Rajadamnern Stadium is regarded as the true home of Muay Thai, and its central Bangkok location makes it popular with tourists, locals and aficionados alike. Fights take place every night of the week so, whenever you’re visiting Bangkok with kids, you should be able buy tickets and sample the world-famous atmosphere.
A night watching two people fighting might not seem like a traditional family-friendly activity and it won’t suit everyone. But there’s much more to Muay Thai than combat and if you and the kids are interested in witnessing Thailand’s national sport at its most iconic venue, it can be a successful and memorable evening.
We visited on a Wednesday night with our boys (aged 10 and 12) who take weekly Muay Thai classes at home in Penang, so they had some experience in the sport and we all knew what to expect.
Purchasing tickets
These events are firmly on the Bangkok tourist circuit and they often sell out, so it’s worth booking tickets online in advance. They are surprisingly expensive, even by Western standards.
The most expensive normal seats (i.e. excluding the private suites) are ringside and cost THB2500. Although these are closest to the action, the view isn’t ideal and families might feel they’re a little too close for comfort.
Slightly cheaper seats are available in what’s known as Club Class (THB1800), which is probably the best option for families. You’re slightly higher up, so the view is better, but still close enough to appreciate the effort and technique of the fighters.
Learn from our mistake when choosing seats in this area though. The seats we booked looked good on paper (closest to the front) but actually had an obstructed view of ring with large speakers, the corner of the ring, and the TV crew blocking much of the action. After two minutes, we realised our mistake and rushed back to the ticket office to change tickets. We were moved higher up, with a clearer view facing one of the flat sides of the ring, which made a big difference. Anything from around row E upwards is a safe choice.
The cheapest seats (THB1500) are the gambling area, which are unreserved and popular with locals. If you arrive late and haven’t pre-booked, this area might be all that’s available. It’s more authentic, but probably not as family-friendly as Club Class.
Seat types are explained in more detail here.
Arriving to Rajadamnern Stadium
We had a feeling that we’d enjoy the earlier part of the show, so we arrived at 5.30pm for the 6.00pm start time. Door open at 5.00pm. As always, it’s easiest to take a Grab to the venue.
If you’ve booked online, you’ll need to exchange your QR code for a physical ticket (which in reality is just a paper wristband with your seat number written in permanent marker). Ticket windows are quiet at this time so you won’t need to queue. Staff are on hand to point you in the right direction.
Once you have your ticket, take a quick look around the small museum and shop as they’ll be much busier later on. Kids might like to buy a small souvenir from the shop, but it’s all fairly expensive.
Airport-style security checks are in place and you’re not allowed to bring any bottled water into the venue. Security staff are friendly but it feels a little over the top.
The whole venue is air-conditioned, which is always welcome in Bangkok.
What to expect
There’s a sense of excitement when you enter, seeing the ring for the first time and feeling the atmosphere begin to build. It is quiet at the beginning, most people seem to arrive an hour or so after the first fight, but we’d argue that for families, the first half is best.
A slightly over-eager host appears, speaking in Thai and English. The fights are broadcast live on Thai television so he’s mainly speaking for their benefit but you’ll also pick-up a few interesting pieces of information.
Loud, pumping music introduces each fighter but soon recedes once the fighters enter the ring and begin the ancient pre-fight rituals including wai kru, where they moves around the ring, paying respects to their ancestors and teachers. It’s a beautiful sight and is accompanied by the live Muay Thai Orchestra, who continue to play throughout the bouts, matching the music to what’s happening in the ring.
In the first half of the evening, one bout follows the previous one quite quickly, especially if they have lasted the full three rounds. You won’t know in advance how violent or exciting the bouts will be during your visit, but the ones we saw seemed more technical and defensive, with very few gruesome attacks taking place.
Our kids really enjoyed the first couple of hours, partly because they do Muay Thai themselves. Later on in the evening, an ‘immersive Muay Thai‘ performance takes place, with the roof illuminated by an impressive light show, accompanied by booming music and spoken words, explaining the history and evolution of the sport.
After this, the atmosphere changes and the focus moves away from the ring and into the audience, who are encouraged to down cups of beers, dance for the camera, and perform for the kiss-cam. It might be more your sort of thing but we lost interest at this stage and wished they’d go back to focusing on the boxing.
Is it suitable for kids?
For the first few hours, it definitely is, especially if you get a good seat in Club Class and have some existing knowledge of the sport and its rules. It’s still quiet at this stage and the bouts come in quick succession, avoiding any moments of boredom for the kids. With the novelty factor, the time flies by.
Things do change around 8.30pm, when the atmosphere noticeably shifts away from boxing and into audience-participation. Drinking games begin, the crowd become rowdier, and the focus feels more geared towards tourists looking for a party rather than the sport itself.
In our section there were very few locals in attendance, and at times there seemed to be little respect shown to the fighters. As we’d arrived at 5.30pm and enjoyed the earlier bouts, we felt it was best to leave with good memories and leave them to it.
Eating and drinking
Food and drinks are available throughout the evening, either from the food stand just outside the auditorium, or from staff who will take orders from your seats. It can be tricky to get their attention later in the evening when it gets busier.
Food is reasonably priced but don’t expect this to be your best meal in Thailand, it’s more about hot dogs and French fries than local food, although some noodle dishes were available. Beer is served in plastic cups and is very expensive, but still seemed popular.
Final thoughts
This isn’t a usual family activity in Bangkok and you won’t see many other families around. But, up until 8.30pm, it’s actually a really enjoyable evening and something a bit different. One of the key skills of a Muay Thai fighter are their defensive techniques, so it’s less gruesome and brutal than you may have seen from the highlight reels. Our kids had a great time.
Later on in the evening, it does feel less family-friendly, so you might do the same as us and make your exit when the beer starts flowing. If you’ve been here for three hours from the beginning, your kids will probably be ready to leave by this stage anyway, hopefully with a new-found interest in the country’s national sport.
The experience feels heavily geared towards visitors rather than local fight fans, but it still offers an interesting introduction to Muay Thai in an iconic Bangkok setting. Rajadamnern Stadium is the sport’s most famous venue, so it’s pretty cool to be able to say you’ve spent an evening here watching a few fights.
Muay Thai classes for kids in Bangkok
If your visit has inspired the kids to try their hand (and knees and elbows) at Muay Thai, there are many places available in the city for a taster session (or more in-depth lessons if you prefer).
Sangmorakot Muaythai Academy run private sessions for kids. Our boys had a brilliant session here and the trainers were fantastic with them both. Parents are welcome to stay and watch. Pre-book your session via WhatsApp.
