Bangkok Itinerary: How to best spend 3 days in Bangkok

We visited Bangkok countless times during our 8 months in Thailand, and we saw something new every time. Seriously, there are just so many things to do. But of course, if it’s your first time planning a trip to Bangkok, we know how overwhelming it can be.

That’s why we crafted this 3-day Bangkok itinerary for first-timers with a perfect mix of old and modern Bangkok.

Bangkok is one of those cities where you either love it or hate it, and rarely anything in between. However, sometimes, it gets hate for all the wrong reasons. It’s a vast and well-developed city with lots of traffic, and maybe people’s expectations of it are different.

Nonetheless, we encourage you to give Bangkok a chance. By following our 3-day Bangkok itinerary, you will surely have a great time.

We’ll share with you all the must-see highlights of the city and some spots and activities that made our visit to Bangkok more memorable.

Additionally, if you have more time in Bangkok or want to add extra things to the itinerary, check out our Things to Do in Bangkok blog.

Bangkok Travel Resources

3 Days in Bangkok Itinerary

Depending on what you want from your Bangkok trip, 3 full days are the perfect time to explore the city.

Our Bangkok itinerary is easily adjustable, so it’s perfect for every type of traveler, but it’s especially helpful for people visiting Bangkok for the first time.

This itinerary includes many different things to do, so feel free to adjust it according to your needs. 

Tip: If you’re staying in Bangkok longer or are looking for alternative activities, check out our things to do in Bangkok travel guide, as well as more detailed information about each attraction listed here.

Day 1: Bangkok’s highlights + food

Bangkok is known for its temples (locally called ‘wat’), so they are an essential part of every Bangkok itinerary.

Today, you’ll visit Bangkok’s most important (and most popular) temples. While they can be very busy, it’s for a reason. Be prepared for a lot of temple hopping!

Next, walk over to the Grand Palace, a stunning and historic complex of buildings that served as the official residence of the Kings of Siam from the 18th to the mid-20th century. 

The palace also houses several important temples and relics, including the Emerald Buddha, a highly revered Thai cultural and religious symbol.

The Grand Palace is about a 10-15 minute walk from Wat Pho.

Good to know: The Grand Palace will likely be the busiest spot in your Bangkok itinerary. According to this schedule, you’ll visit around noon, the busiest time. However, we visited the Grand Palace at the opening, but it didn’t help with the crowds. So, we decided to put it here on your Bangkok itinerary to optimize the time, as no matter when you visit, it will be crowded, which is not necessarily the case with Wat Arun and Wat Pho.

After visiting the Grand Palace, if you still have time and will, there are a few smaller, lesser-known temples within walking distance of this area. We wrote a specific guide about the best temples in Bangkok, so check it out for inspiration. 

This guide is also an excellent resource for alternative temples if you don’t want to visit all three big temples (Wat Arun, Wat Pho, and Grand Palace) in one day – we understand it can be tiring. 

After visiting the most important temples, we suggest hopping on a canal tour – one of the best things to do in Bangkok. 

For sunset, we suggest heading to Wat Saket, one of the lesser-visited temples in Bangkok. It is also known as the Golden Mount Temple and is the city’s most scenic temple. 

Tip for vegetarians/vegans or if you don’t want to do a food tour

If you’re vegetarian or vegan, you won’t be able to find a food tour that suits your needs. Instead, we suggest going to one of the night markets by yourself.

In that case, we don’t suggest the Yaowarat Night Market in Chinatown for food, as it has very little vegetarian food, mostly snacks.

Food night markets to visit in Bangkok: Jodd Fairs Night Market, Srinagarindra Train Night Market (Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin) and Chang Chui Plane Night Market.

Day 2: Railway market and floating market

On Day 2 of your Bangkok itinerary, we suggest taking the classical Maeklong Railway and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market day trip.

Damnoen Saduak is one of Bangkok’s oldest and busiest floating markets. Set in Thailand’s longest straight man-made canal, the market became famous for its many locals doing business on their wooden boats.

Yes, one could argue that this tour is the most touristic thing to do in Bangkok. However, it does show you a lot about culture and how Bangkok worked before. 

