Staying in shape when you are travelling is difficult. It’s hard to find a minute spare let alone one hour. Working out is hard enough, and finding somewhere to do it should not be an added struggle. That being said, Bangkok has plenty of options, from gyms to Muay Thai classes, for tourists to explore. Here, is a handy guide to Bangkok.
Outdoor Gyms
Bangkok has many spaces that offer outdoor workout equipment. You will generally find the equipment in most of a green spaces in the City. The outdoor workout equipment offers both locals and tourists alike a great way to stay in shape without having to pay a single baht. If you are looking for a get fit quick option, then this is a great alternative and you don’t need to purchase a day pass.
Benchasiri Park
Our favourite by a country mile is Benchasiri Park (Thai: สวนเบญจสิริ) it’s a lovely green oasis sandwiched between the Marriott Marquis Queens Park and the Emporium shopping complex.
A walking and jogging track runs around the park. You will find serious runners but you will also find lots of Bangkok older generation just taking it easy. The park is one of the most popular green spaces in Bangkok. You’ll find office workers escaping from their air-con boxes, enjoying lunch sitting on benches and sheltering under the relative shade of the many trees .
It has a kids’ playground, aerobic exercise equipment, a skateboarding arena and sports facilities including a basketball court. The outdoor swimming pool is open daily from 10.30 to 20.00. Overseas visitors can use the pool by buying a membership for 50 baht and paying a daily fee of 15 baht. Please remember and bring your passport.
Santiphap Park
‘Air-walker’ and ‘sit-up board’ are just two of the machines available at Santiphap Park, about a five-minute walk from the BTS Skytrain stop Victory Monument. You can also find an outdoor gym at Chatuchak Park, right off BTS Skytrain stop Mochit. If anything, watching people pendulum swing their legs from side to side as a means of working out is entertaining, to say the least.
Walking
Bangkok, for such an urban area, has its fair share of parks. If you are self-consious about using gyms as a means to stay toned while traveling, simply grab a water bottle and go for a stroll around any of Bangkok’s best parks, including Lumpini and Chatuchak Park. There are plenty of parks just waiting to be explored in Bangkok, which are great for both jogging and cycling.
On your bike
Many of the parks in and around Bangkok have great cycling routes. Explore ‘Bangkok’s Green Lung’ on Bang Kachao, or take a more urban inspired route at Benjakiti Park, with trails made specifically for cyclists. Bicycles are usually fairly inexpensive to rent as well, costing about ฿20-30 for an hour or ฿100 for an entire day.
Muay Thai
We could write a book on Thailand’s national and most popular sport, Muay Thai? There are an overabundance of gyms and classes around Bangkok that offer both private and group classes. Whether you have never stepped foot into the boxing ring before or plan on become a Muay Thai professional, Bangkok’s Muay Thai classes and gyms are a great place to for fitness lovers.
Our own gym
If you are in Onnut (5 stops down the BTS line from Asok) then try our gym Fitnesslife Onnut. You can jump on a motorcycle taxi from the BTS Onnut it’s about 20 baht, just ask for FitnessLife, Onnut saam sib (saam sib is 30 in Thai). The gym is a good size with great aircon. It has free weights and a number of cardio and resistance machines. It’s never too crowded, has a great selection of equipment and very friendly owners (most staff speak English) www.fitnesslifebangkok.com
We have a range of membership options; daily, weekly and monthly.