Bangkok With Kids: Where to Stay, Eat & Best Things To Do

Planning a trip to Bangkok with kids? This family travel guide covers the best areas to stay, family-friendly hotels, food spots and top things to do in Bangkok with kids. We have visited Bangkok multiple times, and it remains a destination we return to whenever we explore Thailand. A new hidden adventure is always waiting for us as a family, whether it’s a quirky café, vibrant food and shopping markets, beautiful temples, or exciting adventure parks.

Looking for more family-friendly tours and activities in Bangkok? Browse our Bangkok activities link below & we also have more details about the activities we enjoyed further down in this post!

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Lumpini Park

Hiring Bikes! You can now hire bikes and bike over the newly revamped sky bridge that connects with Benjakitti Park

We used the Anywheel app — here’s what you need to know before you go:
Download the app and top it up with credit before you arrive.

• Every rider needs the app on their own phone to unlock a bike — so for kids, they’ll need a phone, an iPad, or a spare parent phone.
• The bikes sit low, so a child around 130cm or taller should manage fine. Each bike has a basket, too.
• Pick up and drop off at the bike bays — you’ll see the free ones live on the Anywheel map
  *You can only bike between hours of 10am and 6pm

Wat Arun

Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn, is one of Bangkok’s most iconic landmarks. Its towering prang (spire), decorated with colourful porcelain, sparkles in the sunlight and rises beautifully over the Chao Phraya River. You can climb the steep steps, and the grounds also feature stunning halls with murals and Buddha statues, offering a glimpse into Thai history and Buddhism. There are also several shops at the entrance that offer costume rentals and photography, which were quite popular with tourists when we visited. You will need to cover your knees and shoulders; lightweight scarves can help with temple dress rules. They offer red scarves if you can’t cover up – but they’re wool & make you even more like human sticky rice! We enjoyed visiting by river taxi. You can visit Wat Arun on your own or as part of a group tour like this one, which also includes the Grand Palace & Wat Pho.

Corgi In the Garden Cafe

Corgi in the Garden is a unique dog cafe in Bangkok that you can’t miss! To ensure the dogs’ well-being, the cafe uses a session-based system, with each session lasting about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Visitors must pay an entrance fee, which includes a drink, and are encouraged to wash their hands and wear foot covers before interacting with the dogs. The price is 350 baht per person. We observed the Corgis to be well taken care of – groomed, loved and not shy about a fresh treat either! Arrive for the first session at 10.30 am. The cafe likes visitors to arrive 15 minutes early.

Chinatown & Walking Street food tour

A visit to Bangkok isn’t complete without exploring Chinatown (Yaowarat). By day, you’ll find gold shops, temples and traditional Chinese businesses lining the busy streets. By night, the area transforms into one of Bangkok’s best street food destinations, with vendors cooking everything from fresh seafood and noodles to sweet treats right in front of you. It can be busy and chaotic, but that’s all part of the experience. If you’re visiting with kids, be prepared for plenty of “wow” moments, especially when they spot the BBQ scorpions and other unusual street food on offer. This our daughter become “obsessed” with Mango Sticky Rice.

We also have done a walking street food tour of Bangkok, which is a better option if you think the kids will get overwhelmed by the food options in Chinatown. We booked the combo food tour with Tuk Tuk tour through Get your Guide. They can also cater for food allergies; just message them in advance so they can design the tour for you.

Poomjai Garden – Coconut Farm

Poomjai Garden – Coconut Farm is a place in Bangkok that offers a real, raw, and true authentic Thai experience, and we HIGHLY recommend it as a half-day outing for families. There are several workshops you can book: We started a boat ride through the Bang Khun Thian Canal to see how the locals live canal-side life – and kids lost it when they saw 2 metre monitor lizards that don’t faze the locals at all! The Garden cultivate its own coconuts, supplying fresh milk to the local community. When we arrived back at the main facility, we took part in a tie-dye workshop that used only plant-based dyes from the garden (lychees). After the workshop, we enjoyed lunch at Nutura Cafe, which uses local ingredients from the garden. Book via their website in advance.

