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Bangkok, Thailand · Free itinerary

3-Day Bangkok Itinerary: Best Things to Do

Thailand's electric capital fuses gilded royal temples and the lazy curve of the Chao Phraya River with frenetic street markets, world-class street food, and glittering rooftop bars. From the old-city grandeur of Rattanakosin to the neon buzz of Chinatown and the malls of Siam, Bangkok rewards travelers who keep moving.

3 days27 stopsBangkok, Thailand

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1Rattanakosin Old City & Riverside Temples
  1. 🍽️
    Sala Rattanakosin Eatery & Bar 🍴 Food
    8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
    📍 Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
    1h
    Breakfast on a riverside terrace at Tha Tien facing Wat Arun across the Chao Phraya; opens 07:00.
  2. 🚶
    9:05 AM – 9:15 AM· Walk to next stop ·0.5 mi ·10m
  3. 📍
    Grand Palace 🏛️ Landmark
    9:15 AM – 11:15 AM
    📍 Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
    2h
    The dazzling former royal residence and home of the Emerald Buddha, Bangkok's crown jewel; open daily 08:30-16:30.
  4. 🚶
    11:24 AM – 11:30 AM· Walk to next stop ·0.3 mi ·6m
  5. 📍
    Wat Pho ⛪ Religious site
    11:30 AM – 12:45 PM
    📍 Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
    1h 15m
    Home of the colossal gold-leaf Reclining Buddha and the birthplace of traditional Thai massage; open daily 08:00-18:30.
  6. 🚶
    12:42 PM – 1:00 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.9 mi ·18m
  7. 🍽️
    Krua Apsorn 🍴 Food
    1:00 PM – 2:15 PM
    📍 Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
    1h 15m
    Beloved Bib Gourmand restaurant on Dinso Road famed for its crab in yellow curry and royal-style Thai dishes (closed Sundays).
  8. 🚶
    2:24 PM – 2:30 PM· Travel to next stop ·1.2 mi ·6m
  9. 📍
    Wat Arun ⛪ Religious site
    2:30 PM – 3:45 PM
    📍 Bangkok Yai, Bangkok
    1h 15m
    The Temple of Dawn's porcelain-encrusted spire rises dramatically on the Thonburi riverbank; open daily 08:00-18:00.
  10. 🚗
    3:53 PM – 4:00 PM· Travel to next stop ·1.4 mi ·7m
  11. 📍
    Wat Saket (Golden Mount) ⛪ Religious site
    4:00 PM – 5:15 PM
    📍 Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
    1h 15m
    Climb the 300-odd steps of the Golden Mount to a hilltop chedi and a breezy 360-degree panorama over the old city; open daily to ~19:00.
  12. 🚶
    5:11 PM – 5:30 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.9 mi ·19m
  13. 📍
    Saranrom Park 🌳 Park
    5:30 PM – 6:15 PM
    📍 Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
    45m
    A leafy former royal garden with fountains and pavilions, a calm break in the old city.
  14. 🚶
    6:32 PM – 6:45 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.6 mi ·13m
  15. 📍
    Tha Maharaj Riverside 🌄 Viewpoint
    6:45 PM – 7:30 PM
    📍 Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
    45m
    A breezy riverside community mall with sunset views over the Chao Phraya and Wat Arun; open daily to 21:00.
  16. 🚗
    7:54 PM – 8:00 PM· Travel to next stop ·1.3 mi ·6m
  17. 🍽️
    Thipsamai Pad Thai 🍴 Food
    8:00 PM – 9:15 PM
    📍 Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
    1h 15m
    Bangkok's most famous pad thai, wrapped in egg and served on Maha Chai Road since 1966 (closed Tuesdays).
2Chinatown, Markets & the Chao Phraya
  1. 🍽️
    On Lok Yun 🍴 Food
    8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
    📍 Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
    1h
    A retro 1933 coffee shop on Charoen Krung serving old-school Thai-Western breakfast sets of eggs, ham and kaya toast; opens 06:00.
  2. 🚶
    9:20 AM – 9:30 AM· Walk to next stop ·0.5 mi ·10m
  3. 📍
    Pak Khlong Talat Flower Market 🛍️ Shopping
    9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
    📍 Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
    1h
    Bangkok's 24-hour flower market, a fragrant riot of marigolds, orchids, and jasmine garlands.
  4. 🚶
    10:39 AM – 10:45 AM· Travel to next stop ·1.2 mi ·6m
  5. 📍
    Wat Traimit ⛪ Religious site
    10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
    📍 Chinatown, Bangkok
    1h
    Houses the world's largest solid-gold Buddha, a 5.5-tonne treasure at Chinatown's gateway; open daily 08:00-17:00.
  6. 🚶
    11:51 AM – 12:00 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.4 mi ·9m
  7. 🍽️
    Hua Seng Hong 🍴 Food
    12:00 PM – 1:15 PM
    📍 Chinatown, Bangkok
    1h 15m
    A bustling Yaowarat institution for dim sum, braised goose, and shark-fin-style soups; open daily.
