How I Spent 3 Days in Bangkok, Thailand [Things To Do, What To Eat]

Bangkok, Thailand, is one of the world’s most popular destinations, and for good reason. The city has a ton to offer, including historic temples, world-class shopping, bustling night markets, and arguably the world’s best food scene, which includes high-end restaurants and hole-in-the-wall street food.

Although I have visited Bangkok 8 times before, this was the first time I visited with my wife. I was excited to travel around one of my favorite cities with her, as she had heard many of my stories of this incredible city over the years.

Here’s an in-depth look at how we spent 3 days in Bangkok, one of the best cities in the world.

Arriving in Bangkok

Bangkok is one of the biggest cities in the world. It is served by 2 international airports: Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Don Mueang International Airport (DMK).

Don Mueang International Airport serves mainly domestic and regional flights around Asia. Meanwhile, Suvarnabhumi Airport is much larger and serves many international destinations worldwide. However, there are currently no nonstop flights between Bangkok and any U.S. airport.

Where To Stay in Bangkok

Bangkok is one of the world’s most visited destinations, with various accommodations across all budgets. These include inexpensive hostels and guesthouses, boutique hotels, and high-end, luxury properties.

Fortunately, many hotels in Bangkok (including 5-star, luxury hotels) are reasonably priced, particularly for a modern city. This includes both cash rates and award redemptions.

Bangkok is quite spread out with distinct neighborhoods. Since I have visited several times, I have stayed at many hotels in the following areas.

Sukhumvit

Sukhumvit is one of Bangkok’s most modern and cosmopolitan neighborhoods and the city’s nightlife district. It is filled with hundreds of local and international restaurants, bars, and clubs, as well as 2 of Bangkok’s central red-light districts. Sukhumvit also has many higher-end residential buildings.

The area has world-class shopping malls, which include Terminal 21, Emporium, EmQuartier, and EmSphere. Sukhumvit lacks traditional tourist attractions but is well-connected with the rest of the city by public transportation, including the BTS Skytrain and Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT).

There are numerous luxury hotels, including the Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok, JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok, Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, and the Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok.

Sukhumvit also has many affordable Western hotel chain properties, including Hyatt Place Bangkok Sukhumvit, Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Sukhumvit Bangkok, Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok, Hilton Bangkok Grande Asoke, Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok, Sukhumvit 22, and Holiday Inn Bangkok Sukhumvit.

Chao Phraya Riverside

The Chao Phraya River is the main river in Thailand and runs through Bangkok. The riverside area has many famous Bangkok shopping malls and some of the best restaurants in the city. The riverside is near many iconic Bangkok landmarks, including the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun.

The riverside is more expensive than other areas and has many of the top 5-star hotels. Luxury hotels include the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, the Peninsula Bangkok, and Millennium Hilton Bangkok.

The area also has less expensive properties, including Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Riverside, Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel Bangkok, and Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bangkok Central Pier.

Silom and Lumpini Park

Silom is considered Bangkok’s business district. It is a central area with lots of malls and restaurants. It is also well-connected with several BTS and MRT stations.

The area has numerous high-end Western chain hotels, including the Sukhothai Bangkok Hotel (where we stayed), Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, Conrad Bangkok, Park Hyatt Bangkok, W Bangkok, the Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok, the St. Regis Bangkok, Le Méridien Bangkok, and Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok.

There are also many less expensive hotels, which include Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom, Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park, and Holiday Inn Express Bangkok Sathorn.

Day 1

We dedicated the entire first day to visiting several of Bangkok’s most important temples.

Grand Palace

We began our first day by visiting the Grand Palace, the former royal court and official residence of the kings of Thailand for more than 150 years. The Grand Palace is a complex of more than 30 buildings, halls, and temples in the heart of Bangkok and on the east side of the Chao Phraya River.

The Grand Palace has been the symbol of the Thai royal family since King Rama I made Bangkok the country’s capital in 1782. Although the Thai royal family no longer resides at the Grand Palace, it is still used to host royal ceremonies and welcome foreign leaders.

The Grand Palace is divided into 2 main sections: the royal residence and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The royal residence is further divided into separate sections, which serve different purposes, including several state offices and buildings where royal ceremonies are held.

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is regarded as one of Thailand’s most important temples and sacred sites. It features a Buddha statue made entirely of jade.

The Grand Palace is open daily between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Admission tickets for all non-Thai visitors cost ฿500 (around $15). The palace is easily accessible via Sanam Chai Station on the Bangkok MRT.

Hot Tip:

When visiting the Grand Palace and other temples, dress appropriately to avoid having to buy a cover-up on-site. Long pants or skirts and short-sleeved shirts are acceptable; no shorts or tanks.

Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan

Next, we headed to Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan, commonly called Wat Pho. It is next to the Grand Palace and is considered one of Thailand’s most important temples and royal monasteries.

Wat Pho is one of Thailand’s oldest temples and was expanded on King Rama I’s orders as a space for monks to study the teachings of Buddha. The temple also features a school of Thai medicine and is widely considered the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.

