Bangkok's 6 best first date spots (no dinners or bar stools involved)

Those wooden walkways and the 1.3km elevated skywalk linking Benchakitti to Lumpini at sunset are pure indie rom-com material. You can walk, talk and you definitely will not fall in a literal sense. Metaphorically though? Who knows. It makes you look thoughtful and outdoorsy in this busy city. They'll be thinking, ‘What a down-to-earth, wellness-centred person’ for sure.

If you need a few easy facts to casually drop, this is Bangkok’s first proper forest park, with wetlands, around 8,000 trees and a dog zone spread across 720,000 square metres. There’s also plenty to do with your hands before it turns into a hand-holding situation: bike rentals are just 200m from the entrance and pedal boats are right there too. Come at sunset or early morning for the best atmosphere. There’s even a 2.8km running track if you both are feeling athletic, though that might be a lot for a first date.

Hours: Daily 5am-9pm

Entrance: Free. City bikes B350 for two hours, B550 half day or B850 full day. Mountain bikes are B100 extra.

Location: Ratchadaphisek Road, Khlong Toei. Nearest MRT Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre Exit 3 or BTS Asok with a 10-15 minute walk.

Time Out tip: Bangkok Forest Cycling also does picnic services, with blankets, balloons and zero effort on your part. They offer Italian, French, German or English breakfast sets, plus snacks or dinner options.

This is Thai businessman Jesada Dejsakulrit's personal collection of 500 plus vintage cars, motorbikes, planes, helicopters and the occasional double-decker bus. There's a DeLorean (yes, from Back to the Future), bubble cars, three-wheelers that are basically tuk-tuk ancestors and loads of quirky French cars like the Citroën Mehari.

There's something sweet about wandering around someone's completely bonkers passion project together. It takes the pressure off, gives you both permission to be a bit geeky and basically hands you hours of built-in conversation starters. Hard to have boring small talk when you're both geeking out over a DeLorean. Main museum's closed for a makeover, but the collection's still making surprise appearances around town – follow their Facebook and pray to the luck gods.

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9am-5pm (closed Mondays)

Entrance: Free

Location: 100 Moo 2, Ngiu Rai, Nakhon Chai Si, Nakhon Pathom 73120

Time Out tip: It's about 50km west of Bangkok in Nakhon Pathom – not easy by public transport. Best to hire a taxi and combine with other nearby attractions like Phra Pathom Chedi.

This works because it hands you something to look at, point to and casually discuss. MOCA has five floors of Thai contemporary art, around 800 pieces, so you can wander around making semi-intelligent observations and the occasional casual debate even if you are completely winging it. The white-walled galleries have brilliant natural light and the building itself is gorgeous.

Plus, you get to see if they're the ‘stand and absorb’ type or more ‘Instagram and go’. Both are fine, but it’s useful intel!

The museum showcases everything from traditional Thai paintings rooted in Buddhist mythology to provocative modern installations. There is a Richard Green collection on the fifth floor with Victorian era works and a cafe on the ground floor if you need to decompress.

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm (closed Mondays).
Entrance: Adults B280-300, students B120.
Location: 499 Kamphaeng Phet 6 Road, Lat Yao, Chatuchak.

Time Out tip: Budget 2-3 hours. Photography is allowed without flash, except in the Richard Green collection. Weekday afternoons are best to avoid crowds. The museum isn't near BTS/MRT – take a taxi or Grab from Mo Chit BTS, about 10 minutes.

Either the most charming thing you've ever suggested or completely baffling, depending on their tolerance for whimsy, wonder and cultural experiences. Baan Silapin sits over Khlong Bang Luang canal in a 200-year-old wooden house – exactly the sort of hidden, authentic Bangkok you're after.

The traditional Thai puppet show happens daily (except Wednesdays) on a small wooden stage in front of an old white chedi. Puppets controlled by people dressed in black tell stories from Thai folklore – often featuring Hanuman the monkey god – with live music. It's mesmerising even if you don't speak Thai and the whole thing only lasts about 30 minutes.

The neighbourhood itself is lovely: wooden houses on stilts, tiny art studios, the occasional boat vendor selling snacks. You can feed fish from the boardwalk, grab drinks upstairs or browse art in the small gallery. A first date at a puppet show separates the fun ones from the boring ones instantly – useful screening tool!

Hours: Daily 9am–6pm

Entrance: Free (donation box available)

Location: 315 Wat Tong Salangam, Phet Kasem 28, Khuha Sawan, Phasi Charoen

Time Out tip: Arrive by boat for extra atmosphere: Tha Tien or Saphan Taksin piers.

Keeping it breezy if you're already knocking about the Khao San area. The club does English-language stand-up with a rotating lineup of professional comedians and up-and-comers from all over. You'll get a mix of seasoned Bangkok regulars and touring comedians passing through. The whole vibe is dead relaxed, beers won't cost you a kidney and the comedians usually stick around after for a chat. Fair warning: expect some grey to dark jokes (it's Khao San Road after all!).

Why it's brilliant for a first date: shared laughter is basically an instant chemistry detector. If you're both creasing at the same ridiculous story, that's always a good sign. If one of you is howling whilst the other's giving polite golf claps – that’s something useful. Plus, there's zero pressure to fill silences when someone's got a microphone. And if some jokes land badly, that's even better – nothing creates an instant bond quite like witnessing a beautiful disaster together and catching each other's eye, like 'are you seeing this?

Hours: Nightly around 9pm

Entrance: Around B300-400 (usually includes a free drink)

Location: Khao San Park Resort, Khao San Road, Phra Nakhon

Time Out tip: There's sometimes earlier improv shows that's family-friendly if you want something tamer. The vibe is informal and can sometimes be raucous.

This 60-hectare park includes a dedicated Pet Park zone of roughly 3,200 square metres, where dogs can run free, socialise, plus lakes, cycling paths, butterfly gardens and plenty of shade.

It's genuinely sweet if you’re both dog people. Watching how someone interacts with animals tells you a lot about them. Plus dogs are natural icebreakers. They'll do something daft, you'll both laugh, instant common ground. And if things feel a bit awkward? Just focus on the dogs, throw a squeaky toy and go ‘who’s a good boy’. They’re basically tiny wingmen with terrible social boundaries. Fair warning though: it can get chaotic if you’ve never done this before and dogs can have strong opinions about who’s in charge.

Hours: Daily 4.30am-9pm

Entrance: Free

Location: Kampheng Phet Road 3. Nearest BTS: Mo Chit.

Time Out tip: Bring vaccination records, leashes, waste bags and water.