Updated April 2023

Bangkok, The City of Angels, is a ginormous, ever-changing city. The history of this place dates back to the 15th century so the amount of time that it would take to truly and deeply explore could easily take a lifetime. During the year I lived in Bangkok, I did my best to explore what I could. Hence the name “ALMOST Everything There Is To Do In Bangkok” because I know that by the time I publish this post at least 6 other spots will open and close. I listed out the essential things to do in this amazing city. Although Bangkok isn’t usually the type of city people fall in love with immediately, I did, so I figured I might help other people along. The bolded one in each category is my favorite.

TIP: Make sure you read up on all the scams before visiting. It could save you a lot of hassle and money. 

Don’t feel like reading this whole post? Feel free to click below to jump ahead to the section you are looking for.

Temples

If you are visiting Bangkok I would not miss out on temple hopping. Being that Thailand is a Buddhist country there are temples or Wats (in Thai) all over the place. The three listed below are the most popular ones in the city. Make sure to dress respectably with both shoulders and knees covered.

• The Grand Palace – Emerald Buddha
• Wat Pho – World’s Largest Reclining Buddha
• Wat Arun

 

Night Life Areas

Partying is such a deeply ingrained part of life that a person could easily find something to get into every single night of the week. There are no days off. If you decide that you want to party hard you are headed to the right place.

• Khao San Road – Backpackers; Best Late Night Spot Every Night
• RCA – Mostly Young Locals; Nightclubs
• Silom – Gay Bars
• Sukhumvit Soi 11 – Restaurants And Bars
• Thonglor and Ekkamai – More Sophisticated Bars And Clubs

 

Roof Top Bars

Roof Top Bars have been springing up all over the city for the last couple of years. Some have a good vibe and a good menu. Others have great views but not much of anything else. They can get quite expensive so use the Eatigo App to find a good deal. I couldn’t begin to attempt to name them all so here is a few that we frequented. A couple of them closed down so I removed them from the list.

• Sky Bar at Lebua – Bar From The Hangover Movie
• Wanderlust (Permanently Closed) 
• Vertigo & Moon Bar

 

Shopping

Shopping is a huge part of Thai culture. Not only is Bangkok cheap but you have the added benefit of being able to bargain in most non-western shops. There is no shortage of shopping areas so pull out all your cash, purchase a new suitcase, and shop til you drop! 

• MBK – Cheap Souvenirs And Custom Clothes
• JJ or Chatuchak Weekend Market – Largest Open Air Market In The World
• Terminal 21 – Travel Themed Mall
• Siam Paragon – High-End Name Brand Mall
• Show DC – Korean Themed Mall
• Pantip Plaza – Electronics
• Asiatique – Outdoor Market
• Siam Center – Boutiques
• Siam Discovery
• Central World
• EmQuartier
• The Emporium
• Platinum Fashion Mall
• Chinatown
• Victory Monument

 

Museums

While there is a wide range of museums, many are dilapidated and not worth the effort of visiting. These are among the highest-rated museums in Bangkok.

• Jim Thompson House
• National Museum
• Bangkok Art and Culture Center
• Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles
• Erawan Museum

 

Red Light Districts

Many people visit Thailand for the sex tourism industry. No matter what it is you are in to I’m sure you could find it here. No judgment but be wary of the scams that could be involved.

• Soi Cowboy
• Nana Plaza
• Patong
• Soi Twilight /Soi Pratuchai – Gay Area

 

Night Markets

Night markets are essentially places to hang out with friends, drink, shop, and enjoy some food. These are perfect places to just sit and people-watch if that is something you are into.

• Rot Fai Srinakarin – Train Market
• Rot Fai Ratchada – Train Market
• Asiatique
• JJ Market
• Chinatown
• W District Market – Food Trucks
• Talad Neon
• JJ Green
• Artbox Bangkok
• Chang Chui Plane Market

 

Brunch

Who doesn’t love brunch? I know I do. The places to go to for brunch in Bangkok are abundant. Here are a few to suit a few different price ranges. The app Eatigo has a lot of good suggestions if you are tired of the same old stuff.

• Chu Chocolate Bar and Cafe
• Trader Vic’s at Anantara Riverside
• Red Oven at Sofitel
• Bourbon Street Restaurant and Oyster Bar

 

Unique to Bangkok Eateries

Bangkok has no shortage of weird things to do. If you are looking for things that are truly unique and would be difficult to duplicate anywhere else in the world, the following places are for you. Just by looking at the names you know it’s going to be interesting.

• Unicorn Cafe
• Dining In The Dark at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit 
• Caturday Cat Cafe
• Cabbage and Condoms Restaurant
• Little Zoo Cafe
• Mo and Moshi Ice Cream
• Game Over Bar (Permanently Closed) 

 

For Kids

Bangkok isn’t really the type of city that caters to children. More of an adult playground type of vibe. But someone said that if children live there then there is no reason you can’t bring your kids there. Since I don’t have kids, I haven’t been to most of these.

• Safari World
• Dusit Zoo
• Dream World
• Siam Ocean World
• Funarium (Permanently Closed) 
• Kidzania
• Siam Park City
• Fantasia Lagoon

 

Other Experiences

Obviously, with a city as large and as old as Bangkok I couldn’t simply have a category for every little thing. Here are some other things to check out while you are in town.

• Lumpini Park
• Benjasiri Park
• Songkran
• Muay Thai Kickboxing
• Saturday Pool Parties
• Lady Boy Shows
• Airplane Graveyard
• Giant Swing
• Tuk Tuk Rides
• Cooking Classes
• Massages

 

Where To Stay

With a city, this large and sprawled out the task of finding someplace to stay can be daunting. You would be surprised how cheap it is to stay in some of the nicest hotels in the city. While you might want to save money, when is the next time you might be able to afford 5 Star digs?

• Khao San Road – $ – Backpackers, Hostels, Nightlife, Sightseeing
• Sukhumvit – $ – $$$ – For Everyone, Shopping, Nightlife
• Silom – $ – $$$ – Business People, Red Light Area, Central Location
• Riverside –  $$$ – Families and Couples, Expensive, Resort Style 

 

Outside Of Bangkok

While I love Bangkok, it is quite possible that you may not. Don’t spoil your vacation by being miserable. Do yourself a favor and check out some places where you could either do a day trip or a quick overnight stay to escape the sometimes overwhelming hustle and bustle of the city.

• Pattaya – 1.5-2 hours away
• Floating Market – Damnoen Saduak, Ratchaburi – 2 hours away
• Ayutthaya – 2 hours away
• Erawan National Park -2 hours away
• Samut Prakan – The Ancient City – 2+ hours away
• Hua Hin – 4 hours
• Koh Samet – 4+ Hours

 

Map of All The Places

I’ve taken the time to put all these locations on a map for you so you can easily find all of them. I hope you enjoy your trip! 

 

If you think we forgot anything let us know in the comments.

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