If the kids are bored and your budget is tight, the following 4 options provide a fun way to keep little ones entertained without denting your wallet.
1. Explore an Abandoned Sleeping Beauty Castle
At this Sleeping Beauty-style castle, little ones get to live out their Disney-inspired fairy tales. Formerly a theme park, “Dan Neramit” (or Magic Land) closed its doors and left locals heartbroken after its 25-year lease expired. Today, you can explore the grounds as the kids pretend to be a dashing prince or elegant princess. While the old rides are long gone, the site (on Phaholyothin Soi 72 in the Lat Phrao area) now has a go-karting track set called Motor Sportland, so families can race each other against the backdrop of the castle’s towering turrets.
2. Toy Hunt at Papaya Vintage Shop
The toy-filled Papaya Vintage Shop is the kind of weird and wonderful place kids love to explore. From the outside, this warehouse in the suburbs of Bangkok might look unpromising. But inside, you’ll find an Aladdin’s cave full of thousands of vintage toys, including classic pinball machines, superhero figurines, rocking horses, and even Darth Vader’s mask. Everything you see is available to purchase, although maybe don’t mention that to the kids – the prices aren’t cheap. That said, adults are probably more likely to go gaga over the array of retro goodies on offer here.
3. Visit a Traditional Floating Market
The floating markets of Bangkok are often flocked with tourists. But the lesser-known Taling Chan offers a quieter (and arguably more authentic) experience. Located around nine miles north-west of Bangkok, Taling Chan is also one of the city’s most accessible options. Bring the kids and barter with locals over fruit and snacks, ride a long-tail boat, and eat lunch beside the water at a simple riverside restaurant. If there’s time to spare, enjoy a soothing foot massage before heading back to the Bangkok’s 21st-century bustle.
4. Get Back to Nature at PTT Reforestation Project
Bangkok might not be famous for its green spaces, but there are a few nature havens dotted amid the urban jungle. Created by Thailand’s largest oil company, PTT Green in the City reforestation project is a sprawling, man-made forest near Suvarnabhumi Airport — transformed from a dumping ground into a natural habitat and wetlands environment. Stroll along elevated walkways above the treetops and saplings, watch interactive programs related to conservation, and visit the mini-theatre in the exhibition building to educate the kids about sustainable living and reforestation.
Photo Credit: PTT Green in the City
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