Mahanakhon SkyWalk: Bangkok From the 78th Floor

What It Is

King Power Mahanakhon is the pixellated tower in Sathorn that looks like someone removed blocks from it. At 314 metres it was Thailand's tallest building when it topped out, and the top few floors are given over to a public observation deck.

There are two parts. The 74th floor is an indoor deck with 360-degree glass. The 78th floor is the open rooftop, and that is where the glass tray sits.

It rates 4.7 out of 5 across more than 15,000 reviews, with over 300,000 bookings through Klook, which puts it among the most consistently well-received paid attractions in the city.

The Glass Floor

The tray is the reason people book. It is a section of transparent floor set into the rooftop deck with nothing between you and the street a long way down.

In practice it works like this: you take off your shoes or pull on covers, you step out, your body objects for about thirty seconds, and then you are fine and taking photographs. There is almost always a queue, and there is an unspoken etiquette of getting your shots and moving.

Go on a clear evening. In heavy haze the view down is flat and the drama disappears.

When To Go Up

About an hour before sunset. That is the whole answer.

Opening hours run 10:00 to 21:00 with last entry at 20:30. Arrive around 17:30 and you see Bangkok in daylight, watch the sun go down over the Chao Phraya, and then watch the grid light up, all on one ticket. Go at 20:00 and you get the night view only.

Sunset slots are the first to sell out, especially in cool season from November to February when the air is clearest. Our guide to the best time to visit Bangkok explains how the seasons change visibility.

Avoid going up in the middle of a wet-season afternoon. Storms close the rooftop, and while the indoor deck stays open, you have paid for the tray.

Getting There

BTS Chong Nonsi connects to the tower by a direct walkway from exit 3. That is unusually convenient for a Bangkok attraction and means you can pair it with Silom or Sathorn without a taxi.

Entry is through the Mahanakhon building lobby, and a multimedia lift takes you to the 74th floor in under a minute.

SkyWalk or a Rooftop Bar?

This is the real question, because Bangkok is full of high places that serve drinks.

The SkyWalk is higher than most rooftop bars, has the glass tray, has no dress code worth worrying about, and costs less than two cocktails at a hotel rooftop. You are buying a view and a photograph.

A rooftop bar gives you a table, a drink in your hand, and no one moving you along. You are buying an evening. Our round-up of Bangkok rooftop bars covers the ones worth the markup.

The honest answer is that they are not competing. Plenty of people do the SkyWalk at sunset and walk to a rooftop afterwards, and Sathorn makes that easy.

What To Bring

A wide lens if you are shooting seriously, because the glass reflects and you will want to get close to it. The rooftop is exposed and windy, so a light layer is sensible even in Bangkok heat. Bags go through a security check on entry.

There is a bar on the rooftop deck. Prices are what you would expect at that altitude.

Who It Suits

First-time visitors, couples, and anyone building a photo-led day. It pairs with the spots in our list of Bangkok photo locations.

It suits people with a real fear of heights less well, and small children may find the tray unpleasant rather than exciting. The indoor 74th floor is comfortable for everyone.

Booking Notes

Book a time slot, not a date. Sunset entry is the one that matters and it is capped.

Check the forecast the afternoon before. A clear evening in Bangkok is worth rescheduling for, and this is a view attraction where the weather does most of the work.