12 Best Things To Do in Bangkok (Updated 2019) – Shopping, Spas, Onsens, Night Markets and More

Like many Singaporeans, the wife and I enjoy going to Bangkok for short getaways. This lively city has much to offer, from vibrant night markets to Instagrammable cafes to relaxing massages to cultural attractions and more. Based on my personal experience, I have created a list of 12 awesome things to do in Bangkok.

1. Massage, Spa, and Onsen

Massage Parlours
Bangkok is famous for its massage parlours. My favourite street side massage parlour is “Number One Massage” in Pratunam, where I can get a relaxing one-hour Thai massage for just THB250.

However, note that the quality of your massage depends on whether you get a good masseuse. If you do not want to risk getting a bad massage, going to spa centres would be a safer bet.

Spa Centres
The wife and I pampered ourselves a few times at upscale spa centres like Let’s Relax and Panpuri Wellness. The environment and service at these places are definitely better than street side joints, but the prices are also more expensive of course.

Onsens
Not many people are aware of this, but there are actually many onsens in Bangkok.

The wife and I had a fantastic time at Let’s Relax Onsen and Spa (Thonglor). This wonderful urban spa is home to a Japanese-style onsen, and also offers a variety of massage and spa treatments.

For more details, you can check out our list of eight awesome massage and spa places in Bangkok.

2. Shopping

Platinum Shopping Mall

Platinum Fashion Mall is a famous six-storey shopping mall where you can find clothes, fashion accessories, bags, etc, being sold at wholesale prices.

After we are done with exploring the mall, we will usually eat at the air-conditioned food court located on the 6th floor of Platinum Mall 2.

Platinum Fashion Mall is a 13-minute walk on the Sky Bridge from Siam BTS. It opens daily from 9am to 8pm.

Big C is a well-known supermarket chain in Bangkok. We always visit the huge outlet opposite CentralWorld (Big C Supercenter Rajadamri) to buy plenty of Thai snacks back home to Singapore.

The supermarket closes at 2am so it’s great for some late-night shopping after we’re done with exploring Bangkok for the day.

Big C Supercenter Rajadamri is a 10-minute walk on the Sky Bridge from Siam BTS. It opens daily from 9am to 2am.

Some of the modern malls in Bangkok include Siam Paragon, CentralWorld, EmQuartier, Embassy, etc. These are similar to the shopping malls in Singapore.

3. Food Hunting

Bangkok is truly a heaven for foodies. We simply love all the wonderful street food, gorgeous cafes, and awesome restaurants in this city.

Some of our favourites include Roast, Thian Song Roast Duck, Karmakamet Diner, Thipsamai, Greyhound Cafe, On Lok Yun, and many many more.

The wife and I have been to Bangkok several times but we are still discovering new awesome eateries every time we go. Check out our list of 20 great places to eat in Bangkok!

4. IconSiam

Plenty of street food at SookSiam

IconSiam is a large shopping complex located along the Chao Phraya River. It is home to retail shops, luxury boutiques, restaurants, and an impressive “indoor floating market”.

We got here by taking the free IconSiam shuttle boat service.

One of my favourite activities was exploring the bustling floating market “SookSiam”, which sells a large variety of Thai street food at very affordable prices.

The wife enjoyed shopping at the many luxury boutiques too.

For more details, you can check out our list of ten best things to do at IconSiam.

IconSiam
Directions: Click here
Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 10pm

5. Talad Neon Night Market

Toys for the kids

Hipster outdoor bars

Grasshoppers or pupas anyone?

Or how about some crickets?

Talad Neon is a night market conveniently located in the Pratunam area. It is home to neat rows of stalls selling street food, clothes, fashion accessories, handicrafts, souvenirs, etc.

There are a few reasons why this is one of our favourite night markets.

Firstly, it is just a short walk away from popular spots like CentralWorld and Platinum Fashion Mall.

Secondly, unlike some other night markets in Bangkok, Talad Neon is clean, spacious, and well-organised.

And lastly, there are plenty of interesting items on sale. We will usually buy some souvenirs and handicrafts back home from here.

Talad Neon Night Market
Directions: 10-minute walk from Platinum Fashion Mall
Opening Hours: Daily 5pm to 12am

6. Chatuchak Weekend Market

Chatuchak Weekend Market is arguably the most famous market in Bangkok. It is also the largest market in Thailand with over 15,000 stalls.

I saw a huge variety of products on sale here, including clothes, antiques, electronic gadgets, pets, home accessories, books, and many more.

It is fun to explore this vibrant market, but the scorching Bangkok weather can be quite overbearing. Therefore, make sure you wear loose clothing and drink plenty of water if you are visiting this market.

It is definitely not possible to see the entire market in one day, so just walk around and enjoy the bustling vibe here.

You can check out this map of Chatuchak Market if you are interested.

