Bangkok is the beating heart of the Muay Thai scene. With world-class gyms and internationally famous stadiums, Thailand’s capital is the place to come if you want to see the top fighters firsthand.
Two stadiums dominate the scene: Rajadamnern and New Lumpinee. I recently experienced a fight night at New Lumpinee Stadium, and let me tell you, the atmosphere was unreal! From ticket prices to getting the best views, here’s everything you need to know about planning your own knockout night at this iconic Muay Thai venue!
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A Guide to Lumpinee Stadium, Bangkok
What is Muay Thai?
Muay Thai is Thailand’s national sport and an essential part of its culture. The sport is much like boxing, however, fighters are permitted to use shins, knees, and elbows as well as fists, earning it the ‘Art of Eight Limbs’ nickname.
Muay Thai has its roots in ancient combat systems and was first used to defend the Kingdom of Siam. Over the years, it has evolved into the competitive sport we see today.
👉 Read more: The history of Muay Thai
Despite being commercialised and known worldwide, there is an important spiritual element to Muay Thai, notably seen in the Wai Kru pre-fight ritual where fighters pay homage to their ancestors and teachers. This is a fascinating part of any fight and is well worth a watch.
While hugely popular domestically, Muay Thai has also broken into the mainstream, and many tourists head to Thailand to learn this ancient combat sport. Even if you don’t fancy getting in the ring yourself, you can still enjoy this quintessential part of Thai culture at one of the country’s many stadiums.
Lumpinee Stadium vs. New Lumpinee Stadium
Lumpinee Stadium has been a legendary venue on the Muay Thai circuit since it opened in 1956. However, if you want to watch a fight at the original historic venue, you will be disappointed. In 2014, Lumpinee was moved from its original location on Rama IV Road to Ram Inthra Road, in a suburb on the outskirts of Bangkok.
This new iteration of the Lumpinee Stadium is very different to its predecessor. The first Lumpinee was gritty and traditional, however, the new venue, run by the Royal Thai Army, is larger, with modern facilities and seating. Its slick new look has made it popular among international audiences and caught the attention of the Singapore-based ONE Championship. They began hosting a range of events including Muay Thai, MMA and kickboxing events there in 2023. Many of these fights are broadcast internationally which draws in a variety of fighters from all over the world.
While the stadium still brings in the big names, there is no doubt that its new location is more tricky to reach than the Lumpinee of old. Situated on the outskirts of Bangkok, there are no public transport services direct to the stadium, so most visitors use a taxi or ride-hailing app for at least part of the journey – not ideal when the fight start times will mean you have to travel during Bangkok’s infamous rush hour.
Fight Schedules at Lumpinee Stadium
Fights at the New Lumpinee Stadium are usually held on Fridays and Saturdays, with the ONE Championship taking the Friday slot. Fights start between 17:30 and 19:30, depending on which night you’re there. However, sometimes Lumpinee hosts Fairtex Fights which take place during the day. It is recommended to check the official ONE site or ACB Tickets for the most up-to-date information about fight schedules.
Getting Tickets for Lumpinee Stadium
There are a few different places to get tickets for Lumpinee Stadium:
Online Ticket Sellers: Several websites sell tickets for Lumpinee Stadium. For ONE Championship Friday Fights, you can use their official website. For this and other fight events, you can also use the following: ACB Tickets, Muay Thai Tickets and ThaiTicketMajor. After you buy your tickets, you can pick them up at the ticket window at the stadium. Make sure you keep any ticket references or order numbers handy.
Accommodation Providers: Muay Thai is a cornerstone of the Thai Tourism Authority’s Soft Power Plan and there is a lot of effort going into promoting the sport to tourists. As such, some accommodation options may be able to offer discounted or even free tickets to their guests. Ask at your hostel or hotel for more information.
