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There are a ton of things to do in Bangkok, from the temples to the markets and the different activities you can take part in. Sometimes, it feels overwhelming to decide, when you have a limited time in the city. That’s why we reached out to our favorite bloggers to see what the 9 best activities are to do on your first trip to Bangkok, Thailand‘s capital.

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The 9 best activities to do on your first trip to Bangkok

From discovering Bangkok’s food scene to learning how to cook, chilling out in parks, navigating the canals or heading to fun museums, this list has everything you need to make your first trip to Bangkok amazing. Rain or shine, family trip, couple‘s getaway or solo traveler, there’s something for everyone.

Discover Bangkok’s food scene on your first trip

For first-timers, Bangkok’s food scene can be quite bewildering.  What with 5-star restaurants, hundreds of cafes and bars the food scene is a gastronomic delight. Luckily, there are two different ways you can discover all the delicious food in Bangkok. Both are great ways to jump into the food scene on your first trip to the capital.

1. Bangkok’s food tour with an app

If you’re nervous eating the local street food, don’t be, we can vouch for street food in the bustling capital, it’s tasty quick and cheap.  

We found a unique way not only to enjoy local Thai food but also learn about Bangkok along the way. A new way that you can take a food tour at your own pace even spread it over a day or two.

As long as you have a smartphone where you can download the App and local wifi. A Sim Card can be purchased from the airport at a reasonable cost. Then you’re all set to enjoy a Vegan Food Tour of Bangkok with Bitemojo. Believe me, even if you are not vegan, you’ll enjoy this food!

It’s quite simple. You download the App, purchase the Food Tour and an itinerary with all the details will be sent to you before your tour date. For this tour there are 6 bites – a bite is a decent size meal and we do advise that you start this tour feeling very hungry.

Our suggestion would be to start the tour at lunch, enjoy the first 3 “bites” and then return to your hotel, relax or have a swim and then head out in the late afternoon to enjoy the next 3.  

Our dishes included split pea fritters from Myanmar, Miso Soup, Vegan Poke Bowls, spring rolls, Vegan ice cream and a chocolate dessert. 

The journey starts in Sukhumvit Road near Thong Lo BTS Station. You wander with your App guiding you along the way down back streets trying different food outlets and highlighting historical and architectural sites along the way. Your adventure ends close to Asok BTS.

Here are a few key things to know about the app:
Current Price: $35 USD
Distance: 4km
Time:  10.30am – 8.00pm

2. Go on an actual food tour in Bangkok

Another one of the unmissable things to do in Bangkok during your first trip is joining an actual street food tour. You’ll quickly realize that it’s a fantastic way to discover all that the city has to offer. It’s also a great way to better appreciate the local way of life, as well as getting a better understanding of Thai history and culture.

Food tours usually start in the afternoon, at around 5:00 pm. The meeting point is typically right outside Chinatown. From there, tourists are guided through Chinatown, visiting the Flower Market, which is open 24/7, a few small temples, and last but definitely not least, making various stops at the best street food places.

Guides generally pick the places that are most frequented by locals as well as tourists. They also encourage participants in the tour to try a few local specialties, including noodle dishes such as egg or glass noodles with shrimps, chicken and eggs; seafood dishes such as grilled squid and scallops; and the most typical Thai style ravioli. If this is your first trip to Bangkok, you should eat as much as possible!

The tour eventually stops at fruit stalls where visitors can get a taste of delicious local pineapple and of the most typical Thai dessert, mango with sticky rice. 

3. Exploring the Thonburi Canals of Bangkok

One of our favorite things we did in Bangkok was to explore the canals or khlong of Thonburi. For your first trip to Bangkok, it’s a great way to see a very different side to this hectic bustling city. You know how much we love getting off the beaten path and getting a glimpse of local life!  

During the 18^th and 19^th centuries, Bangkok had a large network of these canals, earning it the name “Venice of the East”. However, over time, urbanization meant many of these were filled in to make roads required for the growing infrastructure.

One area where these canals remain intact is Thonburi. Located across the other side of the Chao Praya River from the Grand Place, Thonburi remained an independent province from Bangkok until 1971 and so escaped much of the modernization of the rest of the city.

