Welcome to the guide to fun things to do in Bangkok. We share with you some starkly different and unique experiences in the city.
Obviously, there is the Buddha Statues and temples, night market, Koh San Road, and all the classic stuff. This guide has more than that.
These are the COOL things to do in Bangkok not to miss when visiting Bangkok for 3 days or more.
Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, has loads of fun things to do and offer because of the multi-cultural influences.
From an amazing concoction of cuisines, to incredible architecture, to historic monuments and religious sites to quiet tranquil and surprisingly green retreats in the middle of an urban jungle.
Of course, Bangkok has also many stunning hostels.
We collected the top places to stay at in our best hostels in our Bangkok guide. Your shortcut to the coolest Bangkok Hostels:
- #1 Once Again Hostel – best hostel for solo travelers & couples
- #2 Barn & Bed Hostel – top choice for urban explorers
Here you have our full guide to best hostels in Bangkok with all the details and photos of each hostel.
Here’s our guide to best hostels in Thailand with all top hostels and a map for planning.
Important: Make sure you have your Visa for Thailand sorted out before you. I recommend ivisa.com. A simple way to find out if 1st) you need a visa at all and 2nd) how to get it.
23 Fun things to do in Bangkok
Ready to have some fun? Let’s get this party scooter started.
- Vespa Market
- Rod Fai Market
- The Ghost Tower
- Cabbages and Condoms
- Fight with Dragons (or at least visit the Dragons temple)
- Airplane Graveyard
- Whale watching
- Peppermint Bike Park
- Royal Barge Museum
- Bangkok from a Bike
- Chao Phraya Express Boat
- Surfing in the city!
- Museum of Death and Horror
- Batcat Toy Museum
- Songkran (Water Party time!)
- Snake Farm
- Thai Auto Vintage
- Ticket to Mystery
- Bed Supper Club
- Tuk Tuk Night Tour
- Bangkok Night Tram Tour
- Sub-Zero Ice Skate Club
- Calypso show
- 360 degree view with a drink
As well as
Fun things to do in Bangkok
Let’s start with the fun things in Bangkok city! We hope you like them as much as we do.
1. Vespa Market
In the huge outdoor Chatuchak market there is a Vespa corner where you can find:
- vintage Vespas,
- Volkswagens and
- Austin Minis
and more vintage things for sale.
You can also find automobile merchandise like helmets, quirky T-shirts, used sneakers and modern antiques.
2. Rod Fai Market
Leave the malls to the tourists. You are a traveller!
In this quirky market on State Railway land you can find all sorts of vintage treasure such as clothes, toys, furniture, antiques and collectibles from the Soviet era.
There are also a lot of cocktail stalls and food trucks.
3. The Ghost Tower
Probably one of the absolute unique things to do in Bangkok is the Ghost Tower. Already a great name, right?!
Bangkok’s Sathorn Unique skyscraper, now referred to as “Ghost Tower”, was supposed to become a luxury apartment complex with amazing views of the Chao Phraya River.
The construction was abandoned to the Asia Financial crisis in 1997.
Since then, drug addicts and stray dogs occupy the neglected skyscraper.
However, people climb up for incredible views of the city.
Please remember to be a responsible person, and do not climb to dangerous spots.
Photo by Do You Travel
4. Cabbages and Condoms
Yet again one of the quirky things to do in Bangkok is visiting this restaurant: Cabbages & Condoms!
Cabbages & Condoms is a quirky restaurant with condom inspired décor aimed to educate the Bangkok youth about education and AIDS prevention.
Their motto is condoms should be as easy to buy as cabbages!
It is really unique, and fun to see actually. Oh, and the food is actually good too. Eat here!
5. Fight with Dragons (or at least visit the Dragons temple)
The Wat Samphran Dragon Temple in Bangkok, Thailand is a 16-storey red tower with a statue of a dragon wound around it.
The temple complex consists of smaller temples and many statues inspired by dragons and the Chinese zodiac.
It contains giant Buddha statues, shrines and other artifacts.
Details of the temple and why it was built are nowhere to be found. It is now abandoned, and not on the tourist trail. Have a look on the video below. Pretty mindblowing if you ask me.
Check our map with the exact location of Wat Samphran Dragon Temple, Nakhon Pathom.
https://youtu.be/YN_ki32btsE
6. Airplane Graveyard
If you think after this amazing dragon building, this list goes down from here. think again. We have even more epic things to do in Bangkok up our sleeves.
For instance: This Airplane Graveyard!
Decommissioned planes in a field outside Bangkok have become a somewhat bizarre but yet fascinating place to explore abandoned… aircrafts.
