For most parents, our first question when considering a family-friendly international vacation destination : ‘Is Thailand a safe place to travel with kids?’ Since we are raising our 3 little girls here in Bangkok, I can say that we actually feel more safe in Thailand than even in our home country of the USA. The Thai people are so friendly, and many of them enjoy speaking English with our girls. Not to mention, with the honor-shame culture, there is a relatively low crime rate.
This is just one reason why Thailand is one of the top destinations in the world for being the best place to travel with your kids. And if you’re coming all the way over to Thailand, you can’t miss visiting the capital city. There are so many child-friendly activities in Bangkok — I wrote about 100+ in this blog post here!
But whether it’s your first time or 5th time to visit Thailand with your family, these are the 9 must-visit child-friendly attractions in Bangkok that you just can’t miss seeing (including 1 hidden gem and 8 other honorable mentions)!
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#1 of the Must-Visit Attractions in Bangkok with Kids
Wat Arun, Temple of the Dawn
Wat Arun is the number 1 must-see tourist attraction in Bangkok.
The best way to see it would be riding on the Hop On Hop Off River Taxi .
I’m not usually a fan of the Hop on Hop off bus tours in any city around the world, but the Hop-On Hop-Off Bangkok River Taxi is a game changer. Since most of the famous Bangkok landmarks are right along the river, it’s a great way to see all the main Bangkok tourist attractions while missing the horrible gridlock traffic.
The benefits of taking the Hop On Hop Off Bangkok River Taxi:
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Jump on and off an unlimited number of times in one day -
The 10 different piers each has its own tourist attraction(s) -
Each within a 15 minute walk or less from the pier -
Enjoy the scenic views while cruising along the river -
Avoid the horrendous gridlock traffic jams
Here is a step-by-step blog post of a one day itinerary for what to see and do from the Hop on Hop off Bangkok River Taxi including the best child-friendly cultural activities to do in Bangkok and some family-friendly temples you can visit including Wat Arun and the Grand palace.
#2 of the Must-See Family Attractions in Bangkok
The Grand Palace
The Grand Palace is a kid-friendly cultural landmark in Bangkok. The shiny golden architecture will mesmerize your kids. To get there, I highly recommend taking the Hop-on Hop-off River Taxi that I mentioned above. Then jumping on an unforgettable tuk tuk ride to get there from the pier!
TIPS FOR TRAVEL TO THAILAND WITH KIDS:Download the MuvMi app to easily book an electric tuk tuk throughout the city without the worry of being scammed by the infamous Thailand tuk tuk drivers.
BEST FAMILY HOTEL ON THE RIVER:
SHANGRI-LA BANGKOK
- 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.
- Luxurious pool overlooking the Chao Praya River
- Expansive breakfast buffet
- Forbes voted the Shangri-La Bangkok as the ‘Best Hotel in Bangkok for Families’
*PRICE RANGE: From 8100 baht (about $232 USD) for a Deluxe Room with breakfast LOCATION:
- Only 220 meters to Saphan Taksin BTS Sky Train Station
- Very easy to take the river taxis
#3 of the Must-Visit Tourist Attractions in Bangkok
King Power Mahanakorn Skywalk
I would not want to leave Bangkok without getting to take in the incredible sunset views of this sprawling metropolis.
Not to mention, what a story you can tell friends back home that you dared to step out onto the glass floor that is 78 floors up on the Mahanakorn Skywalk.
The glass floor on the skywalk is not for the faint at heart and might be more fun for teenagers! My mom actually enjoyed the short thrill. Not to mention, the Mahanakorn Skywalk offers to best views of Bangkok.
#4 of the Must-Visit Attractions in Bangkok with Kids
Asiatique Market
For any of my friends who come to visit Thailand with family, I am sure to add a visit to the open-air Asiatique Riverfront night market.
Asiatique Market has such a great vibe to go souvenir shopping for those Muay Thai boxing shorts or cute elephant sling bags and locally sourced coconut oil.
What I love about Asiatique :
- It’s on the riverfront
- You can take the Hop-on Hop-off river taxi to get there
- Beautiful sunsets
- A huge Ferris Wheel
- Lots of homemade souvenirs and locally sourced products
- So many restaurants and food vendors
- A whimsical double-decker carousel with the cutest elephant your kids could ride (instead of the typical horse)
Hey there, we’re Brittany and Witt!
An American-Thai couple with 3 little girls, who have been based in Thailand for the past 15+ years. We understand how much planning and research it takes to travel internationally with kids, so we love sharing our travel experiences with you — both the good and bad! We hope these free Travel Guides, itineraries, and tips help your own family have the trip of a lifetime!
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#5 of the Must-Visit Family Attractions in Thailand
ICON SIAM
This is an iconic Bangkok landmark and luxury mall that is also in my Top 10 list of the Best Things to Do in Bangkok with Kids. For a comprehensive list of fun things to do with the kids on 7 different floors at Icon Siam, get this FREE Bangkok with Kids Travel Guide.
