So you're all set to land in Thailand and you have two or even three days to spend visiting the capital , whether you dedicate this visit to the beginning or end of your stay, or even if you plan to do a bit on arrival, and the rest before returning, the question then arises, what should you not miss?
An obvious question that I had never really answered until now. So here's a suggestion for how to fill your two or three days visiting Bangkok's main sites.
1st day in Bangkok
What better way to spend the first day than discovering the must-sees of the old town , which I have already covered in an article: the essentials of Bangkok in one day.
If you have all the details on this other article dedicated to this day, I give you here what you need to remember:
1- Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaeo)
2- Wat Arun (temple of dawn)
3- Boat trip on the canals (khlongs)
4- Flower market
5- Wat Pho (temple of the Reclining Buddha)
6- Optional: evening in a “rooftop” bar
The advantage of this day is that everything is grouped together in the same place, this avoids wasting time in transport and will be even more ideal if your hotel is located near the Bang Lamphu district, around Khao San Road.
→ Depending on your itinerary, other areas may sometimes be more convenient: I detail all of this in my guide to the best neighborhoods to stay in Bangkok
The Grand Palace and Wat Pho are next door to each other, and Wat Arun is easily accessible across the river from Tha Thien Pier (just opposite Wat Pho). It's a small ferry that currently costs 5 baht.
From Wat Arun, you will find a longtail boat rental service (the famous longtails boat) to take a tour of the khlongs. You can also ask the latter to drop you off at the pier near the flower market.
You will then have to walk 500m to return to Wat Pho, which is a little quieter to visit at the end of the day and where you can attend a ceremony with the monks singing at 17 p.m. in the building at the back of the complex.
2nd day in Bangkok
Having seen the main sights of the old town, I suggest we explore other parts of the city. Ideally, it would look something like this:
- Wat Saket (Golden Mountain)
- Jim Thompson House
- Siam District – Pratunam
- Chinatown
Map summarizing the sites of this 2nd day in Bangkok
1- Wat Saket (Golden Mountain)
Visiting time: 1 hour
We start with a temple a stone's throw from the historic center. Wat Saket, whose full name is Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan (in Thai: วัดสระเกศราชวรมหาวิหาร) is nicknamed the temple of the golden mountain, because it is characterized by its golden chedi at the top, dominating a small artificial mound of 80 m, a vestige of a construction begun by King Rama III (reigning from 1824 to 1851).
The structure subsided due to the soft ground on which it was built, right next to two canals. Abandoned for a time, the partial structure became overgrown with vegetation, giving it the appearance of a small hill. It is from this period that it acquired its nickname Phu Khao (ภูเขา), the hill.
His successor, Rama IV (1851-1868), then had a small chedi built on the summit. This was completed during the reign of Rama V (1868-1910). It was then that an important relic of the Buddha, brought from India, was enshrined beneath the chedi.
By the 50s, the temple had acquired its current appearance, after its hillside was surrounded by a concrete wall to prevent soil erosion. The most recent change, and I only learned about it while writing this article, is that after spending 111 years at Wat Saket, the famous Buddha relic has been moved.
And you guessed it, it's been in France since 2009! Indeed, at that time, the Patriarch of Thailand donated this sacred relic to the Buddhist Union of France. It has since been enshrined in the pagoda in the Bois de Vincennes.
To fully appreciate the temple, it's a bit of a "fitness" visit, as climbing Wat Saket requires ascending its 377 (small) steps. But the view is well worth the effort, offering a 360° panoramic view overlooking all of Bangkok.
On the ascent, the first section is covered, often with a refreshing artificial mist. An artificial waterfall adds to this slightly surreal setting in the heart of Bangkok. Before lingering in the covered section at the top of the steps (keep your shoes on for once), I encourage you to go all the way to the top and walk around the famous golden chedi.
On your right, you'll see the towers that make up Bangkok's skyline. Facing the city center, you'll get a sense of the metropolis's vastness. The Mahanakhon Tower, currently Bangkok's tallest building at over 300 meters, is also clearly visible.
On the other side, you will be facing the old city. You should then spot the Grand Palace, but also Wat Pho and Wat Arun, which are among the classics that you should have seen on your first day if you follow the instructions in the previous article.
