Since most of the best tourist attractions in Thailand are located right along the Chao Praya River, it makes sense that the best way to see the top Bangkok sightseeing spots is by jumping on a river taxi. The Hop On Hop Off River Taxi is one of the best things to do in Bangkok with kids, especially if you only have one day in Bangkok at that.
Check out this Bangkok Hotel Guide with the most kid-friendly places to stay for your upcoming family vacation to Thailand!
Why take the Bangkok Hop on Hop Off River Taxi
- Jump on and off an unlimited number of times in one day
- The All Day Pass is less than $5 per person (on Klook)
- 10 different piers, each with its own tourist attraction(s)
- Each site is within a 15 minute walk or less from the pier
- Avoids the horrendous gridlock traffic jams of Bangkok
- Enjoy the scenic views while cruising along the river
- Could easily be a 2 Day Bangkok itinerary also
Get your Hop-On-Hop-Off River Taxi Tickets here at a discount from Klook.com if you buy them in advance.
Starting Point for your One Day in Bangkok
With just one day in Bangkok, hopefully you are staying at a great Bangkok family hotel near a BTS Sky Train Station.
HOW TO GET TO THE HOP ON HOP OFF RIVER TAXI IN BANGKOK:
- make your way to the Saphan Taksin BTS Sky Train Station on the Silom Line.
- Take Exit 2 to the Sathorn Pier
- Walk down the stairs and go towards the left (over some more stairs and a small bridge).
- You will see the Chao Praya Tourist Boat Booth to get in line to board your first boat.
- It departs once every 30 minutes starting from 9:00am – 7:15pm (see picture of schedule above).
*ACCOMODATION TIP: If you haven’t booked a place to stay yet, be sure to read these ‘Must Read Tips’ BEFORE booking any accommodation in Bangkok.
*TRANSPORTATION TIP: Also you can buy a Pre-filled BTS Sky Train Card that makes it easy to get on and off the BTS Sky Trains with an easy tap. No need to wait in the long queues to buy individual tickets.
*MONEY TIP: Take Thai baht with you because most vendors do not take credit card. Also, beware of pick-pocketers in all the tourist areas. Simply keep your phone, wallet, backpack or purse on your front side.
Here’s the Hop-On-Hop-Off Chao Praya River Taxi Schedule (or see the picture below) to help with planning your day:
Our Favorite Travel Resources for Exploring Asia
- The Best Deals on Hotels in Thailand: Agoda.com
- Most Family-friendly Airline: Qatar Airlines
- Renting a Car: EconomyBookings.com
- Getting around (ferry, train, flights, bus, transfers): 12go.com
- Booking an Activity or Tour in Asia: Klook.com
- Travel Insurance: VisitorsCoverage.com
- Internet and Cell Phone Service: Airalo
Stop 1 : Icon Siam Mall
Icon Siam is more than a mall, it’s a destination in and of itself. Our family can literally spend a whole day just at this mall. But since we have many other places to visit on our One Day in Bangkok Itinerary, let’s just focus on Floor G and Floor 7 for this itinerary.
For a full run-down of each of the family-friendly areas at Icon Siam, sign up for a FREE ‘Bangkok with Kids’ Travel Guide.
- Floor G depicts a traditional Thai floating market. It’s a Foodie Paradise with lots of food vendors offering every Thai delicacy and treat imaginable. I highly recommend trying the ‘coconut pancakes, ’‘dragon fruit,’ and the ‘roasted pig.’
- Floor G also has many handicraft souvenir vendors selling Thai silk shirts, wood-crafted watches, beautiful ceramic plates, cute Thai outfits for kids, etc.
- On Floor 7 is a Starbucks Reserve with a large outdoor terrace with amazing views.
- From the Floor 7 Starbucks, you will also see an awesome Waterfall coming from the 3-story high ceiling with neat lighting effects. It’s sure to get some ‘ewes and awes’ from the whole family.
ICON SIAM OPENING HOURS: Everyday 10:00am-10:00pm
TIME NEEDED: About 1-2 Hours
Now that we got fueled up, let’s hop back on our river taxi.
Stop 2 at the Iconic Chinatown
Now we can venture on to Chinatown at the pier of Ratchawongse.
Here we’ll be be able to see the quintessential bright red streets of Chinatown, enjoy lots of street food at the Chinatown Night Market. The night market starts at 4pm, but there are still some daytime vendors open as well. Also, stop for a visit at Dragon Temple. Do note that it closes at 4pm though.
For any foodies out there, you will for sure want to stop in China Town on your one day Bangkok itinerary. The Restaurant Potong in Chinatown will give you a magical dining experience with a Michelin star menu. The Lazy Susan Duck is said to be the highlight!
