When I first visited Bangkok I remember reading in the guide book, “fasten your seat belts, this is South East Asia’s centre of backpacker energy with all manner of ways to get into trouble”, which I think was fairly accurate and it’s always worth a trip to the Koh San road to get a feel for this energy if it’s your first time in Bangkok. But it’s not all cheap beer mayhem and ping pong shows – you can also have a surprisingly rural experience right in the centre of Bangkok in its Phrapradaeng Peninsular, aka Bangkok’s Green Lung
Best way to do it is a rent a bike (heaps of places to do so and your hotel / hostel can easily help) and head to the Khlong Toei Pier to take the regular boats over the river to the peninsular. From there, just head off through the canals, orchards, jungle and have a wander through the Bang Nam Pheung Market at the weekends. Can easily take a day passing through there and can still give yourself all the time to get loose in the evening in Bangkok’s mayhem