If you have ever wondered if 3 days in Bangkok is enough to explore the city, our answer is yes! Even though we all want more vacation days, sometimes we have to make the most of what we have. 😄
Luckily for you, you’ve found this ultimate itinerary in Bangkok that is filled with the most famed historical spots, popular entertainment areas, top food choices, and countless other amazing things to do just in 3 days.
Hopefully, this post will help you plan for the best 72 hours in Bangkok!
1. Day 1 in Bangkok
1) 1st Day Morning: The Grand Palace & Temples Tour
Mostly located alongside the Chao Phraya River, the Grand Palace and temples are obviously the staple destinations in Bangkok for many travelers. F this is your first time visiting Bangkok, they should definitely be listed on your itinerary.
They are certainly the most attractive tourist sites in the city. Also, they are located close to each other; therefore, you can easily explore them all in about 3-4 hours. Here’s a list of temples and the palace that you don’t want to miss during your visit.
- The Grand Palace (the primal home to Thai Kings and consorts)
- Wat Pho (the reclining Buddha temple)
- Wat Traimit (the golden Buddha temple)
- Wat Benchamabophit (a temple built with Italian fine marbles)
You can explore the area by yourself or simply join a tour to visit the temples with no hassle.
▷▷ Bangkok Temple Tour (Half-day) ◁◁
Whether you prefer to explore the area on your own or with a tour guide, make sure to visit there in the morning, as you will have to walk a lot in the sun.
*Tip: You must be dressed properly to visit temples. Don’t wear short pants or skirts, otherwise, you’ll have to rent clothes at the entry of the temples to cover yourself up. 😣
After the tour, you’ll probably be getting hungry, but instead of going to a restaurant, why not try something more fun such as Thai cooking class to make your day special? Hence, have some light yet very delicious dessert before heading to the cooking class. (You certainly don’t want to stuff yourself before you are about to have a feast! 😋)
Here are the hippest cafés near the Wat Pho area recommended by locals.
- Make Me Mango: A mango specialized dessert café near Wat Pho. Highly recommended for mango lovers! 💛
- Blue Whale Café: A blue sea concept café where you can try blue-colored coffee! 💙
2) 1st Day Afternoon: Traditional Thai Cooking Class
You cannot fully experience Bangkok without stepping into its food culture. For a total immersion in Bangkok’s food culture, there’s no better way than getting your hands messy with a Thai cooking class! 😋
Picture yourself selecting your fresh ingredients in a local Thai market and cooking your favorite Thai dishes. You can bring back some serious cooking skills to your own kitchen to impress your family and friends back home.
*Tip: There are plenty of cooking classes offered online, so make sure to read some reviews first before you make your reservation. The Silom Thai Cooking School offers some of the best cooking classes in Bangkok based on TripAdvisor reviews. Click here to learn more.
▷▷ Silom Thai Cooking School & Market Tour in Bangkok ◁◁
3) 1st Day Night: Chao Phraya River Dinner Cruise
The most romantic way to end your first night in Bangkok would be getting on board the Chao Phraya River cruise. Not only do you get to have a luxurious dinner on the Chao Phraya River, but you will also take in Bangkok’s glorious night view. There are numerous cruise options you can take, so here are the most popular dinner cruises in Bangkok.
- Chao Phraya Princess Dinner Cruise
- Grand Pearl Dinner Cruise
- White Orchid River Dinner Cruise
- Apsara Dinner Cruise by Banyan Tree
- Loy Nava Dinner Cruise
- Wan Fah Dinner Cruise
- Manohra Dinner Cruise
- Shangri La Horizon Dinner Cruise
With abundant cruise options, it can be hard to choose the right one for you. But don’t worry, we made an ultimate guide to help you decide the perfect dinner cruise for your lovely evening. 👉 Chao Phraya River Cruise Selection Guide
*Tip: If you want to start exploring the city right upon you arrive, consider using Bangkok luggage delivery service. Also, having access to the Internet during your trip can make traveling so much easier. This portable Wifi rental allows you to pick up the pocket Wifi device at the airport upon your arrival, so you can start your trip stress-free!
2. Day 2 in Bangkok
1) 2nd Day Morning – Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
A bit outside of Bangkok, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is the largest and the most famous floating market in Thailand!
Since the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market closes early in the afternoon, you will have to start your day early. Also, getting there via public transit is very challenging so taking a day tour is a popular option with tourists.