This is a photographers dream, really!
It is not often you have so many former airplanes in one place. Really unique and curious to visit!
I don’t want to spoil anything for you. Below I included a video. If interested, press play.
7. Whale watching
This one was actually surprising to me.
A little away from the city, you can watch whales, specifically Bryde’s whales.
A breed of whales of which only about 20 are known to live in the Gulf of Thailand, in a sustainable manner in their natural environment.
To be fair, if you keep on traveling to South Thailand, I would postpone this experience until you are on the islands.
8. Peppermint Bike Park
If you’re looking to ride a bike amidst nature in the middle of Bangkok’s chaos, then Peppermint Bike Park is the place.
It is more a circuit than a park really.
There is an entrance fee of 200 Baht. You can get the ticket at the entrance. No need to buy anything beforehand.
You can rent a bike here, obviously. You don’t have to own a bike to enjoy this one.
Opening Hours:
- Tuesday – Sunday (11:00 am. – 08:00 pm.)
- Saturday – Sunday, public holiday (07:00 am. – 09:00 pm.)
- (Closed on Monday, except public holiday)
9. Royal Barge Museum
Personally, I am not a museum-kind-of-traveller. I am bored by that – usually.
There is some big exceptions in this world. Museums I really enjoyed such as Palais de Popes in Avignon, France or ABBA Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.
For Bangkok, Royal Barge Museum is really great to visit.
The country’s most unique barges are housed here.
Some of them are still in use and are often elaborately decorated for royal processions and festivals.
You can learn a lot about Thai culture here. Very very curious!
The entrance fee is 100 Baht only. You need to buy an extra ticket for taking photos or videos, for another 100 Baht.
10. Bangkok from a Bike
Discover the quieter side of the city on a bicycle tour.
There is a lot of different bike tours in all styles here. So here’s a list:
- Classical Bicycle Tour (cheapest)
- Historic Highlights: Morning Bike Tour
- Jungle Bike Tour
- Night Bike Tour with Wat Arun & Wat Pho
- Food Adventure by Bicycle
All tours are very different in route and things to see.
The Historic Highlights: Morning Bike Tour will take you and your new cycling friends through back roads and small lanes, past ancient temples and canals all the way to the heart and soul of Bangkok.
11. Chao Phraya Express Boat
Take a ride on the Chao Phraya express boat also known as the water-bus. Watch the scenic life of the locals in the river houses with stilts.
There are various stops along the river that you can explore.
12. Surfing in the city!
Did you know it is possible to learn surfing in the city? Indeed!
Thanks to Flow House Bangkok that offers surfing lesson in the man-made beach environment.
If surfing is not your thing, you can just chill out and eat their amazing spread and watch the pros doing their thing.
Some great surfers come here; and oh boy, that is fun to watch. Impressive stuff!
13. Museum of Death and Horror
The Siriraj Medical Museum also known as the “Museum of Death” is certainly not for the faint-hearted.
Housed in the Siriraj Hospital Complex, it features a number of exhibits depicting the countless diseases and disorders that sometimes end lives.
There are sections with dead bodies of babies, highly preserved body parts and mummified remains.
If you can get past the squeamishness, it is actually highly educational. Truth be told, it is really not my cup of tea. I have seen only photos; that was more than enough, thank you.
This is obviously also not one of the things to do in Bangkok for families.
I won’t put a photo here; no spoiler alert!
14. Batcat Toy Museum
Alright, back to something more pleasant.
The Batcat Toy Museum houses an odd but huge collection of action figures, toys and other knick-knacks.
THAT is one of the cool things to do in Bangkok for families with kids. HURRAY!
You might see something you recognize from pop-culture through the decades. The owner is a huge superheroes fan and has endless toys. Fun to talk with him too!
Photo by Maria.Frska
15. Songkran (Water Party time!)
Thailand’s new year, also called Songkran, is celebrated every year in the second week of April.
The city is in holiday mood and everyone comes out to celebrate by dousing people with cold water on the streets.
Word of advise, do not bring your smartphone if it’s not water resistant. That is a splash of a party!
16. Snake Farm
Slightly odder than the local petting zoo, you can head to the Snake Farm to check out these slithering creatures and learn about different species and anti-venom treatments.
17. Thai Auto Vintage
Thai Auto vintage is a small shop on the outskirts of Bangkok, run by a group of classic car aficionados. It is a must visit for all car enthusiasts.
Spend some time admiring the old restored cars and shopping for odd and rare spare parts.
18. Bed Supper Club
Dinner in bed, anyone?
The Bed Supper Club is an unconventional dining experience where guests can have their cocktails and dinner in bed.
