Things to Do in Bangkok with Kids: The Ultimate Family Activity Guide
Ask anyone who's been to Bangkok with children what surprised them most, and the answer is almost always the same: how much there is to do. Not in a "well, we found a few things" way I mean genuinely, properly, wonderfully overwhelmed with options. Bangkok has world class temples, brilliant museums, brand new indoor playgrounds, free butterfly gardens, a rooftop water park, and enough rainy day activities to fill an entire trip.
The challenge isn't finding things to do. It's deciding what to leave out.
This guide covers the best things to do in Bangkok with kids the ones we've tried ourselves, the ones fellow family travellers swear by, and the ones that are worth knowing about even if they're a little off the beaten path. Every activity has honest notes on age suitability, cost, and timings, because you deserve the full picture before you drag two tired children across a city in 34-degree heat.
🪢 Affiliate Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our travels!
DISCOUNT CODE -
For any bookings you are looking to make in bangkok, I always recommend KLOOK, I have been using the for years and I have managed to get a discount code to share! Enter - LIFEALONGSIDELAURENKLOOK at checkout.
The Must Do Experiences in Bangkok
1. Wat Pho - The Temple of the Reclining Buddha
No trip to Bangkok with children is complete without this. The Reclining Buddha stretches 46 metres end to end and is so enormous you genuinely cannot take it all in at once children are absolutely gobsmacked, and honestly, so are adults. The wider temple complex is beautiful and surprisingly spacious compared to the Grand Palace next door, which makes it a slightly gentler introduction to Bangkok's temple world for smaller kids.
Remember to cover shoulders and knees; sarongs are available to hire at the entrance for a small fee. Arrive when it opens to beat the crowds and the worst of the heat.
Best for: All ages | Time needed: 1–1.5 hours | Cost: 200 THB (approx £4.50) per adult; under 5s free | Getting there: Short walk from the Chao Phraya river pier, or 15 minutes from the Grand Palace
2. The Grand Palace
Breathtaking and genuinely one of the most spectacular sights in Southeast Asia. The golden spires, the glittering mosaics, the scale of everything it's extraordinary. Children often love the sheer drama of it even if they're not deeply into history, and older kids and tweens can spend a good while exploring properly.
It does get very crowded by mid-morning and the heat can be punishing midday, so aim to arrive right when it opens at 8:30am. The strict dress code applies no shorts, sleeveless tops, or flip-flops. Sarongs and cover-ups can be borrowed at the gate.
Once you are done in the palace you can hop on the free shuttle over to the theatre to watch a traditional Thai show (included in your ticket price) They don’t advertise this well but just follow signs and make sure to keep your ticket handy.
Best for: Ages 5+ | Time needed: 1.5–2 hours show is another 1-2 hours | Cost: 500 THB (approx £11) per adult; children under 120cm free | Getting there: Short river taxi ride, or Grab
My tip:Book in first thing in the morning, then head straight to Wat Pho nearby once you're done. Two of Bangkok's biggest sights in one efficient morning and you're back in air-conditioning by noon.
3. Chao Phraya River Boats
Jump on one of the public express boats and cruise past temples, traditional wooden houses, riverside markets, and the glittering Bangkok skyline. Kids love the breezy chaos of it all, and it's genuinely one of the best ways to cover a lot of the city without melting into the pavement. The hop-on, hop-off tourist boats are pricier but more flexible if you want to stop at multiple riverside attractions.
Best for: All ages | Time needed: 1–2 hours | Cost: From 15 THB (under £0.50) on the express boats; tourist day passes around 200 THB | Getting there: Piers dotted along the riverside Sathorn/Central Pier is the main hub
4. Floating Markets - Damnoen Saduak or Amphawa
A Bangkok bucket-list experience: long-tail boats weaving through narrow canals, vendors selling fresh fruit, cooked food, and trinkets directly from the water. Kids love riding the boats and watching the world float past in slow motion. Damnoen Saduak is the most famous and busiest; Amphawa is smaller, slightly more relaxed, and better for an evening visit. Most families book this as a half-day tour from Bangkok it's the easiest option.
