Bangkok in 3 days

Bangkok in 3 days isn’t much. If you wanna see the must-see, this is the day. Wear something comfortable but respectful for Day 1 because we are going to visit religious buildings!

The Grand Palace complex is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Bangkok. Instead of talking about the history and culture of this amazing complex, I will tell you the practical stuff.

This is a huge complex and you need plenty of time to properly visit it. However, you can also make this a speedy visit by visiting the main sites. The two main attractions that you wanna see are probably Wat Phra Kaew and the Royal Reception Hall.

The complex opens at 8:30am and closes at 3:30pm. Ticket lines are always long so get there a little earlier just to get in front of the line so you can enter the site as early as you can.

The noon sun in Bangkok is blisteringly hot and I’m not kidding. It’s a torture to walk under the sun in Bangkok from 12pm onwards. Hence, I suggest seeing the complex in the morning. Check out my guide of how to survive the crazy hot weather in Southeast Asia!! I’m Malaysian so these are definitely insider’s tips!

Drink plenty of water and wear sunglasses; all the buildings are golden so it can be blindingly painful to your eyes. To visit the complex strategically and get the most out of it, join the morning tour (so it won’t be too hot) which is inclusive of the entry (500 baht). It will give you an introductory historical and cultural take-home messages which would be helpful when you are in Bangkok or other cities in Southeast Asia.

After visiting Grand Palace, pamper your legs and tummy by eating at Tang Heng Kee restaurant. This is an authentic Thai-Chinese restaurant that is near the vicinity of the Grand Palace. The owner is extremely friendly and food is so affordable and delicious here.

Next to Tang Heng Kee, there’s Wat Pho. It’s home for the golden reclining Buddha and arguably one of the best places for authentic, affordable Thai massage. Entry is 100 baht.

After that, catch a boat from Wat Pho to Tha Tien pier. It’s the pier for Wat Arun, which is one of my favourite temples in Bangkok. Entry is 50 baht. The stairs at Wat Arun are REALLY steep so be prepared.

By the time you finish visiting Wat Arun, it’s probably close to sunset time. Catch a boat to Asiatique, one of the upmarket markets. You don’t have to buy anything here; just come and admire the lights from afar.

If you prefer something less posh and more cultural, take the boat to Ratchawong Pier and walk up Yaowarat road. This is Chinatown of Bangkok.

Have dinner at Baiyoke Sky Hotel! This buffet restaurant is so high you can have an amazing view of Bangkok while sampling some big prawns and Thai cuisine! I booked it through Klook because I wanted to skip the line. The line is massive!!

Bangkok is the city of markets. There are literally hundreds of markets that it will take you months to visit all of them properly.

Head straight to Chatuchak market: this semi-open air market is the biggest market in the world. There are more than 15,000 shops divided into 27 sections.

It’s technically a maze in there. If you see something that you like, just bargain straightaway and try to get the best deal before you leave that shop! Chances are you are not going to find that shop anymore. Although there are many shops selling similar things, it’s just not worth the time for you to brave through the crowds and try to find that shop again!

When it’s hot, it gets really stuffy inside Chatuchak market. Go earlier if you can – not only you escape the heat but also the crowd. Head to Or Tor Kor market in the afternoon when it’s absolutely hot. Or Tok Kor market is one of the higher end markets. It’s really clean as compared to other food markets that you’ll see in Bangkok. Have lunch at Or Tor Kor market like most of the locals. Market food in Bangkok is absolutely amazing.

You can stay at Chatuchak if you can endure the heat. If not, you can head to many of the shopping havens that I have written in details in my other post. They mostly have air-conditioned which can make your shopping experience A LOT nicer. Check out the post here and here! Be sure to know how you can take your stuff back as you never know how much you can buy in Bangkok in 3 days!

After some hectic shopping, head to one of the rooftop bars. The ones that I prefer are The Speakeasy Rooftop Bar and Moon Bar. For The Speakeasy Rooftop Bar, you can make a reservation with up to 50% off depending on the time that you dine. Check it out here! Price is definitely not cheap here but it’s worth it if you like a bird-eye view of the city. Smart casual for both venues so make sure you’re adequately dressed.

If you prefer to have street food, do the street food tour where a knowledgeable guide takes you in a tuktuk exploring the nightlife of the city and also taste all the mouthwatering street food! It’s one of the best thing that I have done in Bangkok and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!

If you prefer a wilder nightlife or a more touristy place to go to, head to Khao San Road! It’s a little more pricier here because mostly it’s tourists who come here.

Take time to see Yaowarat in the morning as well. If I haven’t said so, the food in Yaowarat is absolutely gorgeous. Most of the restaurants would be fine, but it would be better if you take a food tour because they bring you to the best places! The good thing about this particular food tour is also because they rotate around different restaurants so many restaurants benefit of it.

Spend your afternoon doing the river tour by yourself! It’s much cheaper and you can do it at your own time. Start wherever it’s easiest for you (most people start with Sathom which is connected to the BTS rail) and go down the river. You can stop every time to explore different piers depending on the time that you’ve got. I really like the food market at Tha Chang pier so if you have some time, give it a go.

Srinakarin Train market is my absolute favourite. It’s a little bit of a pain to get here because it’s not exactly in the centre but I think the quality of the stuff that they sell here is worth the travel. The price range is wide so there’s something for everyone. Stuff here are more vintage and retro so if that’s what you’re looking for, give it a go!

There are only that much you can do in Bangkok in 3 days. Obviously there are many other things to do so if you wanna squeeze something in, here you go:

– Lobby Salon Chocolate Buffet

– Terminal 21 (shopping mall)

– Sompong Thai Cooking Class

– Cabaret show

– Dine in the dark

– Erawan Museum + Ancient Siam

– By Chef Pam. I am super inspired by the Thai woman and would really love to dine at her house one day!

Many of you might be going to Asia or a new country for the first time in your life. Whatever that is, you wanna be prepared for this trip.

1. Get a SIM card because Klook offers a massive discount for it. You can pick it up at either of the airport or pick it up at Siam Centre.

2. Get a private transfer from the airport (Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi)

3. If you prefer to use public transport to get to the city, you can buy a Rabbit card beforehand (the public transport card in Bangkok) so that you don’t have to line up to get the card, especially if you’re arriving in Bangkok during busy hours where many travellers land.

4. Please, please, please read on how to survive the hot weather in Bangkok. I really want you to enjoy your trip in Bangkok by not sweating like a cow!