Chatuchak Weekend Market
Directions: 9-minute walk from Mo Chit BTS Station
Opening Hours: | Mon to Thur: CLOSED | Fri: 6pm – 12am | Sat & Sun: 9am – 6pm |

7. Ratchada Train Market (Talad Rot Fai 2)

Ratchada Train Market (also known as Talad Rot Fai 2) is a hip and vibrant night market located just steps away from Thailand Cultural Centre MRT station.

We enjoy exploring this night market because it has a carnival-like atmosphere with many interesting stalls, street food, and outdoor bars.

We found that many of the items here were cheaper than other night markets. This is probably because the market is visited by many Thai locals too.

The market can get quite crowded, so make sure you take care of your belongings to prevent being pickpocketed.

Do note that there is another train market (Talad Rot Fai 1) in Bangkok, located 35 minutes away by car from downtown Bangkok. However, we did not visit this other market because it is not near any BTS or MRT station.

Ratchada Train Market (Talad Rot Fai 2)
Directions: 2-minute walk from Thailand Cultural MRT Station
Opening Hours: Daily 5pm to 11pm

8. Asiatique The Riverfront

Asiatique The Riverfront is a vibrant open-air complex located along the Chao Phraya River. It is home to a night bazaar, independent boutiques, modern restaurants and outdoor bars.

The 4 refurbished warehouses in the complex house over 1,500 shops selling clothes, fashion accessories, handicrafts, paintings, souvenirs, etc.

I find the clothes here to be quite trendy and have bought quite a few pieces of clothing during my visits.

There are many restaurants at Asiatique such as Baan Khanitha, Ko Dang Talay, KFC, MK, etc. However, we seldom eat here because there are plenty of other better dining options within the popular areas of Siam and Pratunam.

If you wish to chill out at night, there are various outdoor bars located by the river.

The large ferris wheel here (“Asiatique Sky”) is one of Bangkok’s well-known landmarks. It is the tallest Ferris wheel in the city at 60 metres.

We took a ride on it once (THB400 per adult) and got to enjoy wonderful night views of Bangkok. However, that was the first and last time because the ticket is quite expensive.

On the whole, this is a nice place to spend an evening exploring the bazaar stalls and soaking in the atmosphere.

Asiatique The Riverfront
Directions: Take the free Asiatique shuttle boat from Sathorn Pier (beside Saphan Taksin BTS Station). The boat ride takes just 10 minutes.
Opening Hours: Daily 5pm to 12am

9. Chocolate Ville

Chocolate Ville is a pretty open-air complex designed like an old-world European town. It is a 30-minute car ride from downtown Bangkok.

We saw many charming European-style architecture and whimsical structures here. It is truly a gorgeous attraction with many Instagrammable spots.

Chocolate Ville has one central kitchen, so guests can choose to dine anywhere in the complex, such as along the canal or in one of the beautiful buildings. The food was surprisingly affordable and tasty for such a touristy attraction.

Chocolate Ville
Directions: 30-minute car ride from downtown Bangkok (we took a THB300 Grab ride from Siam)
Opening Hours: Daily 4pm to 12am

10. The Grand Palace

The Grand Palace is the official residence of Thailand’s king. Built in 1782, this majestic palace is steeped in history and culture. Today, it is one of Bangkok’s most popular tourist attractions.

The wife and I are happy to have visited this gorgeous complex, but we only spent about one hour here because the Bangkok mid-day sun and crowds of tourists were simply too overwhelming.

This was not helped by the fact that we could not wear allow cooler clothing like singlets and shorts. Therefore, I recommend visiting this iconic Thai attraction at least once just to check it off your list.

The Grand Palace
Directions: 15-minute walk or 10-minute Grab ride from Sanam Chai MRT station
Opening Hours: Daily 8.30am to 3.30pm
Entrance Fee: THB500

11. Wat Pho

Wat Pho (also known as the “Temple of the Reclining Buddha”) is a Buddhist temple complex home to the 46-meter long reclining Buddha statue. It is a 10-minute walk from the Grand Palace.

Other than the massive reclining Buddha, there are 394 gilded Buddha statues inside the temple’s four chapels. The walkways around Wat Pho are also decorated with beautiful intricate murals.

Wat Pho
Directions: 3-minute walk from Sanam Chai MRT station
Opening Hours: Daily 8am to 6.30pm
Entrance Fee: THB200

12. Wat Arun

Wat Arun is another beautiful Buddhist temple complex located across the river from Wat Pho and The Grand Palace.

Decorated with colourful spires and stands, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful temples in Thailand.

The highlight of the temple is the majestic 70-metres tall central spire, which is decorated with colourful Chinese porcelain tiles.

It is even possible to climb up this central spire and enjoy great views of the Chao Phraya River and Bangkok skyline.

Wat Arun
Directions: Take a 3 minute shuttle boat (THB3) from Wat Pho
Opening Hours: Daily 8am to 5.30pm
Entrance Fee: THB50

This article is part of our completely free and fantastic Ultimate Bangkok Travel Guide. Why spend days researching when all your holiday information is simply a click away?