Best for: Ages 4+ | Time needed: Half day including travel | Cost: Usually 500–900 THB (£11–20) per person booked as a tour; check Klook | Getting there: 1–1.5 hours from Bangkok by tour minibus
5. Chatuchak Weekend Market
The world's largest weekend market is a sensory overload in the best possible way and children absolutely thrive in the chaos. Food stalls, toys, handmade crafts, vintage finds, and everything inbetween. Plan your route in advance because the place is genuinely enormous, go early before the heat peaks, and keep a close eye on little ones. Best visited on a Saturday or Sunday, when all sections are open.
Best for: Ages 3+ | Time needed: 2–3 hours | Cost: Free entry; budget 200–500 THB for food and finds | Getting there: BTS Mo Chit or MRT Chatuchak Park station
Family Fun Attractions (Great for Full Days Out)
6. HarborLand - Indoor Playground Across Multiple Locations
Bangkok's most popular indoor playground chain, and one of the most exciting new additions to the city's family scene the flagship MEGA HarborLand opened at One Bangkok in late 2024. Spanning over 6,000 square metres, it has dedicated areas for toddlers, older children, and even an adventure rope course for adults reaching heights of over 12 metres One Bangkok. There are over 30 HarborLand locations across Thailand including Mega Bangna, ICONSIAM, and EmQuartier HarborLand, so there's likely one near wherever you're staying.
Ticket prices are tiered kids under 140cm pay around 1,550 THB, with guardian tickets at 1,350 THB for the One Bangkok Super Pass. Individual branch prices are lower.
Best for: Ages 6 months–15 years | Time needed: 2.5–3 hours per session | Cost: Varies by branch; approx 400–800 THB per child for standard entry | Getting there: Multiple locations One Bangkok is near MRT Lumphini
Lauren's tip:The One Bangkok branch is the biggest and newest but also the priciest. The branches at Gateway Ekamai or IconSiam are great alternatives with easier Skytrain access and lower prices.
7. Harbor Island - Bangkok's Rooftop Water Park
Harbor Island opened in February 2025 and is one of Thailand's newest and biggest rooftop water parks, located on the roof of The Mall Lifestore Bangkapi. The park is perfect for everyone aged 2 and up, with zones including a massive spray park, a 200-metre lazy river, an outdoor obstacle playground, and a sky rider glider 8 metres above the ground. A second, even larger branch has since opened at The Mall Lifestore Bangkae. A 1-day pass gives unlimited access to Harbor Island and HarborLand for up to 10 hours.
Best for: Ages 2+ | Time needed: Half or full day | Cost: Check the HarborLand website for current pricing packages vary by branch | Getting there: The Mall Lifestore Bangkapi; best reached by Grab
8. WOW Science Park
WOW Park is an interactive amusement and science theme park with over 40 exhibits and a thrilling science show perfect for kids, families, and curious minds. It's on the 5th floor of Gateway shopping mall in Ekkamai, connecting directly from Ekkamai BTS Station. Kids can step into a tornado simulator, jump until they glow red on a thermal camera, try a bed of nails (yes, genuinely), and watch a 40-minute live science show with fire, liquid nitrogen, and proper theatrical flair. Standard admission starts from around 395–510 THB per person.
Best for: Ages 5+, particularly brilliant for 7–12 year olds | Time needed: 1.5–2.5 hours | Cost: Approx 395–510 THB per person; book in advance via Klook | Getting there: 5th floor, Gateway Ekamai mall connected directly to BTS Ekkamai
9. Children's Discovery Museum
Located inside Queen Sirikit Park, this vibrant interactive museum offers hands-on exhibits, outdoor play areas, and engaging activities designed to spark creativity and curiosity in children of all ages. It's open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm, and entry is completely free for everyone. Highlights include a dinosaur dig, a build-your-own-city construction zone, water play areas, and creative workshops. It's not the most polished attraction in Bangkok, but it's brilliant value and kids genuinely lose themselves in it.
The honest bit: Some sections can be under renovation, and it's primarily aimed at under-12s. Pack a towel and a change of clothes for the water play area.
