3 days in Bangkok

Day by day

1. Day 1: Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho

   Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho and Bangkok National Museum, then Chinatown and Yaowarat Road in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew

      The walled royal palace, begun in 1782 when Bangkok became the capital, combines gilded throne halls with Wat Phra Kaew, the temple of the Emerald Buddha, Thailand's most sacred image.

   2. Late morning

      Wat Pho

      Drop a coin into each of the 108 bronze bowls along the Reclining Buddha's back for luck, then book a massage at the temple's school.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pad thai

      Street carts and specialist shops across the city, especially in the old town around the Golden Mount.

   4. Afternoon

      Bangkok National Museum

      In the former Front Palace beside Sanam Luang, the national museum covers Thai art and history from prehistoric times, with gilded royal funeral chariots, Buddha images in every regional style and the Buddhaisawan Chapel with its painted murals.

   5. Evening

      Chinatown and Yaowarat Road

      Go after 6pm for the food, take the MRT to Wat Mangkon, and eat at stalls with queues of locals.

2. Day 2: Wat Arun and Chatuchak Weekend Market

   Wat Arun, Chatuchak Weekend Market and Chao Phraya Express Boat, then Rooftop bars in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Wat Arun

      See it close up in the morning, then watch it light up at sunset from a riverside terrace on the Tha Tien side.

   2. Late morning

      Chatuchak Weekend Market

      One of the world's largest weekend markets spreads thousands of stalls over 27 sections, selling clothes, ceramics, plants, antiques, vintage, handicrafts and food.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tom yum goong

      Restaurants and riverside eateries across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Chao Phraya Express Boat

      Use the regular orange-flag boats rather than tourist boats to save money, and let passengers off before you board.

   5. Evening

      Rooftop bars

      Go just before sunset for both views, and expect cocktails to cost several times street prices.

3. Day 3: Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha) and Erawan Shrine

   Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha), Erawan Shrine and Jim Thompson House, then Mahanakhon SkyWalk in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha)

      At the Chinatown end of Yaowarat Road, Wat Traimit houses a solid-gold seated Buddha about three metres tall and weighing around five and a half tonnes, found in 1955 when its plaster covering cracked.

   2. Late morning

      Erawan Shrine

      Visit in the evening when it is busiest, and avoid standing directly in front of people praying.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Som tam

      Isan street stalls and restaurants everywhere; say 'mai phet' if you want it mild.

   4. Afternoon

      Jim Thompson House

      American silk entrepreneur Jim Thompson, who revived the Thai silk industry and vanished in Malaysia in 1967, assembled six old teak houses beside a canal into a home filled with Southeast Asian art.

   5. Evening

      Mahanakhon SkyWalk

      Book a slot shortly before sunset to see the city in daylight and after dark in one visit.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Museum Siam (Rattanakosin): Arrive or leave by MRT Sanam Chai, whose station hall is decorated like a royal palace.
• Swap in ICONSIAM (Thonburi riverside): Eat dinner at SookSiam, then watch the river from the terrace; arrive by shuttle boat or the Gold Line monorail.
• Swap in Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (Pathum Wan): Ride the escalators to the top floor and walk down the spiral ramp through the exhibitions.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Rattanakosin (Old Town) keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Banglamphu and Khao San ($) suits budget, nightlife and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 17–23 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.3 hours in December to 12.9 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Bangkok
• 2 days in Bangkok
• 4 days in Bangkok
• 5 days in Bangkok
• 7 days in Bangkok

Questions travellers ask