The Ultimate Bucket List For Bangkok

After my week in Bali, I hopped over to Bangkok to get right back into the city life. Below are 20 things to fill your time spent in Bangkok.

1. The Floating Market

Yes, the market is actually on water and you absolutely can’t go to Bangkok and not go to a floating market; that should be illegal. Once there, you can find tons of fresh produce, coconut water and tasty local snacks.

2. New Lumpinee Boxing Stadium

New Lumpinee Boxing Stadium is a sporting arena run by the Royal Thai Army. It’s now the symbol of Muay Thai. Named after the Hindu god Aruna, it is said to by personified as the radiations of the rising sun.

3. Wat Arun

Wat Arun is a Buddhist temple on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River.

4. Khao San Road

This street has everything from music to insane street food to crazy parties and fortune-tellers. If you don’t know what to do, head to Khao San Road and let it decide for you.

5. Chinatown

Chinatown is as you may expect it to be in any city: Busy, but cheap with great food. You’ll probably come across some Shark Fin soup while out and about.

6. MBK Shopping Mall

Go to the MBK Shopping Mall to get lost. From electronics to clothing to literal gold, you can find anything you’re looking for in this place.

7. Chatuchak Markets

Chatuchak Markets are the largest markets in Thailand, which is why they only operate on the weekends. To see everything that this place has to offer would take hours, but it’s a great place to find some authentic souvenirs.

8. Lebua Sky Tower

The Sky Tower was actually one of the locations used in the movie The Hangover II. After a putting on your best and traveling up 62 floors, you can see where the set was filmed for free, and maybe get a pricey drink if you’re feeling fancy.

9. Airplane Graveyard

This place is literally what it sounds like, a graveyard for airplanes. You can walk around inside of these abandoned planes and though it may feel a bit eerie, it’s definitely an experience you can’t find anywhere else. Don’t miss out on your opportunity!

10. Golden Mount (Wat Saket)

This Buddhist temple will give you panoramic views around the city of Bangkok and is absolutely beautiful.

11. Try a Chang Beer

Chang Beer is the official beer of Thailand and hey, you’re here to experience the culture, right?

12. Try a fried bug

Okay, I know what it sounds like: completely disgusting, and, truth be told, I haven’t been brave enough to go for it yet. However, scorpions, grasshoppers and tarantulas are just some of the bizarre foods you can find in this country.

13. Stop by the Papaya Vintage Shop

This is actually a less-visited area in the city, but definitely a treasure if you get the chance to go! This shop is filled with thousands of vintage items like old school life-size figurines and pinball machines.

14. Get scared at the Bangkok Forensic Museum

This museum isn’t like most, which are lined with painting after painting from the 1800s. This place is filled with something much worse….picture deformed babies, parasites in human organs and bodies of accident victims on display. This museum is NOT for the weak.

Note: This attraction may be temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

15. Go fishing for River Monsters

Remember watching River Monsters while growing up? No? Just me and my little brother? Okay, well they’re REAL. Over 400 types of bizarre fish are bred in the Amazon BKK and you’re likely to catch a few of these bad boys if you go fishing, no matter how amateur your skills are.

16. Zipline at the Flight of the Gibbon

This 3 kilometer course is the highest in Thailand equipped with over 22 zip lines. Here, you can also get a ticket for a tram ride through the Khao Kaew Safari, which is also one of the best animal sanctuaries in the country.

17. Swim with Sharks

At Bangkok Ocean World, you can put on an oxygen helmet and hop right into the tank with the sharks.

18. Wat Pho

Wat Pho’s claim to fame is its reclining Buddha next to the Grand Palace. It’s best to visit here in the early morning or right before it is closing as to avoid the crowds.

19. Get a Thai Massage

The massages here will maybe be a bit painful at first, but that only means that it’s working. Besides, with massages as cheap as 150 Baht ($4.24) for a 1/2 hour, you can’t really say no.

20. Climb the Ghost Tower

During the Asian economic crisis in 1997, Sathorn Unique Tower was not able to be completed. Now known as the ghost tower, people like coming here to watch the sunset from the roof. Note: You will need to bribe the local people to get in here (around 100 Baht, $2.83) and then climb the stairs to the 49th floor for access to the top.

I hope this collection of adventures gave you a great starting point of what to do while on your travels. If you come across any other incredible things to do in Bangkok, please comment them below; I’d love to hear all about it!

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