On one side, below, you can see the dwellings of the temple monks while in the distance, you will be facing Chinatown. Once you have done the tour, you can go down a notch to linger under the chedi, in the prayer area.
Apart from its "hill," the temple is not often visited, but it has its charm and holds a few surprises, so be curious 😉
Getting to Wat Saket
If you are staying near Khao San Road (Rambuttri, Phra Athit, Samsen Soi 1 to 4, ), it is quite possible to get there on foot. Just walk up the main avenue of Ratchadamnoen and with a map you should easily find it. Otherwise, there are tuk tuks.
If you are coming from the Siam district, Sukhumvit or somewhere along the San Saep canal, you can take the public boat that runs there, Wat Saket being not far from the latter's terminus.
Normally, you should arrive through the back entrance, towards the carpenters' quarter. There will likely be a few tuk-tuks parked out front (don't take them, they're mostly scammers). Once inside the temple grounds, head to the right to reach the entrance stairs. There's a designated way up; if you see other steps without a counter, it's because that's the way down (and it's not good to cheat).
There was a time when this temple was still free to visit. With the massive arrival of Chinese tourists in Thailand, Wat Saket, although still spared from the influx of tourists, became a paid attraction, initially going up to 20 Baht, then 50 Baht a year later before more recently reaching 100 Baht.
The rules have also become stricter regarding attire within the site (it is a temple, admittedly, but it used to be more relaxed). Keep in mind that knees and shoulders must be covered, and women should avoid low-cut tops.
There are usually sarongs available for rent on site if you don't want to add an extra layer of clothing for the whole day.
2- Jim Thompson House
Visiting time: 1 hour
The Jim Thompson House is a museum located in the heart of Siam, Bangkok's commercial district. The place contrasts quite sharply with the modern buildings surrounding the house, which is composed of a collection of traditional Thai houses on stilts (if we disregard the Ban Krua district located just across the canal, which I'll discuss later).
Built starting in 1953, the building that now serves as a museum was once the home of Jim Thompson , an American businessman known for reviving the silk industry in Thailand. While his disappearance in 1967 remains a mystery, his legacy is well-known. Jim Thompson became a renowned brand producing silk clothing, ties, bags, and other accessories.
But the house is a bit like a showcase of this heritage, a mix between Thai and Western cultures , whether from a craftsmanship point of view, but also architecturally.
Jim Thompson was an architect by training; he furnished his house with European touches while blending in the Thai character of these teakwood houses. Furthermore, he was a great art lover and collected statues and antique objects, which are still visible today in the house's decor.
A definite plus is that the tour is conducted in French and there's little waiting time, even though it can get crowded. To complement your visit, I recommend going to the original district where silk fabric was manufactured back when Jim Thompson settled on the banks of the San Saep Canal.
This neighborhood, Ban Krua , just across the canal, still has two houses producing silk rolls by hand on a small scale. To learn more, I invite you to read my article about Jim Thompson's house.
Getting to Jim Thompson's house
If the house is easily accessible by BTS (the elevated metro), by stopping at the National Stadium station and then taking Exit 1 , then again, I assume that you follow the recommendations and therefore the order of this article.
In that case, you would be arriving from Wat Saket . If so, the most direct and easiest way to reach the house is by boat . To do this, head to the canal located near the Golden Mount, to the right as you exit the entrance to Boripat Street (the street of the carpenters).
The "Phanfa Bridge" pier is located just after the bridge of the same name (Phanfa). It's the terminus, so just take any boat that has just arrived. Tickets can be purchased directly on the boat and cost only 9 baht.
Get off at Sapan Hua Chang Pier station (there will be two stops before).
3- Siam District – Pratunam
Visiting time: varies depending on your mood and shopping desires
As such, you don't have to stop there. But it is an opportunity to get a glimpse of another side of the city and not just see the historical aspect of it.
From Jim Thompson's house, I suggest you experience the contrasts that can be seen in Bangkok, passing from the quiet neighborhood of the house to the heart of the commercial and modern frenzy. This little tour is basically to join the sky train (BTS) at Siam station and continue your day to Chinatown.
Personally, when I visit a city, I like to see both the old and the new, because it is a whole that makes up a city and not just one aspect or another that should predominate.
