Arriving in Bangkok for the first time can be an incredibly overwhelming experience. There are so many places to go and so many things to do, how could you possibly choose? After interviewing people, researching online, and personally experiencing some of these attractions, I have developed this list. In this article, you will explore the different things you can do in Bangkok, ranging from tours, to shopping destinations, to restaurants. These are the Top 15 things to do in Bangkok!
Number 1 – The Grand Palace Tour
(Photo Credit: Emerald Buddha)
The Grand Palace is a really excellent tour if you want to see and understand the history of Thai kings. During the Grand Palace tour there is a lot to uncover such as the history of the palace, the kings that resided in them, the beautiful architecture and the inspiration behind it, and the Emerald Buddha sacred to the people of Thailand. The place has incredible history and is a great tourist destination, you can even complete a prayer while on the tour to get a general understanding of what the palace is. I would highly recommend going on this tour as the views are breathtaking and the history is rich.
Number 2 – Wat Pho Tour
(Photo Credit: by Palego)
The Wat Pho tour features one of Thailand’s most impressive and famous temples. This tour is more so focused on the history of religion within Thailand as well as the history of the temple and other temples of Thailand. The temple is also very beautiful and features a 46 meter (150 feet) long buddha resting on its side known as the Reclining Buddha. This tour is a must featuring beautiful architecture, art, and history that is jaw dropping.
Number 3 – Icon Siam
(Photo Credit: by AIRPORTELs)
Icon Siam is an incredible shopping mall with a whole wide range of different luxury products. These luxury products range from Louis Vuitton and Gucci to Coach and Christian Dior. If you really want to you can purchase cars from this mall as there is a Volvo shop located within the mall. This mall not only has shopping but it also has restaurants where you can sit down and eat. The restaurants are from all over the world with some being inspired by Indian cuisine, Chinese food, or British food. This is one of the shopping malls you have to go to with experiences that would leave you stunned and a must go to.
Number 4 – Central World Shopping Mall
(Photo Credit: by Blocher Partners)
Central World Shopping Mall is similar to Icon Siam in that there are some luxury products within the mall however Central World has a much larger selection to choose from in terms of both restaurants and shops. There is sports wear in the mall such as Adidas, Nike, and Reebok. Just like in Icon Siam there is also food, however there is a lot more food to choose from, you can have food from different cultures or if you really feel like it you can also eat fast food at the mall. There are so many shops each with a beautiful, unique design that makes going to each story a totally different experience. I would also highly recommend going to this mall to do some shopping as well as exploring all of the food options.
Number 5 – Benchakatti Park
(Photo Credit: by Passports and Stamps)
Benchakatti Park is one of the largest and best parks in Thailand and for good reasons. These 72 hectares of land feature walkways surrounded by beautiful trees, bushes, and flowers. It has also earned the nickname as the “Green Oasis” due to it also having a large lake located in the park. You can even rent paddle boats to go on the lake. Accompanied with the jaw-dropping greenery and views, this park also has sport facilities like basketball courts, skateboarding parks, and pickleball courts as well as having playgrounds for small children to play on. This park is a must go as it will leave you stunned by the breathtaking views and literally take your breath away while jogging or playing sports.
Number 6 – Koongtung
(Photo Credit: by Trip Advisor)
This restaurant features a wide selection of seafood that you can eat however with a twist. First you pick out what seafood you want, it can be shrimp, crab, mussels, you name it! Then you choose what sauce you want and any additional sides to be thrown into your seafood mix like corn. Once you have figured those out, then you can dictate how spicy you want the meal to be. Once you have figured all of those things out, they bring your food to you nice and hot and covered with sauce. Once you start eating, you will realize the heaven you stumbled across. The seafood is incredibly tasty and paired with the sauces, it’s a chef’s kiss. This place is really delicious and a must go if you love all things food.
Number 7 – Nobu
(Photo Credit: by Trip Advisor)
Created by world renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa, this restaurant features Japanese cuisine at its best. This restaurant serves nothing but the best of the seafood world by providing rich tasting seafood with an elegant presentation. The different colors of food that Nobu uses with minimalistic and modern presentation make the food look divine. Nobu has different meals in which they prepare such as sushi, sashimi, the fish itself, shrimp, seafood salads, etc. The flavor of the food pop in your mouth and the seasonings go together so well that it makes you mouth feel like a party. I really recommend this restaurant for those who love seafood and want an experience to remember.
Number 8 – Impact Go-Kart
(Photo Credit: by Trip Advisor)
Impact is a popular go-karting place that is really fun to experience. The place changes its track every month and has a wide variety of different track layouts. This place really challenges your skill level, with high speed corners that require confidence to twists and turns that require precision. There are two karts, gas and electric that are equally fun to race in. You have to have a membership in order to race here and if you want to race with the gasoline karts, there are certain requirements you must meet in order to be able to drive them. But once you get in a kart driving the kart, nothing feels better, literally, words cannot describe how immense the experience is, you just have to try it. I would highly recommend this place if you’re an avid go-kart driver or you are just looking to have some fun.
