Wat Arun at sunset with a royal barge and its oarsmen on the Chao Phraya River in the foreground
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Bangkok in 3 days

  • 3 days
  • 8.3 km on foot
  • 16 stops
  • Audio guide

Three days is just enough time for Bangkok to stop overwhelming you and start winning you over. You'll see the temples and the river without rushing, understand how the capital came to be, stroll through its great park, raise a glass at the top of a skyscraper and get lost in the city's huge weekend market. The pace is relaxed, with early starts and guilt-free afternoon naps.

Day 1River of kings

Start the trip in style: “Bangkok highlights” begins at the Grand Palace as it opens, takes in the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho and crosses by ferry to Wat Arun. Have pad thai at Thipsamai and, when the heat peaks, get back on the water: longtail boats leave Tha Chang pier for the canals of Thonburi. Once you're back, hop on the express boat and drift downriver to Sathorn pier, watching temples give way to skyscrapers. From there, the BTS will take you anywhere.

  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

    Longtail boat through the Thonburi khlongs

    The canals of Taksin's old capital, with wooden stilt houses, neighbourhood temples and Khlong Bang Luang, where the Artist's House often puts on traditional puppet shows. Boats leave from the piers near the Grand Palace; settle the price and length of the trip before you board.

    Directions

    Chao Phraya Express Boat

    The boat locals use to get around the river, stopping pier by pier between temples, old warehouses and luxury hotels. Tha Chang to Sathorn makes a lovely ride in the late afternoon, and at Sathorn you can switch to the BTS.

    Directions

Day 2From the Golden Mount to the Silom skyline

Get up early for “From 1782 to 1932”: from the City Pillar Shrine to Sanam Luang, Phra Sumen Fort and Khao San Road, then up the Golden Mount with the old town at your feet. Take the MRT from Sam Yot to Wat Mangkon and have kuay jab at Nai Ek, in the heart of Yaowarat. Rest in the shade, then stay on the same Blue Line to Lumphini for a walk in the park as the heat eases. At sunset, head to Silom and up to a rooftop to watch the city light up along the river.

  1. Morning

    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

  2. Lunch

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

  3. Afternoon

    Lumphini Park

    The city centre's great green lung, laid out in the 1920s on land given by Rama VI and named after Lumbini, the Buddha's birthplace. In the late afternoon it fills with joggers and open-air aerobics classes, and you'll easily spot monitor lizards around the lake.

    Directions

    Sky Bar at Lebua (State Tower)

    The terrace beneath State Tower's golden dome, made famous by “The Hangover Part II”, with a sweeping view over the bend of the Chao Phraya. There's usually a queue at sunset and a smart dress code; the drinks are pricey, but the view makes up for it.

    Directions

Day 3Markets, silk and a Golden Buddha

If it's a Saturday or Sunday, head to Chatuchak early by BTS or MRT, before the heat and the crowds build. Shopping in your bag, take the BTS to National Stadium for Jim Thompson House; from the nearby pier, the Saen Saep canal boat drops you at Phan Fa, a few steps from Jay Fai and her crab omelette. Rest through the hottest hours. At dusk, “Spirits, dragons and a hidden Buddha” runs from Talat Noi to the Golden Buddha of Wat Traimit and ends in Yaowarat, with tom yum kung at T&K Seafood for dinner.

  1. Morning

    Chatuchak Weekend Market

    One of the largest markets in the world, with thousands of stalls selling clothes, crafts, plants, antiques and food, open mainly at weekends. Bring a map or a photo of the section plan, because getting lost is easy. It's right by Mo Chit and Chatuchak Park stations.

    Directions

    Jim Thompson House

    The house-museum of the American who revived Thai silk: several traditional teak houses holding his collection of Southeast Asian art, on the banks of the Saen Saep canal. His disappearance in Malaysia in 1967 remains unsolved. Visits to the house are guided.

    Directions

  2. Lunch

    Try Jay Fai's crab omelette at Raan Jay Fai. 327 Maha Chai Road, Phra Nakhon

  3. 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

  4. Dinner

    Try Tom yum kung at T&K Seafood. 49-51 Phadung Dao Road (Soi Texas), Yaowarat

The map

Bangkok in 3 days, on the map

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

Mixed History Mysteries & legends Extra sight

Loading the map…

Before you go

Tips for Bangkok in 3 days

  • Plan the days around the calendar: Chatuchak opens mainly at weekends, Jay Fai only on certain days and Thipsamai has a closing day. If it doesn't fit, swap days 1 and 2.
  • To get between areas, mix the BTS, the MRT and the river and Saen Saep canal boats: they're often faster than a taxi at rush hour. If you do take a taxi, insist on the meter, or use Grab.
  • If Chatuchak doesn't fit, swap the morning of day 3 for Wat Benchamabophit, the Marble Temple, and in the evening try a night market such as Jodd Fairs or Asiatique.

Questions

Bangkok in 3 days: your questions

What should I do with 3 days in Bangkok?

With this plan you see the great temples, the river and the Thonburi canals on day one; the capital's history, Lumphini and a rooftop on day two; and Chatuchak, Jim Thompson House and Chinatown at dusk on day three. It all links up easily by BTS, MRT and boat.

How far will I walk in 3 days?

The routes add up to about 8.3 km: 2.1 km on day one, 3.8 km on day two and 2.4 km on day three. It's not much per day, but add Chatuchak and the walks to the extras, and remember that in Bangkok the heat tires you more than the distance.

Can I fit in a day trip to Ayutthaya or a floating market?

Yes, but it takes most of a day: Ayutthaya, the old capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is about 80 km away, and the Damnoen Saduak floating market and the Maeklong railway market lie to the west. To go, replace day 3 or add a fourth day.

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