Bangkok Bucket List: Top 12 Cool Things to do

Among the top things to do in Bangkok, a visit to The Grand Palace is a must. It is the most famous attractions in Bangkok and a place of rich cultural heritage. This was a royal residence and is a part of a bigger complex called Wat Phra Kaew. In recent times the palace is mostly used for ceremonies and is a tourist attraction. Entry is allowed only to a few buildings in the palace complex, including the Grand Palace Hall, which also is the largest. It is good to reserve 4-5 hours from things to do in Bangkok to explore and cover 214,000 Square Meters of the expansive palace complex.

Tip: The entry to the palace is ticketed. It is advisable to buy only from the official ticket counter if you are indeed going in. Be cautious of the potential scams outside the palace.

A visit to Wat Pho is another “must do” on your Bangkok trip. This should be on your list of top things to do in Bangkok. It is situated on the banks of river Chao Phraya and is a landmark in Bangkok. It is home to the reclining Buddha temple which stands tall at fifteen meters and is forty-six meters long.

The feet of the statue itself measures five meters. The entire length of the statue is covered in gold leaf. Inside the temple, there are 108 bowls and you can purchase coins on your way in to drop it into these.

It is also a place where Thai Massage was first created. While you are here, you can also take a traditional Thai massage. This, for sure is one of the not to be missed items among things to do in Bangkok.

Tip – Kindly note that temples are considered sacred places, and you need to have proper attire while entering here. Shorts, sleeveless dresses are not allowed. Men and women both are required to cover their shoulders and knees at all times fully. Sandals and flip-flops without back straps aren’t allowed either.

Bangkok, like any other South East Asian city, has multiple modes of commutation within the town. They are economical and convenient for moving around the city. The Sky Train is a modern version that you can enjoy while the Tuk Tuk and the Motorcycle Taxi provide you an experience like you will get nowhere else. Add these into your list of things to do in Bangkok Thailand.

Sky Train: The Bangkok Mass Transit System or more commonly known as the BTS Sky Train, is the best and most economical option to get around Bangkok. It started operations in 1999. A trip on it is one of the things to do in Bangkok.

The Sky train or BTS runs on two lines, Silom and Sukhumvit. It covers a total distance of 51.9 Km connecting 43 stations on the route. The Sky train reports an average of 600,000 daily passengers taking this service as of 2012. This has increased drastically over the years triggering the planning and construction of additional routes to increase the coverage.

If you have to cover a large distance in a short time, this is the easiest and the fastest mode. The Sky train travels above the prone traffic roads and will take you to your destination in a jiffy. It provides travel in air-conditioned comfort in a city, which is hot and humid most of the time during the year. You can enjoy the city landscape from the comfort of the Sky train and enjoy the breath-taking views of the city during your Bangkok trip.

Tuk Tuk: Also known as auto rickshaw, Tuk Tuk is a motorized tricycle version of the traditional hand-pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw. It is mostly found in Asian countries. It is used for local transit within the city. These are easily available across Bangkok and mostly run on destination or distance based pre-negotiated fare.

Since the Bangkok roads are congested hence, travel to places that do not have Sky train connectivity will have to be done on a Tuk Tuk. These do not have a fare meter so you will have to haggle and negotiate hard to agree on a fare. They are very convenient when you are carrying luggage or lots of shopping bags. Whizzing on a Tuk Tuk is one of the must things to do in Bangkok. Just sit back and relax, and the driver takes you to your desired destination as immortalized in a 1993 James Bond Movie “Octopussy.”

Motorcycle Taxi: This mode of commutation is recommended for short distances or for reaching city areas with high traffic density prone to bad traffic jams. Motorcycle taxi in Bangkok is safe. It has a regulated operation with registered riders with easily distinctive numbered fluorescent jackets. They will take you anywhere you want once you pay a negotiated fare. You will be amazed at the speed at which they zip across the traffic and drop you at your destination.

Word of caution: These rides are not for the weak-hearted, aged or in case you are carrying lots of stuff during your local Bangkok trip.

Tip – Tuk Tuk and the Motorcycle taxi fare will depend on how good your negotiation skills are, so be prepared to haggle a lot. You are easily identified as a tourist and will be a target for charging exorbitant fares otherwise. Go ahead and add these trips to your list of things to do in Bangkok Thailand.

Bangkok sometimes is also called the “Venice of the East” owing to the Chao Phraya River flowing through the city with many small canals being feed by it. The Chao Phraya is the lifeblood of Bangkok. It is also a medium of local transportation, moving more than 50,000 people who use ferries and boats to go to work each day. Your list of top things to do in Bangkok is incomplete unless you take a cruise along the Chao Phraya river.

The cruise gives an amazing experience. It takes you through fascinating aspects of Bangkok, showing you the different facets of a bursting metropolitan city. One side you will see the high rising skyline of most modern apartments, stylish hotels and commercial businesses and shopping malls — the other side wooden shacks with children playing nearby.

Taking a break from a hectic business on your Bangkok trip is a very good idea with an evening cruise through the river and experience the magnificent sight of the sun setting in the west. You can also see the city coming alive as the darkness falls with the bright lights and displays coming on along the riverside.

You can choose and book from multiple options available offering dinner, live music, and entertainment in a 2-hour buffet river cruise. The Bangkok Shangri-La hotel organizes it. You can also book a normal ferry ride mostly used by the locals. You can take these local ferry rides starting from Sathorn pier to the Wat Phra Kaew (Grand Palace) and back. A cruise along the river is a serene way to enjoy the city and one of the most recommended things to do in Bangkok.

Limited time to do just a few things on your Bangkok trip? You must certainly add trying incredible street food in your list of things to do in Bangkok. Bangkok street food is budget-friendly. It is a bonus for bag packer tourists on a tight budget.