I'm clarifying this because some people wouldn't normally be thrilled to see shops and such wealth displayed before their eyes, assuming that this kind of thing can be seen elsewhere and that it's not really part of Thai "culture." But it's actually an integral part of Thai life. Many people think these department stores are only for wealthy tourists, and that shows a real lack of understanding of the country.
Inequalities are great in Thailand, it's a fact, especially when you arrive from the small neighboring district of Ban Krua. But there is a wide range of the population appreciating the many shops, restaurants that can be discovered sheltered from the rain when it's the season, and above all, in the cool.
To do this, return to the boat dock where you should have arrived if your day is still based on this article. Then continue under the bridge. Walking along the sidewalk, you'll pass the entrance to one of the princesses' palaces and then arrive at Siam Discovery.
Go through the building, and you will then enter another shopping center, the Siam Center . It appears to be just another shopping center since its recent complete renovation, but it is one of the very first shopping centers in the city , dating back to 1973.
Likewise, cross it, but at some point go up a floor. Follow the signs for the BTS, but exit towards the plaza in front rather than the BTS station (which will be on your right). You will then be in front of Siam Paragon , one of the city's iconic shopping malls, built in 2006 to replace a large hotel.
Behind you will be the imposing SIAM station, the elevated train station where the Silom and Sukhumvit lines intersect. If you're even slightly curious, I encourage you to take a look inside the Siam Paragon. On the 3rd floor, you can even see display cases showcasing luxury cars such as Rolls-Royces, Aston Martins, and Porsches, to name just a few.
If you walk through the building, you'll reach the basement area dedicated to dining, including its food center, a kind of cafeteria with a wide variety of dishes. There's also a giant aquarium in the basement, SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World. Once you've explored at your leisure and enjoyed a bit of respite from the heat, it's time to head to the BTS platform at Siam station and find the platform for the Silom line (Bang Wa direction).
Tips
4- Chinatown
Visiting time: approximately 2 hours to ++
Chinatown is one of Bangkok's most iconic historical districts. It is one of the largest Chinese quarters in the world and is vibrant both day and night.
Because while it's a particularly active shopping district during the day, in the evening it transforms into a whole series of street restaurants lining the main thoroughfare, Yaowarat. Many offer seafood specialties and dishes blending Thai and Chinese flavors.
Chinatown is a maze of alleys where you can find everything, among the shops and restaurants, Chinese temples, you come across stalls with food galore, tea and spices, shops dedicated to the religious aspect and beliefs but also all kinds of low-cost products that can be bought in bulk, bags, shoes, costume jewelry, you name it.
Walking route recommendation
As it is a vast, multifaceted district, I have written a dedicated article with an example of a walking route allowing you to immerse yourself in the heart of Chinatown to see the different aspects and specificities unique to this kind of city within a city.
→ Bangkok's Chinatown: a walking tour through alleyways, markets and temples
This is a walk that leads to Wat Traimit, an important temple and an essential part of any visit to Bangkok's Chinatown.
Wat Traimit and the Golden Buddha
One of the highlights of this district, the Temple of the Golden Buddha, houses an imposing statue made of 5,5 tons of gold. At 3 meters tall, it is the largest gold statue in the world. Crafted in the Sukhothai style, its exact age and origin remain a mystery to this day.
The temple is located right next to the main Chinatown gate (a sort of unofficial entrance to Chinatown). This temple, with its unusual history, is situated not far from the old Hua Lamphong train station , which you can reach via the subway (MRT, see the section on getting to Wat Traimit).
By atypical, I mean that the statue housed here has a rather unusual history. Several elements suggest that it was created 700 years ago and originated in India. What seems clear is that it had been in a temple in Ayutthaya since the 15th century.
The precious statue was saved from looting by being covered in plaster during the war between Siam and Burma, just before the fall of the ancient capital more than 200 years ago. Appearing to be just another statue, it remained untouched amidst the ruins of Ayutthaya.
When Bangkok was founded in 1782, the new King of Siam (Rama I), founder of the Chakri dynasty, initiated the construction of the first temples in the nascent capital. He then ordered the repatriation of numerous ancient Buddha statues from ruined temples across the country in order to preserve them.
