The bustling capital of Thailand, Bangkok, is a city that seamlessly blends ancient traditions with vibrant modernity. From glittering temples and serene parks to bustling markets and culinary delights, Bangkok offers an unforgettable experience for every traveler, whether you’re a budget backpacker or looking for more luxury.
Wander the streets to see the beautiful architecture of the many temples (wats). Enjoy nature and wildlife in the likes of Lumphini Park and Bang Kachao. Get lost in expansive urban malls in the MKB center and Terminal 21. In Bangkok, there will be more than enough for you to sink your teeth into.
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Getting There
Airport Rail Link: The Cheaper Option
For an affordable option, you can use the Airport Rail Link to get yourself from Suvarnabhumi to the city center. A single journey costs 45 Baht (£1/$1.20). Alternatively, opt for a day ticket at 140 Baht (£3.30/$4) if you plan to use the rail to hop around the city. Look for the red ticket booths in the airport.
Taxi: Convenience
If you need a more convenient option, then taxis are available to take you directly to your hotel or hostel. Prices can vary greatly depending on who you ask and where you’re going, but expect to pay 300-500 Baht (£7+/$8+). You can book online or upon arrival.
Itinerary
Great, you’ve arrived! Now it’s time to start exploring! Our itinerary below is just a suggestion based on our experiences. We’ll add some alternative ideas too so you can personalize your experience.
Day 1: Wats and the Grand Palace
The Grand Palace
The Grand Palace is a complex of beautiful architecture nestled in the heart of this bustling city. We spent the best part of an hour here, but you could easily turn that into 2-3 hours if you’re not in a rush and take some time to relax in the shade and take in the glimmering buildings. The 500 Baht (£11.50/$15) entrance fee may seem steep, but we think it is absolutely worth it; the grounds are huge and unlike anything else you’ll find in Bangkok. The Emerald Buddha is also within the grounds and included in your entrance fee. No photos allowed, but an unforgettable sight.
We would recommend bringing some shoes that are easy to slip on and off, as with every temple you will visit in Thailand, taking off your shoes before going inside is respectful (and mandatory). Make sure your shoulders and knees are covered before entering the grounds. If you forget for any reason then often you’ll find stalls nearby. Grab a shawl or some harem pants and head in.
If you are staying anywhere near Khaosan road, you’ll be within walking distance of the palace. If not, local transport in Bangkok is easy and cheap. Don’t expect anything to run on time. Google maps will serve you well for the right buses to find, and often, there will be someone at the bus/boat station to point you in the right direction.
Wats
Bangkok is home to many temples, known as wats. Every temple is stunning and unique, showing off that wonderful Thai architectural style. As with the Grand Palace, you will want to make sure you are dressed modestly and have shoes that are easy to slip on and off.
One of the most well-known temples in Bangkok is Wat Arun (you’ll invariably see it on your friend’s instagram story when they visit), which stands just across the river from the Grand Palace. You can get a boat across the river for about 20 Baht (£0.50/$0.60). Entrance to the grounds costs 200 Baht (£5/$6). This allows you to climb the steps part-way up, and there are a couple of other smaller buildings and a small tree garden inside the complex.
Another famous landmark, right by the grand palace, is Wat Pho, A.K.A. the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, featuring – you guessed it – a big ol’ reclining Buddha. Whilst we didn’t go due to shortage of time and budget, we’ve heard good things from fellow travellers, so time and money permitting you should head here on your way to Wat Arun.
A simple Google search will provide you with countless other temples no matter where you are in the city. If you’re enamored by the architectural style and fancy some temple hopping, you’ll have no problems doing that here.
Extras
For another amazing temple, try the Golden Mount, the highest temple in Bangkok. If you can brave the winding 320 steps, you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of Bangkok.
Day 2: Markets and Park(et)s
Okay so it doesn’t quite rhyme, but that doesn’t detract from the stunning natural areas providing a stark contrast to the modern capital.
Lumphini Park
The Central Park of Bangkok, if New York zoo had a mass monitor lizard escape incident. I spent a couple hours in the early morning here enjoying a 7-Eleven breakfast and coffee whilst gazing into the beautiful lakes. There is a bus stop right outside the park if you are not within walking distance. If you want to escape the hectic city of Bangkok and have some time to relax, this is your place.
Bang Kachao
If you enjoyed spending a few hours in Lumphini Park, why not spend a day in Bangkok’s ‘Green Lung.’ Ask your hostel or hotel staff how to get to “Khlong Toei Pier” via bus, or grab a taxi via grab or old-fashioned hailing. From the pier, you can grab a boat ticket to cross the river. Boats are very regular, so timing isn’t hugely important as you’ll never have to wait more than 15 minutes.