Most meals on the street are under $1, making it very economical to try different fares. You can have a meal with three or four different dishes, including noodles or rice dishes, dumplings with seafood or fish. Wrap it up with the famous local dessert of mango and sticky rice. You also get fresh fruits on sales on the street. Try pineapple as it is very sweet here in Thailand. Want to get delicious street food? Head to Sukhumvit Soi 11, a street in downtown Bangkok whose streets get lined up with street food vendors.

You can also try out street food at Yaowarat, which is Bangkok’s version of Chinatown. You can also find some great street food at Ratchawat Market, and Petchaburi Soi 5. Go to Jek Pui in China town if you want to have taste bud tingling curries. Head to Famous Ba Mee on the Sukhumvit 38 for some tasty egg noodles.

Your list of things to do in Bangkok is not complete if it does not include a visit to Jai Fai’s street joint for an amazing treat of crab omelets. Though there is bound to be a long queue for this Michelin star winner’s street food, it is worth the wait and that too at a fraction of the price of having this dish at any star hotel.

If you are still not sure where to start, you can opt for one of the safest things to do in Bangkok. Book one of the many available street food guided tours that are well-curated. It will take you to the best places in the city known for street food. Whichever way, remember to add an evening visit to Chinatown in your list of things to do in Bangkok Thailand. It will not only give your taste buds an amazing experience but will also give you an overview of Thailand’s food culture, tradition, and social eating habits.

Tip – While on your own, look out for eating places that have a queue. It means food is being constantly cooked to order and will be freshly cooked.

Adding on your list of things to do in Bangkok is a shopping spree at the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market. Spread across a massive 27 acres with over 8000 stalls and 15000 vendors, this is one of the largest markets in the world.

Open only on the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) this market attracts more than 200,000 visitors each day. You can get almost anything on sale here – clothes, gadgets, local artifacts, and even exotic pets at an amazingly low price.

Tip – Explore the maze of shopping stalls at leisure but pick up a map to avoid getting lost here. Stay clear in case you hate shopping.

There are more fascinating things to do in Bangkok than just enjoying the nightlife or going shopping. Twelve kilometers from Bangkok city is Tailing Chan, home of the floating market. Try getting on a boat tour in a small longtail boat. Head to the Floating market for an awesome lifetime experience.

See the sights as you watch the local trade, sell, and bargain of flowers, fruits, vegetables, clothes, and food items. The vendors here are mostly women, and you can buy anything at a bargain price. The best time to take this tour is in the post Morning as the place gets really busy. Other floating markets are Amphawa and Bang Nam Pheung.

Include this one thing in your list of things to do in Bangkok. A visit to the Khao San road is a sure shot fun time. With plenty of clubs and bars, you can pick and choose which one to go to, to sit and have a drink. Known as a backpacker hub, you will meet plenty of travelers here. Soak in the hustle and bustle of Bangkok by sitting in one of the many street bars and watch the world go by.

Like every other major city, Bangkok also has its own Chinatown. You will get to know you have reached there once you pass through the elaborately decorated Chinese gates. If you are a foodie, a visit to Chinatown is one of the best things to do in Bangkok. It is a food lover's paradise packed with street food stalls and restaurants. It dishes out an amazing variety of Chinese food at a very economical price point.

There is no better way to end your day than a massage. Take a shot at having the world-famous Thai Massage. After a busy day of sightseeing and walking around, you can have a relaxing and invigorating traditional full body massage. This is where the famous Thai massage originated. You can go in for a full body Thai massage or one with aromatic oils or foot massage. The cost is reasonable with a massage in a popular spa chain – Health Land costing $14 for a 2-hour session.

Tip - Though there are massage parlors everywhere in Bangkok. It is advisable to research and look out for one near your hotel.

Planning a visit to Bangkok during April, align it with Songkran festival celebration dates in Thailand. Known as the Thai New year, this three-day holiday is celebrated across the country. Regarded as the world’s biggest water fight event festival.

Using water fighting signifies, the cleansing of all the bad things of the past to bring luck, good health, and prosperity in the future. The event includes people throwing water on each other in a friendly manner. It also is soothing in a hot sweltering summer. If you want to indulge in the local fun and frolic event, you should certainly add it in your list of things to do in Bangkok.

Bangkok has unlimited places where you can have a drink. To have a real treat head to one of the places with a view like the Vertigo and Moon Bar which is situated on the 61^st floor of the Banyan Tree Hotel. This is a perfect place to have an amazing view of the Bangkok skyline at night with dazzling lights.

Drinks are not cheap here, but it’s worth every penny with a great view to compensate for it. The bar serves an exciting range of cocktails and finger-licking snacks to go with it. Other rooftop bars in Bangkok include red square at Novotel Hotel, Yao Rooftop Bar at the Marriot and Penthouse rooftop bar at the Bangkok Park Hyatt. No matter if you have a company or have an evening alone, having a drink at one of the rooftop bars is one of the best things to do in Bangkok.

Muay Thai or kickboxing is the national sport of Thailand. It is a combat sport that is very popular in Bangkok with matches usually organized in Lumpini or Ratchadamnoen stadiums. You can immerse yourself in the local sports culture and even place bets on the winner.

Ending the day with an action-packed evening is the best thing to do in Bangkok with event tickets available if you book a Muay Thai tour. The ambiance, the fight, the spectators, the beer, and other stadium snacks all contribute to the overall experience.

Immerse yourself in the cultural and historical heritage of Bangkok by exploring different places for unique and unusual things here. Explore some Temples. Go on a culinary Food Tour. Eat your heart out. Walk around the area and take as many photos you want. Visit Bangkok for a good mix of sightseeing, culture, shopping, and relaxation.