Guide
Things to Do in Bangkok: 10 Experiences with Times, Getting There and Tickets
Ten experiences in Bangkok with opening times, admission and directions: Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Mahanakhon, Safari World, Asiatique, Chinatown and a market trip.
- Category: Daily life
- 16 min read
- Updated:26 October 202626/10/2026
Contents of this article8 sections
Three days are not enough for everything in Bangkok. Here are ten experiences that are worth the effort: temples, a view from the very top, animals, a day trip and an evening on the river. How the city works as a whole is covered on the Bangkok page. This page covers times, directions and pitfalls for each individual sight.
The booking cards below the sections are Trip.com affiliate links and are marked as advertisements. If you book through one of these links, we receive a small commission; the price stays the same for you. Prices and terms are on the Trip.com page, not in the cards.
In short
- You can do the palace and Wat Arun in one morning. The palace only sells tickets until 3:30 pm, Wat Arun closes at 6 pm, and both require covered shoulders and knees.
- Four experiences are in the same place: Asiatique on the river with Skyflyers, Jurassic World, the dinner ship and the cabaret. That fits into one afternoon and evening.
- Safari World and Damnoen Saduak are far out. Plan a whole day for each, with an early start for the market.
- With the providers we checked, Skyflyers cannot be cancelled or rebooked, and Jurassic World does not give refunds. Only book once your date and the weather are certain.
Temples and culture
These three sights together make an old-town route: the palace, the temple on the other bank and Chinatown in the evening. How to behave in temples is covered in the guide Temple etiquette in Thailand.
The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
The complex with the Emerald Buddha is open daily from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, and tickets are sold only until then. Some guidebooks give a later closing time for the grounds, but plan around 3:30 pm. Foreigners pay 500 baht, which includes Wat Phra Kaew temple and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles on the grounds. Tickets are available at the entrance or online.
The dress code is taken seriously. Sleeveless tops, vests, cropped tops, see-through clothing, shorts, ripped or tight trousers, cycling shorts, miniskirts, skorts and pyjamas are not allowed. Drones may not be flown over the grounds. The most pleasant time to visit is right at opening, because afterwards the courtyards get hot and crowded.
Take the BTS to Saphan Taksin, then board the orange-flag express boat at Sathorn pier and ride it to Tha Chang (N9). The flag colour can change depending on the day of the week, so ask at the pier. Alternatively, take the MRT to Sanam Chai, where Wat Pho is right next door, and walk or take a ride from there. How the trains work is covered in the guide BTS Skytrain in Bangkok. In front of the entrance, someone may tell you the palace is closed today. That is the well-known scam; just keep walking. You can book admission and tours in advance at Trip.com.
Wat Arun
The Temple of Dawn stands on the Thonburi side of the river and is open daily from 8 am to 6 pm, with last entry at about 5:30 pm. Admission costs 200 baht for foreigners, and the ticket covers the whole complex, including the terraces on the main tower. At the ticket booth you can in practice only pay in cash, so withdraw baht beforehand.
To get to the temple, take the small ferry from Tha Tien pier, which costs only a few baht and runs into the evening. It is quietest between 8 and 9:30 am; during the day, tour groups crowd the steep stairs. A second good window is late afternoon, between 4 and 5:30 pm. The lights only come on around 6:30 pm, when the gate is already closed. So take the famous evening photo from the riverbank, from a boat or from a rooftop bar. If you prefer to go with a guide, Trip.com has tours with admission.
Chinatown and Yaowarat Road
Yaowarat Road is about 1.5 kilometres long and by day it is a quarter of gold shops, shrines and narrow lanes such as Sampeng Lane. After dark it turns into one long food tour. The stalls set up from around 5 to 6 pm, and it is busiest between 7 pm and 9 pm. Dishes such as noodle soup, oyster omelette or rice noodles usually cost 50 to 150 baht. Bring cash and check seafood prices before you order.
The easiest way to get there is the MRT Blue Line to Wat Mangkon, a two-minute walk from the road. One station further east, at Hua Lamphong, is Wat Traimit with the golden Buddha. Admission to the Buddha costs 40 baht, the museum has its own price of around 100 baht, and it is open daily from about 8 am to 5 pm. Many stalls are closed on Mondays, so it is better to plan your evening for another day. More about food in general in the guide Street food in Thailand. Food tours and guided evening walks are available at Trip.com, but they are not necessary.
