314 metres above Bangkok. The highest viewpoint in Thailand. A glass floor, open terrace and one of the few experiences in the city that gives you a real context of how huge Bangkok is within minutes.

If you're wondering if the Mahanakhon SkyWalk is worth a visit - here's my honest answer: yes, but only if you know when and why to go.

(And you have to take into account that I'm not that objective, because I have a big soft spot for sightseeing in general)

Why go here (and not elsewhere)

Bangkok has temples, markets, a river, rooftop bars, shopping malls. But Mahanakhon is the symbol of modern Thailand. It gives you a different perspective.

From above, you'll see:

• the Chao Phraya River and in the distance you can see the temples of Wat Arun or Wat Paknam
• the endless Sukhumvit
• financial Silom
• green islands of parks

If this is your first visit, I recommend going here on your first or second day.

It will help you better understand the greatness of Bangkok.

• 👉 Where to stay in Bangkok
• 👉 Metro and transport in Bangkok

Before you drive up, take note of the building itself.

The base is a simple glass block. But its façade is intersected by a spiral made up of "chiseled" blocks that look like someone has ripped out part of the building.

The curving spiral quickly earned the nickname "pixel ribbon" and, in addition to its design function, allows many apartments to have outdoor balconies.

Bangkok is not a sleek Dubai. It is chaotic, layered and constantly changing. And this building captures that better than any temple.

What exactly will you experience here

The elevator will take you up in a minute - and you'll be entertained for well over an hour on the observation deck.

🏢 74th floor - indoor observatory

Air-conditioned lobby with panoramic windows. Good in rain or extreme heat.

The downside is obvious - glare in the glass especially when shooting at night. But the windows are very clean and straight, so you can shoot quite well from here too.

🌬️ 78th floor - open rooftop terrace

This is where the real experience begins. The roof is layered - you can walk around and there's a raised platform in the middle where you get a slightly better view over the surrounding buildings.

There are plenty of benches and comfortable chairs everywhere, but most importantly: you can take photos here without any glass barriers!

At 314 metres high, it is the highest publicly accessible observatory in Thailand.

The outdoor rooftop terrace is the absolute best in the dark.

In daylight too, but be prepared for intense heat and often very harsh sunshine.

🟦 Glass Tray - glass floor

The most famous spot at King Power Mahanakhon. A glass panel over a 300 meter deep "nothing".

You'll get shoe covers and probably have to stand in line (for up to 30 minutes during sunset).

However, you don't pay any extra money here.

🎢 I-Tilt (optional upgrade)

A tilting platform above the edge of the building. Extra adrenaline that is not part of the basic entry.

We didn't end up using this aerial swing because the views from it would be worse than from the upper floors (it's about 30 meters below the highest vantage point).

Prices and opening hours (actual reality)

Tickets can be purchased online and at the door. If you plan to go to the viewpoint during sunset, buying online will save you a queue of well over 30 minutes.

And if you don't mind buying at the exact time, online will save you 300 baht.

Standard admission includes both sightseeing tours, but does not include I-Tilt.

Daytime	Website	On site
During the day (until 15:30)	1 000 thb	1 300 thb
Sunset + night	1 200 thb	1 500 thb

Buy tickets online cheapest via the official website: kingpowermahanakhon.co.th/plan-your-visit.

If you're not sure what the normal prices are in Thailand, check out the Money and Prices in Thailand section.

Open daily 10:00-00:00 (last entry 23:30).

We visited the viewpoint just after 10:00 and because we were unsure of the time of our visit beforehand, we bought our tickets on the spot. There was no queue at all this early in the morning.

Tip: if you have any luggage with you (even a small backpack, you must leave it in the lockers at the ticket office - free of charge).

Best time to visit

When to visit King Power Mahanakhon for the best experience?

🌅 60 minutes before sunset

Ideal for me.

You'll see:

• the city by light
• golden hour
• Bangkok lit up at night

☀️ Morning

During our visit to Bangkok, we had plans for every night, so we went to the view after 10:00pm.

