Read this travel blog itinerary with tips on how to see Bangkok in 3 days and plan your holiday better.
During my recent trip to Thailand, I returned to Bangkok a few times between other cities. I initially stayed there for 3 nights before my travelling to Pai (read this top Pai experience if you’re going there too) leaving my thirst to see more of Bangkok, unquenched. Inevitably, I returned and ended up staying there a few more days before my Thailand visa on arrival was about to expire.
Its multicultural vibe, a combination of old and modern traditions, street food, peppy tuk-tuk rides, and a great backpacking scene makes it a great place to travel.
And where a 3 days Bangkok itinerary is certainly not enough to see it all, it can at least help you in ticking off some of the major sites and must-do activities.
So without wasting much time, let’s get to the topic at hand and discuss…
How To See Bangkok In 3 days
Before I start with my Bangkok itinerary, I also want to share this useful resource on the cost of travelling in Thailand. This travel blog will help you understand how I travelled Thailand for less than 700 baht a day, including all Bangkok tourist places and experiences mentioned below.
Now let’s get started with day 1 of our 3 days Bangkok itinerary…
Bangkok Itinerary Day 1
Temples. River Cruises. And FOOD
Bangkok Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun
The former residence of the royal family, The Grand Palace, is one of the most amazing pieces of architecture in entire Thailand. It houses more than 100 gilded buildings, all designed and coloured very uniquely.
Visit The Grand Palace first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds.
Once done, visit Wat Pho, which is only a few blocks away from The Grand Palace.
Where the city has nearly 50 Temples (termed ‘Wat’) Wat Pho and Wat Arun are among the few popular ones.
Wat Pho is where you’ll find the gigantic reclining Buddha beautifully covered in gold leaf. It’s a remarkable 46m long and 15m high statue. Also, don’t forget to wander through the courtyard of Wat Pho and admire the many stupas beautifully decorated in ceramic pottery flowers.
Once done, jump on a cross-river ferry (from No.8 Tha Tien Pier) and head to Wat Arun. The best part about Wat Arun is the Khmer-style tower, which lets you walk up the stairs and get stellar views of the city from atop the temple.
Make sure you’re dressed properly before entering these temples. Wear something that at least covers your legs and shoulders.
Visiting The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun during any Bangkok itinerary is a must. Read any travel itinerary out there and you will see their repeated mentions.
Chao Phraya River
The Chao Phraya River offers an amazing route to explore the city. It, moreover, allows you to go to any length and enjoy a 1+ hour ride in less than 50 Baht on a public ferry.
The best route, as I explored, is getting into an orange-flagged ferry from one of the central piers.
Go all the way to Nonthaburi (the last pier in the north) and return. Do not, however, forget to explore the Nonthaburi district to get a feel of one of the city’s most non-touristic areas.
The Royal Field, and Khao San Road
The Royal Field is an open green space right opposite the royal palace. As the sun sets, The Royal Field shimmers with quintessential decorative lights, making the entire area more colourful.
Walking through the Royal Field sometime after 7 pm, as the city prepares itself for a temporary shutdown, is a pleasant experience.
There is no better way to conclude day 1 of your 3 days in Bangkok itinerary than strolling in the Royal Fields.
Once done, hit the highlighted Khao San road – the backpacker capital of the world. Here you’ll find endless bars, exotic street food, crazy night parties, laughing gas balloons, and a crowd of happy, drunk tourists.
If you’re looking for a nice hostel, there are also many backpacker hostels to choose from at Khao San Road.
Most backpackers, particularly solo backpackers looking for friends, and those who have come to Bangkok to party, prefer Khao San Road.
Bangkok Itinerary Day 2
Markets. Shopping. And FOOD
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Day 2 of our how-to-see Bangkok in 3-day guide starts with some local markets.
One of the biggest advantages that tourists have over backpackers is that they end up at every place during the weekend, and this is exactly what you want if you’re in Thailand because there are weekend markets everywhere.
It’s only during the weekend when you can visit Chatuchak Weekend Market too – one of the world’s largest weekend markets.
