There is certainly no shortage of things to do in Bangkok.
This thriving metropolis has countless activities and tours to be experienced, but when put on the spot it’s often difficult to think outside of the common Grand Palace and MBK shopping mall days out (1).
At one time it seemed like every month I’d have family or friends visiting; some coming for the third, fourth or even fifth time. This meant I had to get more creative with suggestions of things to do.
So in this post I’ve listed 25 ideas for trips and activities in Bangkok, spanning a range of ideas and prices to help get the most out of your trip and see as much as possible.
BTW, I've thrown in a few free options to my list too 🙂
1. Floating Markets & Bridge on the River Kwai Tour
Activity type: Local Culture
Duration: Day trip
Price estimation: €61 / $67 / £51
Trip Overview:
This combined trip takes you on a cruise through the Floating Markets, with a visit to the Bridge on the River Kwai.
With a pickup and drop-off from your hotel included, you'll be driven through salt fields and rice paddies and on to the connecting speedboat that takes you to the famous Floating Markets.
After that, it’s onto the coach to the notorious bridge on the River Kwai and a tour of the nearby war museum that details the bridge's construction.
Trip Highlights:
- Local boat ride with tour guide (optional).
- Delicious Thai lunch.
- Historic tour that takes you back in time to revisit an important place in history.
2. Ayutthaya Temples River Cruise Day Trip
Activity type: Arts & Culture
Duration: Day trip
Price estimation: €46 / $51 / £38
Trip Overview:
Approximately 50 miles north of Bangkok lay the beautiful ancient temples of Ayutthaya. This tour will take you down the Chao Phraya River on a river cruise to see these incredible temples and ruins close-up.
Highlights include:
- Visit the temples of Wat Phra Sanphet, Wat Mongkhon Bophit, Wat Panangcherng and Wat Chai Mongkol.
- Stunning famous bronze statue of the reclining Buddha.
- Experience the gorgeous multicultural architecture of King Rama IV’s summer Palace.
3. Classical Thai Dance & Dine
Activity type: Gastronomy
Duration: Evening trip
Price estimation: €16 / $17 / £13
Trip Overview:
Enjoy delicious Thai cuisine while you watch the grace and beauty of traditional Thai dancers. Performances will include mystical dances based on stories from classical Thai literature and folklore.
Highlights include:
- See traditional, colorful costumes that provide a perfect opportunity for photos.
- Taste delicious traditional Thai dishes.
- Watch a 6-act show of classical and folk Thai dance.
4. Khao Yai National Park Day Excursion
Activity type: Adventure
Duration: Day trip
Price estimation: €80 / $88 / £68
Trip Overview:
Embark on an adventure beyond the streets of Bangkok to the lush green forest of Khao Yai – a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site (2).
Put on a traditional farmer's hat and take an ox-cart ride with epic views of the sprawling green forests and jaw-dropping mountains.
Highlights include:
- A full day exploring Khao Yai National Park’s flora and fauna.
- See wild elephants in the forest.
- Dine on delicious Thai lunch served in a Thai-style wooden home.
5. The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew Private Tour
Activity type: Arts & Culture
Duration: 3 hours
Price estimation: €46 / $51 / £38
Trip Overview:
See the many attractions and beauty of the Grand Palace, with a private tour that includes Wat Phra Keow (Temple of the Emerald Buddha).
Get an insight on what to expect with a few of my choice pictures of the Palace here.
Highlights include:
- Visit the most scared Buddhist temple in Thailand.
- See the Emerald Buddha, carved from Jade.
- Witness breath-taking architecture you'll never forget.
6. See the City by Skytrain, Boat & Tuk Tuk
Activity type: Outdoor Excursion
Duration: Usually 4 hours
Price estimation: €68/ $75/£57
Trip Overview:
Travel like the locals do, by BTS Skytrain, boat and the infamous ‘tuk-tuk', on a half-day sightseeing tour round Bangkok.
Visit some of Bangkok's most famous sights on this fun tour, which includes a couple of itineraries to choose from.
Highlights include:
- See the reclining Buddha and Wat Pho Thieves market.
- Walk around the colorful flower market of Dheves.
- Visit Jim Thompson's house (the American who revive Thailand's silk industry, but then died in mysterious circumstances).
