The Best Swimming Pools in Bangkok

The Best Swimming Pools in Bangkok

Anyone who has ever visited the baking Thai capital of Bangkok before will attest to the fact that you would be well to do your very best to book accommodation with a swimming pool to hand if possible.

It’s true that the majority of hotels and even condominiums in the city come with swimming pools of varying sizes and quality. And aside from that, there are a few swimming pools to be found in gyms, fitness facilities, and other areas around the city.

In fact, when it comes down to it, there are actually lots of places you can go swimming in Bangkok. But finding the one most suited to your particular requirements may take a bit of digging, as with the majority of things worth your time in the Thai capital.

Most visitors to Bangkok usually find themselves wanting to cool down within a few days, if not hours of being in the city. Yes, it is hot, and it’s not surprisingly one of the most humid areas in the country due to its expansive stretches of baking concrete and traffic, with little by way of greenery to be found in many of the most prominent and busy inner-city regions.

Image by christophe95 sourced from creativecommons.org

Luckily, Bangkok boasts an abundance of decent swimming spots. You may find that your hotel has a great pool, for instance, but if you find yourself fancying going a bit further afield, you will find quite a range of other swimming facilities within the confines of the vast and chaotic city..

If you are looking for pure scenery for you Instagram shots by way of rooftop infinity pools, which Bangkok is in no short supply of – check out one of our previous posts on some of the best rooftop pools in Bangkok.

In this post, however, you will find of variety of more accessible options from the budget to the slightly more expensive swimming pools in Bangkok that allow day passes for visitors and are more geared towards just swimming.

So whether you just fancy some exercise or you find yourself in need of a dip after an exhaustive shopping frenzy – in this post you should find a variety of Bangkok swimming pools that you can head for if the heat becomes overwhelming in the Thai capital.

1. The Racquet Club

image sourced from pexels.com

This is a place in the central Sukhumvit region popular with locals, and the club has also featured in some of our other posts, significantly the one relating to Tennis courts in Bangkok.

This means that it is going to be busy at certain times, and there will also likely be children, so you’ll find the place to have something of family-friendly vibe if that’s what you are looking for.

A day pass for The Racquet Club is available for around 500 baht, which luckily includes access to the entire sports complex of the club, meaning you’ll be able to swim, relax, play tennis or even workout if the mood takes you.

Location: 6-8 Amara 3, Sukhumvit Soi 49/9, Bangkok

Tel: 02-714-7200

Hours: Daily between 6am and 11pm

Website: http://rqclub.com

2. The Olympic Club

The Olympic Club is a reasonably easy-to-find facility in the Siam central region of Bangkok’s busy shopping district.

It’s actually just a short walk from the BTS stop at National Stadium, and this is another place that presents another opportunity to capitalize on access to the rest of its facilities like tennis courts and fitness centre, as well as the pool.

If you are looking for a chilled-out place to sip on a few drinks – this isn’t that place. It’s actually a proper Olympic-sized pool, which you might guess from the name, and hence the place is geared more towards the more serious swimmer.

Location: Pathumwan Princess Hotel, 8/F, MBK Centre, 444 Phayathai Road, Bangkok

Tel: 02-216-3700 (extension 20805)

Hours: Mon-Fri 6am-11pm, Sat-Sun 7am-10pm

Website: www.theolympic-club.com

3. National Stadium

Image by simon sees from creativecommons.org

Not too far along from The Olympic Club you can find The National Stadium, which is well-known to many well-informed backpackers or any other visitor to the city of Bangkok who happens to be on a stricter budget.

It’s true that a lot of tourists know about the National Stadium due to its BTS station and its proximity to the Siam area, but many are blissfully unaware that they can access the stadiums pool, which costs only 100 baht to enter.

The facility actually contains an Olympic-sized pool complete with diving platforms, and even better news is that it’s generally not that busy, meaning there is much more chance to get swimming space.

