Visiting Bangkok: What to See, Where to Stay, and How Many Days to Plan For

Almost all trips to Thailand start in Bangkok, and many go wrong there for the same reason: people underestimate the distances and traffic jams. The city is huge, its attractions are far apart, and a six-kilometer trip can take fifty minutes by taxi at the wrong time of day.

If you plan it well, it takes three full days: the major temples along the river, a market, a neighborhood to hang out in at night, and a view from above. The only rule that matters for everything else: stay near an elevated subway station, and let the river and the tracks do the work.

Bangkok at a Glance

Neighborhoods, and How They're Changing

Sukhumvit is the main modern thoroughfare, fully served by the BTS, with its restaurants and shopping malls. Thong Lor, further east on the same line, is a residential neighborhood that’s quieter and more interesting in the evening. Siam is home to the major shopping malls and is located at the intersection of the lines. Rattanakosin, the old city along the river, is home to the major temples but remains poorly served by the subway.

Detailed information by neighborhood can be found on the " Where to Stay in Bangkok" page.

What to See

The temples along the river

The Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha,Wat Pho and its Reclining Buddha, and Wat Arun on the opposite bank, which you can reach by boat for just a few baht. You can see all three in a single morning if you start early, since the heat and the crowds both build up as the day goes on.

A dress code to be aware of before you go: shoulders and knees must be covered, without exception—even for men. Details can be found on the Bangkok temples page.

Markets

Chatuchak, on the weekend, is one of the largest markets in the world and takes half a day to explore. The night markets, which are smaller, take place in the late afternoon without any special planning. See the upcoming page onBangkok’s markets.

Khao San Road and Chinatown

Two streets that couldn't be more different. Khao San Road is the backpackers' street—lively and inexpensive. Chinatown, just down the road, is the best place in the city for street food in the evening, when the food stalls set up shop.

A bird's-eye view

Rooftop bars are one of the few pleasures truly unique to Bangkok: you can really get a sense of the city from above, and finally grasp its sheer size. Check out Bangkok’s rooftopscoming soon.

Three Days That Work

Details about activities can be found on the "Things to Do in Bangkok" page, and information about transportation is on the " Getting Around inBangkok" page ( coming soon).

Three Mistakes That Cost a Day

Taking a taxi during rush hour. The BTS is cheaper and faster. This is true almost all the time, and especially true between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Staying far from a station. Cheaper housing three kilometers from the subway comes at the cost of commuting, heat, and patience.

Don't accept a guided tour offered on the street near a temple, especially when someone tells you the site is closed today. It's the oldest scam in town, and it always ends up at a shop.

In summary

Bangkok requires three full days and just one key decision: stay near an elevated subway station. You can visit the major temples in a morning by following the river; the markets take half a day; Chinatown is best explored in the evening; and a view from above finally gives you a sense of the city’s scale. The best time to visit is from November through February, and you’ll need a fourth day if you want to add Ayutthaya to your itinerary. The nine detailed pages of this guide cover each of these topics, and the map of the country can be found on theThailand map page.