Thailand is usually the first place that comes to mind when one thinks of budget trips that don’t skimp on great views and eats. However, there are actually a lot of free things to do in Bangkok that will make your wallet all the happier on your next vacation.
The current exchange rate is ฿10 = ~S$0.37 as of 10th July 2024.
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Smack in the middle of the towering buildings in the city is Benjakitti Park, Bangkok’s very own “Central Park”. This park has a huge lake with views of skyscraper condominiums, and a lotus marsh where you might chance upon monitor lizards.
Take a few moments away from the night markets and massages for a walk here – you can take in some fresh air and burn off some calories on the running track too.
Image adapted from: @joy2k via Instagram
Bangkok’s first public park, Lumphini Park, has been the staple for picnics and garden getaways, with art installations and a lake from which you can get clear views of skyscrapers like King Power Maha Nakhon.
It’s also your best bet to catch free concerts and performances, as local artists like the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra have been using the park as a venue for public shows, so keep an eye out for upcoming gigs on your next visit.
Image adapted from: Somchai Krongsomboon via Google Maps
At 200 acres, which is just a little smaller than the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Rama IX National Park is Bangkok’s largest public park with structures like the Rajmangala Pavillion, a mini hall with artefacts of King Rama IX, and the Queen Sirikit Monument, overflowing with flowers that pay tribute to the queen’s garden.
Although the park has an entrance fee of ฿10 from 5am-5pm, entry is free after 5pm till it closes at 7pm.
Image adapted from: @renying1102 via Instagram and Museum Thailand
Although the Bang Rak district is known for Silom and Sathorn’s vibrant nightlife and shopping, it’s also home to an assortment of colonial buildings and architecture. One of these structures is the Bangkokian Museum, which features WWII artefacts displayed in 3 colonial homes.
You’ll find a combination of Thai and European antiquities that date as far back as 1929, such as vintage furniture sets, a piano, and even a toy collection.
Image adapted from: Craig Burton via Google Maps
Bangkok is well known for its shopping malls and markets, but there are times when you need a second look to discern if that LV bag is the real deal. Regional law firm Tilleke & Gibbins started the Museum of Counterfeit Goods to raise awareness about this issue of intellectual property theft and the harmful labour practices that come with it.
Their collection consists of over 4,000 products that breach or mimic popular trademarks, from your Pumes (Puma) to Eddie Hardy (Ed Hardy). Though it’s free to enter, you have to book a visit at least 5 days in advance.
Image adapted from: @ps_nankhorn via Instagram and King Prajadhipok Museum
The Bangkok National Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art may be the first places that come to mind when you think of museums in the city. But the King Prajadhipok Museum is an underrated gem, housed in a huge mansion-like building.
Serving as a tribute to King Rama VII, the 3-storey building used to be the king’s personal storage space. You’re likely to find his belongings like badges and portraits between plaques describing his life story. There’s a floor dedicated to his queen as well, with her old possessions such as animal-shaped tape measures.
Though Papaya Studio isn’t necessarily a museum, its 4 stories of antiquities make it a treasure trove of funky vintage items for you to see. The collection is also curated, allowing you to explore the store section by section, from retro radios and sound systems to oddly shaped chairs and couches.
If history isn’t your forte, and you’d rather gaze at some inspiring art pieces, head down to the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre, which has free-to-enter galleries featuring works by local artists and students. They’ve also hosted free exhibitions and festivals like the Bangkok Art Biennale.
The building’s architecture itself is a masterpiece, with intricate floor designs and staircases. If you need to grab a bite, the centre has 8 different eateries ranging from cafes to Thai noodle stores.
If you’re looking for something for your little ones to do that isn’t just running around in mall play zones, try taking them to Chill Out: Farm & Cafe. Their mini zoo may not have elephants and tigers, but they’ll allow kids to interact with and learn about animals like birds, horses and pigs.
They’ll be able to pet the gentle beasts and even feed them for an additional ฿20. As the name suggests, there’s a cafe on site where you can enjoy hearty, farm-to-table, Western meals.
