8 ways to beat Bangkok’s PM2.5

You’re going to start checking the PM2.5 readings the same way you check your socials – IQAir app is one of the most used apps for it. Learn the pattern: how the numbers spike in the evening before easing slightly by dawn. You already know this stretch, from January 10-15, is going to be rough.

Once you are paying attention, the next step is obvious – masks become part of your daily kit. Not the cloth ones with cute patterns, but proper N95 or KN95 masks that actually seal around your face. Keep a stack so you’re not wearing the same one day after day. 

Where to buy: You can conveniently grab them at any 7-Eleven (brands like Microtex, G Lucky and Yamada are usually stocked) or order through their All Online service if you want them delivered.

Good games and decent company at home isn't the worst way to ride this week out. Lanlalen in Sala Ya and Dice Cup at Suan Luang Square are those boardgame cafes everyone loves. They’re not just about hosting though – they do sell these authentic games too, prices range from B900-2,000. Order a few, text your people and stay in!

Where to buy: Check out the choices at Lanlalen, where you can order and pay on their website. For Dice Cup, tap through their DMs to order.

We know it's still January and you might've just dragged yourself back from holiday, but hear us out. The south of Thailand consistently reports the lowest PM2.5 in the country. We’re talking about Phuket, Krabi, Satun, Surat Thani, Chumphon, Trang and Ranong. Not zero pollution, but manageable. Not orange bleeding into red. Coastal provinces catch steady sea breezes that shove pollutants elsewhere and there's no burning season down there trapping smoke in the air like it does up north. While Bangkok and Chiang Mai choke through January to April on crop fires, traffic fumes and stagnant air, the south just exists. Trang's got waterfalls and caves if you need to vanish for a weekend. Krabi's limestone cliffs never disappoint. Phuket's packed with tourists, sure, but your lungs will thank you anyway. Ranong offers hot springs and roads that actually empty out. Check daily readings before you book because weather's unpredictable, but if you're staring at orange skies right now, the south isn't a suggestion. It's the move.

They come with free WiFi, giving you somewhere to get work done without staring at the same four walls. The Bank of Thailand Learning Centre in Phra Nakhon is a good option – outside the worst PM2.5 zones, free entry, has a Chao Phraya view, though this is probably not the moment to linger outside hoping for a river breeze.

More picks of top Bangkok libraries, depending on your taste and the air quality that day.

Location: 273 Samsen Rd, Wat Sam Phraya, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok

Outdoor running when the air looks like this is the opposite of wellness. Exercise makes you breathe harder, which means more polluted air going in. Switch to indoor spaces like gyms, studios and climbing centres. ClassPass is handy for this – one membership gives you access to spots across Bangkok. You can rotate between places closer to home or work, cutting down the time you spend outside in transit!

Where to buy: Directly on ClassPass.com or through their app. Choose a membership plan, add credits as needed or try their trial options. Credits are valid for fitness, wellness, salon services and even restaurants across locations nationwide and worldwide.

If you're going stir-crazy indoors, BOUNCE Thailand might just save you. Two locations to pick from depending on where the air looks less apocalyptic: EmQuartier and Central Chaengwattana.

Indoor trampolines forming bouncy floors and walls. Free-Jump Arena for freestyle bouncing with tumble tracks. Big Air Bag for launching into foam pits. Slam Dunk for trampoline basketball (EmQuartier only). The Wall for parkour-style wall running.  The Central Chaengwattana branch adds a Net Course with 22 stations rising 11 metres high, plus an Air Arena. Rates start at B290-410 per hour for students and B390-510 for adults. Booking online gets you a discount!

Location: EmQuartier 4/F, 4B02 The Glass Quartier, Sukhumvit Rd, Klongton-Nua, Watthana, Bangkok

Inside defence matters when the air outside is working against you. This is when you load up on food that is bright and a little bitter. Morning glory, bitter melon and turmeric folded into curries can be found in many Thai dishes – spicy prawn and vegetable soup or Thai sour soup. Antioxidants are small protection but they count! Kub Kao Kub Pla is an easy option without having to brave the streets. It’s casual, reliable and has multiple locations inside malls like Terminal 21 (5/F) and EmQuartier (6/F).

Location: Terminal 21 5/F, Pier 21 Food Court, Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok

Not all of Bangkok suffers equally. Some districts consistently trap worse air: Pathum Wan, Bang Rak, Sathorn and Chatuchak. Avoid them when possible. Reroute around them. If you must head out, make it quick and limit time outdoors if you have the privilege to stay inside. Plan errands in areas with marginally better readings. It sounds absurd to say out loud, but this is Bangkok 2026 navigation now: not based on traffic or convenience, but on where you can breathe easy.