Today, the monastery is divided into 2 sections: Buddhavas (where the monks study) and sangghavas (where they live).

Wat Pho is most famous for its 52-foot-tall and 150-foot-long reclining Buddha, which is entirely covered in gold leaf. The massive Buddha is lying on his side with his head held up by his hand, representing the Buddha entering nirvana.

There are numerous metal bowls on the back side of the Buddha statue where visitors can give alms.

As expected, the temple grounds contain many Buddha statues and more than 1,000 Buddha images, the most of any temple in Thailand. There are also many pagodas and shrines throughout the monastery.

Wat Pho is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Admission tickets for adults cost ฿200 (around $6).

Hot Tip:

Viator, an activity booking website that’s part of Tripadvisor, offers many guided tours and excursions in Bangkok.

Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan

Next, we headed to Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan, commonly shortened to Wat Arun or the Temple of the Dawn. It is on the western banks of the Chao Phraya River.

The history of Wat Arun is quite complex. Although there are records of a Buddhist temple on the site for more than 250 years, the temple had no significant value until King Taksin made the site his palace temple after fleeing Burmese invaders.

When Bangkok became Thailand’s new capital, King Rama II renamed the temple Wat Arun. The temple was named after the Indian god of dawn, Aruna (hence the name Wat Arun). The defining feature of Wat Arun is the massive 270-foot-tall prang, a Khmer-style spire. The tower is colorfully decorated in Chinese porcelain tiles.

However, unlike many of these towers, visitors can actually climb to the top (and are encouraged to do so). Up close, you can easily see the floral mosaics made from porcelain.

Numerous buildings and halls throughout the temple grounds housed many Buddha statues and Buddhist scriptures.

Wat Arun is open daily between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Admission tickets cost ฿50 ($1.50) for adults.

Khao San Road

To end our first day in Bangkok, we headed to Khao San Road, widely regarded as Southeast Asia’s backpacker hub. Although the world-famous street is just a quarter of a mile long, it has hundreds of souvenir shops, tourist services kiosks, massage parlors, spas, bars, restaurants, clubs, and street food vendors.

Of course, as it is home to the backpacker scene, there are numerous inexpensive hostels, guesthouses, and hotels on Khao San Road. When I first backpacked to Bangkok in 2016, I also stayed on Khao San Road, as the hostels were incredibly cheap.

Khao San Road is best enjoyed at night, when the street is closed to traffic. However, it can get very crowded and noisy, with thousands of people walking the street simultaneously and loud music from the numerous bars and clubs.

Day 2

For our second day in Bangkok, we wanted to visit more historical sites and head to the riverside area.

Chinatown

We started in Bangkok’s Chinatown, the largest Chinatown in the world and the city’s hub of Chinese culture. It was founded in the 1780s during the reign of King Rama I and served as the home of the Chinese immigrants who left China because of political turmoil and famine.

Today, Bangkok’s Chinatown is centered around Yaowarat Road. Numerous temples are in the area, and shops sell souvenirs, including herbs, teas, and dried fruits. The area is also home to dozens of gold shops.

Of course, hundreds of vendors and food stalls sell popular Thai and Chinese dishes, including pad thai, Chinese roasted duck, stir-fried crab, dim sum, mango sticky rice, and pork noodle soup.

Bangkok’s Chinatown is easily accessible via Wat Mangkon Station on the Bangkok MRT.

Wat Trai Mit Witthayaram Worawihan

Next, we walked to another Buddhist temple, Wat Trai Mit Witthayaram Worawihan, commonly called Wat Traimit or the Temple of the Golden Buddha. As its name suggests, the temple features the world’s largest gold statue, a 5.4-foot-tall, 6.1-ton Golden Buddha.

The Golden Buddha has a fascinating history, although its origins are uncertain. Its design suggests the statue was created during the Sukhothai dynasty in the 13th or 14th century.

For more than 200 years, the statue was covered in plaster and stucco to hide its value from Burmese invaders. It was then moved in the 1950s, and some plaster chipped off, revealing the gold.

The temple has many other Buddha statues in addition to the Golden Buddha.

Wat Traimit is open daily between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets cost ฿40 ($1.25). The temple is near the end of Yaowarat Road and is easily accessible via Hua Lamphong MRT station.

Chao Phraya River Cruise

Next, my wife and I walked to the Marine Department ferry terminal to catch a river cruise on the Chao Phraya River, which served as the focal point of several historical Thai kingdoms.

Although river cruise tickets can be booked through third-party vendors such as Viator, Klook, and GetYourGuide, I bought them from a local vendor.

Since my wife and I just wanted to get on a boat (and didn’t care about having a 5-star experience), we purchased a 1-hour shared group ferry after some haggling for ฿350 (around $11) per person.

You can see many of Bangkok’s iconic buildings and temples on the water, including Wat Arun, which we visited the day before.

Iconsiam

After a 1-hour river cruise, we headed to Iconsiam, one of Bangkok’s largest, most luxurious, and iconic malls. Iconsiam is right on the western banks of the Chao Phraya River in the city’s Khlong San District.

