Must-see · Free itinerary

5 Days in Bangkok

25 hand-picked stops across 5 themed days — including 7 hidden gems locals actually go to — drawn on an interactive map you can customize stop by stop.

Free · no signup · swap any stop

Day 1: Grand Palace & Old Town Icons

1
Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
Arrive at 8:30 opening to beat both heat and tour buses; Emerald Buddha hall is the highlight.
2
Wat Pho
46m gold Reclining Buddha plus the original massage school; 10 min walk south of the palace.
3
Pad Thai Thip Samai
Bangkok's most famous shrimp-oil pad thai wrapped in egg; go before the 5pm queue.
4
Wat Saket (Golden Mount)
318-step spiral climb to a 360° old-town rooftop; 20 baht, best light late afternoon.
5
Khao San Road
Backpacker strip for cold beers and people-watching; Songkran turns it into a water warzone.

Day 2: Riverside Temples & Chinatown Nights

1
Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)
Porcelain-encrusted prang best climbed before 9am heat; cross by 4-baht river ferry.
2
Chao Phraya Express Boat to Sathorn
Orange-flag boat costs 16 baht and is the fastest, breeziest way down the river.
3
Jim Thompson House
Six teak houses of a silk trader with guided tours every 20 min; cool garden escape.
4
Siam Paragon & Siam Square
Air-conditioned refuge with a basement food hall; meet-up point for large groups.
5
Yaowarat (Chinatown) Street Food
After dark the neon stalls serve chargrilled river prawns and oyster omelettes; graze as a group.

Day 3: Markets, Skyline & Songkran Splash

1
Chatuchak Weekend Market
15,000 stalls across 27 sections; arrive at 9am before the midday crush and heat.
2
Or Tor Kor Market
Premium wet market next door; grab mango sticky rice and grilled chicken for a clean lunch.
3
Lumphini Park
Shady lake loop with monitor lizards and paddle boats; a calm reset after the market.
4
King Power Mahanakhon SkyWalk
Glass-floor rooftop 314m up; book the sunset slot for the river-to-sea panorama.
5
Silom Soi 4
Friendly mixed bars that spill onto the street; easy for a group to bar-hop together.

Day 4: Rattanakosin Deep Dive & River Sunset

1
Wat Suthat & Giant Swing
Serene bot with 28m teak doors and the red Giant Swing frame out front; rarely crowded.
2
Museum Siam
Interactive 'Decoding Thainess' exhibits; good air-conditioned break from temple fatigue.
3
Krua Apsorn (Dinso Road)
Local institution for crab omelette and yellow curry; book ahead for a group table.
4
Phra Sumen Fort & Santichaiprakarn Park
Riverside lawn by an 18th-century white fort; watch longtail boats churn the Chao Phraya.
5
Tha Maharaj Riverside
Open-air mall facing Wat Arun; grab dinner as the temple lights up across the water.

Day 5: Songkran Splash & Modern Bangkok

1
Songkran Water Fight - Silom Road
Silom closes to traffic Apr 13-15 for the city's biggest water fight; bring a dry bag.
2
Lumphini Thai Lunch
Dry off over boat noodles and iced tea at a park-side shophouse before the afternoon heat peaks.
3
Erawan Shrine
Four-faced Brahma shrine with near-constant dancers and marigold offerings; a quick, vivid stop.
4
Terminal 21 Asok
Airport-themed mall with a cheap food court; central BTS/MRT meet-up for a big group.
5
Jodd Fairs Night Market
Rama IX market with giant river prawns and a trendy bar zone; a lively final-night send-off.

Good to know

•Songkran runs Apr 13-15: streets like Silom and Khao San close for water fights — plan transport around them, not through them.
•Many shops and some temples have reduced hours around Apr 13-15; confirm before traveling across town.
•April is peak heat (35-38C); do temples before 10:00 and keep afternoons air-conditioned or by water.
•Carry a dry bag for phones and cash; expect to be soaked anywhere near festival zones.
•Use Grab or metered taxis; agree price before any tuk-tuk ride.
•Carry small 20-100 baht notes for markets, boats and street food.

FAQ

How many days do you need in Bangkok?

5 days is a great fit for this must-see route — 5 themed days covering 25 stops without rushing.

What is the daily budget for Bangkok?

