Most trips to Thailand often begin and end in Bangkok, the capital city of over 10 million people. It is where you will likely have to spend some time during your trip, whether you prefer it or not.
For those of you who have a few days to spare in Bangkok, I have written this article just for you. I've lived in Bangkok for many years, and I have always wanted to escape its crowdedness every once in a while. With my experiences, I have decided to compile a list of great day trips you can make from Bangkok.
From the ancient cities of Ayutthaya and Lopburi to more off-the-beaten-path places like Nakhon Pathom and Samut Prakan, here are the 9 best day trips you can make from Bangkok. Let's start out with a great trip to the ancient capital city of Thailand, Ayutthaya.
- 1. Explore the Ancient Ruins of Ayutthaya
- 2. Take a Train Trip Down the Bridge of River Kwai
- 3. Hike and Swim at Erawan Falls
- 4. Visit the Floating & Railway Markets
- 5. Explore the Attractions in Ratchaburi
- 6. Visit the Monkey Ancient City of Lopburi
- 7. Check Out Nakhon Pathom and its awesome temples
- 8. Explore the Ancient City in Samut Prakan
- 9. Explore Bang Krachao on a Bike
- More Bangkok Activities
- Thailand Travel Video
- Further Reading for Central Thailand
1. Explore the Ancient Ruins of Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya is one of the most important ancient cities in Thailand that is regarded as the place that created the foundation of the Thai modern history we know today, and it is located only an hour away from Bangkok.
This ancient city, surrounded by moats, was mentioned quite extensively in many of the colonial-era European chronicles. Many called it the Venice of the East due to its strategic location, lively commerce, and all the beautiful structures that provide a great example of the Siam style architecture before European influences.
It is an awesome place to visit with many spots to explore like the giant pagoda of Wat Yai Chaimongkol, the ancient Wat Chai Watthanaram that reminded me of Angkor Wat, and of course, the famous Buddha head embedded in a Banyan tree, one of the most photographed places in Ayutthaya.
With so many things to do here, you can easily spend around 5-8 hours exploring the place, and since it is only an hour's drive away, you can easily begin your journey from Bangkok early and get back to the city before 8 PM.
If you are looking for an organized day trip to help make your trip more comfortable, I highly recommend this small Ayutthaya group tour that you can join.
The tour will take you to all the important sites while you get to learn more about each place in great detail from a knowledgeable local guide. You can find more tours with the link below.
2. Take a Train Trip Down the Bridge of River Kwai
Located only 140 km from Bangkok, Kanchanaburi is home to WW2-era landmarks like the River Kwai Bridge, Hellfire Pass, and the infamous Death Railway trestle bridge.
Kanchanaburi played an important role as a strategic location in the logistic solution of the Japanese occupiers during WWII. They attempted to connect a supply line to their troops on the frontline in Myanmar, navigating through the disease-ridden and treacherous terrain of the Tenasserim Hills.
The Japanese used over 140,000 Allied POWs to build this railway link, and more than 12,000 perished due to poor working conditions, diseases, and starvation. With such a dark and tragic history, one can expect to find many museums and landmarks of that era here in Kanchanaburi.
For history buffs, you can visit the Hellfire Pass Interpretative Center, one of the best WW2 museums out there, as well as the JEATH War Museum and the Death Railway Museum located in Kanchanaburi City.
You can also take a train from Bangkok all the way to Kanchanaburi in this old train carriage that will take you over the River Kwai Bridge all the way to Tham Krasae, where the Death Railway trestle bridge is located. It is one of the most photogenic train rides you can take in Thailand, and if you prefer a more adventurous route, taking the train from Bangkok is the way to go.
If you are looking for a more convenient way to get from Bangkok to the River Kwai Bridge and back in one day, I highly recommend you go on an organized tour instead to save time. In addition, you will also get to learn more about these places from a local guide. Hit the link below to browse through available tours you can join.
3. Hike and Swim at Erawan Falls
Erawan Falls is one of the most magnificent waterfalls in Thailand. With its stunning layers of cascades, clear blue water, and over 7 levels for us to explore, it is not hard to see why people consider it one of the best places to visit in the country.
There are 7 waterfalls you can hike in the Erawan Falls area, stretching along the 1.5 km trail. Each level has its own charm, and the further you hike, the fewer people you will encounter. In between hiking, you have plenty of opportunities to freshen up and dip into the vibrant blue water and enjoy the pure nature Thailand has to offer.
At the top, you will be able to see the cliff from where the source of the waterfall originates. If you happen to be there when the water level is high, you might be able to witness the largest waterfall out of the seven that you will see at Erawan Falls.
Visiting Erawan Falls is often done together with a trip to Kanchanaburi City, so you can combine this trip with the previous River Kwai trip to create an epic full-day adventure from Bangkok.
Since Erawan Falls is almost an hour away from Kanchanaburi City, which is another 1.5 hours away from Bangkok, traveling such long distances can be tiring and tedious. Therefore, if you are short on time and are looking for a more convenient way to visit Erawan Falls from Bangkok, I highly recommend you go with an organized tour instead. Hit the link below to see if there's any tour available.