Make reservations before you go as they only have a limited number of beds and they fill out pretty fast.
Things to do in Bangkok at night
Alright, we have covered a bunch of activities to spend at lest 3 days in Bangkok. From now on, here’s ideas for your things to do in Bangkok at night, including nightlife.
19. Tuk Tuk Night Tour
Visit famous and lesser know temples, markets and sample food in the most Thai traditional way… by tuk tuk!
Join this night tuk tuk tour and discover the beauty of Bangkok by night.
A stop to the famous temple Wat Pho is included on this tour.
20. Bangkok Night Tram Tour
The night tram tour takes you on a tram in the old city part of Bangkok, viewing all the important landmarks of the city, and ends with a night of partying in the backpacker paradise Khao San road.
21. Sub-Zero Ice Skate Club
Need a break from the Sizzling Bangkok heat?
Head to Sub-Zero Ice Skate Club to cool off.
This is more than just your average nightclub, complete with artificial snow and snowfall, DJs and a performing team of figure skaters.
22. Calypso show
You might have heard about Transvestites and transsexuals shows in Bangkok, right?
If you are curious, head to the Calypso Cabaret show at the Asiatique riverfront.
Stunning costumes, dances, and laughs are included in the price, as well as a complimentary drink!
EXTRA: 24. 360 degree view with a drink
Wanna have a 360 degrees views of the city?
Baiyoke Sky Hotel is one of Thailand’s Tallest Building. Head to the observation deck on the 77th floor and enjoy a full view of the city.
Then head to the 83rd floor and enjoy a drink. I highly recommend the time before sunset. This way you see the city at day light and when sun sets. Best timing!
Buy your ticket here and receive a complimentary drink.
As for accommodation, read this detailed guide about the coolest hotels in Bangkok here.
On our end, we wrote a guide to best hostels in Bangkok.
Things to know before traveling to Bangkok
First time in Bangkok? There are several things you need to know beforehand.
We love to start with the basic facts of Bangkok city:
1. Capital and most populous city of Thailand
Population: More than 8 Million
Denonyms: Bangkokian
Official language: Thai
Currency: Thai Baht
Climate: tropical
After that, it can be handy to get a first idea of all the different districts of Bangkok and its distribution. Check out the district guide of WikiTravel.
2. Getting around Bangkok
Bangkok is huge, you already know that.
Question is, how to get from A to B? Surprisingly it is quite easy and cheap to get around. The basic option for transport in Bangkok are:
- Tuk Tuk
- Taxi
- Subway
- Boat
- Train
WikiTravel summed up all the options of getting around in Bangkok the easy way. For the city center, we recommend the BTS Skytrain and the MRT Subway:
fast, cheap and well-connected!
Wanna eat out?
A must thing to do when in Bangkok is to try the street food.
Have a look and seat in a street food stall where you see many people, preferably a mix of tourist and locals.
Stalls with many people assure a food turnover. Happy Cow is a handy website to find vegan and vegetarian restaurants all over the world.
Bangkok and Thailand in general is known for its street food culture. But what to try and what should better be skipped?
Here is an introduction to the 18 best street food you should try.
If you are an absolute foodie, you HAVE to watch this video for extreme Thai street food:
Where to stay in Bangkok
Looking for a place to sleep? Bangkok has plenty of options!
From luxury boutique hotels, to cute apartments, and of course amazing hostels.
To find the best hotels in the city, head to booking and filter by score.
Airbnb in Bangkok
There are plenty of cute apartments in Bangkok. Also many horrible apartments with no light and noise!
So make sure you read all the reviews and you avoid the busy areas such as Khao San road.
Actually, when you go just 4 streets away from the busy road, it is quiet.
Start browsing Airbnb here.
Hostels in Bangkok
Here you have the shortcut to the coolest Hostels in Bangkok:
- #1 Once Again Hostel – best hostel for solo travelers & couples
- #2 Barn & Bed Hostel – top choice for urban explorers
Want another option? Here you have our full guide to best hostels in Bangkok with all the details and photos of each hostel.
Summary of 23 Fun Things to do in Bangkok
Surprised to see that Bangkok is loaded with entertaining things to do? This list of 23 Fun things to do in Bangkok is a handy guide for your pocket.
Here you have a map with all the activities mentioned plus the touristy things you should do if you visit Bangkok is 3 days.
You can enjoy Bangkok outside the tourist box.
Do you know any other fun and cool things to do in Bangkok?
We would be happy to hear from you!
And if you are still looking for a place to stay in Bangkok, read our article with the best hostels in Bankgok.