Reasons Why Icon Siam is a Must-visit Destination in Bangkok:
- The ground floor was designed to resemble an antique floating market
- The ground floor is also a great place to buy handimade crafts and locally sourced products from Thailand
- Watch the outdoor water fountain with laser light show
- Icon Siam is also on the riverfront
- Another must-visit attraction in Bangkok that can easily be accessed via the Hop-on Hop-off River taxi
- My girls personally love to go to the 7th floor to watch the indoor water fountain that falls from the ceiling with it’s mesmerizing light show
- Then we head into Starbucks for the most epic sunset views at Icon Siam of the Chao Praya River and Bangkok cityscape
BEST FAMILY HOTEL IN BANGKOK:
JASMINE GRAND RESIDENCE
This is the hotel we put our family and friends in!
With 1, 2, and 3 bedroom suites that have a living room, dining area, kitchenette, washing machine, etc. for only about $55-$110 USD!
The delicious buffet breakfast, the friendly reception who are ready to help you 24 hours a day in a foreign country, and the epic swimming pool with a slide, fountains, and kiddie area make this a great choice!
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#6 of the Top Kid-friendly Attractions in Thailand
Golden Mountain Temple
Taking an urban hike up the 344 steps to the top of the Golden Mount Temple is high on my list of the best things to do in Bangkok.
I believe this is a family-friendly temple with the best sunsets over Bangkok. So be sure to arrive about 30 minutes before sunset for a truly breathtaking view over this sprawling concrete jungle. Oh and don’t forget to ring the golden gong once you reach the top!
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TRANSPORTATION TIP FOR BANGKOK:
Get a BTS Sky Train Pass called a ‘Rabbit Card‘.
Having this card has multiple benefits:
- Go straight to the BTS gate, tap your card, and it will automatically calculate how much the ride was based on where you exit.
- Save lots of time not needing to queue to buy individual BTS ride tickets
- You can pick up this Rabbit Card from Klook at the Suvarnabhumi Airport or at Central World (a mall in the center of the city). This makes it easy to quickly jump on the BTS Sky Train and make your way around the city with ease.
- This one from Klook is pre-loaded with 200 THB already (about $7 USD).
- If you buy yours from the BTS Station, you should pre-fill it with about 100-200 baht per day that you’ll be in Bangkok. You can top up more later, but it is quite difficult to get a refund on any amount left in the card.
- Get 1 Rabbit Card per person above 90cm (about 3 feet). Kids under 90 cm ride for free.
If you’ll be stopping at multiple BTS Sky Train stations all in one single day, it would save you money to have a BTS One Day Pass. With this card, you can go to an unlimited number of stations in one day, saving you time buying individual tickets at the long queues. This is most helpful if you’ll stop at 3+ stations in a single day. But this pass is only good for one single day and can not be ‘topped up’ like the above Rabbit Card.
#7 This Hidden Gem in Bangkok is Super Special
Koh Kred Island and Market
This is one of those hidden gems that only the locals know about. But if you are visiting Bangkok with family on a weekend, then this is truly one of the most child-friendly cultural activities in Bangkok.
What’s so special about Koh Kred Island?
- This is not geared toured tourists, so oozes with Thai charm.
- You must take a small long-tail boat to reach this hidden gem located in the middle of the Chao Praya River.
- The Tops Handmade Market is really a top-notch market featuring handimade crafts and products sourced from all over Thailand
- You can rent bicycles to explore around this small island.
- You can make a homemade clay vase on a real potters wheel. If you do it early enough in the day, you’ll get to take your homemade vase home with you.
- There are lots of charming cafes and authentic Thai restaurants
- All of the prices are geared for the locals! Yayyy for no over-priced, bland Pad Thai noodles!
- Such a great way for your kids to see and experience the Thai culture first-hand (and in a fun way!)
#8 of the Top Toursit Destinations in Bangkok with Kids
Ancient City
Ancient City, aka Muang Boran, is a huge 320 acre outdoor park and interactive museum that has more than 100 replicas of the most famous cultural landmarks from all over Thailand. The kids can interact and explore inside all of these cultural sites without fear of being too loud or rowdy. In my opinion, Ancient City is one of the most child-friendly cultural attractions in Bangkok. If you only have a one day itinerary in Bangkok with kids, then I’d highly recommend bumping Ancient City to the top of this list and just going there.
Here’s some reasons Ancient City is one of the must-visit places in Bangkok:
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You can bike or e-bike around the park -
You can rent Golf Carts to drive around -
You can ride elephants — very rare near Bangkok -
Free Thai Cultural Dance Shows -
You can take pictures in traditional Thai costumes
You can also rent bicycles or e-bikes instead of the golf cart.
