By NaJade · DJ in Bangkok · Published October 27, 2026
Benjakitti Forest Park is a free public park on Ratchadaphisek Road in central Bangkok, built on former Tobacco Authority land and fully opened as a forest park in 2022. It’s open daily from about 5am to 9pm, and its elevated skywalk winds over restored wetlands with the Sukhumvit skyline behind. The nearest station is MRT Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.
When friends ask where to go for fresh air in the middle of the city, I don’t send them out of Bangkok any more — I send them to Benjakitti. It’s the closest thing the city has to a nature walk without leaving the centre, and at sunset it’s one of the best free views in Bangkok.
Benjakitti Forest Park is a free, 72-hectare park between Sukhumvit and Rama IV, open roughly 5am to 9pm. Walk the elevated skywalk over the wetlands, cycle or run the paths, or cross the Green Mile bridge to Lumpini Park. Go early morning or around sunset, and take the MRT to Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.
Benjakitti Park at a Glance
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Ratchadaphisek Road, Khlong Toei, between Sukhumvit and Rama IV |
| Entry fee | Free |
| Opening hours | Daily, about 5:00–21:00 |
| Size | About 72 hectares in total, including the original lake park and the newer forest park |
| Nearest station | MRT Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC); BTS Asok and MRT Sukhumvit are a 10–15 minute walk |
| Time needed | 1–2 hours for a walk; longer if you cycle or run |
Opening times can shift for maintenance or events, so check the signs at the gate. Rules are posted at the entrances too — keep to marked paths and don’t fly drones without permission.
What to See and Do
The park has two quite different halves. The original section around the large lake is a classic city park with lawns, a running loop and a big open sky. The newer forest park is the reason most people come: former industrial land turned into wetlands, reed beds and young forest, crossed by elevated walkways.
- The skywalk. Raised boardwalks loop over the wetland ponds and through the trees. It’s the most photographed part of the park, especially with the towers of Asok behind it.
- The lake. A wide boating lake with a flat path around it — the easiest walk in the park, and a good place to watch the sunset.
- Cycling and running paths. Separate lanes run around the park, and early mornings are busy with runners. If that’s your thing, see run clubs in Bangkok.
- Birdlife. The wetlands attract pond herons, egrets, kingfishers and kites, plus migrants in spring and autumn. The Thai Birding guide to Benjakitti is a good starting point if you’re into birds.
- The Green Mile. An elevated bridge of about 1.3 km links Benjakitti to Lumpini Park, so you can walk between Bangkok’s two biggest central parks without crossing a road.
The Wikipedia page on Benjakitti Park covers the history of the site, from the Tobacco Authority’s land to the park named in honour of Queen Sirikit.
How to Get There
| Option | How | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MRT | Blue Line to Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre | The closest station; follow signs to the park |
| BTS | Sukhumvit Line to Asok, then walk south along Ratchadaphisek | About 10–15 minutes on foot |
| From Lumpini | Walk the Green Mile elevated bridge | A good way to see both parks in one go |
| Grab or taxi | Ask for Benjakitti Park, Ratchadaphisek Road | Useful late in the evening or in heavy rain |
If you’re new to the trains, start with my guides to the MRT and the BTS Skytrain.
Best Time to Visit
There are two good windows. Early morning (about 5:30–8:00) is cooler, quieter and best for running or birdwatching. Late afternoon into sunset gives you the classic skyline shots from the skywalk, with the city lights coming on behind the wetlands. Midday from March to May is brutal — there’s limited shade on the boardwalks.
In the dry, hazy months, check the air quality before a long run; my guide to Bangkok air pollution explains PM2.5 season and how to read the AQI. In the rainy season, storms usually come in the afternoon and evening, and the boardwalks can get slippery.
Tips for Visiting
- Bring water. There are clean toilets, but there are no food or drink kiosks inside the park, so carry your own.
- Wear real shoes rather than flip-flops if you plan to walk the whole skywalk loop.
- Use mosquito repellent around dusk — it is a wetland, after all.
- Share the paths. Stay out of the cycle lanes when walking and give runners room.
- Leave no trace. Don’t feed wildlife, pick plants or leave litter.
Benjakitti also makes an easy, low-cost plan for a relaxed afternoon with someone — I include it in my list of first date ideas in Bangkok.
A Note From NaJade
After a run of late gigs, my body clock is completely upside down, and the thing that resets it best is a slow walk at Benjakitti before the heat comes up. Some mornings I’m there at six with headphones in, listening back to the previous night’s recording and working out what I’d change. It’s the only place in central Bangkok where I can hear birds louder than traffic. Go at sunset if you want the photos; go at dawn if you want the city to feel quiet for an hour.
More: Lumpini Park, run clubs in Bangkok, things to do in Bangkok, and the best time to visit Bangkok.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Benjakitti Park free?
What are Benjakitti Park opening hours?
How do I get to Benjakitti Forest Park?
How long is the Benjakitti Park skywalk?
What is the best time to visit Benjakitti Park?
Can you cycle in Benjakitti Park?
About the Author
NaJade is a Bangkok-based DJ playing progressive house, melodic EDM, pop, and Thai music across clubs, rooftops, and weddings in Thailand — and has lived in the city long enough to have made every one of these mistakes at least once. Find him on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
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