10 Exciting Things to Do in Bangkok Aside from Temple Hopping

(SPOT.ph) Bangkok. The name conjures images of age-old temples and giant Buddhas, of monks clad in saffron robes and incense-wielding believers of one of the world’s oldest religions. But the city, the capital of the Kingdom of Thailand, is more than just its towering temples. It’s a place of a rich heritage that’s evident in its distinct culinary tradition, inspiring arts and crafts, and warm and friendly people. 

It’s no surprise then that it’s one of the most popular destinations, ranking eighth in the world in 2019 with 39.8 international tourist arrivals. In fact, in Q4 of 2022, just as we are slowly emerging from a global pandemic, AirAsia’s Manila-Bangkok route claimed the top spot as the airline’s most preferred and most profitable. 

So if you’re planning to go to Bangkok soon and would like to know what else to see and experience in this city of over 400 wats (temples) aside from—well, temples, you’ve come to the right spot (pun intended).

Also read:
10 Under-the-Radar Destinations in Bangkok, Thailand
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Here are Bangkok tourist spots to check out:

Visit the flower market

This may seem like a strange suggestion, but starting your Bangkok adventures with a visit to Pak Khlong Talat—its most famous flower market and a former fish depot—is a rather splendid idea. In fact, it should be the first item in your itinerary on your first morning, an unhurried introduction to Bangkok before rush hour takes over and transforms the city into one big ball of frenetic energy. 

The seemingly endless rows of flower vendors sell everything, from the most eye-catching orchids to the most striking marigolds. Carnations, jasmines, lilies, tulips, name it, and Pak Khlong Talat most probably has it—all delivered fresh daily from upcountry Thailand. Busy porters pushing their carts overflowing with the latest floral deliveries add to the charm of this colorful corner of Bangkok. 

Learn flower arrangement while sipping on hot tea 

Much like Manila, Thailand’s capital is also experiencing a café boom. With the drink’s increasing popularity among Thais, more and more independent local coffee shops are sprouting like mushrooms all over the city. Many of these establishments have their own theme. 

If you follow the first tip and start your trip to Thailand in Pak Khlong Talat flower market, you can search for Floral Café at Napasorn and have your breakfast there. This hidden gem is quite tricky to find as the structure is narrow and easy to miss in between flower stalls, so you better be on the lookout. This one-of-a-kind café not only serves coffee but also does custom flower arrangements, gives lessons on the art, and is one of the most Instagrammable spots in the Thai capital. 

While the first floor is more charming than your run-of-the-mill floral shop, it’s on the second and third levels where the magic happens. As you scale up the stairs to the second floor, you’re slowly transported to an enchanting wonderland of flowers and curios. The third floor is just as charming.

Unlike some themed cafés which focus only on the pretty, Floral Café at Napasorn serves excellent coffee and tea and yummy pastries, too, all of which are reasonably priced. A mug of coffee costs anywhere between THB 110 and THB 150 (around P175), while a cup of tea is from THB 90 to THB 130 (around P140). A slice of their homemade cakes is at THB 180 (around P280). We highly recommend their lavender rose tea and carrot cake—one of the best we’ve tried. You’re welcome. 

Floral Café at Napasorn is at 67 Chakkraphet Road, Khwaeng Wang Burapha Phirom, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Thailand. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Hop on a food bus tour

What could be better than a tour of Bangkok aboard a comfy bus while eating good food? Most of us are familiar with dinner on a cruise, but fine dining on a double-decker is something new. 

Even though a cruise along the Chao Phraya River isn’t a bad idea, joining the Thai Bus Food Tour for a 1.5-hour Bangkok tour aboard a luxurious double-decker bus while dining on Michelin-inspired dishes, is even better—especially if you have seasickness. The approximately 25-kilometer route passes the city’s most iconic sights like the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Hua Lamphong train station, Wat Traimit, and Chinatown, which you can take in while enjoying traditional Thai food.

Guests can choose between a Halal or vegetarian menu, both with five courses and comes with welcome and hot drinks. Their shrimp pad thai and mango sticky rice are especially good. 

The Thai Bus Food Tour runs on four schedules: lunch (11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.), sightseeing time (2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.), dinner (5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.), and nightlife (7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.). Except for the 2 p.m. slot, which is only at THB 890 (around P1,400), the three other tours are at THB 1,890 (around P3,000). It starts at River City Bangkok Building. Soi Charoen Krung 24, Talat Noi, Samphanthawong, Bangkok, Thailand.

