Lumphini Park Bangkok Guide: Swan Boats, Dragons, Hours & More
Everything we learned from visiting Lumpini Park in Bangkok: swan boats, monitor lizards, the Green Bridge to Benchakitti Park, opening hours and free things to do.
Among our favourite places to explore and spend a day, Lumphini Park in Bangkok is right at the top of the list.
The green space is right in the centre of the city and not so far from the bustling shopping malls. It’s one of the largest areas, and we always compare it to Hyde Park in London, with the addition of dragons roaming around.
What we love most about Lumpini is that skyscrapers surround you while you jog or cycle around the lake, listen to music drifting over from somewhere in the park, or just relax on the grass.
You can’t think of a first-time visit to Bangkok without including this park in your itinerary.
👋Toti & Ale here
London couple, 45+ countries, 300+ guides. We are full-time content creators, travelling as slowmads, spending quality time in places we love the most. We run this and several other blogs from the best places in the world. We wrote this guide about Lumpini Park in Bangkok after several visits. We spent 2 months as Digital Nomads and account more than 10+ visits for 10 days at time in the Capital of Thailand. It’s our home away from home in England.
September 15, 2026 This update reflect the new upgraded facilities, food centre that replace the old not organized one, the new dog friendly area and our considerations after attending the red cross fair in December. No AI; all road-tested.
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Is Lumphini Park worth a visit?
Yes, we had so much fun exploring Lumpini Park. This area is very large and ideal for picnics or family walks.
| Lumpini Park at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Entrance fee | Free (some ticketed activities inside) |
| Opening hours | 4:30 AM – 10:00 PM daily |
| Size | 57.6 hectares (142 acres / 360 rai) |
| Nearest BTS | Sala Daeng (Silom Line), southwest side |
| Nearest MRT | Lumphini (Blue Line), southeast side |
| Dog-friendly area | Yes – fenced off-leash zone near Witthayu Road |
While staying at the Courtyard by Marriott, very centrally within Bangkok; we went for a day out pairing Lumphini Park with the nearby Benchakitti Park.
To our surprise, most of the attractions in Lumpini Park are free, like watching lizards swimming in the lake or getting a round on the swan.
Lumpini Park Entrance Fee is Free for the whole park, though a few attractions inside charge separately.
The park is open from 4:30 AM to 10:00 PM every day
Lumpini Park Dog Area: since a 2026 renovation, there’s a dedicated, fenced off-leash dog area near Witthayu Road.
How to get to Lumphini Park in Bangkok?
Our best suggestion is to take the MRT, the stop near the entrance is Lumphini MRT Station, from the southeast. Instead, taking the BTS (Sky Train), you can get to Lumpini Park on the southwest side, getting off at Sala Daeng BTS.
You’ll pass the King Rama IX Monument on the way. We actually visited Lumpini Park from Benchakitti Park, another great green area nearby. If you do the same, follow the boardwalk to the end, then continue along Soi Arun McKinnon.
There’s some construction going on nearby, but you’ll still find your way to the entrance of Lumphini Park without any trouble.
If you are staying in the Sukhumvit area, Lumphini Park is only a 20 minute walk from the Central Embassy shopping mall – get off the BTS at Phloen Chit.
Take water with you. The heat and humidity in Bangkok are crazy.
Lumpini Park opening hours
Lumphini Park Bangkok is open from 4:30 AM to 10:00 PM every day, all year round. Note that the park might observe different opening and closing times on public holidays.
The park rules also state that bikes are only allowed in from 10 AM to 3 PM, and the park itself is open every day from 4:30 AM to 10 PM.
Be aware that some attractions in Lumpini Park keep different hours. When we visited, we were the last to get on the swan boats and returned at 5:30pm.
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Why is Lumpini Park so famous?
You’ll be amazed by Lumphini Park. It was one of the last Bangkok attractions we explored during our two-month stay in the city. Honestly, we regret it, as we would have spent more time in the park. It’s the most popular park in Bangkok for a reason.
Actually not many people know that its name derives from Buddha’s birthplace, Lumbini – you’ll also see it spelled “Lumphini” online, both refer to the same park. Every day, 10,000 to 15,000 people visit Lumpini Park. It first opened to the public in 1925, on land donated by King Rama VI – making it Thailand’s first public park. The area hosts many playgrounds, including one in the centre for kids and a public library.
The clock tower located on the southeastern side, where the MRT is, is impressive. Many people love Lumphini Park because it offers an oasis of fresh air and good vibes, not so far from the bustling commercial and trafficked area of central Bangkok.
Things to do in Lumpini Park
We spent about three hours in Lumphini Park, and it was a short one. The area is so big that you can easily plan an entire day out in the centre of Bangkok.
Our favourite things to do in Lumpini Park are:
- See the lizards
- Feed the fish and turtles by the lake
- Get a swan and go around the lake
- Join the activities
- Lay on the grass
Spot the dragons
The tales of dragons walking around the park in Bangkok are real, we witnessed it. There are about 300 to 400 monitor lizards in Lumpini Park.
It’s possible to spot three or four passing from one side to another of the garden grounds. We even spot one swimming around huge carps in the lake.
We have seen similar lizards also in Chatuchak Park, nearby the largest weekend market in Bangkok. So it isn’t so difficult to see these unusual creatures. Be aware not to get too close.
Even if they are not dangerous, and we haven’t felt threatened, these are still wild animals – use caution.
Feed the turtles by the lake
The first image that comes to mind when we think of Lumpini Park is an old lady feeding the fish and turtles. Well, that and a giant lizard swimming through, taking all the food for himself.
