If your weekend calendar is looking a bit bare, then listen up. The final curtain is about to fall on Krung Thep Creative Streets. We’re talking heritage buildings throwing open their doors, murals popping up in the most unexpected places and whole streets throwing a proper street party.
This whole shindig is a bit of a European love letter to Thailand, hatched by the French Embassy in Bangkok, with a little help from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the British Council and a bunch of other European embassies and local Thai partners. It’s all part of the European Heritage Days, a fantastic way to highlight the city's historic nooks and crannies like Charoen Krung, Talat Noi and Song Wat, by linking them with new masterpieces from both local and international artists.
If you wander down Charoen Krung Road this week, you might stumble upon a wall in progress, half-finished, ladders still in place, the artist pausing for shade. Or find yourself at Hua Lamphong, where the traffic is briefly forgotten as a temple wall becomes a canvas. Watching the process is part of the point; the act of painting as performance, as memory-making.
Ready to go? Here’s a breakdown of the programme:
Street art – September 3-21
First up, the murals. Artists from Thailand and across Europe have been busy turning some of Bangkok’s most characterful neighbourhoods into their canvas. Think large-scale pieces popping up in places like Charoenkrung, Talad Noi, Song Wat, South Sathorn, Surawong and Lumphini. It’s not just about snapping the finished product either – wander through these areas and you might catch the artists in action, mid-brushstroke, transforming everyday walls into full-blown open-air galleries.
Street art exhibition – September 15-19
This is the week to really soak it in. Head down to Charoenkrung (soi 36, 34, 30, 43, 28), soi Vanich 2, Rama IV (near Hua Lamphong), Witthayu Road (outside Alliance Française), Sathorn soi 1 and Si Phraya Road (including the walls around Hua Lamphong Temple and Saphan Road). The artworks are still in progress, which makes it all the more exciting – you’re not just seeing the end result, you’re witnessing the whole messy, colourful process unfold. And yes, it’s completely free.
Heritage and architecture – September 20-21
Now for the part that feels a bit like unlocking a hidden level. As part of European Heritage Days 2025, 25 historic buildings around the city will be opening their doors to the public – some for the first time in decades. Highlights include gorgeously preserved landmarks and the French Ambassador’s Residence (yes, ‘that’ one). These aren’t your average tourist spots either – many are usually closed off entirely. This is your chance to step inside and peek behind the shutters.
Panel talk: Street Art Beyond the City – September 19, 7pm
For those who like their paint with a bit of theory, swing by the Alliance Française (third floor auditorium) for a discussion on how street art escapes the urban grid and finds new spaces to thrive. Bring your questions.
Heritage tours – September 20-21, 10am-5pm
If self-guided wandering isn’t your thing, you’re in luck – four curated walking tours are on offer:
Saturday 20 September
Morning: Charoenkrung
Afternoon: Talad Noi and Song Wat
Sunday 21 September
Morning: Blue Elephant Restaurant to Surawong
Afternoon: Alliance Française to the Austrian Embassy (Sathorn soi 1)
Tours are in English and Thai, but spots are limited, so you’ll need to register in advance here. Or just grab a map here and follow your feet.