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15 Best Things to Do with Family in Thailand

15 Best Things to Do with Family in Thailand

| Last Updated: September 2023

Thailand is a trendy tourist spot globally, and it’s not hard to see why. The tropical island boasts some of the best attractions in the world and families planning to go on vacation here will certainly experience some memorable activities!

Families travelling with children can do various activities in Thailand- from relaxing tours to more adventurous itineraries. In fact, a trip to the island can offer travellers the chance to meet elephants, play golf, and learn how to cook.

There’s literally a treasure trove of things to do on this tropical island, so let’s go ahead and look at some of the best things to do in Thailand with family.

Go on a family adventure in Wachirabenchathat Park

Address:  Kamphaeng Phet 3 Rd, Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Contact details:  +66 2 537 9221
Operating hours: 

  • 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM, Monday to Sunday
  • Butterfly Garden closed on Mondays for maintenance

Price: 

  • Bicycle Rental: 40 THB per hour
  • Paddleboat Rental: 60 THB per hour

Wachirabenchathat Park, also known as the Railway and Suan Rot Fai Park, features a three-kilometre trail looping around the area–perfect for cycling! You don’t even have to worry about bringing your own bikes, as you can rent some right in the park.

You can then spend the afternoon visiting the park’s other kid-friendly sites, such as the butterfly garden and insectarium, which are great ways to entertain curious minds. 

For a lazy afternoon at the park, you can go on a picnic and then take the kids on paddle boats and canoes–something they’ll surely remember through the years!

Tip for Parents: We recommend that you bring an extra set of clothes for you and the young ones. Some of the activities here can get you and your family wet (paddle boats) and sweaty (cycling around the park).

Interact with elephants

Website:  https://www.elephantnaturepark.org/enp/visit-volunteer
Address:  1 Ratchamanka Rd, Tambon Phra Sing, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
Contact details:  +66 2 537 9221
Operating hours: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Sunday
Price: 

  • 2,500 THB – 1-day Park Entrance for Adults
  • 1,250 THB- 1-day Park Entrance for Kids

If you want to get that authentic feel of an elephant sanctuary, then the best place to visit is the Elephant Nature Park located in Chiang Mai. The beauty of this site is that you and your kids can get to see rescued elephants in their natural habitat.

To get better interaction with these animals, you can have your kids give them some food or a bath. More importantly, though, the sanctuary can provide you with vital information regarding the importance of elephants and how to take care of them.

One thing to keep in mind is that the sanctuary does not allow riding these rescued elephants for ethical reasons. Inform the kids of this arrangement in advance so as not to disappoint them and to let them know that it’s what’s best for the elephants.

Tip for Parents: Inform the kids in advance that while they cannot ride the elephants here for ethical reasons, they can still give them food, bathe them, and learn about their important role in Thai culture and the environment.

Go wild at Dream World

Website:   https://www.dreamworld.co.th/
Address:  62 Moo 1, Rangsit-Ongkharak Road, Bueng Yitho, Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani 12130, Thailand
Contact details:   +66 2 577 8666
Operating hours: 

  • 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday
  • 6:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday

Price: 

  • 575 THB- 1-day Theme Park Access
  • 925 THB- 1-day Theme Park Access with Lunch Buffet

Children and those adults who are still child-at-heart will find immense joy when they visit Dream World– a theme park that is just 45 minutes away from  Bangkok by car! 

While this theme park in itself is undoubtedly a sight to behold, it’s the vibrant vibe of the place that will surely make you fall in love with it!

Kids will also have a grand time meeting and interacting with their favourite fairytale characters such as Rapunzel and Cinderella. Of course, the more adventurous tourists can go on the park’s rides such as bumper boats, antique cars, and its roller coaster.

The park also features some unique rides which you can try out for an extra special experience. You and your family should definitely check out the Flying Carpet, Hurricane, and Viking rides for a one-of-a-kind thrill ride around the park.

In our books, the main attraction of Dream World is Snow Town. Here, you and your family can enjoy the feel of real snow despite being in a tropical country such as Thailand, a memorable and priceless experience for kids, if you ask us!

Tip for Parents: You should bring some extra clothes for the entire group as there are water rides in Dream World. You wouldn’t want them to walk around the park soaking wet now, do you?

