Historic Bangkok Bike Tour

Bike like a local in Bangkok

See the city of Bangkok through the eyes of a local on the Historic Bangkok Bike Tour. Cycle along the historic streets, canals, and alleyways of Bangkok, venturing into areas that most tourists don't ever get to experience with the help of your local guide. You'll pedal through the myriad backstreets on this family-friendly city tour to see traditional bronze work, meander along the Noi Canal, and stop at the Giant Swing.

Begin your bike tour in Bangkok's backstreets where these narrow lanes, away from the main tourist areas, are filled with bustling markets, street food stalls, hidden temples, and traditional houses. You'll gain valuable insight into the rhythms of local life and the bustling atmosphere of these local neighborhoods. Your guide will introduce you to rich cultural customs and provide a brief history of this rapidly growing city as you cycle along.

Your guided tour takes every opportunity to stop and admire the traditional bronze work that suffuses these neighborhoods. Skilled artisans create intricate sculptures, statues, and decorative items using the lost-wax casting technique that has a long history in Bangkok. On this city tour, you may even witness the craftsmanship first-hand, passing by workshops specializing in bronze work to admire the process of creation, perhaps even purchasing unique souvenirs.

Cycling on, you'll arrive at the Noi Canal. Ride along this historic waterway, which was once a major transportation route and played a significant role in the city's development. Although no longer in use for trade today, the canal is lined with traditional houses and temples and offers an insight into the city's history as a hub for trade and exchange.

The bicycle tour then passes the Grand Palace where you'll take a walk through a public park that was once exclusively used by the royal family. This palace has been the royal residence of the Kings of Siam since 1782, and although no longer in use as a residence today, important ceremonies and events are still conducted here every year.

Your city tour concludes with a stop at the Giant Swing (known as Sao Ching Cha in Thai), located near the Wat Suthat temple. This impressive construction dates from 1784 when it was built to honor the Hindu god Shiva as part of a Brahmin religious ceremony. The ritual that took place upon it symbolized the movement from the old year to the new but was eventually deemed too dangerous to continue.

Today, the swing stands today as an historic and symbolic monument to the rich religious heritage of the city. The Giant Swing is situated in the vibrant Sao Chingcha neighborhood with markets, street food stalls, and many temples nearby. This makes it the perfect spot to get recommendations for your guide about what to do and where to eat once your day tour through bustling Bangkok comes to an end.