Arriving by boat via the Chao Phraya River , the statue, then considered of lesser importance, remained in obscurity in a minor temple for over a century. When this temple was eventually abandoned, the statue was then given to Wat Traimit in 1935, a small, insignificant temple on the outskirts of Chinatown.
Due to budget constraints and considering the statue to be of lesser importance, it was left outside under a simple corrugated iron shelter for 20 years. It was in 1955 that a new viharn was finally completed. During the rainy season, and while it was being moved to lift and place on its pedestal, a sling broke, probably because they had underestimated the weight, and the statue fell heavily to the ground, cracking the plaster.
According to local beliefs, this kind of incident is considered a bad omen. At that moment, all the workers were frightened and abandoned the statue as it was. And indeed, as if to confirm the bad omen, a violent storm raged that day and lasted all night, flooding the city with torrential rain.
It wasn't until the following day that the head monk of the pagoda decided to assess the damage. While scrubbing away the mud to free the statue, he noticed a crack in the stucco layer, revealing a glossy coating beneath. It was then, after all these years, the initial scheme in Ayutthaya having been completely forgotten, that it was realized that this seemingly innocuous statue had in fact concealed a true treasure.
When the news spread throughout the city, the temple acquired a renown and popularity that has never waned. The current building housing the statue was built specifically in 2010 to provide a fitting home for the temple.
Getting to Wat Traimit
If you are following the thread of this article, you will have taken the skytrain from Siam station, get off at Sala Daeng station and follow the signs to join the other metro, underground this time (MRT) at Silom station.
Get off at Hua Lamphong station and exit at exit no. 1. Go straight across the bridge over a canal and turn left at the 2nd street (so not the street along the canal, the one after).
3nd day in Bangkok
In principle, there are obviously many possibilities for a third day in Bangkok. Besides exploring the Rattanakosin district (the historic area around the Grand Palace, etc.) in more depth, I suggest not one, but two sightseeing options, one of which assumes you have at least one day in Bangkok that falls on a weekend:
- Option 1: Lat Mayom coupled with Chatuchak (weekends only)
- Option 2: Bike to Bang Kachao and stroll through the small neighborhood of Kudee Jin
Also note that depending on your preferences and desires, it is possible to interchange the two different parts of the proposed options: for example, if weekend, visit Lat Mayom then Kudee Jin instead of Chatuchak if shopping is not your thing.
Option 1 (weekend only)
Lat Mayom Floating Market
Visiting time: 1 hour
For me, this is the most charming floating market near the center of Bangkok. There's always this tricky question of "which floating market should I see in Bangkok?", or even the more general question of where to go, because many people still imagine, when you mention "Bangkok's floating market," that there's only one...
Knowing by default that taxis, if you ask them for a floating market, will take you to Damnoen Saduak , which is NOT in Bangkok but 100 km away and it is the only one open on weekdays.
All the other markets are only open on weekends. The most popular in Bangkok is Taling Chan, even though it's the easiest to get to from the city center. Personally, I prefer Lat Mayom, partly because it has a few boats actually selling fruits and vegetables, and partly because the overall atmosphere is decidedly local.
I'm not going to describe in more detail what this can give since I have also written an entire article on the subject, which I invite you to discover by clicking below:
Getting to Lat Mayom Floating Market
There is no public transport that goes directly to the market. The most direct route is therefore to take a taxi from your hotel. It is also possible to take either the BTS Skytrain or the MRT subway (which is now partially elevated) to Bang Wa station, which will get you closer, but will still require a taxi to complete the journey.
Another option is to first go to the Taling Chan floating market and take a longtail boat from there. However, as I've never done this, I couldn't say what the fares are.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Visit time: varies depending on your mood and shopping desire (allow at least 2-3 hours)
Chatuchak is one of the largest markets in the city, and even in Asia, welcoming up to 200,000 visitors every weekend. It is also considered the largest weekend market in the world, with 15,000 stalls spread over an area of 11 hectares – there's certainly plenty to see and do!
The market remains very popular with locals who come to stock up on goods for their own shops, as it's also a wholesale market (this is especially true on Friday evenings from 18 pm to midnight, when it's dedicated to wholesalers). To make browsing easier, the market is divided into 27 zones, each with a specialty: clothing, furniture, antiques, and even animals. The aisles are also numbered like "streets," but you'll probably need some time to get used to it!