  8. 📍
    Yaowarat Road 🏛️ Landmark
    1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
    📍 Chinatown, Bangkok
    1h
    Chinatown's pulsing main artery, lined with gold shops, herbal stalls, and neon signage.
  9. 🚶
    2:40 PM – 2:45 PM· Travel to next stop ·1.0 mi ·5m
  10. 📍
    IconSiam 🛍️ Shopping
    2:45 PM – 4:15 PM
    📍 Khlong San, Bangkok
    1h 30m
    A spectacular riverside mega-mall with an indoor floating market and luxury boutiques; open daily 10:00-22:00.
  11. 🚶
    4:18 PM – 4:30 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.6 mi ·12m
  12. 📍
    Chao Phraya River Cruise 🎭 Entertainment
    4:30 PM – 5:45 PM
    📍 Bang Rak, Bangkok
    1h 15m
    Glide past temples and skyscrapers on the river that has defined Bangkok for centuries.
  13. 🚗
    6:06 PM – 6:15 PM· Travel to next stop ·1.9 mi ·9m
  14. 📍
    Asiatique The Riverfront 🛍️ Shopping
    6:15 PM – 7:30 PM
    📍 Bang Kho Laem, Bangkok
    1h 15m
    A riverside night bazaar of shops, a giant Ferris wheel, and breezy waterfront dining; opens late afternoon.
  15. 🚗
    7:44 PM – 8:00 PM· Travel to next stop ·3.3 mi ·16m
  16. 🍽️
    T&K Seafood 🍴 Food
    8:00 PM – 9:15 PM
    📍 Chinatown, Bangkok
    1h 15m
    The legendary green-shirted street seafood corner of Yaowarat, grilling prawns and steaming fish into the small hours.
3Siam, Sukhumvit & Rooftop Views
  1. 🍽️
    Roast at The Commons 🍴 Food
    9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
    📍 Thonglor, Bangkok
    1h
    A hip Thonglor brunch spot serving specialty coffee and all-day breakfast in The Commons; opens 09:00 weekends.
  2. 🚗
    9:49 AM – 10:15 AM· Travel to next stop ·5.4 mi ·26m
  3. 📍
    Chatuchak Weekend Market 🛍️ Shopping
    10:15 AM – 12:15 PM
    📍 Chatuchak, Bangkok
    2h
    One of the world's largest markets, a sprawling weekend maze of 15,000 stalls (Saturdays and Sundays, ~09:00-18:00).
  4. 🚗
    12:11 PM – 12:30 PM· Travel to next stop ·3.9 mi ·19m
  5. 📍
    Jim Thompson House 🖼️ Museum
    12:30 PM – 1:45 PM
    📍 Pathumwan, Bangkok
    1h 15m
    The teak-house museum of the American silk magnate who vanished mysteriously in 1967; open daily 10:00-17:00.
  6. 🚶
    1:49 PM – 2:00 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.5 mi ·11m
  7. 🍽️
    Nara Thai Cuisine 🍴 Food
    2:00 PM – 3:15 PM
    📍 Pathumwan, Bangkok
    1h 15m
    Award-winning modern Thai restaurant inside Siam Paragon, perfect for a refined lunch.
  8. 📍
    Siam Paragon 🛍️ Shopping
    3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
    📍 Pathumwan, Bangkok
    1h 15m
    Bangkok's flagship luxury mall with a vast aquarium, gourmet hall, and designer flagships; open daily 10:00-22:00.
  9. 🚶
    4:51 PM – 5:00 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.4 mi ·9m
  10. 📍
    Erawan Shrine ⛪ Religious site
    5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
    📍 Pathumwan, Bangkok
    30m
    A gilded Brahma shrine at Ratchaprasong where dancers perform amid clouds of incense; open daily ~06:00-22:30.
  11. 🚶
    5:40 PM – 5:45 PM· Travel to next stop ·0.9 mi ·5m
  12. 📍
    Lumpini Park 🌳 Park
    5:45 PM – 6:45 PM
    📍 Lumphini, Bangkok
    1h
    Bangkok's central green lung, with lakes, monitor lizards, and joggers at golden hour.
  13. 🚶
    7:10 PM – 7:15 PM· Travel to next stop ·1.1 mi ·5m
  14. 🍽️
    Nahm 🍴 Food
    7:15 PM – 9:00 PM
    📍 Sathorn, Bangkok
    1h 45m
    Acclaimed fine-dining temple of historic Thai recipes at the COMO Metropolitan; dinner Wed-Sun from 18:00.
  15. 🚗
    8:57 PM – 9:15 PM· Travel to next stop ·3.8 mi ·18m
  16. 🍽️
    Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar 🍸 Nightlife
    9:15 PM – 10:30 PM
    📍 Thonglor, Bangkok
    1h 15m
    A 360-degree rooftop bar atop the Marriott Thonglor with panoramic skyline views; open daily from 17:00.

🏨 Where to stay

Real, vetted stays near your route — check the reviews, then book.

Lub d Bangkok Silom
Silom
A stylish social hostel with pods and private rooms steps from the Silom nightlife and BTS.
Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square★★★★
Siam
A comfortable 4-star hotel in the heart of Siam Square's shopping and transit hub.
Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok★★★★★
Charoen Krung
A riverside tower with sweeping Chao Phraya views and a free shuttle boat to the BTS.
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok★★★★★
Bang Rak
The legendary riverfront grande dame, consistently ranked among Asia's finest hotels.
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