We may earn a commission from links on this page, at no cost to you. Disclosure
Chedis and pavilions in the Grand Palace compound, which includes Wat Phra Kaew Photo above: Eric Ho via Google
The best things to do in Bangkok are the Old City temples (the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun), a Chinatown street-food evening, Chatuchak Weekend Market, a trip on the Chao Phraya River and a view from a Silom skyscraper. Group them by area, use the river, BTS and MRT, and allow three to five days.
Updated October 2026. Facts checked October 4, 2026; sources are listed at the end. This page is our hub: each section links to the full guide for that topic.
Top-rated tours to book for this trip
Grand Palace and Temples of Bangkok with Experienced Guide★ 4.8 (1,411 reviews) · Free cancellationFrom $20.82 per personCheck dates on Viator
Bangkok Canal Tour: 2-Hour Longtail Boat Ride★ 4.7 (6,764 reviews) · Free cancellationFrom $19.91 per personCheck dates on Viator
Bangkok: Floating Market and Train Market Experience★ 4.9 (3,620 reviews) · Free cancellationFrom $24.25 per personCheck dates on ViatorPrices, ratings and review counts are from Viator as of Oct 11, 2026 and can change.
Plan your trip
Top things to do in Bangkok at a glance
| Thing to do | Best for | Go when | Full guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew | First-time visitors, history | Morning, as soon as it opens | Grand Palace hours and tickets |
| Wat Pho, the Reclining Buddha | Temples, Thai massage | Late morning or afternoon | Wat Pho guide |
| Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn | Views, photography | Late afternoon into sunset | Wat Arun guide |
| Yaowarat (Chinatown) | Street food, temples | Late afternoon into the evening | Yaowarat guide |
| Chatuchak Weekend Market | Shopping, food | Saturday or Sunday, early | Chatuchak guide |
| Jim Thompson House | Design, silk, a calm hour | Daytime, by guided tour | Jim Thompson House guide |
| Mahanakhon SkyWalk | City views | Daytime or after dark | SkyWalk and Baiyoke Sky compared |
| Chao Phraya River and canals | Getting around, sunset | Late afternoon | Canal and longtail boat tours |
| Khao San Road | Nightlife, budget travel | Evening | Khao San Road guide |
| A floating market or Ayutthaya | Day trips | A full day, ideally on a weekday | Day trips from Bangkok |
How many days do you need in Bangkok?
Our judgement, not an official figure: three days covers the Old City temples, a Chinatown food evening, Siam and one market or river evening. Five days lets you add a day trip and a slower pace. Order each day by area so you spend your time at the sights, not in traffic.
- One day: the Grand Palace when it opens, Wat Pho, the ferry to Wat Arun, then dinner in Chinatown. Our Bangkok itinerary for two days, plus one day lays out the hours.
- Three days: day one in the Old City, day two around Siam (Jim Thompson House, shopping, a river dinner cruise), day three for Chatuchak on a weekend or a day trip. See Bangkok in three days.
- Five days to a week: add Silom and Sukhumvit evenings, a cooking class, a show, and one or two day trips. See what to do in Bangkok for a week.
New to the city? Start with Bangkok travel tips for your first time and what Bangkok is like.
Temples and culture: the Old City
Rattanakosin, the island district where the city was founded in 1782, holds most of the sights on any first-time list, and they are close enough to walk between. For a fuller walk, see our guides to things to do near the Grand Palace and Old Town Bangkok.
The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
The Grand Palace is the one ticket nearly every visitor buys. It includes Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the kingdom's most sacred temple, which stands inside the palace walls. The palace's own FAQ lists daily opening from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., so go at opening time. Its practical-information page lists 500 baht for foreigners, including Wat Phra Kaew and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, with children under 120 cm free. The dress code bars sleeveless tops, shorts, short skirts, torn or tight trousers and see-through clothing. Royal ceremonies occasionally close parts of the compound, so check the palace website the day before. Full details are in our Grand Palace hours, tickets and dress code guide.
Wat Pho and the Reclining Buddha
Directly south of the palace, Wat Pho houses the 46-meter Reclining Buddha, whose feet are inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The temple's own plan-your-visit page lists 08:00 to 19:30 and 300 baht, with free entry for children under 120 cm, and says shorts are not allowed. It is also the home of the Wat Po Thai Traditional Medical School, so a Thai massage in the temple grounds is a practical end to a morning on your feet. Wat Pho stays open later than the palace, which makes it the easier of the two to fit in after lunch. Read our Wat Pho visiting guide for the hours question in detail, and where to get a Thai massage for the massage.
