3 Days in Bangkok - The perfect itinerary for your first visit in Bangkok
With a rich history and a special culture, with a modern architecture and a developed infrastructure, an active night life and with a lot of bazaars, markets or street food stalls scattered all over the city, Bangkok has become one of the most popular cities in Southeast Asia.
A visit to the capital of Thailand will offer you unique and very contrasting experiences: from Buddhist temples with strict rules, to a night life full of promiscuity - all these form the picture of one of the most controversial and fascinating metropolises in Asia.
If you want to find out more information about Thailand, read this article: Beginner's Guide to Thailand - Everything You Need to Know Before Going to Thailand.
And if you want an itinerary idea to organize a 2-week vacation in Thailand, this article is for you: 14 Days in Thai Paradise - The Perfect Itinerary for Your First Visit to Thailand.
Bangkok, or Krung Thep in Thai, translated as the City of Angels, is the capital and largest city of Thailand, with a population exceeding 10 million inhabitants. It is located in the central part of the country, along the Chao Praya River.
Bangkok is also considered the gateway to Thailand for most tourists who come to spend their holidays in this exotic destination, thanks to the airport and the frequent flights that connect this city to the rest of the continents. So, if you are planning a vacation in Thailand, you will most likely fly through Bangkok. And if you arrive in Bangkok, it is absolutely necessary to stop here for 2-3 days. The city is captivating, special, somewhat different but at the same time similar to the cities in the West. But even so, you will feel a part of that authentic Asia, marked by congestion, chaotic traffic, tuk tuks, food markets and specific smells.
How do you get to Bangkok
Bangkok has two airports: Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK). Suvarnabhumi is the main international airport of Bangkok, but also of Thailand. The second airport is used more for domestic flights or closer destinations.
So, if you want to get to Bangkok and Thailand, Suvarnabhumi - BKK is the airport you have to land on.
From Europe, there are several airlines with which you can fly directly to Bangkok: Turkish Airlines, Qatar, KLM, Lufthansa or Air France.
The price of a plane ticket differs depending on the period chosen, the offers found or how early you start your search. You can try different flight options, until you find the right one for you, but expect an average price of the plane ticket of 1000 euros, round trip.
How do you get around in Bangkok
Bangkok has a very developed infrastructure, and in general you will be able to get around the city only with public transport. Even so, I mention here that a trip through a ride-sharing application is quite cheap, if you prefer convenience. Just know that sometimes you get to your destination much faster with the subway or the Sky Train, than by car, through the chaotic traffic.
Means of transport in Bangkok
- BTS Skytrain - there are two train lines, Sukhumvit street (light green on the map) and Silom (dark green on the map), and the connection point is at Siam station
- MRT Metrou
- Bolt/Grab
- Taxi
- Tuk tuk
- Water taxi
Tips & Tricks for transportation in Bangkok
- Do not travel by taxi or tuk tuk if you do not fix the price of the trip before, or if the taxi driver does not turn on the device.
- For the metro you can pay directly with your visa card, at the entrance and exit you just have to scan the card. For the SkyTrain, however, you need to buy a physical ticket.
- The Metro and the SkyTrain require separate cards and tickets, there is no common travel card for both means of transport.
- The price of a metro or SkyTrain ticket differs depending on the number of stations traveled. When you buy the ticket, you must know in beforehand at which station you will get off.
- At the vendinng machines in the metro and Sky Train stations, you cannot pay with a bank card or banknotes, only with coins. Instead, you can pay with banknotes at the counter.
- Bangkok is a very large city, so expect a long ride if you want to get from one point to another. I recommend you to use public transport whenever you can, you will arrive faster than with a car stuck in traffic.
How to get from the airport to Bangkok
Suvarnabhumi Airport – BKK is very well connected to the city, with a special train line.
To get to other corners of the city, there are train stations connected to subway lines (for example Makkasan station, connected with the blue subway line or Phaya San station, connected with the green Sukhumvit Skytrain line).
A trip by train from the airport is quite cheap and it differs depending on the number of stations. As an example, from the airport to Makkasan station, which is connected with the blue metro, the trip costs 35 baht.
What to do for 3 days in Bangkok
Below I will present you a 3-day itinerary for Bangkok, perfect for those who arrive here for the first time, and at the end I will leave you a list with other landmarks in the capital of Thailand, in case you have more time at your disposal.
