10 Best Things to do in Bangkok | International TravellerInternational Traveller

From exploring backstreet treasures in local neighbourhoods, to sky-high dining in Silom, for everything from the ground up, here’s our guide to the best things to do in Bangkok.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or you’ve been here more times than you care to count, you’ll quickly realise there’s no shortage of things to do in Bangkok. Perhaps it’s the perfect blend of rich history, colourful cultural attractions, mouth-watering food and cutting-edge technology that makes this city so endlessly fascinating. Whatever it is, you’ll find there’s a seemingly endless array of activities to discover in Thailand’s ever-evolving capital.

1. Take a tour of the Grand Palace

Grand Palace in Bangkok — The stunning Grand Palace is home to Thailand’s most sacred temple. (Credit: Unsplash/Rowan Heuve)

If there’s one must-visit attraction in Bangkok, it’s the Grand Palace. Housed in the historic centre of the city on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the official residence of the King of Thailand was relocated here in 1782. Aside from its stunning architecture, the palace is also home to Thailand’s most sacred temple, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Make the most of it and beat the crowds by booking a guided tour in advance.

Address: Na Phra Lan Road, Grand Palace, Phranakorn, Bangkok. Open daily from 8:30am to 3:30pm

2. Go between temples by ferry

Facing each other on opposite sides of the Chao Phraya River, Wat Arun and Wat Pho are two of the city’s most revered temples. Admire the intricate craftsmanship of Wat Arun’s glittering mosaic spires, before crossing the river by ferry to Wat Pho where you’ll find the temple famous for housing the Reclining Buddha – a golden statue that measures 46m long.

Address: 158 Wang Doem Rd, Wat Arun, Bangkok Yai, Bangkok. Open daily from 8am to 6pm.

3. Get down to Chinatown for seriously good street food

a street food stall at Yaowarat Night Market — Sample delicious street food at Yaowarat Night Market. (Credit: Bonita Grima)

Chinatown is worth a visit any time, but nights are when the district really comes alive with neon lights, buzzing crowds, and smell of delicious food wafting through the air.

Best reached by MRT subway, Yaowarat Night Market is one of the busiest in Bangkok and it’s here you’ll sample everything from fresh fruits like persimmon and durian, to new seafood discoveries like jellyfish on a stick. It’s also where you’ll find Michelin-recognised street vendors, like Pa Tong Go Savoey. Try their deep-fried dough snacks which are topped with pandan coconut sauce or condensed milk, it’s a local dessert to die for!

Address: Yaowarat Road Samphanthawong Bangkok. Open daily from 5pm to midnight.

4. Take time out at Bangkok’s newest urban roof park

Bangkokians love their high-rise attractions and it’s not just rooftop bars stealing the attention. Elevated green spaces get their share too, and while Benchakitti Forest Park’s Skywalk opened in 2022, Bangkok’s newest park, Dusit Arun at Dusit Central Park opened in September 2025. Thailand’s largest urban roof park consists of various zones connected via elevated walkways, with accessible sections for those with mobility issues.

Address: 946 Rama IV Road, Si Lom, Bang Rak, Bangkok. Open daily from 8am to 10pm.

5. Hang out at Thailand’s highest observation deck

King Power Mahanakhon in Bangkok — King Power Mahanakhon is renowned for its iconic pixelated glass-cut design. (Credit: Unsplash/David Gardiner)

Sticking with the skies, one of Bangkok’s tallest buildings, King Power Mahanakhon, with its iconic pixelated design, has an experience that will have you feeling on top of the world. Choose to hang out on a glass tray 310m from the ground or opt for indoor or outdoor observation decks on the 74^th and 78^th floors. Either way, Mahanakhon Skywalk offers unbeatable 360-degree views over the city. While there, grab a drink or bite to eat from the city’s highest rooftop bar, Sky Beach.

Address: 114 Narathiwas Ratchanakarin Rd, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok. Open daily from 10am to 7pm.

