In this day and age, the wanderlust is strong, especially amongst youth who want to get out and experience the world before they grow old.

It can be easy to be swept away by the glitz and glamour of travelling portrayed by influencers and your friends on social media but sometimes, our budgets aren’t very supportive in funding our travels.

However, fret not as there are many gorgeous places to check out that won’t hurt your wallet and one of them is Bangkok. While Bangkok is already known for its cheap shopping, food and massages, this bustling city has a number of free things to see and do that’ll help you cut costs yet enjoy yourself at the same time.

BANGKOK BUTTERFLY GARDEN & INSECTARIUM 

If you’re not afraid of little critters and creepy crawlies, you can check out Bangkok’s very own Butterfly Garden and Insectarium to admire some gorgeous butterflies. The lofty enclosure is home to a few species of butterflies which flutter around the various rockeries, flowers and shady ferns. We are surprised that entry for this place is free!

Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road
Lat Yao, Khet Chatuchak
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10900, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 272 4359
Tue to Sun: 8.30am – 4.30pm

Photo Credit: ambshencho

EXPLORE PAK KHLONG TALAT FLOWER MARKET 

Skip the night markets and check out Bangkok’s famous flower market instead. If you love flowers or colourful sights, this is the perfect place to admire the spectacle of colours and to snap some pretty shots for the gram. Here, you also can witness both locals and tourists purchasing gorgeous, fresh flowers for whatever purpose.

Chak Phet Road, near the Memorial Bridge or Saphan Phut Chao Phraya pier
Daily: 24-hours

Photo Credit: ashleahalpern

GO MUSEUM HOPPING 

Bangkok’s history and culture are incredibly rich and the best places to learn all about them are museums. While many of such museums charge for entry, some of them happen to be free. We recommend dropping by the Silpa Bhirasri Memorial and Museum and the Bangkokian Museum.

Bangkokian Museum
273 Saphan Yao Alley
Khwaeng Si Phraya, Khet Bang Rak
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10500, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 233 7027
Tue to Sun: 9am – 4pm
(Closed on Mondays)

Silpa Bhirasri Memorial and Museum
Na Phrathat Road
Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand
Phra Nakhon
10200 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 223 6162
Mon to Fri: 8am – 5pm
(Closed on Saturdays & Sundays)

Photo Credit: travellers_are_travelling 

HAVE AN ADVENTURE AT KO KRET ISLAND 

Don’t just limit yourself to the city area; located just a little out of Bangkok is Ko Kret, an artificial island that that is packed full of Thai crafts, culture and food. The area also has plenty of local temples such as Wat Phat Lorn and Wat Salakun for you to visit to soak in the culture. You can reach the island via taxi, driving or a riverboat so it is easily accessible.

Photo Credit: combatgotv

MBK FIGHT NIGHT 

For a more exhilarating activity, you can head on down to MBK mall on a Wednesday night to check out MBK Fight Night. A ring will be set up outside Tokyu Department Store next to National Stadium BTS and there, people can watch and experience a live Muay Thai Fight. Best of all, it’s free!

444 Phayathai Road
Khwaeng Wang Mai, Khet Pathum Wan
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Daily: 10am – 10pm

RELAX AT CHATUCHAK PARK 

Walk off the food coma after feasting on street food by taking a stroll in Chatuchak Park. This scenic spot is full of lush greenery and it is one of the oldest parks in Bangkok. The place is also well-connected to Chatuchak MRT Station and Mo Chit BTS station, making it a convenient pitstop for a nice walk

Kamphaeng Phet Road
Khet Chatuchak
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10900, Thailand
Daily: 4.30am – 9pm

WANDER AROUND YAOWARAT STREET AT NIGHT 

The streets of Yaowarat, Bangkok’s Chinatown, are filled with a plethora of things to eat see and do. We recommend coming here during the evening or at night as that’s when the place comes alive with people, street vendors and lights.

Photo Credit: si_rina

VISIT ERAWAN SHRINE 

Bangkok is a city that is full of shrines but the most popular one out of the lot is Erawan Shrine. It was built back in 1956 by Erewan Hotel to counter the bad karma of laying the foundations of the hotel on the wrong date. Located conveniently near Phrom Phong BTS, throngs of tourists and locals alike flood the place to pray and admire the gorgeous shrine. Traditional Thai dance troupes often perform here as well.

Photo Credit: yoroom 

GO TEMPLE HOPPING 

Bangkok is home to a plethora of gorgeous temples and worship sites and many of them have free entry. Visit these temples to understand Thai history and culture better as well as admire the breathtaking handiwork and architecture. Some recommended temples to visit are Mangkorn Kamalawat, Wat Indharaviharn and Wat Patum Wanaran.

Wat Mangkorn Kamalawat
423 Charoen Krung Road
Khwaeng Pom Prap
Khet Pom Prap Sattru Phai
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 222 3975

Wat Indharaviharn
144 Khet Phra Nakhon
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 282 3173
Daily: 6am – 6pm

Wat Patum Wanaran 
969 Rama I Road
Khwaeng Pathum Wan
Khet Pathum Wan
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 251 6469

VINTAGE WINDOW SHOPPING AT CAMP VINTAGE FLEA MARKET 

If you want to pop some tags but you only have 20 dollars in your pocket, you can head on over to Camp Vintage Flea Market to go thrift shopping. Not only is this place a vintage paradise, but it is also a very artsy spot to snap some great photos for the gram. In addition, we love how they decorate the place with repurposed planes and other air crafts to go with the vintage theme.

The Camp Vintage Flea Market
482 Kamphaeng Phet Soi 1, Bangkok, Thailand
Tue to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 11am – 11.45pm