Bangkok Itinerary: How to Spend 3 Days in Bangkok

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Last Updated on March 17, 2024

This is an ideal slow travel itinerary. With so much to see and do in Bangkok, you could easily spend a week there and not get bored. But with only 3 days in the area, we had to choose carefully and not overdo it. We want to share with you what we feel were the best places we visited during these three days.

Please note, we like to leave room in our schedule to just stroll around the city and soak in all the vibes, so we add  some additional options in case you feel you can fit something more into the schedule.

For a full two week guide in Thailand check our itinerary here.

Start your day early to avoid crowds. Temples are usually open around 8AM and you have to pay an entrance fee (usually between 100 to 200 baht). Don’t forget to consider the time it takes to navigate Bangkok’s traffic. And if you’re using grab, also consider the time it will take your driver to arrive. 

You can either start at the Grand Palace or Wat Arun depending on your preferences. Both are beautiful and have a lot to see and are close to each other (even though they are separated by a river). You can take a ferry for just a few baht’s and be on the other side in just a few minutes. 

Expect to spend between 1h to 2h in Wat Arun. 

After visiting Wat Arun, you can take the ferry and it will drop you near the Grand Palace. Wat Phra Kaew is part of the same compound as the Grand Palace. The entrance fee is a bit more expensive (500 baht), but includes both the temple and the Grand Palace.

It can get quite busy so if you prefer you can start your day here.

Expect to spend between around 1h to 2h at Wat Phra Kaew. 

The Grand Palace is next to Wat Phra Kaew. Some events might be hosted at the Grand Palace so it’s always a good idea to check if it will be open during your time in Bangkok. We believe this doesn’t happen often, but it happened to us. We planned to visit on our first day and ended up going two days later because it was closed for an event. 

Expect to spend between around 1h to 2h at the Grand Palace. 

Just a few meters from the Grand Palace you will find Wat Pho. Home to one of the most famous Buddha statues, the reclining Buddha measuring 46 m long. It’s the oldest temple in Bangkok and the entire complex is beautiful and well worth your visit. 

Expect to spend at least 1h exploring the temple. 

After a busy day enjoy the sunset with an amazing view over Wat Arun and watch the city and all the temples light up.

One of the best ways to experience a country’s culture is through its food. So on this day why not have a fun hands-on experience and learn how to make delicious Thai dishes. Bonus point, you can make it vegan! We had an amazing time with Thai cooking classes by May Kaidee

Getting to the Dragon Temple is most convenient by car. Consider booking a Grab and arrange for the driver to wait,  so you can ensure that you’ll have a ride back to Bangkok. In our case, we paid an extra 100 baht for the wait, and the return trip to Bangkok was priced the same as the app indicated.

The Dragon Temple’s uniqueness makes it a worthwhile visit. The dragon that intricately envelops the structure, spanning from the bottom to the top, symbolizes the human journey from sorrow to happiness and from hell to heaven. This symbolic representation adds a profound layer to the temple’s significance

Expect to spend at least 1h exploring the temple, plus 1h30 driving.

Head to the Marble Temple before sunset. It closes at 6PM so aim to arrive around 4PM. The temple and the surrounding gardens are so peaceful and beautiful. 

You might be lucky and hear the monks chanting, which makes it an even more special moment. 

Bangkok is full of rooftop bars with great views. You can finish up your second day relaxing with some drinks and enjoying the view over the city.

Just a short journey from Bangkok, this ancient city was once the capital of the Kingdom of Siam. Today, Ayutthaya stands as a mesmerizing historical park, adorned with impressive temple ruins, towering pagodas, and serene Buddha statues. 

To get there you can either take the train, hire a private car or just book a Grab. We missed the train and since we were short on time our only option was to go by Grab. Once in Ayutthaya, you can either rent a bike, hire a tuk.–tuk or just walk around the old city. 

Highlights: 

• Wat Maha That
• Wat Chai Watt Hanaram 
• Wat Phra Si Sanphet
•  Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon

• Khaosan Road
• Erawan Museum
• Chinatown
• Lumpini Park

Alternatively you can do a float market tour on day 3. 

Bangkok is a big busy city with a lot of great places to stay. We would recommend you to base yourself in a single hotel during your time in Bangkok, just to make it easier for you. The areas that are usually recommended are: Banglamphu, Riverside, Siam, Sukhumvit, Silom, Pratunam, Rattanakosin/Old Town, and Chinatown.

Some of the great places we had the chance to experience great local cuisine:

• Thai cooking classes by May Kaidee
• Ethos Vegetarian Restaurant
• Bai Plu House
• VEGANERIE Concept