Things to do in

Chinatown, Bangkok

This 3-hour bike tour of Bangkok is ideal for enthusiastic adventurers and those who want to extend their knowledge of Bangkok to its extensive Chinatown, historic capital of Thonburi and hidden backstreets. Starting in the heart of Chinatown, the 3-hour tour explores the frenetic market environment, winding through narrow streets and alleyways. Your senses will come alive to the sights, sounds, and smells of a vibrant community in motion. We will pass by shop houses selling everything from Buddhist amulets to recycled truck engines. Locals worshiping at hidden temples, ritual paper burnings, and the omnipresent spirit house display evidence of a culture that has been centuries in the making. Cross the Chao Phraya River, with majestic views of the city skyline behind you, and visit Thonburi, the historic third capital of Thailand. Contrasting chaotic Chinatown, peaceful elements of local Thai life abound as you cycle through diverse residential communities. Inquisitive smiles and friendly greetings reinforce the feeling that you have truly left behind the beaten path and are now experiencing the authentic Thailand on this thrilling tour of a Bangkok less well-known.

Discover Bangkok's vibrant Chinatown food scene with this group tour. Follow your guide to street food stalls that have been recommended by the Michelin Guide. Find out more about the history of these stalls and learn what dishes each stall is known for. Meet your guide in front of the River City Complex and drive to your first Chinatown destination, Lim Lao Now. Taste the fishball egg noodle dish. Walk down a narrow street to Yaowarat road to try fresh off the fryer Chinese Pa Tong Go Savoey doughnuts. Head to Nai Ek's rolled noodles shop. Taste perfectly cooked, thinly rolled-up rice noodles that resemble mini-cigars. Continue to another place for some crab-fried rice topped with lime and chilies in fish sauce. Tour the area and see Rajadamnoen Avenue which links the Grand Palace to Dusit Palace. Finally, stroll to Jay Fai, which is the only Thai street stall with a Michelin star. Hear more about this food stall from your guide. Choose to end your tour with drop-off at the artsy Teens Of Thailand bar on the fringes of Chinatown, or go back to the Samyan MRT station.

Make the most out of your time in Bangkok by getting a 1-day unlimited Hop on Hop off on pass for both Tuk Tuk Hop and Tourist Boat. Jump on the iconic Tuk Tuk and explore the Rattanakosin Island area which is the old Town of Bangkok. Hop on the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat for an exclusive experience along Chao Phraya River, the longest and most important river in Thailand. Travel around Bangkok’s Old Town area in a Tuk Tuk with this unique, fun and flexible hop-on, hop-off tour. These three-wheeled motorized vehicles are the most convenient way of traveling around the city as it zips through the traffic and takes tourists to their favorite attractions such as the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Khaosan Road, China Town, and many more. Together with a Hop-on Hop-off Pass for the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat, you will get to experience the scenery from both sides of the river and can easily hop on to ride along the lifeblood of Bangkok, formally known as the Chao Phraya River. Experience a number of tourist attractions scattered around numerous piers along the river from the old Town to the busy central business district of Sathorn. For instance, the National Museum of Royal Barges, Wat Arun, Asiatique The Riverfront, Lhong 1910, and River City. By selecting this tour, you can skip the hassle by avoiding traffic jams and expensive Tuk Tuk prices offered on the streets.

This four-hour journey weaves through the backstreets and alleys of Old Bangkok to small street vendors and eateries that have been serving hungry locals for years. This tour has been carefully curated by a Bangkok chef, who grew up in the district and visits many of the spots his father took him to decades ago. Thousands of guests have discovered the real food of Bangkok in places they’d simply never find alone on this tour. It's not just about the food though. It’s about Bangkok eating culture, its history, and, most importantly, the people behind the food, who have dedicated their lives to cooking on the street. There’s no doubt about it – you’ll most certainly eat well on this small-group tour that’s limited to just eight guests. Some highlights of this 16+ taster menu include working chopsticks over crispy chive dumplings with nam jim jaew sauce, mopping up rich satay sauce with charcoal-grilled coconut chicken skewers and slurping up workers’ noodles in slow-cooked pork broth.

Enjoy a complete walking tour of the best sights, smells and tastes of Bangkok's Chinatown, a food haven and relatively undiscovered part of the city. Start your tour and head out on your journey of discovery of market stalls, street-side restaurants and gold shops. Visit Wat Mang Korn, the most important Chinese-Buddhist temple in Bangkok, and the old house at the Charoen Chai Community, where you will learn the story of the Thai-Chinese residents of the area. Continue to China Gate and Talad Noi, where you can admire panoramic views of the Chao Praya River. Next, make your way to admire the Talad Noi wall art. Get a snap next to the colorful murals and have a chat with the locals before heading to a viewpoint of the Chao Phraya River and Holy Rosary Church.

