How to Spend 5-7 Days In Bangkok Itinerary

Bangkok is one of my favorite places to visit in Southeast Asia. It is a huge city with lots of things to do and see. In this article, I will share with you my itinerary for 5-7 days in Bangkok and my opinion on how long you should spend in Bangkok.

Bangkok is the bustling capital city of Thailand known for its vibrant nightlife, shopping, and food scene. The city is home to many temples and cultural attractions like Grand Palace, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho. 

Whether you are spending one day or one month in Bangkok, you will never get bored in this bustling city. I hope my itinerary will help you have some ideas of what you want to do in Bangkok. 

How Many Days in Bangkok is enough?

From my personal experience, 5 to 7 days in Bangkok is a good amount of time to see major sights in Bangkok. Within this time frame, you can visit famous cultural and historical attractions, explore shopping malls and markets, enjoy the nightlife, and try many Thai street foods.

I spent 6 nights in Bangkok and was able to see most sights in the city and take day trips to the floating and train markets. Here are my recommendations on things to do in Bangkok and how I spend my time to do these things:

#1. Bangkok Old Town, Chinatown, and Bangkok Riverside. These are the old parts of Bangkok known for its iconic temples, Grand Palace, riverslide shopping malls, lively markets, and vibrant food scene. 

You can basically spend ONE DAY exploring the iconic old parts of Bangkok such as The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Khao San Road, Icon Siam, and Chinatown. However, I recommend spending at LEAST 2 DAYS in these areas to explore more local attractions and enjoy things at a slower pace.

#2. Sukhumvit, Siam, Pratunam, and Silom. These are the downtown areas of Bangkok, known for its modern shopping centers, lively nightlife, and beautiful parks. I recommend spending at least ONE DAY OR TWO exploring these areas. 

You can explore major shopping malls and markets such as Central World, Siam Paragon, MBK Center, Chatuchak Weekend Market, and Jodd Fairs Market. There are beautiful parks to rest at, like Lumpini Park and Benjakitti Park. This part of Bangkok also has plenty of trendy bars and restaurants to explore.

#3. Day trips from Bangkok. There are many day trips from Bangkok, including day trips to Ayutthaya, Train Market & Floating Market, or Kanchanaburi. 

You can pick one or more days trips depending on your preferences. Ayutthaya is known for its ancient temples, Train & floating markets tours are also very interesting. Kanchanaburi is known for its association with world war 2 and is home to famous Erawan Falls.

See more: 40 Epic Things to Do in Bangkok

Sim Card and Baht Thai:

When traveling to Thailand, I bring some AUD cash and several cards including a wise card. When I arrive at the airport, I will change some cash to Baht Thai at Super Rich Exchange at B floor near the airport rail link train station.

About the Sim Card, I bought an E-Sim from Klook, which worked well during my trip in Bangkok and around Thailand. It set it up at Melbourne airport before boarding, and when arriving at Bangkok airport, I was immediately connected to the local network.

Getting to Bangkok:

Getting to Bangkok easily from both inside and outside Thailand. The city has two international airports, Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang Airport. Suvarnabhumi Airport is the main airport in Bangkok and most visitors will arrive at this airport. 

From Suvarnabhumi Airport, you can use Grab and private taxi as well as public transportation to get to your hotel. If you stay within walking distance to the train station, I recommend taking the Airport Rail Link train, which is the cheapest and fastest way to get into the city center. 

The Airport Rail Link connects  Suvarnabhumi with Phaya Thai station, stopping at several stations along the way including Makkasan Station. You can connect to the BTS train from Phaya Thai Station and MRT train from Makkasan Station.

Getting Around Bangkok: 

Getting around Bangkok is also easy. The city has a very well connected skytrain, underground train, and ferries. Additionally, you can use Grab/ Bolt/ InDrive and tuk tuk to get around in a short distance. If using a taxi, be sure to use metered taxi to avoid taxi scams, which are quite common in Bangkok.

Best time to visit Bangkok:

Bangkok is an all year round destination, but the best time to visit for pleasant weather is from November to February. This time has little rain and is not too hot as summer months, making it ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities.

