Bangkok in 3 Days: The Cultural, the Food, and the Local

Bangkok is one of the great cities of the world, and it takes 3-5 days to really know. This is a 3-day plan that covers the temples, the food, the markets, the river, and the rooftop bar, with the timing to make it work in the heat, the crowds, and the traffic.

Day 1: The Old City, the temples, the river

8:00 a.m. — Grand Palace + Wat Phra Kaew

Start early to beat the heat and the tour groups. The Grand Palace (built 1782) and the Wat Phra Kaew (the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred in Thailand) are the must-see. Allow 2-3 hours. 500 THB entry. Open 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dress modestly (covered shoulders and knees, no open shoes).

10:30 a.m. — Walk to Wat Pho (the reclining Buddha)

15 minutes walk from the Grand Palace. The 46-m reclining Buddha is the most-photographed. The temple is also the birthplace of Thai massage — get a 60-minute massage here after the temple visit. 200 THB temple entry, 720 THB for the 60-minute Thai massage.

12:00 p.m. — Lunch on Tha Tien or in the Old City

Try the riverside restaurants on Tha Tien pier, or walk 10 minutes to the small Thai restaurants around Maharat Road. The boat noodles (kuay teow reua), the pad thai, the green curry. 100-200 THB for a generous lunch.

2:00 p.m. — River ferry to Wat Arun (the dawn temple)

Take the river ferry (4 THB) from Tha Tien to Tha Tien Wang. The 70-m prang is the most-photographed in Bangkok. The Chinese porcelain decoration catches the afternoon light. 100 THB entry. 1 hour is enough.

4:00 p.m. — Longtail boat tour of the khlongs

The Bangkok canals (khlongs) are the original city. Take a 1-2 hour longtail boat tour (200-800 THB per boat, negotiate) from Tha Chang. The boats go through the older neighborhoods, the houses on stilts, the floating markets, the river. The most Bangkok thing in Bangkok.

7:00 p.m. — Dinner in Chinatown (Yaowarat)

Take the MRT to Hua Lamphong, then walk 10 minutes to Yaowarat Road. The street is closed to cars, the entire 1-km stretch is lined with woks and grills. Eat: bird's nest soup, oyster omelet, crab with glass noodles, mango sticky rice. $15-20 per person. The street food is the most concentrated in Thailand.

Day 2: The modern city, the markets, the rooftop

9:00 a.m. — Jim Thompson House

The 1959-built Thai-style teak house of the American silk entrepreneur who disappeared in the Malaysian jungle in 1967. The silk, the antiques, the garden. 200 THB entry. 1 hour.

11:00 a.m. — Siam (the malls + the BTS)

Take the BTS to Siam station. Siam Paragon, MBK, CentralWorld are the most-photographed malls. The food courts are excellent (the MBK food court is the best value). 2 hours to walk through, more if you shop.

1:00 p.m. — Lunch in the Silom area

Take the BTS to Sala Daeng. The Silom area has the best street food at lunch. The Hindu temple (Sri Maha Mariamman, the most-photographed in Bangkok) is worth seeing. 100-200 THB for a good lunch.

3:00 p.m. — Lumphini Park (the green space)

10 minutes walk from Sala Daeng. The 115-acre park, the monitor lizards (the famous Bangkok resident), the locals doing tai chi. 1 hour to walk around, more if you sit.

5:30 p.m. — Rooftop bar at sunset

Vertigo at Banyan Tree (61st floor), Sky Bar at Lebua (the Hangover 2 one), Octave at Marriott. $15-20 per drink, the views are the most-photographed sunset in Bangkok. Dress nicely (no shorts or flip-flops).

8:00 p.m. — Asiatique the Riverfront (the night market)

Take the BTS to Saphan Taksin, then the free shuttle boat to Asiatique. The night market, the restaurants, the Ferris wheel, the most touristy of the Bangkok night markets. 2 hours to walk through.

Day 3: The day trip — Ayutthaya or the floating market

Option A: Ayutthaya (the ancient capital)

1.5 hours north of Bangkok, the UNESCO ruins of the 14th-18th century capital, the most photogenic in Thailand. The Buddha heads in the banyan trees, the Wat Phra Si Sanphet (the most-photographed), the Wat Mahathat (the most atmospheric). Train from Bangkok (Hua Lamphong station, 1.5 hours, 20-300 THB) or tour package ($40-60). Full day, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Option B: Damnoen Saduak + Maeklong Railway Market

1.5 hours west of Bangkok, the most famous floating market (Damnoen Saduak) and the most-photographed railway market (Maeklong, where the train runs through the market). Tour package $30-50, the train from Bangkok to the floating market doesn't exist so this is a tour-only thing. Full day, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Option C: Kanchanaburi (the River Kwai)

2.5 hours west of Bangkok, the WWII bridge, the Death Railway, the Erawan National Park (7-tier waterfall). Tour package $50-80, or train to Kanchanaburi (3 hours) + local transport. Full day, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Evening — Final dinner

End with the most memorable meal. The Michelin-starred street food in Chinatown (Jay Fai, the $15 crab omelet, but book a month in advance), the rooftop dinner at Vertigo or Sirocco, or the riverside dinner at Sala Rattanakosin. The food is the headline of any Bangkok trip.

What to know

• Bangkok is hot year-round (30-40°C). Plan the outdoor activities for the early morning or late afternoon.
• The BTS Skytrain and MRT subway are the most efficient transport. Avoid taxis during rush hour (7-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m.).
• Don't talk about the king. The lèse-majesté law is real and enforced.
• The street food is the best in Thailand. Eat where the locals eat. The plastic stools are the standard.
• The tap water is not for drinking. The ice in drinks is safe (factory-made).

Cost (3 days, per person, 2 sharing, mid-range)

• Accommodation: $40-150/night × 3 = $120-450
• Food: $20-40/day = $60-120
• Activities: $30-60
• Transport: $20-40
• Day trip: $30-80
• Total: $260-750