would recommend going in the morning to try to beat a bit of the tourist rush.  it feels like this is the cultural center of all of Thailand in some ways because there are so many different religious buildings and artifacts here that span several ages.  It's a lot to take in and a lot to see.  There's also…a lot of gold here!


What are your favourite parts of Bangkok that you'd add to the list?

What you should read next

  • Things To Do in Grand Rapids – A 4 Day Adventure Itinerary
  • Bangkok Airways Discovery Airpass
  • 8 Great Cities Everyone Should Visit Before They Die
  • 5 Reasons You Need to Visit Chiang Rai, Thailand
  • Top Things to Do in NYC
Share6
Tweet
Pin9
Email
More
15 Shares

Filed Under: Attractions & Experiences 17 Comments

About William Tang

William is the Chief of Awesome at Going Awesome Places which is focused on off-the-beaten-path, outdoor adventure, and experiential travel. His true passion lies in telling stories, inspiring others to travel, writing detailed trip itineraries to help others plan their own trips, and providing helpful tips and tricks to guide readers to travel better. He is based in Toronto, Canada but you'll find him on the road more often than not. Make sure to learn more about William to find out his story and how Going Awesome Places started.

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. ActivityFan says

    March 8, 2017 at 12:12 AM

    Great post!

    I’d pick Grand Palace and Chatuchak Market as my top two. Both of these places need at least half a day each and it is worth it!

    I had some unpleasant experience in Grand Palace where some people told us that we couldn’t get in because they were praying or something – it was a lie! Then, they offered us to a river boat trip to kill some times and asked for such a high price. So be careful people, always go the official staff or information centre.

    Reply
    • Will Tang says

      March 9, 2017 at 7:29 PM

      Oh man I hate it when stuff like that happens when travelling. Always be careful of scams so be alert!!

      Reply
  2. Hester @ Flying Dutchgirl says

    December 8, 2014 at 9:25 AM

    This is a great list that will come in handy in 3 weeks! Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Will Tang says

      December 8, 2014 at 3:17 PM

      So excited for you! Where else you headed to in Thailand?

      Reply
  3. Graham Franklin says

    December 1, 2014 at 12:23 PM

    Terminal 21 mall for some tasty and cheap food in the food hall, 50 baht for green curry fried rice and a coke!

    Reply
    • Will Tang says

      December 1, 2014 at 12:57 PM

      Ah good recommendation! 50 baht is a steal :)

      Reply
  4. A.N Rajah says

    September 15, 2014 at 10:41 PM

    Would I be able to use Canadian credit cards without problem? How about ATM withdrawal from debit card or credit card? I am also going to Japan and I read about blog post that only works in 7-11 stores.

    Reply
    • Will Tang says

      September 16, 2014 at 10:26 AM

      In Bangkok, at the big established places you’d be able to use a Canadian CC with no problems. That being said, most local and smaller places will only take cash so definitely had a good amount of cash on hand. For example a market like Chatuchak will only take cash.

      ATM withdrawal wise, I would only use a debit card but yes that is possible as well. Don’t withdraw with your CC as you’re going to get charged big time vs the debit card.

      And as for Japan yes, 7-11 was the only place we could find that would allow us to do a debit card withdrawal.

      Reply
  5. A.N Rajah says

    September 15, 2014 at 9:07 PM

    Going to Thailand in two months and will use your list.

    Reply
    • Will Tang says

      September 15, 2014 at 9:18 PM

      Awesome! Let me know if you have any other questions!

      Reply
  6. the roaming coconuts says

    November 11, 2013 at 6:17 AM

    I’m headed to Bangkok in a couple of days and have been a bunch of times before, but never to Chinatown! Will have to check it out, thanks for the tip!

    Reply
  7. Mags says

    October 21, 2013 at 4:47 PM

    Thailand looks amazing! It’s definitely on my short list of destinations. I hope to make it their early next year! Thanks for the tips.

    Reply
    • psyched says

      October 26, 2013 at 5:02 PM

      Thanks for the comments Mags! Hopefully you’ll get to go soon :)

      Reply
  8. Ryan says

    October 2, 2013 at 10:00 AM

    thanks for sharing the details WIll! Knocked off 4 of your top 10 in one day (Wat Pho, Massage, Chinatown, Kao San Road). We rode a tuk tuk for 100 baht from KSR to Chinatown. Money well spent because there was tons of traffic and was a long ride!

    Reply
    • psyched says

      October 2, 2013 at 2:04 PM

      That’s awesome to hear bud! Sounds like you’re having a blast :)

      Reply
  9. Ankita says

    September 26, 2013 at 3:22 PM

    Love Chatuchak for some shopping…although I wish one didn’t have to haggle so much. Part of the experience though :). Great Blog Will! Keep the posts coming.

    Cheers,
    Ankita
    https://living-n-escaping.blogspot.in/

    Reply
    • psyched says

      September 26, 2013 at 3:26 PM

      Thanks for the shout out! :)

      I agree…I definitely had to haggle quite abit at the market but it was part of the fun!

      I will say that I was there in the summer and it’s crazy hot in the market.

      Reply

author will tang going awesome places profile photoHey, my name is Will and I'm here to help you travel to some awesome places around the world and my home country of Canada by providing insanely detailed itineraries, travel guides, and packing lists.

More about me

JOIN TO BE AN INSIDER

Get access to the ultimate packing list, bonus itinerary content, exclusive deals, monthly newsletters, weekly flight deals, and more!

POPULAR POSTS

10 Breathtaking Activities to Do In Maui Without a Car10 Breathtaking Activities to Do In Maui Without a Car1K Total Shares
6 Day Smoky Mountains Itinerary – 2 States, One Grand Adventure6 Day Smoky Mountains Itinerary – 2 States, One Grand Adventure549 Total Shares
When Is The Best Time To Go To Iceland?When Is The Best Time To Go To Iceland?313 Total Shares
Must-Read Guide to Visiting Hawaii for the First TimeMust-Read Guide to Visiting Hawaii for the First Time299 Total Shares
7 Essential Apps for Iceland in 20237 Essential Apps for Iceland in 2023229 Total Shares
The Perfect 2 Day Oxford County Cheese Trail ItineraryThe Perfect 2 Day Oxford County Cheese Trail Itinerary219 Total Shares

Everything I use to travel and link to my travel toolbox

Where do you want to go travel to next? Find your destination

The best travel deals with Going Awesome Places

Learn how to start a travel blog

Find us on social media

YouTube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Twitter
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Work With Us

Copyright © 2023 · Privacy Policy · Disclosure Policy · Accessibility