Keep in mind that the rainy season is from May to October, you can find some good deals on accommodations but the rains can interrupt your travel plans. 

Top areas to stay in Bangkok for tourists:

There are two main areas to stay in Bangkok including the old town area and the downtown area. Old Town Bangkok is located on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River and is home to famous temples, and Khao San Road. It is also close to Chinatown, which is a great place to go for street food.

Downtown Bangkok is the modern part of Bangkok, including Sukhumvit, Siam/Pratunam, and Silom. These areas are packed with high rise buildings, shopping malls, and a vibrant nightlife scene. They also have better connections to BTS Skytrain and MRT underground trains than the old town area. See more: 8 Best Areas to Stay in Bangkok.

How to Spend 5-7 Days In Bangkok Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and the Pratunam area

My first day in Bangkok is the arrival day and exploring the Pratunam area at night. I stayed in Pratunam for a night because I arrived late in the evening and wanted to stay somewhere close to Phaya Thai Station, which is the last station on the Airport Rail Link Train.

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

I arrived at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport around 8pm. After immigration and picking up my suitcase at the baggage claim area, I followed the sign to get to the Airport Rail Link Train on the B floor. 

There are many mobile kiosks around the arrival area, where you can buy tourist Sim Cards. I had my E-SIM activated before my flight and it was connected to the internet right after I arrived at Bangkok Airport.

At the arrival hall, you can also see taxi/limousine counters and money exchange shops. I didn’t use these services and went straight to the B floor for the train. There  are restaurants, 7-11, and more money exchange shops on this basement floor. 

I had my money exchange at Super Rich on the B Floor because they have the best rates. After exchanging the money, I head to 7-11 to buy some snacks and drinks to get some small notes and coins for the train.

Train from Suvarnabhumi to Pratunam

I bought a train ticket at the automatic machine. It is the touch screen. First, I chose English, then I chose the destination station, Phaya Thai Station. The machine shows 45 baht. 

I inserted the coins and banknotes into the slots and they gave me a token. I used this token to tap at the entrance gate, kept it with me, and used it to get out of Phaya Thai Station. 

The train ride was around 40 minutes. It was quite cold, I recommend having a long sleeve with you. I walked to my hostel because it is located within a 10 minute walk from the station.  

See more: How to Get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to City center 

Dinner at Jasmine Siam Kitchen

I was quite late at night and I was tired after the long flight. I just took a little exploration at the area where my hostel is located. The interaction between Phaya Thai Road and Phetchaburi Road is very lively, packed with restaurants and shops.

I had dinner at Jasmine Siam Kitchen right on the main road. I had steamed rice with fried egg and stir-fry basil and minced beef. The food was alright, it was a bit expensive though. I think it caters for tourists.

Day 2: Pratunam, Chatuchak Weekend Market, Jodd Fairs

On my 2nd day in Bangkok, I explored Pratunam neighborhoods visiting Pratunam Market and Pratunam Fashion Mall. In the afternoon, I checked out Chatuchak Weekend Market. In the evening, I visited The One Ratchada and Jodd Fairs Rama 9 Night Markets.

Pratunam Market 

After breakfast, I walked around Pratunam neighborhoods. This is a lively area with lots of shopping opportunities. Pratunam Market is a big wholesale market located between Ratchaprarop road and  Phetchaburi Soi 21. This market has hundred stalls selling clothes, souvenirs, and accessories.

I recommend you to bargain if you shop here. It was also very crowded, so take good care of your belongings. There are also many street food stalls around the market.

In the surroundings of the Pratunam Market, you can take a look at Indra Square, Baiyoke Tower, or One food Center. This area has a wide range of restaurants serving both Thai and international food such as Chinese and Indian.

Pratunam Fashion Mall

Pratunam Fashion Mall, located right on the main road, is another shopping paradise in Pratunam. This mall has 7 floors, selling fashion and beauty products. 

