The 11 Best Things to Do in Bangkok: My Favorite Activities in 2026

Bangkok is absolutely one of my favorite cities in all of Southeast Asia because it’s just so iconic. It’s wild and chaotic, but at the same time, it is super interesting and fun.

The city has some of the most exciting things to do, from visiting temples and palaces to exploring some of the coolest night markets I’ve ever been to. There’s incredible street food and shopping, but then Bangkok also has a whole other side to it with upscale rooftop bars and high-end restaurants.

I’ve been to Bangkok three times now, and every single time, I never get bored! Some things, like the night markets, I do over and over again, but I also always manage to find new temples and rooftops to explore.

To give you a better idea of the best things to do in Bangkok and help you decide if they’re worth your time, I’ve put together this guide with my favorite activities from my own trips. That way, you can plan your upcoming visit accordingly and know exactly what’s worth it and what’s not!

Things to Do in Bangkok – My Experience

I’ve been to Bangkok three times now. The very first time was almost 8 years ago when I was solo backpacking through Thailand, and the other two visits have been much more recent. I have to say, back then and now, I still love this city for so many reasons!

One major thing I love about Bangkok nowadays even more than back then, is how versatile it is. 

For instance, my mom came to visit me in Bangkok, so we naturally did all the “touristy” things. We visited the Grand Palace and all the iconic temples like Wat Arun and Wat Pho. We did a tuk-tuk tour, visited the night markets, and did a canal tour, pretty much everything you imagine when you think of Bangkok!

However, I also love the other side of Bangkok, which is completely different. The modern part of the city is all about high-rises, amazing rooftop restaurants and bars, and an upscale lifestyle that I, as a digital nomad, absolutely love.

I really enjoy the balance; I love doing the classic sightseeing because that’s literally why I’m here, but I also love heading to a rooftop bar to enjoy a nice cocktail at sunset.

I have to mention, though, that my number one favorite thing about Bangkok is the food. I am obsessed! It ranges from a $1 Pad Thai or Pad Kra Pao on the street to the food stalls in Chinatown, all the way to upscale dinner experiences on a rooftop. In my opinion, Bangkok is hands-down one of the best food cities in all of Asia.

My Favorite Things to Do in Bangkok Thailand

1. Visit Wat Arun

One of my absolute favorite temples in all of Bangkok is Wat Arun, and funny enough, I think I’ve been here every single time I’ve come to the city, so that’s three times now!

Wat Arun is a really beautiful and unique Buddhist temple located right on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. It looks like a massive, intricate tower or pyramid and I’m sure you’ve seen images of it before. 

I normally visit Wat Arun as part of a “temple-hopping” day. After exploring Wat Pho, I usually just head over to the ferry pier, cross the river, and boom, I’m there.

I usually only spend about an hour here because, honestly, there is a little less to explore compared to the grounds of Wat Pho, but it’s still one of my favorite places to visit. It is undeniably beautiful, unique, and it looks amazing in pictures. 

Just a heads up: if you’re into photography, try to go early in the morning or late in the afternoon because that’s when the crowds are the smallest and the lighting is the best.

Book Here: Private Guided Tour Around Bangkok

2. Join a Food Tour

Like I mentioned before, the Thai food in Bangkok is definitely one of my favorite things about the city. I’m honestly obsessed with it and it’s probably my favorite Asian cuisine right after Japanese.

Since I’ve been here three times now, I’ve got my own list of go-to dishes and restaurants I love to visit, but for someone like you who is visiting Bangkok for the first time and is probably on a tighter schedule, joining a food tour is what I suggest. 

I did one with my mom on my last trip, and our guide drove us around in a tuk-tuk all evening. We tried over 10 different dishes, snacks, and drinks, it was such a great way to try things I probably would’ve never ordered on my own.

Book Here: Food & Sightseeing Tour in Bangkok

3. Visit Wat Pho (The Reclining Buddha)

Wat Pho is my personal number one favorite temple in Bangkok. If you tell me you only have the time or energy to visit one temple, I’m telling you: go to Wat Pho.