Do note that the farm is about an hour’s drive from the city centre, so make sure to allocate enough time for that in your itinerary, and prep your kiddos for the long drive.
Image credit: @bambinivillabkk via Instagram
Bangkok is known for its great deals and finds, and now your kiddos can experience the joys of shopping in this city at Bambini Villa, a mall that’s just for the little ones. There are toy shops, kid’s fashion stores, art spaces with workshops, and best of all a sheltered, free-for-all wooden playground with see-saws and slides.
Image credit: Sonia Zhang via Google Maps
The Children’s Discovery Museum is Bangkok’s equivalent to Science Centre Singapore, except that this attraction has no admission fee.
With 3 floors of educational play facilities, just one day may not be enough for your kids to explore it all. They can dig up dino bones at a fossil-themed sandbox, or cook up authentic Thai dishes at the Junior Thai Kitchen. There’s even a children’s library and a marine life-themed water playground.
Imagine a romantic stroll on a boardwalk illuminated by the lights of carousels and Ferris wheels, with a clear view of the city skyline. You can get all that and a night market at Asiatique The Riverfront.
Although there are a lot of paid activities like theme park rides and dining on a boat, just strolling down its artsy streets gets you to a lot of photo ops, such as life-size Marvel figurines, floral arches, and street art.
Image adapted from: @lordzele, @blueview.lk via Instagram
For the peeps that don’t have enough vacation days to travel all the way to Tokyo, you can still fool your friends at Harajuku Thailand, a Japan-themed space that mimics some of the most popular streets in the country.
The space is immaculately detailed, with canals, graffiti, and lanterns that look just like the real thing. There are even kimono rentals and Japanese restaurants for you to live out the full fantasy.
Image credit: @walk_bkk_street via Instagram
Tucked between a bunch of malls is Chalerm La Park, a small park with a tyre playground and beautiful graffiti murals on an abandoned building. It’s the best place for you to do your baddie photoshoots, or just let out your inner punk.
There are even portraits of K-idols and BL actors here, though hurry down to check them out before they get painted over by new art.
Image credit: @pickadailybangkok via Instagram
When you’re done “travelling” to Japan in Harajuku Thailand, make your way to England at Pickadaily Bangkok. What looks like a little mid-century English town, with cottages and a clock tower, is actually a shopping centre with fashion stores and restaurants.
Inspired by London’s Piccadilly Circus, complete with its own replica of the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, this mall has ample places for you to fill your socials with shots of you strolling on the cobblestone pavements.
You could say that the Land of Smiles could also be known as the Land of Night Markets, and if you’ve already checked off most of them, head to Chang Chui Night Market to dine at Na-oh, a fine-dining restaurant inside a retired plane.
There’s also a giant dog statue at the entrance of Chang Chui to relive Clifford-esque moments from your childhood, and neon light walls for some great snaps. Of course, you can also just stroll in the shadow of the plane while you enjoy your Thai snacks.
Image adapted from: @chocoalteville via Instagram
Unless you don’t have a sweet tooth, it won’t take much convincing to go to Chocolate Ville, a European theme-park restaurant with a Candy Land and Canal Cafe. The whole place is set up like a Willy Wonka-Disneyland mashup, with a boat parade led by bear mascots.
Best of all, you don’t have to be eating at the restaurant to take in the views or nail those aesthetic pictures. You might even get photobombed by some of the ducks and swans swimming in the canal.
Image adapted from: @lestouptrotteurs via Instagram & Varut via Google Maps
When you think of temples, you think of peace and meditation, not carnivorous reptiles for sure. However, when you go to pray at Wat Chakrawat, you’ll be greeted by 3 crocodiles, peacefully relaxing beside the Buddha statues.
The crocodiles there aren’t running amok or performing in any shows – they are simply residents of the temple and are cared for by the monks. If they’re not basking where you can see them, there’s still the beautiful Buddhist architecture of the temple to check out.