It also has a foot court area where you can try a wide range of Thai and international dishes. There are also many more street food stalls outside in front of the mall.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

It was Sunday, so I decided to visit Chatuchak Weekend Market. I took the BTS skytrain from Ratchathewi station to Mo Chit Station then walked for 10 minutes to reach the market. If you stay close to the MRT line, you can catch the MRT train to get to Chatuchak Park Station, which is located right at the market.

Chatuchak Weekend Market is a huge market with a large selection of everything. There are food & drink, massage shops, clothing & accessories, plants & flowers, home decor & furniture, art galleries… 

Covering an area of over 35 acres, Chatuchak Market has 30 different zones, with both indoor and outdoor shops. If you are tired of walking outside from the heat, you can walk in the air-conditioning area such as Chatuchak Plaza and JJ Mall.

I recommend checking out zone 2,3,4 which is a cool area with trendy clothing and accessories. There are lots of shades in this area, creating a pleasant feeling when shopping. If you are tired of shopping and walking, you can have a foot massage at the market.

I spent a total of 4 hours at the market and I think it is a good amount of time to wander around, do some shopping, eat and drink.

The One Ratchada Night Market

One Ratchada is one of the popular night markets in Bangkok. It is located within walking distance from Thailand Cultural Centre MRT station. This is a huge market, but it has fewer street food stalls and fewer shops open compared to other night markets in Bangkok.

There are restaurants, bars, clothes and groceries stores at the market. If you want to escape from the crowd and chill, it’s probably worth taking a look. If you don’t have time, you can skip this market.

On the way back to the MRT Station, you can have a look at the Esplanade Ratchadapisek Shopping Mall. This mall is home to many restaurants and beauty stores.

Jodd Fairs Rama 9 Night Market

Jodd Fairs is a popular night market in Thailand, located around 1 km south of The One Ratchada. The market is easily accessible by taking the MRT train to  Rama 9 Station, then walking to the market.

This market is very busy with lots of street food stalls, seafood restaurants, and souvenir shops. I tried the spicy pork ribs, mango sticky rice, and mixed cut fruits. This market is open every night.

Day 3: Sukhumvit: Shopping malls, Parks, and nightlife

On my 3rd day in Bangkok, I explored Sukhumvit. I visited shopping malls such as Emporium, EmQuartier, and EmSphere. I also checked Benchasiri Park, Benjakitti Park, and Lumpini Park. In the evening, I had a look at popular nightlife areas such as Sukhumvit Soi 11, Korean Town, and Soi Cowboy.

Emporium & EmQuartier 

Emporium and EmQuartier are two high-end shopping malls located next to each other. These malls are easily accessible via Phrom Phong BTS Station. These malls have a wide range of luxury stores such as Gucci, Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel, as well as a food court and diverse dining options.

I didn’t buy anything from these malls, just wandering around, taking photos, and window-shopping.

Benchasiri Park

Benchasiri Park is a nice park, located right next to Emporium and EmQuartier. It is a large park with a big lake in the middle of the lake, lots of big trees, as well as a children’s playground, basketball and skating area. It is a great escape from the shopping scene. You can see many cute kitties around the benches.

EmSphere 

EmSphere is another luxury shopping center in Bangkok, located within walking distance from Benchasiri Park, Emporium, and EmQuartier. It is connected to these other malls by a skywalk. 

This is another place to have a wide range of fashion, cosmetics and skincare items. There are many restaurants inside the malls serving both local and international food.

Terminal 21 

Terminal 21 is a popular shopping mall in Bangkok, located in the central area of Sukhumvit. It is just a short BTS train ride from EmSphere, Emporium, and EmQuartier. To access Terminal 21, you can catch a train to Asok BTS train station and walk to the mall.

Terminal 21 is a unique mall with 5 different floors. Each floor was decorated with a city theme such as Tokyo, Rome, London, Istanbul,and San Francisco. Like other malls, Terminal has many stores selling different goods as well as restaurants and cafes.

