Bangkok, Thailand’s bustling capital city, has so much to offer to every kind of traveler. But if you’ve already seen all the top sights, snapped pics at all the cool Instagram spots, and want to take a break from city life, there’s a whole bunch of fascinating places to visit just outside the city. Here’s our curated list of the ABSOLUTE best day trips from Bangkok!
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Table of Contents
The Best Day Trips from Bangkok
Ayutthaya
If there is one day trip from Bangkok that you simply must do, it is to visit Ayutthaya – a sprawling historic park filled with ancient ruins dating back to the 14th century.
Ayutthaya was the second capital of Siam before being burnt down by the Burmese in 1767. While the fire destroyed all of the wooden palaces, many of the ancient structures and temples built from brick and stone still stand today. And as a result, Ayutthaya is not only one of Thailand’s most fascinating landmarks but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Ayutthaya Historical Park features nine famous temples, and while you won’t have enough time to see all of them on a day trip excursion, there are a couple that you simply cannot miss. Among the most notable is Wat Phra Mahathat, which features a buddha face trapped in an ancient banyan tree. Other must-visit sights include Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, and Wat Chaiwatthanaram.
Ayutthaya is roughly 1-hour drive from Bangkok city. The easiest way to visit is by hiring a private driver for the day or joining a historical temple tour. Alternatively, you can also tackle the 2-hour train journey from Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok to get there. Just know that the park is huge and the temples are quite spread out. Bicycle rentals are plentiful, and it’s a fun way to explore the park at your leisure.
Erawan Museum
Erawan Museum, not to be confused with Erawan Falls, is one of the easiest Bangkok day trips.
Located roughly one hour south of the capital in Samut Prakan, Erawan Museum is best known for its enormous 3-headed elephant sculpture sitting on top of an ornate pink temple. While the temple is impressive from the outside, it’s really what lies within its walls that makes it a must-visit place.
Inside the temple, you’ll find beautifully decorated staircases featuring dragon motifs, mythical statues, and a stunning colorful glass-stained roof representing earth, fire, wind, and water. Take the elevator up to the elephant’s body, where you’ll find a blue worship room lined with Buddha statues. And underneath the temple, there’s an interesting exhibition filled with ancient artifacts and porcelain.
The grounds also feature neatly-kept gardens full of lush plant life, waterfalls, and colorful elephant statues that trumpet when you walk underneath them. There’s also a souvenir store and an outdoor restaurant where you can sit back and relax.
While Erawan Museum is a hidden gem, it is one of Bangkok’s most Instagrammable attractions. Remember to dress appropriately, covering your knees and shoulders when visiting. Entry to the museum is quite expensive (400 baht). So buying a combo ticket, which includes entry to the Ancient City, is best. Take the green BTS line to Chang Erawan Station and order a Grab Taxi the rest of the way.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
No Bangkok trip would be complete without checking out its cool floating markets. And Damnoen Saduak is among the most famous, making it a must-do Bangkok day trip.
Located roughly 1.5 hours southwest of the city, Damnoen Saduak is a thriving hive full of sights and sounds. You’ll cruise through an intricate maze of canals on a traditional long-tail boat when visiting here. Along the waterway, dozens of stalls sell everything from souvenirs and clothing to arts and crafts. The main area also has a great selection of local Thai food like mango sticky rice, pad Thai, and coconut ice cream. The best part is that you don’t even need to get out of your boat to enjoy some grub!
While Damnoen Saduak is very tourist-oriented today, a visit here provides a good glimpse into the past with plenty of photo ops. However, it’s important to know that Damnoen Saduak is often touted as a tourist trap, so be more cautious when visiting.
Unless you’re joining a guided tour, know that you’ll need to pay an additional fee to take a boat to the market. Prices vary depending on the pier you get dropped off at, but you really shouldn’t be paying more than 500 baht per person. Anything more than that is a rip-off.
Another thing to know is that the boatmen will stop at literally all the souvenir stalls to get you to buy something. Make sure to haggle as prices are hugely inflated here.
Maeklong Railway Market
The Maeklong Railway Market, more commonly known as just the Bangkok Train Market, is another great excursion you should not miss while exploring Bangkok.
Located less than 1 hour’s drive from the city, Maeklong is a cool market set up along a railway track. Dozens of local vendors sell various products from fruit and veg to freshly caught fish, meat and even souvenirs along the narrow railway track.
However, what makes really makes Maeklong such a unique attraction is that every time the train approaches, vendors need to pick up and move their goods off the tracks. Once the train passes, vendors place all the goods back. It’s quite a spectacle to witness; everything happens rather quickly, and it’s amazing to see how well placements on the tracks have been conditioned.
Maeklong is quite a popular tourist attraction outside Bangkok, so it’s easy to join an organized day trip or arrange a private driver. While the market is open from 6 am to 6 pm, timing your visit is key. The train only comes at 8.30 am, 11.30 am, 2.30 pm and 5.40 pm. If you can, stick around until the train returns (30 minutes after arrival) for even more photo ops.
