Quick Guides – Bangkok – Family Edition

Location

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, a city at the mouth of Chao Phraya river where it flows out to the Gulf of Thailand.  Although it feels hot all year, there are three distinct seasons: hot season, rainy season, and cool season.  It’s airport is one of the hubs in Southeast Asia with frequent flights to Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, and daily flights to cities all over the world.

Kid-Friendliness?

Thailand is frequently called “The Land of Smiles,” and this fits with the attitude towards children as well.  People are extremely loving towards children.  With big families, Thais will help you with your children along the way, want to take pictures of your children, and often give treats to your kids.

Famous Landmark

The number one landmark known in Bangkok is the Grand Palace.  The Grand Palace will give you a glimpse into the culture and history of Thailand, shows the grandeur of the kingdom and a look into the Buddhist religion.  Inside the Grand Palace complex you can see several wats (Buddhist temples) as well as the palace grounds.  

The difficulty is that this landmark is not very child friendly.  It is extremely busy with tourists and is often incredibly hot being in the middle of the city in a tropical climate.  Several landmarks for children I would recommend is Wat Arun, a quick boat trip across the river, or take a day trip north of the city and see the ruins of Ayutthaya.

Shopping

The largest market in Bangkok is Chatachak Weekend Market in the north part of the city.  Here you can find tourist items as well as lots of clothing options, everyday items, plants, and furniture.  It does get extremely hot and tiring, but children will enjoy the fruit shakes and coconut ice cream you can find at different locations around the market.  There is also an airconditioned mall behind the market that can give your kids a cool break in the middle of your shopping adventure.

Green Space

Inside the center of Bangkok there is an area that is known as the Green lung.  The Chao Phraya River runs almost a complete circle around it.  You take a boat across the river and, once you get inside, enter nature and the elevated sidewalks that you can walk or bike on.  It is not completely railed, so you do need to watch out for your little kids, but there are bikes for you to rent.  On the weekends, you can also find a floating market inside the green lung, which children love to explore!

Kid Activity

Bangkok is full of the regular assortment of kid play places to visit like any other large city around the world.  There is not one specific kid attraction that specifically shows the Thai culture.  Two options for unique experiences are Pororo Aqua Park, a water park found on top of a mall in eastern Bangkok, and Rabbito Cafe, a cafe where you can play with bunnies.