Bhumibol Bridge
Two cable-stayed spans double-cross the Chao Phraya, then a third road rises 50 metres into the air to merge them — all over southern Bangkok.
Coming soon on iOS — be first to walk Bangkok offline.
Bangkok's unofficial "Mega Bridge" sends 702 m and 582 m cable-stayed spans across the Chao Phraya on diamond-shaped pylons up to 173 m tall. A royal scheme initiated by King Bhumibol Adulyadej to ease freight traffic around Khlong Toei Port, it follows the Bangkok tradition of naming every Chao Phraya bridge after a royal family member. The Discovery Channel covered it.
What to look for
- The diamond-shaped pylons — the taller pair reaches 173 m, visible for kilometres around
- The free-flowing mid-air interchange where the two spans meet, suspended 50 m above the ground
- Seven lanes of traffic running across each bridge (Bhumibol 1 to the north, Bhumibol 2 to the south)
Cross by car or taxi — motorcycles have been banned from both bridges since November 2018 due to safety concerns.
Bhumibol Bridge is one of 38 sights worth the detour in Bangkok, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Bangkok pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Bangkok
- Grand PalaceIn 1782 a king moved his entire capital from Thonburi to Bangkok and built this walled city — Thailand's seat of power for the next 143 years.
- Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)Every Thai king since 1783 has personally added to this temple — and the reigning king still presides over state ceremonies here today.
- Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)Named for Aruna — the Hindu charioteer who drives the sun at dawn — this riverside spire was built to face the light it honors.
- Baiyoke Tower IIBangkok's tallest hotel stacks an observatory, a bar, and a revolving roof deck across three floors at 309 metres.
- BTS SkytrainBangkok sits in chronic gridlock — three elevated lines run above it on 70 kilometers of track connecting the city end to end.
- Rajamangala National StadiumThailand's largest stadium swells like a concrete wave — narrow at each end, rising steeply until the stands crest exactly at the halfway line.