Day 1
Start your trip in Bangkok by visiting the most representative cultural and religious sites, namely the main Buddhist temples, so beautiful, elegant and majestic. The three most important temples, the Grand Palace with the Emerald Buddha Temple, Wat Pho and Wat Arun, are located at a short distance from each other, so I recommend you visit them together on the same day.
The Grand Palace & The Temple of Emerald Buddha
The grandest complex of Thai temples, statues and official buildings can be found at the Grand Palace, where the famous Emerald Buddha statue is also located.
The Grand Palaceis one of the most impressive and visited tourist attractions in Bangkok. Built in 1782, the palace was the official seat of the Thai monarchy. In addition to the royal residence, the complex also houses a number of government buildings and the Temple of Emerald Buddha.
The Temple of Emerald Buddha, or Wat Phra Kaew, is a sacred Buddhist temple located inside the Royal Palace complex. Here the emerald Buddha statue is exhibited, one of the most famous and revered Buddha statues in the country.
The whole interior of the Grand Palace complex is extremely impressive, thanks to the elegant buildings with precious details, the special architectures and the carefully elaborated sculptures.
There is not much information for tourists in the courtyard of the palace, so if you want to know more about the history and significance of the place, I recommend that you document yourself beforehand on the official site or ask for a map at the entrance.
Or more simply, you can participate in a guided tour, such as:
- Bangkok: Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew Guided Walking Tour
- Bangkok: City Highlights Temple and Market Walking Tour where you will visit all three main temples in Bangkok: Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho and Wat Arun
Dress code: visitors are asked to wear decent clothing. Women must have their shoulders and legs covered, and men must wear long pants. If you don't have such clothes with you, you will find them at the entrance to buy, at fairly low prices. For example, a pair of long pants costs 100 baht (2.6 euros). When entering the temple, it is mandatory to take off your shoes.
The entrance ticket to the Grand Palace costs 500 baht (13 euros). It is open daily between 8:30-15:30.
Wat Pho Temple – Reclining Buddha
Our favorite temple, or rather the temple complex that we liked the most in Bangkok, was the one at Wat Pho, or the temple of the reclining Buddha.
With buildings and statues as beautiful as the Grand Palace, Wat Pho seems less crowded and with more space to walk and get lost among all the imposing monuments.
Famous here is the Reclining Buddha, a remarkable statue that impresses with its dimensions, 46 meters long and 15 meters high, and represents the Buddha entering Nirvana. The statue is covered with gold leaves, and the sole of the foot is meticulously decorated.
The entrance ticket to Wat Pho costs 200 baht (5.5 euros). It is open daily between 8-18:30.
I leave here the link to a guided tour, where you can find out more information about these temples: Bangkok: City Highlights Temple and Market Walking Tour.
From Wat Pho, to get to the next temple on the list, Wat Arun, you will have to cross the Chao Praya river by boat. The crossing is done at the Tha Tian station, it takes a few minutes, and the ticket is 5 baht (0.13 euro).
Wat Arun Temple
Wat Arun is one of the most remarkable temples and buildings in Bangkok. Located on the banks of the Chao Praya River, it is visible from any high point of the city, such as the rooftop bars or the King Power Mahanakhon tower, especially in the evening, when it is spectacularly illuminated.
The architecture and decorations of the temple are stunning, with colorful ceramics and porcelain, and it is approximately 82 meters high.
The price of an entrance ticket is 100 baht (2.6 euros) and the temple can be visited daily between 8-18.
If you want to participate in a guided tour of these temples, go here: Bangkok: City Highlights Temple and Market Walking Tour.
Chao Phraya River
After visiting all these wonderful temples, it is your choice if you want to continue the day with a one-hour walk on the Chao Phraya River. You can rent a boat directly from the ferry station where you crossed the river, and a one-hour tour can cost around 1000-1500 baht / boat.
Khao San Road
After a full day spent in places of great religious significance, in the evening you can try something totally different, namely to experience the night atmosphere on Khao San Road.
It has long been known that Bangkok is one of the capitals of entertainment, and Khao San Road is its central point. A pedestrian street, with many bars and clubs, with deafeningly loud music, with smells of cannabis and scantily clad women, with drinking contests and a lot of stalls selling strange food, such as cockroaches, scorpions or crocodiles... This is basically Khao San Road.
If you come to Thailand for fun and nightlife, then this is the first place you put on the map. But even if you are not interested in such nocturnal and promiscuous activities, it is worth coming on this street, just out of curiosity.
I recommend you come here by Bolt/Grab or Taxi, especially at night, because the area is not very well connected to public transport.
