In a nutshell
- A guided tour is one of our favorite activities in Bangkok. It lets you discover the city from a completely different angle — your guide will show you places you’d never find on your own.
- One of the most popular Bangkok tours is the small-group guided tour to the top highlights. It’s available in English, your guide handles everything, and it covers all the big sights in one day.
- In this article, we walk you through the 9 coolest Bangkok city tours — from street food crawls to canal boat rides — so you can pick the one that fits your style.
- Want something more out of the ordinary? Don’t miss the bike tour through hidden Bangkok or the khlong tour through Bangkok’s canals — both are seriously special.
Classic Bangkok City Tour
What to expect: If it’s your first time in Bangkok, the classic highlights are an absolute must: the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, the Reclining Buddha, and the Emerald Buddha. You can tick off all these must-sees in a single day on a guided tour. With a private guide, you can tailor the itinerary to your preferences, and the group tour is even available in German.
Who is this tour for? This tour is perfect if you want to see the top sights in Bangkok in one day without having to worry about a thing. Your guide handles all the entrance tickets and gives you fascinating background on each stop. The private tour is the most convenient option — your guide will even pick you up at your Bangkok hotel.
Our tour recommendations:
Group city tour in English or German
Customized & Private Bangkok City Tour
What to expect: On this customized tour, you book a guide who puts together a program tailored specifically to you. That means you can also explore the more hidden corners of Bangkok. Want to discover local markets like the Rod Fai Market, or find the best vantage points for photography? No problem — just tell your guide and they’ll take you there.
Who is this tour for? This Bangkok guided tour is great for anyone who’s already checked off the typical sights, but also for independent travelers who still appreciate the help of a knowledgeable local. Since you decide where to go, you get maximum flexibility. And even during the best time to visit Thailand, you can find spots that are completely free of crowds this way.
Customized & private city tour of Bangkok
We’ve put all the top sights and insider tips together in two dedicated articles for your inspiration:
Food Tour in Bangkok
What to expect: One of the best things about Thailand is the food — and the best way to experience it is on a food tour in Bangkok. The street food capital of the city is Chinatown, where Thai cuisine meets Chinese influences. It’s nothing like the Chinese restaurants back home. On the guided tour, you’ll try specialties like crab dumplings and satay skewers.
Who is this tour for? Anyone who wants to discover the culinary side of Thailand. It really is some of the best food in all of Asia. A guide will show you the best spots you’d never have found — or dared to try — on your own. And no Thai island comes close to Bangkok when it comes to great food. Only Chiang Mai can even hold a candle to it.
Popular street food tour in Bangkok’s Chinatown
Bangkok Bike Tour
What to expect: On the bike tour, you’ll discover hidden Bangkok on the other side of the river. You’ll explore authentic neighborhoods, a temple and monk school, and sample delicious Thai dishes along the way — it’s basically a combo bike-and-food tour. Honestly, this is a side of the city you simply won’t experience on any other Bangkok tour.
Who is this tour for? We can wholeheartedly recommend a bike tour through Bangkok to everyone — as long as you enjoy cycling. The mountain bikes are in great shape, there are no hills, and you rarely ride for more than ten to fifteen minutes at a stretch. We absolutely loved it!
Bike and food tour in hidden Bangkok
Bangkok Tuk Tuk Tour
What to expect: An evening tuk tuk tour in Bangkok combines pretty much everything you should do in the city. You’re not just riding around aimlessly — you actually visit some seriously cool spots. You’ll cruise past beautifully lit temples, stroll through the best night markets like the flower market, and sample delicious food along the way.
Who is this tour for? For everyone who doesn’t want to — or can’t — do a lot of walking, but still wants to experience a truly special activity in Bangkok: namely, riding a tuk tuk. It’s also perfect for anyone who wants to discover Bangkok at night with a local insider.
Boat Tour on the River in Bangkok
What to expect: On a boat tour in Bangkok, you get to discover the city from a completely different perspective. During the day, you can pick up a day pass for a hop-on hop-off boat, or take the public ferries across the river. In the evening, treat yourself to a romantic dinner cruise.
Who is this tour for? A boat tour is a must-do in our book — one of the coolest Bangkok city tours, full stop. You can sit back, relax, and just let Thailand’s capital wash over you. From the water, you get a breathtaking view of Wat Arun that you really can’t get anywhere else.
Our tour recommendations:
Unlimited day pass for the hop-on hop-off boat
Romantic evening boat tour with dinner and free beer
More boat tours in Bangkok right here:
Khlong Tour Through Bangkok's Canals
What to expect: Khlongs are the canals that wind through Bangkok away from the main river. On a khlong tour, you discover the city from a truly authentic angle — passing traditional wooden houses and the Big Buddha. Depending on the tour, you’ll also visit a local community in an artist’s house or a floating market.
Who is this tour for? A khlong tour is perfect if you’ve already seen all the major sights in Bangkok, or if you’re the kind of traveler who loves exploring cities well off the tourist trail.
Our tour recommendations:
Khlong tour through Bangkok with artist’s house
Khlong tour through Bangkok with floating market
Hop-on/Hop-off Bangkok
What to expect: The hop-on/hop-off bus in Bangkok connects all the major highlights — including areas outside the historic center. There are 15 stops in total where you can get off, explore a sight, and then hop back on for the next one. Tickets are available for 24, 48, or 72 hours.
Who is this tour for? Honestly, we’d only recommend the hop-on/hop-off in Bangkok if you really aren’t up for much walking, or if you just want to see the sights from the outside. You don’t have to get off at every stop — you can just stay seated and enjoy the ride. That said, if you ask us, there are far cooler ways to explore Bangkok.
Ticket for the hop-on/hop-off bus Bangkok
Pub Crawl in Bangkok
What to expect: On a pub crawl, you’ll discover Bangkok’s exciting nightlife with a guide and a small group of usually pretty open and outgoing travelers from around the world. Your guide will take you to cool rooftop bars, clubs, and Soi Cowboy — Bangkok’s famous red-light district — among other spots.
Who is this tour for? A pub crawl is perfect for solo travelers and groups of friends who want to experience Bangkok’s nightlife! Your guide knows the coolest spots and the best cocktails, and you’ll meet other great travelers on your Thailand road trip. With a tour like this, you’ll never end up wandering aimlessly from bar to bar.
Awesome pub crawl around Sukhumvit Road
Tips and Frequently Asked Questions About Bangkok Tours
How much does a private guide in Bangkok cost?
A private guide for a Bangkok city tour starts at around 85 euros. That’s the price of the customized private city tour of Bangkok we recommend here.
What's the best way to explore Bangkok?
Our absolute favorite way to get around Bangkok is on foot — we just jump in a taxi or a tuk-tuk to cover the bigger distances between neighborhoods.
That said, exploring by tuk-tuk, bicycle, or boat is seriously fun too, and definitely a faster way to cover more ground.
What should you keep in mind when booking Bangkok tours?
Bangkok tours are a dime a dozen. All the tours we recommend can be booked through GetYourGuide, where you’ll also find many more Bangkok guided tours. Booking is done online and is completely secure.
Your guide will usually pick you up at your hotel or arrange a meeting point with you.
Some tours are private — just you and your travel companions. On a public tour, like the bike tour we recommend, you’ll be joined by other participants.
When booking, pay attention to the maximum group size. Nobody wants to wander through Bangkok in a group of 40 people.
If the tour language matters to you, check whether it’s offered in English before you book.
If your tour includes a temple or the Royal Palace, make sure to wear appropriate clothing. Dress codes at the Royal Palace are particularly strict — long pants, covered shoulders, and closed-toe shoes are required.