The hightlife of Terminal 21 is the affordable and delicious food court on the 5th floor. I tried pad thai, son tom, rice with curry, and mango sticky rice. To buy food, you need to buy a prepaid card at the ticket counter. I usually put 150 baht in the card and eat until full, then cash out the money left on the card.

Benjakitti Park

Benjakitti Park is a huge park in central Bangkok located just a few minutes drive from Terminal 21. I used GrabBike to get to the park. It is free to enter. I spent 1 hour at the park wandering around and chilling.

The park is home to lots of flowers, green grasses, and big old trees. There is a big lake on one side of the lake, where you can have stunning views of the city skyscrapers. Be sure to check out the skywalk where you can have beautiful views of the wetland ecosystem and the city skyline.

Lumpini Park

Lumpini Park is another beautiful park in central Bangkok. It is connected with Benjakitti Park via a Green skywalk. It is about a 10 minute walk on the bridge and you’ll have stunning city views along the way.

Lumpini Park is a nice place to take a walk, chill, and exercise. There are several lakes inside the park where you can paddle on a swan boat. The park is free to enter.

Lower Sukhumvit (Nana Plaza to Soi Cowboy)

Sukhumvit is a great place to go at night. This area is packed with bars, night clubs, and restaurants. I walked around small alleys between Sukhumvit Road and the canal, then visited places like Korean Town, Sukhumvit Soi 11, and Soi Cowboy. 

If you want trendy bars and nightclubs, you can head to the Thonglor and Ekamai areas, which are located not far from the Soi Cowboy area.

Day 4: Old Town: Temples, Palaces, Malls, and Khao San Road

On my 4th day in Bangkok, I explored the old town with its iconic attractions such as Wat Pho, Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Icon Siam, Asiatique, Golden Mount, Khao San Road, and Chinatown.

Wat Pho

Wat Pho is an iconic temple complex located in the heart of Bangkok Old Town. This temple is known for its huge reclining Buddha covered in gold leaf, beautiful architecture, and the historic massage school. The ticket is 300 baht for single entry.

Wat Pho is known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage and I wanted to try the massage at this temple. I came to the temple early around 8.30 to have the massage and to avoid crowds. I took a one hour Thai Massage. It cost 450 baht, which is expensive and a good experience.

I spent a total of 2.5 hours exploring the temple complex and having a massage. In addition to the reclining Buddha, this complex has impressive stupas (chedis), Buddha statues, and intricate murals.

Grand Palace

This is another must-see attraction in Bangkok, located within a few minutes walk from Wat Pho. It was built in 1782 and served as the official residence of the Thai kings for over 150 years, until the reign of King Rama IX. Today, it is still used for ceremonial purposes.

The Grand Palace is open every day from 8.30am to 3.30pm. The ticket is 500 baht. I spent 1.5 hours in the complex exploring its ornate halls, pavilions, and temples. Make sure to check out the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which houses the Emerald Buddha, a small but significant statue made of jade.

Wat Arun

Wat Arun is a beautiful temple located on the outside of Chao Phraya River from Wat Pho and the Grand Palace. To reach this temple, I walked to Tha Chang Pier and took the cross ferry to reach Wat Arun. It was a 10 minute boat ride and it cost 30 baht.

This temple is known for its prangs, which  is decorated with intricate patterns made from colorful Chinese porcelain and seashells, which gives it a mosaic-like appearance. It is best to visit at sunrise or sunset when light casts a golden hue on prangs, creating a breathtaking image.

Wat Arun is open everyday from 8am to 6pm. The entrance ticket is 200 baht. You can rent traditional Thai costumes at many shops near the temple to take photos. You can also hire a photographer for a few hours.

I spent 1 hour at the temple climbing different prangs, admiring the architecture style and enjoying the views of the river. There are restaurants, cafes, and toilets at the ground of this temple.

Icon Siam Mall

This is one of the biggest shopping malls in Thailand, located on the bank of Chaophraya River, a short boat ride south of Wat Arun. From Wat Arun, I walked to the ferry terminal and bought a boat ticket to get to Icon Siam. It cost 30 baht and the ride was about 15-20 minutes.