Shop to your heart’s content

Bangkok’s lively shopping scene has always been one of its top tourists draws. The city has so many choices for shopaholics and even for those just looking for pasalubong for loved ones back home. 

There are of course street markets, the most famous of which is the Chatuchak Weekend Market in Kamphaeng Phet. Then there’s MBK Center, our very own Greenhills Shopping Center’s long-lost twin, which sells almost everything, from pasalubong items to cheap cellphones and cameras. 

Then there’s the holy trinity of Bangkok shopping: Siam Square, Ploen Chit Road, and Pratu Nam neighborhood. These three areas have the greatest concentration of shops for all kinds of budgets: affordable to midrange, upscale to ultra-luxury (Van Cleef and Arpels or Tesla, anyone?). 

Siam Square has the most popular malls among locals and tourists alike, such as Siam Paragon, Siam Square, and Central World. The Pratu Nam neighborhood, on the other hand, is the go-to spot for cheap buys with its mind-boggling labyrinth of tiangge.

A more recent development is ICONSIAM, which sits on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. It’s home to the eponymous mall, one of the largest in Asia. The mixed-use project also houses an impressive number of Japanese establishments like Siam Takashimaya, Loft, and a dizzying number of food stalls that offer some of the best food from the Land of the Rising Sun as well as local fares. We suggest visiting ICONSIAM in the afternoon and staying there until dusk for a romantic view of the river and to see the mall all lit up in a blaze of lights. 

Buy traditional arts and crafts

Thailand is also known as the Land of the Free, being the only country in Southeast Asia to have never been subjected to colonial rule. This is one of the reasons why the Thais are fiercely proud and protective of their rich history and culture. 

A good idea for a souvenir then is something that’s imbued with a distinctly Thai heritage, and a good place to buy is at ICONCRAFT. Located on the fourth and fifth floors of ICONSIAM, these areas are dedicated to craft items made by Thai artists. 

Through the collaboration between artisans and new-generation designers, the items sold at ICONCRAFT have been redefined to fit modern lifestyles while staying true to tradition. Many of the Thai brands showcased have already made it to the international market and have been awarded numerous accolades.  

Available are handbags, accessories, wood furniture, textiles, and weaves, and artisanal coffee brought in from all corners of Thailand. That’s why aside from taking home a unique souvenir, you also get to support local artists and indigenous communities. 

ICONSIAM is at 299 Charoen Nakhon Road, Khlong Ton Sai, Khlong San, Bangkok, Thailand. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Also read:
10 Must-Visit Spots in Bangkok for the Food Lover
The Best Things to See and Do in Bangkok in 24 Hours

Spend an invigorating time at the spa 

Another thing that the Thais are well known for is their distinct kind of massage, which combines acupressure, Ayurdevic medicine principles, and assisted yoga postures. It’s little wonder then why massage parlors are scattered around the city, not so different from how sari-sari stores are commonplace in Manila. 

After all the sightseeing, eating, and shopping, you deserve a few hours of rejuvenation at a spa. Plus, a trip to the city is nowhere near complete without giving your sore muscles a taste of authentic Thai massage. 

An hour of massage in the usual corner spa can set you back anywhere between THB 200 and THB 400 (around P300). However, if you have some money to spare and would like to indulge yourself in one of Bangkok’s finest spas, check out Divana Scentuara Spa. They offer an array of spa massage therapies as well as other body treatments that are sure to make you feel as close to divinity as possible. A traditional Thai massage for an hour and 40 minutes costs THB 1,650 (P2,600), while the Aromatic Stretching Massage is THB 3,450 (P5,500) for two hours. We tried the two-hour aromatherapy massage (THB 2,650, P4,200) and came out feeling like brand-new human beings. Completing the luxurious experience are a welcome drink and after-spa snacks which consist of rose tea, slices of dragon fruit, scones, and fresh strawberry jam. 

Divana Scentuara Spa is at 16/15 Soi Somkid, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand. It is open from Monday to Friday, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and from Saturday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Take in Bangkok’s cityscape from above ground 

Gilded temples interspersed with metallic skyscrapers make Bangkok’s skyline a vibrant patchwork that weaves together the ancient and the modern. It’s a great idea then to see the city from a different vantage point, one that takes you up to 314 meters above the ground. 