• 🍸 Our favorite bars and bistros in Bangkok

If you're lucky enough to have clear weather like we did, the daytime views are beautiful too.

Plus, it's significantly less crowded upstairs than in the evening.

Just watch out for the heat and the sun. Definitely bring sunscreen and sunglasses!

Is it worth it?

As I said in the introduction, I'm not objective because I love the view.

But I'll try to give a more objective summary anyway.

✅ Yes, if:

• you like views and want to get an idea of how huge Bangkok is
• you have more than 2 days in Bangkok
• you have already explored old Bangkok on previous visits

❌ Not if:

• you prefer more history and traditional Bangkok -> then more like Grand Palace or Wat Pho
• you only have a short time in Bangkok during a layover between flights and want to see more iconic places

If you want to understand how endless Bangkok is in one hour, Mahanakhon will show you better than any map.

King Power or Akara SkyHanuman?

Bangkok has more viewpoints and rooftop bars. The most common comparison is with Akara SkyHanuman. We addressed this as well and ended up visiting both viewpoints.

King Power Mahanakhon

• The highest open terrace in the city
• Glass floor
• Much better views of the river
• Cheaper entrance fee

Akara SkyHanuman

• Lower altitude and slightly worse views
• More of a bar than a viewpoint
• More attractions inside - slightly better "wow-effect"
• Restaurant and terrace bar (extremely overpriced!)
• Our photos and experience

We both agreed that Akara Sky has potential (it's more interactive and has more attractions), but we liked King Power Mahanakhon better because of the extreme pricing and better river view.

Our itinerary with Mahanakhon view

Here's my inspiration for how we incorporated a visit to the skyscraper into our itinerary.

We stayed at the Pullman G hotel just a 7 minute walk from King Power.

• After breakfast right at 10:00 a.m., we visited Mahanakhon, where we stayed until about 11:00 a.m.
• then a quick coffee at the Arabica cafe in the opposite skyscraper with a nice view of the King Power Mahanakhon, we were there until about 12:00
• transfer by subway (about 30 minutes in total) to the Chatuchak weekend market, where we stayed until about 15:00
• after that back by metro to the centre for shopping in the Siam area (until about 17:00)
• visit to Akara viewpoint
• in the evening we caught the BKK Social Club bar

If you are into world sightseeing, you can experience a similar wow effect at:

• Tokyo Tower
• Menara Kuala Lumpur
• The Edge New York

How to get there

The easiest way:

• 🚆 BTS Skytrain - Chong Nonsi station (Silom Line - dark green)
  • The building is right by the exit
• 🚕 Taxi / Bolt / Grab - the station is right outside the entrance to the building
  • Expect longer queues in the evening and afternoon (approx. between 4pm and midnight) in the direction of the centre
  • Best choice for getting to historic Bangkok
• ✈️ Our experience with airport transportation
  • Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi BKK
  • Bangkok-Don Mueang DMK

We explain how local public transport works in detail in the chapter Transport in Bangkok.

If you are planning on moving around Thailand (e.g. Ayutthaya, Pattaya, Hua Hin), the most convenient way to book trains and buses is:

Book transport around Thailand - 12go.asia

Where to stay in the area

Mahanakhon lies between Silom and Sathorn - two very handy areas for a first visit. A modern clean part of town with good accessibility by metro and taxis.

For a detailed analysis of the neighbourhoods, see the chapter - Where to stay in Bangkok.

If you want to stay right in the King Power Mahankhon skyscraper:

• 👉 The Standard Bangkok ***** - higher price level, luxury hotel with unique style

If you want to stay near the BTS metro station cheaper but still with international standard:

• 👉 Holiday Inn Express Bangkok Sathorn ****

Want a wider choice across Bangkok?

The 10 best hotels in Bangkok

FAQ

We addressed these questions before our visit.

Is it worth visiting Mahanakhon?
Yes, if you like the view, there is nothing to worry about.

What is the best time to visit King Power Mahanakhon?
60 minutes before sunset.

How much is the entrance fee and will I save when I book online?
Day admission for 1 000 thb, evening admission for 1 200 thb. Save 300 baht when you book online.

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