What is it?
Benjakitti is Bangkok’s newest city park, a green lung covering 720,000sqm, which is ironic given that the land was originally home to a tobacco factory. Today, it has been transformed to address environmental issues and manage urban resources, serving as a woodland park with integrated bodies of water that act as sponges to help mitigate against flooding. Notably, it holds the distinction of being Bangkok’s first park with a forested area.
Building of the park has been divided into three phases, with this first phase already established. The remaining two phases are further divided into three sections featuring four reservoirs that are surrounded by lush green spaces with 1,733 existing trees and 7,155 new arboreal additions. For those who love to keep active, recreational pathways include a 5.8-kilometre nature trail, a 2.8-kilometre running track and a 3.4-kilometre cycling path. The buildings on site consists of renovated tobacco storage warehouses and production facilities, now transformed into an indoor sports complex and a museum that can accommodate up to 3,000 visitors. There’s also a rice-growing demonstration field and an amphitheatre that can host events for upwards of 15,000 people.
Why go?
The park holds real value for the people of Bangkok, providing a space that connects deeply with their culture and daily lives. In transforming the site into a green space for the community, there has been a strong emphasis on creating an inviting atmosphere and aesthetics that make all feel welcome.
The park features marshes, forests and winding paths in a self-sustaining ecosystem that requires minimal intervention. At the same time, it offers spaces for a variety of urban activities, including workshops, sports courts, cafés and family restaurants. The redesign of the area incorporates 80s-inspired architecture but preserves key elements of the original tobacco factory’s structure to honour its historical significance.
Don’t miss:
There is a designated Dog Park zone where owners can bring their furry friends to socialise, play and exercise freely. It’s a space where pooches can roam and people can relax and connect with fellow dog lovers. Inside the building complex is a space dedicated to an exhibition honouring Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, focusing on her royal contributions to forestry. It features an herbarium showcasing plant species associated with her name, such as the Kityakara orchid.
Ticket info:
No entrance fee.
Time Out Tips:
The park is easily accessible via different modes of transportation, with the MRT and BTS train services being the most convenient options. Visitors can take the BTS Skytrain to Asoke station, or the MRT underground service to Sukhumvit station, or to Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre station. At the Convention Centre stop you will also find shops and restaurants to explore. If driving, the park’s entrance and exit gates for parking are open in the morning from 5am-9am and in the afternoon from 4pm-9pm.