Lumphini Park (Gay Cruising Area)

The City Park in Bangkok. A lovely park, in my opinion. Not spectacular, but nicely landscaped. Beautiful plants. The highlight is the monitor lizards that roam freely. Right at the exit, there's a market hall where you can buy street food and drinks.

There are way too many people on inline skates. They go really fast and it's dangerous for pedestrians. They gather in groups and occupy the space. Why doesn't security say anything?

Lumphini Park is a peaceful and relaxing place in the middle of busy Bangkok. The park is spacious, clean, and full of greenery, making it a great place to take a break from the traffic and crowded streets. I really enjoyed walking around the lake and seeing the large monitor lizards, which was a unique experience. There are plenty of places to sit, walk, jog, or simply enjoy the scenery. The contrast between the quiet park and the surrounding city buildings is especially nice. It is definitely worth visiting if you want some fresh air and a slower moment while exploring Bangkok.

Visited Lumphini Park around sunset and decided to go for a run through the park. This turned out to be one of my favourite ways of experiencing a different side of Bangkok. As evening approached, the paths gradually filled with locals. There were people running and walking after work, friends exercising together and older residents taking their evening walks. I simply joined them and ran through the park. What I particularly enjoyed was how tourism seemed to almost disappear once I was inside. Nobody was trying to sell me anything, there was no sightseeing agenda to follow and nowhere I particularly needed to get to. I was simply running alongside people spending an ordinary evening in their own city. The park itself is beautiful around this time of day. There are ponds, little bridges, plenty of trees and landscaped walking paths, while Bangkok’s skyline occasionally appears between the greenery. As daylight faded and the lights started coming on, the atmosphere became especially pleasant. Bangkok can feel incredibly busy, but Lumphini Park shows a completely different side of the city — calm, green and local, yet still full of life. If you’re visiting Bangkok, I would recommend coming in the late afternoon and staying through sunset. You don’t necessarily need anything planned. Just walk, run, sit for a while and watch Bangkok go about its evening.