So we all know Las Vegas is known as “Sin City”, however Bangkok is known as “The City of Angels”. If you’re planning a trip to Thailand, you will most likely stop in Bangkok at some point. Bangkok is by far one of the craziest places I have visited. Bangkok has endless options of things to do. From street food to top-notch restaurants and the world’s swankiest rooftop bars. From exploring ancient temples to the red light district to Muay Thai boxing or shopping at luxury fashion malls. Bangkok has it all and there is never a dull moment when you hit the streets of this city.
Here is my 3 day itinerary of things to do while visiting Bangkok. You don’t need an incredibly long amount of time in Bangkok to see the city’s main attractions. If you have less than three days to spend in this big city, feel free to choose parts of this itinerary.
WHERE I STAYED
Courtyard Marriott Bangkok is an affordable and great hotel to stay while visiting Bangkok. The hotel is centrally located in the heart of Bangkok between Siam and Silom, two of the best areas in Bangkok to shop and eat. The BTS skytrain station is a short 10 minute walk from the hotel. Whether you are traveling a short distance or too tired to walk, the hotel offers a free tuk tuk shuttle. For a short trip to Bangkok, it’s important to stay somewhere with easy access to the train to make the most of your time. The hotel itself was clean, sleek and comfortable. This Courtyard by Marriott also had an executive lounge, which offered a happy hour from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm that included liquor, beer, wine and an assortment of foods. If you are a Marriott Rewards member with gold or platinum status, I recommend taking advantage of the lounge when possible as everything is free. We took advantage of enjoying a few cocktails before heading out on the town, which is definitely a good way to save some money.
DAY 1
Go Shopping
Bangkok is one of the best cities to shop in the world. Whatever you want is readily available, whether it’s a top designer handbag, a quirky market souvenir, or a contemporary piece from a local Thai designer! I personally loved the MBK Center, however I also suggest Siam Paragon, Terminal 21 and Siam Center.
Muay Thai Fight
Muay Thai is an ancient Thai martial art, originally developed for use in military combat. Rajadamnern Stadium is a great place to witness the action of a traditional Muay Thai fight. Rajadamnern Stadium is the oldest boxing stadium in Bangkok and has been it around since 1945. Fights take place 4 days a week on every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Door opens from 6: 00 pm. The seating is provided in 3 classes from Ring Side Class, 2nd Class and 3rd Class. Ring Side will bring you the extremely boxing experience while seating next to the boxing ring closely with the boxers fighting on stage.
DAY 2
Go Temple Hopping
There are a total of 40,717 Buddhist temples throughout Thailand, so you definitely won’t have a hard time finding one to explore. Bangkok holds some of the most beautiful temples in all of Thailand, so I suggest you try to visit at least one. Depending on how much time you have or are willing to spend, you can visit anywhere from 1 to 4 temples in a day. Here are some of my suggestions:
- Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of Emerald Buddha)
- Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
- Wat Arun
TIP: You must be properly dressed before being allowed entry into any temple. You must wear shirts with sleeves and pants and skirts should be below the knee.
Visit a Rooftop Bar for Sunset
Bangkok’s sky bar scene is thriving. The most famous would be Sky Bar at the Lebua Hotel, which was made famous from the movie The Hangover 2, this bar is listed as one of the best things to do in Bangkok. Drinks and food are VERY pricey and mean you have to dress appropriately. If you are willing to spend 30 USD on a cocktail to enjoy a view of Bangkok, then by all means head up 64 floors. I personally don’t think Sky Bar is worth the splurge and you can find more affordable roof top bars with a great view in Bangkok. Regardless, you should visit at least one rooftop bar during your time in Bangkok. Read here for some additional options.
DAY 3
Floating Market
The most famous of Thailand’s floating markets, Damnoen Saduak is definitely touristy, but still very charming. About an hour’s journey outside the city, it’s everything you would expect a floating market to be: extremely colorful, loud, and busy. The Thai women wearing bamboo hats paddling little boats and getting stuck in traffic jams in the canals was EVERYTHING!
I went on a guided tour with Viator, which was awesome! The tour set out early in the morning to avoid most of the tourists and included hotel pick up and drop off. I loved the tour and would recommend it if you are interested in experiencing the hustle and bustle of a Thai floating market. Click here for my specific tour.
Weekend Market
The Chatuchak Weekend Market, is a place where you can buy ANYTHING and EVERYTHING! Prepare to get your ‘haggle’ on because everything is negotiable. With over 8,000 stalls, this is the best market to buy your family and friends gifts. Prepare to sweat and spend hours here because the stalls do get crowded. I could have easily spent the entire day here shopping!
TIP: Make note of where you enter the market. Find any landmarks, exit number, shops, etc. to orient yourself and get back to an area to exit. The market is that big!
TIPS
Although Bangkok was my least favorite city in Thailand, I recommend you visit and form your own opinion. Here are some helpful tips to make your experience better than mine:
- Negotiate pricing before getting into a tuk tuk
- Take your shoes off when entering homes and some shops
- Don’t point
- Be prepared to deal with constant traffic no matter what day of the week or time of day.
- Beware of anyone stopping to tell you that where you are going is closed. This is a scam.
Have you been to Bangkok? What do you think about my three day itinerary? What would you recommend to someone visiting Bangkok?
If you enjoyed this post, please comment below or share on social media!
PIN IT!
Thank you for your insight. I am planning my honeymoon and we will be spending a few days in Bangkok. I would like to visit a floating market so it was good to read about your impressions. Thanks also for linking to the tour you took. I was wondering if it made any sense to actually go on my own with a taxi, but I guess that a tour is a better option. Thanks for that!
No problem Eva! I really enjoyed our tour and it was very reasonably priced. I hope you have an amazing time exploring Bangkok and the floating market!