“I recently stayed at Yaks House Hostel in Bangkok. They were offering free tickets to the ONE Championship Friday Fight Night at Lumpinee. I requested a couple that day (they had nearly run out so I’d advise getting in there early) andthen all I had to do was get myself to the venue and pick them up from a friendly rep. The ticket rep was standing outside the stadium, so make sure you ask who to look for – I made the mistake of going to the ticket window and was met with confused stares when I tried to convey my hostel had ordered the tickets for me! It was a great night though and as tickets were pretty expensive, I saved loads!” Tim, Writer at South East Asia Backpacker
At Lumpinee Stadium Ticket Window: Tickets are often available on the night but to avoid a wasted trip, it’s best to book ahead. If you do want to purchase at the stadium, simply head to one of the ticket windows on the left of the entrance and buy your tickets. Bear in mind that this can be a time-consuming process as the queues can get pretty long – make sure you leave enough time before the event starts.
What to Expect from Muay Thai Fight at Lumpinee
Seating Plan at Lumpinee Stadium
As events feature a range of fighters, including international talent, Lumpinee Stadium draws in a mix of people, from passionate locals to curious tourists. There is no age restriction on visitors so families are also welcome, but be aware that this is a loud high-energy venue which may not be suitable for very young children!
Zones A, D & E
These are the cheapest seats you’ll find at Lumpinee Stadium. If you’ve organised your tickets through your accommodation provider, these are likely to be the ones that you are given. All of this seating is bleacher style, meaning that benches are tiered. While you won’t be super close to the ring here, you can still see what is going on. It is worth getting to Lumpinee a little early to make sure you don’t get stuck behind a camera.
Zone E is the best place to sit as you get a good view of the fighters when they come out. Bear in mind that while these seats will definitely allow you to get swept up in the atmosphere, they aren’t the most comfortable and may not be suitable for those with back issues. These tickets generally cost around 1,000THB per person (approx. $30USD).
Zones B & C
The tickets here are the second cheapest that you can buy. Fighters walk out between zones B and C and you’re sat a little closer to the ring, which justifies the hike in price. Bear in mind that this is where the media usually base themselves for big fights so tickets may sell out quickly. The seats further back in these sections will be cheaper than the ones at the front. These tickets generally cost around 2,000THB at the back of this section (Approx. $60USD) and 2,500THB per person at the front (approx. $75USD).
Ringside Seats
As you’d expect, ringside seats are the most expensive, starting at around 3,000THB per person (approx. $90USD). They are also the most in-demand so usually sell out in advance. Ringside seats provide the best views of the ring, however, sometimes your view can be blocked by the animated cornermen and the ring posts. The big advantage to ringside seats is that your drinks are delivered to you, meaning you don’t need to miss any of the action (unless you need the toilet that is––staff can’t help with that).
TL;DR:
Budget travellers should opt for the cheap seats, located in zones A, D and E. Zone E offers the best views so get there early if you want to bag a good spot. Tickets for these zones can usually be booked at the stadium on the night. If you have the cash to splash, ringside seats offer a novel experience, however, they sell out very quickly so will need to be booked in advance.
Food and Drink
Much like any kind of sports or concert venue, it is easy to pick food up at Lumpinee. Surprisingly, the prices are pretty reasonable too. You’ll find a range of food and drink kiosks both alongside and outside the stadium, offering everything from traditional Thai cuisine to burgers and hot dogs. No food is allowed inside the stadium so you’ll need to leave enough time to eat outside prior to the fight starting.
There are a few bars at the stadium where you can buy drinks. Beer offers the best value for money and card payments are accepted. While you can take in drinks purchased at the bar, you are not allowed to enter the stadium with any other food or drink.
Security
New Lumpinee Stadium is managed by the Royal Thai Army who also provide the venue security. All visitors will undergo bag searches before they are allowed to enter the stadium. They will take food and drink (including water). While this is pretty annoying, if you do get caught out, you can always ask for your snacks to be returned to you when you leave. I was pleasantly surprised when the security guard obliged my request and returned my pizza flavour crisps after the fight!
