BANGKOK – A LOCAL’S GUIDE TO THE PERFECT BANGKOK ITINERARY
Bangkok is the most vibrant city in Southeast Asia. It makes a great first stop on any Thailand tour. Over the past 20 years, we have returned to Thailand numerous times and are still drawn to Bangkok. Thailand has a robust tourist infrastructure. Bangkok can seem overwhelming at first, but you’ll fall in love once you spend time there.
Ultimate Bangkok Itinerary
This Bangkok travel guide will help you see all of the major attractions. Relax; we’ll help you make the most out of your time in Bangkok. Bangkok may be a large city, but you can still see and do so much in your short stay.
Three-Day Bangkok Itinerary
Bangkok is a sprawling metropolitan area. Bangkok is a vast, sprawling metropolis. It’s essential to make the most of your visit. This day-by-day Bangkok itinerary was created to allow you to see the most popular attractions and experience the cultural and culinary delights that Bangkok has to provide. This Bangkok itinerary includes the top things to do for first-time tourists.
Fun fact: Bangkok is also known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, a shorter version of the longer name. It is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records under the title of the longest place name.
This interactive map will allow you to see the distances you’ll be covering and where everything is relative to each other.
Day In Bangkok
Bangkok has many options for where to base yourself. Banglamphu is an excellent choice, as it is home to the famous Khao San Road backpackers street. This is also a perfect place to base yourself for your first day in Bangkok. It’s close to the Chao Praya River, and you will find most of the highlights on your Bangkok Itinerary. Day 1 includes everything, from the Emerald Buddha to Reclining Buddha.
You can walk to the Chao Phraya river at The Taskin Bridge or in Banglamphu near Khao San Road. Once there, board a tourist boat (or a local boat). Both ships stop at attractions along the Chao Phraya.
Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace
Start your Bangkok itinerary by visiting the Grand Palace early in the morning. It is best to arrive early because it can get busy quickly. This is a top Bangkok attraction, making it the ideal place to begin your Bangkok adventure.
The famous Wat Phra Kaew, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, can be found on the grounds. It is possible to visit the temple, but you are not allowed to take pictures. Wat Phra Kaew remains a functioning temple. The Emerald Buddha, made from jade, is Thailand’s most holy Buddha.
My favorite parts are the Grand Palace’s magnificent golden statues and intricate jeweled mosaics. Beautiful buildings and meticulously maintained grounds.
Here are some tips for visiting the Grand Palace
Dress code: Cover your shoulders and legs when you visit the palace complex. The palace complex has sacred temples, so following a strict dress code is essential. If you dress correctly, you will be allowed to enter. The Grand Palace has the clothing you can borrow to get ready.
A guided tour of the Grand Palace is highly recommended. Although we had been there many times before, we only appreciated its history and understood its significance once we took a guided tour. P
How to get to Grand Palace
You can easily reach the Grand Palace by taxi, tuk-tuk or Chao Phraya River Express, Grab Taxi app, or tuk-tuk. You can easily travel along the Chao Phraya River from the Grand Palace to visit the other sites in this 1-day itinerary.
You can also take the Skytrain from Saphan Taksin Station. This is the Chao Phraya River stop. The Chao Phraya Express stops at Grand Palace Complex.
Local water taxis can also take you to Grand Palace.
Check out our video about how to navigate the Chao Phraya River.
Wat Pho, Reclining Buddha
Wat Pho is the Thai word for temple. To find the famous Thai temple in Bangkok, walk to the left of the Grand Palace. Wat Pho is home to the Reclining Buddha. It is a giant golden statue that occupies the whole temple.
You can see both the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Temple of the Golden Buddha from the same spot. The reclining Buddha measures 46m (150ft) in length and is 15m (49ft) high.
A famous Thai massage school is located at the back of the grounds. A foot massage is an excellent option for tired feet after all the walking. They are widely regarded as the best and most affordable.
Tips for visiting Wat Pho
Dress code: I must remind you that this temple requires proper attire. Everyone must follow the strict dress code for temples in Thailand. All visitors should cover their shoulders and legs. A light shirt is fine, but a longer skirt or pants are better. Visitors who don’t dress appropriately can get a cover-up at the temple.
Lunch
You will likely be hungry after visiting Wat Pho and the Grand Palace. Take a break at one of the restaurants on the banks of the river, which offers a view of Wat Arun, the next destination.
The Deck is a great place to enjoy great food and drinks.
Wat Arun Temple of the Dawn
We continue our Bangkok trip by Wat Arun, the first day of our three-day itinerary. You can ride a ferry across Wat Pho, the Grand Palace, and Wat Arun Temple in no time. Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of the Dawn, is more well-known. It costs only 3 baht to take the ferry. (about 10 cents)
This temple’s central tower is well-known in Bangkok’s skyline, which runs parallel to the river. It was another beautiful Thai temple that I enjoyed visiting. Keep an eye out to see the row of golden Buddhas.