6. Explore Bangkok’s ‘Little Portugal’

Santa Cruz Church in Kudi Chin, Bangkok — Cycle past the old Santa Cruz Church. (Credit: Bonita Grima)

This little-known pocket on the banks of the Chao Phraya River is one of Bangkok’s best kept secrets. Catch the ferry to Kudi Chin, a Portuguese enclave that’s one of Bangkok’s oldest communities. With most residents here the descendants of the first Portuguese settlers, local laneways will reveal Portuguese-Thai fusion restaurants, a museum dedicated to Thailand’s first Europeans, and one of the city’s oldest Catholic churches: Santa Cruz Church.

Tip: Don’t leave without trying Khanom Farang. Translated as ‘foreigner cakes’ these tasty circular sponge cakes from family-run bakeries are made using the original 250-year-old recipe introduced by the Portuguese.

Address: Soi Wat Kanlaya Wat Kanlaya Thon Buri Bangkok

7. Discover a silk merchant’s home and museum

Jim Thompson House Museum, Bangkok — Make a stop at the museum shop. (Credit: Bonita Grima)

Another cultural gem is Jim Thompson House Museum. Made up of six traditional silk weavers’ cottages and surrounded by lush gardens, the Bangkok home of the late entrepreneur responsible for reviving Thailand’s silk industry is a delight to explore. Spend an afternoon perusing Thompson’s extensive Asian art collection, and don’t forget to stop at the museum shop on the way out for luxury silk clothing and gifts.

Address: 6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok

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8. Spend a night at Jodd Fairs

seafood delicacy stall at Jodd Fairs night market — Order seafood delicacies at one of Bangkok’s modern night markets. (Credit: Bonita Grima)

Bangkok is famous for its markets, and while not big as Chatuchak Weekend Market, or iconic as the city’s traditional floating markets, Jodd Fairs Night Market is one of the most modern, popular with young locals and visitors alike.

Get the MRT here to stroll down fairy-lit aisles for stalls selling creative wares, vintage clothing, quirky gifts and tech gadgets galore. And with plenty of themed bars and eateries dishing out trending foods – from Korean BBQ to cheese-flavoured ice cream, and snacks like Taiyaki (fish-shaped loaded pancakes) – it’s easy to spend a fun evening here.

Address: 129 Ratchadaphisek Rd, Din Daeng, Bangkok. Open daily from 4pm to midnight.

9. Get creative in Charoen Krung

East Asiatic Building in Charoen Krung — Visit the Renaissance-style East Asiatic Building in the creative district of Charoen Krung. (Credit: Unsplash/Bagus Fadhilah Apriadi)

Bangkok’s hippest hangout is the creative district of Charoen Krung, in the city’s centre, east of the Chao Phraya. Named after Bangkok’s oldest street, Charoen Krung Road is an eclectic blend of architectural influences, filled with street art, bars, Michelin-star restaurants (like David Thompson’s Aksorn), cafes, and galleries. It’s also where you’ll find Thailand Creative and Design Centre (TCDC) and Bangkokian Museum which houses a collection of charming preserved wooden bungalows reflecting middle-class Thai life in the 1930’s.

Tip: Don’t be scared to duck down the neighbourhood’s many sois (laneways) to discover hidden delights.

Address: Charoen Krung Road, Bang Rak, Bangkok.

10. Forget the taxi and travel by tuk tuk

a tuk tuk in Chinatown, Bangkok — Zip through Bangkok’s busy streets on board a tuk tuk. (Credit: Bonita Grima)

If you do anything in Bangkok, make sure to travel by tuk tuk at least once. It’s an iconic experience that’s quick and easy in traffic. Sure, it can be a bit touristy and pricey at times (if you don’t want to haggle or download apps like Grab or MuvMi), but there’s still nothing quite like the rush you feel with the wind in your hair as you zip through busy streets. Take an organised tour to combine with a day of sight-seeing.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

There’s no shortage of things to do in Bangkok, but these are the 10 activities we’d hate for you to miss