10 Things to Do on a Rainy Day in Bangkok

Museums are not all travelers’ cup of tea. That being said, the capital is home to a few that will impress visitors with their wide range of artifacts, information, and interesting finds. One of these is the National Museum Bangkok. Founded in 1887 by King Rama V, the artifacts found inside the museum’s massive grounds date back thousands of years ago. Another interesting yet disturbing museum is the Siriraj Medical Museum, otherwise dubbed as the ‘Death Museum.’ Its artifacts are seemingly more gruesome than visitors would find anywhere else in the world. The Museum of Siam, National Museum of Royal Barges, and the Jim Thompson House Museum are all noteworthy, as well.

The National Museum Bangkok, Khwaeng Chana Songkhram, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon/Bangkok, Thailand, +66 02 281 2224

Siriraj Medical Museum, 2 Wanglang Road, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok, Thailand, +66 2419 2601 2

Bangkok is home to some of the most impressive movie theaters in the world. Paragon Cineplex in the luxurious Siam Paragon is equipped with an IMAX theater and 4D movie experiences with 10 different special effects. Scala Theatre located just across the street from Siam Paragon does not look like it has aged since it was built, offering movie-goers a different type of cinema experience with its vintage vibe. Whatever type of cinema experience you are on the lookout for, Bangkok’s theaters are eager to please.

Paragon Cineplex, Siam Paragon, 991 Rama I Rd, Khwaeng Pathum Wan, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand, +66 02 129 4635

Scala Theatre, Siam I, Rama I Rd – Siam Square Soi 2, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand, +66 02 251 2861

Coffee connoisseurs will be happy to hear that Bangkok’s caffeine scene is a thriving one. With delicious brews found across the city, coffee drinkers will not be disappointed with the vast selection of cafes to choose from. There are coffee shops open late, should night owls want to head to places like Too Fast to Sleep and 24 Owls Café and Bistro. Those looking for a comfortable shop to curl up and enjoy the rain with a novel in tow should check out places like (un) FASHION Café near the BTS skytrain station Ekkamai, with plush benches and plenty of windows to watch the storm pass.

Too Fast to Sleep, Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10220, Thailand, +66 97 158 9000

24 Owls Café and Bistro, 39/9 Soi.Ekamai12 Sukhumvit63 Road, Klongtannuah Khwaeng Khlong Tan Nuea, Khet Watthana, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110, Thailand, +66 2 391 4509

There are plenty of places in the capital where you can unleash your inner artist indoors. JWD Workshop is a place where visitors can create everything from flower boxes to DIY body scrub. Those who enjoy getting creative with a glass of wine in tow may instead opt to visit Paintbar Bangkok, where you can create your own masterpiece while enjoying wine, beer, or cider. There are non-alcoholic beverages, as well. Those looking for new accessories should head to the Oneform—Onepiece School of Jewelry, where visitors can learn to make their own jewelry.

JWD Workshop, 113/12 Ratcha Damnern Road Phra Prathom Chedi Muang Nakorn Prathom 73000, +66 863 746 953

Paintbar Bangkok, 6th floor, Piman 49, 46/4 Sukhumvit soi 49 Klhong Tan Watthana, Bangkok 10110, +66 081 001 0849

Oneform-OnePiece School of Jewelry, สุขุมวิท, 125/19 ซอย สุขุมวิท 55 Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, +66 086 336 5337

Avoid the rain and instead get your sweat on in the City of Angels. Bangkok prides itself on its cool reputation, and the many workout studios in the capital are certainly upholding this hip vibe. Make a beeline for Surfset Thailand to take to a surfboard to get your workout on. Maybe a spinning class at Absolute You is more your style, while studios like Divine Yoga offer some of the best yoga classes in town. However if you want to get your sweat on in the city, there is surely a studio for you.

