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10 Most Amazing Day Trips from Bangkok
With two international airports and a chockful of music bars, restaurants, and luxury hotels, Bangkok is nothing less than the best central hub you can have to explore the rest of Thailand. But where should you go next?
In this post, we’re going to answer just that. Specifically, we’ll show you the ins and outs of the best day trip destinations from Bangkok – places that have never failed to attract the most crowds to possibly leave you speechless.
Ayutthaya Historical Park
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Address: Pratu Chai Sub-district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
Operating Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday)
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Tuesday – Sunday)
Admission Cost: 50 baht (per temple entrance)
Distance from Bangkok: 78.2 km
Contact Number: +66 35 242 286
Website: https://www.facebook.com/AY.HI.PARK/
Visiting Ayutthaya is a must when you’re in Thailand, and it’s definitely worth the 70-minute commute from Bangkok.
This place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason – aside from learning something while you’re there, you can take pretty awesome photos as well! For a unique perspective of the lovely temples, go for a boat ride along Chao Phraya River.
Pro Tip:
If you booked a full-day tour to Ayutthaya, check the fine print to see if entrance fees are included. Otherwise, you can save some money by getting a multi-temple ticket for 220 baht.
Erawan National Park
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Address: Tha Kradan, Si Sawat District, Kanchanaburi 71250, Thailand
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Daily)
Admission Cost: 300 baht
Distance from Bangkok: 192 km
Contact Number: +66 34 574 222
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066897145164
Erawan National Park is a go-to day trip from Bangkok because of its diverse flora and fauna. It’s a great place for bird-watching, nature trail hiking, and picnicking, especially because of its waterfall’s relaxing cascade and stunning turquoise pond.
Though most people come here for the multi-level waterfall, you’ll find other worthwhile attractions within the park. The Elephant Care Sanctuary is perfect for nature lovers as you can watch how wild elephants are raised and protected.
You can’t ride elephants, but the sanctuary allows guests to hand feed and scrub these animals during bath times. A separate day tour package is needed if you only want to visit their venue.
Pro Tip:
Avoid visiting Erawan National Park early in the morning or staying until evening because there will be plenty of flies and bugs during these times. But, if you don’t mind these tiny critters, you’ll enjoy staying the night at their camping grounds.
Rental tents are available at the national park’s visitor center for 150 baht (2 people) and 250 baht (3 people). You must pay for pillows, bags, and mats separately.
Kanchanaburi Hellfire Pass & Death Railway
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Address: Tha Sao, Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi 71150, Thailand
Operating Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Daily)
Admission Cost: Free
Distance from Bangkok: 239 km
Contact Number: +66 34 919 605
Website: https://www.facebook.com/HellfirePassThailand/
Hellfire Pass and Death Railway in Kanchanaburi are historical landmarks from World War II, so there’s plenty for you to learn here. These sites are close to each other, so they’re usually bundled in most day tours from Bangkok for convenience.
Your first stop should be Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre, a free-to-access museum where you can learn how the prisoners of war built these landmarks. You must leave a 200 baht deposit for the audio tour, but you’ll get it back afterward.
The story here is tragic so it’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s definitely an interesting tale if you’re a history buff. Meanwhile, you can enjoy a slow train ride at the Old Death Railway Station or shop for souvenirs at the shops along the train stop.
Pro Tip:
Since Hellfire Pass is open to all visitors, it’s a lot cheaper to visit the historic site without a full-day tour package. Instead, you can catch a bus from Bangkok’s Sai Tai Mai terminal to Kanchanaburi bus terminal for only 110 baht.
From the Kanchanaburi bus terminal, you can ride a bus to Hellfire Pass’ entrance for only 60 baht. If you’re lucky, the Interpretive Centre sometimes offers complimentary breakfast to visitors.
Khao Yai National Park
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Address: Pakchong, Mu Si, Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
Operating Hours: 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Admission Cost: 400 baht
Distance from Bangkok: 141 km
Contact Number: +66 86 092 6529
Website: https://khaoyainationalpark.com/
If you’re particularly fond of birds, a day trip to Khao Yai National Park is the way to go. It has a massive 2,206 square kilometers of land area where you encounter up to 280 species of local birds while hiking its nature trails.
Animal spotting activities are also popular in the park, which makes it an ideal camping destination near Bangkok. Here, you can observe how nocturnal predators behave at night—it’s a great place if animal photography is your hobby.
Some other wild animals you’ll see within the park include elephants, gibbons, jackals, snakes, deer, and porcupines. Just be sure to apply for film permission in the park’s visitor center if you plan on taking commercial photos.
Pro Tip:
Khao Yai National Park is best to visit during weekdays to avoid the influx of visitors during weekends. This way, you’ll enjoy bird-watching activities more peacefully.
Koh Kret
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Address: Koh Kret, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi 11120, Thailand
Operating Hours: 24/7
Admission Cost: Free
Distance from Bangkok: 26 km
Koh Kret is an artificial settlement along the Chao Phraya River, so it’s the perfect destination if you want your day trip from Bangkok to include a short boat ride. You can even book a boat tour directly from Bangkok if you want to ditch land travel.
This island is full of street food stalls, Buddhist temples, ceramic and pottery shops, and museum exhibits. The Kwan Aman Pottery Museum and Wat Poramai Yikawat, in particular, are the island’s most famous hotspots.
The former boasts a fine selection of Mon pottery and crafts while the latter has a 200-year-old golden stupa with Buddha’s treasured relics.
Pro Tip:
Koh Kret is a small island but exploring it on foot can be tiring so it’s best to rent a bike. Keep in mind that it can be hot during the day, so visit during the afternoon—unless you booked for a daytime pottery class.