Day 2
The route of the second day involves visiting other attractive points in Bangkok, such as the most famous park in the city, the Chinese city, the King Power tower and the central Sukhumvit street.
Lumphini Park
Lumphini Park is the most famous park in Bangkok, an oasis of greenery right between the skyscrapers in the city center.
The park is beautifully landscaped, with a lake surrounded by palm trees in the middle. It's a real pleasure to walk around here, it relaxes you and offers you a bit of coolness on a hot day, as it usually is in Bangkok. But be careful of the monitor lizards, the park is famous for the large reptiles that make their home here.
Chinatown
Some of the oldest districts of Bangkok is the Chinese one, Chinatown. It is an atypical neighborhood compared to the others in Bangkok, a place with a special charm, where you feel the Chinese influence at every step. It is a place visited by tourists, thanks to the markets, the street food and the atmosphere, in general.
If you get here, put on your list the temple Wat Traimit, the Sampeng Lane Market and Yoawarat Road, the street with street food that comes to life during the evening.
King Power Mahanakhon
As in any other metropolis, here too you find a tower, an imposing skyscraper, from where you can admire the entire view of the city.
At King Power Mahanakhon you can go up to the terrace on the 78th floor, from where you have a splendid view of the entire city. Moreover, there is also a platform on which you can climb and see the city directly underneath you,
There are two types of tickets to climb the tower: an entry ticket for the first part of the day, until 3:30 PM, or for the second part of the day, after 4 PM. I would recommend you to go there around sunset, as it is one of the most beautiful views you can have over Bangkok.
The price of a ticket starts from 22 euros, and can be bought in advance, online, here: Bangkok: Mahanakhon SkyWalk Entry Ticket with Options.
Sukhumvit street
In the evening, I suggest you walk along the main boulevard in Bangkok, namely Sukhumvit street. It is the most famous boulevard in the city, and at the same time the most animated and elegant. With a multitude of malls, restaurants, bars, clubs and various shops, Sukhumvit is the place in Bangkok always full of life.
Day 3
Day Trip - Damnoen Saduak Floating Market & Maeklong Railway Market
On the third day we went on a day trip to some of the most authentic places near Bangkok, the Damnoen Saduak floating market, and the famous market along the Maeklong Railway Market.
You can reach both destinations on your own, with a Grab or Bolt, but keep in mind that the locations are a few tens of kilometers from Bangkok and are not very accessible.
With a day trip you could check both locations in the same day, it is comfortable and not very expensive, and the good part is that the car will come pick you up directly from the hotel, without any hassle with the transport.
The excursion we chose was this, Daytrip to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market & Maeklong Railway Market, at the price of 25 euros/person. The price included transportation from the accommodation, the boat ride in the floating market and an English-language guide.
Maeklong Railway Market
Maeklong Railway Market este ultima piata de acest fel din Thailanda, o piata improvizata de-a lungul unei sine de tren, pe unde trec zilnic trenuri.
The place is genuine, an unique market, with local products, such as different types of fish or seafood, or souvenirs.
The interesting part here is when the train passes: you hear the whistle that the train is approaching, the traders hurry to gather their stalls, and the visitors all huddle on the edge so as not to be touched by the train. Today, there are only 4 trains a day, the last one at 3 p.m.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Floating markets are other points of attraction in Bangkok, and the most famous market is Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. The market is located about an hour and a half from Bangkok, and nowadays has a strictly touristic purpose.
In the market there are traditional boats that navigate the river channels, and various traders, directly from their boats, stop at you and try to sell you different products. Walking on the canals takes, on average, about half an hour.
The experience itself is wonderful! But the prices are not necessarily among the lowest. That is if you are not a good negotiator and manage to get a better price. But, by comparison, the prices in the Railway Market are better than here.
Other floating markets that you can visit in Bangkok would be Amphawa Floating Market, Taling Chan Floating Market, Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market or Bang Nam Pheung Floating Market.
Rooftop Bar
End your evening and visit in Bangkok with fine drinks at a rooftop bar, where you can enjoy the entire panorama of the city in an elegant atmosphere.
Some of the rooftop bars you can visit in Bangkok are Skybar Sirocco, located on the 63rd floor of the Lebua State Tower, made famous by the movie Hangover 2, Vertigo & Moon Bar, on the 61st floor of the Banyan Tree Hotel or Speakeasy Rooftop Bar , in Muse Hotel.