Lopburi
Recommended by PlacesofJuma.
A really great destination for an unforgettable day trip from Bangkok is the small town of Lopburi, also known as the City of Monkeys. This place is easily reached by train, private taxi, or, more conveniently, with a guided tour directly from Bangkok.
Lopburi is well-known for the Prang Sam Yod temple, where thousands of monkeys live. During a tour, you can discover numerous playful monkeys that are up to mischief around the temple. Many tourists feed the macaques, but this is not really recommended. When visiting, you should also hide all your valuables well. Even glasses can be interesting for monkeys.
As a special feature, there is even a big monkey festival once a year. During this celebration, locals build a massive buffet in honor of the many macaques – a unique spectacle one can hardly imagine.
But there is more in Lopburi. You should definitely visit the historic old town, where there are no monkeys, but other fascinating temples off the typical tourist routes. Another great stop is the market, where you can taste all kinds of Thai cuisine.
Koh Kret Island
Recommended by Allan from Live Less Ordinary.
Located just north of Bangkok, Koh Kret is a small island in the Chao Phraya River, best known for its pottery villages and unique Burmese Mon heritage. Traditions were introduced by refugees trading in terracotta-ware jugs and bowls, and to this day, the old teak homes of the island continues to house the old kilns.
Koh Kret is a relatively small island easily explored on foot, with main attractions close to the arrival pier. For the more adventurous, rent a bicycle and follow the waymarked circular path covering the wider attractions. The island is surprisingly peaceful, serene, and green, given its proximity to big city life.
Weekdays are quieter on Koh Kret when many of the eateries and Thai street food stalls close. Many museum exhibits and the local Chit brewery only open on the weekends too.
To get to Koh Kret, a taxi from central Bangkok to the Koh Kret Pier is roughly 200 Baht. But you can find cheaper taxis from either Bang Sue MRT or the Nonthaburi Pier.
Pattaya
Recommended by Vidyut from Triplyzer.
Located by the Gulf of Thailand, Pattaya is one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations.
You can directly get from Suvarnabhumi airport to Pattaya by bus, catch a bus from Mo Chit, or arrange a private driver to take you. There are also some great guided tours on offer that you can book. The 150 km distance takes just under 3 hours.
Your one perfect day in Pattaya must include Pattaya Beach, Sanctuary of truth, Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, and the walking street.
Start with the Sanctuary of Truth, a beautiful wooden monument situated near the ocean focusing on the importance of moral values.
Then head to the lively Pattaya beach, a favorite spot for the Sun worshippers. If you like water sports, you can also enjoy activities such as jet skiing and a banana boat ride here.
Nong Nooch is a huge garden covering an area of 200 hectares. It features manicured gardens and a variety of tropical plants – including a wide variety of orchids.
Take a stroll on the lively walking street, dotted with lots of eateries, bars, and entertainment options – the perfect place to wrap your day in Pattaya.
Kanchanaburi
Recommended by Sarah, A Social Nomad.
Kanchanaburi is just two hours from Thailand’s capital, making it a perfect day trip from Bangkok.
Many visitors visit Kanchanaburi specifically to see the World War II sites, like Hellfire Pass, the Commonwealth Graveyard, and the infamous Bridge over the River Kwai. The train line from Bangkok’s Thonburi station to the current end of the “Death Railway” that once ran through Burma, now Myanmar. All day tours from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi will visit the bridge.
Several museums here also give immense detail on the railway, which was built by slave laborers and allied prisoners of war. There are also several National Parks close to Kanchanaburi – and it’s easy to visit Erawan National Park on a day trip to Kanchanaburi – where you can chase waterfalls, explore caves, and dip into glorious turquoise pools.
Ang Thong
Recommended by Paul from Paulmarina.
Ang Thong is a province located to the north of Bangkok. It’s known as the golden rice basin of Thailand because the region is the largest rice producer in Thailand.
The Ang Thong Buddhas and Temples are the main attraction in this very rural area of the country. The largest Buddha sits right between vibrant green rice fields and the Wat Muang temple. This temple is also known as the crystal temple. Beautiful mirrors decorate the inner rooms, creating a special ambiance and light. The garden area is the Buddhist version of hell, with tall and life-sized figurines telling Buddhist mythology.
One can visit another 200 temples in the area, but the most unique sanctuary is the largest reclining Buddha in Thailand. He is dressed with a massive bright orange tunica, and the toes are decorated with pieces of gold paper by devotees. The drive from Bangkok to Ang Thong takes about 1.5 hrs, making it a perfect day trip to learn more about the rural areas of Thailand.
Other Popular Day Tours from Bangkok
Klook.comBangkok Day Trips in Conclusion
Well, that’s all from me. I hope you enjoyed reading about the best places to visit near Bangkok! If you think I’ve missed any must-visit attractions outside Bangkok City, let me know in the comments below so that I can add them to my Bangkok excursions bucket list!
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