Bangkok

Bangkok may be famous for its traffic jams and bustling streets, but it’s also a great place for bike riding. The best way to explore the hidden side streets, cyclists discover the out-of-the-way scenes that make up the real Bangkok, the one tourists never see from the Skytrain. The Concierge can suggest reliable tour companies that will take you on a cycling safari of the city’s lesser-known sights.

Once you’re on two wheels, you’ll feel less like a tourist and more like a local. Take your time and pedal through the old city and Chinatown, past ancient temples and crumbling colonial-style buildings. Ride across the Chao Phraya River and you’ll discover the other side of Bangkok, with its canals, coconut palms and emerald green rice fields.

Certain areas of the city even have bike lanes. In Banglamphu district, near the famous Khaosan Road, lanes are painted on the side of the road, making the route easy to follow. Since bicycles are permitted in city parks at certain times of the day, the best places to ride are also some of the most scenic. Benjakiti Park encircles a large lake beside the Queen Sirikit Convention Centre and makes for an enjoyable two-kilometre (1.2-mile) ride around the lake. There’s also an elevated bike-friendly path that leads to Lumphini Park, offering fascinating views of canal life along the way.

Riding enthusiasts say their favourite routes are the ones that take them off-the-beaten paths to the sois, the quiet lanes that make up so much of the city. They love to wander past small shops and cafes, and let the noise from the traffic disappear. It’s all about experiencing the city away from the tourists and the major roads, to see the real Bangkok where people live, work and play.
 
For those who want to get out of the city for a day and into the countryside, why not do it on two wheels? It’s a great way to explore Buddhist temples and Islamic mosques, glimpse Thai farmers working fish farms and rice mills and see traditional Thai wooden houses. You can even set your bike down for a little while and take a boat ride down the Saen Saeb canal.
 
So, to those who wonder if biking in Bangkok is possible, the answer is: definitely!