Ultimate Bangkok 3-Day Itinerary and Bangkok Food Tour
Bangkok 3-Day Itinerary
This is my ultimate Bangkok 3-day itinerary that allows you to see Bangkok’s best sights while fitting in time for an amazing self-guided Bangkok food tour. I have been visiting Bangkok for many years and while I love the city, I think three days is more than enough for most visits there.
Bangkok is hot, chaotic, and incredibly busy. However, it is also vibrant, exciting, and it has the best food in Thailand. For me, three days is ideal to sample some amazing (and cheap) Thai food from all four of Thailand’s key culinary regions: North, South, Central, and Northeast.
This 3-day Bangkok itinerary has been finely honed over years of visiting the City of Angels, sampling the local restaurants, checking out the sights, and staying in different areas.
You’ll find out some of my favourite places to eat Thai food in Bangkok. You’ll also have more than enough time to fit in time to see and experience Bangkok’s best attractions, from beautiful Buddhist temples to relaxing Thai massages.
Booking a Flight to Bangkok
I typically use Skyscanner to book flights to Bangkok because it is the most straightforward user interface out of all the main flight booking websites. From Europe, I’ve found cheap flights with Emirates, Etihad, Finnair, and Aeroflot.
Out of the many airlines I’ve flown to and from Bangkok with, the only one that was below par was Rossiya Airlines, which is a subsidiary of Aeroflot. The food was absolutely awful and the connection in Moscow was unpleasant to say the least.
Prices for flights to Bangkok vary by season so I would recommend getting on to Skyscanner at least 3-4 months in advance of your trip, preferably more, to check out the cost.
Best Area to Stay in Bangkok
All the action, by which I mean the main transport hubs, the shopping malls, the markets, and the nightlife are in the Sukhumvit area of town. If you had longer in Bangkok I’d recommend staying in different areas but for a 3-day Bangkok itinerary, you can’t go wrong with Sukhumvit.
I also recommend if you are in the 18-35 age group checking out the Khao San Road area in Banglamphu. It has a bit of a reputation among snobbish travellers as a backpackers’ mecca, but what’s wrong with that? Khao San Road is great fun and has excellent nightlife.
I would particularly suggest staying in a hostel in the area where you can easily meet other travellers. Another great thing about Khao San Road is that it is close to some of Bangkok’s best temples and delicious food.
Best Hotel in Sukhumvit
By far the best hotel I’ve stayed at in Bangkok was The Admiral Premier Bangkok in Sukhumvit. The pool is beautiful, the price is extremely reasonable (typically $65-85 per night for a 4-star hotel), and it is close to the BTS (Asok Station). There is even a fitness center free to use for all guests, which is great because it beats having to pay for overpriced walk-in gyms in Bangkok.
The Admiral is decked out and furnished sort of like an aparthotel, which gives it a much better, more comforting, homely vibe for me. It is bang smack in the middle of central Bangkok, and there is a free tuk-tuk service taking you to the MRT or BTS stations, which opens up the rest of the city to you.
If you are on a lower budget, you can’t go wrong with The Grand Business Inn, which provides the bare essentials in contemporary, clean and very cheap rooms very close to the BTS. I typically use Agoda to book hotels because it gives me the best prices.
Best Hostel in Bangkok
When asked about the best hostel in Bangkok, the only answer I ever give is Nap Park near Khao San Road. This hostel has fond memories for me because it was the first place I stayed during my first ever trip to Thailand back in 2013. A recent stay there for one night proved to me that it still is a solid number one choice when looking for a good hostel in Bangkok.
Nap Park has an excellent and very sociable common area just in front of its reception, where you are almost guaranteed to meet people. It is five minutes walk from all the action in Khao San Road.
Furthermore, staying in Banglamphu for a night gives you much easier access to the nicest temples in Bangkok, including the Grand Palace and Wat Arun.
How to Get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Central Bangkok
Almost anyone who arrives in Bangkok, unless their suitcase is incredibly heavy, should take the Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Central Bangkok. Look, if you prefer paying ten times the cost of a quick and air-conditioned train in favour of a taxi, that is understandable, I just wouldn’t really recommend it because I like to save my money and spend it on eating Bangkok’s best Thai food!
Some travellers will arrive in Bangkok at the smaller Don Muang Airport, particularly those who have travelled from neighboring countries. To get from Don Muang airport to central Bangkok, I typically just go with a taxi to Mo Chit BTS station and then take the BTS skytrain to the city centre.
Day 1: Central Thai Food, Lumpini Park, and a Thai Massage
So, you’ve arrived in Bangkok and you are most likely jetlagged unless you’ve flown in from a nearby country. It’s worth noting that most hotels in Bangkok will not let you check in until 1-2 pm, however, you can leave your heavier bags securely stored at the hotel’s reception without any hassle.
Your first day in Bangkok is going to be a relaxing one with amazing food. First, it’s time to take in some central Thai food at a great little Thai street food stall named Kuay Teow Khae. Here, you will feast on dry tom yum noodles, which is a specialty of the central Bangkok region. To get to Kuay Teow Khae, take a BTS to Sala Deang station and walk about one minute.
