Bangkok amusement parks
Bangkok has nearly ten million people to entertain and offers something for everyone. It is the only major city in Thailand and has the lion’s share of family attractions. There are two main amusement parks in Bangkok which are popular among Thai families and although not strictly on the tourist map, they can be worth seeking out.
A visit to one of the Bangkok amusement parks is a fun way to break up the constant walking and sightseeing of a Bangkok holiday as well as a sure - fire way to keep the kids entertained if they start getting bored with temples and culture. Day trips to Bangkok amusement parks can be arranged easily from hotels or taken independently by taxi or city bus routes. While many outdated guidebooks still list Magic Land ; Bangkok ’s first amusement park, this is now closed.
The Ancient City
More like an outdoor museum, the Ancient City is an intriguing and fascinating park where most of Thailand’s important monuments (including some that are no longer standing) have been re-created in scaled down versions. But these aren’t miniature temples and shrines we’re talking about here, these are still sizeable buildings in their own right.
Because of the scale of the place and the number of attractions inside, there are somewhere in the region of 109 points of interest, you can hire a bicycle to get around the park more easily. So on a fine day, this makes for a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
You can read more about the Ancient City in our special section here.
Dreamworld
This is Bangkok ’s largest amusement park and the one that most resembles an American-style theme park. Dreamworld features all the amusement park standards including roller coasters, a haunted mansion, bumper cars, and the Viking swing boat. The park is divided into different ‘lands’, each with a different theme, for example Fantasy Land features classic Western fairy tales brought to life with Sleeping Beauty’s castle, Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage and a beanstalk leading to a giant’s house.
One feature that gives Dreamworld a fun novelty appeal among Bangkok amusement parks is its chilly winter-themed ‘ Snow Land ’, which has a massive field of snow and allows you and your kids the unique opportunity of building a snowman in a tropical country. A daily parade and a Hollywood action show also factor into the day’s events.
Many hotels will offer a package that includes transportation to Dreamworld and this is likely your best option as it is located on the outskirts of Bangkok and may be difficult to get to especially with kids. You can also take a taxi to Future Park Rangsit, then proceed seven minutes along Nakhomnayok Road . The park is open daily between 10am-5pm , and on holidays until 7pm. Children under 90 centimetres are admitted free, though taller people will have to pay 450 baht.
Siam Water Park (Suan Siam)
The heat of Bangkok makes Suan Siam , as its known locally, a very popular place among locals. When the hot season is at its torching hottest this place is filled with families from Bangkok and surrounding areas looking to cool off. Families looking to escape the heat of Bangkok for a day will do well to visit this fun, inexpensive amusement park.
Relatively small in size, the park features a giant pool complete with artificial surf, whirlpools, fountains and waterfalls. Tall waterslides are also a popular choice. Aside from the water park itself, Suan Siam also has some fun amusement park rides such as a basic roller coaster and a rolling giant-pinwheel ride that is great fun as well.
Suan Siam is open daily from 10am-6pm and the standard cost is 400/300 baht for foreign adults/children and 200/100 for Thai adults and children. The park is located on the outskirts of Bangkok in the Minburi district of Bangkok and as such is best reached by taxi or through a tour.
Safari World
The Thais are natural entertainers and have done very well to recreate an African animal theme park in the middle of Asia , complete with lions, zebra, giraffe, ostriches and plenty of other fun and colourful creatures from all over the world. If you are visiting Bangkok with the kids you won’t be disappointed with this one and it adds a nice to surprise you an ordinary itinerary of beach loafing and elephant riding.
The park is split into several sections, which include the safari park (by enclosed vehicle only) – which has an 8km ‘game drive’; various water attractions such as the Marine Park, Sealion show and Dolphin pool – always perennial favourites with the kids; the spooky jungle cruise; the colourful Bird show and the hilarious Orangutan Boxing show. The animals are, on the whole, treated well and the park has great facilities for eating, with two restaurants and two fast food outlets, or simply wandering among some of the caged animals.
The park is open every day from 09:00 to 17:00 , with ample parking for over 2000 vehicles. The park is located at 99 Ramindra 1 Rd, Minburi – east of Bangkok. For more information on Safariworld call (662)9144100.
Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm
Another fun day out for wildlife fans is the Samut Prakan Crocodile farm. With over 60,000 crocodiles on the premises, those who like their large carnivorous reptiles will be well served! There is also the largest crocodile currently in captivity, the 6m long monster croc known as ‘Yai’ which, unsurprisingly, means ‘Big’ in Thai.
There are other animals in the zoo as well as the crocodiles, so you can admire the snakes, monkeys and elephants too. There are other activities which go on during the day at the zoo, including an elephant show and a crocodile wrestling show.
The zoo costs 300 Baht for tourists to enter and is open from 7am until 6pm.