The city from above
King Power Mahanakhon with Skywalk
The tower in Silom is 314 metres high and open daily from 10 am to midnight, with last entry at 11 pm. The lifts reach the observation level on the 74th floor in less than 50 seconds. At the top there is an indoor area on the 74th floor and an open platform on the 78th floor, where a 63-square-metre glass floor sits at a height of 310 metres, next to the highest viewpoint in the city.
The adult ticket costs 1,000 baht between 10 am and 3:30 pm and 1,200 baht between 3:30 pm and 7 pm. Children aged 8 to 12 and seniors over 60 pay 500 and 600 baht respectively. So sunset costs more, and it is worth it in clear weather. The website gives no price for times after 7 pm, so ask at the ticket desk. Large backpacks and tripods have to stay outside. The nearest station is Chong Nonsi on the BTS Silom Line, exit 3. If you are afraid of heights, you shouldn’t treat the glass floor as a test of courage. It is best to book the time slot for the glass floor in advance.
Family and animals
Safari World
The park is in the Khlong Sam Wa district in the north-east and consists of two parts. In the Safari Park you drive through enclosures with giraffes and other animals in a car or on the park bus. The Marine Park is explored on foot and has shows with dolphins, sea lions, orangutans, elephants and birds, plus stunt shows. Allow five to six hours.
The park’s website gives opening hours of 9 am to 4 pm from Tuesday to Friday and 9 am to 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. According to most sources the park is closed on Mondays, though this may differ on public holidays. Check before you travel. The show times come from a ticket provider and can change: orangutans at 10:15 am, elephants at 11 am, dolphins at 1:30 pm on weekdays, sea lions at 2:15 pm. Pick up the daily schedule as soon as you reach the entrance and arrive early, or you will miss the first shows.
If you are not comfortable with animal shows, you will find alternatives in the guide Ethical elephant camps in Thailand.
Getting there is awkward. By public transport, take the BTS to Mo Chit, then bus 26 or 96 to the Fashion Island shopping centre, and from there a taxi or bus 197. By car it takes about 45 to 60 minutes from the city centre. With small children, a transfer or a Grab is more comfortable. More about travelling with children is in the guide Thailand with kids. A combined ticket for both parks is available at Trip.com.
Asiatique on the river
Four of the ten experiences are on the same site: Asiatique The Riverfront on Charoen Krung Road. The site is open daily from 11 am to midnight. The free shuttle boat leaves from Sathorn pier (BTS Saphan Taksin, exit 2) between 4 pm and 11:30 pm every 25 to 30 minutes. From 11 am to 7 pm a shuttle van runs instead. If you arrive in the afternoon, you can fit in the dinosaurs and the ride first and then the ship or the show in the evening.
Skyflyers
Skyflyers is a giant swing for 24 people. The tower is about 135 metres high, and the ride takes you more than 100 metres above the river. It is open until 10 pm, and providers give the opening time as 11 am or 1 pm, so check the time on your ticket. You check in at the counter and get a safety briefing. Phones, cameras, glasses, hats and loose items stay outside, and your pockets must be empty. Photos are only available with a rented camera, and the last queue for this starts at 8:30 pm.
The minimum height is 120 centimetres, and anyone under 140 centimetres needs a paying adult with them. The ride is not suitable for people with cardiovascular problems, back or neck problems, high blood pressure, asthma, dizziness, panic disorder or pregnancy. With Headout the ticket can be neither cancelled nor rebooked; with other providers, read the terms before buying. Time slots and height requirements are at Trip.com.
Jurassic World: The Experience
The experience is a walk-through attraction with moving dinosaurs, fog and lighting effects. It is open daily from 11 am to 10 pm, with last entry at 9 pm. The organiser estimates 45 to 60 minutes, booking portals up to 90. Prices depend on the time of day: on weekdays before 4 pm the ticket costs 769 baht for adults and 579 baht for children aged 3 to 10. From 4 pm in the evening, at weekends and on public holidays it is 989 baht and 789 baht (as of October 2026).
Children and teenagers up to 17 must be accompanied by a person aged 18 or over. There are strobe lights, sudden loud noises and fog. This is not suitable for every child or for people with epilepsy. You may not bring food or drinks. Tickets are non-refundable, and you can change the date through the booking page up to 24 hours before your visit. There is a dino-themed restaurant on site, Fossil & Flame. It is best to book the ticket in advance.
A day trip from the city
Damnoen Saduak, the floating market
The market is about 100 kilometres south-west of Bangkok in Ratchaburi province, and the journey takes one and a half to two hours. It opens daily at about 7 am and is busiest between 7 and 9:30 am. Around 10 or 11 am the tour buses arrive and the vendors start packing up. Admission is free, and you pay only for the boats.