All visitors are given hand stamps once they have entered. You will be asked to show this stamp if you need to leave and reenter, for example, to buy food or drink. Unlike some of the more gritty venues in Bangkok, there is very rarely trouble at Lumpinee and anyone who is behaving badly is removed from the premises by security.
Lumpinee Fight Night Costs:
*Please note that all costs below are approximations*
- Grab Taxi to Venue from Centre: 540THB one way (approx. $17USD)
- Ticket Price: Between 1,200THB and 10,000THB (approx. $35-298USD)
- Drinks: 80THB per can of beer (approx. $2.50USD)
Getting to Lumpinee Stadium
Unfortunately, New Lumpinee Stadium is not the easiest place to get to from Downtown Bangkok. In fact, it is located over 20 km from Khao San Road! While public transport can take you most of the way, you’ll still need to walk the remaining distance or grab a ride.
The trip by car takes around half an hour in the daytime but journeys can be between 1-1.5 hours during rush hour. Sadly, this is when you’ll need to travel to Lumpinee if you want to see the whole fight.
Ride Hailing Apps:
Grab is the most popular option for those travelling to Lumpinee and will cost approximately 500THB depending on where in the city you are travelling from. Make sure to leave enough time to make the journey as getting a driver around rush hour can be difficult. Be prepared for a few to cancel on you last minute!
If you’re planning on returning from the fight using Grab, you can schedule a ride in advance or leave the event a little early. This helps to avoid the intense competition for rides when the event kicks out.
Taxi:
You can also get a taxi to the event. If you’re planning to do this, insist that the driver uses the meter which is a legal requirement in Bangkok. This should avoid any nasty scams. Be aware that hailing a taxi during rush hour can be difficult so leave plenty of time. In case you need the name of the stadium in Thai, here it is —> สนามมวยลุมพินี.
Taxis wait outside Lumpinee Stadium at the end of the night to whisk people back to the city centre. Bear in mind that numbers are limited and this can be expensive as some drivers refuse to use the meter, so it might be better to arrange transport via a ride-hailing app like Grab or Bolt. If you’re struggling to get a taxi at the stadium, you can always cross the road and hail one from there.
BTS:
Take the BTS to Kasetsart station or Wat Phra Sri Mahathat station and then jump in a car from there. It’ll take around 10 minutes to do the remainder of the journey.
MRT:
Take the pink line to Ram Inthra 3 station. From there, it is around a 10-minute walk to the stadium or a 5-minute drive.
Motorbike Taxis:
If you’re looking to hail a ride for the last section of the journey, don’t forget to search for motorbikes on your ride-hailing app of choice. Often more readily available than cars, motorbike is a cheap and quick way to make short journeys in Bangkok.
Tips for Attending Lumpinee Stadium
- Make sure you have a Thai SIM card if you’re planning to use Grab
- Have Grab or another Thai taxi app downloaded and ready to go
- Leave plenty of time to get there
- Avoid wearing high heels if seated in the bleachers
- Cover any Buddha tattoos to avoid offending locals
- Seating is first come first served in the bleachers
- Wear rain layers if visiting during the wet season
- Bring cash for food and drink
- Remember that gambling is illegal in Thailand
- Leave your snacks at home – they’ll be taken during the security search
- Book you’re return ride in advance using Grab
Have you watched a Muay Thai fight at Lumpinee Stadium? We’d love to read about your experience in the comments below!
Sheree Hooker | Editor @ South East Asia Backpacker + Winging The World
Sheree is the awkward British wanderluster behind Winging The World, a blog designed to show that even the most useless of us can travel. Follow Sheree’s adventures as she blunders around the globe, falling into squat toilets, getting into cars with machete men and running away from angry peacocks. In recent years, Sheree has also taken on the role of editor at South East Asia Backpacker.
