8 must see parks in Bangkok

While parks in Bangkok may not be the first thing on your bucket list, Thailand's capital city is blessed with vast green spaces scattered around the city for people to catch their breath at any given time. Plus, walking along the concrete urban sprawl in the hot and humid weather, you'll appreciate the parks and gardens of Bangkok and their convenient locations. Despite the many public parks, Bangkok's government is looking to make the city even more green for both tourists and locals alike, thus substantially improving the quality of air, and with that the quality of life.

Locals are already using the parks to the full maximum, starting with their morning exercise routine. In the afternoon, Bangkok parks are dotted with people having their lunch picnic, and when the sun goes down, many flock to the parks for an evening stroll or to watch the sunset.

Perhaps you need a safe place to store your heavy shopping bags before your lunch date. Or you want to drop off your backpack after your long and exhausting hike. Bounce luggage storage has luggage lockers across Bangkok and near the parks, so you can rest your legs or rent a swan boat without having to worry about your belongings.

Lumphini Park

This urban oasis in the city center is often compared to New York's Central Park, so you know what to expect. With land stretching over 142 acres, Lumpini Park is one of the biggest parks in Bangkok, with an estimated 15,000 people passing through daily. Visitors at the park can do all types of activities, from picnicking, jogging, and renting a boat to tai chi, yoga, or lizard-gazing. Yes, you heard that right! The park also features an artificial lake, home to the giant water monitor lizards, which can grow up to 10 feet long. But don't worry! Though they look like Komodo dragons, they're not dangerous, but you should keep your distance nonetheless.

Lumpini Park features an outdoor gym, an indoor dance hall, and a library. This green space is always busy, especially during the weekend. When you get the munchies, check out the food stalls dotted throughout the park's grounds or walk down to some of the restaurants and cafes nearby. Lumpini Park is also close to MBK and Terminal 21, large shopping malls with food courts.

Rama IX Park

When you want to escape Bangkok city life and breath in some fresh air surrounded by bird song, tall trees, colorful flowers, and vast green spaces, Rama IX Park is just the place. Located 15 minutes from BTS Udom Suk Station and just 9 miles from the city center, this lovely park on the outskirts of Bangkok will recharge your mental battery within minutes.

With an area of 200 acres, equalling 80 football fields, the Rama IX Park is the largest park in Bangkok, featuring a botanical garden, seven other gardens inspired by countries from all around the world, and a huge lake, which is the centerpiece of the park. The highlights of Rama IX Park are the golden spire gallery in the name of King Rama and the lovely gardens with water lilies and lotus ponds, ornate fountains, and lush lawns.

People come here for various reasons, whether for their morning exercise, to picnic, to relax or explore the gardens. If you're feeling lazy, there's a train you can hop on at the gates that'll take you to popular sites of the park. Rama IX Park also hosts an annual flower festival in December, attracting crowds from all walks of life.

There are many food carts in the park selling anything from ice cream and drinks to chicken, noodles, and fresh produce. But the park is encircled by several cafes and places to eat, so you can opt for a restaurant setting instead. Like most parks in Bangkok, this park is open from dawn till dusk with a $0.30 admission fee, which is basically free.

Benjakitti Park

Parks in Bangkok are full of people exercising, jogging, hiking, doing tai chi, yoga, or meditating. If you're looking to join the active crowds and hit your daily steps goal uninterrupted, Benjakitti Park is just the place. Located near Lumpini Park in central Bangkok, Benjakitti Park stretches across 180 acres of land, making it one of the largest parks in Bangkok. The recent expansions added Benjakitti Forest Park to the park's grounds creating an even bigger park space in the center of the city.

Visitors here can use the large network of paths throughout, such as the jogging tracks, biking, and hiking lanes, all the while breathing in the fresh air and enjoying nature's beauty in this urban oasis. The highlights of the park are its huge lake (Lake Ratchada), two fountains, skate ramps, playgrounds for the youngest, and a pavilion and a courtyard in the center of the park, perfect for a picnic. You can hop on one of the paddle boats and paddle away at sunset, surrounded by fish and turtles.

There are many restaurants and cafes nearby Benjakitti Park, or you can pack your picnic basket and have your lunch at the park. The park is free to visit any time of the year.

Queen Sirikit Park

Situated near Chatuchak Weekend Market and Children's Discovery Museum, Queen Sirikit Park is a lovely botanical garden that extends over 30 acres, and it's one of the best parks in Bangkok for family outings. Established in 1992 to honor the 60th birthday anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the park features highlights like a water lily yard, a lotus garden, a Rainforest Glasshouse, fountains, ponds, bridges, and lush greenery.