This mall has everything from shops to high-end products to affordable fashion, beauty, and lifestyle stores and food. The rooftop area has stunning views of Bang River and Skyscrapers. The basement has so many food stalls selling food from all regions of Thailand. 

Asiatique The Riverfront

Asiatique is another shopping destination located along the bank of Chao Phraya River. I bought a ferry ticket from Icon Siam to get to Asiatique. It cost 40 baht and the ride was around 15 minutes.

This complex has lots of boutiques, art galleries, souvenir shops, and craft stores. It is also the location of the night market and Giant Ferris Wheel. You can find many restaurants and eateries at the market. Located a bit further from the city center, this place is quieter than other shopping malls in Bangkok.

Golden Mount (Wat Saket)

Golden Mount is famous for its golden chedi that sits atop a hill, offering breathtaking views of the city. It is located near the old town, 9 km north of Asiatique. I used Grab Bike to get to Golden Mount from Asiatique and it took me 30 minutes (the traffic late afternoon was quite heavy).

This is a popular place to visit in Bangkok, especially at sunset. It is open everyday from 7am to 7pm. The ticket is usually 100 baht, but when I arrived at the ticket counter at 5.40m, they kept the sign out that said “Now Free”.  From the ticket counter, you’ll need to climb through 300 steps to get to the top. 

The top has stunning views of the city. Lots of locals come here to pray. I visited in mid November during Wat Saket Festival. The golden chedi was wrapped in a red cloth. There are many street food stalls and traditional performances around the temples. 

Khao San Road

Khao San Road is a bustling area in the old town to enjoy the nightlife. I used Grab Bike to get to Khao San from Wat Saket. This is a 400m long street but packed with restaurants, bars, weed shops, massage shops, souvenir shops, and lots of street food stalls. It is very noisy with loud music from the bars.

It is a good place to try some street food, but I’m not into loud parties. I walked around the neighborhood and headed to Soi Ram Buttri for trendy bars and restaurants. This area has plenty of restaurants and bars with outdoor settings and is quieter than Khao San Road.

Day 5: Old Town (local attractions) and Chinatown

I’ve already seen iconic temples and malls in Old town and the riverside area on my 4th day in Bangkok, I explored local attractions in the old town and Chinatown on my 5th day. I walked around Old Town and Chinatown, visited Old Siam mall, Flower Market, Sampeng Market, Wat Trai Mit, and Talat Noi.

The Old Siam Plaza

This is a small shopping center located in the heart of the old town. It has 3 floors with street food areas and fashion and cosmetic stores. It is also home to KFC and a good currency exchange.

I tried several local dishes on the first floor, walked around the second floor to look at some clothing shops, and there were also many food options on the third floor.

Pak Khlong Talat (Flower Market)

This flower market is located close to the river and is 10 minutes walk from Old Siam Plaza. It is a big wholesale flower market. You can see all kinds of flowers here. The market has restaurants and sections selling fruits and vegetables.

Memorial Bridge

After the flower market, I took a leisure stroll along the bank of Chao Phraya River, toward the Memory Bridge. You can walk on the bridge and have some beautiful views of the river  and the city.

Sampeng Market

This is a popular market located in Chinatown. It is within 10-15 minutes walk from the old town’s flower market and the memorial bridge. If you tried because of the heat, you can take Grab Bike to reach this market.

You can find almost everything at Sampeng Market. Products are often sold in the group of 3,5, 10. You can buy some nice accessories and souvenirs such as keychains to bring home.

Chinatown Gate

Chinatown Gate is an iconic symbol of Bangkok Chinatown and is a great place to take photos. It is located 20 minutes walk from Sampeng Market.  The gate is decorated with intricate carvings, red and gold colors, and symbols of prosperity and good fortune.

Wat Trai Mit Witthayaram Worawihan

Within a few minutes walk from Chinatown Gate is the beautiful Wat TraiMit temple. It has stunning architecture and lots of people come here to pray. You can explore the grounds for free and need to pay a 100 baht fee if you want to enter the main hall to see the 5,5 tons golden Buddha.

