Staying fit in Thailand isn’t easy. Liquid calories come in many forms, and with more holidays than months in a year, there always seems to be a good reason to indulge in them. Even if you set out to stay in shape, the city puts up quite a fight to keep you at your desk, on your bar stool, and in your bed. This section runs through your fitness options, costs, and methods.
Running
In recent years, Bangkok has experienced quite a boom in running. It’s gotten to the point where the most popular running routes become crowded after work hours. This boom also extends to races: if you’re competitive minded, there are now several shorter and longer races, including marathons, to choose from.
Tracks and Loops
The most well-known running tracks are inside Lumpini Park, Benjakitti Park, Wachirabenchathat Park, and Chatuchak Park. Due to their central locations, these parks are also among the busiest ones. There’s a number of other parks and stadiums scattered throughout the city that offer loops of similar and shorter length, which might be more convenient.
Since training for a marathon isn’t that fun on a 2.5km track, it might be worth heading out a bit further for your longer runs.
Rama 9 Park offers a 5km loop with lot of corners, features and well manicured gardens. You can even link it with the 4km loop in Nong Bon Park, or the Nong Bon Swamp Park as Google Maps calls it. If you don’t mind backtracking, it can be extended to become a 15km long route.
Bangkok’s “green lung,” Bang Krachao is another choice for long distance runners or athletes in search of scenery. Known for cycling, it features a 14km loop that can be done by runners just as well.
Also, there are routes along the canals and back alleys that would be impractical to describe in specifics. The best way to discover those is to join a running club. Not only will you get to exercise and do some urban sightseeing, but also meet like-minded runners.
Running Clubs
Bangkok Runners is a large group of foreigners who run in Lumpini Park and Benjakitti Park. Also, they do runs through Bang Krachao, BTS line runs, and the above described routes through back alleys and along canals. Aside from Bangkok, they also do trips out to places like Khao Kheow and Khao Mai Keao for trail runs.
Hash House Harriers also has a chapter in Bangkok. They tend to go for runs every Monday, followed by a calorie-replenishing beer-drinking and socializing session. The after-run beer is included in the running fee, which is normally a few hundred baht.
Races
Like other sports, running has become a lot more popular in recent years. If you want to take part in a race, you should sign up early as the bigger races tend to sell out. While some experienced runners argue that the best races are to be found outside of Bangkok, the city offers a number of interesting competitions.
There is the Thai Sikh Run in Feb/March, the Supersports 10 Mile International Run in July, the Bangkok 10km International Run in October as well as a host of other smaller runs scattered throughout the year that can be found on sites like Jog And Joy.
Swimming
A lot of the mid- and high-end apartment buildings come with swimming pools, some come well maintained, some come in colors suggesting they are capable of photosynthesis.
The cheapest swimming pools are to be found at Benjasiri Park, Lumpini Park, and at the Thai Japanese Youth Center, which has an Olympic-sized pool. At 40 baht per year, they are a steal. Though some charge a per visit fee as well.
Come prepared though since they require some documents and a medical certificate. See the as-good-as-free section above for more details on these places.
A fancier indoor option with more liberal opening hours are the Virgin Active gyms at EmQuartier and Empire Tower that come with twenty-meter swimming pools. Depending on the club and duration of your membership, you’ll pay around 3,000 baht per month for access.
If you don’t have time to sign-up for the Youth Centers and just want to use a pool during a short stay in the city, the following places offer 1-day passes.
Cycling
Over the last years, cycling has gained a lot of popularity. Whether that’s part of the general fitness boom or due to them shaving off an hour of some people’s commute, it’s hard to say.
For those in need of a quick run down on scenic and performance routes as well as bicycle groups you can join, check out the list below.
Performance Tracks
If you’re serious about your cycling, you should check out the 23km cycle track at Suvarnabhumi Airport. For track cyclists, there’s the free Hua Mark Velodrome at Rajamangala National Stadium Ramkhamhaeng.
The Siangpure Bike Park is your best bet in Bangkok if you want to give your mountain bike a spin, or rent one at 100 baht per hour.
Scenic Routes
If scenery trumps training, you might want to get off the beaten track so to speak.
A 40km route winds through the swamps south of the Suvarnabhumi Airport runway. Parts are on streets, parts are on concrete paths, and you can watch planes landing and storks breeding. The course can be modified somewhere around Thana Place King Kaeo Village, which gives a few more alleys and pathways to explore.
A 50km route starting from BTS Bearing takes you through small villages all the way down to the seaside. have a stop at Bang Poo and feed the seagulls there. If you go on a weekend, stop at Wat Bang Bang Phli Yai Nai at the old market.
Another 50km of cycling also starts at BTS Bearing and goes to the “green lung” Bang Krachao and finally to Soi Suksawat where an old Muslim community is. At Wat Bangna Nok, you take a 10 minute ferry ride to the other side of the Chao Praya river. If you go on a weekend, be sure to stop at the Bang Nam Phun Floating market.
Deutsch:
Français:
Español: