Bangkok City Hall

Bangkok City Hall

A stop on the Bangkok audio-guided tour, the City Hall dominates one of the largest squares in the historic centre. This imposing building, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, is the workplace of the governor of the capital, a unique post in Thailand.

A capital apart

In Thailand, the king is the sacred symbol of the nation and a figure of absolute respect, but he does not directly exercise political power, which is entrusted to a central government with a prime minister and a parliament. Bangkok is an exception: while in the other provinces the governor is appointed by the state, here he is elected directly by the inhabitants.

What to see

The governor's role resembles that of a mayor, but on the scale of a megacity of more than ten million inhabitants: he oversees transport, urban planning, markets, cleanliness and schools. The City Hall is thus one of the great decision-making centres of the daily life of Bangkokians.

Practical information

Bangkok City Hall is in the Phra Nakhon district, on a large square in the historic centre. Freely accessible from outside, it can be seen at any time from the square.

What is special about the governor of Bangkok ?

Unlike the other provinces, he is elected directly by the inhabitants of the capital.

What is the role of the City Hall ?

It administers the daily life of the megacity: transport, urban planning, markets, cleanliness and schools.