Here is a picture of the food you will eat at Kuay Teow Khae. Doesn’t it just make you wanna hop on a plane to Bangkok right now?
With your appetite satisfied for the time being, it is time now to take in some greenery among the concrete jungle of Bangkok. After finishing your noodles, walk up Silom Road towards the intersection with Rama IV Road. Here, you will find across the road, an entrance to Bangkok’s largest park, Lumpini Park.
Lumpini Park is a true oasis among Bangkok’s madness. It is a serene place where you can unwind after the chaos of going through immigration at the airport and finding your way to central Bangkok.
Look out for the huge monitor lizards that erm, monitor the park’s lush greenery. Find a place that sells ice coffee and enjoy its cooling effect from the searing Bangkok heat. Grab yourself a seat, read a book, or people-watch as local Bangkokians exercise or come out for a stroll during their lunch hour.
If the weather takes a turn for the worse or if you are simply too hot, head back to your room, have a shower, and maybe a quick 30-minute nap. When you are feeling rejuvenated, it is time to head out for a wonderfully relaxing Thai massage.
The best massage in Bangkok for me is at The Touch massage, which is about a five-minute walk from Ploen Chit BTS station. The girls working here have excellent technique and will really work out the knots and tension that tend to develop in your muscles after travelling. Furthermore, you will pay a reasonable 300 baht per hour for a superb massage.
I typically just choose a Thai massage because it divides attention equally between your legs, arms, shoulders, and back. Sometimes I go for just a back and shoulder massage when I am feeling particularly tense in that area.
After your Thai massage finishes up, it’s time to enjoy more amazing Bangkok street food. This time you will go to Pe Aor Tom Yum and order one of Thailand’s most famous dishes: Tom Yum Goong. This hot and sour shrimp soup is quintessentially Thai in its flavor, and Pe Aor Tom Yum serves an outstanding version.
If you have taken my advice for the best hotel in Bangkok and booked yourself into The Admiral, I recommend spending your evening chilling at the hotel’s outstanding rooftop pool, which has a lovely view of Bangkok’s sprawling skyline.
If you have the energy to experience some of Bangkok’s infamous nightlife, there are plenty of options in Sukhumvit. If you are with a partner or friend, head to Above Eleven or the Banyan Tree Hotel to sample some of the best skybars in Bangkok with amazing views of the skyline. Be warned: drinks in these places are not cheap, so limit it to a tasty cocktail or a refreshing beer before moving on.
If you want to call it a night, I can’t blame you because you’ve already done a lot for your first day in Bangkok. However, if you’d like to party a little and check out some of the more raucous entertainment venues in Bangkok, Soi Cowboy or Nana Plaza are both worth a stroll around.
You can end your night in Levels or Insanity nightclub if you are up for some dancing but I’d recommend limiting booze to a couple of drinks for your first night; your body will thank you.
Day 2: Shopping Malls in Bangkok, Muay Thai, and More Delicious Thai Food
Right, it is day two of your three-day Bangkok itinerary. Hopefully, you’ve heeded my advice and aren’t too hungover. If you are, you’ve gotta suck it up, drink plenty of water, and maybe grab yourself an iced cappuccino to perk up.
The morning’s activities aren’t too strenuous; you’re going to check out a Bangkok shopping mall. My personal recommendation is Terminal 21 because the clothes there are cool and affordable compared to some of the higher-end malls. Terminal 21 also has an excellent and cheap food court upstairs featuring food from all over Thailand.
Even if you don’t buy anything, Terminal 21 is a fun place to hang out and escape from the Bangkok heat. The humungous shopping mall is divided into many levels, each of which is represented by a different city from around the world.
You’ve got Paris, Rome, London, San Francisco, and more. The range of shops is dizzying; I always pick up a custom-crafted t-shirt from the men’s floor, which if memory serves me right, is the London floor.
After browsing around Terminal 21 for a bit and shaking off any of the effects from last night, I recommend going to check out the Erawan Shrine, which is a beautiful and important Thai symbol of Brahma, the Hindu God. Whatever time of day you go, there will be hordes of people gathered around the shrine making merit. A brief stop here gives a nice snippet into Thai culture, but I wouldn’t call it essential.
Time now for some amazing Northern Thai food in Bangkok. Make your way via the BTS skytrain to Ekkamai station and walk roughly ten minutes to Hom Duan restaurant.
Here you will sample some of Bangkok’s best northern Thai food, including gaeng hanglay, an unctuous pork curry. Also try khao saoi, a delicious noodle soup. And sai oua, which are northern-style sausages.
Northern Thai food holds a special place in my heart because I’ve lived in Chiang Mai on and off for 4 years. It is great to see it represented well in Bangkok.
