7 Expert Tips For First-Time Visitors Of Rajadamnern Stadium

Even after all these years, visiting Rajadamnern Stadium still sends shivers down my spine. After all, it’s the oldest Muay Thai stadium in Thailand, the venue still hosts traditional Muay Thai fights, and gamblers still have a presence at the stadium. If you plan to visit the iconic landmark in Bangkok’s Old Town anytime soon, there are some things you should know to make your trip more worthwhile. In this guide, I’ll cover all that and much more.

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Address And Directions To Rajadamnern Stadium

Rajadamnern Stadium is located in Bangkok’s historic Old Town. The address is:

• Rajadamnern Stadium
• 8 Ratchadamnoen Nok Rd
• Kwaeng Watsomnat
• Pom Prap Sattru Phai
• Bangkok 10100

Getting to the stadium is fairly easy from either the BTS or MRT. Just so I don’t repeat myself here, I’m going to link to my dedicated section on directions to Rajadamnern Stadium.

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Tip 1: Pick The Best Day Of The Week To Visit Rajadamnern Stadium

Not all Muay Thai events at Rajadamnern Stadium are the same. Usually, the quality of fights improves as the week goes on, then tapers off on Sunday. Muay Thai events on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays – for the most part – feature lower-level fighters. So, if you want to watch high-level Muay Thai, you should visit Rajadamnern Stadium on either a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. On Thursdays and Fridays, you can experience a traditional Muay Thai event, while on Saturdays you can watch a mix of traditional and entertainment Muay Thai. To find out which events are happening this month at Rajadamnern Stadium, check out my guide to Muay Thai fights in Bangkok this week.

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Tip 2: Decide Where You Want To Sit Before Visiting Rajadamnern Stadium

Once you know what day you’re going to Rajadamnern Stadium – and before you buy your tickets – you have to decided where you want to sit. The venue offers four different seating areas to choose from: VIP lounge, ringside, club class, and second class. I’ve written about each of these seating areas extensively in my guide to Rajadamnern Stadium. Click on any of the links to the seating areas in this paragraph to find out more about each section.

I tend to favor second class or club class over ringside seating. Ringside seating at Rajadamnern Stadium does get you closer to the ring than any of the other Muay Thai stadiums in Bangkok. But the judges’ boxes, ropes, and ring posts sometimes get in the way of the fights. From the higher seating areas, nothing obstructs your views. The trade-off is that you have to get your own food and beer from these areas.

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Tip 3: Skip The Line And Buy Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai Tickets Online

With your day locked in and seats picked, it’s time to buy Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai tickets. You can always get them at the ticket window at the stadium. But if you want to skip waiting and buy them in advance, you can book through Rajadamnern.com. This not only saves you time, but guarantees you the seat you want. Especially if you plan to sit in the VIP lounge, ringside, or club class seating.

I’ve never bought tickets online through Rajadamnern Stadium’s website. But those who have told me they never had an issue.

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Tip 4: Plan Your Day Around The Fights

The Muay Thai fights aren’t the only reason I visit Rajadamnern Stadium. Because I live on the other side of Bangkok, I usually have a whole day planned when going to the venue. I like to take the MRT and get off at the Sam Yot station. Then I take a slow walk to the stadium, stopping at some of my favorite places along the way. I’ve included some of these places in the map at the end of this section.

Keep in mind, though, that Bangkok’s Old Town has a lot to offer. You can spend weeks here and not experience everything. Sure, you can go to The Giant Swing, Khaosan Road, Wat Pra Kaew. and The Grand Palace. But I favor places that haven’t been well-trodden by tourists.

• Burapasarn: Burapasarn coffee and book shop is located just across the street from the exit of MRT Sam Yot station. I like to stop here for cha manao (lime Thai tea) and enjoy the sweet-and-sour drink before I begin my walk toward Rajadamnern Stadium. The coffee shop has tables and chairs to sit at, and it sells a variety of books – although most of them are in Thai.
• Niras Bankoc Cultural Hostel: One of my go-to Thai dishes is pad kra pao neua (beef and basil with rice). If it’s one of your favorites, you should definitely get a dish from the restaurant on the ground level of Niras Bankoc Cultural Hostel. It’s a bit pricey compared to the surrounding street food options, but the beef dressed in basil and red chilies just hits differently here.
• Corrections Museum: I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit this now-closed museum. But if you want to get out of the sun for a few minutes and see where prisoners of war were once held captive, check out the Corrections Museum (only from the outside) at Rommaninat Park. There’s plenty of shade and places to sit.
• Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan (Loha Prasat): Wat Loha Prasat is free to enter and features a maze of staircases that leads to the top of the temple. From there, you can look out onto Bangkok’s Old Town. The temple has a lot of wooden architecture incorporated into its inner structure. With the way the sunlight cuts through the windows and into the darkened hallways, it makes for a great place to take photos.
• Rimkhobfa Bookstore: This is another place I like to stop in and peruse, especially on sweltering hot days. Most, if not all, of the books are in Thai. But they do have postcards and other things you can buy as gifts or souvenirs.
• Bangkok City Library: As you can probably tell, I’m a fan of quite places – especially if they have books. So, for me, Bangkok City Library is one of my go-to spots. I don’t spend too much time in here, but it’s a nice place to cool down after walking in and around the Loha Prasat before continuing on to Rajadamnern Stadium.
• Sangmorakot Muay Thai Academy: If you want to watch Muay Thai fighters training at a hardcore Bangkok Muay Thai gym, or if you want to train Muay Thai in Bangkok, stop by Sangmorakot Muay Thai Academy around 3:00 PM. The staff are welcoming to all visitors. The gym is on the same property as Wat Sitaram, so you can enjoy both locations in one shot.

That said, you should definitely plan a day around the Muay Thai fights at Rajadamnern Stadium. There is so much to do, see, eat, and drink in Bangkok’s Old Town.

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Tip 5: Arrive Early (And Hungry)

If you arrive early and show up hungry at Rajadamnern Stadium, follow the side street to the left of the stadium and walk around back. Look for a restaurant with a giant yellow sign. This is Likhit Gai Yang, and it has some of the best grilled chicken in all of Bangkok.

It also does an array of other Thai foods, like nam tok neua (beef waterfall). On top of that, Likhit serves cold beer. See the map above for directions.

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Tip 6: Have An Exit Plan When Visiting Rajadamnern Stadium

Getting to Rajadamnern Stadium may not present too many challenges. Getting away from the stadium is another thing altogether. With the amount of people leaving the stadium att night, it’s nearly almost impossible to get a taxi unless you’re one of the first few lucky spectators to make it outside. Because of this, you could wait quite a while for a taxi. I’d suggest getting a Grab in advance. Or you can walk a few blocks to intercept a taxi before they turn onto Rajadamneon Nok Road. Of course, if you’re staying near the stadium, you can also always negotiate fares with the tuk-tuk drivers outside the venue.

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Tip 7: Prepare For The Rain

If you come to Thailand from July to early November, be prepared for heavy rain. During these months, the rain comes down hard and fast. This slows down traffic and makes walking to or from Rajadamnern Stadium challenging. So you should wear shoes that you don’t mind getting wet. You can also buy a cheap poncho from any 7-Eleven and keep it in your bag.

Final Thoughts On Visiting Rajadamnern Stadium