Receive a short demonstration on how to operate your electric scooter before starting the tour. Get a brief introduction to Bangkok and it's food culture as you ride to the first stop. First stop on the tour is a local Thai market, where you will try some local Thai fruits and get to see how local Thai people buy their food. From here explore the narrow alleyways of the Thonburi side of Bangkok before you cross over the Chao Phraya River via the memorial bridge to Chinatown. In Chinatown try some of the most famous street food in the city. Learn about the history of the Chinese community and how they influenced Thai food and culture. After this hop back on the scooter and ride around the back streets of Chinatown, before crossing over the river again, this time by local ferry.  Next up is the Tha Din Daeng Market. Sample some traditional Thai foods, before stopping at a local park. Discover Wat Prayoon, and feed the friendly turtles who live nearby. Finally, visit the area which is home to the Kudeejeen community where you'll try muffins from a local factory and learn how the Portuguese colonizers influenced Thai food.

Experience the best travel stories for yourself! Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this Lonely Planet Experience. This is a small-grouped tour of no more than 12 people, and led by an expert guide. This Bangkok tour of will take you through Bangkok’s iconic Chinatown, a neighborhood so rich in sights, sounds, and smells that it could only really be described as an assault on the senses (in a good way!). Taking a stroll through this neighborhood is one of the best things to do in Bangkok, and with a local to guide you along, you’ll never miss a beat. Begin this tour at Ratchawong Pier, where you’ll step back in to the old markets in Yaowarat, right in the heart of Chinatown. It doesn’t get any more old-school Bangkok than this – these Chinese locals were traders living in the villages of Bangkok before it became the capital. Your local guide will tell you all about the history of this area, and why it’s such an important part of Chinatown. From the pier, your Bangkok tour will continue to Song Wat Road, which is bordered by old business buildings and warehouses that are still operating today, and also head towards the plastic and leather products quarter on Yaowa Phanit Road. This part of the tour is a journey through the bustling businesses of Chinatown, where you’ll be able to see the locals go about their daily duties and get a feel of what it would be like to live here. From industry to ancient history, the next stop on your tour will lead you to Wat Traimit Temple, an incredible sight to behold and one of the things in Bangkok you can't miss. This stunning temple enshrines the world’s largest solid gold seated Buddha from the Sukhothai Era, measuring nearly five meters high and weighing five and a half tonnes. Here your guide will let you in on the local secrets and history behind the Buddha, and the legendary tales that surround the original Buddha that sat there. This temple also houses the Chinese Museum, where you’ll learn all about the history of the Chinese people in Thailand and the fascinating relationship between these two countries. Next, get into everything you’ve been waiting for – bring on the food! With your local guide, head to a 100-year old coffee shop on Phat Sai Road, where you’ll be treated to a coffee, snack, and the opportunity to sit back and soak up the atmosphere. Fully rejuvenated, head to a market specializing in Chinese religious products and fresh food. At night, this area is filled with street stalls and becomes one giant and extremely tasty food bazaar. Pick and choose from street grills or the finest Chinese restaurants; this will be your opportunity to go wild and try all those dishes you’ve never even heard of, but after this experience you’ll never forget them! With a belly full of Bangkok treats, continue on this Bangkok food tour towards Talat Pak Khlong, the largest wholesale flower and vegetable market in Bangkok, an area rich in color and vitality, and the perfect spot to take some bright Bangkok photos. The tour will finish in this area, which you're free to continue exploring, or your local guide will be happy to assist you in finding a taxi for you back to your accommodation. This tour is not only an opportunity to sample all the yummy delights that Chinatown has to offer, although it is a serious pro! It’s all that food, plus history, culture, and local life. You couldn’t pack any more into this tour if you tried!

Bangkok’s Buddhist temples are world-famous and this tour takes you to three of the most unusual ones that this city has to offer. You will start at the ornate Wat Traimit, which is situated at the end of Chinatown’s buzzing Yaowarat Road. This temple is home to a unique Golden Buddha that weighs 5.5 tons. Next is the largest temple complex in Bangkok, Wat Po, which has an impressive reclining Buddha that is 46 meters in length. Wat Po is also home to the Pagodas of the Kings. The last stop on this temple tour takes you to the district of Dusit to Wat Benchamabophit. Also known as the White Marble Temple, this is a fine example of Thai architecture and offers great photo opportunities.