Check out this blog post to get a step-by-step itinerary : Ancient City with Kids
Oh and grab the 50% discounted Ancient City Tickets Here from klook.com.
DISCOUNT TIP: Klook is a trusted site that I use often in my travels around SouthEast Asia, and they usually have discounted prices for the most popular attractions.
Use this special 10% coupon code ‘APP10TW’ if it’s your first time to use the Klook mobile app.
#9 of the Must-visit Tourist Sites in Bangkok with Kids
Jim Thompson House
Visit the Jim Thompson House offers a unique experience to walk through an old, traditional Thai style house on stilts. Your kids will also get to learn the skill of making Thai silk from silk worms. I mean how cool will it be for your kids to learn that beautiful, fine silk comes from bugs! Bugs that the Thai people enjoy eating!
There’s also some Thai art and collectibles on display. You can buy a beautiful silk scarf as a souvenir to take back home. And our 3 girls also enjoy the free tuk tuk shuttle service to the National Stadium BTS Station.
Make the most of this Bangkok cultural experience by dining at the Jim Thompson Thai Restaurant that offers exquisite culinary dishes with inventive twists on the Thai classics. Book the three-course meal in advance on Klook for a nice discount.
Entrance Fee: 200 baht entrance fee (about $6 USD).
MOST LUXURIOUS FAMILY HOTEL:
SIAM KEMPINSKI HOTEL BANGKOK
If you’re looking for a kid-friendly 5 star accommodation right in the heart of Bangkok, 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, you will be met with luxury at every turn.
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The best way to see most of these attractions in Bangkok is from the Chao Praya River!
Seriously take my advice, and choose at least 1 of these 3 options for the very best way to see the most iconic Bangkok tourist spots! You will not regret it!
- Like I mentioned above, take the Hop On Hop Off River Taxi . This is the most affordable way to see many of these must-visit family attractions in Thailand. It’s only about 150 THB (~$5 USD).
- Or enjoy the most famous Bangkok landmarks all lit up at night on a river dinner cruise. We’ve done quite a few dinner cruises on the Chao Praya River over the years, but our favorite one is the [eafl id=’897′ name=’Chao Praya River Dinner Cruise’ text=’Meridien Bangkok River Dinner Cruise. The best price we’ve found is from Klook.com. And we personally like doing the Sunset Dinner Cruise which departs from Asiatique.
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If budget is no factor, then I’d recommend a Bangkok Canal Long-tail Boat Tour. Did you know that Bangkok has been nicknamed the Venice of Asia? It’s because the city has so many canals that interconnect the various parts of the city. So what better than to go behind the scenes and see the life of the local people from the small canal waterways. This canal longtail boat tour is great for families of all sizes and ages. It stops at Wat Arun Temple of the Dawn and also at the temple with the largest buddha statue. The whole family, both young and old, will enjoy experiencing Bangkok from this longtail boat tour. However, if you have teenagers, then this Bangkok Bike and Canal Boat Tour with Lunch is even better to be able to see some hidden gems and untouched parts of Bangkok from a bike and a longtail boat. They also stop for an authentic Thai lunch along the river.
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Honorable Mentions of other child-friendly tourist attractions in Bangkok worth visiting — time-willing:
- The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho is another one of those family-friendly temples in Bangkok with a larger than life reclining buddha that is worthy to add to your Bangkok Bucket List.
- Riding the revolving observation deck at Baiyoke Sky Buffet and Observation Deck is a fun dinner option with the best sunset views of Bangkok from the International buffet on the 78th floor. Then end the night under the stars on the revolving observation deck on the 81st floor.
- E-Scooter Jungle Tour in The Green Lung Area. As a local, this is one of the most fun family outings in Bangkok. First, ride a long tail boat or ferry across the Chao Praya River. Next, explore the coconut plantations and mangrove forests in ‘the Green Lung’ area of Bangkok. Stop by the floating market (only open on the weekend) to get an ancient Thai snack called ‘Miang Kham.’ Then go bird watching up in the observatory tower in the botanical gardens. Afterwards, stop for lunch at one of the many instagram worthy cafes along the river. Our personal favorite is the Bangkok Tree House, which has a lush, tropical feel with a restaurant right on the river and would make for an epic place to stay overnight with the kids too! Def one of the top child-friendly cultural activities in Bangkok!
- Do the Treasure Hunt at the Siam Museum. Siam Museum is said to be an ‘edutainment museum’ because it is an interactive museum with 15+ fun exhibits on things such as: the history of Siam, the monarchy, the Thai language, the main religion, the Thai baht, and even the educational system. The kids will enjoy the role play activity, the interactive food exhibit, the Thai history puzzle, and the history show. You can easily get to the Siam Museum from the Hop On Hop Off River Taxi. This is one of the best child-friendly cultural attractions in Bangkok!