Because I am a practical and realistic person, I think after eating at Hom Duan, you should do what you feel like doing for the next 2 or 3 hours. It is exhausting always doing something and always moving on to new sights. Any decent Bangkok itinerary should give time to relax at your hotel, grab a cofffee somewhere, or if you’re a massage addict like me, grab another hour massage at The Touch massage. 🙂
After getting some suitable relaxation, it is time to move on to more delicious Bangkok food. I have designed this itinerary in such a way that it acts mostly as a self-guided Bangkok food tour while also encompassing some of the city’s best sights, markets, shopping, temples, and other attractions.
For your evening meal, you will be going to the Thong Lo area via the BTS skytrain. Get off at Thong Lo station and walk ten minutes to Baan Ice. This restaurant serves some of the best southern Thai food in Bangkok.
Some dishes I love to eat at Baan Ice are kua kling, which is a ferociously spicy minced pork and lemongrass dish, and gaeng tai pla, an even spicier southern Thai style curry with fish entrails as its protein of choice.
Check out the below pic of the food at Baan Ice.
With your belly filled, I recommend taking a taxi to Rajadamnern Stadium to watch some Muay Thai in Bangkok. You will see Muay Thai arenas in most touristy parts of Thailand but the best fights and most skilled athletes are always in Bangkok. Muay Thai is a huge part of Thai culture so it is definitely worthwhile to check it out.
Tickets won’t be cheap but bear in mind you are paying to watch pros at the top of their game. Expect to pay roughly 1000 baht for a seat at Rajadamnern Stadium to watch Muay Thai boxing.
A great alternative way to spend your second night in Bangkok is to go to Talat Rot Fai Ratchada, which is an impressive and large night market located near the Thailand Cultural Centre MRT stop.
Here you’ll find a huge selection of clothes, souvenirs, and great food. Some of the portion sizes here will dazzle you; I paid 500 baht for a frankly enormous bowl of sour Thai pork soup but it was worth every penny.
Day 3: Chatuchak Market, Grand Palace, and Partying in Khao San
Sadly, it is now your third and last day of this 3-day Bangkok itinerary. This is going to be quite a busy day. I am assuming by the way that you are staying 3 nights in Bangkok and leaving early on the 4th day. If you plan to leave on the 3rd night, you won’t have time for the partying aspect so just ignore that.
You’re going to start your third day with a visit to Chatuchak market, which is an enormous weekend market in Bangkok. If you are not lucky enough to be in Bangkok during the weekend, fret not, because you get an extra couple of hours in bed.
I don’t recommend staying in Chatuchak too long because it is hot and the stalls get repetitive after a couple of hours. But it is a place you shuold see; it’s the largest market in Thailand.
Around 1pm, it is time for your first taste of Isaan food in Bangkok. Take the MRT from Chatuchak to Sukhumvit station. Walk 2 minutes to Isaan Kitchen. This is a slightly pricey but tasty restaurant.
Here you will find some authentic northeast (Isaan) food in the heart of Bangkok. Order grilled pork neck, papaya salad, and sticky rice. Isaan food happens to be in my opinion the tastiest food in all of Thailand, so fill your stomach here.
Check out the below pic me eating at Isaan Kitchen.
After getting a suitable fill of spicy and sour Isaan cuisine, it’s time to move on to some of Bangkok’s best temples. I advocate getting the MRT to Sam Yot station. Here you will walk up to the top of Wat Saket for some beautiful panoramic views of Bangkok.
After an hour of exploring the temple complex, walk towards the Grand Palace. Make sure to stop for a photo at the Giant Swing. It is 500 baht to go inside the Grand Palace and I’d probably recommend it if you are really curious.
Then, hop on the ferry along the majestic Chao Phraya river and make your way to Wat Arun. This gorgeous temple, which is known as the Temple of Dawn, looks particularly special at sunset when it is all lit up.
By this stage, you’ll have likely gotten your fill of temples, so it’s time to get the ferry again and disembark at Phra Arthit pier for some partying or people-watching in Khao San.
From Phra Arthit, the backpackers’ mecca of Khao San Road is just a ten or fifteen-minute walk. Make your way there, settle down with a cold Chang beer, and watch the world go by at Gulliver’s Tavern. Gulliver’s is a great place to have a chat with fellow travellers.
If your partying years are not yet beyond you, hang around the Khao San Road area until after sunset, when it turns into a raucous party atmosphere. The entire street basically functions as a nightclub with people outside dancing to thumping EDM hits. Hit up The Club if you’d like a dedicated dancing venue with trance music.
That wraps up this ultimate 3-day Bangkok itinerary and self-guided Bangkok food tour. I hope you leave The City of Angels with a full belly and some great experiences to remember. If you find this post helpful, please share on social media.
And don’t forget to check out some Thai recipes like my stir-fried morning glory or pad krapow.
Cheers, Ronan
I lived in Thailand for a few years during my 20s during which time I fell in love with Thai food. Along with my Thai partner, I cook and eat tasty Thai dishes 3 or 4 times per week. I’m here to bring you recipes, Thai food tips, and suggested cookware for making Thai food.