I just wandered outside of the temple. There are several shops selling souvenirs near the temple.

Talat Noi

Talat Noi is a historic area of Chinatown where you can see many well-preserved ancient houses, and colorful Murals and graffiti created by local artists. I just wandered through the narrow streets, browsed antique shops, and admired the mix of old and new, from traditional shops to contemporary street art.

From Talat Noi, you can have a look at the ferry area at the Marine Department. It is a good place to chill and has stunning views of the river and Bangkok skyline.

Chinatown Night Market

The Chinatown Night Market is most famous for its street food, offering a wide variety of delicious and authentic Thai-Chinese dishes. You can try local delicacies like dim sum, roast duck, chicken rice, pad Thai, grilled seafood, and duck noodles. 

There are lots of seafood restaurants with reasonable prices on Yaowarat Road – the main road of Chinatown. This street is illuminated with neon signs, creating a colorful atmosphere.

Day 6: Railway Market and Floating Market Tour

On my 6th day in Bangkok, I took a day trip, a half-day railway market and a floating market tour in the morning. In the afternoon, I did some shopping in the Siam area, and spent the evening in Silom.

I booked my half day trip from viator, and will meet up with my guide at CentralWorld at 6am. I took the early trip to avoid crowds. We got on a shared van and arrived at Bangsikhot Train Station at 7.30am. We got on a local train at 7.45am and got to MaeKlong Station at 8.40am.

Mae Klong Railway Market (Hoop Rom Market)

We walked along the train tracks and saw local vendors selling their products. They sell fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, and souvenirs. There are several cafes and restaurants along the train track. I had a good mango smoothie at the shop near the station. 

The train came around 9am and everyone was ready to take photos. We waved at people from the trains and they waved at us. This is a funny experience and reminds me of train street in Hanoi Old Quarter.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

We spent 40 minutes at the train market then drove for one hour to get to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. This is one of the most iconic floating markets in Thailand and is a great place to experience the traditional Thai way of trading on water.

We took a wooden boat ride along a network of canals where we could observe vendors selling their goods such as  fruits, vegetables, and souvenirs. Along the way, if you want to buy anything, the boatman will stop at the shop for you.

The boat ride is around 45 minutes, after that we walk around and have lunch at a local restaurant. The drive is quite long from the floating market with lots of traffic mid afternoon. We got back to CentralWorld at 3.30pm.

CentralWorld, Siam Paragon, Siam Square, and MBK

These are big shopping complexes in Bangkok and are located close to each other. They all have a variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. 

CentralWorld, Siam Paragon, Siam Square are a shopping and lifestyle destination catering to both high-end and mid-range customers. MBK Center offers a wide variety of products at more budget-friendly prices compared to the other malls in the area.

Silom

This area is a good place for shopping and nightlife. It is easily accessible from the CentralWorld area by BTS and MRT trains. The area near Silom MRT station is packed with skyscrapers, shopping malls, restaurants, and bars.

I had a look at Patpong Night Market, and the area around Patpong Soi 1 and Soi 2 where I found many go-go bars, night clubs and adult shows. 

Day 7: Travel to Kanchanaburi

Before getting to the airport or other destination in Thailand, you can relax at your hotel or go for a leisure walk around the neighborhoods where your hotel is located.

I continue my trip in Thailand to Kanchanaburi. I took the MRT train to Bang Khun Non Station, walked to Jaransanitwong Station to wait for local trains to get to Kanchanaburi. 

During my few months traveling around Thailand, I also came back to Bangkok a few times as it is a transportation hub of the country. One time was when traveling from Chiang Mai to Pattaya, and another time was from Koh Kood to Hua Hin with a stop over in Bangkok. 

So, you have it, my recommendations on how to spend 5-7 days in Bangkok. I believe that is a good amount of time to see major attractions in Bangkok, enjoy nightlife, shopping, and street food. You can always taylors my itinerary to suit your time frame and preferences. Whether you are staying in Bangkok for one night and few months, there are always things to do to make the most of your visit.