I am a 70 year old runner from Belgium, and want to relocate to Bangkok.
I need good running conditions, can you advise which part of Bangkok has the best GPS tracking accuracy and open running routes.
And if not Bangkok, what part of Thailand would you recommend, with good running paths, good hospitals close, and close to an airport with flights to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi.
Thank you for quality replies.
Gary
Hi Gary,
Thank you for joining the forum!
I’ve only visited Bangkok myself (I visited three times for a month each over the past three years) and haven’t lived there, so I’m not the best person to answer this. However, based on some research, this is what I’ve found:
Based on the 2023 annual (and monthly) averages, it looks like Bangkok actually has the most accessible running infrastructure — at least out of those included in the World Athletics 2023 report. Notably, this doesn’t include some cities like Phuket and Pattaya, which I believe would be better as they’re coastal cities, and GPS tracking is less likely to be obstructed with the flatter coastal terrain and fewer tall buildings.
Unfortunately, this report also notes that running conditions look to be worsening in most parts of Thailand due to increasing urban development. If you’re worried about GPS accuracy and open running routes, I would also avoid mid and northern Thailand as the dense forest there can cause significant GPS signal obstruction for a few months every year. I discuss this in more detail here:
https://runsafesteps.com/outdoor-running-conditions-in-thailand/
I also took a look at the Runner’s World training guide (which I recommend checking out in more detail if you want to learn more), and it lists Phuket as the city in Thailand with the lowest GPS signal obstruction due to its coastal location and open terrain.
Out of these, Phuket is also a popular city to live in and has a (relatively) major airport with easy flights to Bangkok. It’s also large enough to have good running infrastructure, but I would check with someone living there before committing to the city.
I will see if I can find more information on specific areas of Bangkok, too. However, that information is a bit harder to find. Generally speaking, the further north you go in Thailand the denser the urban environment gets. The opposite applies as you head south.
