Soaring Over Bangkok: Insider Tips for Visiting Baiyok Sky Tower Without Getting Ripped Off

Hello fellow travelers and city explorers!

I'm excited to share with you how to get to the Mahaon building in Bangkok without taking an expensive guided tour. You know, the one with the glass floor and observation deck that offers breathtaking views of the city at night.

I wrote about the Baiyoke Sky Tower back in 2019, and it's still a must-visit spot. The views are stunning, and the price is a steal at just 400 baht, regardless of the time of day. However, Bangkok is always evolving, and a new building has risen to the challenge - the Mahaon building, also known as Mahanakhon.

I want to share with you how to get to Mahaon on your own, what to expect, and when to avoid the crowds.

Getting there is easy - you can take a taxi, ride a bike, or hop on the metro. The metro is the cheapest, fastest, and most convenient option. Just take the underground metro to the nearest station and then transfer to the overground line. If you're not sure where to go, don't worry - just ask the locals, and they'll point you in the right direction. I was amazed at how helpful the metro staff were, showing us the way to Mahaon.

If you head there between 10 and 11 am, you'll avoid the traffic and enjoy the quiet streets.

Get off at the Chong Nonsi station and head out exit 3. As you exit, you'll see the Mahaon building in all its glory - it's like a futuristic skyscraper that's still under construction.

If you buy your tickets online in advance, you can skip the line and head straight to the observation deck. Keep an eye on the website for promotions and discounts - it's worth checking out.

If you can't get tickets in advance, you can buy them on the spot. But keep in mind, there's usually a big line around 4-5 pm when everyone's trying to catch the sunset.

Ticket prices vary depending on when you visit. During the day, it's 880 baht (you can get a better exchange rate on the spot - at the time of my visit, that was around 2200 rubles). In the evening, from 4 to 6:30 pm, tickets cost 1080 baht. It's all about the sunset - it's really beautiful and a lot of people come to see it. There's hardly anyone around from 11 am to 2 pm because of the sun.

I'd like to note that it's not a good idea to visit during the rainy season - or buy tickets in advance. Because if it starts raining, they'll just close the path to the glass floor, and you won't get a refund or even part of it, and they won't let you in the next day either. We bought tickets for 880 baht.

And when you buy tickets on the spot, they'll give you a coupon that you can use in the bar.

There's a serious inspection at the entrance. No food or water allowed in. You can bring your own refillable water bottle, but it depends on the inspector - sometimes they ask you to leave it behind.

As soon as you get in, you'll be photographed, and they can print out your photos for 800 baht.

After the photo shoot, you'll go up in a fast elevator that takes you to a height of 314 meters.

When you get out, you'll end up in a pretty interesting corridor, but I wouldn't recommend sticking around - just head straight up to the observation deck. Trust me, after being in the sun, you'll be happy to go back down to the air-conditioned corridor.

Honestly, if you're tired, this is a great place to take a break. The views are amazing.

And if you take the elevator, you can head up and see the whole view!

They only let people up on the viewing platform in flip-flops and without phones. You'll have to ask someone to take a photo of your partner or a Russian friend. There's a lot of people here. This isn't even rush hour -

Check out how everyone is taking photos from the side. Nobody can take a selfie.

They don't let you take phones onto the glass observation deck. But you can walk around the rest of the floor with your phone.

If you're lucky and have the time, you can catch the viewing platform almost empty.

In rush hour - in the evening - it's almost impossible to get a spot. This viewing platform is small, so you can walk around the whole floor. There's no glass floor, but the railing is transparent. Be careful - don't try to jump off!

There are plenty of benches on the floor where you can sit down. It's really useful for evening time, as it gets super hot during the day.

There's plenty to look at...

If it's scorching hot and you really need a drink, you can either walk down or take the elevator or head to the corridor or the cozy cafe.

I took the elevator up and walked down the stairs.

The prices in the cafe are just as steep as the building itself:

But when you've had your fill of the views from up top and the blistering sun, you can head back down.

And that's when you can finally chill out and come back to yourself.

You can take the elevator or the stairs down.

The lower floor also has various animations and entertainment options.

There's even a city history display on the digital monitor. It's in English or Thai, of course.

You'll also find free Wi-Fi and relaxation areas.

There's even an entertainment option for kids - just walk by the monitor and you'll get all sorts of virtual accessories added to your character.

You can also take a closer look at the buildings using special accessories:

The ceiling is mirrored, and the floor has a city map.

All the glass surfaces are constantly cleaned, so they're never streaked.

And then there's the bathroom - the views are simply stunning, so be sure to check it out!

Downstairs, there's a shop selling souvenir products and various entertainment options:

Walking out, you can reach an interesting temple - literally within a 10-minute walk from this building.

And if you decide to walk to the temple, you'll also get to see this interesting building from all angles.

You'll see bus stops, and you can try to catch a bus back to where you started your journey.

Or you can walk to the temple, which I'm sure you'll love!

Mahaon is a place I highly recommend visiting if you're in Bangkok or Pattaya. And it's even better to do it on your own, as the commission for guided tours is pretty steep. You can compare prices yourself.Until next time, and all the best! If you have any questions, feel free to ask!