14 Unmissable Things Do In Bangkok With Kids!

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Bangkok is a huge metropolis well known for its bustling nightlife scene, jewel-encrusted temples, delicious street food, and sky bars – not what you would imagine for a family vacation.

But that doesn’t mean Bangkok isn’t a good family destination, in fact, there are so many things to do in Bangkok with kids, that you’d be amazed by how much fun you can have as a family there.

From entertaining museums, canal boat rides, tuk-tuk tours, and wildlife parks, you’ll never run out of attractions to take the kids to that are fun for the whole family.

If you’re short on ideas of what to do, be sure to check out the following…

1. Try Bangkok street food

The best part about visiting Bangkok is you get to effortlessly integrate with the local culture and do what the locals do – street food is in abundance here, and it’s the way the local people eat, it’s not a tourist gimmick.

On our first night, we sat in the first eatery we saw and it was the best introduction to the city.

The kitchen was set up on the sidewalk, and there were red plastic stools lined up on the street with local people sitting on them eating their meals.

There were two ladies taking the food orders from an elder gentleman, who also minded the cash register.

The ladies worked with two woks on an open fire, and that was it. The aromas coming out of the woks were intoxicating.

Although, the use of red chili peppers in Thai cuisine is unlike anything we have ever experienced.

Watching them cook made my eyes water. Not just due to the chili, but also because I was so happy to be there.

The menu was all in Thai and we had no idea what any of it meant. The old gentleman did his best to explain the offerings by pointing at other patrons’ plates, as he didn’t speak any English.

It was the most authentic experience and a great way to show our kids how other cultures dine out.

Then a young man with a backpack offered to help and he translated what we wanted to eat for the elder gentleman.

As if he were an angel sent to us to do a job, the young man with a backpack in place of wings, smiled at us and wished us a wonderful welcome to Thailand, and then walked away into the night.

The kindness of locals in Bangkok is second to none; they offer to help, with no expectation for something in return. That’s true kindness.

After getting our order through, it seemed that the whole place was nodding their heads and smiling toward us. We, in turn, nodded our heads and smiled back.

The food was worth the hassle, and what a great experience for our children to see. They saw kindness, willingness to help, how to communicate without language, and of course, amazing food.

2. Take a wild adventure on a Tuk-Tuk

What family trip would be complete without taking a fun-filled adventurous ride around the city?

In Bangkok, no need for parasailing or rollercoasters for some thrills, just flag an automatic rickshaw known as a tuk-tuk.

Most fit four people comfortably and can cut corners and go down streets that cars can’t.

It makes for a more enjoyable ride, as they often go fast enough to create a wonderful breeze while riding (Bangkok is hot, so this is very welcome).

The experience also brings the rider(s) closer to the pulse of the city. It puts the peripheral vision into overdrive, so as to not miss anything.

For what it costs versus what most amusement park rides cost, and seeing Bangkok in a unique way, this was one of the best things to do in Bangkok with kids.

3. Embark on a Bangkok Street Food Tour

One of the best tours we took as a family was a Bangkok Night Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk. It not only satisfies the tuk-tuk experience, but also the taste buds.

We were taken to less traversed neighborhoods for some excellent Thai delicacies, which include a visit to Thipsamai, a place that specialized in the national dish, Pad Thai.

The tour was extra special because it went around Old Town Bangkok, which was more akin to when it was a town built on top of canals versus the city of skyscrapers that it is now.

It’s as if we took a ride into an evening in the past.

In these streets of old, we were able to walk through one of the most prolific flower markets where generations of families worked together in unison.

There were kids sitting behind stalls watching a television hooked up to the power of the lamp post and grandmothers cooking up food on make-shift burners, as mothers and fathers did their best to sell.

Our kids were able to watch a tattooed young man performing the art of butchery, which is something that is no longer seen every day.

I, of course, had the opportunity to look out into the Chao Phraya River in the evening with a beer in hand.

It was a fun introduction to Bangkok for kids and adults to enjoy together, and offered a very immersive experience of Thai culture.

4. Explore the Bangkok Temples

Bangkok is filled with temples, over 400 of them to be exact, and as ornate and as beautiful as they are, going from one temple to the next is not what any child or tween would call an ideal day.

Our suggestion is to do no more than one a day.

If there is one that needs to be seen, it is Wat Pho, or Temple of the Reclining Buddha.

This Buddhist Temple is the home to the famous Reclining Buddha. The gold leaf-covered statue reclines 46 meters long and is simply impressive.

However, the rest of the complex should not be missed, as it is expansive and filled with history.

Other than the reclining structure, my favorite sight was the pagoda that held the ashes of King Rama the 4th, affectionately known as the character Yul Brynner played in “The King and I”.