TIME NEEDED: About 1-2 hours
Stop 3 of the One Day in Bangkok Itinerary: Museum Siam
Next, hop back on the Chao Praya River Taxi, and get off at the RAJINEE PIER to visit the Museum Siam, just a short 5 minute walk from the pier.
One of the best things to do in Bangkok with kids is visit Museum Siam. This is a kid-friendly, interactive museum with about 15 exhibits on different aspects of the Thai culture such as religion, the monarchy, history, clothing, education, etc. The exhibits are presented in a fun and engaging way that the kids will enjoy too. So this is a great addition to your one day Bangkok itinerary.
TIME NEEDED: About 2 hours
COST OF MUSEUM SIAM: 100 Baht (about $3 USD)
TIP: They have a free English audio guide available to borrow. You would need to exchange an ID for it. That could be your passport or even just a license.
Stop 4 : One of the Best Things to Do in Bangkok is Dress Up in Traditional Thai Costume at Wat Arun
Now let’s head to one of the most famous Bangkok Sightseeing Spots — WAT ARUN TEMPLE OF THE DAWN. It is located right off the Wat Arun Pier.
You will marvel at the ornate architecture of this temple built about 700 years ago during the Ayutthaya period. The main pagoda of Wat Arun reaches about 81 meters tall and is an iconic landmark in Bangkok.
BOREDOM BUSTER: To make it fun for the kids, consider renting the traditional Thai costumes available for rent near the ticket booth.
WAT ARUN OPENING HOURS: Everyday 8:30am – 5:30pm
TIME NEEDED: About 30 minutes – 1 hour
COST OF WAT ARUN: 200 baht (about $6 USD)
WAT ARUN DRESS CODE: Shirts with Sleeves and Pants or Skirts past the knees
Stop 5 at Wat Pho with the iconic Reclining Buddha
*AN OPTIONAL TOURIST ATTRACTION NEARBY but not on the Hop-On-Hop-Off River Taxi Route is the famous reclining buddha at the Wat Pho temple, a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site.
HOW TO GET TO WAT PHO:
From Wat Arun, walk 2 minutes to the ‘Pier 4’ to take the boat across the river to the Tha Tien pier for less than 5 baht (about $0.25 cents). To get to the Reclining Buddha, just walk straight off the pier, and in about 3 minutes, it will be on the right.
WAT PHO OPENING HOURS: Everyday 8:00am – 7:30pm
TIME NEEDED: About 45 minutes if just visiting the Reclining Buddha
*This cost covers a vast 20 acre complex with multiple temples and a monastary that you could also visit if you so desired. I recommend just seeing the Reclining Buddha and then heading back across the river to Wat Arun to jump on your next River Taxi ride to the most famous landmark of Bangkok: The Grand Palace.
Stop 6 at the Grand Palace : #1 Bangkok Sightseeing Spots
THE GRAND PALACE at the THA MAHARAJ Pier is about a 12-15 minute walk from the pier, but well worth it since it is the most visited tourist attractions in Bangkok! It’s a must-add to your one day in Bangkok itinerary.
The Grand Palace is famous for being the home of many kings in the Ratanakosin dynasty starting from 1782. It is currently where many royal and religious ceremonies take place. It is also where the Temple of the Emerald Buddha is located, which is regarded as the most sacred buddhist temple in all of Thailand. The shiny, golden architecture all around will mesmerize your kids.
BOREDOM BUSTER: If you need a quick way to entertain the kids while walking around, play a game of ‘I-Spy’
GRAND PALACE OPENING HOURS: Monday-Sunday 8:30am – 4:30pm
TIME NEEDED: About 1-2 hours
COST OF GRAND PALACE: 500 baht (about $14 USD)
GRAND PALACE DRESS CODE: Shirts with sleeves and long pants or skirt
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Stop 7 : the very popular KhaoSan Road
Next up, head to the Phra Arthit Pier. Walk about 10-12 minutes to get to the famous Khao San Road to find some good souvenirs, yummy street food like Pad Thai or fresh-off-the-BBQ Kebabs, browse the used bookstores, or get a relaxing foot massage.
TIPS:
- If you’re with your kids, don’t stay too late at Khao San Road because many of the bar girls come out to attract male customers starting around 8:00pm.
- If eating street food, use your discretion. I recommend only eating street food that is being cooked right at the time of ordering and not any food that has already been pre-cooked (unless it is with ingredients that don’t go bad such as the fried banana fritters that are so yumm!).
- If it’s not yet 6:10pm, you can head back to the Phra Arthit Pier to be able to go to your last recommended stop of Asiatique.
- If it’s past 6:15pm, then you probably can’t walk back fast enough, and I would just stay and enjoy some more time at KhaoSan Road before taking a taxi back to your hotel. *However, please note that it is quite hard to get a metered taxi from this bustling tourist area. Most taxi drivers will charge you an expensive flat rate to take you anywhere from this area, but probably no more than 500 baht (about $14 USD).