A ride in a paddle boat costs around 150 to 400 baht per person and takes 20 to 30 minutes. A whole boat for about six people can cost up to 2,000 baht. These are opening prices, and you can haggle. Agree on the price and route before you get in. Some taxi drivers drop you at a private pier and claim that the market can only be reached by boat for 2,000 baht per person. That is not true; the market can be reached on foot. You also pay tourist prices for souvenirs.
To go on your own, take a minivan from Victory Monument or the Southern Bus Terminal for 60 to 100 baht; the journey takes about two hours. A taxi or Grab costs around 600 to 750 baht each way. Guided tours from about 690 baht set off at around 6 to 6:30 am, last seven to eight hours and often also stop at the Maeklong Railway Market, where the train runs right through the stalls. If you would rather sleep in, visit the smaller Taling Chan or Khlong Lat Mayom markets in Thonburi at the weekend. Guided half-day and full-day tours take care of the journey for you.
An evening on the river
Royal Princess Cruise
The dinner ship leaves from Asiatique and sails up the Chao Phraya, past ICONSIAM, Wat Arun, Wat Phra Kaew, the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and the Rama VIII Bridge. On board there is a buffet with Thai dishes, international food and seafood as well as live music. The ship has three decks, two of them air-conditioned, and there is a covered open deck on top. The usual evening cruise lasts two hours, from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm, with check-in until 7:15 pm. Across all providers, departure times start from 5:15 pm, so there are earlier cruises too. Check your ticket.
When the water level is high, the route may change, and some temples are then harder to see. If you are late for check-in, you lose your ticket and there is no refund. Whether drinks are included with the buffet depends on the package, so check what is included before you buy. For weekends and public holidays you should book at least a week ahead to get a good seat. By the 7:30 pm departure the temples along the river are already lit up. Tickets are available in advance at Trip.com.
Calypso Cabaret
Calypso Cabaret is a theatre at Asiatique with a revue performed by a transgender cast. It features music, dance and elaborate costumes. The show lasts 50 minutes and runs in the evening, usually twice a night. Times vary by booking site and are roughly between 7:15 pm and 9:45 pm, so check your ticket.
All ages are welcome; younger children need to be accompanied by an adult, and children under three sit on a lap for free. Tickets are non-refundable, but if you book directly with the venue, you can arrange a different date. You will find tickets and times at Trip.com.
How to arrange the days
One possible plan: the palace and Wat Arun on the first morning, Chinatown in the evening. On day two, Mahanakhon in the late afternoon, so you catch both daylight and dusk. Day three is for Asiatique with Skyflyers, dinosaurs and an evening on the ship or at the theatre. Safari World and Damnoen Saduak each need a day of their own, and it is best to schedule the market right at the start.
What it all adds up to depends on your travel style. A rough guide to admission, food and getting around is in the guide Costs in Thailand per day. With this itinerary, staying near the river saves a lot of travelling; tips are in the guide Accommodation and hotels in Thailand. If you have not had a massage yet, the guide Massage in Thailand has the prices and rules for after a long day.
Frequently asked questions
How much time do I need for the Grand Palace and Wat Arun?
About one morning. The palace is open daily from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, Wat Arun from 8 am to 6 pm. A ferry from Tha Tien takes you across the river. Both places require covered shoulders and knees.
Do I have to book tickets in advance?
Not everywhere. Wat Arun has no online sales, and you pay 200 baht at the entrance. For Skyflyers, Jurassic World, the dinner ship and the cabaret, booking in advance is worthwhile. Skyflyers cannot be cancelled with Headout, and Jurassic World refunds nothing and allows date changes up to 24 hours beforehand.
When is the best time for Damnoen Saduak?
Between 7 and 9:30 am. Later the tour buses arrive. The trip takes one and a half to two hours, so an early start is part of the deal. If you do not want to get up that early, visit the smaller markets in Thonburi at the weekend.
What suits children?
Safari World with animal shows and the drive through the Safari Park. Jurassic World has a children's rate for ages 3 to 10, if your child can cope with loud noises and fog. Skyflyers requires a minimum height of 120 centimetres. The cabaret is open to all age groups, and younger children need an adult with them.
Can I combine several things in one evening?
Yes, at Asiatique. Skyflyers, Jurassic World, the departure of the dinner ship and the cabaret are all there. The free shuttle from Sathorn runs from 4 pm to 11:30 pm. Still, do not plan everything for one evening; you need breaks and some buffer time.