7. ‘Venice of the East' – The Khlongs of Thonburi
Activity type: Outdoor Excursion
Duration: Hourly trips
Price estimation: €11/ $12 / £9
Trip Overview:
Experience how people of the past lived in Bangkok by traditional Thai boat. See the stilted shacks, old wooden townhouses and dilapidated lean-tos.
Highlights include:
- Take a peak back in time at the vintage teak homes.
- See the saffron-robed monks of the khlongs.
- See local flora such as morning glory and water hyacinth growing by the canals.
8. Visit Chinatown + Night Market (includes dinner)
Activity type: Culture & Gastronomy
Duration: Approx 5 hours
Price estimation: (For private tours) €45 / $50 / £38
Trip Overview:
Discover Bangkok’s historic Chinatown: Browse hundreds of street stalls, stop for a coffee at a 100 year-old cafe, and then rest your feet while enjoying Thai and Chinese foods.
Highlights include:
- See flower markets awash with all sorts of blooms in as many colours of the rainbow.
- Sip a brew in the 100-year-old café.
- Tuck into the many different flavours of food available in Bangkok's Chinatown.
9. An Evening at Bangkok's #1 Cabaret Show
Activity type: Arts & Entertainment
Duration: 1 hour
Price estimation: €35 / $39 / £30
Trip Overview:
Spend an evening at the famous Calypso Theatre and enjoy an hour-long live performance that showcases the best of Thailand’s transgender performers.
The Calypso Cabaret Show started over 25 years ago and has evolved into a grade-A family-friendly cabaret entertainment, with a unique Thai flair
Highlights include:
- 90-minute cabaret show at the Calypso Theatre.
- Witness this glittery show featuring Thai transgender performers.
- See traditional geisha dances and Marilyn Monroe impersonations!
10. Visit the Rose Garden Cultural Centre
Activity type: Cultural tour
Duration: Day trip
Price estimation: €61 / $67 / £51
Trip Overview:
Your journey commences with a leisurely drive out of Bangkok, passing through salt fields and rice paddies before embarking your long tail speed-boat to Damnoen Saduak floating markets.
It's then off to The Rose Garden Cultural Center by coach, where you will see local Thai villagers creating traditional village handicrafts: pottery-making, umbrella-painting, Khon mask masking, mat weaving, doll making, fruit carving, garland-making, rice-pounding and even the delicate crafting of silver and laquerware.
Highlights include:
- 70-acre botanical garden.
- Thai village and cultural learning centre
- Authentic Thai spas.
11. Bangkok Canals Tour
Activity type: Cultural Tour
Duration: Morning trip
Price estimation: Unlimited day travel €24 / $26 / £19
Trip Overview:
Wake up early before the sun gets too hot and journey through Bangkok's canals. Get a taste of a bygone era when much of the city life revolved around the river and its network of canals.
You'll be surprised at how different the city looks from the waterways, and how quickly you seem to be in the countryside.
- Pass by the Wat Arun, one of the city's earliest temples.
- See how locals live along the canal-side.
- Spot big monitor lizards basking in the morning sun.
12. Muay Thai Kickboxing
Activity type: Sports (spectator)
Duration: Day trip
Price estimation: €88 / $90 / £68
Trip Overview:
Thai boxing is known as the art of 8 limbs. Fists, feet, knees, and elbows are used as weapons to overcome the opponent.
Witness this 500-year-old traditional Thai sport at ringside during your trip. This evening trip with VIP seats is a must for any sporting enthusiast traveling to Thailand.
Highlights include:
- Watch the fascinating ‘Wai Kru’ dance performed by each fighter before each bout to pay respect to their respective teachers.
- Options to train and learn Muay Thai! (prices vary).
- Watch at the world famous Lumpini and Rachadamree Stadiums.
13. Thailand-Burma Railway Museum
Activity type: Historical Tour
Duration: Day trip
Price estimation: €59 / $63 /£48
Trip Overview:
This museum tells the heart-chilling story of the POW's who built this famous railway, a story that has been passed down through generations and lives on as a prominent story from WW2.
This full day guided tour from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi also includes the opportunity to ride a local train.
Highlights include:
- Deep insights to the hardships and tragedies that men and women endured during the construction of the Death Railway.