Fill your heart with joy at the Tooney Toy Museum

Fill your heart with joy at the Tooney Toy Museum
Image Source: chaisakul uluchada on Google

Website:   https://www.facebook.com/TooneyMuseum/?locale=en_GB
Address:  Srisaman 8 Alley, Tambon Ban Mai, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi 11120, Thailand
Contact details:   +66 86 337 0136
Operating hours: 

  • 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday
  • Closed from Monday to Friday

Price: 

  •  150 THB Museum Entrance Fee for Adults
  • 100 THB Museum Entrance Fee for Children

At Tooney Toy Museum in Nonthaburi, you’ll feel a sense of nostalgia as you browse through some of the familiar toys you had as a kid. Meanwhile, young children will simply be elated!

You’ll find that this two-storey museum features 100,000 different modern and antique toys that guests can enjoy and play with. You can help your kids with the tour of the museum since the figures are arranged based on when they were released.

Modern toys such as Elsa and Buzz Lightyear are grouped together while older toys are lumped separately for easier guest navigation. 

Tip for Parents: Plan your trip here on a weekend as the museum is closed during the weekdays. 

Get that adrenaline rush at EasyKart

Website:    https://easykart.net/
Address:  31/11 RCA Plaza, 2nd floor, RCA Alley, Bangkapi, Huai Khwang, Bangkok 10320, Thailand
Contact details:     +66 2 641 4252
Operating hours: 

  • 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Monday to Thursday, 
  • 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM, Friday to Sunday

Price: 

  • Around 499 THB for Regular Karts
  • Around 449 THB for Kid Karts

With EasyKart, Bangkok, you can relive your adrenaline-fueled days (or dreams) in a safe and enjoyable environment. This attraction allows kids to enjoy being speed junkies by letting them drive their own kid karts. Adults, on the other hand, can also rent a regular kart to race with the entire family.

A medium kart is also available if you want a little less challenge. Using these different karts, you and the kids can race to your heart’s content or you can also simply watch the kids race to see who can finish the track faster.

You’ll love that EasyKart offers enough challenging twists and stretches of track for families to enjoy. In addition, the 60-kilometre per-hour speed limit is a great policy to ensure your safety when visiting here.

You should also consider that each race can be quite quick and lasts just around eight minutes per track. As such, we recommend that you pay close attention to the kids as they race around the track from the designated observation deck.

Tip for Parents: Ask for a medium-sized Kart if you’re not too confident about operating a large one. It can help you hone your basic driving skills before moving on to a full-sized one.

Learn doll handcrafting at the Bangkok Dolls Shop and Museum

Learn doll handcrafting at the Bangkok Dolls Shop and Museum
Image Source: CyclingBangkokT on Tripadvisor

Website:   https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/bangkok-dolls-and-museum
Address:   Adjacent to 7-11 and Condo K J S 85, Soi Mo Leng, Soi Ratchaprarop Makkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Contact details:   +66 96 789 1455   
Operating hours: 

  • 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday
  • Closed on Sunday

Price: Free admission

Bangkok Dolls is a shop cum museum that offers a one-of-a-kind experience for kids and adults thanks to its collection of traditional Thai dolls on display. There are over 400 dolls here, all handcrafted by the owner which you and your kids will surely enjoy.

What’s interesting about these traditional dolls is their depiction of various figures such as Greek, Russian, Hungarian, Polish, and Thai Dolls. Young girls will find this collection astounding mostly because of the different types of clothing worn by the dolls. 

Tip for Parents: Don’t forget to drop by the section where you can watch the museum’s doll makers craft these beautiful dolls by hand. 

Cool down with the family at Splash Jungle Water Park

Website:   https://splashjungle.com/ 
Address:  65 179 Soi Mai Khao 4, Mai Khao, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Contact details:     +66 76 372 111
Operating hours: 

  • 10:00 AM to 5:45 PM, Thursday to Monday
  •  Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday

Price: 

  • 750 THB for Adult Tickets
  • 500 THB for Kids’ Tickets
  • Free Entrance for Infants and Seniors

Located in Thalang, Phuket, Splash Jungle is perfect for a family day out, thanks to its water rides and various swimming pools. It also covers a sprawling area with some greenery that can also provide you with that relaxing feeling.

You can choose to either enjoy their standard pool, lazy river pool, and wave pool depending on your mood. Kids, on the other hand, have their own play pool to stay in with their siblings or friends. 

They also have various water slides suitable for all ages. If you want a bit of adrenaline, then just choose the highest slide and feel the thrill as you plunge toward the park’s cool blue waters!

For a quick bite, you and your family can proceed to the deli or the cafe. If you want to down an alcoholic drink, you can also do so at the water park’s pool bar—a must for adults who just want to relax after a whole day’s worth of travelling!

Tip for Parents: Younger kids can try out the splash pool– perfect if they just want to hang around with their same-aged friends. Bigger kids (and adults), on the other hand, can try relaxing in the lazy river pool!

