Popular Tours from Bangkok
Bangkok has been one of Asia’s most visited cities for years. There’s a lot to see, and tours are a good way to cover the main sights without figuring out transport yourself. The most popular options are temple tours (Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun), floating markets outside the city, canal trips by longtail boat, and street food tours in Chinatown. If you have more time, cooking classes, bike tours through old neighbourhoods, and evening tuk-tuk tours are worth considering.
Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun Temple Tour
This walking tour covers Bangkok’s three main temples in one trip. Start at the Grand Palace complex, built in 1782, where you’ll see the Emerald Buddha inside Wat Phra Kaew. It’s Thailand’s most sacred Buddhist statue, carved from a single piece of jade.
Walk to nearby Wat Pho to see the 46-metre Reclining Buddha covered in gold leaf, with mother-of-pearl inlaid feet. The temple also has Thailand’s first public university and the original Thai massage school. Then cross the Chao Phraya River by ferry to Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, with its 70-metre spire decorated with Chinese porcelain and seashells. Most tours last 3-4 hours. You’ll need to cover shoulders and knees.
Bangkok Canal Tour by Longtail Boat
Longtail boat tours take you through Thonburi’s canal network on the west side of the river. The two-hour trip goes through narrow klongs lined with wooden stilt houses, small temples, and tropical plants. You’ll see locals fishing, kids swimming, and large monitor lizards on the banks. It’s a different side of Bangkok that most tourists miss.
Most tours stop at Baan Silapin (Artist’s House), an old wooden building with traditional puppet shows. You’ll also pass Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen with its 69-metre Buddha statue visible from the water. Tours leave from piers near Wat Pho. Morning departures are cooler and less crowded.
Bangkok Street Food Tour in Yaowarat
Yaowarat is Bangkok’s Chinatown, and it has some of the best street food in the city. Evening walking tours take you through narrow alleyways to sample 15+ dishes at street stalls and family restaurants that tourists don’t usually find on their own.
Expect dishes like khao kha moo (braised pork leg), kua gai (charcoal-roasted chicken noodles), Chinese chive cakes, satay, and patongo (Thai-Chinese doughnuts) with pandan custard. Tours last about 4 hours and include stops at century-old vendors and Michelin-recommended stalls. Guides explain what you’re eating and the history of Thai-Chinese food in Bangkok.
Chao Phraya River Cruise Tour
Evening dinner cruises run about 2 hours and pass lit-up landmarks like Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, Rama VIII Bridge, and ICONSIAM. Most boats leave between 7-8 pm from piers at River City, Asiatique, or ICONSIAM. There’s usually an air-conditioned lower deck and an open rooftop deck.
Food is typically a Thai and international buffet with seafood, pad Thai, curries, and desserts. Entertainment varies but usually includes Thai dance, live music, or cabaret. Prices run 950-1,400 Baht per person depending on the boat. It’s a touristy experience but works well for families or if you want to see the river at night without organising your own boat.
Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour
Half-day cooking classes usually start with a trip to a local market where the instructor explains Thai ingredients, herbs, and spices. You’ll learn to identify different types of basil, eggplants, and curry pastes. Then back to the kitchen to cook 4-5 dishes like pad Thai, green curry, tom yum, massaman curry, or mango sticky rice.
Each person cooks at their own station. You’ll learn to pound curry paste by hand and use a wok properly. Classes run 3-4 hours, morning or afternoon. Most schools give you recipe booklets to take home. Good if you actually want to cook Thai food later, not just watch someone else do it.
Bangkok Bike Tour Through Old City
Three-hour bike tours take you through Bangkok’s quieter backstreets and old neighbourhoods. You’ll cycle through Chinatown alleyways, cross to Thonburi’s canal-side areas, and visit temples and markets you can’t reach by car. The routes cover about 15 km on flat terrain, so you don’t need to be super fit. Groups are usually 10-15 people. Morning or afternoon options, with stops for drinks and photos along the way.
Bangkok Night Tour by Tuk-Tuk
Evening tuk-tuk tours combine temples, markets, street food, and rooftop bars in one night. You start with Wat Pho and Wat Arun at sunset when they’re lit up and less crowded. Then through Pak Khlong Talat (the 24-hour flower market) and Chinatown for street food. Tours last 3-4 hours and include stops at 2-3 rooftop bars. The tuk-tuk ride through traffic is part of the experience. Groups of 6-10 people.
Chinatown Walking Tour
Two-hour walking tours go through the backstreets of Yaowarat, Bangkok’s Chinatown. You’ll see old shophouses, small temples between buildings, and family businesses that have been running for generations selling gold, herbs, dried seafood, and textiles.
Evening tours are busier but more interesting when the street food stalls open and Yaowarat Road lights up. Morning tours are quieter if you prefer that. Tours start near MRT Hua Lamphong or the riverside piers. Guides usually grew up in the area and know which stalls are worth stopping at.
Club Hopping Tour
Bar-hopping tours visit 3 different venues in one night. Usually start at a rooftop bar for sunset drinks, then move to trendier areas like Thonglor or RCA for clubs and live music. Tours last 4-5 hours and include transport between venues, skip-the-line entry, and welcome drinks at each stop. Groups of 10-15 people. Good if you want to see Bangkok nightlife without planning logistics or going alone.
Chatuchak Weekend Market Shopping Tour
Chatuchak is one of the world’s largest weekend markets. 35 acres, 15,000+ stalls, 27 sections. It’s easy to get lost. Guided tours help you navigate and find specific sections based on what you want (vintage clothes, handicrafts, home decor, food). Tours run 3-4 hours, best in the morning before the afternoon heat.
Guides teach you how to bargain and show you sections most tourists miss. Stops for coconut water, mango smoothies, and the famous coconut ice cream. The market is only open Saturday and Sunday, 9 am to 6 pm.
