The Ultimate Bangkok Bucket List: 10 Things You Can’t Miss
Introduction
Did you know in 2024 Bangkok was the most visited city in the entire world!? And honestly, I get it. It’s packed with culture, people and seemingly endless things to do. I just went back for the third time, spending over a month exploring this city and still barely scratched the surface. If you’re only planning on spending a few days this list will narrow down the things you should absolutely do while in Bangkok. From exploring temples, massive malls to the best cafes, here’s everything you can’t miss!
1. Go to the Huge Malls
Bangkok is home to some of the most impressive malls in the world! They aren’t just amazing places to shop but, an entire experience. The malls are the perfect place to seek refuge from the scorching sun on those super hot days. You can also find some of the best places to eat, from small local stalls to Michelin star restaurants. It’s easy to spend hours in any of these enormous malls. The list below are my favourite ones!
ICONSIAM: 7 floors of impressive architecture, over 500 stores and 100 different restaurants. There’s an incredible indoor floating market, SOOKSIAM, which is a must-see when you come to Bangkok. Be sure to come hungry, they have different zones which feature cuisine from all over Thailand! Floor 6 is my favourite, Alangkarn, another massive dining area with food from all over the world. They even have an impressively massive movie theatre that has films running in English with Thai subtitles. I went back to this mall again and again, finding something new each time.
MBK Center: This mall is massive and a great place to score a deal on practically anything! From tech, jewelry, clothing and luggage, there are hundreds of small shops selling everything you could imagine. They also are home to Don Don Donki, anybody who’s been to Japan will recognize this iconic department store! A great place to buy practically anything, especially skincare and Japanese products.
Central World: I went to this mall specifically to go to this Japanese bookstore called Kinokuniya and it did not disappoint. But, I loved this mall so much I ended up staying to eat dinner and watch a movie at the SF World Cinema.
Central Embassy Mall: This mall has a floor that is a dedicated coworking space, which is perfect for digital nomads. With loads of cafes, restaurants and just a great vibe to get some work done. There’s a fee to use this space but if you buy food or drinks you can use the space for free. I loved it here and actually wrote my first ever post for this blog while there!
Emsphere: This mall is one of Bangkok’s newest malls and is part of ‘Em District’, connected with two other massive malls: EmQuartier and Emporium. Go to the Emsphere for the giant food court and come hungry!
2. Explore the Cafe Culture
Thailand is known for their unique cafe culture, offering amazing drinks, food and great experiences. If you’re looking for a chill place to hang out or are a digital nomad looking to get some work done while travelling these are my favourite cafes!
Hau Yong Seng: This chill cafe is located at an old soy sauce factory right along the water and offers some pretty unique drinks! Their most popular drinks are: a soy sauce latte, soy sauce soda and soy sauce Thai tea. The soy sauce gives them a complex umami flavour that is so delicious! They have a regular food and drink menu as well, even selling soy sauce they produce on site.
Piccolo Vicalo: There are two different locations, the one I went to at Ratchathewi and it was the perfect spot for both digital nomads or anybody just looking to hang out. One of the floors, with air conditioning, is very quiet and full of other people working. The level above is an open concept with lots of greenery in a relatively minimalist concrete building. So no matter what you’re up to, it’s a great place to be.
Rocket Coffeebar: This cafe has delicious drinks and Western food. A bit on the pricier side and not a great place to work or hang out for a while. But, a great place to grab a tasty brunch, baked goods or a drink. The peanut butter latte and coconut matcha latte were my favourites!
Natura Cafe: This cafe is out of the downtown area but is well worth the drive there. An incredible retreat out of city life, into a lush garden full of trees, plants and beautiful flowers. The cafe is located right on the water with a restaurant serving food as well. It wasn’t busy at all when I went and is a great way to spend a hot day under the cover of the trees. The drinks and food were incredible, with lots of vegan and vegetarian options as well.
Mmd Cafe: Amazing coffee and a great place to work for digital nomads. They have reliable internet and a minimalist interior that makes it easy to lock-in and work. I spent a few days working out of this cafe because I just loved the vibe.
3. Spend an Evening in Chinatown
One of the largest Chinatowns in the entire world! An amazing way to spend an evening trying Chinese delicacies through street food vendors and in restaurants. The main road to visit is Yaowarat which is brightly lit and bustling with people, delicious smells and full of flavours. Bring your appetite and be sure to try the delicious street food.
