Bangkok is often described as busy and fast-moving, but families who live here know that the city is also full of beautiful, free, family-friendly spaces perfect for children of all ages. Whether you’re raising kids in the city or visiting Bangkok as a family, you’ll find peaceful parks, creative playgrounds, interactive outdoor museums, free cultural zones, nature trails, and riverside walks — many of which cost absolutely nothing.
Being that my husband and I have little ones, we yearn for free family activities in Bangkok. After years of exploring Bangkok’s child-friendly spaces, parks, and weekend walking streets, I’ve put together this insider guide to the best free activities for families in Bangkok. These spots are perfect for relaxed weekends, after-school adventures, or slow-paced full-day outings that help kids connect with nature, culture, and local community life.
Suan Rot Fai (Train Park) – Playgrounds, Bikes & Butterflies
Located near Chatuchak, Suan Rot Fai, also known as the Train Park, is my families’ favourite places to stretch our legs. It has so many free family activities. The colourful playground sits among wide lawns and shaded trees, creating a calm, car-free space where children can run freely. We love spending time biking along the smooth pathways, crossing small bridges over the lakes, and exploring the Butterfly Garden and Insectarium.
Our kids especially enjoy the open grassy fields where they can play, ride scooters, or simply lie on the ground to watch clouds pass overhead. It’s a relaxed, local gathering place where Bangkok families spend long, easy days. The best way to enjoy Suan Rot Fai is to bring a picnic blanket and let the kids eat, explore, and roam freely under the trees.
Benjakitti Forest Park – Skywalk Views & Wetlands
Benjakitti Forest Park is one of Bangkok’s newest urban nature highlights, and the elevated skywalk alone makes it a must-visit for families. The long, safe, elevated walkway winds above wetlands, ponds, and shaded forest sections, giving children an exciting new perspective of the park. As families walk along the skywalk, our kids love spotting fish, turtles, and birds in the water below.
The park is extremely stroller-friendly, with wide paths, gentle slopes, and plenty of shaded resting points. Benjakitti is especially beautiful at sunset, when the sky turns pastel and the city skyline reflects across the water, creating a peaceful environment for an evening family stroll.
Queen Sirikit Park — Gardens & Nature Trails
If you’re looking for a quieter alternative to Suan Rot Fai, Queen Sirikit Park offers a calm, shady landscape perfect for families who love gardens and nature walks. The park has wide, stroller-friendly paths that curve around ponds filled with fish, frogs, and lotus flowers. The kids enjoy looking for butterflies, insects, and tiny garden creatures that appear along the trails.
The lotus ponds in the center of the park provide one of the most peaceful walks in Bangkok, and the entire area feels slower and more meditative than the neighboring parks. It’s ideal for very young children or families who enjoy slow nature exploration. And during holiday seasons, there is live music in the park in the evening.
Children’s Discovery Museum (Free Outdoor Zones)
Located near Chatuchak Park, the Children’s Discovery Museum is a favorite among families because the entire outdoor area is completely free. Kids can spend hours in the splash park, digging in the sand pits, climbing on large play structures, or exploring sensory areas designed to support early childhood development through hands-on play.
We appreciate that the outdoor zones are safe and creatively designed, encouraging children to problem-solve, climb, get messy, and explore textures and movement. Because the splash park is such a highlight, it’s a good idea to bring along a change of clothes for your little ones.
Khlong Ong Ang Walking Street (Weekends)
On weekends, Khlong Ong Ang comes alive as a family-friendly walking street filled with music, skating, art, and canal-side activities. Instead of cars, the entire walkway fills with families strolling together, children roller-skating or scootering, and local artists offering face painting or small craft activities. Oh, there are so many things to eat like mango sticky rice and icecream burritos. Our fave is an Indian restaurant, Zafran.
As the sun sets, the murals and bridges along Ong Ang light up, transforming the canal into a vibrant nighttime playground. Visiting between 6 and 8 PM is perfect, as the temperature drops and the area becomes lively but still child-friendly.
SookSiam at ICONSIAM — Indoor Cultural Village
Although ICONSIAM is known as a luxury mall, its SookSiam zone feels more like a cultural theme village. Families can explore indoor rivers, Thai regional zones, folk art displays, and occasional free performances — all beautifully decorated and air-conditioned, making it perfect for hot afternoons.
Children enjoy wandering through the themed zones and looking at colorful decorations, traditional crafts, and live demonstrations. You can even ride the free shuttle boat to get there, which becomes a fun mini-adventure for kids.
Benjasiri Park — Playgrounds & Skating Area
Benjasiri Park, next to Emporium, is a compact but incredibly family-friendly green space. It has two shaded playgrounds, a tree-lined walking loop, ponds filled with fish, and a popular skating and scooter area where kids can safely ride and practice new skills.
Families visiting after school or early in the evening always find plenty of shade and open grassy spots perfect for quick outdoor playtime.
Wat Saket Grounds (Golden Mount Lower Level)
While the Golden Mount itself requires a ticket to climb, the entire lower grounds of Wat Saket are completely free and surprisingly fun for children. Families can wander wide shaded pathways, climb gentle steps, and explore small shrines, bells, animal statues, and breezy open areas. It’s a safe and calm introduction to Thai culture for children without overwhelming them with crowds or long staircases.
A small treat awaits outside: coconut ice cream from nearby stalls is a favorite stop for families.
Bang Kachao (Free Nature Trails)
Often called Bangkok’s “green lung,” Bang Kachao offers a peaceful outdoor escape with shaded trails, wooden bridges, canals, and wildlife. Children love spotting butterflies, watching fish swim through the canals, and wandering across the long wooden walkways.
One of the most family-friendly areas inside Bang Kachao is Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park, which is full of shaded forest trails, bird observation platforms, and calm lakes where families can relax or take slow nature walks.
Bonus Free Family Activities
- Airport Rail Link Walkways (Indoors, AC) Fun for children who love trains and modern architecture.
- Mega Bangna Indoor Walkways Huge space, cool air, and great for strollers.
- Community Playgrounds in Ari & Phahonyothin Small, colorful, and perfect for quick outings.
- Dusit Zoo Lake Walkway (Outside Grounds) The zoo has closed, but the surrounding area still makes a nice walk.
- Free Dancing Fountains at One Bangkok. Kids love the color-changing water patterns.
Final Local Advice
The city is wonderful for things to do in Bangkok with family when you know where to go. The key to enjoying free activities with children is to visit parks in the early morning or late afternoon, lean toward shaded or indoor spaces during the midday heat, and always carry water, hats, and a small towel. Move slowly, follow your child’s curiosity, and enjoy discovering the little surprises that make Bangkok such an exciting place for young explorers.
With the places in this guide, you can plan weeks of free, meaningful, family-friendly adventures across Bangkok–all without spending a baht.