Surfset Thailand, 46/4 Piman 49 5th Floor, Soi Sukhumvit 49 Sukhumvit Road, Khlong Tan Nuea, Whattana, Bangkok 10110, +66 02 662 4566

Absolute Yoga, 11th Floor, Amarin Plaza, Ploenchit Rd., Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, +66 0-2252-4400

Divine Yoga, 283/40 Home Place Office Building, 8th Floor, Sukhumvit 55 (Thonglor) Rd., Klongton Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, +66 (0) 2 712 7100

What better way to spend a rainy day in Bangkok than by meandering an art gallery? The capital is home to many artistic venues, sporting everything from contemporary art to photorealism and more. Visitors can spend hours roaming the circular shaped Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. The gallery is home to many exhibitions as well as quaint coffee shops, bookstores, and venues that host workshops, should you want to create your own masterpiece. Other noteworthy galleries in the city include 100 Tonson Gallery, WTF Bangkok, and Cho Why.

Bangkok Art and Culture Centre 939 Rama 1 Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand, +66 02 214 6630

Tonson Gallery 100 Soi Tonson, Ploenchit Rd., Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand, +66 2 010 5813

Cho Why, Soi Nana 17, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Chinatown, Bangkok, Thailand

Shine that baht, as the shopping in the capital is some of the best in the world. Bangkok is equipped with everything from luxurious, high-end shopping malls to indoor bazaars of sorts, all of which are indoors. Those looking for designer brands should head to places like Siam Paragon, Central World, and Emporium. Those travelers on a budget should instead visit places like MBK. Anyone looking for something other than clothes may instead opt to visit Pantip Plaza, where you’ll find thousands of electronic items and accessories for affordable prices.

Siam Paragon, 991 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, +66 02 690 1000

Central World, 999/9 Rama I Rd, Bangkok, Thailand, +66 084 424 6489

Emporium, 622,626 Khlong Toei, Bangkok, Thailand, +66 02 269 1000

MBK Center, 444 8th Fl. MBK Center Phayathai Rd., Pathumwan Bangkok +66 660 2620

A trip to Thailand is not complete without taking a Thai cooking class. While a visit to the market may be off the table on a rainy day, much of a cooking class is spent indoors anyway and is a noteworthy experience regardless. There are many cooking schools in the capital, including Blue Elephant, Silom Thai Cooking School, and May Kaidee, just to name a few.

Blue Elephant, 233 South Sathorn Road, Kwaeng Yannawa, Khet Sathorn, Bangkok, Thailand +66 (2) 6739353-8

Silom Thai Cooking School, 68 Waiti, Khwaeng Silom, Khet Bang Rak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10500, +66 084 726 5669

May Kaidee +66 089 137 3173

There are seemingly one too many places to get pampered in the capital. From the seedy massage parlors adjacent Soi Cowboy with massages starting at only ฿100 to the most luxurious of venues, the city has it all. Those looking for something a bit more high-end may opt to visit AWAY Spa or the Banyan Tree Spa. It is here visitors will find modern treatment rooms and the most professional of masseuses. City-goers can also explore the many sois (streets) and they will surely stumble upon many cheap massage parlors that will not break the bank with their assorted available treatments, from Thai massages to oil massages and even milk massages. Ruen-Nuad Massage Studio is another noteworthy massage studio in the city.

Away Spa,W Bangkok, 106 North Sathorn Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok, 10500, Thailand, +66 (0) 2 344 4000

Banyan Tree, 21 S Sathorn Rd, Khwaeng Thung Maha Mek, Khet Sathon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand, +66 2 679 1200

A visit to the Artist’s House is a great way to spend the day in Bangkok, regardless of whether or not it is raining. The artistic venue, found in the old capital of Thonburi, is home to a traditional puppet show every day (except Wednesday) at 2 pm. The show is incredibly entertaining, even though visitors (unless they speak Thai) will not know what the puppets are saying. Regardless, it is a rare treat to see traditional Thai puppetry, as it is a dying art form in the country. When the show is over, visitors can enjoy lunch on the canal or meander the gift shop filled with cheap and unique Thai souvenirs.
Baan Silapin Khlong Bang Luang, 315 Wat Tong Sala Ngam Alley, Soi Phet Kasem Rd, Pa Si Charoen, 28 Phet Kasem, Khwaeng Nong Khaem, Khet Nong Khaem, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10160, Thailand, +66 2 868 5279