Home to 2,000 species of plants and over 20 different wild birds, the gardens provide an excellent escape from the chaotic city life. Whether you want to walk, jog, or cycle, you'll find a number of paths and trails that'll provide you with a beautiful landscape as you go. At the gardens, you can also sit and relax, have a picnic, take your kids to the playgrounds, or enjoy bird watching and observing the wildlife. Adjacent to Queen Sirikit Park is the smaller Chatuchak Park, one of the oldest public parks in Bangkok.

Near the entrance, you'll find a small cafe selling hot and cold beverages and light snacks. Like most parks in Bangkok, the Queen Sirikit Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and it's free to enter throughout the entire year.

Rot Fai Park

If you're out and about Chatuchak Weekend Market and need a little break from the crowds and vendors, this green oasis on the outskirts of the city will help you unwind a bit. Also known as Wachirabenchathat Park or Train Park, Rot Fair Park sprawls over 150 acres of green space, making it one of the largest parks in Bangkok.

Once a golf course, today, Rot Fai Park is the best place for bird watching. Within the park, you'll find Bangkok Butterfly Garden & Insectarium, a large basketball court, a kid's playground, a pet park, and much more. Here you can rent bikes and cycle around to find the perfect picnic spot. There are two playgrounds for the youngest, an outdoor gym and tennis courts if you feel like breaking a sweat.

Food is available at a few spots within the park, but you can also walk to one of the many cafes and restaurants nearby. Adjacent to this large public park is the smaller Chatuchak Park, which you need to pass through to reach Rot Fai Park.

Chatuchak Park

Established in 1900, Chatuchak Park is the oldest park in Bangkok and a popular relaxation spot for Bangkok residents, expats and tourists alike. The park is also one of the busiest, given its close proximity to the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Chatuchak Park extends over 60 acres of land and, together with Rot Fair Park and Queen Sirikit Park, forms the largest green space in Bangkok. Dotted with a number of trees, plants, and flowers, a clock tower, statues and gardens, including Princess Sirindhorn's birthday anniversary garden, the park is worth a visit any time of the year. Within the park, you'll witness a beautiful artificial lake, home to native flora and fauna, paddleboats, and a number of bridges crossing the lake.

Chatuchak Park is a great spot in Bangkok for hiking and jogging, as there are no bicycles allowed. Near the park, you'll come across many food stalls as part of the Chatuchak Weekend Market, so you'll have a large selection when you get hungry. Open daily, Chatuchak Park is free to the public year-round.

Benjasiri Park

Located in the city center, near Thonglor district on the Sukhumvit Road and close to Emquartier and Emporium shopping mall, Benjasiri Park is a wonderful place to retreat from the big city and recharge your batteries. Also known as Queen's Park, this 11.6-acre green space in the middle of the big city sets the tone for a nice evening out or a quiet picnic lunch away from the city noise.

Featuring a large lake with a fountain, a playground, basketball, and tennis courts, as well as many walking paths, this small park is ideal for families, couples, and sports enthusiasts looking for a fun way to spend the day.

You don't need to walk far to grab a bite to eat, as there are many cafes, restaurants, bars, and malls nearby. Like other parks in Bangkok, Benjasiri Parks is open from dawn till dusk and is free of charge all year round.

Romaneenart Park

Built on the old city jail grounds on Siriphong Road near the Giant Swing and Wat Suthat, Romaneenart Park is a public park in Bangkok and the only non-ceremonial park in the city. Its convenient location allows for the perfect escape from the busy road and crazy traffic of Yaowarat Road. Spread across an area of 11 acres, the park retains a couple of the old guard towers and a wall from the prison, but it also boasts neo-classical buildings and fountains that help keep the park cool.

The park features a basketball court, a skate park, an outdoor gym, and a playground, and somewhere among the lush trees is the Corrections Museum, the most bizarre museum in the world, that is all about prison and punishment in Thailand from the last two centuries.

Located in the Old Quarter or the Wat Ratchabophit neighborhood, the park is close to historic landmarks like the Grand Palace and Wat Pho and is encircled by many cafes and places to eat. Romaneenart Park is open daily throughout the entire year, and it's free of charge, so you can access it anytime you want.

The best parks in Bangkok to connect with your green side

It's not hard to imagine the Thai capital with vast green spaces and sports courts, where you can catch a glimpse of Bangkok's residents getting their morning exercise routine or see bird lovers observing rare species of birds. Bangkok's parks are the green lung in the middle of the concrete jungle and provide a great respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. Whether you want to have a picnic, show off your sports talents, or take your kids out to burn some energy, the parks in Bangkok have you covered.

And if you want to get familiar with the city a bit better and find out what else you can add to your itinerary, we recommend that you read our guides on the best museums in Bangkok and the pretty beaches near Bangkok.