I actually only visited for the first time on my most recent trip, and wow, I was really missing out before! It’s known for its huge Reclining Buddha, which is genuinely massive and so impressive to see.

But there’s more to it than just that. When I visited, I walked straight past the Reclining Buddha hall and did a big loop around the temple grounds. 

There were many other halls and statues which were super pretty, and then I looped back and finished my visit with the Reclining Buddha, which is exactly what I’d recommend you do as well.

Little FYI: be careful with pickpockets, especially in the Reclining Buddha hall!

4. Spot Monitor Lizards in Lumpini Park (This Ended Up Being On of My Favorite Things I Did)

I know this one sounds super random, and I only found out about it recently when a friend living in Bangkok told me about it, but Lumpini Park is one of the best places to see monitor lizards in the city.

We came here one afternoon before heading off for dinner and rooftop plans in that part of town, which, by the way, is a great area for cool rooftops and cafes. 

We went for a long wander, and suddenly we spotted a bunch of monitor lizards all around the park lakes. Some were swimming, some were on land, and wow, they were huge! 

I’ve seen Komodo dragons in Indonesia before, which are obviously way bigger, but these monitors were definitely the second largest lizards I’ve ever seen. Some of them were probably almost as long as I am tall, easily over 5 feet.

5. Eat Street Food in Chinatown

We did a tuk-tuk food tour through Bangkok, and part of the experience included a few stops in Chinatown (Yaowarat). I loved it so much that I actually had to go back the very next night!

For a start, Chinatown is just so cool. It’s such a fun, lively part of the city. It looks amazing with neon signs everywhere, and it’s always so busy with an endless supply of restaurants and street food stalls. 

I had loads of good noodles and seafood there, I really like Chinese food, to be honest. I highly recommend coming here at night, though. That’s when it’s at its busiest, and it’s definitely not as hot as it is during the day!

6. Explore Bangkok’s Night Markets

Bangkok is super well-known for its amazing night markets, and I’m a huge fan. I’ve been to quite a few now, and it’s honestly one of my favorite things to do at night. Especially back when I was backpacking through Thailand, night markets were the absolute best place to find cheap, delicious street food.

There are loads of them, and while I won’t get into all of them, there are a couple I recommend. If you want a full-on authentic experience, meaning it’s loud, full of locals, cheap, and a little rough around the edges, I’d definitely recommend visiting Pratunam Night Market.

When my mom visited, however, we went to Jodd Fairs. It’s a much more organized, cleaner, and less chaotic night market in Bangkok. It’s definitely made for tourists and is more expensive, but I thought it was a great way of easing into the night market culture without shocking my mom too much!

7. Go Shopping at Chatuchak Weekend Market

Another market I didn’t make it to on my most recent trip, mostly because, as you could probably guess, I wasn’t there on the weekend, is Chatuchak Weekend Market.

I have been there years before, though, and it’s honestly one of the biggest markets I’ve ever seen. It’s crazy! They have everything from tons of food to endless rows of shopping. This is definitely where I’d do all of my souvenir shopping since it’s way cheaper than down south in the islands.

8. Party on Khao San Road

One of the craziest parts of Bangkok is, without a doubt, Khao San Road. If anything, I have to say it’s gotten crazier and weirder over the years! 

When I was in Bangkok years and years ago as a solo backpacker, this is where I would come with friends I’d met at the hostel for drinks and a fun night out. But this time around, when I walked over, it was full-on crazy, people dancing on tables, music blasting from all directions, just pure chaos. It’s definitely something I think everyone should see once.

Since I’m not quite a backpacker anymore, though, I prefer the next road over: Soi Rambuttri. It’s much nicer with live music and cheap drinks, and it’s just more my speed, to be honest.

9. Sunset Drinks at a Rooftop Bar

I honestly think Bangkok has some of the best rooftop bars I have ever been to, and there are so many at this stage that it’s kind of hard for me to decide which one to recommend.

What I can tell you first is which one not to go to: Lebua. I went there on my very first visit to Bangkok, and I think I almost choked when I got the bill, one cocktail cost me $60 USD! I have to admit, the location is stunning, especially since it’s so iconic from The Hangover Part II, but the price tag is just insane.

