Best Skyscrapers in Bangkok

Bangkok is a big city with numerous skyscrapers worth admiring inside and out. A visit to one of them is definitely one of the best things to do in Bangkok. Many of them have hotels, fine restaurants and, above all, observation decks with viewing platforms.

Viewpoints on skyscrapers are the best way to get a panoramic view of the whole city. Some offer rotating platforms or glass walkways that make the experience from the heights much more interesting - not for people who suffer from vertigo!

The King Power MahaNakhon has a design that stands out from other skyscrapers in Bangkok. It has the appearance of a square tower, but with a spiral of cubic surfaces. It is about 314 metres high (the tallest in Thailand), has 79 floors and its observation deck is known as the Mahanakhon SkyWalk.

Among its floors, the 74th floor stands out, as from there you can enjoy breathtaking 360° views. On the 78th floor, you can test your bravery by walking across a glass walkway 310 metres above the ground.

If you want to experience the King Power Mahanakhon, one of Bangkok's best skyscrapers, keep in mind that the average cost of an adult ticket is €20. If you are planning to visit this skyscraper with children, I have good news for you, the average entrance fee for children between 3 and 12 years old is €10.

Another important fact about this skyscraper is that it has shops, luxury flats and a hotel, the Bangkok Edition Boutique Hotel. You don't need to stay here or go to one of the shops: you can visit the observation decks, the bar or the restaurant.

Interesting details

• Price: about 20 € for adult tickets and about 10 € for children between 3 and 12 years old.
• Opening hours: from 10 a.m. to midnight.
• Location: Narathiwat Ratchanakharin Road, Bang Rak, Bangkok, Thailand.

The Meritus Suites State Tower is a multi-purpose skyscraper with a height of 247 metres, the third tallest building in the country and the largest in Southeast Asia. It was built in 2001 and has 68 floors. One of its most representative features is its gold dome measuring 30 metres in diameter, as well as its neoclassical balconies.

Some of its names were Silom Precious Tower and Royal Charoen Krung Tower. Inside the building are condominiums, shops and offices. It even has two five-star hotels known as Lebua at State Tower.

It also has Sirocco, an open restaurant with an incredible panoramic view of the city. Located on the 63rd floor, this bar and restaurant was made famous by the movie Hangover 2. It also has several floors that offer a beautiful view of the entire city and the Chao Praya River.

If you want to end a day of touring Bangkok on a high note, you can spend the night in the facilities of this skyscraper. This way you can enjoy a delicious dinner and see all the city you've toured during the day.

Details of interest

• Price: free admission.
• Opening hours: from 4pm to 1am.
• Location: 1055 Si Lom, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand.

The Banyan Tree skyscraper is a multi-purpose building that is 197 metres high and has 61 floors. It was built in 1995 and its main attraction is its five-star hotel. One night can be booked from €80. If you book more than three nights, you can receive a special discount.

Another attraction of this skyscraper is on the 61st floor, where you will find the Vertigo Grill and Moon Bar. This is an open-air terrace where you can stop by and enjoy a cocktail while watching Bangkok from above. You can also order one of the exquisite dishes from the kitchen.

The hotel also has a swimming pool and a holistic spa, which offers treatments with natural elements. You can visit this place, enjoy a spectacular view and relax for a whole afternoon. Please note that the spa opens at 10am and closes at 8pm.

This hotel has been awarded the EarthCheck Gold Certified 2020 and Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Awards 2020. These two certificates are a good reference that let you know the quality of the place where you will stay.

Interesting details

• Price: free admission.
• Hours: 10am to 1am.
• Location: 21/100 S S Sathon Rd, Khwaeng Thung Maha Mek, Khet Sathon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10120, Thailand.

The Baiyoke Sky Tower, at 304 metres, is the second tallest skyscraper in Bangkok and Thailand. It is a hotel with 88 floors and around 700 rooms. On the 77th and 84th floors you can enjoy the view from this building.

I recommend you to visit the Roof Top Bar for a night out. This bar located on the 83rd floor also offers a lovely view of the city. It is also one of the best bars in town, so you should put it on your list of things to do at night in Bangkok.

Another attraction you can't miss is located on the 84th floor. It is an open-air rotating platform observation deck, the only one in Bangkok! Here you can enjoy a true 360° view of the city of Bangkok and beyond, without having to move.

To complement your evening, you can enjoy the buffet of Thai or international food served at the Crystal Grill Restaurant, located on the 82nd floor. If you would like to continue enjoying the evening, you should make another stop at the 79th floor, where you can enter another restaurant where there are options to sing karaoke at their karaoke bar.

Interesting details

• Price: around €10 to access the observation deck.
• Opening hours: The observation deck is open to the public from 10am until midnight. Its turntable is open from 10am until 10pm.
• Location: 222 Ratchaprarop Road, Thanon Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.

