Thailand

Exciting Bangkok bucket list: indulge all your senses!

This Bangkok Bucket list is a fun way to explore the Thai capital, checking off the things you have seen! The city has a vast amount of things to do and see, so depending on the time you have to visit, you need to pick the most enjoyable things based on your interest.

Bangkok, Thailand is one of the top tourist and TEFL destinations in the world. Its attractions, multifaceted sights, interesting culture and dynamic nightlife attract all types of tourists. Immerse yourself in the cultural and historical heritage of Bangkok by exploring different places and visiting temples or learn about Bangkok’s national food and drinks and eat your heart out.

With so much to eat, see and do in the Thai capital, we thought it would be nice to have a list to help you plan all the top things to do in Bangkok. This list allows you to indulge all your senses at one of the most bustling cities in Asia. Can you tick them all off?

Bangkok cultural bucket list – Are you ready to explore it all?

Bangkok has royal palaces, temples, historical and cultural attractions making it an ideal destination for most visitors. Wat Arun and Wat Pho are by far my favorites amongst the 400+ temples in the capital. Just be sure to dress appropriately before visiting, as shoulders and knees must always be covered when visiting the Temples in Bangkok!

Here are my favorite cultural activities that you can do in Bangkok:

  • Watch a muay thai match or participate in a lesson
  • See the Wat Arun temple. Getting its name from the Indian God of Dawn – Arun, the temple can be viewed at any time of the day, but there’s something magical about seeing it during sunrise and sunset
  • Visit the Wat Pho temple, the oldest and largest of the temples in Bangkok and home to the Buddha temple which stands tall at fifteen meters and is forty-six meters long
  • Visit the grand palace and Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok’s number 1 tourist attraction
  • Discover plenty of art in the Creative District Bangkok. It can be found around the streets of the Bangrak and Khlong San districts. Connected by a ferry between the Chao Phraya River
  • See Wat Samphran, the dragon temple
  • Take a boat tour in a small longtail boat in the floating market Taling Chan

  • Go water fighting during Songkran festival in april (Thai New year, three-day holiday is celebrated across the country)
  • Take part in Tai Chi in Lumpini Park, the largest and oldest green space in the city
  • See the famous Buddha head in the tree at Ayutthaya, One of the best day trips from Bangkok
  • Take a 1/2 day trip to visit Wat Samphran
  • Learn the history surrounding Death Railway and cross the bridge over the River Kwai at Kanchanaburi. Several memorial sites and museums are dotted about this area. 
  • Soak up some Thai history at the Bangkok National Museum
  • Catch a live Muay Thai Show at Asiatique
  • Enjoy watching a classic Bangkok Puppet Show
  • Pay a visit to the Jim Thompson House and learn about Thailand’s silk industry
  • Witness the locals worship their gods at the Erawan Shrine
  • Get a whiff of the most fragrant flowers at the Pak Khlong Flower Market
  • Participate in a cooking class for example at Maliwan Thai Cooking Class. This is one of the most popular and highly rated cooking classes in Bangkok so could be a great option to tie in!
  • Visit the Thai Human Imagery Museum, a wax museum depicting famous figures in Thai history & culture
  • Cruise along the Chao Phraya River and see the city’s highlights from a different perspective
  • Hire a boat at the lake in Lumpini Park

Other fun activities in Bangkok –  Can you tick them all off?

Next to all the amazing culture related activities from above, there’re also other fun activities and experiences that I think should be added to your Bangkok bucket list. Here’s an overview:

  • Meet other travelers or immerse yourself in the party vibe of the famous Khao San Road. A visit to the Khao San road is a sure shot fun time. Swamped with bars, restaurants, market stalls and every insect on a stick you can imagine, it’s worth adding to your Bangkok bucket list
  • See planes up close at The Airplane Graveyard, located in the Bang Kapi District
  • Shop at Central World, the largest mall in Thailand and one of the largest in the world
  • Try some local transportation like a ride in a Tuk Tuk, motorcycle taxi or in the sky train
  • Shop at one of the largest markets in the world, the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market (open only on Saturday and Sunday)
  • Ease yourself with Thai massage
  • Watch a Ladyboy show. Most of them are incredibly talented singers, dancers, contortionists
  • Go Street Art Hunting. The main areas to check out are Chaloemla Gardens, Talat Not, Charoen Krung Road and the Canal Bank.
  • Participate in a bicycle tour throughout the capital, a fun way to explore unknown parts
  • Challenge your senses at the dialogue in the dark experience
  • Get up or stay up for a sunrise, for example at the Avani Riverside Hotel

Food bucket list Bangkok – traditional food and drinks

A trip to Bangkok is not complete without having tried the national dish Pad Thai or the famous mango and sticky rice. Make sure not to miss the traditional food and drinks from the list below:

  • Load up on selfies and sugary drinks at the Unicorn Cafe. The address is 44/1 Soi Sathon 8, Silom, Bang Rak
  • Have a drink at the Lebua State Tower (The hangover sky bar at a height of 247 meters), which gives the best views of the capital’s skyline
  • Visit the best floating market in the neighborhood of Bangkok: The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (100 kilometers from the capital)
  • Have a drink at #FindthePhotobooth, if you can find their secret entrance 😉
  • Try street food at Sukhumvit Soi 11, a street in downtown Bangkok whose streets get lined up with street food vendors
  • Visit Somboon Seafood Surawong and try the Thai fried curry crab or river prawns (both not cheap!)
  • Head to Famous Ba Mee on the Sukhumvit 38 for some tasty egg noodles
  • Visit to Jai Fai’s street joint for an amazing treat of crab omelets
  • Eat the famous local dessert of mango and sticky rice
  • Visit Bangkok’s version of Chinatown and eat street food at Yaowarat
  • Enjoy another amazing view at the Vertigo and Moon Bar which is situated on the 61st floor of the Banyan Tree Hotel
  • Drink the local Chang Beer
  • Test your nerves at the Maeklong Train Market, one of the most bizarre markets in the world
  • Visit Khlong Toey Market, Bangkok’s largest fresh food and wet market
  • Drink at Jacks Bar, located directly on the banks of the Chao Praya river.
  • Eat the national dish Pad Thai. You’ll find Pad Thai at every street food market you visit.
  • Visit Pahurat (little India) and eat some roti canai or chicken tikka.
  • Embrace the vibrant night market life at Jodd Fairs
  • Drink from fresh-picked coconut


As you can see, Bangkok has a vast list of things to see and do. Do you know any other fun things to see or do in Bangkok that I should include in this list? Let me know in the comments!

Author: Daphne

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