Jurassic World at Asiatique

Jurassic World: The Experience is an attraction at Asiatique The Riverfront in Bangkok. The walk-through adventure takes about 60 to 90 minutes, making it easy to keep kids engaged without overwhelming them, and it’s something I recommend you do if your kids love dinasaurs. It’s pretty impressive, and I enjoyed it more than I thought. Along the way, there are plenty of photo ops and fun dinosaur facts. Just avoid on weekends – it’s busy!

Asiatique itself is an easy family night out. It’s a riverside night market with food, shopping, carnival rides, and a big Ferris wheel all in one spot. A little touristy, sure, but that’s the charm so everything’s in one place. It’s also where most river dinner cruises leave from. Take the BTS to Saphan Taksin, walk to Sathorn Pier, then hop the free shuttle boat down the river or the Tourist boat, which is only 40 baht per ticket.

Space & Time Cube +

Space & Time Cube+ is an immersive digital art museum located in the Seacon Bangkae Shopping Centre in Bangkok. It features 27 themed rooms across three interactive zones, each offering unique visual and interactive experiences. It’s open from 10am – 9pm. The best train stop is BTS Ekkamai (inside the mall). Costs for Adults are 699b, and 549b for kids. Visit early in the morning; best to avoid weekends, as it’s popular with locals.

Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World

SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World is situated in the Siam Paragon shopping mall, is Southeast Asia’s largest aquarium, covering approximately 10,000 square meters. Home to over 30,000 marine creatures from around 500 species, it features 11 themed zones, including the Coral Reef, Open Ocean, and Rainforest Adventure. Siam Paragon is also next door to MBK and Central Station for the BTS as well.

Harbor Island Waterpark

Harbor Island is a fun, family-friendly water park that is perfect for cooling off in the heat. It has slides, splash areas and pools that are great for kids, plus space for adults to relax too. The nearest train station is Punnawithi BTS, and it’s about a 5-minute Grab ride. Adults and kids over 140 cm pay about 670-990 THB, depending on which pass you buy. Younger kids are between 370 – 570 THB. Also handy to know that towels, lockers and tubes are all included. Kids ages 3–10 can join. Go at 10 am opening, and skip the traffic so hop off at Bang Kapi on the MRT Yellow Line, and you’re right there

Talat Noi Street Art

Talat Noi is all quirky cafes, street art and old-world artefacts tucked into tiny lanes branching off Soi Wanit 2, down towards the river. It’s made for slow wandering with a coffee in hand. Talat Noi and Song Wat have blown up in popularity so weekends get busy with photographers, so a weekday visit is calmer if you can swing it. We went at sunset, and it was perfect on a Sunday night. Song Wat Road itself is worth a stroll — heaps of cafe vibes, murals and little noodle joints.

If the kids are after pizza, the Song Wat area nearby has great casual spots (eat in or takeaway) so you can watch the river nightlife roll by so 100 Songwat for pizza. There is also a great small noodle restaurant on Song Wat Road called Ron Klan and Nuea, which we also liked.

A sunset river cruise on the Chao Phraya

If you want to tick off Bangkok’s big sights and feed the kids in one relaxed hit, a sunset dinner cruise is one of the best-value family nights out in the city. Most sunset cruises leave around 5.30pm, with the dinner cruises starting at 7 pm. You’ll drift past the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho, IconSiam and the Rama VIII Bridge all lit up. You can choose from a number of operators, with prices ranging from around $35–$50 AUD per person.

Most cruises run for two hours, with a buffet, live music and a bit of (very cheesy) entertainment thrown in. A few tips from us: there are heaps of operators, and quality varies widely, so read recent reviews before you book.

Check which pier you leave from (usually ICONSIAM or Asiatique) and pick a bigger boat for families, with kid-friendly food. And flag any allergies when you book.

