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Bangkok in 3 days: an itinerary for first-time visitors
I got Bangkok wrong the first time round. I was there for a week, but I mainly went on day trips out of the city because I felt I had plenty of time, and in the end I saw almost nothing of Bangkok itself.
The second time round, we spent three full days there. And suddenly, it all made sense.
If you’re now looking tovisit Bangkok in three daysor wondering how many days are enough in Bangkok, this itinerary is exactly what I’d recommend to you with a clear conscience.
It’s not a comprehensive list of sights. But it’s an itinerary that works.
Before you set off, do have a look at our basic overview of the city in our systematic guide.
- 👉Where to stay in Bangkok
- 👉 The metro, tuk-tuks and Grab in Bangkok
- 👉 Where to eat and drink in Bangkok: our tips
Why 3 days in Bangkok is the ideal minimum
One day is a culture shock.
Two days are a whirlwind.
Three days is the first time you start to enjoy the city.
Bangkok is huge. Not just in terms of size, but above all in its contrasts. Temples that look like something from another world. Modern skyscrapers. Street food right next to Michelin-starred restaurants. Luxury hotels next to dilapidated houses.
And the famously vibrant nightlife, which hides many secrets.
In three days, you’ll manage to:
- the historic city centre by the river
- the modern skyline and a rooftop bar
- Chinatown, the evening atmosphere and perhaps even the weekend markets
If you only have two days, you can trim this itinerary down. If you have more time, the third day provides the perfect basis for further exploration.
Find a hotel in Bangkok by location
Day 1 – iconic sights
Yes. On the first day, you’ll go where everyone else goes.
At least that’s how it is for me. I want to see the things I simply can’t go home without seeing first.
- Morning– Grand Palace + Temple of the Emerald Buddha
- Bangkok’s most famous landmark
- 60–90 minutes
- We arrived around midday the first time. Mistake. Come straight after it opens – there are fewer people and it’s not quite so hot.
- Morning – Wat Pho
- Just a 10-minute walk from the Grand Palace
- 30–45 minutes
- The Reclining Buddha is exactly the moment when you manage to extricate yourself a little from the crowd and start to notice the details.
- Midday– lunch somewhere by the river
- Afternoon – Wat Arun
- Cross the river by ferry
- 45–60 minutes
- For me, the most beautiful temple not only in Bangkok, but in the whole of Thailand
- Evening –Khao San Road orSilom/Sukhumvit
- I’d spend the evening in one of the livelier neighbourhoods, depending on where you’re staying
Where to stay if you want to be close to the city centre
If this is your first visit, it makes sense to stay near the blue metro line or right by the river in the historic centre.
I’d recommend these hotels, for example:
- 👉 ARUN Riverside Bangkok **** – a great hotel right by the river, the Grand Palace and Wat Pho
- 👉The Royal ThaTien Village ** – the cheapest hotel with en-suite rooms by the river and Wat Pho
We’ve got a detailed breakdown of the different areas (Sukhumvit vs Silom vs Riverside) in our article ‘Where to stay in Bangkok’.
Day 2 – modern Bangkok and the views
The second day brings a complete change of atmosphere and theme. And that’s exactly what Bangkok is all about – stark contrasts.
Glass. Steel. Skyscrapers. Huge shopping centres. And in the evening, views you’ll never forget.
- Morning – King Power Mahanakhon
- 30–45 minutes
- The city’s highest observation deck, where you’ll realise just how vast Bangkok is
- During the day – Chatuchak Market (Saturdays and Sundays only) or shopping in the huge shopping centres
- Any time, even several hours
- late afternoon – Akara Sky Hanuman
- 60–90 minutes
- A viewing point packed with attractions, featuring a (very expensive) rooftop bar
- Evening – Sukhumvit or Silom
- Any time
- A lively neighbourhood full of bars, massage parlours, nightclubs and street food
Where to stay for better transport links
Modern Bangkok is a good strategic location for accommodation throughout your stay in Bangkok.
In my view, the Silom area makes the most sense, as it’s close to a direct metro line to Sukhumvit, as well as to Bangkok’s historic centre.
I would recommend the following hotels:
- 👉Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini **** – if you want to stay at a well-known brand in a modern part of town, yet just a few steps from both the blue and dark green metro lines
- 👉The Siam Heritage Hotel **** – excellent value for money, just a 5-minute walk from the underground
Day 3 – the real Bangkok
On the last day, I’d leave modern, bustling Bangkok behind and head back to the older neighbourhoods.
- Morning – Talat Noi + Chinatown
- 90–120 minutes
- The atmosphere of a peaceful neighbourhood with workshops, street art and stylish cafés, but a little further on, the livelier Chinatown
- Early afternoon – Golden Buddha
- 15 minutes
- The most valuable Buddha statue in Bangkok, right next to Chinatown
- Afternoon – Wat Saket
- 45–60 minutes
- A hill with a golden shrine and a beautiful view of Bangkok
- Late afternoon – Wat Benchamabophit
- 45–60 minutes
- A beautiful marble temple
- Evening – Khao San Road orSilom/Sukhumvit
- I’d spend my last evening in one of the iconic neighbourhoods again, depending on where your hotel is or what you didn’t manage to see on previous days
How much does a 3-day trip to Bangkok cost?
Bangkok can be cheap. And at the same time, you’ll be surprised at how much you’ll end up spending on ‘just one drink with a view’.
In reality (mid-range, a well-reviewed 4* hotel near the underground):
- 🏨 Hotel: around 3 500 thb per night/room (but simple 2* hotels start from 900 thb)
- 🍜 Food: approx. 600 thb per day
- 🚇 Transport + entrance fees: on average, we spent around 1 000 thb
- 🍸 Drinks in top bars: from 440 thb
Over the whole 3 days, we spent roughly 12 000 thb per person without being overly frugal.
A lot of money is usually lost on exchange rates when withdrawing from a cash machine. We explain how fees and currency exchange work here 👉 Money and prices in Thailand.
Outside Europe, I use Revolut because of the better exchange rates and to collect RevPoints, which I later convert into air miles.
Bangkok isn’t exactly cheap. But it can be very flexible – you can spend very little here. Or a great deal of money.
Is Bangkok worth it?
Yes.
For me, it’s worth a visit even if it’s just for a few hours between flights.
But a stay of up to three days will allow you to appreciate the contrast between chaos and luxury, between the gold of the temples and the glass of the skyscrapers.
And perhaps, just like me, you’ll find yourself thinking that you’d love to stop off here again on your next trip to Asia, just to see how much Bangkok has changed in the meantime.
Before you fly to Bangkok
Three things I’d sort out whilst still at home:
1️⃣ A hotel near the underground (BTS or MRT)
Bangkok is huge and transport is the biggest time-waster. For many travellers, Bangkok is their first stop in Asia, which is another reason why I’d definitely sort out a hotel in advance.
2️⃣ Flights with a reasonable arrival time
Arriving at 11.30 pm after a 12-hour flight and having to sort out a taxi isn’t the ideal start. And a large number of flights arrive in Bangkok during the night.
On the other hand, major airlines often fly to Bangkok several times a day, so you usually have a choice of flights.
3️⃣ If you’re travelling further around Thailand
If you’re travelling on from Bangkok (to Koh Samui, Chiang Mai or Krabi), we book trains, buses and ferries via the popular website 12go.asia.
We’ve travelled through several regions in Thailand and have put together some practical tips and our experiences.
Any questions left?
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