Fitness and Gyms in Bangkok – Everything You Need to Know

With millions of visitors and newcomers each year, Bangkok is a prime destination for travelers and expats alike. But how can you keep up with your fitness goals here in the city?

I’m going to walk you through all the available fitness options, including the best free and inexpensive places to work out, the most popular gyms and the cost for gym memberships, as well as 11 things that you need to know before you go to the gym here in Bangkok so that you can make the best decision that matches your fitness goals and budget.

But before we cover commercial gyms, let’s get started with Bangkok’s cheapest option when it comes to getting in a workout.

Free and Inexpensive Fitness Options

Nearly every park in Bangkok has a fitness area, which normally includes bodyweight and calisthenics or rings, as well as bodyweight machines that allow you to do a wide range of different exercises, excellent jogging tracks, and a wide range of sports options.

Personally, I love working out at Benjakiti Park in Central Bangkok. The nearby Benjakiti Forest Park has a section of warehouses where you can play pickup basketball, football, table tennis, or badminton. This is a no-frills fitness option, but it’s free and easy to access.

Many parks have full gyms including weights, bench presses, and plenty of weighted machines. If you want a proper weight training workout, you can visit Benjasiri Park in the Phrom Phong neighborhood, which has an excellent free gym. Just stop in got chin-up bars everywhere, got some dumbbells and free weights. You get a good workout.

But the best park for fitness is undoubtedly Lumpini Park in Central Bangkok, where you’ll find:

• A wide range of calisthenics and bodyweight workout areas
• A lengthy jogging and bike path
• Free fitness dance classes in the evening
• Pedal boats out on the lake free of charge, or rent a kayak for 50 baht per hour

You can also visit the more rugged outdoor gym at Lumpini Park, which costs 20 baht per visit.

Another very inexpensive option is the Bangkok Youth Center near BTS Monument, which has a wide range of sports and fitness facilities with a membership fee of only 40 baht per year.

Fitness Facilities in Condos, Apartments, and Hotels

A great workout can often be located much closer to home, as most condos, apartments, and hotels have excellent fitness areas. These normally include plenty of weights machines and cardio equipment, and of course a swimming pool, sauna, and steam room. Some higher-end condos have fitness areas which rival or even surpass commercial gyms.

But if you’re planning to use a site like Airbnb for short-term condo rentals, you should always check if the condo has restrictions that will limit access to common areas for short-term renters. Many condos have installed face or fingerprint scanners for common areas which require registration at the condo in order to gain access. These policies are specifically designed to prevent Airbnb guests from using the facilities.

Budget Commercial Gyms

If you’re looking for a commercial gym membership, you have plenty of options to choose from. Let’s get started with budget gyms.

At 899 baht per month with no contract requirement, Fitness 24/7 is the cheapest and most flexible option. But you can only work out during off-peak hours between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. If you want full 24/7 access, the price increases to 1,299 baht. Both options include access to all the branches in Thailand and around the world, and unlimited access to group training classes without any additional payments.

Our second budget option is Jetts Fitness, and I’m currently registered with Jetts. It’s a little bit more expensive at 1,500 baht per month with a one-year contract for full 24/7 access to all the branches and classes. For shorter stays, you can opt for a 1-month, 7-day, 3-day, or 1-day pass.

Luxury Commercial Gyms

Let’s move on to a couple of the most popular luxury gym options.

Fitness First is one of the largest and most popular chains in Thailand, with locations across Bangkok and throughout the country. The gyms tend to be a little bit larger than the more budget options, and there are more classes available. Each location has a cafe with free coffee and drinks. There are three classes of gyms in Fitness First: Premium, Platinum, and Club with more basic facilities in the Premium gyms, larger and more luxurious facilities with free gym clothes and towels at the Platinum clubs, and stunning pools and luxury amenities with Club access.

