Benjakitti Park

[camerata]

If you have nothing to do at the weekend, try spending a few hours at Benjakitti Park, between Sukhumvit Road and Queen Sirikit Convention Centre. Basically it's a park built around the old Tobacco Monopoly reservoir, now known as Lake Ratchada. It's 1.8km around the lake if you want to jog. There's a cycling path and skateboard area too. There's an entrance a few minutes from Asoke BTS station and an MRT station at Queen Sirikit Convention Centre. Normally, not many people are there before 4.30pm, which is when they switch on the fountains and the loudspeakers.

The park covers 130 rai, but apparently that was only Phase 1. I don't know what happened to Phase 2 but it was planned to cover another 300 rai to the west.

[bkkjames]

If you have nothing to do at the weekend, try spending a few hours at Benjakitti Park, between Sukhumvit Road and Queen Sirikit Convention Centre. Basically it's a park built around the old Tobacco Monopoly reservoir, now known as Lake Ratchada. It's 1.8km around the lake if you want to jog. There's a cycling path and skateboard area too. There's an entrance a few minutes from Asoke BTS station and an MRT station at Queen Sirikit Convention Centre. Normally, not many people are there before 4.30pm, which is when they switch on the fountains and the loudspeakers.

The park covers 130 rai, but apparently that was only Phase 1. I don't know what happened to Phase 2 but it was planned to cover another 300 rai to the west.

Phase 2 didn't happen because the former PM's idea of moving the tobacco monopoly to Chiang Mai, went up in smoke with the koookooo.

[Bangyai]

Yes, a very nice park but very busy on the weekends and evenings. Best to go in the daytime and have it all to yourself. Another nice park, and a lot bigger is the Wachira Bencha That Park ( also known as the Rot Fai park. ) This is behind and not to be confused with Chatuchak Park which is fairly small. The Rot Fai park is very big and also has bicycles for rent. Hundreds of them. Unbelievably, they are all rented out on a weekend so go midweek. In the park there is also a butterfly museum and old train to look at. Good for a midweek picnic with plenty of secluded corners.