If your kids loved the temple and you want to see more buddha statues, the Grand Palace is another beautiful site to visit. Be sure to see the stunning Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaew just next to the palace.

If you only have a short time, visit Wat Arun, which is a small temple with only one stupa to see. Be sure to visit around sunrise or sunset when the sun changes the colors of the facade.

5. Visit the Jim Thompson Museum

There are plenty of temples to gaze upon, but there are other wonderful historic landmarks for families to enjoy – our favorite being the Jim Thompson Museum.

Jim Thompson was a person with an enigmatic history. He was an ex-pat American who single-handedly revitalized the Thai silk industry, but it was his life as a CIA man and his inconclusive disappearance that is most intriguing.

The house itself, made of heritage homes put together is an architectural splendor.

Our daughter especially loved the large koi fish swimming around in a little man-made pond outside the restaurant in the museum complex.

6. Hit the water slides at Siam Amazing Park

While we’re not big on theme parks, there’s no denying that Siam Amazing Park (also known as Siam Park City) is a top destination to take the kids in Bangkok.

The water park has more than 30 rides that offer adrenaline and adventure!

It’s one of the top-rated amusement parks in Bangkok, which the whole family will enjoy.

The park is sorted into different zones, each offering a different level of adrenaline. There’s the X Zone, Family World, Fantasy World, and the Small World for the little ones.

It suits kids of all ages, as it offers wild rides and more gentle ones for little kids. It also has one of the largest wave pools in the world, which is fun to splash around in, as well as a lazy river.

The park is located 20 minutes from Suvarnabhumi Airport and is out of the main city center, so you’ll need to plan for a full day here.

7. Explore the Zoos and Aquariums

For anyone looking for places to take young kids, you can’t go wrong with a zoo or aquarium. Children love looking at wildlife and seeing all the amazing and exotic animals they usually only ever see on TV.

Safari World Bangkok is a popular safari park in Bangkok that offers a more interactive approach. You get to drive through the enclosures and get up close to lions, zebras, and giraffes.

There is also a Marine World, a marine park that has marine animals as well as fish. You can also see dolphins and sea lion shows.

You can also watch an animal show, such as dolphin shows, elephant shows, and cowboy stunt shows.

Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World is the perfect place to see and learn about marine life. It’s the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia, and you can see penguins, sea turtles, sharks, and jellyfish, as well as attend feeding times and talks.

8. Go shopping at Siam Paragon

Bangkok is a prime city to go shopping in. There are several top markets and shopping malls where you can pick up some souvenirs and cheap goods to take home, but the most family-friendly malls are in the Siam and Sukumvit area. I recommend Siam Paragon.

It was the first shopping complex to open in Bangkok and it offers world-class shopping, as well as several entertainment options.

You can go bowling, watch the new releases at the cinema, take a taekwondo class, or visit the Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World in the basement!

Terminal 21 is also a top mall to check out. It has more boutique stores and each level is themed by a country. The top floor has a cinema, and there’s also a huge food court where you can get cheap and delicious meals.

9. Take a day trip to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Bangkok has several floating markets and each of them offers something special and unique. We loved the Khlong Lat Mayon floating market because it was authentic and local, and we saw very few tourists there.

However, kids will enjoy the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market more as it’s bigger and more lively, which excites the senses! It’s also more touristy so it’s perfect for families worried about getting too off-the-beaten-track in Bangkok.

The Damnoen Saduak floating market is located in Ratchaburi and has been running for over 100 years. Here you can find vendors selling everything from souvenirs to flowers to street food from their floating long-tail boats.

It’s one of the most authentic experiences in Bangkok for kids to see and adults will love this too!

10. Learn at the Children’s Discovery Museum

The Children’s Discovery Museum is a part museum and part playground, where children can learn about the world in an interactive way.

They can become archeologists discovering dinosaurs, become engineers in the inventors club, and learn about the life sciences and different cultures from around the world through child-friendly workshops and talks.

If you are looking for an enriching, educational experience for your young kids or toddlers in Bangkok, this is a great option!

11. Watch a puppet show at Artist’s House

Children will love watching the puppet shows at Artist’s House, a former centuries-old stilt house turned into a museum and art gallery.

Every day you can watch a free puppet show performed by students of the local puppet theater, who put on a cultural performance showcasing traditional Thai puppet shows.

Each puppet has been delicately painted, and dressed in the finest garments, and the puppet artists are always dressed in black.

There’s a wooden stage in the courtyard of Artist’s House where the show takes place at 2pm, but it doesn’t happen on Wednesdays.

12. Go on a sunset dinner cruise

The Chao Phraya River is the beating heart of Bangkok and connects many of the city’s top attractions.