Whenever I’m in Bangkok, I personally go to my favorite rooftop: Bar.Yard. It has a super cool design and amazing views over the city at night, but with much lower prices and way more locals, expats, and digital nomads, and fewer tourists.

10. Visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok

Sometimes I’m not sure about recommending this one, but it’s such a huge landmark in Bangkok that it felt wrong not to include it: the Grand Palace. 

I can sometimes get a little “templed out,” so I usually stick to just Wat Arun, Wat Pho, and the Grand Palace and that’s definitely enough palace and temple sightseeing for me in one trip!

However, I have to admit that the Grand Palace is really beautiful and probably the most impressive building out of all of them. It’s also the most expensive, a 500-baht entrance fee, which is why I sometimes hesitate to suggest it. 

But since you’re only in Bangkok once, I reckon you should just go for it. It’s undeniably beautiful and impressive for sure.

11. Join a Canal Tour

Lastly, and this is something I love recommending to anyone who doesn’t want to walk around all day: take a canal tour on an iconic longtail boat through Bangkok.

We did this when my mom came to visit, because honestly, we were hot and sweaty from wandering around the city during the day. I had the idea to do a canal tour the next morning, and it was a lifesaver. 

We got a nice breeze, we didn’t have to walk, and it was actually a super cool way to see sights like Wat Arun from the water and just get a feel for a totally different side of Bangkok. This was my first time doing a canal boat tour, and I was actually really positively surprised and impressed.

Book Here: Canal Tour in Bangkok

 FAQs About What to Do in Bangkok

What are the best things to do in Bangkok with kids?

With kids, I would definitely recommend doing a guided tuk-tuk tour because walking around in the heat during the day can be a lot. But there are also loads of huge malls in Bangkok with air conditioning, again, anything to keep the little ones out of the heat!

Is the Damnoen Saduak floating market worth visiting?

I’ve been years and years ago, and at the time I already thought it was a tourist trap. After talking to people I’ve met who recently went, I think it got even worse, so no, I don’t think it’s worth visiting.

Is Bangkok worth visiting?

Bangkok is absolutely worth visiting! In fact, Bangkok is one of my favorite major cities in Southeast Asia. It has amazing culture, delicious street food, and just a super iconic, fun, and chaotic atmosphere.

Should I get a traditional massage in Bangkok?

Yes, for sure. I myself am not the biggest “massage person,” which is why I didn’t include it in my main list, but if you want a traditional Thai massage, then Bangkok is for sure a good place to get one for cheap.

How many days in Bangkok do I need?

I know many of you don’t give Bangkok as much time as it deserves, and that’s fine, I get it, there is so much else to see in Thailand. But if I was going to Bangkok, I would make sure that I have at least two full days to at least see the highlights.

Final Thoughts on The Best Activities in Bangkok

I personally have to say that I really love Bangkok, and I think it’s completely justified, the city just has such an incredible, iconic vibe that I think everyone should come check it out.

Yes, Bangkok is super chaotic and wild, but I just embrace it when I’m here. As far as activities go, I think the food and the temples are where it’s at for me. 

For the temples, I would always recommend visiting the top three, which for me are Wat Arun, Wat Pho, and the Grand Palace. And for food, I always make sure to join a food tour, go to a night market, and visit Chinatown. If you do those things, I promise that’s already enough to have a great time.

I hope this little guide with my favorite activities and things to do in Bangkok will help you plan your own trip!

Check Out My Other Bangkok Guides

Is Bangkok Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

Best Things to Do in Bangkok: My Favorite Activities in Bangkok

Best Temples to Visit in Bangkok: My Favorite Temples in Bangkok I Visited

Where to Stay in Bangkok: My Top Hotels and Areas in Bangkok

2 Day Itinerary Bangkok: How I Spent 48 Hours in Bangkok Thailand

Check Out My Other Thailand Guides

Is Thailand Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

Is Thailand Expensive to Visit? How Much I Spent in Thailand

How Many Days in Thailand: How Much Time I Spent in Thailand

Thailand Itinerary: How I Spent 10 Days in Thailand

Thailand eSIM: What eSIMs I Use in Thailand