Number 9 – Railway & Floating Market
(Photo Credit: by Bangkok)
There are plenty and plenty of markets in Thailand and while cool at first, they can get a bit boring once you’ve gone to them a lot, but not these markets.. The Railway Market is exactly what it sounds like, it is a market that sits on a railway. However what makes this market different is that it sits on an active railway, meaning from time to time, a train passes through the market and everyone has to stop what they are doing and get out of the way. This creates a unique energy around the market, one where you always have to be moving, and like other markets, they have a lot of variety of things to purchase. You can fruits, foods, cloths, whatever it is you want at these markets, while also seeing a train go past centimeters from you. Floating markets are also really cool. These are markets on rivers where you have to travel via boat to get from different places within the market. What makes this experience so memorable is the layout of the markets and being on a boat and moving from one vendor to the another on the water. It’s very interesting for markets to be on active railways or on water, but they are and it also makes you feel ecstatic to be experiencing something like this. This is definitely a top thing to do while you are in Bangkok.
Number 10 – Michelin Food Guide by Tuk Tuk
(Photo Credit: by A Winter Escape)
This food guide is a really cool experience in which you get to experience the wonderful food Bangkok has to offer. Your journey starts by eating at a really good soup kitchen in which they give you an excellent noodle soup. Then you head to Chinatown in Bangkok where you have a donut-like dessert, eat soup with crispy pork, explore the different street food vendors, you’ve got some selling fruits, some selling scorpions, others selling clothing, others selling donuts, some selling fried chicken, what ever you can think of, there is probably some vendor in Chinatown selling it. The tour finishes off by eating fried rice, all while getting from destination to destination by tuk tuk or by foot. The food is nice and warm and it really feels like a comfort food while the jaw dropping views of Chinatown as well as the incredible smells that pass you by makes this an incredible experience and a must do while in Bangkok.
Number 11 – Muay Thai
(Photo Credit: by ONE Championship)
Muay Thai is a style of boxing in Thailand that is similar to that of kickboxing or the UFC. It is an extremely popular sport in Thailand and there are matches to see everyday. You can even get ring side seats so close to the action that you can hear the blows landing on the fighters. The energy and atmosphere of the arena is unmatched — a dazzling experience that will leave you in awe.
Number 12 – Guacamole
(Photo Credit: by Facebook)
This is a Mexican restaurant that has everything Mexican, tacos, quesadillas, you name it. The food is really good (I would recommend the tacos, the meat is flavored incredibly well and the toppings go really well with the meat and the warm soft taco shell) and the place even delivers so if you’re feeling like some good food but don’t want to get out of the house, Guacamole has you covered. The atmosphere is simple and relaxing, not overwhelming. The restaurant makes the place feel pleasant and welcoming while the taste of the food will leave you wanting for more. I highly recommend ordering from here if you love Mexican food.
Number 13 – Thai Massage
(Photo Credit: by GoWabi)
There isn’t just one place to get a good Thai massage; there are good places all over Bangkok. What separates a Thai massage and a regular massage is the lack of oils used (although there are Thai oil massages) as well as it having some yoga elements that really help ease the muscles. Thai masseuses also use their hands, knees, elbows, knuckles, to help loosen up your muscles and work on tight areas on your body. The whole experience leaves you feeling in a relaxed, jelly- like state afterwards. Definitely a must go to while in Thailand.
Number 14 – Siam Square
(Photo Credit: by PMCU Property)
Siam Square is a street in Bangkok that features numerous shopping malls directly on the street and nearby. Some of the malls include Siam Paragon, MBK center, Siam center. All of these shopping malls are on one street and have a variety of unique stores and restaurants. Walking through this street is an awesome experience; you get to explore thousands of stores, eat at hundreds of restaurants that each have a unique way of preparing and serving food. Looking at the beautiful street that seems to stretch endlessly really shows what Thailand has to offer. This place is a must go if you like shopping or just exploring.
Number 15 – Soho Pizza
(Photo Credit: by Soho Hospitality)
Soho Pizza is a pizza chain in Bangkok that is directly inspired from New York City pizza places. This place has styles of pizza that are similar to the style found in New York City and the taste is there. The pizza tastes really good, with its nice chewy crust, crispy thinly sliced pepperoni, and the stretchy cheese, it almost making you feel like you’re in New York City. And they deliver too so you can get good pizza no matter where you are in Bangkok. I would definitely try out this place if you are in the mood for good pizza.