Stop 8 at Asiatique : Best of Bangkok Sightseeing Spots
If it’s not yet 6:30pm, you can jump back on the Hop On Hop Off River Taxi to go to the very opposite end of the river from the Phra Arthit Pier to visit Asiatique (see schedule above).
HIGHLIGHTS OF ASIATIQUE:
- Large open air market that has been renovated from old industrial warehouses
- Has a giant Ferris wheel that you can see all across the Bangkok skyline — it’s quite magical at nighttime with all the twinkling lights of the city!
- A lovely carousel, a Mystery Mansion, and a Disney themed area with mini golf that the kids will also enjoy
- Lots of unique restaurants, yummy fresh fruit smoothies and market food
- Lots of souvenir vendors
TIP: Even though your hop-on-hop-off Chao Praya River Taxi ends at 7:30pm, there is a free river taxi from Asiatique to the BTS Saphan Taksin Station until midnight.
ASIATIQUE OPENING HOURS: Everyday 4pm – 12am
COST TO ENTER ASIATIQUE: FREE
*Also, Don’t forget to purchase your Hop-On-Hop-Off River Taxi Tickets in advance to get the discounted price.
DISCOUNT TIP:
I recommend getting your Ancient City tickets in advance from Klook to save nearly 50%!
The Best Bangkok Family Hotel Options
Where to Stay in Bangkok for families?
LUXURY STAY IN BANGKOK:
If you’re not on a specific budget, I’d highly recommend staying at the Shangri-La Bangkok Hotel, which was voted the most kid-friendly hotel in Bangkok.
MID-RANGE HOTEL IN BANGKOK:
If you’re like our family, you want a great stay at a reasonable price. Thus, I’d highly recommend staying at the Novotel Living Bangkok Sukhumvit because up to 2 kids aged 16 and under can stay free.
BANGKOK BUDGET-FRIENDLY FAMILY HOTEL:
We also really love the Jasmine Grand Residence because it has our favorite swimming pool in all of Bangkok along with 1-3 bedroom suites for just $75-$150 USD. Such a steal!
FAMILY-FRIENDLY AIRBNB HOMES:
One of the most charming vacation homes in Bangkok was this AirBNB Home near the main Sukhumvit Road. With a play room full of toys, 2 lounge spaces with Smart TVs for movie nights, and a soaking tub for mom, this is a perfect place to stay in Bangkok for families.
HOTEL TIP: Here are 10 must know tips before booking your stay in Bangkok.
BEST FAMILY HOTEL ON THE RIVER:
SHANGRI-LA BANGKOK
- Forbes voted the Shangri-La Bangkok as the ‘Best Hotel in Bangkok for Families’
- Get the Family Fun Experience Package that includes airport transfer, a 2 hour sightseeing boat tour on the Chao Praya River, and a family suite.
- Enjoy the luxurious pool overlooking the Chao Praya River
- Expansive breakfast buffet
- Only 220 meters to Saphan Taksin BTS Sky Train Station
- Very easy to take the river taxis
MOST LUXURIOUS FAMILY HOTEL:
SIAM KEMPINSKI HOTEL BANGKOK
If you're looking for a kid-friendly luxury hotel in Bangkok with 5 star accommodations, then Siam Kempinski is our top choice!
Between the massive swimming pool, the fun Kids Club room, the cute child-size robes and slippers, and the exquisite breakfast buffet, luxury is at every turn.
BEST FAMILY HOTEL IN BANGKOK:
JASMINE GRAND RESIDENCE
- This is the hotel we choose for our own friends and family
- Stay in the 1, 2, or 3 bedroom suites with a living room, dining area, kitchenette, and even a washing machine
- Our favorite rooftop pool in the city!
- Delicious breakfast buffet
- Only a 10 minute walk to Ekkamai BTS Sky Train Station
- Grocery and restaurants withn a 5 minute walk
Other Blog Posts that might help you with your upcoming family trip to Bangkok:
The Best Things to Do in Bangkok with Kids with recommendations to the best cultural activities, museums, kid-friendly restaurants, indoor playgrounds, and what to do on a rainy day in Bangkok.
The Best Family-friendly Temples in Bangkok with helpful info like how to get there, opening hours, entrance fees, and how to keep the kids entertained while visiting.
Don’t forget to read up on the recently updated Tourist Visa measures.
If you still need a place to stay while visiting Bangkok, check out these family-friendly hotels that have epic rooftop swimming pools, incredible breakfast buffets, and the most fun kids club rooms!
TRANSPORTATION TIP FOR BANGKOK:
Get a BTS Sky Train Pass called a ‘Rabbit Card‘.
