Entertainment in Bangkok

Bangkok has the power to captivate visitors with its abundant attractions and a diverse range of entertainment that caters to all preferences. This city ensures that no one experiences a dull moment, be it day or night. The entertainment options in Bangkok can be broadly categorized into two types: those suitable for families with children and those exclusively designed for adults aged 18 and above. Among the adult entertainment, some parts of Bangkok have earned their infamous reputation for a reason.

Entertainment in Bangkok for All Ages

Bangkok's Big Wheel

The Ferris wheel, known as Asiatique SKY in Bangkok, is hailed as one of the largest ferris wheels in the world. This Thai Big Wheel stands tall at 60 meters and consists of an axle and 42 cabins. What sets it apart is its location, situated almost alongside the Chao Phraya River's embankment. Given its evening operating hours, a ride on this wheel offers a splendid opportunity to take in the illuminated skyline of Bangkok, making it perfect for capturing stunning photographs.

Operating Hours: Daily from 17:00 to 00:00.
Address: 2194 Charoenkrung Road, Wat Prayakrai District, Bangkok Laem.
How to Get There: Reach it by overland metro train to Saphan Taksin station.
Phone: +66 2 108 4488.
Standard Ticket Cost: 400 THB. Discounts of up to 50% are available for senior citizens, children, and the disabled. A VIP booth for five people is available for THB 2,500.
Buy Your Tickets online on the website.

Madame Tussauds Bangkok Museum

Since 2010, Bangkok has proudly been home to its very own Madame Tussauds museum. This branch of the world-renowned franchise boasts over 70 lifelike celebrity figures and continues to expand its collection each year.

The complete list of wax replicas of famous personalities can be found on the official website, along with options to pre-order tickets. Visitors are particularly excited about the first floor of the museum, where they can come face-to-face with the following celebrities:

Icons from the sports world like David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Serena Williams.

Present and past world leaders, including Mao Zedong, Barack Obama, Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, and Mahatma Gandhi.

Hollywood stars such as Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, and Bruce Lee.

Not to forget prominent public figures like Oprah Winfrey and Mother Teresa.

Visitors are welcome to touch, hug, and take photographs with these wax figures, except for members of Thailand's Royal Dynasty, which is a matter of great reverence for Thai citizens.

On the museum's second floor, you can explore a room showcasing the raw materials for creating wax figures and learn about the fascinating process behind their production.

Opening Hours: Daily from 10:00 to 20:00.
Address: Madame Tussauds, Siam Discovery Shopping Center (6th floor), 989 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330.
How to Get There: Accessible via city buses or the high-speed train from Suvarnabhumi Airport BTS Skytrain station.
Telephone: +66 2 658 0060.
Ticket Prices: 790 THB for children aged 3 to 11, 990 THB for adults and children aged 12 and above. Children under 3 years old enjoy free admission.
Purchase Tickets on the website.

Other Fun Things to Do in Bangkok

Explore these exciting places that offer outdoor activities suitable for both adults and children:

• Safari World

Experience a park filled with exotic mammals, birds, underwater creatures, and captivating themed shows featuring giraffes, gorillas, orangutans, elephants, and birds.

• Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World

Discover Bangkok's largest oceanarium, covering over 10,000 square meters and housing more than 30,000 marine inhabitants.

• Siam Park

Enjoy various entertainment areas, including thrilling rides for all ages, a small water park with pools and slides, and an observation deck offering stunning views of Bangkok.

• Dream World

Experience the Thai equivalent of Disneyland, sprawling across 60,000 square meters. It features Dream Square and Garden with numerous rides, a cable car, a scenic lake with boat rides, and a park showcasing replicas of world wonders. Additionally, you'll find Fantasyland with daily mini-carnivals featuring fairy-tale characters and a snow city inhabited by the real Santa Claus. Amusement Land offers a plethora of rides, carousels, and go-karting for endless fun.

• Kidzania in Bangkok

Explore the eleventh branch of these entertainment centers worldwide, representing a miniature city complete with a hospital, airport, parking lots, beauty salon, offices, apartment buildings, a small factory, cafes, stores, and snack bars. Children aged 4 to 14, under the supervision of animators, can immerse themselves in various adult roles within Kidzania. Adults are not allowed to interfere but can observe their children from the sidelines.

