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I always describe Bangkok as one of the world’s great cities. If it is your first time in this mega-city, you’ll want to spend your time visiting the world famous tourist attractions like the Royal Palace and Wat Arun. At night, dive into the fiery street-side pad thai stalls and absorb the chaos of Khao San Road.
However, if you are a Bangkok regular, or here for more than a few days, I’d strongly recommend going out of your way in search of the other sides of this multifaceted city. Whether you’re seeking out local designers in upscale Sukhumvit or exploring the hidden alleyways of Chinatown, there’s no shortage of unusual and unique things to do in Bangkok.
I’ve been visiting Bangkok for many years and watched the city change and adapt before my eyes. From new urban developments to design and creative enclaves which rival Hong Kong or Taipei, Bangkok is constantly re-inventing itself. With that in mind, here is my ultimate guide to the 7 most unusual and unique things to do in Bangkok, Thailand.
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- 1. Make your own bracelet at the Artist House
- 2. Eat Michelin mango sticky rice at K. Panich
- 3. Learn how to make the most delicious Thai food
- 4. Create your own DIY cocktail bar crawl
- 5. Take a day trip to Ayutthaya
- 6. Go mushroom picking in Bangkok’s indoor farm
- 7. Lean into Bangkok’s design and hipster culture in Charoen Krung
1. Make your own bracelet at the Artist House
Set alongside the extremely atmospheric Khlong Bang Luang Floating Market, the Artist House is an extremely popular craft centre among Thailand’s creative youth. After you take off your shoes and enter the wooden store, you’ll receive a small little bucket with a string from which you can design your own keepsake bracelet.
You’ll find tens of buckets of different beads, from colored beads to larger ones like seashells and gummy bears. You can also find the ever-popular alphabet beads (although good luck finding vowels!). Unquestionably one of the most unique things to do in Bangkok, in my opinion this is a fun afternoon activity with friends (potentially hungover) or with kids. Nothing says a group vacation in Bangkok more than matching friendship bracelets!
2. Eat Michelin mango sticky rice at K. Panich
There’s no shortage of mango sticky rice in Bangkok. But how often can you say you’ve eaten at a Michelin recommended mango sticky rice restaurant?
In true Travel Insighter fashion, we are including a food experience in our list of one of the most unique things to do in Bangkok. The family-run K. Panich have been making Thailand’s most signature desserts since 1947, with a family recipe which has been passed down for 80 years. Set in the heart of old Bangkok (not too far from the Royal Palace), its a quintessential Bangkok experience to wait in line at K. Panich and get your very own plate of Thai deliciousness.
K. Panich don’t technically have a seating area. However, they’ve done a little deal with a cafe across the road where you can sit and someone from K. Panich will bring your plate of sticky rice and mango across to you. If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably be seeking out mango sticky rice every day you are in Bangkok, so why not lift your mango sticky rice game up a notch?
3. Learn how to make the most delicious Thai food
It’s no secret that Thai cuisine is among the most popular in the world. From London to Melbourne, you’ll find popular Thai restaurants among most major world capitals.
I think one of the reasons Thai cuisine is so popular abroad is because of its abundance of fresh flavors and spices. But this also means that you can easily bring the flavors and vibrancy of Thai food back to your home cooking.
One of the most unique things to do in Bangkok is easily to attend a Thai cooking class. On this half-day cooking class, you’ll start with a market tour (to help you pick your ingredients) before learning the basics of Thai spice-mixes and curry combinations.
For vegetarians, I strongly recommend joining the vegetarian cooking class by Mai Kaidee. This cooking class is run by the chefs at one of my favorite vegetarian restaurants in Bangkok (Mai Kaidee). No matter who you speak with in the Bangkok vegetarian scene, everyone acknowledges these guys are the top of the game.
4. Create your own DIY cocktail bar crawl
Long gone are the days of Bangkok being exclusively associated with go-go bars and Khao San Road. While dive bars are certainly still very much a unique Bangkok experience, over the past 20 years Bangkok’s nightlife has matured into an increasingly glamorous array of rooftop bars and speakeasies.