- Enjoy the Siam Niramit Performance at the Thailand Cultural Center. There are a variety of family-friendly shows, performances, concerts, and ballets almost every night of the week, but we personally enjoyed the Siam Niramit show. This kid-friendly performance brilliantly captured the essence of Thai culture in a 90 minute production combining dance choreography, singing and even a mythical winged creature that flies in from the ceiling. You can check out the upcoming shows here.
- Ride the interactive Thai style boat at the Samut Prakarn Learning Park and Tower. Two floors are an interactive museum and are dedicated to the history of Thailand and more specifically Samut Prakarn, one of the suburbs of Bangkok. For example, one exhibit, you actually get onto a ‘Thai style boat’ and watch a video that takes you along the river like it was 200 years ago. The ‘Thai style boat’ is also moving and swaying and evading a military attack while you’re riding on this exhibit. Go to the top floor where the indoor air-conditioned Observation Deck is. The kids will be amazed at how far-reaching the city of Bangkok!
- Bike around the Ayutthaya Historical Park with its ancient ruins dating back to the 14th-16th century. Technically Ayutthaya is about 1 hour away by taxi or two hours by train, so this is one of the best day trips from Bangkok. There is a 50 baht entrance fee per site or buy an all-in-ticket for 220 baht to visit all the sites. You can rent bikes to ride around to the different ancient ruins for 40 baht per day, or if you have small kids or grandparents with you then a tuk tuk ride might be better suited for your family. The tuk tuk rides are about 200 baht per hour. You can also take a long tail boat ride for 200 baht per person, which stops at 3 different kid-friendly temples and also other ancient ruins. Here’s a small guided Ayutthaya Temple Tour if you’d rather not venture there on your own.
- Watch the train roll through the Maeklong Train Market — This market is also technically not in Bangkok. However, being only 1.5-2 hours away, it’s one of the best day trips from Bangkok. I mean what kid doesn’t love the adventure of watching a lively market flourish right on top of railroad tracks. Then all the vendors quickly whisk up all their goods and tuck them away as everyone stops to listen to the train horn blow and the conductor wave as the train rolls slowly on by. Maeklong Train Market Tour is a great Klook tour option that combines a Day Trip to the Maeklong and the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
Other Blog Posts that might help you with your upcoming family trip to Bangkok:
If you’d like to visit the most famous landmarks in person, this is an epic One Day in Bangkok Itinerary with kids on the Hop on Hop off River Taxi.
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.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you buy something through them, we may earn a small commission. But at no extra cost to you!
This helps enable us to keep sharing helpful travel content. Thank you for your support!
Best Island Hopping Tour
Our family had the best experience taking a private long-tail boat tour in the south of Thailand.
Island Hopping from Krabi, snorkeling around the Phi Phi Islands, and building sand castles in the pristine white sand beach of Maya Bay are our favorite memories!
private Long-Tail boat tour
Best Time to Visit Thailand
Thailand has a tropical climate, which means it is mostly hot and humid year round. The 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
- During the wet season, there will be moments of heavy rainfall.
- It might rain cats and dogs for 30 minutes, and then be clear for the next 6 hours.
- Or it could rain heavily for 3 hours straight.
- But in our experience of living here for the past 16+ years, the heavy rain usually passes within an hour.
TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO THAILAND WITH KIDS DURING RAINY SEASON: Pack shoes that can get wet, quick drying clothes, and a poncho or umbrella.
The Dry Season
- generally is between November to April
- Has mostly clear, sunny days
*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.
TIP: QATAR AIRLINES WAS our best experience flying with kids
FLIGHT TIP: We’ve personally had the best experience flying to Thailand with our family on Qatar Airlines and also Japan Airlines. Both were a super family-friendly airline.
- 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 better entertainment options for the littles
- They had ‘grab-n-go’ snacks available throughout the whole flight
- The best part : more legroom than the other airlines that we’ve flown with
Phone & Internet Service while in Thailand
It’s a no-brainer that you’ll need to stay connected while traveling in Thailand — whether it’s for using GPS, searching google, messaging friends and family back home, watching YouTube, etc.
Don’t do the T-Mobile or AT&T International Roaming plans for about $10 a day — it’s a total rip off!
You can get the same exact service for much cheaper and just as easy with our tips below:
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 to multiple countries 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 they send in an email to install and activate the eSIM.
The packages run from only $9.90 for 50 GB of data to $19.95 USD for Unlimited Data in Thailand.
TIPS FOR TRAVELING AROUND 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 or at any mall, which would have a TRUE shop, DTAC shop, and/or AIS shop. You would need your passport on hand. The physical SIM + a prepaid service card would cost about 350 baht (~$10 USD), but it usually only comes with 5GB of Data. So Airalo is a much better deal.
TIP: 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.
