Bangkok is an incredible place to take your family on holiday. There’s hardly anywhere like it on earth, and although you could visit a 100 times and never scratch the surface, the cultural experience alone for the kids will make it all worth it.
I’d recommend Bangkok to any family. Where else can your kids ride a tuk-tuk in the morning, explore glittering temples by afternoon, and feast on mango sticky rice by evening? Bangkok’s diversity is incredible with fascinating ancient history, urban green spaces where kids can burn off energy, and cultural experiences they’ll tell their friends about for years.
Here are some of our favourite family adventures that combine those iconic must-sees with places you may not have caught onto yet.
These trips made unforgettable memories for us, and I want you to enjoy them too. Plus, practical tips from someone who’s been there with kids in tow!
1. The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew: Glitter and Gold Galore
Stepping through the gates of Bangkok’s Grand Palace complex is otherworldly, as though you’ve wandered into a fairytale kingdom. It left my kids speechless – if you’ve ever travelled with chatty youngsters, you’ll know this is no small feat.
The Grand Palace makes our family bucket list because it’s utterly bizarre in the best possible way – a land of golden spires, emerald Buddhas, and mythical guardian statues that seem straight out of a fantasy film. We were all completely enchanted by the scale of it all.
You simply must explore the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (though it gets busy, so go early), marvel at the intricately detailed murals (my kids played “spot the monkey” in the Ramayana scenes), and let the little ones count how many demons and monkeys guard the sacred spaces.
For palace exploring, visit first thing in the morning – we arrived at 8:30am and practically had the place to ourselves for a precious half hour. But pack layers because you’ll need covered shoulders and knees to enter. We learned this lesson the hard way and had to buy overpriced sarongs at the entrance. And most importantly, keep visits to 1-2 hours max. I watched many families with overtired, cranky kids who’d been dragged around too long in the heat.
2. Chao Phraya River Adventures
Riding along Bangkok’s “River of Kings” gives you a completely different perspective of the city – and my kids rate it as their absolute favourite day while in Bangkok – and I think I do too.
Bangkok’s river makes every family itinerary because of how much fun is packed into one affordable activity. It means you escape the city heat with a refreshing breeze, you can spot golden temples from the water, and watch your children’s faces light up as the boat zooms and bobs under bridges. If you take a smaller boat like we did (pictured above) you can enter the back waters and even buy drinks, snacks and toys from local people selling their goods on their boats.
Even if you do a private or small tourist boat tour don’t miss taking a regular ferry boat up and down the river (way cheaper than the tourist boats and more authentic), hopping off to explore Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn) where kids can carefully climb the steep steps, and timing an evening ride to see Bangkok’s landmarks all lit up against the night sky.
My advice is to skip the expensive tourist cruises and just use the orange-flagged local ferries – they cost pennies and the experience is brilliant.
Buy a day pass and hop on and off as you please. And if everyone’s feeling adventurous, take a longtail boat through the smaller canals where you’ll see an entirely different side of Bangkok – local homes on stilts, kids waving from wooden porches, and the occasional monitor lizard sunning itself on the banks.
Our Favourite Place To Stay In Bangkok For Families
We loved our stay at the Eastin Grand Hotel Phayathai in Bangkok – and more importantly, so did our kids.
It’s central location with easy access to the Skytrain, two rooftop pools, beautifully designed rooms and incredible service made this a real favourite for us and meant our Thailand trip ended on a high.
3. Lumpini Park: Bangkok’s Green Lung
Some experiences really do live up to the hype, and watching the sun set over Lumpini Park while my kids fed fish from a paddle boat was one of them for me.
Lumpini Park serves up that perfect urban cocktail of open green space and family-friendly activities that’ll give parents a much-needed breather from temple-hopping and market-browsing.
Key experiences include renting swan-shaped paddle boats, spotting those famous water monitor lizards (safely – they’re actually quite shy), and joining the local families for impromptu ball games in the late afternoon. The day we visited was extremely hot so we quickly found shade under one of the many tress.
Aim for a 5:30pm visit when the brutal midday heat has faded and local families come out to play. Bring mosquito spray as dusk approaches, and definitely pack a picnic – the little food vendors around the park serve amazing snacks.
4. Walk China Town Early Evening
China Town in Bangkok is unlike any China Town I have seen in any other city. It’s a feat for all the senses with sights, sounds and smells like you’ve never experienced. Yes it’s busy, so if you bring the kids you’ll want to keep them close, but it’s also an education.
The kids will marvel at the bugs on sticks, crocodiles on spits and will love the sweet treats and juices that you can find at every turn.
The bright lights and atmosphere from the main street might be overwhelming for some adults even, so it’s not one to spend hours at – but pencil in an hour to walk up and down the main street, taste some of the street food and then head off to a quieter side road to chill.
It’s easy to access from the ferry or simply take a Grab taxi or TukTuk and ask them to take you to China Town. You won’t regret it.
