Bangkok buzzes, blares, steams, and sings. The traffic never quite sleeps, the air hums with heat, and the Chao Phraya moves like a long, slow pulse through the heart of it all. Sunset doesn’t arrive quietly either. It spills. It drapes the rooftops, washes the river in amber, flares behind temple spires. It softens the edges of the day, surrendering first to golden light, then to dusk.
Catching the sunset in Bangkok from an opulent rooftop bar may be the obvious choice, but some of the most memorable sunset moments unfold in the quieter, more unexpected corners.
Each one offers something different, a view, a mood, a memory.
Here’s where you can watch the Bangkok sunset glow
| jump to Section | Summary |
|---|---|
| Benjakitti Park | A peaceful park offering a view of the skyline with golden sunsets, perfect for a relaxed evening. |
| Chao Phraya Sky Park | An elevated walkway with views of Wat Arun at sunset, offering a unique urban experience. |
| The Golden Mount at Wat Saket | Climb the 344 steps for a spectacular view of the sun setting over Rattanakosin Island. |
| Jack’s Bar | A riverside bar with a relaxed atmosphere, where you can enjoy the sunset and local charm. |
| Wat Arun | Known for its porcelain spires, this temple is particularly stunning at sunset when it glows with golden and rose hues. |
| COCO Chao Phraya & Sheepshank Public House | Enjoy the sunset views of the Rama VIII Bridge, with a mix of craft beers and river views. |
| The River Itself: Chao Phraya | The river itself offers some of the best sunset moments with temple views and golden skies. |
| Mahanakhon Skywalk | With panoramic views from 314 meters above the city, you can watch the sunset over the entire skyline. |
| The Mandarin Oriental | Watch the sunset from one of Bangkok’s most iconic hotels, soaking in views along the river. |
| The Siam | A hidden gem along the river, offering elegant Art Deco charm and stunning sunset views from the hotel’s boat. |
Benjakitti Park
Benjakitti Park always feels like a little secret, even though it isn’t one. It’s green and graceful and right in the middle of everything. You can walk the loop around the lake, explore the shaded paths, or take the elevated skywalk among the trees and wild grasses. Or maybe find a spot on the lawn to sit down. Listen to the birds. Watch the way the skyline flickers behind the trees. When the sun starts to slip behind those tall glass towers, it all turns golden and soft.
Chao Phraya Sky Park
This elevated walkway, nearly 300 metres long and lined with flowers and trees, sits atop a bridge that was once meant to carry a Skytrain line. Instead, it became Southeast Asia’s only sky park over the Chao Phraya. The view of Wat Arun at sunset is something special in Bangkok. With Pak Khlong Talad (the flower market) just a short walk away, the Chao Phraya Sky Park makes for a unique, urban sunset stroll in Bangkok.
The Golden Mount at Wat Saket
Bangkok’s only hill. Not a big one, but enough to change your perspective. Climb the 344 steps to the top, and suddenly the whole city opens around you at the Golden Mount at Wat Saket.
The chedi up there holds a relic from Sri Lanka. There’s history here: during the cholera pandemic of the early 19th century, the hill was used as a burial ground, and later became the site of royal restorations and spiritual significance.
But it’s the view that holds me. When the sun dips low and Rattanakosin Island glows beneath you, it feels almost sacred.
Jack’s Bar
Tucked beside the Shangri-La, Jack’s Bar is a little slice of old-school Bangkok. A shack with a tin roof, buffalo skulls on the wall, and wooden tables right by the water. At sundown, the whole river turns to liquid gold, and the ferries, barges, longtails and dinner cruises glide by like shadow puppets. Sometimes it rains, and the metal roof erupts like a drum solo. Sometimes there’s live music. But even when there isn’t, there’s a rhythm to the place that keeps you sitting longer than you planned.
Wat Arun
Wat Arun, known as the Temple of Dawn, is named for the morning, but it truly becomes unforgettable in the evening. As the sun sets, the temple’s porcelain spires catch the light, glowing with shades of gold and rose as if they are illuminated from within.
The air shifts from warm to cool, and in the distance, the Grand Palace and Wat Pho begin to shimmer, their golden rooftops catching the last light of day. If you’re looking for drama, this is it. The sky, the spires, and the river create a stunning spectacle, as if the city is putting on a show just for you.
Across the river, bars like Eagle’s Nest, The Deck, and Above Riva provide front-row seats to this unbeatable panorama.
COCO Chao Phraya & Sheepshank Public House
These two are located next to Phra Athit Park. Sheepshank Public House offers craft beers and has a slightly nautical vibe, while COCO Chao Phraya is elegant yet low-key. Both places provide a view of the Rama VIII Bridge, which, lit up at sunset, resembles something out of a dream, with its golden cables catching the light like a harp strung across the river.
The River Itself: Chao Phraya
Nowhere is the Thai capital more iconic than along the banks of the Chao Phraya, the River of Kings. Here, Bangkok reveals its charisma: culinary hotspots tucked into colonial facades, centuries-old temples standing beside modern galleries, and quiet walkways lined with memory. It’s along the river that the city feels eternal and history seems to pause.
Take to the water, a longtail, a dinner cruise, even a commuter ferry, and you’ll find your sunset moment. As the temples light up onshore and the sky begins to glow, the river melts into gold.
Mahanakhon Skywalk
At 314 metres above street level, the Mahanakhon Skywalk gives you the entire city at once. Roads twist below like glowing ribbons, temple roofs gleam in the haze, and even the river looks small and serene. The glass floor may unsettle your feet, but the view is pure, gravity-defying calm. Here you can see the sun lowers itself into the haze, and the whole horizon turns to fire.
The Mandarin Oriental
The Mandarin Oriental is a piece of Bangkok’s literary and cultural history. Somerset Maugham, Joseph Conrad, and Graham Greene once stayed here, watching the same river drift by in the golden hour. As the light filters through the palms and hits the verandas, the whole place seems to slip into another time. Some sunsets here are quiet. Others, cinematic. All of them feel like part of a longer story.
The Siam
Hidden along a calm stretch of the river, The Siam feels like it belongs to another world, or another time. Designed by architect Bill Bensley, the hotel blends sleek Art Deco elegance with Thai colonial charm. Whitewashed walls, black-and-white tile floors, and palm-framed verandas set the stage for a sunset that unfolds like a perfectly composed film. Each evening at 5.30, the hotel’s retrofitted riverboat departs for a sunset cruise toward Saphan Taksin, featuring a bartender mixing cocktails and elegant canapés served as the city slips by in golden hues.
Find your spot
When the city exhales and the light begins to fade, take a moment to settle on a park bench, at a riverside table, or wherever the golden hour finds you. Allow the golden light to wash over everything, the water, the rooftops, and your thoughts.
These moments are the true gold of Bangkok, memories you carry with you long after the sun has set.
If you want to unwind and enjoy the city views while also sipping drinks and cocktails, check out our list of rooftop bars in Bangkok with stunning views and relaxing vibes.
The story Bangkok in gold: Where to catch the sunset as seen on Thaiger News.
