Bangkok isn’t a city normally thought of as being bike friendly. However, as any good Bangkok family knows, far (and not-so-far) away from the hectic urban areas you will find leafy parks tucked-away and even a few specialist bike parks. Bangkok has introduced a smart card bike sharing scheme in an attempt to reduce car emissions and although the Pun Pun Bike Share programme does still exist, this is not encouraged for families with younger kids. The risks definitely outweigh the benefits. Remember, in Thailand you cannot cycle on the pavements (sometimes it’s difficult enough to walk on them) so putting the family on bikes in the hectic Bangkok traffic is quite challenging and probably reserved for parents or older teens.
But, don’t dismay if your family are cycling enthusiasts, Bangkok definitely has more than its fair share of cycling routes. You can even find some of these in the city centre, if you’re brave enough to ride around the green cycle lanes around lower & mid Sukhumvit! As the kids are definitely looking for more things to do outside, we’ve listed a few great, safe family-friendly trails and routes that come highly recommended.
Angoon Children Park
Formerly Root Garden, ‘Suan Khru Angoon’ (or Teacher Angoon Park) is a good-sized community green space for people to relax, get inspired and learn. It is especially wonderful for kids where toddlers and pre-schoolers can roam around, explore and play in shaded areas; there are usually small sensory set ups as well as occasional educational activities for children such as puppet shows.
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/suankruangoon
Bang Kra Chao
Bang Kra Jao (or Bang Kra Chao) is locally known as Bangkok’s green lung and a place where city dwellers flock to get their dose of nature and escape the high rises that dominate the Bangkok landscape. It is a popular weekend spot for bicyclists and outdoor enthusiasts, including bird watchers. It’s great for families who want to spend time outdoors, getting in some exercise and breathing fresh air.
Location: the Phra Pradaeng District of Samut Prakan Province, just south-east of central Bangkok. Because it is a protected, road-bound peninsula surrounded by the Chao Phraya River,
Bangkok Backyard
Bangkok Backyard is a family-friendly destination where children can enjoy hands-on outdoor play, nature-inspired activities, and open green spaces while parents relax in a peaceful atmosphere. With plenty of room to explore, play, and connect with nature, it’s a wonderful spot for a fun family day out in Bangkok.
Location 894 Maitri Chit Road, Sam Wa Tawan Ok, Khlong Sam Wa, Bangkok 10510, Thailand.
Facebook: Bangkok Backyard Facebook
Benjakitti Park
Benjakitti Park is wonderful for children of all ages. It boasts a small outdoor playground with a variety of play equipment. Quieter paths cut through the shady flora, allowing younger kids to run and play safely away from the bikers and runners. There are bicycles suitable for older children and adults for hire, but you can bring your own equipment. The park also offers paddle boat and rowboat rentals with life jackets. Boating in the evening, while feeding fish and turtles (bring your own bread!), is an enjoyable experience for the whole family.
Location: Benjakitti Park, Ratchadaphisek Road, Khlong Toei, Bangkok, Thailand
Chatuchak Park
Chatuchak Park is a long 0.3-square kilometre stretch of greenery along Paholyothin Road, situated on land donated by the State Railway of Thailand. The park provides many recreational and fitness facilities, including tennis courts, football fields, and jogging/biking tracks. The park also features an artificial lake, sculptures, and various themed gardens.
Location : Chatuchak Park, Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand
Forest Park (extension of Benjakitti Park)
Bangkok’s future is green. The “Benjakitti Park” in the city’s Asoke area is expanding and becoming a “forest park.” The new addition features a 1.5 kilometre elevated walkway surrounded by tropical trees and a bicycle track that connects to Lumpini Park. Along with a variety of plants, the park will also have canals and ponds. The project
is named Suan Pa Benjakitti, or Benjakitti Forest Park. The park, constructed on land previously owned by the Tobacco Authority of Thailand, honours late-queen Sirikit Kitiyakara.
Lumpini Park
Lumpini Park is a sanctuary for nature lovers and fitness enthusiasts, offering a host of recreational activities, from jogging, cycling and aerobics to tai chi, yoga and ballroom dancing. Lumpini Park is sectioned into various zones, with striking architectural features, a range of indigenous flora and a man-made lake.
Nong Bon Lake
Nong Bon Lake (‘Bung Nong Bon’) in Prawet district, near Rama IX Park, is a man-made reservoir and scenic recreational area. It features a watersports centre that offers windsurfing, kayaking and sailing.
Phutthamonton
Phutthamonthon is famous among runners as well as amature cyclists thanks to abundance of trees there and the track of about 2.5 kilometers in length. Visitors can also find themselves feeding fish in the pond with bread sold byside, as well as doing some picnic and relaxing with their companies.
Queen Sirikit Park
Queen Sirikit Park was opened in 1992 to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s 50th Birthday anniversary. It boasts of a variety of plant collections, including the Lotus, Water Lily Yard and even an auspicious tree garden in the shap of Thailand’s georgraphical map.
Location : Queen Sirikit Park, Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand
Sampran Riverside
Suan Sampran began when Dr Chamnan and Khunying Valee Yuvaboon took a boat ride along the Ta Chine river and saw a hundred-year old Pikul tree about to fall to the river due to eroding river bank. They decided to buy the land and build a vacation home. In 1962, the business was founded to welcome those who want to take a break from the city amidst gardens of roses which was initially a hobby of the owners but later became the landmark known amongst foreign tourists as the Rose Garden.
Sanam Luang Park
Suan Sampran began when Dr Chamnan and Khunying Valee Yuvaboon took a boat ride along the Ta Chine river and saw a hundred-year old Pikul tree about to fall to the river due to eroding river bank. They decided to buy the land and build a vacation home. In 1962, the business was founded to welcome those who want to take a break from the city amidst gardens of roses which was initially a hobby of the owners but later became the landmark known amongst foreign tourists as the Rose Garden.
Sanam Luang Park
Opened in 1782, Sanam Luang (‘Royal Field’) is a large open field, public square surrounded by some of historic Bangkok’s most famous structures: the Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, National Museum, National Gallery, Supreme Court, and Ministry of Defence. Sanam Luang is a popular gathering ground for various activities, like kite flying festival, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony and the King’s birthday celebrations.
Saranrom Royal Garden Park
Created in 1874 by King Rama IV, Saranrom Park is the old royal garden of Saranrom Palace located near Wat Po and the Grand Palace. When Saranrom Palace was used to receive foreign visitors, King Rama V assigned Henry Alabaster, a botanical expert, to manage the exquisite garden. Today, several of the garden’s architectural gems remain, including the fountain, Bugle and Octagonal Pavilions, and royal memorial monument of Queen Sunandra Kumareerat, a beloved wife of King Rama V who passed away at a young age.
Suan Luang Rama IX Park
The history of Suan Luang Rama 9. The concept and construction of Suan Luang Rama IX Royal Botanic Garden were a joint effort between the private and public sectors. Generous financial supports, in the form of donations, obtained from public all over the country.
The Garden was established in honor of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the auspicious occasion of 60th Birthday Anniversary in 1987 and His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej officially opened the Garden on December 1, 1987.
Suan Rot Fai Park
Part of a 3-park complex in the area, Suan Rot Fai Park was once part of the State Railway of Thailand’s golf course. With a total area of 0.6 square kilometres, the park features about 3 kilometres of shaded jogging and biking trails that snake through the park and around its perimeter. Remnants of the old golf course, including fairways, sand pitches and water obstacles, have been converted into recreational spaces. One small section is retained for young golfers to practice their swing. The park also features a large Sports Complex with a pool, a big pond, and the Bangkok Butterfly Garden and Insectarium.