Best for: Ages 3–12 | Time needed: 2–3 hours | Cost: Free | Getting there: BTS Mo Chit or MRT Kamphaengphet; short walk from Chatuchak area
Temples Beyond Wat Pho and the Grand Palace
Bangkok has dozens of extraordinary temples, and while most families can't fit them all in, these three are worth knowing about:
Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) - Directly across the Chao Phraya from Wat Pho, this temple is covered in colourful porcelain fragments and best seen at sunrise or sunset when it glows brilliantly. The central tower can be climbed for sweeping river views. Cost: 100 THB. Best for ages 6+.
Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple) - A quieter, cooler temple made almost entirely of white Carrara marble. Far less crowded than Wat Pho or the Grand Palace, and genuinely beautiful. Cost: 50 THB. Best for all ages.
Wat Traimit (The Golden Buddha) - Home to a solid gold Buddha statue weighing five-and-a-half tonnes. It's smaller than Wat Pho but the story behind it the statue was hidden under plaster for decades to protect it from invaders — captures children's imaginations wonderfully. Cost: 40–100 THB. Best for ages 5+.
Parks and Outdoor Spaces
Lumpini Park
Bangkok's most famous park is lovely in the early morning cool enough to walk, and the lake is full of giant monitor lizards that children absolutely cannot believe are real. There are playgrounds, open lawns, paddle boats for free hire, and free aerobics classes in the evenings that the whole family can join. It's free, it's beautiful, and it's one of our favourite slow mornings in the city.
Best for: All ages | Time needed: 1–2 hours | Cost: Free | Getting there: MRT Lumphini station, or BTS Sala Daeng
Bangkok Butterfly Garden and Insectarium
A genuine hidden gem that most families visiting Bangkok never find and it's completely free. The garden has a large glass dome with butterflies flying freely in a natural setting, plus a close-up butterfly life cycle exhibition zone. There's an indoor insect exhibition (including live specimens) followed by a beautiful domed garden where butterflies land on you if you stay still. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Best for: All ages, especially toddlers and primary age | Time needed: 1–1.5 hours | Cost: Free | Getting there:Located in Rot Fai / Wachirabenchathat Park near BTS Mo Chit pair with the Children's Discovery Museum next door
Lauren's tip:Combine this with the Children's Discovery Museum and Chatuchak Market for a brilliant free morning all three are within walking distance of each other near Mo Chit.
Evening Experiences
Chocolateville
One of the most unexpectedly magical evenings we've had with children anywhere. Chocolateville is an open air restaurant and theme park style complex designed like a fairytale European village with pastel coloured shophouses, a chapel, clock tower, windmills, and a canal running through the whole thing. The entrance fee is around 150 THB per person, which can be redeemed for popcorn, ice cream, or as a discount on food and drinks. It's primarily an evening destination arrive around 4–5pm to enjoy it in daylight first, then stay as the lights come on.
The honest bit: It's about 40 minutes from central Bangkok by Grab and not on the Skytrain line, so plan accordingly. Worth it for a special evening, especially with children who love a bit of fairy-tale magic.
Best for: All ages; magical for ages 3–10 | Time needed: 2–3 hours | Cost: 150 THB entry per adult (redeemable against food); under 5s free | Getting there: Grab is easiest about 30–50 minutes from central Bangkok
Asiatique The Riverfront
A sprawling riverside night market with a giant ferris wheel, dozens of restaurants, a carnival atmosphere, and some of the nicest river views in the city. It's free to enter and the ferris wheel ride is a lovely way to end an evening. Less chaotic than Chatuchak, more relaxed than Khao San Road, and genuinely fun for all ages.
Best for: Ages 3+; particularly good for older kids and tweens | Time needed: 2–3 hours | Cost: Free entry; budget 300–600 THB for food and rides | Getting there: Free shuttle boat from Sathorn/Central Pier from 4pm onwards
Talad Rot Fai (Train Market) Ratchada
A buzzing night market with vintage finds, street food, neon lights, and a much more local feel than the main tourist markets. The food stalls are excellent and the atmosphere is brilliant older kids and tweens love the energy of it.