In recent years, Bangkok has come to rival Hong Kong and Singapore as the Asian hub for mixology. You’ll find cocktail bars and speakeasies spread across the city, but particularly around Thong Lo (#FindTheLockerRoom, Rabbit Hole), Sukhumvit (Iron Fairies, AloneTogether) and Chinatown (Teens of Thailand, TEP BAR).
Many of these cocktail bars are particularly hidden. For example, #FindTheLockerRoom is located in a truly nondescript building where you’ll find a bunch of – you guessed it – lockers. Despite visiting regularly, I’m never able to wiggle myself in. But I’m not giving away any entry secrets, as you’ll need to enter the ‘time capsule’ yourself. And yes, I am being deliberately mysterious here!
5. Take a day trip to Ayutthaya
I realize this isn’t exactly one of the most unique things to do in Bangkok (as its technically not inside Bangkok). But in my opinion, a day trip to Ayutthaya is easily one of the most magnificent and grand historic sites in Thailand. Only about one hour from Bangkok, Ayutthaya rivals Angkor Wat and Borobudur for the title of Southeast Asia’s most impressive ruins.
Most tours to Ayutthaya will cover the main sites, but if you are visiting on your own make sure your visit includes:
- Wat Phra Si Sanphet: historically the holiest temple on the site of the old Royal Palace
- Wat Chaiwatthanaram: perhaps Ayutthaya’s most iconic and photogenic temple on the Chao Phraya River
- Wat Mahathat: Ayutthaya’s symbolic stone Buddha head in the tree roots
- Wat Lokkayasutha: one of the largest reclining Buddhas in Thailand
If you’re finding Bangkok a little too hedonistic, or you’re keen to get away from the crowds of foreigners at the Royal Palace, I think you’ll find a day trip to Ayutthaya to be a wholesome step back into the Thailand of yesteryear.
6. Go mushroom picking in Bangkok’s indoor farm
Set in Bangkok’s indoor mushroom farm in On Nut, this mushroom picking tour is more than just selecting delicious fungi for your next curry. Rather, you’ll learn all about the world of Thai applied mycology (yes, this is a science).
First up, you’ll see the different sections of the mushroom farm, including a state-of-the-art mushroom culture lab where they nurture the little (and slightly adorable) mushrooms. Leaning into the science of mycology, you’ll wear masks and gloves as you poke around with both the edible and medicinal mushrooms.
My favorite part of the tour is when you get to actually harvest your own mushrooms from the farm. You’ll be able to bring a small bag home, and, of course, you can always purchase a few extra if you’d like. If you’re looking to try something new, I’m a big fan of lion’s mane (which has a meaty-like texture when cooked).
If you’re on the lookout for the most unusual and unique things to do in Bangkok, I’m not sure it gets more quirky than mushroom picking. This tour is (surprisingly) popular, so you’ll want to make sure you book well in advance.
7. Lean into Bangkok’s design and hipster culture in Charoen Krung
A far cry from the markets of copy designer bags and beer singlets, the side streets around Thanon Charoen Krung personify the new, youth-led design culture of Bangkok.
On these streets you’ll find hipster cafes, wine bars, concept stores, affordable art galleries and vintage record stores. Trust me, what you’ll find in this area is far from the ‘universal hipster culture’ often found in other global capitals. From the flavors to the arts and fashion, everything here touches on uniquely Thai inspirations.
Some of my favorite places to visit in this area include:
- REN Cafe & Goods: A matcha bar with a handful of clothes and locally-made pottery for sale.
- ATT 19: Like entering a portal to another world. This former warehouse space is full of home decorations and art pieces and a complete sensory overload.
- Warehouse 30: A large artistic oasis near the Chao Praya River. Old warehouses with a number of galleries, second-hand and concept stores.
There are many more smaller galleries and boutique coffee roasters. However, if you use the above list as a reference point, you’ll stumble upon them yourself (this is half the fun). Regardless of whether you’re a design aficionado or coffee snob, I guarantee after an afternoon in Charoen Krung you will start to see Bangkok a little different.
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