King Power Mahanakhon Skywalk is Thailand’s highest observation deck at 78 storeys high. The deck affords guests a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of Bangkok from high above through indoor and outdoor viewing areas. Taking you to the observatory on the 74th and 75th floors is one of the world’s fastest video-themed elevators, which makes for a delightful ride. Make sure to have your phone ready and take a video selfie as you’re being whisked several floors up in only about 50 seconds. 

Those who are a little more adventurous can have their photos taken on the glass trays as they stare down the street over 300 meters below. Think twice if you have vertigo or a fear of heights. 

King Power Mahanakhon is at 114 Narathiwas Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok, Thailand. The Mahanakhon Skywalk is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are at THB 836 (P1,300) for adults and THB 250 (P400) for children and senior citizens.

Go on a Thai food trip 

We all know that the Thais take so much pride in their cuisine. Why wouldn’t they? Their food is infused with a burst of flavors, an addicting symphony of spicy, sour, salty, sweet, and umami. 

It would thrill foodies to know that Bangkok is a veritable mecca for food lovers of all sorts. Fan of haute cuisine? The city has famed Michelin-starred restaurants like Blue by Alain Ducasse and Côte by Marco Colagreco. 

Love street food? Then you’re in the perfect city with its innumerable hawkers that sell anything from pomelo salad to fried crickets. You may also want to book a table at the humble eatery of Thailand’s living national treasure, the Michelin-starred septuagenarian Jai Fai, who has been serving the best crab omelet known to mankind for the past several decades and counting.

A new favorite among food-loving locals and tourists is The Never Ending Summer restaurant along Charoen Nakhon Road. Located in a restored warehouse, it has a hip industrial-themed interior with a soaring ceiling and huge windows that let in ample natural light, giving it a cozy and relaxing vibe. The chefs compiled the owners’ favorite childhood recipes into a nostalgic and extensive menu. All the dishes we tried were sumptuous but our favorites were the yam som-o (pomelo salad, THB 280), tom kha kai (Thai chicken coconut soup, THB 300), kai jiao mu sub (minced pork omelet, THB 190), and plaa pla ga pong (fried whole barramundi with spicy Thai sauce, THB 650).  

As a popular city among expats, expect a lot of international dining as well. The options are endless: from Korean to Mongolian, French to Uyghur, Italian to Ukrainian. You can design an itinerary just for eating alone because whatever your gastronomic preference is, Bangkok has something to satisfy your palate. 

But of course, be as touristy as you can be—don’t leave Bangkok without a taste of its iconic dishes like pad thai, tom yum goong, and mango sticky rice. 

Visit a floating market 

For a peek into quaint countryside life, you can head further afield to a floating market within a day-trip distance from Bangkok like the Amphawa Floating Market. Other well-known choices are Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Tha Kha Floating Market.  

These markets have guests board a sampan (narrow wooden boats) that takes them through a maze of khlong (canals) and old wooden houses. Female vendors, often wearing traditional mo hom (blue farmers' shirts) and wide-brimmed ngob (straw hats) use similar boats to sell their wares, often fruits, vegetables, souvenirs, and Thai street food.

These floating markets are often the busiest early in the morning and are active until noon. They tend to be overcrowded on weekends so it’s best to go on a weekday. 

Spend the night in Pattaya

Aside from its flavorful cuisine, Thailand is also known for its beaches. Bangkok, however, has none of its own, but beach lovers need not fret, as a good two-hour ride away from the capital is the beach city of Pattaya. 

Previously known as a red-light city, Pattaya has successfully rebranded itself as a fun family-friendly destination over the past decade. It’s packed with all the shopping, dining, and nightlife that Bangkok is known for, but with the added bonus of a lovely coastline. 

You can do a day trip and spend a few hours lazily lounging on the beach or you can opt for an overnighter to see the other sights of the city. Worth seeing is the magnificent Sanctuary of Truth, an incredibly ornate wooden museum that rises from the sea, and the impressive and rather quirky Nongnooch Botanical Gardens, one of the world’s largest. Don’t forget to take a stroll on Pattaya’s Walking Street for a taste of the city’s lively nightlife. 

How to Get There 

AirAsia flies from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport 11 times a week—every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.