BANGKOK, THAILAND - WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL GUIDE

Overview

Locals call it Krung Thep, the "City of Angels." Tourists who think they are cool refer to it as "Big Mango." Officially, it is Bangkok, Thailand.

While many of the scenes depicted in 'The Hangover Part II' can certainly be found in Thailand's capital city, there is much more to Bangkok than wild parties and alcohol. The city is home to more than 8 million. Located in the Chao Phraya River delta, the city is hot year-round, and muggy during the summertime rainy season.

Wheelchair accessibility is poor, but improving. Adventurous wheelchair travelers can immerse themselves in Thai culture and experience many of the city's most popular attractions with the information contained in this guide.

THINGS TO DO IN BANGKOK
PART OF THE BANGKOK WHEELCHAIR TRAVEL GUIDE
** Important ** This information on this page is outdated, and will be brought up to date soon. In the meantime, check out this blog post from my recent trip to Bangkok in May-June 2016: 48 Hours in Bangkok: 5 Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do

Many of Bangkok's popular sights are accessible to the disabled and wheelchair users. In some cases, disabled travelers may be forced to adapt from the norm to participate in certain experiences, but it is possible with some advance planning. Some attractions, however, are inaccessible due to a lack of ramps or elevators. See the information below concerning the accessibility of Bangkok's attractions. The nearest wheelchair accessible BTS, MRT or ARL station is noted for each attraction. Please note that there may be a closer BTS station, but if it is not listed here, it is not accessible to wheelchairs users.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

The Chatuchak Weekend Market is perhaps the largest and most popular street market in the world. With more than 15,000 vendors and stalls, hawkers sell virtually any item one could dream of. Clothing, books, handcrafts, religious articles, art, plants, food and much more are available for purchase throughout the market. Because the market lines the streets, it is accessible to wheelchair users. Congestion is a problem as more than 150,000 visit the market each week -- patience is key.
Subway Metro Icon Nearest BTS: Mo Chit // Nearest MRT: Chatuchak Park

Bangkok Grand Palace - Photo by Mda from Wikipedia

Grand Palace

The Grand Palace, which sits at the heart of Bangkok, is the official residence of the King of Thailand. The palace grounds are composed of numerous buildings, gardens and courtyards. The palace grounds are partially open to the public and are a must-see attraction for visitors to Bangkok. The lawns and gardens are wheelchair accessible. The palace complex also houses the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (see below), with the building itself being a marvelous sight. Disabled and wheelchair travelers will need to utilize a taxi or face a long walk/roll from the nearest subway station.
Subway Metro Icon Nearest MRT: 3.2 km from Hua Lamphong

Wat Phra Kaew - Temple of the Emerald Buddha

Regarded as the most sacred Buddhist Temple in Thailand, the Wat Phra Kaew is home to the the Emerald Buddha statue. The statue, carved from a single block of jade, made its way from Laos in 1782. It was enshrined in the Wat Phra Kaew temple at that time. A national treasure, the statue may only be touched by the King of Thailand. There are approximately 20 steps that lead to the temple. Unless you can ascend steps or have people carry you or your wheelchair up the steps, the inside of the temple will not be accessible. Disabled and wheelchair travelers will need to utilize a taxi or face a long walk/roll from the nearest subway station.
Subway Metro Icon Nearest MRT: 3.2 km from Hua Lamphong

Wat Traimit Temple, Bangkok

Wat Traimit - Temple with the Golden Buddha

The current Wat Traimit temple was built in 2010 to house the world's largest golden statue, weighing some 5.5 tons or 5,500 kilograms. The statue, which depicts Buddha in a posture of meditation, was believed to be made of stone until 1955, when the statue was moved and an outer plaster layer was chipped and broke away. It is believed that the statue was encased in stucco prior to the 1767 Burmese invasion to shroud its true identity from thieves. The new temple is wheelchair accessible, with a mechanical lift at the rear of the building. For the disabled Bangkok tourist, this provides an excellent opportunity to come close to one of the world's true sculptural treasures - literally!
Subway Metro Icon Nearest MRT: 0.5 km from Hua Lamphong

Baiyoke Tower Viewing Deck

Reaching 997 feet (304 m) into the Bangkok sky, the Baiyoke Tower is the tallest building in Thailand. The building sits amid the Pratunam Market, another of the city's large street markets. Housed within the tower is the four star Baiyoke Sky Hotel, shops, restaurants and observation decks on the 77th and 85th floors. There is no better place from which to view the city and skyline below. Access to the upper floors costs $300 THB ($9-10 USD). The tower and viewing decks are wheelchair accessible.
Subway Metro Icon Nearest ARL: 2 blocks from Ratchaprarop // Nearest BTS: 1.7 km from Siam

Lumphini Park

The largest public green area in Bangkok's city proper, Lumphini Park sits on 142 acres in the center of the main business district. The park is a great place to enjoy the weather, with countless shade trees, lawns, an artificial lake and more than 30 species of birds. The park is very accessible to wheelchair users with paved pathways throughout. A statue of King Rama VI, erected in 1942, stands at the park's southwestern entrance.
Subway Metro Icon Nearest MRT: 1 block from Si Lom --or-- 1 block from Lumphini

Benchasiri Park, Bangkok

Benchasiri Park & Sukhumvit Road

Benchasiri Park is a 12 acre park and garden on Sukhumvit Road between Soi 22 and 24. Built in honor of Queen Sirikit's 60th birthday in 1992, the park features an artificial lake, numerous lawns and shaded benches. Spread throughout the park are twelve sculptures contributed by Thai artists. The park entrance on Sukhumvit Road is adorned with ornamental gates honoring the King and royal family. The park paths and lawns are wheelchair friendly, with repairs made as recently as November 2014. Visitors to the park will enjoy the walk/roll along Sukhumvit Road, which is one of the most accessible thoroughfares in Bangkok. The vast majority of sidewalks have curb cuts, with only one to two intersections per kilometer, on average, lacking the feature.
Subway Metro Icon Nearest BTS: 1 km from Asok // Nearest MRT: 1 km from Sukhumvit

Siam Square & Siam Paragon Shopping Center

The Siam district is home to shops, restaurants and more. Siam Square One and the Siam Paragon Shopping Center are both connected directly to the Siam BTS station which is the connection point for the BTS Sukhumvit and BTS Silom lines. Siam Paragon is a traditional shopping mall with brand name stores and a food court. Siam Ocean World, an aquarium, is housed beneath the Paragon center. The area has plenty of Thai, Chinese and Western dining options, including a Hard Rock Cafe within two blocks of Siam Square One. Both shopping malls are fully accessible to wheelchair users.
Subway Metro Icon Nearest BTS: Siam