In the main lake of Lumphini Park there are giant carps, and not only this species. There are shops around that sell bags of food or just take some bread from home.
Get a Swan boat | Free
If you are with your other half, taking a swan pedalling boat in Lumphini Park is so romantic. We arrived around 4.00 PM and joined the queue. To our surprise, we discovered it was free. Bargain for backpackers in Bangkok like us!
At sunset, you’ll have the best view of the skyscrapers from a favourite spot by the water. It was a fun, if unexpected, activity. Add a boat ride in Lumphini Park to your list of the most romantic things to do in Bangkok.
Get active: join joggers, runners or dancers
We’re always amazed by how many people are out exercising from the early hours of the day in Bangkok. We visited Lumpini in the afternoon, and there were still so many people jogging, stretching and doing activities. We felt old for a bit, to be fair.
Anyway, Lumphini is a favourite among locals and expats for running. The park has over 2.7km (about 1.7 miles) of traffic-free paved roads. There’s also a public basketball court, and four free outdoor gyms and workout areas.
Every evening at 6:00 PM, the park transforms into a massive, open-air fitness studio. It’s free to join. We didn’t take part, but watched from a distance, and it was fun enough.
We’re not that into fitness ourselves, but the atmosphere was buzzing and the music made it tempting to join in. There were plenty of locals, and we spotted a few expats too. It usually lasts about 45 minutes, and the music pauses for the Thai National Anthem.
Enjoy the sunshine
After we rode on the swan love boat, it was time to relax. We lay on the grass and watched the daily active club dancing in front of us.
We should warn you though: after a few minutes on the grass, we started to feel itchy. Better to bring a towel to sit on and avoid direct contact.
Facilities in Lumphini Park
Lumphini Park is well served with food, drinks, benches and toilets. Everywhere you walk, you’ll be close enough to a refreshment point. There’s also a small stretch of street food stalls on the south side, offering traditional Thai dishes.
What we suggest is to take some snacks, and get drinks directly in the park. Enjoy a day out in the sunshine.
Rules and Regulations in Lumpini Park
While visiting Lumpini Park, you must follow the usual rules and regulations that apply to Bangkok’s parks. The following are not allowed:
- Smoking
- Drinking Alcohol
- Gambling
- Indecency
Also, consider that drones aren’t allowed to fly in Lumphini Park. We carried our drone with us when we visited, as previously, it was one of the few areas where drones were allowed in Bangkok.
It hasn’t been the case since 2024. Remember that you must adhere to local laws before flying drones in Thailand, and these need to be registered regardless of the weight.
Events in Lumphini Park
The Red Cross Fair is held in Lumpini Park every year, usually in December, and it’s one of the most attended events in the park’s calendar. We’ve spent Christmas in Bangkok and couldn’t miss it – we went on the last night of our visit. It runs for about 10 days, and it’s free to attend, no ticket necessary.
The fair we visited also marked the park’s centenary and raised money to help people in Southern Thailand affected by monsoon flooding that year. The Red Cross Fair is huge – genuinely easy to get lost in. We had to rely on the map so many times, even to find our way to the exit. There’s food, games and small events throughout.
We joined locals, who were very surprised to see tourists around. It’s usually not well known among foreigners, and mostly involves Thai people. We really enjoyed it, though the food queues were so long that we spent more time waiting in line than actually doing things. It involves the whole park, so bear in mind you’ll walk a lot.
Things to do around Lumphini Park
Combine your visit to Lumphini Park with some other great activities nearby. One of the strengths of this Bangkok attraction is how central and well-connected it is.
Walking north from the park, you can reach the shopping district, Central Embassy and CentralWorld shopping malls.
While we walked to Lumphini Park from Benchakitti Park, we had a break in between at Qottonale Cafe. This pretty spot is not well known, but it offers quality coffee and a great atmosphere to relax.
After the walk in the park, we suggest checking out Warehouse Bar for a craft pint of beer. The social atmosphere will give you a great night out and you must try their selection of IPA beers.
Take the MRT from Silom, reach Chinatown for great street food, and get out at Wat Mangkon. From here you can have a great day out in Chinatown, pairing it with other districts around like Talat Noi (Read our Talat Noi self-guided tour here) and Song Wat Road.
Check out Dusit Central Park
There is a new shopping mall just across the road from the south entrance to Lumpini Park. We were thrilled to see the sensational, trendy Dusit Central Park – already a social media favourite. We walked into the beautiful sky garden. The view from there is fantastic, and it’s a perfect spot for sunset in Bangkok.
Going through the canopied boardwalk felt like being in a forest in the middle of chaotic Bangkok. It’s definitely a great addition to the capital’s landscape, and we had one of the best views of Bangkok and Lumphini Park from up there.
If you want some quiet time to explore Dusit sky garden, we recommend going in the morning before 10 AM.
We went at sunset and it was gorgeous as the light was perfect but it was crowded, of course. Here is the Google Map location. Head inside the mall, take the lift to the 4th floor and enjoy the view!
Walk on the Green Bridge across two parks
We visited two parks at once, and the green bridge in between Benchakitti and Lumphini Park is an awesome experience.
The walk is long, and there aren’t any shaded areas yet, so make sure you bring enough water – we didn’t, and it was a mistake. Still, the birds, small rivers and overall peaceful feel gave us a different perspective on central Bangkok. We wrote an entire guide about Benchakitti Park, which includes step by step how to enjoy the green bridge.
To reach the Green Bridge (the elevated skywalk to Benjakitti Park), head to the northeast corner of Lumphini Park near Gate 4. Exit the park, pass the Suan Lumphini School, and look for the distinctive green stairs.