The mall has over 7,000 shops and restaurants (including several luxury stores), a vast food court, an IMAX theatre, an exhibition and concert hall, and an indoor Thai floating-market-style zone. However, its most defining feature is a massive 49-foot-tall waterfall.

Iconsiam also has a large viewing platform on the seventh floor that offers excellent views of the Chao Phraya River and many of Bangkok’s skyscrapers.

After admiring the fantastic views of the city, we went to the food court. Although there were hundreds of food places, we got Toro Fries.

The fries are foot-long in size and crispy and soft at the same time. They are topped with cheese-flavored dressings of your choice. We got onion cheese, original cheese, and pizza cheese for our toppings.

Iconsiam is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The mall is easily accessible via the Saphan Taksin BTS Station.

Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen

To end our day, we headed to Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen, one of the oldest temples in Bangkok, built in 1610 during the Ayutthaya period.

The temple’s highlight is the massive 226-foot-tall bronze Buddha statue, Bangkok’s largest Buddha statue, built in 2017. The Buddha statue is in a meditation pose and is so large that it can be seen from many viewpoints around Bangkok.

Next to the Buddha statue is a massive 262-foot stupa, which includes a museum and a meditation room filled with hundreds of Buddha statues.

Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is a 15-minute walk from Bang Phai MRT Station.

Day 3

We began our third day by walking around and people-watching in a popular park before visiting more historic sites.

Lumpini Park

Lumpini Park is Bangkok’s first public park and its largest and most popular park. It is named after the Buddha’s birthplace in Nepal.

The park is popular for locals, especially those who like outdoor activities. It is also a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok.

The park has a variety of flora and fauna, most notably monitor lizards, which roam the lake and park throughout the day. Additionally, numerous vendors sell water and fresh fruit throughout the park.

Lumpini Park is open daily from 4:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is easily accessible via Sala Daeng Station on the BTS Skytrain and Si Lom Station on the Bangkok MRT.

Terminal 21

After spending some time at Lumpini Park, we headed to the Terminal 21 shopping mall. Like Iconsiam, Terminal 21 is a massive and iconic mall on Soi Sukhumvit 21 (hence the name).

Terminal 21 is unique because each mall floor represents a different city from around the world, including London, Tokyo, Istanbul, Rome, Paris, and San Francisco.

Each floor has artwork and decorations of landmarks from its world-famous city. Over 600 shops, a movie theater, a supermarket, and a food court are spread across 9 floors.

Terminal 21 is less than a 5-minute walk from Sukhumvit Station on the Bangkok MRT and Asok Station on the BTS Skytrain.

Erawan Museum

Next, we got on the BTS Skytrain and headed to the Erawan Museum, best known for its massive, 3-headed elephant statue representing Thai mythology and spirituality. The statue is slightly over 144 feet and is so large that it can be seen from miles away.

Unfortunately, thanks to poor planning, we could not go inside the museum, which houses thousands of antiquities. Since we had come this far, I suggested walking around to look for some photography spots instead.

The Erawan Museum is easily reached via the Chang Erawan BTS Station on the Sukhumvit Line. It is less than a 10-minute walk from the station and is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Adult admission tickets cost ฿400 (around $12).

Sri Maha Mariamman Temple

To end the final day, we headed to the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, a Hindu temple built in 1879 by a Tamil Hindu immigrant. The temple was built to the goddess Mariamman, who is believed to have the power to cure diseases and bring rain.

The main structure features a distinct facade with many colors and numerous Hindu gods and goddesses, including Ganesh, Brahma, Siva, and Vishnu. In addition to the temple’s central shrine, there are several other carved images of deities.

The Sri Maha Mariamman Temple is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is a 10-minute walk from the Saint Louis BTS Station.

What We Ate in Bangkok

Bangkok is widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest food cities. The city has some fantastic, world-class restaurants, but also has hundreds of cheap eateries that are arguably more incredible.

Here’s a look at some of Bangkok’s best and most well-known street foods.

Pad Thai

Pad thai is a staple of Thai cuisine and is arguably the country’s most popular food. It is a stir-fried noodle dish with rice noodles, eggs, tofu or shrimp, bean sprouts, and a tangy sauce. It is usually sprinkled with bits of ground peanuts.

Tom Yum Goong

Tom yum goong is another popular Thai street food. It is a spicy and sour soup with shrimp, lemongrass, galangal, onions, kaffir lime leaves, and chili. It is often served with mushrooms and coconut or evaporated milk.

Tom Kha Gai

Tom kha gai is a famous Thai chicken soup eaten more like a curry. The creamy coconut soup typically features galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and mushrooms. It is milder than tom yum goong, with a rich, comforting flavor.

Final Thoughts

Bangkok is one of my favorite cities in the world, and one I find myself returning to again and again. Still, whenever the opportunity to visit Bangkok arises, I make sure to take full advantage of it.

Many travelers skip over Bangkok in favor of the southern Thai islands, but I recommend you not miss out on Bangkok. The city has so much to offer, including a rich history, fascinating temples, world-class shopping, hospitable people, and some of the best food anywhere on the planet.