The river comes alive at night when the malls, hotels, and temples are illuminated as the sun goes down.

A relaxing family activity is to join a sunset cruise which comes with a delicious meal and a cabaret performance.

Sit out on the open deck and soak up the view of Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun), the Royal Grand Palace (Wat Pra Kaew), and the Rama VIII Bridge, whilst enjoying your welcome beverages.

Enjoy a buffet dinner with both Thai and Western cuisines, followed by live music, disco, and a special cabaret show.

13. Admire the views from Mahanakhon Skywalk

If you have older kids or teens who don’t have a fear of heights, take them up to the Mahanakhon Skywalk, the highest observation deck in Thailand.

Located on the 78th floor of the building, this 360-degree observation deck has a glass floor entrance, so you can feel like you’re floating above the city.

You can also see for miles on end!

14. Ride the swan boats in Lumphini Park

Sure, you can probably ride a swan boat on a lake in a park at home, but Lumphini Park is no ordinary park.

Not only is it Bangkok’s largest urban park, but it’s a welcome respite from the honking and beeping noises of Bangkok.

There is a huge lake in the middle, which is surrounded by skyrises and palm trees. We love riding the swan boats on the lake because it’s always a lot of fun.

You can also see the monitor lizards basking in the sun on the lawn around the lake if you’re lucky.

You can access the lake in two locations, one on either end of the lake, and they both offer the same price.

It’s a quick 30 minute activity you can do, and you can also walk around nearby Benchakitti Park which has a really cool boardwalk over a wetland filled with lillies.

Where to stay in Bangkok

There are some wonderful hotels within the city and at many different price points. However, there still aren’t enough good places to stay in Bangkok to meet the demand of family travellers visiting the city each day.

So we do recommend you book as far in advance as possible, to make sure you don’t get stuck with the low-rated places (or worse, nothing).

The best area to stay in Bangkok for families is around Sukhumvit Road. You can also find decent accommodation on the other side of the river from Khao San Road, but these tend to attract backpackers. Soi 11 Rd is another popular place to stay as it’s near lots of public transport and has good places to eat nearby.

In the 3-star category, we suggest staying at the Chateau de Sukhumvit in Sukhumvit. The hotel sits on a wonderful street where ex-pat bars intermingle with hawker food stalls.

For a much more polished 5-Star experience, there is no better place to stay than the Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit.

It sits across the famous Benchakitti Park and Lumpini Park. Not only is the park a wonderful place to spend the day as a family, but the hotel is also a 5 minute walk from our top shopping mall, Terminal 21, where you can find affordable and delicious food in Bangkok.

There are plenty of vacation rentals options, and if this is the route taken, it’s best to get one a bit outside the city to have the opportunity for a more authentic and local experience.

Getting around Bangkok

Understanding how the public transport network works in Bangkok is going to help you plan which of these attractions you see and when.

When arriving at Don Muang Airport or Suvarnabhumi Airport (considered the main airport) you’ll be located outside the center of town and will need to get into the city.

This is quite simple. We recommend getting the Airport Rail Link (ARL), a train that connects the airport to the city centre.

From Suvarnabhumi Airport, you will travel to Phaya Thai, and then change onto the MRT (the subway in Bangkok) or BTS (the skytrain) to your hotel.

From Don Muang Airport, take the train to Bang Sue Junction and then change onto the MRT or get off at Mo Chit to change onto the BTS Sky Train.

Once you’ve arrived at your hotel and are ready to start exploring, you’ll be pleased to know ground transportation is quite inexpensive in Bangkok.

We like to use Bolt or Grab all over Southeast Asia (they are the Asian version of Uber).

We found that the rides can cost equal to or even less than taking a traditional taxi and you’re assured a nicer car. It also facilitates paying, with no need for cash transactions as it’s all linked to your credit card.

Plus, you get the price before getting in the car so no need to be anxious about the meter running over budget.

Another great and easy way to get around Bangkok is on the BTS, which is the city’s Sky Train. It doesn’t connect as much of the city as the MRT (the subway) and is slightly more expensive than the subway, but you get the benefit of seeing the views as you ride.

The MRT goes to most places in Bangkok as well so it’s great for exploring the inner city, and it’s cheap.

Final thoughts

Bangkok, being the King of Street Food, our taste palates will never be the same.

Not only have we all grown a high tolerance for spicy food, but the range of flavors is hard to beat and we will forever crave Thai food every so often.

Bangkok may not be the first city on the list for family travel. However, upon visiting, we found very few cities to be more family-friendly.

If being welcomed in a foreign land with authenticity, smiles, and plenty of attractions for kids of all ages that adults will enjoy as well is on the list, then look no further than here.

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