Pattaya City
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Address: Pattaya City, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri 20150, Thailand
Operating Hours: 24/7
Admission Cost: Free
Distance from Bangkok: 149 km
Pattaya City is a popular day trip destination from Bangkok because of the various attractions and activities it offers. Just know that it’s also a bustling city so don’t expect it to be an escape from the lively and hectic Bangkokian atmosphere.
The best places to visit in this city are the Pattaya Walking Street, Pattaya Beach, Sanctuary of Truth, and Nong Nooch Tropical Garden. The walking street and the beach should be your go-to spots for fun and entertainment, with plenty of activities to try.
Meanwhile, the Sanctuary of Truth and Nong Nooch Tropical Garden are the best places for relaxation and exploration. The latter, in particular, is an excellent choice because it has a variety of themed gardens across its 500 hectares of land area.
Pro Tip:
If you’re flying to Bangkok, booking a day tour to Pattaya City isn’t necessary unless you want a curated experience. Instead, you can find buses from Suvarnabhumi International Airport that’ll take you there, so you can explore the city as you please.
Mueang Boran – The Ancient City
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Address: 296, 1 Sukhumvit Road, Bang Pu Mai, Mueang Samut Prakan District, Samut Prakan 10280, Thailand
Operating Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Daily)
Admission Cost: 700 baht (adult) and 350 (children)
Distance from Bangkok: 41 km
Contact Number: +66 20 268 800
Website: https://www.muangboranmuseum.com/
If architecture photography is your idea of a perfect day trip from Bangkok, visiting Mueang Boran should be a no-brainer. Also known as the Ancient City, this must-visit landmark will only take you 56 minutes to reach by car.
It has all the architecture you can hope to see in a historical site: statues, temples, relics, and life-size replicas. You’ll have a field day capturing the gorgeous structures in this venue!
Try renting an e-bike or golf cart because this place is too big to explore on foot. Plus, watching the sights in Mueang Boran is more fun when you can feel the wind on your face.
| Pro Tip: Book online using third-party booking services like Klook, Passforless, or Trip.com to get a ticket for a much cheaper price. For the best value, book a buffet ticket from Klook, so you can eat from the food stations scattered across the Ancient City. Then again, if you want to have better control of your time, a guided tour may not be the best idea. Instead, hire a tuk tuk and discover the Ancient City at your own pace. |
H2: Maeklong Railway Market
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Address: Mae Klong, Mueang Samut Songkhram District, Samut Songkhram 75000, Thailand
Operating Hours: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Daily)
Admission Cost: Free
Distance from Bangkok: 81.1 km
If you’re a shopaholic with a soft spot for trains, a day trip to Maeklong Railway Market will blow your mind. It’s a one-of-a-kind place where you can witness humans and locomotives living in harmony.
The market vendors clearing their goods just before the oncoming train passes through is something you have to witness at least once. Even seeing them return their goods in the tracks like nothing happened is bonkers.
Watching this exhilarating display in real-time is an experience you don’t want to miss if you’re staying in Bangkok. Aside from this novelty, the local produce and Thai snacks sold at the market are just as remarkable.
Pro Tip:
It’s best to visit this market just before the train’s departure and arrival schedule to see the stores closing and re-opening. This happens at 6:20, 8:30, 9, 11:10, and 11: 30 in the morning, and again at 2:30, 3:30, and 5:30 in the afternoon.
Travel to this market via a private taxi so you can manage your schedule. Most tours let you stay for an hour before leaving for the next destination, so you don’t have enough time to shop or even see the train pass the market.
Wat Saman Rattanaraman
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Address: 1, Bang Kaeo, Mueang Chachoengsao District, Chachoengsao 24000, Thailand
Operating Hours: 24/7
Admission Cost: Free
Distance from Bangkok: 83.7
Contact Number: +66 81 983 0400
Website: https://www.facebook.com/wat.saman/
Wat Sama Rattanaraman is a well-known attraction for its vibrant pink statue of Lord Ganesha. It’s a great place to visit and explore, with all the giant statues of pop culture icons scattered all over the temple grounds.
What other Buddhist temple has life-size statues of popular fictional characters like Mickey Mouse, Pikachu, and Spider-Man? Well, Wat Sama Rattanaraman is definitely one of the more unique temples you’ll find in Thailand!
Pro Tip:
Wat Saman Rattanaram is best to book as your last day trip from Bangkok because it’s near the city’s international airport. This way, you can head straight to your flight after exploring this temple.
Amphawa Floating Market
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Address: Amphawa, Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram 75110, Thailand
Operating Hours: 2 p.m. – 9 p.m. (Friday – Sunday)
Admission Cost: Free
Distance from Bangkok: 88 km
Website: https://amphawafloatingmarket.org/
Places like Amphawa Floating Market are few and far between, so it’s worth adding to your Bangkok day trip plans. Surely, it’s not every day you go to a market where you can just buy from a vendor aboard his boat by the river.
Just know that most of the market is still on land, so expect to see more vendors selling goods from their stalls. Among the things you can buy from this market are street food, handmade items, souvenirs, and traditional clothes.
You can also go for a romantic boat ride around the market which only costs 100 baht per hour. It’s the perfect activity for watching the sunset in the afternoon and the fireflies at night.
Pro Tip:
This night market opens at 2 p.m. but it’s best to visit at around 5pm so all the shops are ready. Plus, if you don’t want to book a tour, this place is accessible from Bangkok via taxi for only 700 to 800 baht roundtrip.
