From a 100-Year-Old Park to a Reborn Tobacco Factory — Bangkok's Green Mile Guide

BEYOND BANGKOK · CITY WALKS

Bangkok's Two Green Lungs, Connected:
Walking the Lumpini–Benjakitti Green Mile

A 100-year-old park, a reborn tobacco factory, and the bridge between them

Picture this: a 1.6-kilometer walk through the heart of Bangkok where you hear birdsong instead of traffic — and never stop at a single red light. That's the "Green Mile," the elevated path linking two of the city's great green lungs: Lumpini Park and Benjakitti Park.

One is a near-century-old classic; the other, a former tobacco factory reborn as a forest. Two completely different spaces, joined by one bright green bridge. Here's the story of both parks, the latest on the bridge, and how to walk it like a local.

1. Lumpini Park — Bangkok's "Central Park," 100 Years On

Lumpini is the oldest public park in Bangkok, created in the 1920s under King Rama VI. Even the name carries meaning: it's borrowed from Lumbini in Nepal, the birthplace of the Buddha. A statue of Rama VI still stands guard at the park's southwest entrance.

Here's a fun bit of trivia: this park holds several of Bangkok's "firsts" — it was home to the city's first public library and its first dance hall. Spread across 0.57 km², it centers on a large artificial lake where you can still rent a pedal boat.

💡 BYB tip: Lumpini's real stars are the monitor lizards patrolling the lakeshore. These dragons can reach 1–2 meters and are basically the park's mascots. Look closely and you'll also spot plenty of turtles sunbathing in rows on the rocks and logs at the water's edge. They look alarming but won't bother you — keep a respectful distance and enjoy a genuine slice of wildlife in the middle of the city.

Come at dawn and you'll find tai chi groups, aerobics crowds, and office workers jogging before work. Lately the energy has cranked up a notch: running has exploded here across every age group. And around 6–7 PM, a stage goes up on one side of the park and hundreds of people do mass aerobics together, moving in sync to the music. If you happen to stumble on it, it's one of those unforgettable, only-in-Bangkok scenes — a genuine highlight of any trip. Ringed by the Silom and Sathorn business districts, Lumpini offers that striking contrast: a real forest in the middle of a forest of skyscrapers.

2. Benjakitti Park — From Tobacco Factory to Forest

Benjakitti's backstory is even more dramatic. This land once belonged to the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly — a working factory site. When the factory moved out, the space was reborn as a vast park. Its name honors Queen Sirikit's 60th birthday in 1992.

It began as a traditional park built around a large lake, but the newer Benjakitti Forest Park section transformed it entirely. Rather than demolishing the old factory warehouses, planners repurposed them into a multi-use sports hall and wrapped the surroundings in constructed wetlands and forest.

💡 BYB tip: Benjakitti's highlight is the Skywalk that runs at treetop height. This winding elevated boardwalk floats over the wetlands, and at dusk it frames the skyline and the sunset over the marsh in a single shot — a favorite for photographers. Open daily 5:00 AM–9:00 PM, free entry.

3. The Bridge Between Them — The "Green Mile"

Now the main event. The 1.6 km elevated walkway linking the two parks is officially the "Green Bridge," but everyone calls it the "Green Mile." Here's a detail many miss: the bridge first opened back in 1999. So it's less a brand-new path and more a beloved old one having a major moment again.

A 2022 restoration widened the path, added rest stops and photo spots, cleaned the canals, and painted the whole structure a vivid green — which is exactly where the "Green Mile" nickname came from, soon outshining its official name.

And right now, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is giving the 20-plus-year-old bridge another big upgrade. The focus is Universal Design: steep staircases are being replaced with ramps, and lifts for wheelchairs, prams, and bicycles are going in, so anyone can use it. The corridor is also being split by function — a running track, a dedicated bike lane, and a leisure walking path.

💡 A personal note: Before this path existed, driving between the two parks in the evening was unthinkable — the traffic was that bad. I run at Lumpini almost every day, and the Green Mile changed my routine for the better. When Lumpini starts to feel repetitive, I just walk the bridge over to Benjakitti for a change of scenery and a completely different place to exercise. It beats looping the same circuit every single day.

Detail	Info
Length	~1.6 km (Lumpini ↔ Benjakitti)
Nickname	Green Mile (official: Green Bridge)
First opened	1999 · first restoration 2022
Now	Universal-Design makeover, sections open for public trial
Completion	Targeted for mid-2026 (phased opening)

Local tip | The Green Mile is famously hard to find — even locals struggle to point out where it starts, and plenty of visitors give up. On the Lumpini side, use the Sarasin Road entrance as your anchor; lifts for bikes and wheelchairs are already running there. And walk it early in the morning to beat the heat.

One more thing: these leafy, wetland-rich parks can be mosquito territory, especially around dusk and near Benjakitti's marshes. Bring a light long-sleeve layer or apply insect repellent before you go — your skin will thank you.

How I'd Do It

The route I always recommend: hop off at MRT Lumphini early in the morning and start in Lumpini Park. Say hello to the monitor lizards, loop the lake, then pick up the Green Mile near Sarasin Road. Walk the 1.6 km with the city skyline below you, and arrive at Benjakitti Park, where you climb the Skywalk for the wetland views.

Exit Benjakitti and you're right beside the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (direct MRT access). A little further and you can dip into Khlong Toei Market for a real taste of local life. Park to bridge to park to market — a single walk through Bangkok's past and present.

Watch: A walk along the Green Mile

Final Thoughts

Classic, century-old Lumpini and the tobacco-factory-turned-forest Benjakitti, joined by a bright green bridge — it's a perfect picture of how Bangkok holds onto the old while embracing the new. On your next trip, skip a mall for a morning and walk this green ribbon instead. The city's real breath is right here.

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