The Activities Thailand To Do and Not To Forget

Looking to try out some of the famously fun activities Thailand during your next visit? Then you’ve come to the right place.

This section of Event Guide Thailand details all the best things to do in the way of shopping, travel, culture, art exhibitions, shows and more. If you are looking to discover individual sporting or music events, head over to those separate sections using the tabs above.

Tours and day trip activities Thailand

When it comes to discovering Thailand’s many world-famous attractions and destinations, you really have two main options: Either go it alone, or book a tour. While traveling from place to place on your own steam is certainly rewarding, many visitors love the convenience of booking a package – whether it is a guided tour around a temple for a few hours, or a whole day’s excursion to an island, historical city or floating market. Typically you’ll pay a cheap price which will include return travel, a guide and often food and drinks. For those in Bangkok, some activities we highly recommend would be visiting a temple (such as Wat Pho or the Grand Palace), taking an evening river cruise, learning some new skills in the kitchen at a Thai cooking course, or catching a live cultural show.

The are some great day-trip destinations just a few hours outside Bangkok, which again can be booked as part of a tour. The famous Bridge over the River Kwai is a must-see, while the ancient capital of Ayutthaya and it many crumbling temples is highly recommended too.

Shopping activities Thailand

Another activity in Thailand that is so popular it’s almost a sport is shopping! The capital, Bangkok, has dozens of shiny malls (most of which are located around Siam) and these can be visited any day of the week. However, for a more memorable shopping experience, a look round a pop-up market should definitely be penciled into your holiday itinerary. Our favorite has to be the huge Artbox, a monthly market that moves to different locations around the city centre. What stays the same here, though, is the cool fashion on sale, as well as the many food vendors, bars and live music creating a warm and friendly vibe. Similarly, The Knack Market, held over the last weekend of each month near Khlong San, is a firm favorite for hipster shoppers. Think vintage clothes, retro homeware, art, handicrafts and locally produced food and drink.

Cultural activities Thailand

Okay, so Thailand is not exactly famous for its art galleries, museums, and theaters – certainly not compared to the likes of Paris, London and New York. But look hard enough and you’ll quickly discover lots going on, particularly in Bangkok.

Our top place to go for a culture fix in the capital is the excellent (and underrated) Bangkok Art & Culture Centre, located opposite MBK at National Stadium MRT Station. The huge venue hosts regular exhibitions from leading local and international artists, as well as special film screenings, literature festivals and musical performances. Elsewhere, it’s also worth looking out for exhibitions at some of Bangkok’s creative universities, such as the Bangkok University Gallery and Chulalongkorn Art Centre.

Shows and performances in Thailand

At night, there are plenty of things to do in Thailand – besides hitting a bar or club. Siam Niramit (next to Thailand Cultural Center) is a 70-minute showcase of Thai culture, including traditional dances, singing, and historical battle scenes. For something a little more eye-popping, the famous Playhouse Ladyboy Cabaret is also worth seeing (don’t worry, it’s family-friendly unlike some other shows of the same genre found in the city)…

There are also similar versions of this musical and dance spectacular in Pattaya, such as Tiffany’s Show and Alcazar, while Phuket boasts the most famous one of all: Simon Cabaret.