Image credit: Joe628 via Wikimedia Commons
Though there may not be any crocodiles at this temple, Wat Yan Nawa is also riverine-themed with its boat-shaped structure, leading to the nickname “The Boat Temple”. The temple was built to resemble a Chinese Junk, one of the main ships used during maritime trade in the 18th century, and is one of the only full-sized Chinese viharns, or Buddhist assembly halls, in Bangkok.
Image adapted from: @andyqkw via Instagram
The Erawan Shrine doesn’t need much of an introduction, as you’ve probably seen it while mall-hopping, and most likely heard of it. The famous mosaiced structure is located in the middle of the city, right in front of the Grand Hyatt, hosting a golden idol of the four-faced Thai deity of creation. It’s said to grant whatever you wish for, and sees so many supplicants each day that attendants have to clear the flowers and incense sticks every few minutes.
Latin culture and Thai culture definitely have things in common, such as spicy food, but the Latin world extends this spiciness to their dancing as well. On your next trip, get ready to let out your fiery Spanish dancer at Havan Social’s free Latin dance classes.
Every Sunday from 9pm, this Cuban cocktail bar hosts these classes with a veteran instructor who can teach Salsa, Cha Cha, Merengue, Bachata, and Reggaeton. It’s a great date night idea or a fun way to meet a new beau.
Image adapted from: @spaceplus_bangkok via Instagram
Thinking of going untz-untz but spent all your money on pre-booze? You can party at Spaceplus Bangkok without any cover charge or minimum drink order. Unless there are any paid events happening, you can enter for free and groove to the EDM tracks, or maybe even catch an MMA match.
Image adapted from: @mbkcenter via Instagram
Thai masked dance shows, or Khon, are some of the most exciting performances to see when you visit Thailand. Usually, you’d have to scout out a specific hall or restaurant to see it and of course, buy tickets.
Lucky for those of us who don’t want to shell out for the shows, MBK Center has KHON Epic Thai Masked Performance, a free show. This year, these are scheduled for every last Thursday of the month till 26th December 2024.
Time: 3pm and 6pm
Dates: 25th July, 29th August, 26th September, 31st October, 28th November, 26th December
Image adapted from: @aroundpausworld via Instagram
One of the more unique ways to see flowers that doesn’t involve visiting a garden would be to visit Bangkok’s largest flower market, Pak Khlong Talat. Its name translates to “market on the mouth of a canal”, and still stands on the Chao Phraya riverside with hundreds of vendors.
Previously a fish market, the space is now fragrant with the perfume of fresh blooms and produce. It’s open around the clock, and you can see stall owners at work making fresh bouquets and garlands. Sometimes, they hold workshops for garland making too.
It’s always good to check out what festivals might be going on when you travel to Bangkok, as there are usually a lot of deals and free festival-specific activities to enjoy. Here’s a list of some popular festivals and related free activities you can expect.
| Festival | Timing | Free Activities |
| Lunar New Year | January-February | Dragon & lion dance shows |
| Bangkok Design Week | February | Art exhibitions & installations |
| Songkran | April | Club events & water fights |
| Pride | June-July | Parade, drag shows & movie screenings |
| Vegetarian Festivals | October | Chinatown performances & snacks |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | September-October | Dance shows and lantern workshops |
| Loy Krathong | November-December | Firework displays & lantern shows |
Save a few bucks on your next trip to Bangkok with these free things to do so you can spend them on more shopping and food instead. The best part is that even if you don’t enjoy some of them, you won’t have spent a single cent.
If you’re still on the lookout for more things to do in Bangkok, check out our list of the best family-friendly activities in Bangkok or cheap mookata buffets in Bangkok. For nightlife activities see our list of the best hidden bars in Bangkok or travel to the outskirts for the best things to do near Bangkok.
Cover image adapted from: Sonia Zhang via Google Maps, @hand_in_rose via Instagram & Joe628 via Wikimedia Commons
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