A Recreational Playground in the Heart
of Bangkok City

Lumpini Park in Bangkok could well be the perfect place to reflect, rest and relax if the need to escape all that relentless smog and fumes of the inner city streets. With so much tropical greenery, this park of tranquillity could possibly be compared to that of Central Park in New York or that of Hyde Park in London.

Locals here call it the lung of the city and with good reason too. Apart from not having to ingest traffic pollution and noise, it is just so much easier to breathe.

I am not exactly sure why this is, but I’m told that the park also has the spelling Lumphini. An extra character has been added to the word. There is, however, no cause for alarm as at the end of the day, it matters not to all of you who love coming here to relax, dance, play, pray or whatever else might float your boat. 

Thai Residents Practicing Kick Boxing

This lovely park is named after the Buddha’s birthplace in Nepal and is the city’s principal greenbelt. It’s a true tropical oasis sprawled around a few boating lakes, outdoor cafes and an open-air exercise area where Chinese residents come to practice the rhythmic movements of Tai Chi Chuan early in the morning.

The park is the best place to sit back and relax while watching the whole world go by. You can observe Thai families strolling around in their best attire. You can watch elderly Chinese folk playing chess. You can also watch young Thai men play impromptu games of takraw or even better still, why not grab yourself a paddle-boat and take a romantic boat ride on one of the lakes.

Chinese Residents Practicing Tai Chi

Getting to Lumpini Park 

The easiest ways to get to the park is by train. Either take the BTS SkyTrain to the Saladaeng Station or the underground directly to Lumpini Park Station. If using the underground you’ll exit right beside the park. You may want to get off at Silom Station and then walk the rest of the way. It’s entirely up to you. You need to remember that you’re going to the park to relax so there’s really no need to rush.

The alternative would be to go by taxi in which case I need not give directions. However, if you are using your own transport, that’s a completely different story. Can be a little scary for foreigners, especially if it’s your first visit here.

To get to the park, just follow the road all the way past the Patpong district of Silom Road where you’ll come across a huge and extremely busy intersection. You’ll see the park just across that intersection to the northeast.

There are a number of entry points to the park, but the main entrance is at the Silom Road intersection where the road meets with the corner of Rama IV Road between Ratchadamri Road and Witthayu Road. See map below for directions.

Directions to the Lumpini Park