We visited many of Bangkok’s floating markets (read more about the best ones in this article), and we don’t think Damnoen Saduak is that bad. Yes, it’s full of tourists and sellers mostly catering to tourists, but you can’t expect Bangkok still to use these floating markets in the 21st century as they did before. So, if you want to get familiar with how this worked before, Damnoen Saduak is a great choice.

Alternatively, you can visit Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market and take a boat ride there, but it will be a bit more like the regular Bangkok canal tour we suggested a day before.

Maeklong Railway Market (Rom Hup Market) is an unusual local market along an active railway track. It reminded us a bit of the famous Hanoi Train Street, but with an active local market instead of cafes and trains that go slower than the ones in Hanoi.

It’s an unusual place to visit in Bangkok and worth the trip.

To visit the Maeklong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Bangkok, we suggest booking a tour like this one. 

We drove there ourselves with a scooter and would not recommend it. It’s just too uncomfortable, and the journey is too long.

Alternatively, we recommend booking a private driver for a day.

Either way, we suggest an early start so you still have free time later in the day. This is when you can catch up on things you missed from the previous day (if any).

If you have extra time, head to one of the many rooftop bars in Bangkok. 

Bangkok’s most popular rooftop bars are Red Sky Restaurant, Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar, CRU Champagne, Tichuca Rooftop Bar, and Sky Bar Bangkok.

Day 3: Unique activities & modern Bangkok

Day 3 of your Bangkok itinerary is all about cool activities and seeing the modern Bangkok.

The most memorable and best thing we did in Bangkok was this bicycle tour. Driving a bicycle while in Bangkok seemed like an impossible task at first, so we had to try it. And we loved it, so we want you to experience it too!

The tour took us through lesser-explored parts of Chinatown in Bangkok, with a few short stops where the guide told us more about the culture and the local way of life. It was a fun way to explore different sides of Bangkok.

You could also explore Bangkok’s Chinatown yourself by following our guide, Things to do in Chinatown in Bangkok, or join a walking tour of Chinatown like this one.

If cycling is not your cup of tea, joining a cooking class is another fun thing to do in Bangkok.

In the afternoon, for shopping lovers, we suggest heading to one of Bangkok’s many shopping malls. They’re usually huge and have great food courts, so you might also visit for food. 😁

The best malls in Bangkok are MBK Center, Siam Paragon, Terminal 21, ICONSIAM, and Central World.

If you’re looking for something more local and visiting Bangkok during the weekend, you could also check out the Chatuchak market. It is the largest market in Thailand, with over 15,000 stalls where you can find almost anything!

At the end of the second day of your 3 days in Bangkok, we suggest visiting King Power MahaNakhon Skywalk, Thailand’s highest observation deck, at 314 meters high. It offers the best views of Bangkok.

Besides amazing 360-degree views of the city, the Mahanakhon observation deck also offers a glass floor where you can test your fear of heights and observe the city beneath you as you stand on the see-through glass panels.

Mahanakhon Skywalk is open daily from 10 am until 7 pm, with the last admission at 6:30 pm. Check the tickets here.

More things to do in Bangkok

While this 3-day Bangkok itinerary perfectly represents all the different things to do in Bangkok in a short time, there are still many more options for your trip. 

If you’re curious to see what they are, check our Bangkok Things to do guide.

Recommended tours in Bangkok

Bangkok Travel Tips

Getting around Bangkok

To get around Bangkok, especially if you follow our Bangkok itinerary, we suggest downloading apps Grab or Bolt (Thailand’s version of Uber) and walking. Walking around the main attractions of Bangkok is simple, as many are located close to one another.

Depending on where you go, you can also use the MRT (metro), the BTS (SkyTrain), buses, and boats.

The best time to visit Bangkok

Bangkok is a year-round destination that can be visited at any time! 

However, the best months to visit Bangkok are generally between November and February, when it’s not too hot or humid and mostly dry. 

Booking Tours and Activities in Advance

Booking tours and activities ahead of time is a wise choice, especially during the peak months for Bangkok travel (November to February). 

As you have limited time on your 3-day Bangkok itinerary, choose the best time slots for tours and activities that fit your plan for that day.

We suggest booking your tours and activities online on GetYourGuide, Viator, or Klook. These are the platforms we use as they offer the best selection of tours and usually have a free cancelation policy, which is excellent in case your plans change. 

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