10 Best Free Things to Do in Bangkok

The art of Thai puppetry is a tradition that is slowly dying out, but the Artist House is one of the few places in Bangkok where you can still enjoy this unique show. Every day (except Wednesdays) at 2pm, this art gallery in Thonburi hosts a team manoeuvring the delicate puppets.

It’s a good idea to call in advance as the theatre sometimes performs in other parts of the city, usually during special events. The Artist’s House is also an unusual place to explore, with a 600-year-old stupa in the back garden and unusual life-size statues on the veranda.

Lumpini Park is a large green space in central Bangkok, appealing to those who want to take a break from the city. You’ll see plenty of people enjoying light workouts, aerobics, and leisure activities throughout the day. There are plenty of sheltered niches where you could read, meditate or have a picnic. During the cool season (November to March), the park hosts free classical and jazz concerts by the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra on Sundays. 

Wat Mahathat gives you a chance to experience the practices of meditation for free. Every day, the monks who live at the temple organise walk-in classes for both seated and walking meditation. It’s a very peaceful experience, with each session lasting for a few hours. While most classes are conducted in Thai, there are English-speaking monks to assist you.

Rod Fai Market is an open-air train market on the eastern outskirts of Bangkok. Offering vintage goods and unusual second-hand objects, it’s an excellent place to spend an evening. Some of the shops have impressive displays of old goods, like retro Superman and Batman statues, dentist chairs and fairground rides. Old vintage cars dotting Rod Fai Market make for nice photo backdrops if you’re not planning to buy anything during your visit.

Pak Klong Talad is a 24-hour market selling so many flowers that you feel that you’ve stepped far away from the streets of Bangkok. Located in the Old Town, the best time to experience the action is around 4am when trucks and carts arrive from other parts of Thailand to unload piles of fresh flowers. If you just want to walk around the flower market, visit a little later in the morning to see hundreds of vendors creating wreaths and floral displays.

Erawan Shrine in Bangkok attracts hundreds of people looking to pay their respects and make offerings throughout the day. The gold statue of Than Tao Mahaprom is surrounded by hundreds of yellow flowers and incense sticks. One of the highlights at this shrine, a troupe of Thai classical dancers performs graceful moves as thanks to the gods several times a day. You can enjoy the show for free, though try to stand at the side to make way for devotees praying to the central sculpture.

Jesada Car Museum, or Jesada Technik Museum, is a large private collection of vintage rare cars and motorbikes in Nakhon Pathom, a small town around 39km west of central Bangkok. The museum was founded by Thai businessman Jesada Deshsakulrith, whose passion for automobile history and heritage led him to collect more than 500 vehicles, most of which are in perfect condition.

Thailand is very proud of its Muay Thai boxing heritage, and it’s not surprising to see people crowded around the TV and radio listening to the latest matches. A seat to watch Muay Thai at Lumpini Stadium usually starts from 1,000 baht, but if you want to get a taste of the action for free, MBK Center is a must-visit.

MBK Fight Night takes place outside the shopping mall every last Wednesday of the month. Many of its Muay Thai fighters are juniors, though there are occasional matches with experienced fighters from around the world to fight.

The Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre (BACC) is the hub of the city’s burgeoning art scene and offers a wide range of contemporary art, design, music, theatre and film. It also hosts changing exhibitions from Thai and International artists. 

Located next to the National Stadium BTS Skytrain Station, the centre has an international feel, with explanations in English and bilingual staff on hand to enhance the experience. At times, the large space can feel empty but once you step inside the galleries, the innovation is obvious.

The old Thonburi Railway Station is a bit of a hidden gem in Bangkok. Not far behind Siriraj Hospital, the old station quite modest in size, but there’s a huge warehouse sheltering steam engines. Some of these elusive machines are used for special events – most are kept in mint condition and if you ask nicely, you can even step inside and admire the intricate mechanisms.