Spread over an area of 27 Acres altogether (around 20 football grounds, if I’m not wrong) Chatuchak Weekend Market is the mother of all markets. Here you will find everything – from chocolates to first-copy Rolex watches to used phones to authentic designer clothes to jewellery – at discounted rates.
Also, visit the Pratu Nam market for shopping. At Pratu Nam, everything, even if you’re buying a single piece, is available at a wholesale discounted price.
Once you have crosschecked a few local markets in your 3-day Bangkok itinerary, next is a flower market.
Yodpiman flower market
You can find quite a few flower markets in Bangkok but if you want to see the real flower market, Yodpiman (the largest flower market) is the place to visit.
Full of colours, and lovely smells, Yodpiman Flower Market is a nice and vibrant place to explore. Here you can find all kinds of flowers, vegetables, and fruit. Though the market is open 24 hours, it is busiest before dawn, when boats and trucks arrive with flowers from all over Thailand.
Right behind Yodpiman flower market is the popular Yodpiman River Walk, if you fancy a cooling breeze walk, with a beer in hand.
Chinatown
As the sun pulls the curtains, Chinatown throbs with electrifying energy. Countless street vendors come alive with their temporary shops on pedestrian walkways and transform the entire area into a foodie’s kitchen. Neon signs shine brightly along the entire length of Chinatown, attracting innocent food lovers to empty their pockets.
If you’re into seafood, you need to visit Chinatown.
Thus include our day 2 of what to see in Thailand in 3-day travel guide! Moving on to day 3…
Bangkok Itinerary Day 3
Amphawa/Ayutthaya. And DRINKS
Amphawa OR Ayutthaya
If you’re in Thailand during the weekend, I recommend a day trip to Amphawa, where you can find Thailand’s biggest floating market and the extraordinary Maeklong train market.
If not, explore the deep-rooted history and some temples in Ayutthaya. Both require you to go around 100 km out of the city which takes 1 to 2 hours of a taxi ride on each side. You can get a shared minivan from the Victory Monument for both places.
Though a visit to both places is recommended, since we are talking about a 3-day Bangkok itinerary and we are bound with time, I am suggesting you visit at least one of the two.
Amphawa floating market is open only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, but the Maeklong train market can be visited 7 days a week. Where you can find a few floating markets in Bangkok city as well (with Talin Chan floating market being the most popular) they are quite tiny in size and often leave tourists craving for more. Maeklong train market, on the other hand, is the only such market – running on a railway track – in the entire world.
Ayutthaya, on the other hand, offers a completely different experience than Amphawa and Maeklong. Unreal and bewitching, the ruins and temples of Ayutthaya picture an unearthly landscape that will leave you awestruck the moment you end up there. This is where you’ll find centuries-old temples, many impressive and gigantic Buddha statues and the much talked about Buddha Head entwined in a tree.
Bangkok Roof Top Bars
Conclude your 3 days Bangkok itinerary with some drinks in a fancy rooftop bar and take your love for the city to the next level.
Some of the most popular ones include Sky Bar, Moon Bar and the Octave Rooftop Bar, but to tell you the truth, I’ve only tried Sky Bar, and yes, it was great.
Remember, before you visit a rooftop bar, make sure you’re not wearing shorts and/or flip-flops as most of the places are quite particular about the dress code.
This is all in this blog on how to see Bangkok in 3 days. If you have more time and are visiting more places in Thailand, my Thailand Travel Guide.
You can also visit this Thailand tourism website for more genuine suggestions.
How To Travel To Bangkok
From buses and trains that connect nearby Southeast Asian countries to flights that connect the world, travelling to Bangkok is easy.
It is the hub of all transportation in Southeast Asia, so that’s one thing to remember.
If you are travelling from India, the cheapest flights from India to Bangkok are either from Chennai or Kolkata. From Delhi, flights can be relatively expensive. So one thing you can do is take a train to Kolkata (or Chennai) and fly from there.
A few other places with cheap flights are Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh, Singapore Changi and Jakarta.
If you are currently preparing your Bangkok itinerary and looking for suggestions, please write me a comment below.