Best for: Ages 6+; best for older children and tweens | Time needed: 1.5–2 hours | Cost: Free entry; budget 200–400 THB for food | Getting there: MRT Thailand Cultural Centre
The Planetarium - Bangkok Science Centre
The Bangkok Science Museum and Planetarium is an interactive complex with exhibitions on energy, robotics, the human body, and pre-history spread across four buildings including the Planetarium, a Natural Science building, and an Aquatic Life building. Admission is very affordable: 50 THB for adults and 30 THB for children for the planetarium show; science halls are 30 THB for adults and 20 THB for children. It's old-school and not the flashiest museum, but children who love science genuinely enjoy it, and the price makes it one of the best value activities in Bangkok.
The honest bit: Shows are in Thai with English language shows only on Tuesday mornings at 10am. For non-Thai speakers, Tuesday morning is the visit to aim for. Book seats in advance as shows sell out.
Best for: Ages 5+; best for ages 7–14 | Time needed: 1.5–2.5 hours | Cost: 50 THB adults / 30 THB children for planetarium; exhibition halls 30 THB / 20 THB | Getting there: BTS Ekkamai station, Exit 2 about 200m walk
For Rainy Days or When It's Too Hot to Think
Bangkok heat and afternoon downpours are both real. These are the activities to keep in your back pocket for when the weather wins:
SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World - Two to three hours of gloriously air-conditioned happiness. The shark tunnel, the penguin feeding, the touch pools. Perfect any day, essential on a hot one.
HarborLand (any branch) - An indoor playground designed for exactly these days. Multiple branches across the city; check which is nearest to where you're staying.
WOW Science Park - The Gateway Ekamai location is right on the BTS line and a brilliant option for a hot afternoon when you need something engaging for older children.
Mall food courts - Never underestimate these. MBK, Siam Paragon, Terminal 21, and CentralWorld all have enormous, brilliant food courts where you can eat extremely well for under 100 THB per person. Air-conditioned, cheap, delicious, and the children can run around and look at things while you recover.
Siam Paragon cinema - Shows English-language films regularly, including Disney and family releases. A couple of hours of cold air and popcorn with subtitles is genuinely sometimes exactly what a family holiday needs.
ICONSIAM - One of Bangkok's newest and most spectacular malls, with an indoor floating market on the ground floor (genuinely beautiful and completely free to walk through), a HarborLand branch upstairs, and enough food options to keep everyone fed and happy for hours.
My tip:We’ve had many days in Bangkok where it rained solidly from 11am onwards and the temperature still hadn't dropped. We ended up in IconSiam for four hours, lunch, a wander through every floor, and an ice cream each. Honestly? One of our favourite afternoons of the whole trip. Don't fight the heat. Embrace the mall.
FAQs
What's the single best thing to do in Bangkok with kids? Impossible to pick just one but if you forced me, Wat Pho. That reclining Buddha genuinely takes everyone's breath away, and the experience of walking through a beautiful working temple with children is one you'll all remember.
Is there enough to do in Bangkok with kids for a week? Absolutely. You could fill two weeks without repeating yourself. Between the temples, indoor attractions, markets, parks, and evening activities, Bangkok offers more variety for families than almost anywhere in Southeast Asia.
Are Bangkok attractions good value? Exceptionally. The temples are a few pounds each. The parks and butterfly garden are free. The science museum costs pennies. Even the bigger attractions like SEA LIFE and HarborLand are cheap by European standards especially if you book via Klook using discount code LIFEALINGSIDELAURENKLOOK
How much of Bangkok can we do in 3 days? Realistically: one full temple morning (Grand Palace + Wat Pho), one indoor day (SEA LIFE or HarborLand), one market day (Chatuchak), and an evening at Asiatique. That covers the highlights without burning anyone out.
Do I need to book activities in advance? For SEA LIFE discount, yes book online to save money and skip queues. For the Planetarium, yes on Tuesday mornings (English shows fill quickly). For temples, no. For everything else, it's usually fine to show up, but Klook bookings often save money and guarantee entry.
Want to plan your full trip? Check out the Bangkok with Kids main guide for where to stay, where to eat, how to get around, and a full 5-day itinerary.
Find me on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and YouTube: @lifealongsidelauren
Planning this trip? Save this post so you've got it when you need it. 📌