Feel the magic at Phuket Fantasea 

Website:  https://www.phuketfantasea.fun/langdingpage/
Address:   99, Kamala, Kathu District, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Contact details:  +66 76 385 000   
Operating hours: 

  • 5:30 PM to 11:30 PM, Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
  • Closed on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday

Price: Around 1,350 THB

Phuket Fantasea is not just your ordinary tourist spot as it is touted as a cultural theme park featuring the exotic heritage of Thailand.

The site offers enough seating to accommodate around 3,000 guests to enjoy theatrical spectacles from the park’s performers. You and your family will surely enjoy the variety of shows which range from aerial stunts, magical illusions, and cultural shows.

Aside from the theatre, Phuket Fantasea also has a dining facility that can accommodate 4,000 diners.  The best part is that their restaurant offers a fantastic buffet of local and traditional Thai dishes for you to enjoy.

Tip for Parents: You should purchase the combo ticket when visiting Phuket Fantasea to ensure you experience the shows and enjoy a delicious local buffet after the show.

Feel like a golf pro at the Dino Park Mini Golf and Restaurant

Website: https://www.facebook.com/dinoparkphuketminigolf/
Address: 47 Karon Rd, Karon, Muang, Phuket 83100, Thailand
Contact details:  +6676330625
Operating hours: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, Monday to Sunday
Price: 

  • 240 THB for Adults
  • 180 THB for Kids

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be a golf pro? Then maybe some fun and kid-sized rounds of mini golf can make you and your kids feel like a real golf expert here at Dino Park Mini Golf and Restaurant.

This mini park, also located in Phuket, will spell hours of fun for the whole family. It has a prehistoric theme but still also retains that 18-hole (albeit miniature) golf course requirement.

What makes this mini golf park stand out, though, is that the prehistoric theme is just taken to a whole new level! There are dinosaur replicas littering the landscape, active volcanoes, and lush greenery that all contribute to the overall vibe of the place.

These features serve not only as the park’s backdrop but also present obstacles for guests to overcome. For example, kids may have to hit the ball around a volcano or a cave to get to that next hole–ingenious if you ask us!

Staying true to its theme, they also have a dinosaur-themed restaurant where families can grab a quick bite after a long day of golfing. 

Tip for Parents: Order food that’s just enough as most of the serving sizes in the park’s dino-themed restaurant are “dino-sized” and are good enough to share with your entire family. 

Go shopping at Thailand’s Floating Markets

Website:  https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/damnoen-saduak-floating-market
Address:  51 Damnoen Saduak, Damnoen Saduak District, Ratchaburi 70130, Thailand
Contact details:   +66 85 222 7470
Operating hours: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Sunday
Price: Around 830 THB for a half-day tour

Aside from temples, Thailand is popular for its floating markets. Here, you can go on a cultural experience while enjoying the sights and sounds of Thailand from a different perspective. 

Among these floating markets, the most popular one is Damnoen Saduak. It started off as part of the government’s initiative to link Chinese riverways to the Mae Klong River to improve trade and transportation—something to interest history and culture buffs.

The row of boats in Damnoen Saduak is understandably impressive, spanning 19 miles long. You and your family can literally spend hours upon hours just shopping and looking around as the other tourists pass by and locals ply their trade.

Most of these floating stores are manned by female vendors selling colourful local vegetables. To either side of the small market area are small stalls that sell various trinkets such as clothing, tiger balm, and even small toy elephants for your kids to enjoy.

Tip for Parents: Try to haggle with local vendors to get the best price when shopping for goods and souvenirs at this floating market.

Explore to your heart’s content at Erawan National Park

Website:  https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/damnoen-saduak-floating-market
Address:   Tha Kradan, Si Sawat District, Kanchanaburi 71250, Thailand
Contact details: +66 34 574 222
Operating hours: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday to Sunday
Price: 

  • 100 THB for Thai Adult
  • 50 THB for Thai Child
  • 300 THB for Foreigner Adult
  • 100 THB for Foreigner Child

Erawan National Park in Kanchanaburi Thailand provides some beautiful spots and locations that should earn it a spot on any itinerary.

Located near the Burmese border, this park is quite popular for its waterfalls. It’s not just any waterfall, though, as these formations reach up to seven levels of naturally formed landscapes.

Below these levels, the waterfall collects into a clear blue pool. At the lowest level, you and the kids can go for a  swim—perfect if you have young kids who just want to cool down from Thailand’s summer heat!

There are also many caves you can explore in the park, like Ta Duan Cave, which features ancient rock paintings. 