Roughly ฿1200–฿2200 per day for food, transit and activities on this plan, and 6 of the stops are completely free.

What should I know about the season in Bangkok?

Songkran runs Apr 13-15: streets like Silom and Khao San close for water fights — plan transport around them, not through them.

What local etiquette should I know in Thailand?

Dress modestly at temples: cover shoulders and knees; remove shoes before entering halls. Never touch someone's head or point feet at Buddha images.

Want a different vibe or more cities? Build your own route →

Day 1: Grand Palace & Old Town Icons

Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew

Arrive at 8:30 opening to beat both heat and tour buses; Emerald Buddha hall is the highlight.

Wat Pho

46m gold Reclining Buddha plus the original massage school; 10 min walk south of the palace.

Pad Thai Thip Samai

Bangkok's most famous shrimp-oil pad thai wrapped in egg; go before the 5pm queue.

Wat Saket (Golden Mount)

318-step spiral climb to a 360° old-town rooftop; 20 baht, best light late afternoon.

Khao San Road

Backpacker strip for cold beers and people-watching; Songkran turns it into a water warzone.

Day 2: Riverside Temples & Chinatown Nights

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)

Porcelain-encrusted prang best climbed before 9am heat; cross by 4-baht river ferry.

Chao Phraya Express Boat to Sathorn

Orange-flag boat costs 16 baht and is the fastest, breeziest way down the river.

Jim Thompson House

Six teak houses of a silk trader with guided tours every 20 min; cool garden escape.

Siam Paragon & Siam Square

Air-conditioned refuge with a basement food hall; meet-up point for large groups.

Yaowarat (Chinatown) Street Food

After dark the neon stalls serve chargrilled river prawns and oyster omelettes; graze as a group.

Day 3: Markets, Skyline & Songkran Splash

Chatuchak Weekend Market

15,000 stalls across 27 sections; arrive at 9am before the midday crush and heat.

Or Tor Kor Market

Premium wet market next door; grab mango sticky rice and grilled chicken for a clean lunch.

Lumphini Park

Shady lake loop with monitor lizards and paddle boats; a calm reset after the market.

King Power Mahanakhon SkyWalk

Glass-floor rooftop 314m up; book the sunset slot for the river-to-sea panorama.

Silom Soi 4

Friendly mixed bars that spill onto the street; easy for a group to bar-hop together.

Day 4: Rattanakosin Deep Dive & River Sunset

Wat Suthat & Giant Swing

Serene bot with 28m teak doors and the red Giant Swing frame out front; rarely crowded.

Museum Siam

Interactive 'Decoding Thainess' exhibits; good air-conditioned break from temple fatigue.

Krua Apsorn (Dinso Road)

Local institution for crab omelette and yellow curry; book ahead for a group table.

Phra Sumen Fort & Santichaiprakarn Park

Riverside lawn by an 18th-century white fort; watch longtail boats churn the Chao Phraya.

Tha Maharaj Riverside

Open-air mall facing Wat Arun; grab dinner as the temple lights up across the water.

Day 5: Songkran Splash & Modern Bangkok

Songkran Water Fight - Silom Road

Silom closes to traffic Apr 13-15 for the city's biggest water fight; bring a dry bag.

Lumphini Thai Lunch

Dry off over boat noodles and iced tea at a park-side shophouse before the afternoon heat peaks.

Erawan Shrine

Four-faced Brahma shrine with near-constant dancers and marigold offerings; a quick, vivid stop.

Terminal 21 Asok

Airport-themed mall with a cheap food court; central BTS/MRT meet-up for a big group.

Jodd Fairs Night Market

Rama IX market with giant river prawns and a trendy bar zone; a lively final-night send-off.

Good to know

•Songkran runs Apr 13-15: streets like Silom and Khao San close for water fights — plan transport around them, not through them.

•Many shops and some temples have reduced hours around Apr 13-15; confirm before traveling across town.

•April is peak heat (35-38C); do temples before 10:00 and keep afternoons air-conditioned or by water.

•Carry a dry bag for phones and cash; expect to be soaked anywhere near festival zones.

•Use Grab or metered taxis; agree price before any tuk-tuk ride.

•Carry small 20-100 baht notes for markets, boats and street food.

FAQ