Additionally, a new zoo is under construction in the Thon Buri neighborhood of Bangkok, expected to be three times the size of Dusit.

Siam Niramit Show

Siam Niramit is a renowned theatrical performance in Bangkok that appeals to a wide audience, including traditionalists, as it does not include content related to sex minorities or transgender individuals.

The show takes place on one of the world's tallest stages, holding a Guinness World Record, and features a 2,000-seat auditorium specially built for this grand performance.

In this captivating hour and a half show, over 150 actors will change costumes more than five hundred times, and real animals such as goats, cows, chickens, cats, and more will be part of the action. The show unfolds in three acts without intermissions and provides guests with a journey through the history of the Kingdom of Thailand, beginning with the establishment of its ancient capital, Ayutthaya. It also delves into Thai religious beliefs and festivals.

Operating Hours: Daily from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Address: 19 Tiamruammit Road, HuayKwang, Bangkok 10320.
How to Get There: Take the underground subway to the Thailand Cultural Center stop.
Phone: +66 2 649 9222.
Ticket Prices range from THB 1,500 for a regular seat to THB 2,900 for a seat at a table with a spread of national dishes.
Buy tickets at the official website.

Nana Entertainment Plaza

Nana Plaza is a bustling hub of Bangkok's nightlife, primarily catering to single male visitors. It's less frequented by couples, and the majority of patrons are adult men seeking paid encounters.

Nana Entertainment Plaza houses over 40 bars under its roof, featuring striptease performances and go-go dancing that lasts until dawn. Located on the premises of the entertainment center, adjacent to each bar, are private rooms where guests can spend time with the entertainers. Ladyboys, including transvestites and drag queens, are also part of the scene.

To save on expenses during a visit to Nana Plaza, you can pre-book a hotel room in close proximity to the entertainment center.

Operating Hours: Daily from 10:00 to 20:00.
Address: 31 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok.
How to Get There: Take the subway to Nana Station.
Phone: +66 2 658 0060.
Admission is free.
Cost of an Hour with a Companion: Starts from 2000 THB. Additionally, there's a bar fine (600 THB) for taking a companion away from the bar, as well as a lady drink (from 120 THB) to treat the companion to a drink.
Price of a Drink: Starts from 150 THB.

Patpong Red Light District

Patpong has earned its reputation as Bangkok's red light district. It's not only a hub for sex tourism but also home to a bustling night market. The night market operates daily from 18:00 to 21:00, offering a wide range of shopping options, attracting visitors of all kinds.

Bars and clubs on Soi 2 and Soi 4 within the Patpong district have the most notorious reputation. Here, you can find companions to suit every preference and witness extravagant performances, including those featuring Ladyboys and provocative sex shows.

Address: Silom district, situated between Thanon Surawong and Silom streets.
How to Get There: Take the overground metro to Sala Daeng.
Cost of an Hour with a Companion: Starts from 1000 THB.
Entry: The entrance fee and one cocktail typically cost an average of 600 THB.

Soi Cowboy Quarter

Soi Cowboy Quarter, like Nana Plaza and Patpong, draws in hundreds, if not thousands, of single men seeking entertainment every night. Soi Cowboy may be just a hundred meters long, but it's lined with four dozen bars featuring go-go girls and strippers. Thai girls and Ladyboys eagerly invite visitors inside, providing lively entertainment with candid dancing.

Operating Hours: Daily from 21:00.
Address: The alley situated between Sukhumvit Soi 21 and Soi 23.
How to Get There: Take the overground or underground metro to Sukhumvit station.
Cost of an Hour with a Companion: Starts from 2000 THB. Additionally, guests may need to pay a bar fine (from 700 THB), a fee for taking the companion away from the bar, and a lady-drink (from 110 THB) to treat the companion to a drink.
Price of a Drink: Starts from 150 THB.

All of the mentioned attractions, whether for families or solo adventurers, are available as tours from other resorts in Thailand, such as Pattaya.

Nightlife in Bangkok

A report from Bangkok on the city's nightlife from the Expats series.