With the recent opening of Benjakatii forest park, an extension of Benjakitti park, we’ve never been more spoilt for choice of beautiful green spaces to reconnect with nature and get a break from the traffic and some much-needed fresh air.
Here are our top picks for the best green spaces in Bangkok:
Benjakitti Park
Benjakitti Park has long been one of our favourite parks in Bangkok to visit for a morning jog. Right in the middle of the city next to Asok BTS, Benjakitti has running and walking track (just under a 2km loop) with a large lake at the centre which is full of terrapins and dragons (a.k.a monitor lizards).
Benjakitti Forest Park
Benjakittti forest park is the new extension to Benjakitti park (making the whole green space almost 300 rai!). But this park is unique compared to other parks in Bangkok, in that it’s designed to give rise to a biological community that depends on an intricate network of water channels, which in turn is crucial to the growth of trees and shrubbery and habitats for many animal species. Think swamps, sky walks, and ponds. The park has also been designed to help prevent climate change-related flooding in the future!
Photo Credit: Time Out
There is also a indoor/outdoor building which will soon be opened as a sport centre and museum.
Photo Credit: Richard Barrow
Benjakitti Forest Park is an excellent spot for cycling and jogging, picnics and generally just exploring the flora and fauna!
Photo Credit: Time Out
Lumphini Park
Lumphini park is one of Bangkok’s most visited parks, where you will spot a lot of friendly and healthy resident cats and lots of dragons (a.k.a monitor lizards)! These guys are the main reason we personally visit Lumphini park! Connected to Benjakitti and Benjakitti forest park by Bangkok’s green walk (2km from park to park), Lumphini park has a 2.5km running/cycling loop as well as a lake and lots of perfect picnic spots.
Photo Credit: Cat Lumpini แมวสวนลุม Facebook Page
Lumphini park also has its very own sports club which includes a gym and swimming pool. Yearly membership is a mere 40 baht!
Benchasiri Park
Benchasiri Park is one of Bangkok’s smaller parks and is great for a short walk, picnic or quick breath of fresh air. Centrally located next to Emporium, Emquartier and Phrom Phong BTS, Benchasiri park has a short running track, a skate park, tennis courts, a basketball hoop and an outdoor gym.
Photo Credit: Thailand Magazine
Another great reason to visit Benchasiri park is the furry, feline groundskeepers. We tend to spend most of our time interacting with the well looked after residents, who usually give us a nice tour of the park.
Benechasiri also has a newly installed zero-waste park near the south entrance, where recycling is sorted and utilised, compost is made and food is growing! Throughout the park you will spot newly installed recycling bins.
CU Centenary Park
(Pet-friendly)
CU Centenary Park is an environemtnally designed multi-purpose public park that can hold one million gallons of water during severe floods! Designed by Thai landscape architect Kotchakorn Voraakhom, CU Centenary park collects and cleans water with a specially designed construct wetland with a rain garden, retention pond and underground water drainage system.
Photo Credit: CU Centenary Park
Although this park is not quite big enough for a good running loop, this is the perfect spot for a picnic, walk or if you’re looking for a pet-friendly green space to take your furry friends!
Photo Credit: CU Centenary Park
Nong Bon Lake Park
(Pet-friendly)
Nong Bon Park is one of the biggest pet-friendly parks in Bangkok. Although not as central as other parks, Nong Bon park boasts a 4km running and cycling loop and also has an outdoor gym area and water sports all surrounding an expansive lake right at the centre! This is the perfect spot for dog walk, jog, cycle or picnic!
Photo Credit: Thai Spicy.co
Photo Credit: Richard Barrow
King Rama 9 Park
Right next door to Nong Bon Lake Park is King Rama 9 park. This park is more of a botanical garden than a park and is much more pruned and groomed than Nong Bon park. Featuring intricate pavilions, ornaments and buildings as well as a large greenhouse all surrounding a lake, this is another great green space to wander round and breathe in the beauty of nature!
Photo Credit: Hotels.com
Queen Sirikit Park
Queen Sirikit park is a beautiful botanical garden situated right next to Chatuchak and within walking distance of the BTS/MRT. Think manicured gardens, sculptured flower beds, fountains and lotus ponds. This is the perfect spot for nature watching, an easy stroll and a picnic!
Photo Credit: Tripadvisor
Bonus Mention! Bang Kachao Green Lungs
Although Bang Kachao isn’t exacly a park (but there is a park right in the centre) this ‘island’ in the centre of Bangkok, is an amazing place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and reconnect with nature! Hire a bicycle at the river and cycle through the winding, palm tree-laced roads or explore the raised pathways through the forest!