Membership prices are a little bit higher with fixed 5, 12, and 24-month contracts:

• Premium access (12-month contract): 2,200 baht per month
• Platinum access (includes all Premium clubs): 2,800 baht per month
• Club access (includes all gyms): 3,300 baht per month

But if you want the most luxurious gym, you may prefer Virgin Active. There are only four clubs in Bangkok, and they’re comparable with Club access Fitness First facilities, with beautiful lap pools, hot tubs, sauna, climbing wall, spa and wellness center, and a wide range of classes, alongside complimentary gym clothes and towels as well as coffee and tea.

But prices are definitely higher, starting at 3,800 baht per month with a 12-month commitment or 5,400 baht for a 3-month contract.

Specialty Gyms: Muscle Factory

If you’re looking for a more rugged, Western bodybuilding-oriented environment, one of the most popular expat gyms in Thailand is Muscle Factory. There’s only one location, and it’s near BTS On Nut. It has a large range of heavy-duty equipment and free weights, and membership starts at around 2,000 baht per month.

Boutique Gyms

Finally, we have the boutique gyms. These have a more niche market and they can get expensive. This includes F45, The Base, The Movement Playground, and many, many more. These gyms emphasize group training, personalized coaching, and very specific exercise styles. The membership prices range between 3,000 and 6,000 baht per month.

11 Things You Need to Know Before Joining a Gym in Thailand

But before you rush out and pay for a gym membership, let’s go over 10 things that you need to know before you sign on the dotted line.

1. Lack of Price Transparency
Many commercial gyms in Thailand aren’t transparent with pricing. With an absence of published fees, you may receive different price quotes depending on who you speak with. Personally, I avoid gyms that don’t clearly publicize their membership fees.

2. Take Advantage of Free Trials
Most gyms offer free trial periods. This will give you an opportunity to try out the gym. Just keep in mind that these trials are essentially a long sales pitch, so it won’t necessarily make for the most relaxing workout.

3. Look for Sign-Up Promotions
New members can often take advantage of sign-up promotions. Always check the website for any promotions and inquire when you go to the gym.

4. Watch Out for Undisclosed Sign-Up Fees
While some gyms have undisclosed promotions, others will have undisclosed sign-up fees. Staff at gyms that lack price transparency may suddenly introduce a sign-up fee as you’re signing the membership contract. This is often a last-minute money grab sales strategy. Many gyms have the option to waive the sign-up fees. If you get confronted with this kind of fee, tell the staff member that you’ll only sign up if it’s waived.

5. Your Membership May Be Tied to a Specific Location
Your membership account may be tied to the specific gym location that you sign up at even if it’s part of a large franchise. This means that you’ll need to return to that gym if you want to renew the membership or make any modifications. Make sure to choose a sign-up location which will be convenient for you over the medium to long term.

6. Short-Term Options Are Limited and Expensive
For travelers, the short-term options at established chain gyms can be fairly limited and expensive. Day passes normally cost between $6 and $20 depending on the gym, and some don’t offer them at all. If you’re planning on a short visit, it can be best to use the facilities at your accommodations or the free and inexpensive options that I covered already.

7. Be Cautious with Personal Training
Personal training at many commercial gyms can be fairly limited in value. It’s a fairly low-paid job, and I’ve observed them guiding clients through countless useless exercises, often with incorrect form. Be cautious when choosing a personal training option.

8. Gym Etiquette Is Different in Thailand
Gym etiquette can be a little bit different in Thailand than in Western countries. It’s normal for people to use a free bench as their personal table for their phone or bag, or sit on a machine texting for 20 to 30 minutes. Reracking the weights often isn’t the norm. The difference in gym etiquette can definitely get annoying, but it’s best to be patient.

9. Location Is Everything
Finally, the single most important factor when choosing a gym is location. Bangkok traffic can get very congested, and you don’t want to spend a lot of time commuting to your gym every day. Make sure to choose a gym that’s close to your accommodations.