Sun is out, flowers are blooming, birds are chirping…summer is just around the corner! Many start planning their summer holiday a month or two early. And I’m sure since you are reading this article, you are one of those people. Thailand is a famous country of choice in Southeast Asia when it comes to holiday destinations. Among which, Bangkok, the capital of Thailand is a popular choice. Many travel to Bangkok for cheap shopping and cheap and delicious food. But there are a lot of outdoor activities for you to do in Bangkok.
It is at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok that most tourists first enter the Thai country. To get to the city center from the airport, you have a choice between public transport, private company transfers, and regular taxis. You can always order an airport transfers bangkok. Bangkok takes an average of 15-20 minutes by car and about 30 minutes by public transport.
Here I have come up with a list of things you can do outdoors in Bangkok. If you have already decided to travel to Bangkok, fly with Cathay Pacific and check on flight booking to Bangkok.
Outdoor Activities in Bangkok
Ayutthaya
Only an hour away from Bangkok, Ayutthaya, the royal city, is a UNESCO world heritage. Built as early as 1350, Ayutthaya was the capital of the Kingdom of Siam. The Kingdom of Siam was the name before Thailand. Today, this famous UNESCO site was the ruin of the royal city back in the days.
There are multiple temples and statues at Ayutthaya Historical Park. You can see the Old Royal Palace and Wat Phra Si Sanphet, and imagine what life was like for people back in the 14th century. There’s also a floating market nearby, many tourists and locals enjoy a meal on the boat overthinking the temples in Ayutthaya. As the area is quite large, many choose to rent a bike to explore the once glamorous city. There are a number of bike rental shops around Ayutthaya.
The best time to visit Ayutthaya is either during the morning or late afternoon. As there aren’t a lot of shelters in this royal city, the sun at noon can be quite brutal. Make sure you pack enough water with you too.
Khao Kheow Open Zoo
Asia has a lot of exotic animals that you may have never seen in your life. Another way of spending a day outdoors having fun is to visit the Khao Kheow Open Zoo. Covering an area of 2000 acres, the Khao Kheow Open Zoo is one of the largest zoos in Thailand. You can find 8000 animals representing 300 species. Opened in 1974, the Khao Kheow Open Zoo has been working hard for wildlife conservation as well as educating the public about the magical animal kingdom.
Elephants are majestic animals in Thailand, here in Khao Kheow Open Zoo, not only can you say hi to them, you can feed them too! Well actually you can feed most of the animals here. Don’t feed them your own snacks though. You can buy feeding food in the zoo. You are able to get as close as possible to these animals and have a little sneak peak of their daily life. The zoo is open from 8am to 6pm. If you wish to avoid the crowd, do get there earlier.
Bangkok Dream World
If you are travelling with kids and you are having trouble finding a place for them to burn off some energy while staying at one place, then you should definitely check out Bangkok Dream World. Bangkok Dream World is like the Thai version of Disneyland. Bangkok Dream World is an European style amusement park.
There are a lot of beautiful buildings and statues in the park for you to take pictures. There’s also a number of thrilling amusement rides, from roller coaster, pirate boat to water related rides. It offers something to everyone. Yours kids will definitely have a blast here, as they can meet a lot of their favourite characters in the park or even go on rides that are the theme of their favourite cartoon. Apart from rides and places for pictures, the park has a few shows too! The animal show and the Hollywood show.
Do check their showtime when you enter the park. Every weekend at 3:45pm, there’s The Colors of World Parade. It’s very vibrant and crowded, so make sure to go to the Dream Garden early and grab a good spot! Bangkok Dream World is open from 10am to 5pm during the weekdays and up to 7pm during the holidays and weekends. So have your breakfast early and embark on this fun and magical journey!
Chao Phraya River
Chao Phraya Rive is the main river in Bangkok, it flows through Bangkok city then into the Gulf of Thailand. As the river is in the middle of Bangkok, it has become an important part of life for the locals. Many small merchants sell all kinds of products, but mainly food or seafood on the boat as they go across the river. Because the Chao Phraya River is such an important part of Bangkok, it has become a famous tourist site too.
Many take a cruise ride especially at night along the river while having a delicious meal and appreciate the wonder of Bangkok at night. It’s truly a captivating experience!
Sky Bar
Bangkok is a busy city filled with skyscrapers. The nightlife in Bangkok is amazing, but one of the most famous choices of all is to visit a sky bar. Many tourists and even locals choose to end their night on a sky bar overlooking the city while sipping cocktails and looking through pictures they took during the day.
Things are often cheap in Bangkok, and that includes sky bars. Though relatively a bit more pricey compared to small local bars, sky bars in Bangkok are a lot cheaper compared to other cities. They serve amazing food too! So if you are exhausted after a long day of adventure, hitting up a sky bar is definitely a good choice.
ChatuChak Weekend Market
Speaking of bargains in Bangkok, one cannot miss out on the Chatuchak Weekend Market. With a size of over 26 football fields, this massive daytime flea market is only open during the weekend, so plan your trip ahead.
As the world’s largest flea market ever, Chatuchak Weekend market has a lot to offer. You can buy all sorts of unique things here as well as try local street food. Be sure to have enough cash with you though, as most shops only accept cash. Head there early, because trust me, you won’t have enough time to treasure hunt.