The Best Outdoor Activities in and Around Bangkok
With year-round hot weather and endless sunshine (minus the rainy season), Bangkok is an ideal metropolis when it comes to amazing outdoor activities. Here are the best.
Many Bangkok visitors only spend a few days in the city, scoping out the major sites, before scramming to the islands and beaches beyond. But if you look past the Grand Palace, Reclining Buddha and buzzing nightlife, you’ll find a bevvy of exciting outdoor activities, from cultural landmarks to adrenaline-pumping adventures. Bangkok, like any major city, is home to amusement parks, racetracks, open-air markets and much more. If you want to get beyond the major tourist attractions and discover what the city’s residents already know and love, let this list steer you in the right direction.
Bike or jog around Lumpini Park
Park
Shop at one of the biggest flea markets in the world
Market, Shop, Store, Gym, Park
Cruise the canals
Natural Feature
One of Bangkok’s nicknames is the Venice of the East, owing to its intricate network of canals that snake their way through the city. Two of the main canals worth exploring are Khlong Saen Saep, which slices through the centre of Bangkok running east to west, and Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem, which runs north to south and intersects with Saen Saep at the Bobae Market (Bangkok’s largest wholesale clothing market). At around 20 Thai baht (51p), it’s incredibly cheap to zip through these canals, and you’ll see a side of Bangkok that few tourists ever experience. Just mind the water as it’s pretty mucky.
Get wet and wild at Siam Amazing Park
Amusement Park, Park
Take a zip line over the rainforest at Flight of the Gibbon
Park, Natural Feature
If you’re looking to get your heart pumping while basking in Thailand’s lush rainforests, there’s nothing quite like a zip-line excursion on the outskirts of the city. Flight of the Gibbon is a zip-line company that will pick you up and drop you off in Bangkok, escorting you south to Pattaya where they have three kilometres (1.9 miles) of zip lines that rise above the Chonburi forest canopy. Guides also teach visitors about the merits of eco-tourism and the state of the jungle in today’s hectic world.
See all the animals at Safari World
Amusement Park
For lovers of animals but not necessarily zoos, Safari World on the outskirts of Bangkok hits the sweet spot. The amusement park features two sections: Marine Park – which is like SeaWorld – and Safari Park, where you can drive your car to see all the animals. The Safari Park has hundreds of species, including zebras, rhinos and giraffes, in addition to more predatory animals like lions, tigers and bears. The animals all roam free, and you can get very close to the action in your vehicle or one of the park’s shuttles. Getting here requires a car, bus, minivan or taxi as there’s no rail service to this area of the city.
Mosey and dine down the river on an antique rice barge
Restaurant, Thai
Drive a race car at Taki Racing School
Amusement Park
For the thrill seeker, there’s a racing experience in Bangkok that is not to be missed. Experience Formula Renault driving at the Taki Racing School, where you can achieve speeds of up to 230 kilometres (143 miles) per hour. The costs here are not cheap, with a half-day running in the 15,000 Thai baht (£379) range and a full day at 35,000 baht (£884), but this experience is unlike any other racing opportunity you’ll ever get.
Breathe in Bangkok’s lungs
Park