- Air conditioned museum, with toilets and coffee shop.
- Bookshop that caters to English language readers.
14. Kanchanaburi War Cemetery: Allied Prisoners of WWII
Activity type: Historical Tour
Duration: Day trip
Price estimation: Free
Trip Overview:
For those interested in history, the Kanchanaburi war cemetery is an important place to visit. It's free to get in, but best when combined with a trip heading north from Bangkok — as to do it in a day would be a long haul (4 hours there, 4 hours back).
A smart move would be to see if you can fit this in with the above trip to the railway museum.
Highlights include:
- An excellent way to understanding the history of the Second World War in Thailand.
- Open Monday – Friday.
- Best experienced as part of a wider trip from Bangkok.
15. Cycling Tour: Bangkok to Phuket
Activity type: Sports
Duration: 10 days
Price estimation: €1,897 / $1,448 / £1,105
Trip Overview:
The tour is on predominately flat roads with a few rolling hill sections and minimal steep climbs. This 850 kilometer ride from Bangkok to Phuket is a high performance excursion with just a one rest day from the saddle. Vehicle transfers are always available if the saddle gets too uncomfortable.
Highlights include:
- Eight days of riding 100 km per day on quiet roads.
- Stay overnight at a succession of pleasant beach resorts.
- Spectacular coastal scenery and abundance of culture, up close and personal.
16. Khao Yai Winery
Activity type: Gastronomy
Duration: Day trip
Price estimation: Wine tours differ, starting price €15 / $17 / £13
Trip Overview:
This can be done as part of a cycling tour, but if you want to arrange your own transport to Khao Yai, or you're on another tour of this national park, you can visit the winery on your own time.
Highlights include:
- 2 sets of wine tasting (5 different wine types served in total).
- Can be combined with a cycling tour of the PB valley.
- Enjoy some excellent Thai dining along with your wine tasting.
17. Baipai Thai Cooking Class
Activity type: Gastronomy
Duration: Day trip
Price estimation: €57 / $63 /£48
Trip Overview:
Learn authentic Thai cooking with this cooking class in Bangkok. No prior cooking skills required; just a love for eating Thai food!
Highlights include:
- Lessons from a top Thai chef.
- Free hotel pickup and drop-off included.
- Tour provides wheelchair access.
18. Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise
Activity type: River Cruise
Duration: Evening trip
Price estimation: €34 / $37 / £28
Trip Overview:
Treat yourself to a 3-hour evening cruise along Bangkok's Chao Phraya river. Watch river life go by and dine on delicious Thai food as the in-boat band entertains you.
- Romantic experience, perfect for couples.
- Cruise past the many beautiful sites that line the river shores.
- Free hotel pickup and drop-off included.
19. Tropical Fruit Tasting at Suan Supatra
Activity type: Self-organised trip
Duration: Day trip
Price estimation: €10 / $11 / £9 (Entrance fee)
Trip Overview:
Every single tropical fruit you can imagine is grown and eaten in this magical fruit filled orchard. Located in the Bankhai district, it is a paradise for the fruit lovers and well worth a trip. I'd suggest going in the early morning before the 12 o clock sun hits town.
For an introduction to Thai fruits.
Highlights include:
- A seemingly ever-lasting fruit buffet!
- Beautiful serene setting, about 2.5 hours by bus from Bangkok.
- The farm not only grows fruit, but also a selection of delectable organic vegetables.
20. Nang Yai Shadow Puppet Museum & April Festival
Activity type: Arts & Culture
Duration: Day trip (2 hours east of Bangkok)
Price estimation: €30 / $34 / £26
Trip Overview:
Nang yai (“large puppet”) is an ancient form of shadow theatre in which dancing puppeteers perform scenes from the Ramakien by presenting cut-out figures against a semi-transparent cloth screen. In the latter part of the 20th century it became very rare but attempts have recently been made to revive it (3).
You'll enjoy a private van transport from Krung Thonburi Station in Bangkok to Wat Khanon to this festival that celebrates a 2,000 year old theatrical performance.
Watch local puppeteers tell their stories on an illuminated opaque backdrop, as illusions of dancing shadows are created and the dancing figures sing and chant
Highlights include:
- Witness the UNESCO award-winning shadow puppet show festival.