4. Visit the Floating & Railway Markets
One of the most popular things to do in Thailand that tourists from across the world would travel all the way from their home countries to see is the famous Thailand floating market.
At the floating market, you will witness the traditional Thai way of trading that was used long before the first modern road was ever constructed. At the floating market, people would come and congregate around a canal, and merchants would row in with their wooden boats and start trading their goods, from fresh vegetables to boat noodles.
There are several floating markets in Thailand you can visit, and two of the most popular ones are Amphawa and Damnoon Saduak floating markets. They are the most photogenic but also the most crowded, so be sure to set your expectations accordingly.
If you have your own vehicle and prefer to visit a less touristy floating market, Tha Kha Floating Market is a much better place to go. It's quiet, with fewer tourists, and you can buy everything here at a local price.
In Thailand, there is also the famous Mae Klong Railway Market where you will find a flea market right on the train track. You can witness how they collapse the entire market to let the train through and resume their commerce after the train passes.
These are awesome and unique things to do in Thailand, and you can visit all of these places on a day trip from Bangkok. To visit all of these places at once, I highly recommend that you go with an organized tour to save time and money.
The tour should take you to all these places in one go, and you will be guided through each place with a local guide to learn more about how each place came to be. Hit the link below to check for tour availability.
5. Explore the Attractions in Ratchaburi
Now, if you decide to rent a car from Bangkok, you will be able to explore even further away. One of the most off-the-beaten-path places you can visit near Bangkok is Ratchaburi, an adjacent province full of authentic experiences and hidden gems to be had, and it is only an hour drive away from Bangkok.
Ratchaburi is home to some of the most well-kept tourist attractions in Thailand, and one of my favorite places in Ratchaburi is Huppha Sawan, a temple hiking trail that will take you to some of the most impressive viewpoints in the province.
There are also many other tourist attractions like Wat Mahathat Worawihan, an ancient temple from the Dvaravati period, even before the Ayutthaya era, and Khao Ngu Stone Park, home to the unique-looking rock formation you can stroll around in.
You can even drive deeper into the foot of the Tenasserim Hills and explore the rich nature of Suan Phueng and its nature-centric tourist attractions. If you are looking to get off the beaten path, Ratchaburi is a great day trip you can make from Bangkok.
6. Visit the Monkey Ancient City of Lopburi
When you ask people about the best place to visit in Thailand for history buffs, they will often recommend either Ayutthaya or Sukhothai, which are great options in their own right. But did you know that Lopburi, a city located only an hour and a half away from Bangkok, also has stunning historical ruins that predate even the ones in Sukhothai and Ayutthaya?
Lopburi is home to some of the oldest structures in the country, with many of them believed to have been constructed between the 10th and 11th centuries, such as the stunning Wat Phrasi Rattana Mahathat and King Narai's Palace.
Lopburi is not all about ancient ruins, though. The place has recently become known worldwide as the monkey city, where you will find hundreds of monkeys roaming the city freely, wreaking havoc in their little cute ways. They often congregate around the Prang Sam Yod monument located at a roundabout in the middle of the city.
It is definitely a fun and unique place to visit, but be sure to keep your distance from these monkeys and don't carry around anything that looks like food, and you should be able to explore these places trouble-free.
Lopburi is reachable by trains or you can drive from Bangkok, which should take no more than 1.5 hours. Once you arrive in the city center, most of the tourist attractions are concentrated around the train station, so you should be able to explore the place without your own vehicle, making it a great day trip to do from Bangkok.
7. Check Out Nakhon Pathom and its awesome temples
Nakhon Pathom is another great province to visit from Bangkok due to its proximity and easy accessibility for those seeking to escape the bustling city and experience an authentic and unique side of Thailand.
The province is home to the much-revered Phra Pathom Chedi pagoda, a massive ancient pagoda considered to be the tallest in the country with the top spire reaching over 120 meters.
This ancient site is the landmark of the city, and once the sun is down, the surrounding area will be transformed into a street food market with some of the most delicious street food you can try for cheap.
You can reach the pagoda directly from Bangkok via trains, but if you want to explore more of Nakhon Pathom and visit other awesome places like the Dragon Temple of Wat Sam Phran and Wat Lam Phaya Floating Market, I highly recommend that you rent a car and drive here instead of taking the train.
8. Explore the Ancient City in Samut Prakan
The Ancient City is a relatively new tourist attraction located in Samut Prakan, an adjacent province to the south of Bangkok, and it is one of the best places to visit if you have only half a day to spare.
The Ancient City is a massive 360-acre park filled with a ton of impressive replicas of all the popular landmarks in Thailand from around the country, all located in one place for you to explore.
With the slogan "Travel all of Thailand in one place", there are more than 120 attractions scattered around the 360-acre area. They claim it is one of the largest private outdoor museums in the world, and after spending more than 3 hours riding around the entire park, it definitely feels like it.
