For couples · Bangkok · Thailand
Romantic things to do in Bangkok
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: BerryJ, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Bangkok's romance comes out at night: sunset over Wat Arun from a riverside terrace, cocktails high above the city and dinner cruises past illuminated temples. By day, a couples' massage or a quiet canal ride contrasts with the city's energy. Couples tend to stay in Rattanakosin (Old Town).
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 6
- Couple-friendly sights
- 2
- Area for couples
- Rattanakosin (Old Town)
- Best months
- November–February
Romantic ideas
1.Wat Arun at sunset
Watch the Temple of Dawn light up across the river from a terrace bar near Tha Tien pier.
2.Rooftop cocktails
Ride the lift to a rooftop bar by the river or in Sathorn and watch the city lights come on far below.
3.Dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya
Cruise past the illuminated Grand Palace, Wat Arun and ICONSIAM over a Thai buffet or set menu.
4.Couples' massage
Book side-by-side traditional Thai or oil massages at a spa, or at Wat Pho's massage school for the classic version.
5.Loy Krathong together
In November, float a krathong of banana leaves, flowers and a candle on the river or a park lake to make a wish.
6.Longtail through the khlongs
Hire a longtail boat through the Thonburi canals to see stilt houses and temples away from the traffic.
Sights couples love
Experience · Riverside
Rooftop bars
Go just before sunset for both views, and expect cocktails to cost several times street prices.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- After dark
- Views
- Couples
- Iconic
Viewpoint · Silom
Mahanakhon SkyWalk
Book a slot shortly before sunset to see the city in daylight and after dark in one visit.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- After dark
- Couples
- Kids
Where couples should stay
$$$ · Best for culture, first-timers and couples
Rattanakosin (Old Town)
The historic royal quarter, ringed by canals, holds the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, the National Museum and the open field of Sanam Luang, with Wat Arun just across the river. Boutique hotels in converted shophouses along the river and around Tha Tien pier put you next to the main temples, but the area is quiet after dark and has no skytrain.
- Good
- Walk to the main temples; River views and boat piers; MRT Sanam Chai station by Wat Pho
- Watch out
- No skytrain; taxis needed for much of the city; Quiet at night with fewer restaurants
- Nearby
- Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Bangkok National Museum
Romantic day trips
- Ayutthaya (About 1.5–2 hours by train or minivan) — The capital of Siam from 1351 until it was sacked in 1767, Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of ruined temples and brick prangs, including the Buddha head entwined in tree roots at Wat Mahathat.
- Maeklong Railway Market and Amphawa (About 1.5 hours by car) — At Maeklong, market stalls line the railway track and pull back their awnings each time a train passes through.
- Khao Yai National Park (About 3 hours by car) — Thailand's first national park is part of a UNESCO-listed forest complex of waterfalls, viewpoints and wildlife including gibbons, hornbills and wild elephants.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Tom yum goong, Som tam and Khao man gai. Upmarket restaurants add a 10% service charge and 7% VAT, shown on menus as '++'.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bangkok romantic?
Bangkok's romance comes out at night: sunset over Wat Arun from a riverside terrace, cocktails high above the city and dinner cruises past illuminated temples. By day, a couples' massage or a quiet canal ride contrasts with the city's energy.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Bangkok?
Wat Arun at sunset: Watch the Temple of Dawn light up across the river from a terrace bar near Tha Tien pier.
+Where should couples stay in Bangkok?
Rattanakosin (Old Town): The royal island of palaces, temples and museums on the Chao Phraya.