Lumpini Park

Hidden Bangkok Tours is a small, local family business born and raised on the canals, and they take you off the tourist track into the quiet waterways of the Thonburi side so the bits most visitors never see. You’ll glide past old wooden stilt houses and riverside temples, watch locals going about their day, get a stunning water-level view of the giant Big Buddha at Wat Paknam, and stop at the Artist’s House (Baan Silapin) for a bit of local culture. It’s a two-hour trip, small groups only, and their guides are lovely and full of stories

A few things to know before you book: the meeting point is out on Itsaraphap Road (Blue Line MRT) and it’s a little tricky to find, so give yourself 15–30 minutes and set your Grab to “Hidden Bangkok Tours.” Prices start from around $34 AUD per person, and morning or late afternoon are the coolest, prettiest times to go

Floating Markets

A floating market is one of those classic Thailand experiences that’s worth doing at least once. Kids will love seeing wooden boats piled high with fruit, snacks and fresh coconuts, while vendors cook meals right on the water. Damnoen Saduak is the famous market you’ve probably seen in photos, but it’s busy and touristy. Amphawa is our pick for families, with great seafood, a more local atmosphere and evening firefly boat tours that feel a little bit magical.

MEGA HarborLand – Which playground?

MEGA HarborLand isn’t just one playground — it’s a whole chain across Bangkok, and prices swing a LOT depending on which one you pick.

One Bangkok – the newest and flashiest, Himmapan Forest-themed with a 6-story climbing tower, glow-in-the-dark shooting arena, and a rope course adults can join too. For 1 child + 2 adults + socks, budget around ฿1,350

ICONSIAM 6th floor, right on the river. Themed “Little Thailand” — kids travel around the country in one day across three zones: HarborLand Zone (dragon spiral slides, a boomerang donut slide, ziplines, roller slides), JumpZ (trampoline park), and Harbor Inflatable (a giant UK-imported balloon structure). It’s a proper combo-ticket setup — 1,320 baht for kids, 590 baht for a supervising adult, covering all three zones. That makes it the priciest branch at around ฿1,480 for the family

Central Westgate is currently the biggest of the lot at ~10,000 sqm, themed “Monster Festival” — cute, colourful monsters rather than scary ones. Includes JumpZ, Laser Battle, RollerLand, AdventureLand ropes, a mini WonderLand ride zone, and a European balloon house. Sits around ฿1,020–1,040 for the family

Budget picks: Terminal 21 Rama 3 & Gateway Bangsue. Smaller, simpler, and easier on the wallet — starting from ฿920–1,000 for the family. Good option if you just want an hour or two to burn off energy without the full “theme park” experience

Chocolate Making Class at SO/Bangkok

If your kids (or you, let’s be honest) are chocolate obsessed, Chocolab at SO/ Bangkok is a genuinely fun little detour. It’s a proper hands-on class where you’re guided by a real chocolatier using Belgian couverture chocolate, and you get to make and decorate your own Chocolate Truffles or Chocolate Mendiants.

The details:

• Cost: ฿890 net per person
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Ages: suitable for adults and kids 6+
• Minimum: 2 people needed to run a class
• Book 24 hours ahead — no walk-ins
• Location: Chocolab, G Floor, SO/ Bangkok, 2 North Sathon Road, Bang Rak

Chatuchak Market is one of the world’s largest weekend markets, covering approximately 27 acres and featuring over 15,000 stalls. It’s large and can get overwhelming at times, so we recommend that you grab a free map from the information kiosk on arrival, or you can download the Chatuchak Guide app. The market is accessible via the Mo Chit BTS Skytrain station and the Chatuchak Park MRT subway station. Bring plenty water, it can get quite hot in the humidity as some of the stalls are undercover. Click here to see the map

The MBK Centre is an iconic shopping mall located in the heart of Bangkok. Spanning eight floors, it features over 2,000 shops and stalls offering a vast array of products, from clothing and accessories to electronics and souvenirs. You will find most clothing and shoe stores on the lower levels.

IconSiam is a prominent mixed-use development along the Chao Phraya River. You will find most shops comparable to Westfield in Australia. Still, the most notable attraction within the complex is SookSiam. This indoor floating market showcases regional delicacies (you may see a Croc on a spit!) and crafts from across Thailand. We recommend you visit after Corgi in the Garden Cafe – it’s only a 10-minute walk. The main train station is Charoen Nakhon Station on the Gold Line

Siam Paragon is the place to visit if you want to see Bangkok’s luxury side. It’s located right above the Siam BTS Station and is packed with global fashion brands, and the food hall on the ground level is next-level amazing. It also has a supermarket if you want to grab snacks. The location of the Paragon is also home to the Sea Life Ocean World. We also like Siam Discovery, which is next door, and has a level for kids to play go-karts, as well as our favourite candy store, Candy Crush.