Here you can see much of the original rustic charm of Bangkok. Hire a longboat and head over to Thonburi to explore for yourself. You will pass under old wooden bridges and cruise past ramshackle teak buildings and traditional temples alongside newer constructions as you explore the criss-cross of canals.

Ask your longboat driver to stop off at the Baan Silapin (Artist’s House). This artist’s community is housed in a 200-year old teak house and is a real cultural treasure trove. You’ll find a large collection of traditional puppets and an upstairs gallery where you can watch the artists in action and browse through their work. The highlight is a traditional puppet show, which is held every afternoon at 2 pm except Wednesdays. The show is based on the traditional story of Hanuman, and the puppet troupe is really talented and hugely entertaining. Lots of laughs guaranteed!

4. Chill out in Bangkok’s Lumphini Park

If you’re looking for a place to escape the traffic fumes and noise of Bangkok, especially during your first trip, Lumphini Park is the perfect place for you.

There’s very little green space in Bangkok, which is why Lumphini Park is so popular. There are several paths that you can walk along, and it’s a great place to spot birds.  

You’ll also find serval monitor lizards basking in the sun. If you’ve never come across one yet, they look similar to a crocodile, but they’re harmless. They usually lounge around the outskirts of the park.  

In the middle of the park, there are two lakes where you can hire a pedalo for a bit of fun. The park is also popular with joggers and people using the free outdoor gym equipment. You’ll also find people practicing yoga or Tai Chi and just before sunset; there’s a free aerobics class for all to participate in if you want to give it a try.

It’s a great place for a picnic, and during the weekend the park is usually busy with families enjoying the open space. If you want to grab some food, there are plenty of food stalls outside the gates near the Rama VI statue. On weekends, there’s a market that sells fresh produce as well.

For the best views of the park head to the Hi-SO rooftop bar in the Sofitel Hotel just outside the park. It’s a fabulous place to watch the sunset and relax with a cocktail. An added bonus is that the views over Lumphini Park are stunning.

The easiest way to get to this rare green oasis in the middle of the city is either from Sala Daeng BTS station or Silom MRT station.

5. Have fun at Bangkok’s art museum

The best way to experience art is to become a part of it and in this is definitely what happens when you enter the Paradise Art Museum in Bangkok. These museums are very popular in Asia, and for your first trip here, they’re like a rite of passage!

The interactive 3D images draw you in to literally become part of the picture. Fondly known as Trickeye Museum or 3D Museum by the locals, this is the perfect place for families and friends to unleash their creativity in thinking up catchy poses amidst a good variety of backgrounds like The Stair Way to Hell and the Magic Carpet. 

Entry to the museum will set you back 300THB for adults and 200THB for children but this is actually a good-value spend as it does keep children entertained for hours. Plus, you go home with amazing pictures for your virtual social media walls or real-world living room.

Located on the 4th floor of the Esplanade Mall on Ratchadapisek Road, take the underground MRT to the Thailand Cultural Centre Station and leave through Exit No. 3. Turn left and walk 50 meters to the Esplanade Mall. Open from 10 AM to 10 PM with the ticket booth closing at 9 PM, it would be best to call +6626609130 just in case there are any changes due to public holidays. 

6. Taking a Cooking Class during your first trip to Bangkok

Taking a cooking class is a must for anyone who’s on their first trip to Bangkok. If you want to learn more about Thai cuisine, this is a must for you. But what if I told you that possibly the best cooking course you could take was called Cooking With Poo!

No, don’t panic, it’s nothing unpleasant – Poo is the nickname of Bangkok chef Khun Poo! Booking her class not only makes cooking fantastic dishes like Pad Thai or Massaman Curry seem easy, but it also gives back to a part of the community most visitors to Bangkok don’t see.

Khun comes from Klong Toey, one of Bangkok’s poorest areas and, she holds her courses in her cooking school right in the middle of it. Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe but by doing this Poo helps give back to the community. She employs her neighbors to help her cook and buys her supplies from locals who sell at the nearby Klong Toey wet market.