Rent a longtail boat.
We provide information at the end about a Bangkok day trip to see the floating market. If you need more time to go on a full-length boat, you can hire a longtail boat to explore the Chao Phraya back canals. These Bangkok Canals, also known as Klongs or “The Venice of the East,” are what give the city its name:
You can visit smaller markets here without traveling far from the city. It is truly a unique experience. You are taken off the main river by the locks to reach the areas of Bangkok located on the water.
You can also visit the floating market to feed the fish and buy beer. A private longtail boat can be hired anywhere along the Chao Phraya. The entire ship costs 1000 baht. You can also book ahead.
Khaosan Road (Khao San Road)
Take the ferry across the river to Wat Arun and then take a taxi or walk to Khao San Road. This famous Backpackers hangout is a must-see on any trip to Bangkok.
There are many souvenir shops, street food, and Thai food vendors. Khao San Road is where I love to eat Pad Thai and watch people go by. Here, it would help if you got a Thai massage. There are many options, and they are affordable. You can also have a foot or fish massage after all that walking.
Khao San Road is an area backpackers love to stay on in Bangkok. You can also party and bar hop here. You’ll want to spend an evening at this unique spot to get the right vibe.
Dinner
You can get a bite for dinner at any of the restaurants along Khao San Road after you have sent your message. You can also try the street food options. These street food options are affordable and tasty. Be on the lookout for vendors selling new bugs! You should try it! I once ate an entire meal of bugs.
Sunset
Wat Saket (Golden Mount) is a great place to stop and enjoy the sunset before you head out to Bangkok’s nightlife. You can find it just 20 minutes away from Khao San Road. It offers beautiful views of Bangkok at sunset.
Bangkok Nightlife
For a night of partying in Bangkok, you should stay on Khao San Road. You will also find plenty of accommodation on Khao San Road. It is a popular spot for tourists to taste Bangkok’s party atmosphere. You’ll also meet many other travelers who can offer suggestions for your Thailand travels.
Because of the many cheap hostels and the affordable drinks at the bars, backpackers and budget travelers love it. Khao San Road’s most popular drink is the ‘bucket.’ These are a pail that you fill with alcohol or a mixer. Get your bottoms up.
Now you have completed day one in Bangkok. You are now free to return to your hotel to rest.
Day In Bangkok
On the second day, you can visit some of Bangkok’s most famous cultural sites and markets.
Note: Bangkok takes two days, which is enough time to see most of Bangkok’s highlights.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
If you visit Bangkok on the weekend, visit the Chatuchak weekend market. This is a beautiful place to begin day 2 of your Bangkok itinerary.
This market’s sheer size is part of the reason it is so prevalent in Bangkok. You can find almost anything you need here at a meager price. It is best to visit Bangkok before the heat and crowds.
Small food stalls in the market can provide you with a variety of Thai and Green Curry dishes if you feel hungry while you shop. They have Thai massage rooms if you want to unwind and enjoy some AC.
Jim Thompson House
The Jim Thompson House gardens are as stunning as the museum.
Take the BTS Skytrain to another landmark after you have finished shopping. The Jim Thompson House is worth visiting for those interested in Thai architecture or art.
This museum honors Jim Thompson, an American man who arrived in Thailand to start a business selling silk. His company continues to thrive today. His house is an excellent example of Thai architecture, and many people visit it.
The guide will tell the visitors about Jim Thompson’s life and mysterious death in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. They never found his body.
The house is beautiful, but my favorite was the jungle-like backyard. It helped me forget all the chaos and noise of the city.
Bangkok Art and Culture Center
The Bangkok Arts and Thailand Culture Centre is just down the street from the Jim Thompson House. This is the place to be if you are interested in contemporary art or cultural events. This is a great place to start if you want to add cultural experiences to your Bangkok trip planning. You will also find cafes, bookshops, craft shops, and art galleries.
The events and exhibitions are constantly changing, so visit their website in advance to see the most recent information.
Bangkok Malls – Siam Paragon, MBK Center
Now you are in the heart of downtown. A trip to Southeast Asia would only be complete with visiting some of its megamalls. Bangkok is home to some of the most impressive malls in the country.
Siam Paragon is one of my favorite places to escape the heat. The massive mall featured an entrainment center, a movie theatre, luxury brand names, and even luxury indoor car dealerships. Take a cup of iced coffee and follow the indoor pathways to different shopping centers.
These malls are between Bangkok Arts and Culture Center and the next destination. You can stay as long as your heart desires in these malls. Continue walking to Erawan Shrine after you’ve taken advantage of the air conditioning and found deals at MBK Center.