Free things to do · Bangkok · Thailand
7 free things to do in Bangkok
Bangkok without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mastertongapollo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Bangkok without paying an entry fee: Chatuchak Weekend Market, Chinatown and Yaowarat Road, Erawan Shrine and Lumphini Park are all free. Eat at street stalls and mall food courts, where a full meal costs a fraction of restaurant prices.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 7
- Low-cost extras
- 10
- Cost level
- Affordable
- Lowest hotel prices
- May–June and September
Free sights and experiences
Market · Chatuchak
1.Chatuchak Weekend Market
Arrive early before the heat builds, grab a map at the entrance and carry small notes for bargaining.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Iconic
- Free
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Neighbourhood · Chinatown
2.Chinatown and Yaowarat Road
Go after 6pm for the food, take the MRT to Wat Mangkon, and eat at stalls with queues of locals.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- After dark
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Religious site · Ratchaprasong
3.Erawan Shrine
Visit in the evening when it is busiest, and avoid standing directly in front of people praying.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
Park · Silom
4.Lumphini Park
Go early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat, and keep a respectful distance from the monitor lizards.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Waterfront · Thonburi riverside
5.ICONSIAM
Eat dinner at SookSiam, then watch the river from the terrace; arrive by shuttle boat or the Gold Line monorail.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Rainy day
- Free
- Kids
Neighbourhood · Talat Noi
6.Talat Noi
Walk in from MRT Hua Lamphong or Si Phraya pier, then continue into Chinatown for dinner.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
- History
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Gallery · Pathum Wan
7.Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
Ride the escalators to the top floor and walk down the spiral ramp through the exhibitions.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Chatuchak | Chatuchak Weekend Market | 3–4 hours |
| Chinatown | Chinatown and Yaowarat Road | 2–3 hours |
| Ratchaprasong | Erawan Shrine | 20 minutes |
| Silom | Lumphini Park | 1 hour |
| Thonburi riverside | ICONSIAM | 2–3 hours |
| Talat Noi | Talat Noi | 1–2 hours |
| Pathum Wan | Bangkok Art and Culture Centre | 1–1.5 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Religious site · Rattanakosin
Wat Pho
Drop a coin into each of the 108 bronze bowls along the Reclining Buddha's back for luck, then book a massage at the temple's school.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Architecture
Religious site · Thonburi
Wat Arun
See it close up in the morning, then watch it light up at sunset from a riverside terrace on the Tha Tien side.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Views
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Experience · Chao Phraya River
Chao Phraya Express Boat
Use the regular orange-flag boats rather than tourist boats to save money, and let passengers off before you board.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Kids
Religious site · Chinatown
Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha)
Visit before an evening in Chinatown; it is a short walk from MRT Hua Lamphong.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
- Art
Museum · Pathum Wan
Jim Thompson House
Combine it with the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre near BTS National Stadium, a few minutes' walk away.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Art
- Rainy day
Religious site · Banglamphu
Wat Saket (Golden Mount)
Climb in the late afternoon for softer light and a cooler breeze at the top.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · Dusit
Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple)
Visit early in the morning, when monks may be chanting and the marble is still cool underfoot.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Rattanakosin
Bangkok National Museum
Use it as a rainy-season retreat in the old town; the Grand Palace is about a 10-minute walk away.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Rattanakosin
Museum Siam
Arrive or leave by MRT Sanam Chai, whose station hall is decorated like a royal palace.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Nature · Bang Krachao
Bang Krachao
Take a longtail ferry from Wat Khlong Toei Nok pier, rent a bicycle on arrival and set off early before the heat.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
More ways to save
- Eat at street stalls and mall food courts, where a full meal costs a fraction of restaurant prices.
- Use the BTS, MRT and river boats instead of taxis at rush hour; they are faster and inexpensive.
- Thai ATMs add a flat fee for foreign cards, so withdraw larger amounts less often.
- Independent money changers in the city usually offer better rates than airport exchange booths.
- Bargain politely at markets such as Chatuchak, but not in malls, convenience stores or stalls with posted prices.
- Always use the taxi meter or book through an app to avoid inflated fixed fares.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bangkok expensive to visit?
Bangkok is affordable for most visitors, but 7 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Bangkok?
Chatuchak Weekend Market: Arrive early before the heat builds, grab a map at the entrance and carry small notes for bargaining.