Museums nearby
Museum Siam, next to MRT Sanam Chai, is a hands-on museum about Thai identity that works well with children. The National Museum Bangkok, beside Sanam Luang, is the serious counterpart, with galleries running from prehistory through Sukhothai and Ayutthaya to the present dynasty; when we checked on September 26, 2026 it was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so confirm before you go.
Wat Arun, across the river
Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, rises 66.8 meters on the Thonburi bank, its central prang covered in seashells and pieces of Chinese porcelain. A cross-river ferry runs from Tha Tien pier, beside Wat Pho. The temple is lit from sunset, so seeing it from the Old City bank after dark is worth planning for. Our Wat Arun visiting guide has the hours, ticket and ferry details.
The Golden Mount
A short taxi ride east, Wat Saket sits on an artificial hill topped by a gilded chedi. The climb is a little over 300 steps and gives one of the few elevated views over the low-rise Old City.
More temples, shrines and etiquette
The city has far more temples than one trip can cover; how many temples are in Bangkok explains the count and which to pick. Near the train station, things to do near Hua Lamphong covers Wat Traimit, and the Erawan Shrine at Ratchaprasong is a working shrine to the four-faced Brahma; see how to pray at the Erawan Shrine. Before you go, read what to wear in Bangkok and what not to do in Bangkok.
Food: street stalls, Chinatown and restaurants
Food is a reason to come to Bangkok in its own right, and some of the city's best-known cooking happens in plain shophouses. Our Bangkok street food guide covers the stalls and areas, best restaurants in Bangkok and MICHELIN-star restaurants in Bangkok cover sit-down dining, and things to eat in Bangkok lists the dishes to try.
On Maha Chai Road, Jay Fai holds a MICHELIN star for its wok-cooked crab omelet, and on the same stretch of road Thipsamai has sold pad thai since 1939, first from a canal boat and later at the Pratu Phi crossroads. Farther north on Samsen Road, Krua Apsorn cooks central Thai home food and holds a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand. For a riverside lunch after Wat Pho, Supanniga Eating Room at Tha Tien faces Wat Arun across the water.
Chinatown, centered on Yaowarat Road, is the evening food district; our Yaowarat guide has the route, and getting to Chinatown by MRT, BTS and boat covers transit. Start at Wat Traimit, home of the solid-gold Golden Buddha, at the district's edge. For a sit-down dinner, Restaurant POTONG serves a Thai-Chinese tasting menu in a restored five-story shophouse that was once the chef's family's herbal medicine business. For curry crab, the dish most associated with Bangkok seafood restaurants, Somboon Seafood has served its original version since 1969. There are many more options on our Bangkok restaurants page.
A class is the most useful souvenir of a food trip. Baipai Thai Cooking School teaches in English in a wooden Thai house in Chatuchak, with a family class for children aged 7 and up and a pickup from near BTS Ratchayothin. Compare schools in our Bangkok cooking classes guide.
Markets and shopping
Chatuchak Weekend Market, also called JJ, is the city's great Saturday-and-Sunday market, a grid of covered lanes selling clothes, homeware, plants, ceramics and food. Go early before the heat builds, bring cash and agree on a price before you pay. Our Chatuchak guide covers sections, food and getting there, and things to do in Bangkok on a Sunday builds a day around it. MOCA Bangkok, the private museum of Thai modern and contemporary art, is in the same district for anyone who wants air-conditioning and a change of pace.
For evenings, see Bangkok night markets. For malls and everything else, see shopping in Bangkok, the biggest malls, things to do near MBK, Pratunam and what to buy in Bangkok.
Siam and Pathum Wan: silk, art and the shopping district
The BTS interchange at Siam is the center of modern Bangkok. The Jim Thompson House Museum, a few minutes' walk from BTS National Stadium, is a group of traditional teak houses assembled by the American who revived the Thai silk industry; visits to the main house are by guided tour only. See our Jim Thompson House guide for hours and tickets. Across the road from the station, the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre shows contemporary Thai art with free entry to its exhibitions.