You can also spot wildlife around the vicinity such as wild elephants, muntjacs, and birds. Seeing these local animals in the wild will definitely excite any kid (and even adults) since they get to observe these animals in their natural habitat.

Tip for Parents: Bring extra clothes in case the family decides to go for a swim.

Eat your way through Chiang Mai’s Night Bazaar

Website:  https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/323066028148228/chiang-mai-night-bazaar/
Address:    Chang Klan Rd, Chang Moi Sub-district, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
Operating hours: 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM, Monday to Sunday
Price: Admission to the Night Bazaar is free of charge

The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar (sometimes just referred to as the Night Bazaar) features some of the best and most varied cuisine Thailand has to offer. If you want to expose your kids to local food items, then pay this tourist spot a visit!

Food items are specifically offered along the Wualai Walking Street where temporary stalls have been set up. Here, you can order different local and Western cuisine and enjoy a nice cold beer in some select establishments.

Of course, the night bazaar also features small stores that sell various trinkets. Families with little kids will certainly be amazed by the number of items available here which include artisan and handmade crafts. 

We recommend that you spend around two to three hours here if you want to thoroughly explore the bazaar. Plus, the place can be quite crowded late at night so it’s best for you and your family to get there earlier than most.

Tip for Parents: As the night market can get crowded, you should arrive around 5 PM, just as it’s opening. This is to ensure that you and your family can walk around in comfort and enjoy most of the items offered here.

Master the culinary arts at the Pink Chili – Thai Cooking Class

Website:   https://www.instagram.com/cookingschoolbangkok/
Address:  On Nut 2 Alley, Khwaeng Phra Khanong Nuea, Khet Watthana, Bangkok 11010, Thailand
Operating hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Sunday
Price: 1,200 THB

While in Bangkok, tourists usually enjoy local cuisine mostly made with coconuts and curries. However, you and your family can also try learning how to cook these tasty local meals and experience Thai culture first-hand by joining a cooking class.

One such school offering such cooking classes is Pink Chili – Thai Cooking Class. They offer classes twice a day, with one taking place in the morning and the second batch in the afternoon.

The best thing about their courses though is the variety of dishes being taught each day. For example, Monday courses had stir-fried noodles while Tuesday courses taught students how to create some green papaya salad.

Another big plus is that each class is required to visit the Onnut local fresh market. We liked this approach as it will fully immerse you and your kids into the local fresh market scene of Thailand.

Lastly, cooking classes usually have around 10 to 12 students per batch, so it’s perfect for the entire family to bond over some cooking lessons. Kids will enjoy the experience more as they learn to cook with their parents and siblings!

Tip for Parents: We recommend you call the cooking school in advance to know more about the scheduled dishes to be taught on a particular day. If you want to learn a specific dish, choose the right day for your class.

Explore the ocean by snorkelling in Thailand

Explore the ocean by snorkelling in Thailand

Address:  Thailand 
Price: Around 1,400 THB for a day tour

One of the best snorkelling spots in Thailand is located on Phi-Phi Islands, specifically Maya Bay. The name may sound familiar to you and understandably so since the film, “The Beach”, starring Leo Di Caprio, used the venue and made it a household name.

What makes the bay ideal for snorkelling is that the surrounding area on the beach is full of coral reefs. Imagine diving into the clear blue waters of Maya Bay to be greeted by lush and colourful wildlife!

Snorkelling isn’t the only activity you can enjoy here. The view is spectacular and the beach itself is ideal for just sunbathing and swimming with the entire family for hours on end.

Tip for Parents: If you have a waterproof camera, take snapshots of the colourful wildlife under the clear blue waters of Maya Bay. Just make sure that you have the camera secured or you might risk losing it!

Teach kids the proper way of doing a temple offering

Address:  Thailand 
Operating hours: Depends on Temple’s operating hours
Price: Admission is free of charge

Temples are a big part of Thai culture. As such, you can further immerse yourself in the tradition of the locals by learning how to properly do temple offerings.

These religious sites demand certain decorum from both locals and guests. For example, visitors are advised to wear appropriate clothing meaning shirts with sleeves and skirts that cover the entire legs, preferably down to the ankles.

Families with young kids also need to observe the solemnity of these temples as the silence is generally observed within their respective areas. Greeting monks by doing the special “wai” or greeting is another great learning experience for you and your kids.

Lastly, you can observe what locals do when they provide their offerings to the temple. This will usually involve lotus flowers, sticks of incense, and of course, some monetary donations will always be appreciated.

Tip for Parents: Before visiting a temple, make sure that each member of your family is wearing appropriate clothing. This means wearing shirts with sleeves and skirts or shorts that go all the way down to the ankles.

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