4. Chatuchak Weekend Market
The world’s largest weekend market! This market has it all, from affordable clothes, beautiful decorations, unique souvenirs, and delicious street food. It runs on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays. On Fridays it runs from 6pm to midnight and is open 9am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. I recommend going early because it gets really busy and crowded later in the day. Carve out a few hours of your day to explore this huge market and soak in the atmosphere. Some places accept cards but be sure to bring cash as well. The market is a bit outside of the main city centre but you can get there easily by taking a Grab bike or car.
5. Get a Massage and Try Spa Services
Thailand is known for their incredible and affordable massages. Massage and spa services are typically super inexpensive compared to the price in many other countries. They’re the perfect way to rest and relax while travelling. Thai massage parlors and spas offer many different types of massages, treatments and services.
I recommend trying a Thai massage at least once if you haven’t before! Instead of a traditional oil massage you are dressed in a set of loose robes and they apply pressure along your body and move your body to help you stretch. It can feel intense at times but you leave feeling relaxed, with improved circulation and feeling nicely stretched out.
There are so many Spas and Massage Parlors in Bangkok with varying price ranges. Some touristy places can have much more expensive massages, especially if the facility itself is really beautiful. The cheapest places I found were around Khao San Road, but not directly on the street. It’s also always good to read reviews first to make sure the place seems okay. Especially because some places are just targeted towards men looking for a little extra, if you know what I mean.
6. Lumphini Park
Bangkok has one of the lowest percentages of green spaces than many other major cities across the globe. So, it’s good to take advantage of the parks they do have! Lumpini Park is a nice escape from city life and has lots of shady trees, places to relax and is home to a vast number of monitor lizards! It’s a great place to bring lunch for a peaceful break. This is a public park so admission is free.
7. Temple Hopping
Bangkok is home to over 400 temples! The temples are absolutely stunning and great places to learn more about Thai culture. As for the dress code, for women, shoulders and knees must be covered so be sure to wear a long skirt or pants (and make sure they’re breathable because it gets so hot). I went to the most popular temples so they were very busy so try to get their early if you can!
Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn): Supposedly the most popular and photographed temple in all of Bangkok. It’s incredibly tall differing from other Thai temples, with the main spire being 269 ft tall! The architecture from the inside and outside is stunning with a peaceful atmosphere.
Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha): Incredible temple complex but most well known for the enormous Reclining Buddha Statue. The statue is over 150 feet long and is really impressive. If you only have time to do one temple while in Bangkok I would go to this one!
Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha):Wat Phra Kaew is located within the grounds of the Grand Palace and is one of Thailand’s most sacred temples. It is home to an emerald Buddha statue that isn’t physically big, but holds an important spiritual significance to Thai people.
8. Go to a Rooftop Bar
Hanging out on a rooftop, taking in the impressive views of skyscrapers and the city below cannot be missed. Whether you’re just grabbing a drink or looking for a meal, there are hundreds of places to go. It’s best to go near sunset to watch it from up high. I loved Three Sixty Lounge on the 31st floor of the Millennium Hilton. The views were unreal and they had lots of non-alcoholic drinks to choose from (sober girl approved).
9. Try Local Cuisine
Thailand has some of the most delicious food in the entire world, at least in my opinion. Their cuisine is typically spicy and perfectly hits every flavour note, sweet, sour, savoury and salty. Don’t be that tourist who eats Pad Thai and 711 toasties everyday on your trip. Get out of your comfort zone and try to find dishes you’ve never heard of. Try to find restaurants off the beaten path, and don’t be afraid to try the street food. My favorite dishes are Massaman curry, Mango Sticky Rice, Som Tum (Green Papaya Salad), Pad See Ew, Tom Yum (Spicy Soup) and Pad Kra Pao (check out Original Pad Kra Pao for a cheap and authentic meal).
10. Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
This is the place to go for art lovers! The admission is completely free and this gorgeous building is home to various art exhibits, people selling local art, cafes and more. It’s open everyday of the week, except Mondays, from 10 am to 8pm. It’s a great way to spend a few hours and right across from the MBK Center mall so you can head there for lunch after your visit.
Conclusion
I spent weeks in Bangkok and still didn’t see it all but, even a few days there can be unforgettable. With delicious food, a rich cultural history and magnificent sights, Bangkok has something for everyone. Whether you’re a digital nomad, foodie or solo backpacker, I hope this list helps you plan your Bangkok adventure! It’s one of my favourite cities I’ve ever been to and a place I will return to again and again. Let me know in the comments if there is anything you love in Bangkok I missed on this list because I’m already planning my return!