In fact, after they pick you up in her minibus, the trip starts at Klong Toey where Poo and her team take you shopping for the day’s ingredients. They tell you all about some of the more unusual things sold on the stalls you walk past. When shopping is finished, you head back to the Cooking School and lessons begin. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to make great Thai food.  

One last note – don’t eat breakfast before you go. You make a lot of food – and you get to eat it all afterward – and it’s delicious.

7. Explore the Mahanakhon Skywalk for the first time

If you’re craving for some adventure in Bangkok, then taking a walk on a large glass tray 78 floors above the ground should do the trick. Yes, that is what the skywalk at the Mahanakhon Tower in Bangkok has to offer every visitor.

Mahanakhon skywalk, which recently opened to the public, is coupled together with a visit to Thailand’s highest observation deck called the Peak. The deck offers you splendid 360-degree views of downtown Bangkok.

However, the main attraction is the skywalk which is a glass tray that you can walk, sit, or lie down on. Once you are on it, do take a peek at the world below. Cars and humans seem like small specks on the earth. It is not recommended for people with a fear of heights.

The skywalk is open every day between 10 am and midnight, the last admission being at 11 pm. Tickets to the skywalk are usually priced at 765 Thai Baht. However, discounts are common and available on the official website. It is ideal to buy your tickets online to avoid the crowds.

Getting to Mahanakhon Tower is easy because it is directly connected to the BTS Skytrain station at Chong Nonsi. You can also take the bus or drive.

Of course, there are a ton of other things you can see and do on your first trip to Bangkok. But if you’re looking to do something different, get an authentic taste of the culture, these are the 9 best activities you can do in Bangkok.

8. Check out all the best temples in Bangkok

There are hundreds of temples in and around Bangkok. Obviously, you can’t check them all out on your first trip (or your second or third), so we’ve asked our favorite travel bloggers to let us know their top temples. Check out our article here on the top temples to visit on your first trip to Bangkok.

9. Go to the best markets in Bangkok

Regardless of what you’re looking to purchase, Bangkok has a market for you. Again, you can’t expect to see all of the markets in Bangkok on your first trip to Thailand’s capital. That’s why we asked our blogger friends to let us know the top markets to visit in Bangkok. Check out our article here.

Where to stay in Bangkok

There is no shortage of places to stay in Bangkok. You can find something for every budget and every preference. We love finding places to stay on Booking.com. From hotels to apartments and hostels, they have it all, at great prices!

How to be eco-friendly in Bangkok

As always, we want to be sure everyone travels in the most eco-friendly way possible! That’s why we want to share these few little tips with you to make your stay in Bangkok as eco-friendly and sustainable as possible.

1. Bring reusable water bottles and coffee mug: Tap water in Bangkok and Thailand is not safe to drink. So make sure you bring a reusable water bottle that you can fill up (we always have our Lifestraw Go with us!) The Lifestraw helps filter water, making it safe to drink. You should have seen the faces of locals every time we asked them to fill our bottle! They are shocked when we explain how our bottle makes the water safe to drink!
2. Eat as local and vegan as you can: This is the easiest way to reduce your environmental footprint. Eat as much local produce and food as possible, and especially, eat all the vegan options you can! It’s a delicious and easy way to reduce your carbon footprint. And don’t worry, there is no shortage of vegan or vegetarian options to eat in Bangkok!
3. Bring your own bags and refuse plastic bags: Like most places, they still offer plastic bags in grocery stores, at the local markets, and at various shops. So bring your own bag and do your little step to save our beautiful planet!
4. Walk around: We walked all around Bangkok and had a great time getting lost in its streets. It helped that our hotel was so centrally located to so many of the main attractions in Bangkok.
5. Use public transportation to get around Bangkok: The subways, water taxis and busses in Bangkok were quite easy to use and they cover such a vast area. It’s very easy and cheap to get around the city using public transportation. So make sure you use as much public transportation as you can!

There you have it! The best things to do on your first trip to Bangkok. There is certainly more to see and do, but considering this is your first trip to Thailand’s capital, start with this!

Let us know in the comments what you’re most excited to do in Bangkok.

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