Families with children can spend a hot afternoon indoors at SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World, beneath Siam Paragon; our Bangkok with kids guide covers the options.
Parks, views, nightlife and shows
Lumphini Park is the city's central green space, busiest at dawn with runners and tai chi groups. An elevated walkway links it to Benjakitti Park, a newer forest park with walking and cycling routes and a 1.6-kilometer skywalk. More green and quiet ideas are in nature things to do in Bangkok and relaxing things to do, and Thai massage and spas by area covers the spas.
For the view, the King Power Mahanakhon SkyWalk has a glass floor on its 78th-floor rooftop, 310 meters up. Its official page lists daily opening from 10 a.m. to midnight, last access 11 p.m., and adult tickets of 1,000 baht until 3:30 p.m. and 1,200 baht from 3:30 to 7 p.m. (checked October 4, 2026). Compare it with Baiyoke Sky in our sky deck guide. For dinner with a view, Sirocco sets its tables in the open air on the 64th floor of State Tower, and our guides to the best rooftop bars and rooftop bar hours, dress codes and booking cover the rest.
Muay Thai fans should book an evening at Rajadamnern Stadium, which lists fights seven nights a week on its official site. More options are in where to watch Muay Thai and Bangkok shows: Muay Thai, cabaret and classes. For backpacker nightlife, see the Khao San Road guide, and for after-dark ideas in general, things to do in Bangkok at night and what time bars close.
River trips on the Chao Phraya
The river is both a sight and the best way to move between the Old City and the riverside hotels. The Grand Palace's own getting-here page describes the route: take the BTS to Saphan Taksin, walk to Sathorn Pier, and board the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Tha Tien (N8) for Wat Pho or Tha Chang (N9) for the palace. In the evening, Meridian Cruise runs sunset and dinner cruises with a buffet from ICONSIAM on the Thonburi bank. Compare boats in Chao Phraya dinner cruises and buffet, show or set menu. See also canal and longtail boat tours for the quieter Thonburi waterways, bike and tuk-tuk tours and private guides and custom tours if you want a guide.
Day trips from Bangkok
Our guide to things to do outside Bangkok is the hub for day trips. The usual choices are:
- Floating and railway markets: Damnoen Saduak, Maeklong Railway Market and a side-by-side in floating markets near Bangkok compared.
- Ruins and history: Ayutthaya (with tours, train and private car in Ayutthaya compared) and Kanchanaburi.
- Nature: Erawan Falls and Khao Yai National Park.
- Theme parks: Dream World.
Further afield, see Koh Samet and Bangkok or Pattaya.
Book tours and tickets ahead
These are products we already feature in our guides, linked here for readers who want to book the biggest draws; each guide explains what the ticket or tour includes.
- Mahanakhon SkyWalk ticket (see the sky deck guide)
- Floating markets day tour from Bangkok (see floating markets compared)
- Ayutthaya temples tour (see Ayutthaya compared)
- Kanchanaburi highlights day tour (see Erawan Falls and Kanchanaburi)
- Meridian dinner cruise (see dinner cruises compared)
You can also browse every sight on our Bangkok attractions page.
Things to do by area
Pick a base and spend the day within reach of one station. Each area guide ends with where to eat and the nearest BTS or MRT stop.
| Area | Known for | Area guide |
|---|---|---|
| Old City (Rattanakosin) | Palace, temples, museums | Old Town Bangkok |
| Chinatown and Hua Lamphong | Street food, Wat Traimit | Yaowarat, Hua Lamphong |
| Siam, Pratunam and MBK | Malls, museums, markets | Pratunam, MBK |
| Silom and Sathorn | Skyscraper views, parks, nightlife | Silom, Sathorn, Lumpini |
| Sukhumvit, Asoke and Thonglor | Restaurants, bars, malls | Sukhumvit, Asoke, Thonglor |
| Ari and Victory Monument | Cafes, boat noodles, local feel | Ari, Victory Monument |
| Chatuchak | Weekend market, parks, MOCA | Chatuchak guide, where it is |
| Banglamphu | Backpackers, bars | Khao San Road |
Things to do for every kind of trip
- Rainy days and heat: indoor things to do in Bangkok and when rainy season is.
- With children: Bangkok with kids.
- Couples and solo travelers: things to do in Bangkok for couples and things to do alone at night.
