I recently returned from the most incredible trip to Thailand where I visited Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Ao Nang in Krabi. Before going I did a lot of research, mostly on Pinterest about things to do – I created a whole Thailand board to get ideas for adventures, things to do and places to see and I wanted to share with you some of my research and the perfect three day itinerary for Bangkok.
Day 1:
First up, head to the Grand Palace. You can get a tuk tuk there but a Grab will be cheaper and more comfortable as it’s got air conditioning. The Grand Palace is the most expensive temple you’ll visit in Bangkok and it’ll be rammed with tourists. But the temple itself and the architecture is pretty spectacular. Don’t forget you’ll need to have your shoulders and legs covered when you visit the temples and you have to take off your shoes before you go inside the main temple itself.
For lunch, the best restaurant I found in Bangkok was only ten minutes walk away from the Grand Palace and it called The Sixth. It’s teeny tiny and it’s only got six tables but thankfully it’s air conditioned and the food is GREAT and so reasonable.
Wat Pho is just opposite The Sixth and this is where you can see the Reclining Buddha which is huge. The architecture at this particular temple is pretty spectacular and unlike anything else you’ll see in Bangkok. Wat Pho has always been the centre for medicine and traditional massage in Thailand for hundreds of years. It now houses the Thai Traditional school of Medicine and Massage where you train to be a masseur. Apparently this is where you can get some of the best massages in Thailand but they’re a little bit expensive compared to other places in Bangkok or Chiang Mai.
For early evening head to the Lebua Tower for drinks which is the Bangkok hotel they used to film parts of the hangover 2. You can get there using the BTS Skyrail which is cheap, quick and air conditioned. The views at the bar on the 64th floor are pretty spectacular and I think the best time to visit is early evening so you can watch the sunset over Bangkok. It’s a little expensive but definitely worth it.
To end the day, catch the free shuttle boat to the night bazaar, Asiatique where there are lots of restaurants and shops. You can grab some dinner here or cool down with some refreshing coconut ice cream which is completely vegan.
Day 2:
Hop on the BTS skyrail to Mo Chit to explore the Chatuchak Weekend Market. The heat of the market is pretty intense, particularly as there’s loads of street vendors cooking food fresh on the side of the street. Have a good wander exploring the stalls and buying souvenirs; the typical elephant trousers are always a good purchase. Have some lunch at the market, whether that’s one of the local restaurants or some food from one of the market stalls.
For your afternoon, take a Grab to Benchambophot aka the Marble Temple. This is, in my opinion, the prettiest temple that we visited; it’s made of beautiful white marble and was much quieter than the Grand Palace making it feel much more peaceful and serene. I visited late afternoon which meant that it was quieter and a fraction cooler too. The gardens are beautiful to walk round make sure you ring all the bells in the temple courtyard.
Take a Grab to Chinatown for dinner and then take another Grab to the infamous Khao San Road to soak up the atmosphere and get some drinks to end the day.
Day 3:
Start by taking a boat ride on the canal from Saphan Hua Chang (near the Jim Thompson House) to Phanfa Lilat Pier which is close by to Wat Saket, aka the Golden Mount. When the boat arrives you literally jump on it – there’s no ramp or anything to help you. It’s super cheap too. Just remember to duck a little bit when the boat passes another boat because otherwise you’ll get splashed with the river water which looks absolutely gross or if you’re unlucky you’ll get a mouthful of it. The locals seem to chose their seat tactically because near some seats there’s a little rope you can pull to hoist some plastic sheeting down which acts as a barrier between you and the side of the boat. The boat journey only takes about ten minutes and it’s a really great way to see the city from a different perspective. Wat Saket is essentially a golden temple on top of a hill. The walk up the hill is really nice, the steps are the retry shallow and you get amazing 360 degree views of the city.
Right opposite, there’s another temple called Wat Ratchanatdaram which is simply stunning but for some reason it’s not on the tourist trail. It’s lovely to have a stroll through in the peace and quiet.
The final temple to visit is Wat Arun which is ok the other side of the river but you can hop on a boat to visit the temple. It’s was more of a giant sculpture with lots of steps. Some of them are super steep (like a foot each) but the architecture is really unusual and unique.
To end the day, visit some of the shopping centres in the Siam district downtown; my favourites are Siam Discovery, Siam Centre and Siam Paragon. Shopping centres in Bangkok are nice and air conditioned so it makes a nice change from being outside but you have to step through airport style metal detectors when you go inside each shopping centre. A bit strange! Some of the shopping centres have got food courts with a huge selection of different places to eat so it’s a perfect spot to grab some dinner.
Have you visited Bangkok before?
