Where are the best Christmas decorations in Bangkok

If you follow me on Twitter you know I was spending 2022-25 winters in SE Asia as part of my nomadic life, sharing my time between Thailand and Vietnam.

What I’ve learned from this experience is that one of the best advantages of visiting Thailand in winter, and especially visiting in December, besides the best weather, is to enjoy Bangkok Christmas decorations and lights.

enjoying Christmas decorations and lights More Than I Expected

Let me tell you something. Even though I am not a great fan of Christmas decorations, the ones in Bangkok kept me very excited, year after year.  This winter of 2024-25 was no exception.

Bangkok celebrates Christmas with style and spirit, creating a festive mood that fills the entire city.

So, Bangkok in December is a great experience that creates very festive mood. Go visit then to enjoy the holiday cheer all around you.

So, Where are the best christmas decorations in Bangkok?

If you’re in Bangkok during Christmas, you’re in for a treat! The city gets all decked out with stunning lights and decorations that create a magical atmosphere.

Do you want to see the best of it? Check out these places:

Iconsiam – This spot has a water feature that goes on for over 400 meters on the riverfront. It’s an all-in-one light, sound, and special effect extravaganza. Each night, they show different themes and stories. Read about this place and how to get there, later in this post.

King Power Mahanakhon – This is the tallest building in all of Thailand, and you can see Bangkok’s highest Christmas tree on the 74th floor. The tree is super cool because it has tiny doors that open to show cities and locations that are on many traveler’s bucket lists.

Grand Hyatt Erawan, Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, Anantara Bangkok Siam, and The St. Regis Bangkok – You can check out the beautiful Christmas trees and colorful decorations that fill the lobbies of these hotels.

Capella Bangkok – The Christmas tree here is really unique! The tree is made out of paddy leaves and wild grass, and it sits on a pond that reflects its image. It’s especially beautiful in the hotel’s Chinoiserie-style lobby.

Even if you don’t enjoy Christmas decorations, the mall itself is a great place to visit. This might be the most modern mall you’ll ever see in your life! It’s definitely more modern than any in the US or Europe.

While I enjoyed the decorrations in all these listed above places, Iconsiam became my favorite.

What is Iconsiam in Bangkok anyway?

Iconsiam is a big development in Bangkok, Thailand, by the river.

It has a large shopping mall, hotels, and living spaces. The two tallest buildings in Thailand are also there.

Here is my video of it during Christmas time. It’s equally pretty any time around, and I will soon make another videos with all its nicely decorated anytime food courts.

The mall has over 7,000 shops and 100 restaurants, and a themed area called SOOKSIAM with souvenirs from different regions of Thailand. The mall has art exhibits by over 100 Thai and international artist

There are many attractions and events that showcase Thailand’s heritage, including the Iconsiam Heritage Museum which preserves the art, culture, and history of the Chao Phraya River and its communities.

SOOKSIAM is a themed zone that highlights the 77 provinces of Thailand through local products, handicrafts, food, and performances.

The ICONIC Multimedia Water Features is a stunning show that combines water, light, sound, and special effects on the riverfront.

Iconsiam also hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, such as Loy Krathong, Chinese New Year, Songkran, Christmas, and New Year, all celebrating the diversity and harmony of Thai society and culture.

Iconsiam mall Christmas Decorations

The best decorations in entire Iconsiam area are inside Iconsiam mall itself.

Watch my video below of Christmas decorations inside Iconsiam mall and outside the mall with the lights and shows display areas by the river. 

How to get to Iconsiam

• Arrive by a river

• Take a free shuttle boat from Sathorn Pier.

• Use BTS (metro)

Let’s look into getting there by boat with practical details.

Arrive to Iconsiam by a river

There are a few options to arrive to and depart from Iconsiam mall, depending on your Chao Phraya river station. Mine allowed me use either a local boat or a tourist hop-on-and-off boat.

Use the tourist hop on and off boat

I loved getting to Iconsiam mall by the tourist hop on and off boat. It departs every 30 minutes and the ticket price was 30 THB.

This boat ride serve as a great inexpensive tour and you will have an amazing time!

Use local chao phraya boat to get to Iconsiam

To experience something new or perhaps to save even more money, you can use a local Chao Phraya boat instead. Chao Phraya boats are very popular with the locals, as they are their regular means of transportation, and I liked them a lot too!

They are less comfortable than tourist boats, because you might have to stand, instead of seating. But they are not only still relatively convenient, they also offer a glimps into local life. I prefer them to tourist boats, actually.

The ride price is 16 THB, which is around 65 cents!

Use the combination of above 2 boat types

My favorite way of traveling between my hotel and Iconsiam was the combination of these two boat types. I would take the local boat to the mall, and return back after dark on the tourists boat.

The atmosphere there after the sunset is very romantic. You can watch Bangkok’s city lights from the upper open desk. It’s so much fun!

And if you get tired of taking boats and want a faster ride back, you can take BTS, the local metro. The cost will be slightly more expensive, almost $2 one way. Or, you can pay 65 cents for the boat ride.

In conclusion: you will have an amazing time and even a few different adventure experiences if you visit Iconsiam decorated for Christmas, or  Iconsiam mall during any time of the year!