An evening stroll in Bangkok: lit-up temples, the flower market and Chinatown

Bangkok is also worth seeing after 5pm: the heat eases, the temples catch the golden light of sunset, the markets come alive and the river fills with lit-up boats. This guide suggests three evening walks that are easy to string together, on foot, by metro or by boat, without going through bars or rooftops (for those, see our guide to Bangkok at night). The hours quoted were found in October 2026: several temples close at 5pm or 6pm, so set out early to visit them and keep the night for views and markets.

Before you go: what is open in the evening

Many places of worship close before dark: Wat Arun closes at 6pm, the Loha Prasat at Wat Ratchanatdaram at around 5pm (indicative hours, not published by the temple) and the Golden Mount at Wat Saket at 7pm. All three are still well worth seeing at the end of the day, when the light is at its best: arrive in the middle of the afternoon and stay until closing. The flower market and the streets of Chinatown come alive at nightfall. Bring water, clothes that cover your shoulders and knees for the temples, and small change for the boat.

Walk 1: from the Golden Mount to the flower market

Start around 4:30pm at Wat Saket: the climb up the Golden Mount is about 344 steps, but the view over the old city at sunset is one of the great moments of a Bangkok visit. Next door, the Loha Prasat of Wat Ratchanatdaram, a building with 37 metal spires, is lit up in the evening and can be seen from the street even when closed. From there, a taxi or Grab of 10 to 15 minutes takes you to the Pak Khlong Talat flower market, open around the clock: in the evening the stalls are set up and you can buy jasmine or marigold garlands for a few dozen baht. The market is close to the Memorial Bridge pier, where the express boats leave from.

Wat Arun lit up at night on the bank of the Chao Phraya

Walk 2: the river and illuminated Wat Arun

Take a Chao Phraya express boat to Tha Tien pier: the trip is an evening stroll in itself (see our page on the Chao Phraya river). From the east bank, the view of lit-up Wat Arun is one of the evening images of Bangkok; the temple stays illuminated after it closes. For a quiet, free viewpoint, the Chao Phraya Sky Park, the garden footbridge above the river, also looks over the river in the evening. Finish at the water's edge with a dinner facing the temple: our guide to restaurants with a view details the options.

Walk 3: Chinatown in the evening

Chinatown is the district that most resembles a party in the early evening: red and gold signs, the smell of grilling, incense smoke. Wat Mangkon Kamalawat is the district's main Chinese temple; check its hours on its page. The stalls on Yaowarat Road are set up in the late afternoon: see our guide to Chinatown and the one on street food in Bangkok for addresses and prices. MRT Wat Mangkon then takes you back towards Sukhumvit or Silom.

Finishing by the water: Asiatique

If you want to end with a Ferris wheel and riverside restaurants, Asiatique The Riverfront is open daily from 11am to midnight, with a free river shuttle in the late afternoon and evening (4pm-11:30pm) from Sathorn pier. It is a more touristy and commercial visit than the three walks above, but convenient with children.

Practical tips for the evening

When to leave: sunset is around 6pm all year, with little variation; allow 30 minutes of twilight.
Transport: the BTS runs until about midnight, and so does the MRT; the express boats stop well before. To get home late, take a metered taxi or a Grab (see transport in Bangkok).
Safety: in the evening, avoid tuk-tuks that offer fixed-price "tours" and keep your belongings in front of you in crowds (see scams and safety).
Heat: even in the evening it is hot and humid; drink regularly.