- Opportunity to learn about Thai art, culture & history.
- Listen as the Thai classical ensemble ‘Wong Pi Phat’ provides a delightful musical accompaniment.
21. Private Tour of Vimanmek Palace & Dusit District
Activity type: Historical Tour
Duration: Day trip
Price estimation: €62 / $68 /£52
Trip Overview:
Visit the historic Dusit district, including Vimanmek Palace, a former royal residence; and the majestic Wat Benjamabophit, also known as the Marble Temple (4).
Highlights include:
- Enjoy a guided tour and learn the history of Bangkok's main administrative center, established at the beginning of the 20th century by King Rama V.
- See a variety of photography, paraphernalia of rank and portraits, ancient cloth, clocks, and royal carriages.
- Witness traditional Thai dancing between 10:30 and 14:00.
22. Learn Traditional Thai Massage at Wat Pho
Activity type: Educational
Duration: Day trip
Price estimation: €200 / $221 / £167
Trip Overview:
Learn the fine art of Thai massage in this 3-hour training course at Wat Po temple, the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.
Receive professional coaching as you discover how to apply the correct pressure points for optimum relaxation of the body, mind, and soul.
Highlights include:
- Thai massage training courses at Wat Po temple.
- Discovery of therapeutic energy lines & pressure points.
- Stress-free roundtrip transfer from your Bangkok city hotel.
23. Visit Nakhon Nayok Province
Activity type: Outdoor Excursion
Duration: Day trip
Price estimation: €93 / $103 / £80
Trip Overview:
Nakhon Nayok is a small province in central Thailand, northeast of Bangkok. In the east are the mountains, forest and grassland of the vast Khao Yai National Park, home to diverse wildlife including bears, elephants, macaques and rare birds.
This trip is a day of outdoor adventure where you'll take part in a variety of activities throughout the day, including quad biking, white-water rafting, swimming and more.
Highlights include:
- Rides available on ox-cart or quad bikes.
- White water river rafting.
- Enjoy a boat ride along Khundan Dam, home to the world's longest Hydraulic Turret.
- Chance to swim & refresh at the lush Nangrong Waterfall.
24. Dream World: the World of Happiness
Activity type: Family Entertainment
Duration: Day trip
Price estimation: €61 / $67 / £51
Trip Overview:
At Dream World, the World of Happiness, you'll experience over 38 rides and attractions, 4 exciting live shows, and 3 beautiful landscapes.
A must for the kids, and something for all the family.
Highlights include:
- Super-fun water rides of all types imaginable.
- Optional packages which include tours, buffets and rides.
- Plenty of shopping also available on site.
25. Bicycle Excursion on the Island of Koh Kret
Activity type: Arts & Culture / Outdoor Excursion
Duration: Day trip
Price estimation: €61 / $67/ £51
Trip Overview:
Escape the hectic atmosphere of Bangkok and discover the car-free environment, idyllic rural scenery, and local markets of picturesque Koh Kret Island as you ride a boat, bike, and rickshaw around the island.
Highlights include:
- Ride on an elevated walkway along a canal, through rice paddies and fruit plantation.
- Explore Koh Kret, watch the island's famous potters at work and shop in local markets.
- Enjoy a delicious traditional Thai lunch by the Chao Phraya River.
Phew!
Now, bookmark this page so you don't come up short next time you are trying to think of things to do in Bangkok.
Some Last-Minute Thoughts on Trips & Tours
What I like best about organised trips is meeting people.
Having travelled all around SE Asia, I found that organising my own excursions often left me isolated and without people to talk to and enjoy the experience with.
Even though I am not always a fan of being led by a guide, life is always better shared with others. Plus I've met some awesome people on day trips and really enjoyed myself because of it.
My advice is to book your holiday tours and trips in advance.
Tours get booked up quickly in the high-season months; it's also a hassle you don't need when you're supposed to be enjoying a relaxing holiday.
That said, if you're staying in a good hotel, the staff will help you book trips – but expect to pay more because as an agent they take a commission.
Having the trip booked in advance means knowing when you're getting picked up and having everything laid out for you on a red carpet, so to speak.
It's a more reliable, organised and generally enjoyable way to see the city, particularly if you're nearly 40 like me and can't be doing with traipsing around in the baking sun asking for directions!