The park is divided into the northern, southern, northeastern, and central regions connected to form the actual shape of Thailand itself, and all of the replicated architectures are also in the same location as the real thing on the map. It is actually quite impressive if you look at the map of the Ancient City park.
Within the Ancient City, there is a ton for you to see, and I mean A TON. To see all the 120+ landmarks, expect to spend at least 3 hours biking around the Ancient City and taking photos of all the stunning structures you stumble upon.
The landmarks ranged from the old ruins of the ancient city of Sukhothai and Ayuthaya to the impressive Pavilion of Enlightened, which resembles a dragon's back. Despite them being replicas of the real thing, they are actually very impressive in and of themselves. These are not cheap knock-off tourist landmarks.
Best of all, the Ancient City is reachable by the BTS sky train. You just have to hop on one to Kheha BTS station, and from there, you should be able to get a free shuttle bus provided by the establishment that will take you to the Ancient City in no time.
Many people often visit the Ancient City together with the famous Erawan Museum and its massive Elephant statue. They are owned by the same owner, and you can buy a bundle ticket that includes the entrance tickets for both places.
You can get to the Erawan Museum by taking the BTS sky train and getting off at Chang Erawan BTS Station. Additionally, you can reach the Ancient City from the Erawan Museum using their free shuttle service, making it one of the most convenient places to visit on this list.
9. Explore Bang Krachao on a Bike
Another great short day trip you can take from Bangkok is to explore Bang Krachao, a small artificial island formed by a bend in the Chao Phraya River and a canal at its western end. The area technically lies within Phra Pradaeng District, which is in Samut Prakan Province, but it is so close to Bangkok that many consider it the green lung of the metropolis.
In Bang Krachao, you can rent a bike and explore Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park and Botanical Garden, an incredibly well-preserved green space with an abundance of trees and more than 100 bird species still residing in it.
Inside, you will find several walking/biking paths that lead deep into the forested area, allowing you to immerse yourself in nature right in the middle of the metropolis. There are pavilions, bridges, and a bird-watching tower dotting the large green space for you to explore.
It is one of the best places in Bangkok to visit for those who are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the capital city. The park is quite spacious with many points of interest, so expect to spend at least half a day here.
You can rent a bike right at the entrance of the Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park and Botanical Garden for 30/40/50 THB per day, depending on the condition of the bike. You will have to leave some form of ID, whether it be your passport or your local ID card, with the rental place, so be sure to have that on hand.
To get to Bang Krachao, the easiest way is to take the MRT metro and get off at Klong Toei MRT station. From there, you can either catch a taxi or walk for about 30 minutes to reach Wat Khlong Toei Nok Pier.
From the pier, you can catch the ferry to Bang Krachao for about 40 THB round trip on big boats or 20 THB round trip on small boats. The boat runs from 6 AM to 8 PM every day. The journey should take about 15 minutes, and upon arrival in Bang Krachao Pier, you can then rent a bike to ride to Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park and Botanical Garden. That's it. Easy peasy!
You can also go on an organized tour and explore Bang Krachao and other places with a local guide. If you are looking to slow a bit down in Bangkok and enjoy nature in solitude, a day trip to Bang Krachao is definitely for you.
More Bangkok Activities
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Central Thailand
Looking for more information for your trip to Central Thailand? Here are a collection of articles about Central Thailand that you might find useful:
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- Don't have a lot of time in Bangkok? Check out our One Day in Bangkok Itinerary.
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- For the best areas and neighborhoods to stay in Bangkok, check out: 7 Best Areas to Stay in Bangkok.
- Looking to escape Bangkok for a little while? How about exploring the ancient city of Ayutthaya? Here are the 12 Best Things to Do in Ayutthaya for Backpackers.
- Looking for a unique place to visit that is not too far from Bangkok? How about Ratchaburi and its stunning mountains? Here are the 13 Best Things to Do in Ratchaburi.
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- Here is how to visit Erawan Falls, the most beautiful waterfall in Thailand. A Complete Hiking Guide to Erawan Falls, Kanchanaburi.
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- Nakhon Pathom offers a great day trip for those who are looking to visit some places off the tourist-beaten path in Thailand. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Nakhon Pathom.
- For a quick trip from Bangkok, Lopburi is a great destination to travel to. Here are 10 Best Things to Do in Lopburi, Thailand.
- Want to escape Bangkok and be with nature for a few days? How about a 2-day trip to Saraburi? Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Saraburi, Thailand.
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- What do you know about the brave warriors of Bang Rachan of Singburi? Well, find out for yourself with the ultimate travel guide and 8 Best Things to Do in Singburi, Thailand.
- Want to explore other parts of Thailand? How about exploring Northern Thailand or Southern Thailand?
- Wondering where to go after Thailand? How about continuing on to Malaysia, Myanmar, or Indonesia?
- For all articles about Thailand, visit the Thailand Travel Guide page.
- Looking to travel to Southeast Asia? Check out all of my articles about Southeast Asia here: Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
- You can see all of my Asia-related articles here: Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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