Here you'll find all kinds of handicrafts and souvenirs from across the country, making Chatuchak an ideal place to complete your souvenir shopping before heading back to Europe (or elsewhere). While the market as a whole is only open on weekends, you won't find it closed the rest of the week (except Monday and Tuesday) as two days are dedicated to selling plants and flowers, which is also visually interesting to see if you're in the area.
Finally, as is typical in Thailand, you will of course find plenty of places to eat on site, from snack stands (kebabs, sweets etc.) to proper restaurants.
Getting to Chatuchak Market
You can access it by metro, either the BTS Skytrain or the MRT subway, from Mo Chit and Kamphaeng Phet stations respectively. There are also numerous buses that pass nearby via one of the three roads surrounding the market (Khampaeng Phet Road 1 and 2, and Phahon Yothin Road). To name just three, you have bus lines 3 (from Phra Athit Road) and 59 or 509 (from Ratchadamnoen Avenue, towards the Democracy Monument) near Khao San Road.
Tips
Option 2 (weekday or weekend)
Cycling in Bang Kachao
Visiting time: depending on the route, allow at least 3-4 hours
Known as Bangkok's "green lung," Bang Kachao is an ideal place to relax and explore by bicycle. It's a protected area covering over 1,900 hectares (19 km²) where construction is limited in both area and height to maintain as much green space as possible.
A favorite weekend spot for Thais to get some fresh air, it's not only a vast space for exercise, but also offers a few interesting sights to see. The whole area has a countryside feel just a stone's throw from the city center, and you can also find a market there on weekends (described as a "floating" market, although there are no boats on the adjacent canal).
Again, I won't go into detail about this any further since I've already written an article about it that I invite you to read below.
Getting to Bang Kachao
If you are following the thread of this article, you will have taken the skytrain from Siam station, get off at Sala Daeng station and follow the signs to join the other metro, underground this time (MRT) at Silom station.
Get off at Hua Lamphong station and exit at exit no. 1. Go straight across the bridge over a canal and turn left at the 2nd street (so not the street along the canal, the one after).
Kudee Jin District
Visiting time: approximately 2 hour
Kudee Jin is a neighborhood that remains relatively undiscovered, although it has been developing a little in recent years with the opening of several small local cafes. It is a Sino-Portuguese district , where Portuguese and Chinese merchants settled side by side even before the founding of Bangkok, since following the destruction of Ayutthaya, the new capital was briefly Thonburi, where Kudee Jin is located.
Following the new King Taksin the Great to his new capital, Thonburi, the Portuguese were offered land in gratitude for the war effort against the Burmese. A community of Chinese merchants then joined this community which today retains an undeniable charm, with its mixture of cultures.
In fact, in this same area, you will find Buddhist temples, Chinese sanctuaries, a Portuguese church, and even a mosque. As you stroll through these small streets, you will come across the private museum, which also serves as a café, the Baan Kudichin Museum. Run by descendants of these Portuguese, they have created a small museum upstairs that I invite you to take a look at, the opportunity before or after to refresh yourself in this calm and atypical place in the heart of Bangkok.
Once again, I will let you discover the complete article already written on this relatively little-visited district, which nevertheless faces the old quarter of Bangkok and in particular Wat Pho (where the reclining Buddha is located).
Getting to Kudee Jin
It is possible to get there after a canal trip on a long-tail boat, in fact, they can drop you off at a different location than your starting point. This is true if you do not particularly follow the order of visits as stipulated in these articles.
In this case, ask to be dropped off at Wat Kalayanamitr , keeping in mind that the driver may drop you off on the side platform rather than directly in front. If you do drop off at Wat Kalayanamitr, take the first left as you enter the small street ahead.
Since Covid, the barge to cross from the Yodpiman Riverwalk, itself located behind the flower market, no longer seems to be operational. This could be temporary because they have completely renovated the path along the river.
In this case, you need to cross the Memorial Bridge (the green metal bridge) from the flower market to reach the end of the district (at the level of Wat Prayurawongsawat Worawihan and its large white Chedi).
