Bangkok in 4 days: the day-by-day itinerary

Before you go: dress code and transport

• Dress code: shoulders and knees covered in temples and at the Grand Palace, which refuses sleeveless tops, shorts and miniskirts.
• Transport: the Chao Phraya express boat (orange flag) serves the temple piers; the BTS and MRT cover the rest. Details in our guide to transport in Bangkok.
• Order: days 1 to 3 can be swapped, unless you want to see Chatuchak Market (Saturday and Sunday). Beware of strangers who say a temple is closed: see scams to avoid in Bangkok.

Day 1: Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun

Morning, the Grand Palace. Arrive at opening: the palace is open from 8:30 to 16:30 (ticket office until 15:30) and the ticket costs 500 baht for foreigners. See the page Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew.

Late morning, Wat Pho. The temple of the Reclining Buddha is open from 8:00 to 19:30 and costs 300 baht. See the page Wat Pho. A Thai massage on site is possible: see Thai massage in Bangkok.

Afternoon, Wat Arun. The ferry crosses the river from Tha Tien pier. The temple is open from 8:00 to 18:00; the ticket costs 200 baht. Go back to the east bank to see it at sunset. See the page Wat Arun.

Day 2: old town, Wat Saket and Chinatown

Morning, Banglamphu. Visit Wat Suthat and its giant swing, then climb Wat Saket and its golden hill for the view over the rooftops. The district is described in the guide Banglamphu and the old town.

Lunch. Have a noodle soup or a street dish in the old town: see street food in Bangkok.

Afternoon, the flower market and the river. The Pak Khlong Talat market is a colourful place to visit; Wat Traimit and its golden Buddha open the door to Chinatown.

Evening, Chinatown. Yaowarat Road comes alive at nightfall; addresses and route in Chinatown in Bangkok.

Day 3: Siam, Jim Thompson and Sukhumvit

Morning, the Jim Thompson House. It is open every day from 10:00 to 17:00 and the adult ticket costs 250 baht; the house is visited with a guide. See the page Jim Thompson House.

Midday, Siam. Have lunch in one of the Siam shopping malls, out of the heat, and stop by the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre.

Afternoon, Kamthieng House. Take the BTS to Asok: the Siam Society's ethnology museum is a calm break; see the page Kamthieng House. Check its opening days (Tuesday to Saturday according to our information).

Late afternoon, Mahanakhon. The SkyWalk of the King Power Mahanakhon tower is open every day; the ticket costs 1,000 baht from 10:00 to 15:30 and 1,200 baht from 15:30 to 19:00. See the page King Power Mahanakhon. The Sukhumvit district then offers restaurants and cafés; see our best cafés in Bangkok.

Day 4: Thonburi and Chang Chui

Morning, the Thonburi canals. A long-tail boat explores the canals of the west bank, away from the city: see Thonburi canals. A greener variation is the island of Bang Krachao, by bike.

Afternoon, souvenir shopping. To finish your shopping, read our guide what to bring back from Bangkok.

Late afternoon and evening, Chang Chui. Reach the creative market by MRT to Sirindhorn, then by taxi; see the page Chang Chui. Confirm its hours before you come.

Itinerary summary

Entry budget

The other sites on the itinerary have their prices detailed on their pages. For the overall budget, see Bangkok travel budget.

Further reading

If you have one day fewer, follow Bangkok in 3 days. To choose your hotel, read where to stay in Bangkok.