▷▷ Book Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Tour ◁◁
Going to the floating market is a great way to experience the local life of Thailand. You can watch traditional vendors selling local foods, fresh fruits, and interesting craft souvenirs. At the market, we recommend trying some of the local cuisines, freshly cooked from the individual stalls at the market!
Some say it’s quite touristy, but it is still worthwhile to go and see the unique Thai floating market which is not easily found elsewhere.
To learn more about the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and the other popular markets nearby, also read 👉 Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Tour Review & Tips
2) 2nd Day Afternoon – Luxurious Afternoon Tea & Oasis Spa
After spending an early morning at the floating market tour, treat yourself with a luxurious afternoon tea and spa! Savoring afternoon teas at a 5-star hotel in Bangkok is a luxurious yet still an affordable experience. It is a great way to relax from a tiring day and relish some high-quality tea food.
If you are looking for some of the best afternoon teas at 5-star hotels, here are some of our recommendations.
After enjoying the delish afternoon tea, take your relaxation to the next level!
Getting a Thai massage is a must-try treat for every traveler in Thailand. All your fatigue from traveling will be relieved after a couple of hours of massage. Also, for such an extravagant experience, getting a Thai massage in Bangkok is pretty affordable.
There are many massage parlors in Bangkok, but make sure to go for the one that has been given many positive reviews from their customers. Here’s one of the best-reviewed massage parlors in Bangkok.
3) 2nd Day Evening – Asiatique (Shopping & Dinner & Performance)
If you are looking for the hippest place in Bangkok where you can enjoy all sorts of entertainments from food to shopping, you should check out Asiatique: The Riverfront.
It’s a large open-air mall which you can easily reach with public transit. Getting there is simple. Take a BTS train to Saphan Taksin Station, and you will find a free shuttle ferry to Asiatique.
There are countless shopping and dinner options. But if you want a more special evening, you should check out their performances as well.
There are 2 world-class shows you can watch at Asiatique. Check them out below!
Calypso Cabaret Show is a must-see ladyboy cabaret show in Bangkok. It is one of the oldest cabaret shows boasting colorful and dazzling performances by Bangkok’s finest and most talented ladyboys.
Also, you can take pictures with the beautiful performers at the end of the show. But expect to pay tips for them if you want to take pictures with them.
▷▷ Book Calypso Cabaret Bangkok Show Discounted Ticket ◁◁
There is also a Calypso Cabaret restaurant that offers delicious Thai dinners accompanied by traditional Thai dance performances before the main Cabaret show. It’s a great way to enjoy dinner and a show.
Muay Thai Live is an action-packed combination of entertainment and Muay Thai boxing. This Muay Thai show brings together a captivating performance with spectacular martial art moves.
It is mainly divided into two sections; 1) Muay Thai Live: The Legend Lives, the world-class stage performance and 2) Muay Thai Live Boxing: Warriors Rising, live Muay Thai boxing matches. The second section of the show features two real live fighting matches of the rising stars in Thai boxing, offering you a more realistic experience in Muay Thai boxing.
▷▷ Book Muay Thai Live: The Legend Lives at a discounted price ◁◁
4) 2nd Day Night – Khaosan Road (Enjoy Bangkok’s Nightlife)
Khao San Road is the backpacker capital of Thailand and the hub of entertainment and street food in Bangkok. It has always been on tourists’ must-visit lists.
Here you will find crowds of food stalls, beer bars, pubs, restaurants, budget-friendly hotels and travelers from every corner of the world. Try whatever you are in the mood for, eat and drink wherever you feel like, and explore any street you want to.
3. Day 3 in Bangkok
1) 3rd Day All Day: Siam area
You don’t have to wake up too early today. Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel or some local restaurant around your accommodation. The main destination of the day is the Siam area, a gigantic shopping area in Bangkok where you can find countless contemporary malls.
The best part is most of the malls are connected to BTS Stations, and you can easily walk from mall to mall with the skywalk!
*Top malls in Siam area 👇
– Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Square 1 (connected to Siam BTS station)
– MBK Center and Siam Discovery (connected to National Stadium BTS station)
– Central World (connected to Chit Lom BTS station)
SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, and KidZania are the 3 interesting destinations you can check out, especially if you are traveling with your family.
SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World is the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia with more than 30,000 ocean creatures. It is located in the Siam Paragon which is connected to the Siam BTS Station.
In SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World, not only can you explore the underwater creatures but also participate in exciting aquarium activities such as the glass bottom ocean feeding boat, a 4D cinema, and a behind-the-scenes tour. With this behind the scenes tour, you will get to see how the aquarium is operated.
