Bangkok can be wonderful with children if heat and traffic are respected. Choose one temple or museum, then make the rest of the day gentle.
Parent tip: Check heat, water safety, boat boarding, food allergies and current transport routes.
Read our Bangkok family guide: areas, where to stay and tips
A compact indoor animal option can be especially useful for younger families or hot-weather periods.
Interactive cultural interpretation gives families a more participatory way to explore Thai identity and history.
An interactive children's museum beside Queen Sirikit Park near Chatuchak, with hands-on science and play exhibits such as giant bubbles and a dinosaur dig area. Best suited to younger children and an easy pairing with the park.
Bangkok's former royal palace complex by the Chao Phraya River, home to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and glittering gilded buildings. Shoulders and knees must be covered, and it is mostly outdoors, so go early before the heat and crowds build.
A large temple complex just south of the Grand Palace, famous for its huge gold reclining Buddha and courtyards full of colourful chedis. It is calmer than the palace and easy to combine with it on the same morning.
Bangkok's river buses run up the Chao Phraya past temples, palaces and riverside houses. Board at Sathorn pier beside Saphan Taksin BTS and ride north to Tha Tien for Wat Pho and the little ferry across to Wat Arun.
An amusement and water park in eastern Bangkok with rides for different ages and a large wave pool. Plan it as a full day out, with sun protection and swimwear packed.
A huge open-air weekend market in north Bangkok with thousands of stalls selling food, crafts, clothes and pets. It gets hot and crowded, so go early, agree on a meeting point and keep younger children close.
A contemporary art centre near Siam and National Stadium BTS, with changing exhibitions arranged around a spiral ramp. An air-conditioned stop that older children can browse at their own pace between shopping-area visits.
A large green park in central Bangkok with a lake, shaded paths and open lawns. It suits a slower morning or a break between busier stops, and monitor lizards are often spotted near the water.