Lumpini Park, Bangkok: hours, how to get there and what to do

Lumpini Park opens at 4:30 am, entry is free, and BTS Sala Daeng or MRT Si Lom is a short walk away. Go early in the morning or in the late afternoon, and plan to leave by 9 pm.

This is one of central Bangkok’s main green spaces, at about 57.6 hectares (360 rai). It is the place to walk or run, watch the city’s morning exercise and see monitor lizards in the middle of a business district.

The essentials

The closing time is genuinely unclear. The Bangkok governor ordered a 4:30 am to 10 pm schedule for Lumpini in 2022, and one current guide still shows it. Other listings say 9 pm, and a 2025 Tourism Authority of Thailand article says Bangkok’s public parks stay open until 9 pm. We could not reach an official park page, so check before you go if you are coming late.

How to get there

From Silom, Sathorn or Siam. Take the BTS to Sala Daeng. Exit 5 is a short walk from the park’s corner by Rama IV Road and Ratchadamri Road.

From Sukhumvit or Chinatown. Take the MRT Blue Line to Si Lom, for the same corner, or Lumphini, for the Witthayu Road side. Asok connects with MRT Sukhumvit, so this is easy from the Sukhumvit hotels. See getting around Bangkok for tickets.

On foot from Benjakitti Park. The Green Bridge, an elevated walking and cycling path of about 1.3 km, links the two parks. It starts at Sarasin Junction.

What to do

Run or walk. One guide puts the looped track at 2.5 km. It is a good place to run in central Bangkok, and it is at its most pleasant before the heat builds.

Watch the morning exercise. Local people practise tai chi and yoga in the cooler hours, and free group aerobics classes are held here. At 6 pm the national anthem plays and people stop where they are. Stand still with them.

Look for monitor lizards. The park is home to around 400 Asian water monitors, enough that a 2016 programme moved some of them elsewhere. Water monitors stay close to water, so look around the lake. They are wild animals. Keep your distance and do not feed them.

Take a boat. Swan paddle boats operate on the lake. Prices vary by report: one source gives 40 baht for 30 minutes, and in late 2022 the boats, kayaks and paddleboards were temporarily free from 9 am to 6 pm. Check at the pier.

Look at the statue. The King Rama VI statue was built in 1942. The land was his, and he gave it to the nation in 1925 as a fairground. The park takes its name from Lumbini, the Buddha’s birthplace in Nepal.

Listen to an outdoor concert. One guide says the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and others play here in the cooler months. Check the current schedule, since dates change each year.

Rules worth knowing

• Cycling is only allowed from 10 am to 3 pm.
• Smoking is banned throughout the park.
• Dogs are not allowed, apart from certified guide dogs.

When to go

Early morning is best, for the cool air and the exercise groups. Late afternoon is the second choice. In the middle of the day it is hot, with little reason to stay long. Our guide to the best time to visit Bangkok covers the seasons.

Is it worth it

It is worth an hour if you are staying nearby, need a break from malls and temples, or want a place to run. It is free, and the lizards are a real sight in the middle of a city. It does not replace the Grand Palace or Wat Pho on a short trip.

Hotels and places near the park

Dusit Thani Bangkok overlooks the park and connects to the Sala Daeng and Si Lom stations. Waldorf Astoria and The St. Regis are on Ratchadamri Road, and Banyan Tree is close by in Sathorn. See Silom for the wider area and its rooftops, and where to stay in Bangkok for the choice of areas.

If you came for boxing, note that Lumpinee Stadium is no longer here. It moved from Rama IV Road to Ram Inthra Road in 2014, far from the park.

Questions people ask

What are Lumpini Park opening hours?

It opens at 4:30 am. Sources differ on closing: the city ordered a 10 pm close in 2022, while other listings say 9 pm. Plan to be out by 9 pm.

Is Lumpini Park free?

Yes. Entry to the park is free. You may pay for extras such as the outdoor gym or a boat.

Which BTS station is near Lumpini Park?

Sala Daeng on the BTS Silom Line. MRT Si Lom and MRT Lumphini on the Blue Line also serve the park.

Are there monitor lizards in Lumpini Park?

Yes. The park is home to around 400 Asian water monitors, so look around the lake. Keep your distance and do not feed them.

Is Lumpini Park worth visiting?

Yes, for an hour in the early morning or late afternoon, especially if you stay nearby. It is free and gives a break from the traffic. It is not worth a special trip across town.