Wat Arun at sunset with a royal barge and its oarsmen on the Chao Phraya River in the foreground
  1. Home
  2. Destinations
  3. Thailand
  4. Bangkok
  5. 1 day itinerary

Bangkok in 1 day

  • 1 day
  • 8.3 km on foot
  • 16 stops
  • Audio guide

One day in Bangkok goes a long way if you get the order right: the great temples of Rattanakosin first thing, the city's history as the sun starts to drop, and Chinatown just as the neon flickers on. It's a plan for stopovers and flying visits, built around the essentials: the Emerald Buddha, the Reclining Buddha, the river and a street-food dinner you'll talk about for years.

One day in BangkokGold, river and neon

Be at the Grand Palace when it opens, shoulders and knees covered: “Bangkok highlights” carries on to the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho and ends with the ferry across the river to Wat Arun. Ferry back, then grab a taxi to Thipsamai for pad thai and a break through the hottest hours. Mid-afternoon, “From 1782 to 1932” starts at the City Pillar Shrine and finishes on top of the Golden Mount. As it gets dark, head to Talat Noi by MRT or taxi: “Spirits, dragons and a hidden Buddha” drops you in Yaowarat, where kuay jab at Nai Ek is waiting.

  1. Morning

    Bangkok highlights: from the Emerald Buddha to the Temple of Dawn

    Mixed · 2.1 km · 2 h

    1. Grand Palace and Wat Phra KaewThe residence of the Chakri kings and the temple of the Emerald Buddha, behind a white wall.
    2. Wat PhoThe temple of the giant Reclining Buddha, which was also Siam's first public school.
    3. Museum SiamA former Italian-designed ministry turned into a museum about what it means to be Thai.
    4. Tha Tien PierA pier with a century-old market and a legend of giants who flattened everything.
    5. Wat Arun, the Temple of DawnThe porcelain tower that welcomes everyone arriving by river.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  2. Lunch

    Try Pad thai at Thipsamai (Phad Thai Pratu Phi). 313-315 Maha Chai Road, Phra Nakhon

  3. Afternoon

    From 1782 to 1932: the birth of Bangkok and modern Siam

    History · 3.8 km · 2 h 30 min

    1. City Pillar Shrine (Lak Mueang)The exact spot where Bangkok began, one April dawn in 1782.
    2. Sanam LuangThe great royal field where Bangkok celebrates, bids farewell to its kings and, for years, did its weekend shopping.
    3. Phra Sumen FortOne of only two forts still standing from the city walls built by Rama I.
    4. Khao San RoadThe street of milled rice that became the backpacker capital of the world.
    5. Democracy MonumentA monument full of hidden numbers that commemorates 24 June 1932.
    6. Golden Mount (Wat Saket)A hill born of an architectural failure, with the best view over the old town.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  4. Early evening

    Spirits, dragons and a hidden Buddha: secret Chinatown

    Mysteries & legends · 2.4 km · 1 h 50 min

    1. Talat Noi and its spiritsA riverside neighbourhood where every house has its invisible guardian.
    2. Wat Traimit and the Golden BuddhaThe solid gold statue nobody knew was gold until it fell.
    3. Leng Buai Ia ShrineA Chinese shrine that claims to be the oldest in the country, with a date nobody has been able to prove.
    4. Wat Mangkon KamalawatThe Dragon Lotus Temple, the great home of Chinese Buddhism in Bangkok.
    5. Sampeng LaneChinatown's original street, a trading corridor that hasn't stopped bustling since 1782.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  5. Dinner

    Try Kuay jab (guay jub) at Nai Ek Roll Noodles. 442 Soi Yaowarat 9, Samphanthawong

The map

Bangkok in 1 day, on the map

Each route’s stops are numbered in order; the stars are the extra sights.

Mixed History Mysteries & legends

Loading the map…

Before you go

Tips for Bangkok in 1 day

  • The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun all require covered shoulders and knees, so pack a scarf or light trousers. And if a friendly stranger tells you the palace is “closed today”, smile and keep walking to the official entrance.
  • The heat builds from mid-morning: start early, keep drinking water and save the middle of the day for a long lunch or a rest somewhere air-conditioned.
  • To link the areas, use the Tha Tien ferry, metered taxis or Grab, and the MRT Blue Line (Sanam Chai, Sam Yot, Wat Mangkon, Hua Lamphong), which connects the old town with Chinatown.

Questions

Bangkok in 1 day: your questions

Can you see Bangkok in one day?

You can see the essentials of the historic centre: the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, the Golden Mount and Chinatown. The heat makes it a full-on day, so start early and rest at midday. The markets, the Thonburi canals and the modern districts will have to wait for next time.

How many kilometres will I walk?

The three routes add up to about 8.3 km: 2.1 km in the morning, 3.8 km in the afternoon and 2.4 km at dusk. Between routes, take a taxi, Grab or the MRT: in Bangkok's heat, every kilometre feels like two.

When is the best time to visit Bangkok?

November to February is cooler and drier. March to May is seriously hot, and from June to October afternoon storms are common, though usually short. Whatever the season, early morning is the best time for the temples.

Other itineraries for 1 day

Bangkok

More or less time?

2 day itinerary 3 day itinerary All about Bangkok