4 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

      Allow 2–3 hours (mid-priced). Arrive at opening to beat the heat and tour groups, and ignore anyone outside who says the palace is closed today; it is a well-known scam that ends at gem shops.

   2. Late morning

      Wat Pho

      Wat Pho is regarded as the home of traditional Thai massage, and its school still gives treatments on site.

   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

      Allow 2 hours (low cost). Use it as a rainy-season retreat in the old town; the Grand Palace is about a 10-minute walk away.

   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: Museum Siam and Wat Arun

   Museum Siam, Wat Arun and Chatuchak Weekend Market, then Rooftop bars in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Museum Siam

      It is a good introduction to the culture and works well with children.

   2. Late morning

      Wat Arun

      Allow 1 hour (low cost). See it close up in the morning, then watch it light up at sunset from a riverside terrace on the Tha Tien side.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tom yum goong

      Restaurants and riverside eateries across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Chatuchak Weekend Market

      It runs mainly on Saturdays and Sundays and is reached from MRT Kamphaeng Phet or BTS Mo Chit.

   5. Evening

      Rooftop bars

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

3. Day 3: Chao Phraya Express Boat and Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha)

   Chao Phraya Express Boat, Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha) and Erawan Shrine, then Mahanakhon SkyWalk in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Chao Phraya Express Boat

      Allow 1–2 hours (low cost). Use the regular orange-flag boats rather than tourist boats to save money, and let passengers off before you board.

   2. Late morning

      Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha)

      Exhibitions on the lower floors cover the history of Bangkok's Chinese community.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Som tam

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

   4. Afternoon

      Erawan Shrine

      Allow 20 minutes (free). Visit in the evening when it is busiest, and avoid standing directly in front of people praying.

   5. Evening

      Mahanakhon SkyWalk

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

4. Day 4: Day trip to Ayutthaya

   About 1.5–2 hours by train or minivan each way. Getting there: Train from Bangkok, minivan or organised tour.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Ayutthaya

      About 1.5–2 hours by train or minivan (Train from Bangkok, minivan or organised tour); about 80 km.

   2. Day

      Ayutthaya

      The capital of Siam from 1351 until it was sacked in 1767, Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of ruined temples and brick prangs, including the Buddha head entwined in tree roots at Wat Mahathat. Rent a bicycle or a tuk-tuk to cover the main sites on the island.

   3. Evening

      Back in Bangkok

      Dinner: try Khao man gai.

Before you go

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 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 4 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
• 3 days in Bangkok
• 5 days in Bangkok
• 7 days in Bangkok

Questions travellers ask