Bangkok's Old Town

(60 reviews)

This is a 2.5mi walking tour

It takes an average of 90 mins to complete.

Bangkok

Thailand

$6.99

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About the Tour

Snaking from the tourist ghetto of Khao San Road to one of the best views across the river, this route is a great way to see some of Bangkok's most important attractions and learn the history behind them. Done entirely within the boundaries of Rattanakosin - aka, the man-made island where Bangkok was first founded - you'll gain an appreciation for why Bangkok is such an intoxicating city, full of stories that are in turns inspiring, amusing, and heartbreaking.

We'll start on Khao San, one of the best people-watching spots in the world, and walk up the Paris-inspired Ratchadamnoen Avenue to learn how it's played a role in nearly every major political upheaval in modern Thai history. We'll pass the iconic Democracy Monument and Mahakan Fort on our way to the Giant Swing and two extremely important temples that helped give Bangkok its texture when it was founded. From there we'll stroll through some old-school back sois, through a serene little park with a tragic monument, and finish with a beer in hand looking across the river at one of Bangkok's oldest temples.

Along the way we will:

Learn the history behind the Democracy Monument, perhaps the most ironically named monument in Thailand
Hear what Bangkok is doing to tackle the yawning wealth gap and lack of social programs that prevent people getting help (hint: not much)
Discover the sad history of an historic village that was no match for Bangkok's expansion plans - while walking in a park where it used to stand
Get a grisly update on why a door you'll walk through is called the Ghost Gate
Pass by one of the only Michelin-starred street food restaurants in the world. Sorry, reservations must be made weeks in advance - you're on your own there
Gaze up at a monument that was used for deadly Brahmin rituals before being struck by lightning and nearly torn down several times
Visit the historic Wat Mahatat and Wat Ratchabophit, which are closely linked to Bangkok's founding and provide some fantastic photo opportunities
Stroll through a royal cemetery and its many monuments to some of Thailand's most cherished Kings and Queens, ancient and modern
Get the chance to test your photography skills by seeing if you can find the spot a photographer stood in 150 years ago to snap one of the oldest photos of Bangkok I've seen
Hear my view on why the Grand Palace and Wat Po are probably worth skipping - although you may vehemently disagree.

At the end of your walk you'll have a greater appreciation of where Bangkok came from and how it grew. As for where it's going? Not even the Thais know that.

Tour Producer

Greg Jorgensen

4 tours

Came to Thailand in 2001 on a short vacation. Forgot to go home. Now a married family man with no plans to leave. I love Bangkok in all its awful, exciting, grimy, gorgeous glory.

Preview Location

Location 10

Mahakan Fort Park

So you may not have realized it, but once you step through the gate in the white wall, you've officially passed into the untamed wilderness of outer Bangkok - or at least, you would have if you were taking this tour 200 years ago. Just behind the wall is Mahakan Fort Park, a n... So you may not have realized it, but once you step through the gate in the white wall, you've officially passed into the untamed wilderness of outer Bangkok - or at least, you would have if you were taking this tour 200 years ago. Just behind the wall is Mahakan Fort Park, a nice little bit of greenery amid the city chaos. Turn right and stroll through the park while I tell you about the interesting but sad history of this place.

As you may have guessed, the white octagonal building attached to the wall is Mahakan Fort, while the wall is a section of the original city fortifications that were built around Bangkok when it was established in 1782. Keep in mind that the only reason Bangkok was established in the first place was because the dreaded Burmese armies had completely destroyed the previous capital, Ayutthaya, so knowing that, the defenses were warranted. If you look at the VoiceMap app right now you'll be able to see two old photos of the street you just crossed with the wall and fort clearly visible, one taken in 1904 and one in 1920. Sadly, I couldn't find any photos from 1782.

The park, however, has an unfortunate history, and one we see all too often in modern Bangkok. You see, there used to be a village here that went back 300 years, even before Bangkok became the capital. As Bangkok modernized around it, the village held on and by the late 1970s there were still about 300 people living here in the same houses that generations before them had. But in 1978 the area was earmarked for a park and in 1992 the residents were ordered to leave. Protests ensued from historical groups and the residents alike, who even offered to build and manage a museum to teach people about the history of the area. But it was no use, and in 2018 the people were forced out and their homes were demolished. The park is lovely, I guess, but...it's nothing unique. One wonders if some pretty flowers and some well-kept grass were worth the historical loss.

Anyway, keep wandering through the park and I'll meet you at the exit gate on the far end. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Wat Ratchabophit
Saranrom Park
Wat Suthat Thep Wararam Ratchaworamahawihan
Khao San Road

Getting There

Route Overview

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Start location
Talat Yot, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Total distance

4km
Final location
47-49 Soi Tha Tian, Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
Distance back to start location

2km

Directions to Starting Point

Start: 20 Khaosan Rd, Bangkok

Start at the west end of Khao San Road, right outside the Chanasongkhram Police Station next to Wat Chanasongkhram.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Khao San Road, Democracy Monument, Mahakan Fort, Wat Ratchabophit, Wat Mahatat, Saranrom Park, Eagle Nest.

Best time of day

This tour is best started around 2-3pm and takes about 60-90 minutes, depending on how much you sightsee or take photos. If we time it right, we should finish on a rooftop bar just around sundown. You may do the route any time you like, but the bar/restaurant at the end opens at 4pm, and it's generally quite hot during midday hours.

Precautions

I CAN NOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH: If you're approached by anyone in this area, including pretty girls, handsome guys, monks, old men, students or taxi drivers, it's almost certain that they're trying to talk you into some type of scam. Common tactics include asking where you’re going, telling you anything is closed, or pretending to want to have a friendly chat. Smile, shake your head, and keep on walking. These people aren't dangerous in the least, they're just annoying as hell!

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