This card has multiple benefits:
- It’s pre-loaded with 200 Thai Baht (about $7 USD)
- Saves time
- No queueing for individual tickets
- Automatically deducts the trip fare from the card
- Can easily top up
- Use for long-term or multi-day trips around Bangkok
*Recommended: Buy 1 Rabbit Card per person above 90cm tall (3 feet). Kids under 90 cm ride for free.
Internet is a must while Exploring Thailand with Kids
You’ll need to stay connected while traveling in Thailand — for GPS Maps, researching the best island hopping tour packages, or letting the kids have some downtime watching Bluey on YouTube.
Don’t do the T-Mobile or AT&T International Roaming plans for about $10 per day — save that money for a nice restaurant or fun activity!
E-SIM: I highly recommend getting an eSIM from Airalo to have great internet service all over Thailand. They are actually using the same local providers that AT&T, T-mobile and Verizon will use.
I have personally used Airalo many times traveling all over the world, and it works great and is SUPER easy to install.
To use your Airalo eSIM, you simply buy a package then scan the QR code from your email to install and activate the eSIM.
The packages run from only $4.50 for 1 GB of data to $35 USD for Unlimited Data in Thailand.
TIPS FOR TRAVELING THAILAND WITH KIDS: If you let your kids watch YouTube, Netflix, etc, then I recommend getting the Unlimited Data. But if you’re not video streaming, then 50 GB of data is enough to browse the internet, use Google Maps, and stay in touch with friends back home.
PHYSICAL SIM CARD: You could also pick up a physical SIM card at the airport upon arrival, at any mall, which would have a TRUE shop, DTAC shop, and/or AIS shop, or even some 7-Elevens have them. Just ask! You would need your passport on hand. The physical SIM + a prepaid service card would cost about 999 baht (~$30 USD), but it usually comes with 30GB of Data. So Airalo is a much better deal.
TIP #2: If you plan to use a physical SIM card, then be sure to contact your local phone provider (such as AT&T or Verizon) before traveling overseas to check that your phone is already unlocked. They can usually do this for you over the phone.
FLIGHT TIP: We’ve personally had the best experience flying to Thailand with our family on Qatar Airlines and also Japan Airlines. Both were child-friendly airline options.
- Families with small children could board early
- Automatically got bulk-head seating when we traveled with an infant
- Could pre-select kid-friendly meals
- They have great entertainment options for the littles
- They had ‘grab-n-go’ snacks available throughout the whole flight
- The best part : more legroom than the other international flights for families that we’ve taken
Thailand has a tropical climate, which means it is mostly hot and humid year round.
Temps range from about 75’F (22’C) to 100’F (40’C), but mostly stay in the high 80s (low 30’Cs).
Thailand generally has two seasons: wet and dry.
The Wet Season
- heavily influenced by the monsoon winds
- typically lands between June to September
- Doesn’t typically rain all day
- Short bursts of heavy rainfall
INSIDER TIPS FOR TRAVELING THAILAND DURING RAINY SEASON:
- Pack shoes that can get wet, quick drying clothes, and a poncho or umbrella.
- Wear mosquito spray at dusk because of the small risk of Dengue Fever and other mosquito-borne illnesses.
The Dry Season
- generally between November to April
- Has mostly clear, sunny days
- Can be quite hot
- This is also ‘Burning Season’ for local farmers, and the air pollution can be quite high in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and other farming towns.
*Do note that May and October are shoulder months. The days could be either dry or wet. It just depends if the monsoon season comes early that year or late.
That being said, the very best time to visit Thailand with kids is between December to February. But our family lives here year-round and love every season!
Top 3 Bangkok Family Hotel Options
Our Top 3 Recommendations for Great Family Hotels in Bangkok:
- For 5 Star Luxury and Quintessential Thai Charm: Siam Kempinski is the place to go all out — they even have kid-sized robes in the hotel room! (From US$390/night)
- One of the most charming vacation homes in Bangkok is this family-friendly AirBNB home with a playroom full of toys, a soaking tub for mom to relax, and a lounging sofa and Smart TV for a fun movie night with the fam (From US$160/night)
- One of the best all-around family hotels in Bangkok is Novotel Living Bangkok with its awesome pool with slide and a cool kids club with activities for small kids all the way to to teens right next a co-working space for parents. Not to mention two kids up to age 16 stay free! (From US $98/night)
Best Family Hotels in Bangkok by BTS Skytrain: Luxury Stays to Budget-friendly Hotels for Families
Discover the best family hotels in Bangkok near the BTS Skytrain, from luxury family resorts to budget-friendly stays. Explore convenient, kid-friendly hotels with easy access to Bangkok attractions, shopping, and dining.
Best Tips Before Booking a Hotel in Bangkok and Traveling to Thailand with Kids
Discover the best tips before booking a hotel and traveling to Thailand with kids. Learn family travel tips, kid-friendly hotels, safety advice, and how to plan the perfect Thailand family vacation.