Bangkok is a fascinating city. It’s also famous for being dense, chaotic and hot — not the best conditions for running! You can’t just walk out the door and go for a run. In fact, running on the sidewalks is generally discouraged, since they’re crowded, bumpy, and filled with street vendors. But don’t despair – there are some good spots! The best places to go running in Bangkok are in a series of parks and green spaces. The most popular are Lumphini Park, Benchakitti Park, and Suan Luang Rama IX Park. A unique spot is Bang Kachao — an artificial island in the Chao Phraya River, which features a series of paths and roads that are great for running. If you’d like to have an in-person guided running experience in Bangkok, we highly recommend our friends at Go! Running Tours.
Video Tour of Bangkok Running Highlights
Runners should note that Bangkok is one of the hottest major cities in the world. The heat and humidity are stifling, and it never cools down, even at night. Between the heat and the traffic, we recommend going early. Bangkok is also infamous for its traffic, but public transportation has been improving — there’s the Skytrain and the MRT subway system. Nearly all of our running routes in Bangkok are accessible by public transport.
Three words describe Bangkok’s weather: hot, humid, and wet. Bangkok’s weather is tough for runners. Temps are uniformly hot year-round, with average highs in the low to mid 90s (32-34C), and nightly lows in the oppressive 70s (23-26C). In fact, the lowest temperature EVER recorded in Bangkok is 50F (10C). There is rain on at least 1/3 of days, with 2/3 of the annual total falling in the monsoon months of May-October. Don’t carry rain gear, just be prepared to get wet. And to beat the heat, best to go early.