Certainly one of the best swimming pool options in Bangkok if all you want to do is an escape from the heat, the National Stadium may be your best option in this post. Again don’t expect cocktail bars or restaurants, but you won’t have to venture too far from this place to find such delights.

Location: Rama I Road, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330 (BTS National Stadium)

4. The Ambassador Hotel

Undoubtedly some of the best-value pools to be found in Bangkok are in the large and well-known hotels.

Luckily, the majority of these establishments allow non-residents to use the pool and other facilities, and for around 350 baht, you can gain access to the Ambassador Hotel’s gym, sauna, and outdoor pool.

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

Located again on the Sukhumvit Road in the Nana area, not too far away from Siam, this Bangkok hotel it’s a pretty easy place to find and access. It’s not exactly one of the most modern hotels in the area, but you will nevertheless find plenty of space to relax and to sunbathe, as well as food and drink that may be more reasonably priced comparably.

Location: 171 Sukhumvit Soi 11, Khlongtoey Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110

Contact: ambassadorbkk.com

5. The Sofitel

This is definitely more along the lines of a modern, upmarket hotel, and not surprisingly is one of the most expensive options in this post. However, this is certainly the spot to head for if you fancy a day of relaxation and poolside sunbathing, perhaps with a few drinks even if that’s your thing.

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

So just how expensive are we talking here for this highly-photographed poolside haven in the city? Upwards of 600 baht, depending on when you visit, but considering that Sofitel’s 9^th-floor pool facilitates astounding views of the entire city of Bangkok, many believe it to be well worth the price tag.

If we said that the pool had a gorgeous waterfall at one end and a relaxing lounge area at the other, along with the said views, you’d have to draw your own conclusions as to whether it was worth it or not.

Location: 2 North Sathorn Road, Bangkok (MRT Lumpini, BTS Sala Daeng)

Tel: 02 624 0000

Website: www.accorhotels.com

6. Benjasiri Park Pool

Undoubtedly another one of the more budget-friendly options in this post is the Benjasiri Park pool, found in one of Bangkok’s smaller city-centre parks, although it may not necessarily be the most user-friendly for non-locals.

Image by calflier001

The park, which is also known as Queen’s Park (and not to be confused with Queen Sirikit Park) is on the Sukhumvit Road, right next to the hi-so shopping mall Emporium (which stands opposite to another, even more hi-so mall by the name of Emquartier).

The pool is not that easy to find initially as it is in a slightly secluded-looking corner of the park and is basically an affordable public pool for everyone from locals to backpackers – although mainly locals, as it’s not that well-known and hence doesn’t get that many visitors..

The entrance fee is here is somewhere in the region of 20 baht, although in order to qualify for this you are actually required to purchase a yearly membership on your first. Don’t panic though, as the fee was a mere 500 baht last time we checked.

(Of course due to current events it is becoming more common for local places such as this one to ask for certificates showing a clean bill of health etc., and you might need to show a copy of your passport to aquire the membership.)

Oh, and it’s highly possible that the staff here don’t/won’t speak any English, so you might want to brush up on your sign language, which will always come in handy anyway when travelling abroad to SE Asian countries.

The opening hours for this public Bangkok swimming pool are meant to be from 6:30 am to 8 pm, although on weekends there is a slightly earlier closing time of 6 PM. The park, like many things in the city, is closed Mondays, and some of the best times to consider a swim in this city-centre pool are early morning, or afternoons sometime before 4 pm (when the school kids have finished and may be looking for a swim).

There are no lane markers to speak of here, and the quality of the water has been reported as variable. There is actually nothing by way of a roof either, and hence no shade — but the upside of this public Bangkok swimming pool is that it’s convenient to get to if you fancy a quick dip in the middle of Bangkok.

The park is in the Sukhumvit Road in the Phrom Pong region (BTS Phrom Pong) and you’ll have to head towards the nether regions at the back if entering from the front entrance, which is 5 mins on foot from Emporium.

Address: 928 Sukumvit Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok (Krung Thep) 10110
Telephone: (02) 391 7340 or 712 4262