How to Explore Bangkok in 3 Days: A Complete Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Thailand, known as the land of smiles, is a beautiful country, known for its cultural heritage, gorgeous landscape and busy urban centres. At the heart of Thailand lies Bangkok, the capital city which has a blend of ancient traditions with modernity. For first-time visitors, Bangkok offers a variety of experiences. Here is a complete itinerary to explore this land of wonders in 3 days.

The Best Time To Visit

Visit Bangkok from November to March to enjoy the cooler weather compared to the rest of the year. In May the weather is warm and from July to October is the rainy season. Always be prepared with sun cream, an umbrella and water to keep you hydrated.

Travelling To Bangkok

For your 3-day trip to Bangkok, you can fly into one of the two airports in Bangkok; Suvarnabhumi and Dong Mueang. From the airport, you can easily take an airport bus, or taxi or use the pick-up services provided by the hotel. To get around Bangkok, you can use public transport, a bolt scooter taxi or walk.

Where To Stay

There are multiple neighbourhoods in Bangkok as it is a large city. Depending on the location, you can experience a different part of Bangkok. A Bangkok City View Hotel will provide all the modern amenities, with a view of the city. Hotels like Avani Ratchada Bangkok Hotel in the city centre will make it easier to explore nearby locations like Jodd Fair night market, The Street 24-hour mall, Rajamangala National Stadium and many other places.

Day 1- Bangkok

The key to exploring a lot in Bangkok is starting the day early. The grand palace, which is an architectural wonder where the Thai royalty resided since 1782, is open from 8.30 Am to 3.30 Pm.  Start the day by exploring the palace and temple of emerald Buddha within its walls. Then head to Wat Pho also called the temple of reclining Buddha, which is 10 minutes from the palace. It is open from 8.30 Am to 7.30 Pm. Temple of the Dawn or Wat Arun is open from 8.30 Am to 6 pm. You can take the ferry to reach Wat Arun. The last place to explore before lunch is the Golden Mount or Wat Saket which is open from 7 Am to 7 Pm. For lunch, visit Maharaj Riverside Mall where you can try traditional and modern Thai cuisine. A must-try dishes are Pad Thai, Som Tam and mango sticky rice. After lunch, you can get on a traditional long-tail boat to explore Bangkok also called the Venice of the East. You can end your 1st day by visiting the Asiatique Riverfront. Enjoy the panoramic view of Bangkok under the night sky while riding the Ferris wheel and open-air market filled with street food.

Day 2 – Out Of The City

You can visit the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Train Market on the outskirts of Bangkok. There are many guided tours which will pick you up from Bangkok and drop you back. This day trip will take about 7 hours. However, The experience is worth your time. You can reach Bangkok by 2 Pm and then explore the famous Khao San Road. There are many Bars and restaurants in this area. If you head to Rambuttri Street, you can enjoy live music while having a cold beer to beat the heat. The bars in this street are high-rated. You can also head back to your hotel to freshen up.  At around 6.30 Pm or 7 Pm, you can visit the Yodpiman flower market which is open 24/7. It will take about 1 hour to explore. Then head to Chinatown, which is the largest Chinatown in the world. You will feel like you are in Beijing. The market is open 24/7 and take the rest of the evening to explore the nightlife in Chinatown under beautiful lanterns and try out amazing food.

Day 3- Markets And Modern Bangkok

You can keep the morning to visit any places you missed on day 1 or a spa day at your hotel. If you are visiting Bangkok for the weekend, don’t miss the Chatuchak weekend market. There are over 15,000 stalls offering everything from clothing to antiques and food. Then make your way to Jim Thompson House to explore the Thai silk history. In the afternoon, head to Wat King Kaew which is a temple where you can experience the local Buddhist practices. In the late afternoon, you can head to a rooftop bar and watch the sunset over the skyline in Bangkok. Then you can enjoy a luxury dinner cruise at Chao Phraya River and end your trip in Bangkok.