The Elephant Building, also known as the Chang Building, is a skyscraper that is not exactly noted for its beauty, but for its peculiar shape. It consists of two office towers and a residential tower. The three are connected at the top by a long structure that in turn houses several floors.

If you look closely, the first tower represents the elephant's trunk, and the other two, its legs. In the distance you will also see what appear to be the elephant's tusks, located on either side of the building. This is where the offices of the skyscraper's management company are located. The eyes are two large round windows, also located on either side of the building. The ears are balconies spanning several floors.

In total, the building has 31 floors and measures 110 metres. Although it is not the tallest of all skyscrapers, its presence is hard to ignore. If you take a Hop on Hop off Bus tour, you may pass close to it. However, you will need to stop for a moment to appreciate all the peculiar details of this elephantine building.

Although you won't find any entertaining activities inside the building, it is worth seeing it from the outside and appreciating all its details. You can enter the shopping centre and browse around a bit - don't forget to take some pictures during your visit!

Interesting details

• Price: best viewed from the outside
• Opening hours: No opening hours for tourists.
• Location: 3300 Phahonyothin Road, Khwaeng Chom Phon, Khet Chatuchak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10900, Thailand.

The Met is a 69-storey, 228-metre residential skyscraper. It is the second tallest residential skyscraper in all of Thailand, with around 370 condominium dwellings. Although it has no activities for tourists, I recommend you pass by it to appreciate its immensity.

This skyscraper is made up of six towers that are linked together by elevated walkways. If you like architecture, this one will certainly be a spectacle for your eyes. It also has awnings, overhangs and walls full of living vegetation. This last element has a very important function: to filter the sunlight and protect the interior from overheating.

Likewise, the staggered blocks of this skyscraper are oriented and positioned in such a way as to allow the sun to pass through according to its normal course. At the same time, their openings help to increase the strength of the breezes to cool the homes on the hottest days. The architects thought of everything!

Another important detail in this large skyscraper are the openings in the different towers. In them there are swimming pools and gardens, a real luxury to live in these flats! Last but not least, The Met won the Bronze Emporis Skyscraper Award in 2009.

Interesting details

• Price: best viewed from outside
• Opening hours: No opening hours as it is not open to tourists.
• Location: Khwaeng Thung Maha Mek, Khet Sathon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10120, Thailand.

The Pano is another of Bangkok's residential skyscrapers. Although you can't go sightseeing through the building, it is important to know about its existence and architectural details. This 57-storey building is located right next to the iconic Chao Phraya River.

It is approximately 219 metres high and has 397 residential units. It is composed of two wings, one is the Sky Wing, the tallest building, and the other is the River Wing, the lowest building. It is a spectacle to behold the impressive shape of this skyscraper.

It is worth noting that The Pano won fourth place in the Emporis Skyscraper Awards in 2010. These awards recognise the functionality and excellence of building designs. In addition, the architectural firm responsible for this skyscraper, WOHA, was also awarded the Singapore President's Design Award, so are you going to miss the opportunity to stand in front of such a renowned building?

Interesting details

• Price: best viewed from outside
• Opening hours: No opening hours as it is not open to tourists.
• Location: Bang Phong Phang, Yan Nawa, Bangkok 10120, Thailand.

If you do a quick research, you will notice that in Bangkok the dress code for visiting sites such as temples and skyscrapers is very similar. In none of these establishments are people wearing shorts, open-toed shoes or low-cut necklines allowed to enter. In the case of skyscrapers, it is best to wear semi-formal attire.

On the other hand, it is advisable to book your hotel roomin advance if you wish to stay in one of the skyscrapers. This will save you some money, especially if you stay more than two nights. Also, you will ensure a quiet stay, especially in high season, as they tend to be very crowded.

Finally, when you want to visit a viewpoint, I suggest that you go just in time to see a sunset. This way you will be able to see part of the day and night of the city from the heights. It is also important to check the weather on the day, as if the sky is not clear you will not be able to get a good view. Before you travel, find out when is the best time to travel to Bangkok.

Bangkok is a bustling city, full of streets, temples and buildings. From the ground it is somewhat difficult to see all the details of its grandeur, but from one of its skyscrapers it is easier to get a wide view of this great cityscape. You can even see the city's finest temples from a vantage point.

In addition, these skyscrapers offer not only observation decks, but also a variety of attractive amenities. The bars and restaurants are usually luxurious and you will find entertaining activities such as dance floors or karaoke areas, you will have a great time!

On the other hand, some of these skyscrapers have luxury hotels, can you imagine staying in one of them and having an excellent view of Bangkok every day? It would certainly be an incredible experience that you can only live in one of Bangkok's must-see places.