Other activities and places to visit in Bangkok
If you have more time, there are other activities or places you can visit in Bangkok. I will mention some of them below:
Wat Saket – Temple of Golden Mount
Wat Saket is a beautiful temple located on a small hill. It is necessary to climb 344 steps to the temple, but you will be rewarded with a superb view of the city of Bangkok.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
If you visit Bangkok on a weekend day, then Chatuchak Weekend Market is the place you must go to feel the taste of real Thailand. It is the largest outdoor market, animated, authentic, full of stalls of different products, and above all, with the street food so famous in this country.
The market is open on Saturdays and Sundays between 6am and 6pm.
Ayutthaya
Another day trip you can do from Bangkok is to Ayutthaya, the former capital of Siam. Ayutthaya is today a historical park, included in the UNESCO World Heritage, where visitors can admire the ruins of the former temples of those times.
A day trip costs around 33 euros, and can be booked here: From Bangkok: Ayutthaya Temples Small Group Tour with Lunch. The price includes transport from accommodation, lunch and guide.
Where to stay in Bangkok
Bangkok-ul is a huge city, and it may seem a little difficult to choose your accommodation, or at least the area in which to stay.
I recommend looking for accommodation in the central area, along Sukhumvit street. It is the main avenue in Bangkok, with a lot of malls, restaurants and bars, but most importantly, with a lot of tourists and many hotels, so you won't feel isolated here. Moreover, the area is very well connected to public transport, there are many BTS Skytrain or MRT Metro stations.
We stayed at the Rezt Bangkok si ne-a placut – o cazare draguta, decenta la pret, intr-o zona buna, aproape de mall si de statii, dar totodata, fiind in spatele strazii principale, a fost liniste.
Other well-rated accommodations in Bangkok, depending on budget, are:
- Met A Space Pod @Phrom Phong, from 16 euros/night
- Tints of Blue Hotel – 60 euros/night
- SILQ Hotel & Residence, Managed by The Ascott Limited – 100 euros/night
- Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit – 150 euros/night
Where to eat in Bangkok
In Bangkok, and in Thailand, in general, you will not die of hunger, for sure! They have such delicious local gastronomy that you will definitely find something to your taste. And if you are not comfortable with spices and Asian food, you can find many western restaurants, where you can serve classic European or American food.
You will find food on any street corner, literally! Street food is at its best here, and if you're brave, try eating like a local. Otherwise, there are a lot of restaurants and malls with huge food court areas that will come to your rescue.
If you want to eat in a mega popular place on social networks, then you have to go to Jay Fai, the first street food in Thailand with a Michelin star, owned by a 70-year-old woman, famous for her dishes that she personally cooks . Expect huge queues here, however, the lady and her restaurant are very well known online.
Shopping in Bangkok
We leave for the end the most pleasant activity for many tourists, namely shopping.
Thailand, and implicitly Bangkok, is the perfect place to leave with suitcases full of shopping and gifts. In Bangkok you can find enormous and elegantly decorated malls, if you are looking for higher quality items or brand stores, as well as many different markets, such as daily, night, weekend or floating markets.
Malls in Bangkok
- Iconsiam
- CentralwOrld
- Siam Paragon
- MBK shopping mall
- Emporium
Weekend markets
- Chatuchak Weekend Market
- Ong Ang Walking Street
Daily markets
- Wang Lang Market
- Asiatique The Riverfront
- Talat Phlu Market
- Banglamphu Market
Night markets
- Khao San Market
- Jodd Fairs Night Market
- Indy Market
Floating markets
- Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- Amphawa Floating Market
- Taling Chan Floating Market
- Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market
- Bang Nam Pheung Floating Market
Tips for visiting Bangkok
Beware of scammers
As in any popular and highly touristic place in this world, there are no shortage of scammers here either. If you know, in general, what their activities are, maybe you will somehow manage to avoid them:
- Be careful how you negotiate for tuk-tuks or taxis that do not go with a device. Here it often happens that the tourist, in good faith, is scammed and pays more than the trip usually worths.
- If you go by tuk tuk, there are cases in which the driver will take you to certain stores approved by him, with higher prices than elsewhere, from where he will receive a commission from the sales made by you. Avoid these types of businesses, it is clear that both the driver and the merchant are trying to take advantage of you.
- If you arrive in Bangkok by the temples, beware of the tuk tuk drivers who will tell you that the temple gate is closed and that they will take you quickly with the tuk tuk to another entrance gate. Usually this is a "scam" practiced by drivers, they will ask you for this tuk tuk ride a lot of money at the end. You just go with the crowd, surely where hundreds of other tourists go, you can go too, because there is no closed gate.
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