- On a budget: budget-friendly things to do and how much baht per day.
- Something different: weird and unusual things to do, crazy things to do or luxury things to do.
- By time of day: mornings and nights.
When to go and what is on
Read the best time to visit Bangkok and Bangkok weather by month before you fix dates. For a specific month, we have guides for January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December.
Events can change your plans. Check the Bangkok events calendar for concerts, festivals and fairs; this season, see Loy Krathong Bangkok 2026, the Royal Barge Procession 2026 and Vijit Chao Phraya.
Getting around between sights
Use the river for the Old City, and the BTS Skytrain and MRT for everything else; the Grand Palace's own page gives the BTS Saphan Taksin to Sathorn Pier route and names MRT Sanam Chai (exit 1) as the nearest MRT station. Our guides cover the rest: how to get around Bangkok, what the BTS is, BTS hours, how to buy a BTS ticket, MRT cards, using Grab, taxi fares and tuk-tuk fares.
Plan the practical side
- Entry rules: complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before you fly, and check the visa rules for US citizens or how long you can stay without a visa.
- Arrival: airport transfers, fast track and the BTS and MRT pass, from the airport to the city, which airport is better and a Thailand eSIM.
- Staying safe and sensible: is Bangkok safe, tipping and exchanging money.
- Where to stay: where to stay in Bangkok, luxury hotels, riverside hotels and hotels near the BTS.
For a sightseeing trip, the riverside hotels are the most practical base, because their own boats connect to the express boat and the BTS. Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, open since 1876, and Shangri-La Bangkok are on the east bank near Saphan Taksin; The Peninsula Bangkok faces them from the Thonburi side. The Siam in Dusit is the closest luxury hotel to the Old City. If shopping and rail links matter more, stay around Siam and Ratchaprasong. Compare the options on our Bangkok hotels page.
Planning a longer trip? See planning a Thailand trip through Bangkok.
Sources: The Grand Palace, practical information, The Grand Palace, FAQ, Wat Pho, plan your visit, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Wat Arun guide, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Wat Saket, Museum Siam, Fine Arts Department, National Museum Bangkok, MICHELIN Guide, Jay Fai, MICHELIN Guide, Krua Apsorn, Jim Thompson House, visitor information, Erawan Shrine, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Benjakitti Park, King Power Mahanakhon SkyWalk, Rajadamnern Stadium, Meridian Cruise. Checked October 4, 2026.
Visit the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho and Wat Arun in the Old City, eat on Yaowarat Road in Chinatown after dark, spend a weekend morning at Chatuchak Market, take a trip on the Chao Phraya River and see the city from a Silom sky deck. This guide links to the full guide for each.
Three days covers the main temples, a food evening, Siam and one market or river outing, in our judgement. Five days lets you add a day trip such as Ayutthaya or a floating market without rushing. Group each day by area to keep travel time down.
The palace's own FAQ lists daily opening from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Its practical-information page lists 500 baht for foreigners, including Wat Phra Kaew and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, and free entry for children under 120 cm. We checked both on October 4, 2026. Royal ceremonies can close parts of the compound, so check the website first.
Wat Pho's plan-your-visit page lists 300 baht and opening from 08:00 to 19:30, with free entry for children under 120 cm. Walk to Tha Tien pier beside Wat Pho and take the cross-river ferry to Wat Arun, or ride the Chao Phraya Express Boat. See our Wat Pho and Wat Arun guides for current hours.
It trades on Saturdays and Sundays through the day and into the evening. Check the market's official Facebook page for current times and holiday closures, go early to beat the heat, and bring cash.
Its official page lists adult tickets of 1,000 baht from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 1,200 baht from 3:30 to 7 p.m. when we checked on October 4, 2026, with daily opening from 10 a.m. to midnight and last access at 11 p.m. Prices change, so confirm on the official site before you buy.
Head indoors to Museum Siam, the National Museum Bangkok (closed Mondays and Tuesdays when we checked), SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World, the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, a cooking class or a Thai massage. Our indoor things-to-do guide lists more.
The common choices are Ayutthaya for temple ruins, Kanchanaburi and Erawan Falls, the Damnoen Saduak floating market and Maeklong Railway Market, and Khao Yai National Park. Our day-trip guides compare tours, trains and private cars for each.