Siam Centre – Right next door to the Paragon and linked by skywalk, Siam Centre is more like an Australian Westfield. It’s home to our favourite Candy Crush store, which we have included below. On the top level there is Playerbox, which is an arcade of electric go-karts, immersive games that my kids enjoyed, plus there are also several interactive sports games

Dunsit Central Park if you’re staying around Lumphini Park, then this is the place to go to escape the heat; it’s brand new and known for its forest rooftop walk – the largest rooftop garden in Thailand, apparently. Access in the North West corner, to level 4 – 7. It has waterfalls, shaded walkways, and it’s free and pram-friendly. There’s a big supermarket and food court in the basement, and it connects directly via covered walkway to BTS Sala Daeng and MRT Silom

CentralWorld is one of Southeast Asia’s largest malls with 500-plus stores, a 15-screen cinema, and a real indoor ice-skating rink – the mall itself can be a bit overwhelming, so we prefer Siam Central, or Paragon. If you want to visit here, it’s connected through a walkway from the other Siam malls

One Bangkok is in the middle between Lumphini Park & Benjakitti Park, it’s just like Siam Centre, or CentralWorld, but on the 6th floor you will find one of the largest indoor playgrounds in the world at over 6,000sqm on the 6th floor. You can get a 3-hour ticket, and pricing is based on height, not age. It’s for babies, up to 15 years old

Below is a list of our recommended restaurants and cafes across Bangkok that are family-friendly and also offer gluten-free options. Bangkok is more expensive to eat than other places in Thailand so we prefer to stick to the food markets.

• Bai Boon Thai Food (near Lumphini Park)
• Akara Sky Hanuman Bangkok (kid friendly roof top bar)
• Nalin Restaurant (100 m from the Lebua Hotel)
• IconSiam Floating Food Court
• Chinatown Night Markets
• Siam Paragon Food Court (also try Elvis Suki By Nuch)
• Baan Suan Sathorn, or After Rain Cafe for quirky cafes
• Natura Cafe (in Poomjai Garden)
• Corgi in the Garden (limited food menu)
• Praia – more expensive bar/restaurant in Talat Noi

If it’s your first time in Bangkok with kids, Siam is one of the easiest areas to stay. You’re right on the BTS Skytrain line, which makes getting around the city simple, even in Bangkok’s traffic. The area is packed with large shopping malls, and we found it modern, clean and walkable compared to other parts of the city. We stayed at the Chatrium Grand Bangkok, which is a two-minute car ride (supplied by thehotel) to the Siam Paragon and Siam Central Station.

If you want the classic Bangkok experience, staying along the Chao Phraya River is hard to beat. The riverside is home to many of the city’s most beautiful hotels, with views of boats and the city nightlife lighting up. We enjoyed staying at the lebua at State Tower. s only a five-minute walk to BTS Sala Daeng Station. It’s also close to a 10-minute drive to IconSiam, 15 minutes to Corgi in the Garden Cafe and walking distance to catch river boats to key attractions along the river. They also offer 2-bedroom apartments which are great for families

Chinatown is our new favourite spot, and we didn’t realise how close Chinatown is to some great attractions and markets. You are walking distance to Talat Noi, which has quirky cafes, street art and old-world artefacts tucked into tiny lanes branching off Soi Wanit 2, down towards the river. Cheaper accommodation and food options are great. It’s also still close to the river, and only a 13-minute Grab ride to Chatutak Market

Sathorn is where you want to stay if you want to be close to Lumphini Park, and good transport links – it’s a district over from Siam, but a lot less busy as it’s more the central business district. It is also close to great malls as well – One Bangkok and Dusit Central Park Mall. We have stayed at the SO/Bangkok which is more on the splurge end – you’re paying for the locaiton as it’s right across the road from Lumphini Park

Map of Bangkok