City Run at Benchakitti
A tobacco factory rebuilt as wetland forest — run the skywalks above the reeds, then cross to Lumphini without touching a road.
A 1.3 km elevated green trail links Benchakitti directly to Lumphini Park, so you can loop two of Bangkok's biggest parks without crossing a single road. In a city this hostile to pedestrians, that is close to a miracle.
The route
Benchakitti gives you two surfaces in one run: the lake circuit at ground level, and the Forest Park skywalks that carry you on stilts above constructed wetland and reeds. The park was rebuilt on land that belonged to the Tobacco Monopoly and fully opened in 2022 across 72 hectares — see the park guide.
- Short: lake circuit only — flat, shaded in parts, good for an easy few kilometres.
- Standard: lake plus forest skywalks, which adds elevation change and much better views.
- Long: add the green trail to Lumphini and loop both parks.
When to run — this matters here
Run 06:00–08:00 or after 17:00. Midday heat and humidity are genuinely dangerous for hard efforts: Bangkok is regularly ranked the hottest major city on Earth by mean annual temperature, and the humidity blocks the evaporative cooling you'd rely on elsewhere. Carry water even for short runs, slow your usual pace, and treat air-quality season (roughly January–March) with caution.
Other places to run
- Lumphini Park — the classic 2.5 km loop; also where the evening aerobics take over the plaza.
- Chatuchak Park — longer, flatter loops and more shade.
- Bang Krachao — the "green lung" across the river; elevated paths through jungle, better by bike but runnable.
Races
Bangkok's big road races run in the cool season, roughly November to February, when the city is 25–32°C rather than punishing. Entries open months ahead through the organisers.
Getting there
MRT Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre sits at the park's edge; Asok BTS and Sukhumvit MRT are a short walk. Lockers and toilets are limited — come changed.
Find the parks in the 3D city →