5. Siam Park City: Splashes and Thrills
Siam Park City is absolutely brilliant, because it combines a proper theme park with an extensive water park – ideal for families with kids of different ages and interests. On a hot Bangkok day (which is basically every day), the water park section is absolute heaven, and is home to Bangkok’s largest water slide.
Your Siam Park checklist should include braving the iconic Giant Drop tower (if you dare – I chickened out but teenagers will love it), cooling off on the lazy river (where I happily floated for an embarrassingly long time), and letting little ones splash in the dedicated kids’ zones with mini slides and shallow pools.
It’s definitely worth buying tickets online beforehand – you’ll save money and skip the queues. And while it’s tempting to arrive early, we found mid-afternoon to evening was actually less crowded as the day-trippers had left. Just remember to slather everyone in waterproof sunscreen, adults and all – my husband’s sunburnt back was a painful reminder of this overlooked detail.
6. Chatuchak Weekend Market: Treasure Hunting
Did you know that Bangkok’s Chatuchak Weekend Market is one of the world’s largest markets? With over 15,000 stalls, it’s a treasure trove of everything from handmade crafts to exquisite antiques.
Chatuchak makes the family-friendly list because, despite its enormous size, it’s well-organised, vibrant, and filled with child-pleasing finds and treats. Just don’t make our mistake of telling the kids they could “buy one thing each” – narrowing down the options nearly caused a family crisis.
Your market adventure must include sampling the legendary coconut ice cream served in a coconut shell, hunting for unique souvenirs in the handicraft sections, and taking a breather at one of the small cafés scattered throughout when little legs get tired.
My top tip is to get there early – we arrived at 9am on a Saturday and the relative cool and calm was worth the early wake-up call. By noon, it was heaving with people and considerably hotter.
Grab a market map or use the map on your phone, because getting lost with tired kids is no joke. And set a meeting point in case anyone gets separated. Oh, and maybe wear more obvious items, so you can spot each other easily. It’s definitely worth going, but it’s a job keeping an eye on everyone whilst also taking in the sights yourself.
7. ICONSIAM: Air-Conditioned Bliss with Views
After days of sweaty temple-hopping, the gleaming air-conditioned halls of ICONSIAM shopping mall felt like heaven to my heat-exhausted family. It’s a good mid-holiday break from it all.
This riverside mega-mall makes our Bangkok list not for the shopping (though there’s plenty), but for its incredible indoor floating market, spectacular river views, and phenomenal food options that cater to even the pickiest eaters.
While you’re there, don’t miss the ground floor “SookSiam” area – a mock floating market where the kids can sample traditional Thai snacks in a controlled environment (perfect for cautious eaters). The riverside terrace offers spectacular views for family photos, and the incredible food court lets everyone choose their own meal without arguments. The free shuttle boats to and from the mall are half the fun for kids!
For a mall experience (I know, not your typical holiday activity), this one’s worth it. Visit in the afternoon when outdoor heat peaks, and use it as a strategic rest day between more active adventures. The digital light show on the riverside is genuinely impressive after dark, and even my “shopping is boring” teenager admitted it was “actually pretty cool.”
Practical Tips for Bangkok
Getting around Bangkok with kids is surprisingly easy. The BTS Skytrain is clean, efficient and my kids loved riding above the traffic (the front seats for spotting the city from above were hotly contested). For shorter trips, Grab taxis (Thailand’s Uber) are affordable and easy to use with the app. And of course, a tuk-tuk ride is mandatory for the full Bangkok experience – just negotiate the price before setting off.
Timing is everything in Bangkok’s heat. We quickly adopted the locals’ rhythm: activities early morning, retreat indoors during midday heat, then emerge again late afternoon. This saved us from meltdowns (both weather and child varieties).
Always, always have water bottles, hats, and hand sanitizer for everyone. Public toilets can be hit or miss.
And my final hard-earned wisdom? Bangkok with kids isn’t about cramming in everything. It’s about balancing cultural moments with pure fun, street food adventures with familiar meals, and keeping everyone (including parents) happy and comfortable enough to actually enjoy the experience.
Start Your Bangkok Family Adventure
Whether you’re drawn to the temples, the water park thrills, markets bursting with options or all the amazing food on offer, Bangkok offers a surprising variety of family experiences that will create those all important lasting memories.
My advice is to pick just three or four activities from this list and do them properly rather than trying to cram everything into a whirlwind tour – and if you stay at a family friendly Bangkok hotel, don’t forget to pencil in some down time on a rooftop pool.
So what are you waiting for? Enjoy the world together and see things you’ll never forget. Bangkok really was a huge hit with my family – I have no doubt it’ll be just as incredible for yours.
Our Favourite Place To Stay In Bangkok For Families
We loved our stay at the Eastin Grand Hotel Phayathai in Bangkok – and more importantly, so did our kids.
It’s central location with easy access to the Skytrain, two rooftop pools, beautifully designed rooms and incredible service made this a real favourite for us and meant our Thailand trip ended on a high.