Parks & Nature
Lumpini Park
Lumpini Park stands out in central Bangkok with its scenic lakeside jogging paths and one of the city’s few outdoor basketball courts where pickup games form daily. The park is home to a surprising population of monitor lizards that crawl near the bike trail, as well as large cute cat population, bringing an element of nature into the city. You can rent swan paddle boats on the lake, join a morning Tai Chi class, or join locals stretching during air-conditioned aerobics sessions. Its wide-open lawns and shaded benches are popular with locals and expats to relax with a picnic while watching paddleboarders glide under the trees. This urban oasis combines fitness, wildlife, and community in a green setting that feels miles away from skyscrapers.
King Rama IX Park
King Rama IX Park is the largest public green space in Bangkok, featuring themed gardens like a French corner and a Japanese garden, plus a 15-acre lake with paddle boats. It is renowned for hosting the annual flower festival where over a million blooms transform the grounds into a color spectacle. The park also includes an outdoor fitness zone with public gym equipment and a children’s playground modeled after traditional Thai architecture. Locals walk or jog around the 3-kilometer circuit encircling the expansive lake. You can also visit the botanical garden’s orchid house or attend weekend tai chi and dance sessions lakeside.
Bang Kachao
Known as Bangkok’s green lung, Bang Krachao offers lush cycling trails through elevated boardwalks above mangrove forests and peaceful canals. Its entry point includes a floating vegetable garden where bikes can be rented before exploring raised wooden paths that wind through thick greenery. You can stop at the Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park for birdwatching and to learn about the local flora or enjoy morning yoga sessions on the pier overlooking the water. The area also features local orchards, weekend markets selling fresh coconut water and homemade snacks, and picturesque restaurants and cafes serving tasty food and drinks. For anyone craving nature escapes on two wheels, Bang Krachao delivers a unique blend of eco-adventure and serene landscape less than an hour away from the Bangkok city center.
Benjakitti Park
Benjakitti Park is unique thanks to its raised promenade that circles a large lake with panoramic skyline views lit up at night. It also features one of Bangkok’s only free public skate parks and newly added cycling lanes that connect to nearby Benjasiri Park. Furthermore, Benjakitti Park also has one of the largest, newest free public sports centers (with high quality basketball courts, badminton courts and more), and it also features a dog park, making it one of the only parks in Bangkok that is pet friendly! During sunrise, you can rent bikes or rollerblades, join early morning yoga sessions under the trees, or participate in outdoor photography meetups. Meanwhile for sunset and evenings, the park’s urban-design piers are perfect for jogs or peaceful reading sessions beside water lilies and swan boats. This waterfront oasis blends city scenery with active lifestyle options in one compact, accessible space.
Chatuchak, Queen Sirikit & Vachirabenjatas Parks
The Chatuchak, Queen Sirikit and Vachirabenjatas Parks merge to form a contiguous green space ideal for diverse urban recreation in northern Bangkok. Queen Sirikit Park stands out for its formal rose gardens and koi ponds that contrast with Chatuchak’s sprawling jogging loops and weekend bicycle track. Meanwhile, Vachirabenjatas Park is known for its maze garden and shaded pavilions where locals practice group aerobics and morning stretches. Together you can cycle from one park to the next, stop to admire seasonal flower beds, rent paddleboats, or join a dance class under the trees. This trio offers a refreshing break from the city’s bustle with structured gardens, fitness options, and scenic ponds just steps from the BTS and the infamous Chatuchak Weekend Market (something you cannot miss if you are visiting Bangkok!)
Rommaninat & Saranrom Palace Parks
Situated side by side in Rattanakosin, these parks offer peaceful escapes amid historic architecture and royal ambiance. Saranrom is notable for its royal mango trees and quiet canals where you can sit on wooden pavilions, while Rommaninat includes a performance stage where classical Thai music often plays on weekends. Visitors can rent pedal boats on the small canal in Saranrom or join senior group exercises under centuries-old banyan trees. The green lawns and shaded walkways provide a historic backdrop as you wander near the Grand Palace and museum district. These parks feel inherently regal, blending leisurely activities with cultural moments in the heart of old Bangkok.
Benchasiri Park
One of the classic Bangkok parks, Benjasiri Park is famous for its public outdoor gym and basketball courts where groups congregate daily, set against a central pond populated by turtles and colorful koi fish. Extremely popular with locals for post-work exercise, the park also features a jogging track with regular dance and yoga classes in the morning and evening. Sculptures by Thai artists are spread throughout, turning it into an open-air gallery that guests stroll through. During daytime and on weekends, families picnic under mature shade trees while kids enjoy the playgrounds. Located next to a bustling shopping center, it provides both convenient access and a surprisingly serene natural retreat - just be aware the park may be very packed between 4-8pm on weekdays!