Upon arriving, you can rent a bicycle for the day (make sure to bring your passport for a deposit) and explore the area at your leasure. Bikes range from 100-300 Baht per day, but the cheaper options (£2.30/$3) served us perfectly well. Among the sights are some beautiful botanical gardens and an expansive market with a great selection of foods. Take in the greenery and fresh air in this lush escape from the city.
Khaosan Road
A backpacker haven of food, souvenirs, and more harem pants than you thought could possibly exist on earth. We grabbed a delicious pad Thai here, and if you can get past the vendors coming to your table with a tray of grilled scorpions and millipedes mid-meal (entomophobes beware) then it’s a cheap and easy place to grab a meal and a drink in the evening. If you’re more inclined to a late night of drinking and meeting fellow travellers, many places will be open until 2am.
Souvenirs here will be slightly more expensive than some of the more quiet places in Bangkok. However, you’re looking at a price difference of maybe £1-2, so don’t stress about walking for 3 hours to some back-street vendor on the other side of the city to save a couple pennies on a tacky magnet.
Extras
If you’re not a fan of Khaosan road, try heading to Chinatown instead for some alternative street food options.
If you fancy a shopping trip in an eccentric shopping mall, try Terminal 21. With floors themed after different places in the world, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a new place every time you climb the stairs.
Day 3(+4): Day Trips
Bangkok has many day trip opportunities, but we had two fabourites. Erawan Falls is for all you nature lovers, to visit this serene, multi-level cascading waterfall. If history and architecture is more your bag, then visit the ancient capital of Ayutthaya. Both options are detailed below, and if you have the time then do both!
Ayutthaya
The old capital of Thailand, this city is scattered with the ruins of old wats that were destroyed during the Burmese War. The remains are absolutely stunning, and in our opinion an unmissable trip if you’re visiting Bangkok.
Whilst we spent a night here, Ayutthaya is doable as a day trip from Bangkok. The rail connection from Bangkok makes getting there easy. It also makes for a convenient stop on the way to Chiang Mai, as it lies upon the same railway line. Find up-to-date train information here.
Renting a bicycle here for the day is easy, and most rental places will provide you with a map of the main sites. We may provide a more detailed itinerary for Ayutthaya, and when we do we will link to it from here, but it’s fairly easy to navigate on your own using the maps provided by rental shops.
Kanchanaburi & Erawan Falls
Erawan falls is possible to do as a day trip – and we did just that – but we would actually recommend spending a night in Kanchanaburi before heading to the falls. We will explain why.
Two trains leave from Thonburi station bound for Kanchanaburi every day, one at 07:45 and the other at 13:55. Find more information here.
Thonburi station itself isn’t the easiest place to reach, being on the west side of the river. Most taxis will refuse to take you there as it is too far, so your best bet is the moderately unreliable busses. It may be possible to reach this station by metro, but we have no experience in doing so. It may be worth asking your hostel or hotel staff for advice on getting to this station.
Once you reach Thonburi station, you can buy a ticket from the counter for 100 Baht (£2.30/$3). This fare is for all stops, but if you’re heading straight to the waterfalls you will want to alight at Kanchanaburi. If you want to continue further on the line to experience the famous “Death Railway,” make sure you check the return times for the train so you don’t get stranded.
From Kanchanaburi train station, you can grab a taxi (or brave the 30 minute walk, as we did) to the bus station and hop on a bus bound for Erawan falls for 60 Baht (£1.50/$2). We’re not sure if we were unluckily cursed with a very slow driver, or if the arrival times are misleading, but we arrived at the falls almost 90 minutes after we expected, giving us just over an hour at the falls before having to make the 7-hour return journey back to Bangkok. This is the reasons we suggest spending a night in Kanchanaburi – by spending the night, you can get an earlier bus to allow more time at the falls before returning to Bangkok.
The waterfalls themselves are split over many levels. A hike to the top, with time to stop at each level to take photos, will take between 30-60 minutes. You are also able to swim in the lower levels provided you rent a life jacket. Be prepared for the fish to nibble on your feet whilst you swim.
Overall, whilst you can have time to hike up and back down the falls as well as have a short swim in under 2 hours, we think that setting aside a few extra hours on top of that will really allow you to relax and enjoy your time here.
Extras
For other trips out of the city centre, try heading to one of the many floating markets. Tha Kha floating market is a great choice with an authentic feel.
Final Notes
Bangkok is a city that captivates with its vibrant energy, cultural depth, and diverse attractions. Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, or simply looking for adventure, this 3-day itinerary provides a taste of everything the city has to offer.
If you’re spending more time in Thailand after Bangkok, then some popular destinations include the southern islands and the northern territory of Chiang Mai. 12Go is a great site for booking transport in advance, but it’s often cheaper to book in person.
For more ideas for your Thailand itinerary, check out all of our articles about Thailand. To help plan your trip, see our travel advice for Thailand.