▷▷ Get SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World Discount Ticket ◁◁
London’s famous Madame Tussaud’s museum also has a branch at Siam Discovery which is connected to the National Stadium BTS station.
Madame Tussaud’s Bangkok is full of wax figures of the most famous celebrities, including Albert Einstein, President Obama, the Queen of England, Vin Diesel, Cristiano Ronaldo, Serena Williams, and One Direction.
*Tip: If you plan to visit both the SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World and Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, be sure to purchase combo tickets. You can save money on admission to both attractions.
▷▷ Madame Tussauds Bangkok Discount Ticket ◁◁
▷▷ Madame Tussauds Bangkok + SEA LIFE Bangkok Combo Ticket ◁◁
If you are traveling Bangkok with your children, KidZania is a must-visit attraction in the Siam Paragon (the same building as SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World).
KidZania is a global chain of edutainment centers where kids enter a city made for them to take on jobs and earn money. It is basically a role-playing exercise to help children find their interests and talents.
In KidZania, children can pretend to be adults for a day by working various jobs and earning money in the process. Watch them become firemen, police officers, dentists, pilots, chefs, and so much more!
▷▷ Get KidZania Bangkok Discount Ticket at a discounted price ◁◁
2) 3rd Day Lunch: King Power Mahanakhon Skywalk & Observation Deck
After viewing the city of Bangkok on ground and water, it is now time to see the city from the sky! Visit King Power Mahanakhon Skywalk, the highest indoor and outdoor glass observation deck in Thailand, where you will find parts of the city you have yet to discover!
Take in the incredible panoramic view of Bangkok from 74 stories high and see if you can recognize the places you’ve been to. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, go to the 78th floor, where a glass floor awaits you so that you can see the city below your feet.
Also, make sure to see the King Power Mahanakhon building from outside to be amazed by the unique structure and appearance of the building.
▷▷ Get discounted tickets to the King Power Mahanakhon Skywalk here! ◁◁
** If you want to go to the local shopping area instead of modern shopping malls, we highly recommend checking out the Chatuchak Market, which is the largest market in Thailand.
Unfortunately, it only opens during the weekend; but if you happen to be in Bangkok on the weekend, it’s absolutely worth visiting.
The bustling Chatuchak market has more than 15,000 stalls that sell all kinds of products! You can literally find almost anything from food, local souvenirs, clothes to vintage items, plants, furniture, ceramic goods, and much more at a super cheap price.
3) 3rd Day Night: Baiyoke Sky Buffet or Siam Niramit Show
Spending the last night in Bangkok at the highest building would be the perfect way to complete your Bangkok trip.
Baiyoke Sky Hotel is not only the tallest building in Bangkok, but it also offers several buffet dining choices for you. It is one of the best places to enjoy a marvelous view of the city while tasting all the delicious dishes.
If you want to learn more about the dining options at Baiyoke Sky Hotel and where to book them with discounts, make sure to read our previous post 👉 Where to Book Baiyoke Sky Hotel Buffets with Discounts.
Or to fully immerse yourself in the Thai culture before you return home, check out the Siam Niramit Show, a cultural performance that depicts the history, arts, and religious beliefs of Thailand!
Although the theater for this show is outside the Siam area, it is not too far and can be easily accessed by public transportation. The 90-minute show occurs every day at 8 PM and there is an optional buffet dinner that serves Thai and international dishes, so you can satisfy all your senses at once!
▷▷ Get your Siam Niramit Show tickets at a huge discount! ◁◁
We invite you to follow this itinerary to make your three days in Bangkok truly count. You’ll be surprised at how many good memories you’ll be able to make in such a short amount of time!
For more travel tips and ideas for your next trip to Thailand, make sure you visit Trazy.com, Asia’s #1 Travel Shop!
Photo Credits :
Mango Zero
Official Website of Siam Niramit Show
Blue colored coffee? I want some! I’ll have to try the next time I visit Bangkok. Thanks for the tip 🙏
your article is very good
Good blog about Bangkok, thanks for sharing… I remember Bangkok streets and at the Wat That Thong temple, I saw many monks in orange robe wandering with a bowl in their hands. Traditionally in Theravada Buddhism, monks would get up as early as 4 am, do some prayers to the Buddha and meditate, and then have a light morning meal.
I tried to write a blog about it, hope you like it https://stenote.blogspot.com/2020/05/bangkok-in-morning.html