Benjakitti Park

I love Benjakitti Park, and I love it just as much as Lumphini. Lumphini is the original: busier, with more shade. Benjakitti is the new park, and it has the best running surfaces in the city.

It was built on the site of the old tobacco factories and opened about four or five years ago, and it has been improved and expanded ever since. That makes it a purpose-built park for running: brand-new paths, and no drainage problems after the rain.

The loops

• The lake loop: around 2km, the classic Benjakitti lap.
• The forest park: the newer Benjakitti Forest Park is laid out as a grid of brand-new asphalt paths, so you can make up loops of almost any length. Some paths have separate bike and running lanes, and bikes are only allowed in at certain times of day.
• The skywalk: extend your run onto the slightly elevated walkway over part of the wetlands.

Put together, you can make up pretty much any length of run you want.

Quick answers:

• Benjakitti Park running distance: about 2km for the lake loop; any distance you like on the forest park paths and the skywalk.
• Benjakitti Park running track: brand-new asphalt paths, some with a separate running lane. It's a park, not an athletics track.
• Benjakitti Park run: the start and finish points runners use are listed below.

Start points and staying hydrated

The best part: there are several places where runners gather and use as a start and finish point. You can make loops of any length from there, leave your bag and drink, and keep looping back. Lots of runners leave a bottle and a bag at the exercise and stretching stations while they run; I'd still keep your phone and valuables on you.

Trust me, you'll need the extra drink in Thailand's heat and humidity. Take a water bottle, leave it at one of the exercise stations, and loop back to it to stay hydrated.

When to run

Like every park in Thailand, Benjakitti is busiest early: runners start from 5am and keep going until about 8 or 9, when it gets too hot. It fills up with runners again after work, from about 6pm.

The one downside is limited shade in the daytime, and that's where Lumphini wins slightly. As the park keeps growing there are more shady spots, but it's still best to run early in the morning or in the evening so the sun isn't a worry. See the best time of day to run in Thailand.

Check the opening hours before you go, as they change from time to time. I believe the park closes at 9pm, but check with the park's official listing before an evening run.

Water, toilets and changing

• Toilets: dotted around the park, especially in the newer Benjakitti Forest Park, and on the Queen Sirikit side.
• Water: there are water fountains. Bangkok's water treatment is world standard, but the pipes along the way aren't always as clean, so I prefer to bring my own drink.
• Changing and bags: I'm not aware of anywhere official to leave a bag or change. There is a Benjakitti Park sports centre that I've been into from time to time. Most runners simply leave their bags at the exercise stations while they loop.

Food and drink

There are no stalls or shops inside the park. There's a small store at the bottom of Sukhumvit Soi 4, on the north-west side of the park, that sells drinks.

Getting there

You can enter the park at most of its corners, including the north-west corner at Sukhumvit Soi 4 and from Rama IV Road on the south side.

The most convenient way by public transport is the MRT to Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC), the closest station. It brings you out on the south-east side of the park, where there are toilets and water by the convention centre.

Asok BTS and Sukhumvit MRT are nearest the north-east side of the park, but QSNCC is closer.

Where to stay nearby

There are many hotels within easy reach of Benjakitti. I'll cover where to stay as a runner near the park in a separate guide.

Air quality

Bangkok's air quality changes through the year. Before you run, check the air quality page for today's reading, and on bad days run easy or move indoors.