There are plenty of things to do in Bangkok at night, so you won’t get bored at all. Compared to the daytime scene of exotic temples under the sweltering sun, the night scene changes into a busy whirlwind of colorful neon lights and sounds. The heat becomes a bit more bearable without the sunlight beating down on you, and it becomes easier to move around. If you still have the energy to go out after spending the day sightseeing, you can look at the following ideas of how to spend your evening besides just going out to have dinner.
8 Things To Do In Bangkok At Night
Bangkok by Tuk-Tuk
If you spent the day walking around, then why don’t you give your feet a break in the evening? The tuk-tuk is a great experience to have in Bangkok. You can see the sights as well as hear the sounds and smell the aromas of the city. It’s not the same as having a window pane between you and the outside world. Of course, you’ll also be feeling the tropical heat and the exhaust fumes of traffic, but that’s just part of the exotic experience. Just make sure you don’t get cheated. It costs around 50 bahts for a 2km ride if there is no traffic, but the drivers always try to get a high price from tourists, so negotiate and try to get it lowered.
You should always decide on the price to get to a particular place before getting on, and do not try to find a tuk-tuk from in front of sightseeing spots. Drivers will also try to take you to stores meant for tourists as they get a commission from the store if they drop you off there, so make sure you decline their offer to stop there on the way. If you’re worried about not being able to deal with drivers trying to scam you, it might be a good idea to hire a local guide to take you on a tuk-tuk tour.
Evening Food Tour in Bangkok
Food is one of the main attractions of visiting Bangkok, and one of the best things to do in Bangkok at Night. You’ll be able to try all kinds of local Thai food during your visit. Of course, you could try the restaurants at your hotel or in a big modern shopping mall, but don’t you think it would be more fun to be able to visit the food stalls or off the beaten path sort of stores that the local people of Bangkok use daily? You could try to go out and try the local delicacies on your own, but If you’re a foodie, this is one of the times I would most recommend going on a tour with a guide. Food can tell you as much about a culture as its historical monuments can, and it’s much better to have an explanation about the food than guess what it is.
Dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River
The Chao Phraya River is a major river in Bangkok. There are sightseeing cruises and ferries along with tug boats with large barges that run up and down this river. The river is a lifeline providing access to the inland area from the seaport, and this river is the reason the ancient Thai civilization was born and was able to develop into a modern day country. Many of the sightseeing spots are located along this river, and you can enjoy seeing these places from the river while having a wonderful dinner. There are several companies providing dinner cruises, so you can try any, or ask a Bangkok tour guide about the best ones.
Enjoy a Drink at Rooftop Bars in Bangkok
There are many rooftop bars in Bangkok, and going to these bars and enjoying a drink is one of the top things to do in Bangkok at night. You can enjoy the 360 degree night view of the city while drinking cocktails or another drink of your choice. It’s a beautiful city to look down upon from atop skyscrapers. You can enjoy a drink before dinner whilst watching the sunset, or just relax here far into the night after having dinner. Many of these places have a sophisticated and romantic atmosphere, so make sure to dress nicely so as not to be in violation of the dress code. The following are some of the most famous and popular rooftop bars.
Vertigo https://www.banyantree.com/en/thailand/bangkok/dining/vertigo
Sky Bar http://www.lebua.com/sky-bar
Baiyoke Sky Hotel Observation Deck
This observation deck is located in one of the tallest buildings in Bangkok, so you get an amazing view of the city from here. There are two observation decks. The lower one is on the 77th floor, and you can get there from the first floor using the tallest glass elevator in Bangkok. The upper one is on the 84th floor and here you can enjoy the thrill of the night view with a breeze on your face as there is no glass between you and the night sky. The floor slowly rotates 360 degrees so that you get a panoramic view of the city as well as the Gulf of Thailand. Relax with a drink and take in the spectacular night view of Bangkok.
Tickets: from 438 bahts (about 12–13 dollars)
Hours: 10 am - midnight (77F) 10 am - 10 pm (84F)
Address: 222, Ratchaprarop 3 Alley, Ratchaprarop Road, Ratchathewi District, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
Tel: +66 2656 3000 or 2656 3456 EXT 4
Website: https://www.baiyokehotel.com/
Explore the Night Market
There are many night markets that pop up in Bangkok, but these are certainly one of the must-see places and things to do in Bangkok at night. They are busy and chaotic, but a great place to do some cheap shopping after dark. Make sure to haggle with the vendors and try to get the best price you can because they do try to get more from tourists. The night market that many tourists visit is the Patpong Night Market in the Silom area because there are several good hotels in this area. Another big night market is the Rod Fai Market.
It’s located on an expansive lot behind Seacon Square, so if you’re going by taxi, just tell the driver you’d like to go to Seacon Square. The market is divided into three areas, which are the Warehouse Zone, Market Zone, and Rod’s Antiques. You’ll have fun finding lots of vintage goods here.
If you think you’ll need help with the haggling by a local guide, why not request a tour that will take you shopping for a whole day or half a day or however long you want? Then you’ll have your own private translator as well as a person who will tell you exactly how much they think something is worth, as shopkeepers tend to try to sell things at a higher price to tourists than to the local Thai people. GoWithGuide provides tours by request for things other than shopping too so if you’re a noble to find a tour that includes the things that you want to see, send your requests in and see what the local guides suggest.
Patpong Market
Address: 1 Patpong Rd, Suriyawong, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Hours: 5pm to midnight everyday
Rod Fai Market 1
Address: 51 Srinagarindra Road, Nong Bon, Prawet, Bangkok 10250, Thailand
Hours: 5 pm to 1 am (Thursday–Sunday)
Closed: Monday–Wednesday
Enjoy the Spa
After a day of sightseeing under the hot sun, wouldn’t you want to get a massage and relax at a spa? It costs less to get a massage in Bangkok than one of the more developed countries, so you can choose a much more luxurious spa package than you’d be able to back home. There are places which have double or triple rooms where you can have a massage together with your family or friends. The fees start from around 25 USD for a foot massage and around 50 USD for a Thai massage. If you’re a group of women traveling together, you could even treat yourselves to a whole day here just relaxing and being pampered.
Muay Thai Live Theater
Muay Thai or Thai boxing originated from the training regiment of the Thai military. It’s known as “the art of eight limbs”, and the fighters use their shins, elbows, knees, and fists in combat. The rules and scoring system are quite complicated and difficult to understand, but you can enjoy just watching this exciting sport. Muay Thai is so popular in Thailand that there is a Muay Thai stadium in every city. These Muay Thai stadiums are very rowdy, and the only place gambling is allowed, so you’ll be able to see people gesturing enthusiastically with their hands in the noisy stadium like the trading floor on Wall Street.
There’s also an exhibition dance by the fighters before the match that is meant to show their respect to their teacher. This dance also serves as a warm-up for the fighters so that they are good and ready for the real match. The ringside tickets cost about 2,000 bahts and tourists usually sit in this area where they can see the match up close. Standing area tickets cost about 500 bahts and are filled with the locals, so if you want a completely local experience by surrounding yourself with people shouting their encouragement to the fighters, buy a standing ticket.
Outside the stadium, there will be many ticket touts selling tickets, but you should never buy tickets from them. Make sure to buy tickets on the official website or through your hotel so that you don’t get cheated. And make sure to check the fight schedule on the website too.
Rajadamnern Thai Boxing Stadium
Address: 1, Ratcha Damnoen Nok Road, Bangkok 10100
Website: https://rajadamnern.com/