Bangkok
3 days in Bangkok: itinerary
Yes, 3 days is enough for Bangkok's headline sights: one day for the old city temples and Grand Palace, one for markets and modern Bangkok, one for a day trip or a slow neighbourhood. Add a fourth day if you want Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi both, or if you land jet-lagged.
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GuideBangkok
Key facts
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (cool, dry); April hits 38 °C; Sep–Oct wettest
- Getting around
- BTS Skytrain and MRT metro beat taxis at peak; Chao Phraya boats for the old city
- Day 1
- Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Chinatown at night
- Day 2
- Chatuchak (weekend) or Or Tor Kor, Jim Thompson House, Siam, rooftop bar
- Day 3
- Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi or a half-day market plus spa
- Grand Palace entrycheck
- 500 THB (2026 estimate); closed on some royal days — check
- Dress rule
- Shoulders and knees covered at temples; no see-through or torn clothing
- Airport transfer
- Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi; taxi 30–60 min depending on traffic
Top picks
Three days works if you group by geography and accept that Bangkok traffic eats time. Keep each day in one area: old city (Rattanakosin) on day one, the Skytrain corridor and markets on day two, and a day trip or a relaxed neighbourhood on day three.
Book the Grand Palace and Wat Pho early in the morning, before heat and tour buses arrive. Wat Arun is a short cross-river ferry from Wat Pho's pier. Chinatown (Yaowarat) is best after dark, when the street food stalls open.
If you have already read things to do in Bangkok and want a slower version, see one day in Bangkok for a single-day plan and weekend in Bangkok for a two-day one.
- Day 1: Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Chinatown dinner.
- Day 2: Chatuchak or Or Tor Kor, Jim Thompson House, Siam, rooftop bar.
- Day 3: Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi or a market-and-spa day.
| Pick | Time needed | Cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Palace + Wat Phra Kaew | 2–3 h | 500 THB entry (check) |
| Wat Pho | 1–1.5 h | 200–300 THB entry (check) |
| Wat Arun | 1 h | 100 THB entry + 5 THB ferry (check) |
| Chao Phraya Express boat | per ride | 16–33 THB (check) |
| Chatuchak Weekend Market | 3–4 h | free entry; BTS Mo Chit |
| Jim Thompson House | 1.5 h | 200 THB entry (check) |
| Ayutthaya day trip | full day | train from 20 THB; ruins pass 220 THB (check) |
| Thai massage (1 h) | 1 h | 300–500 THB (check) |
Prices and hours
Temple entry fees are set by the sites themselves and change; treat all figures as 2026 estimates and confirm at the gate. The Grand Palace closes on some royal and Buddhist days, so check the official calendar before you go.
Most temples open around 08:00–08:30 and close 17:00–18:00. Chatuchak Weekend Market runs Saturday and Sunday, roughly 09:00–18:00, with the plant and wholesale sections open earlier on Friday. Night markets such as Jodd Fairs run from late afternoon to around midnight.
The BTS and MRT take stored-value cards or single tickets; a day pass can pay off if you ride more than three times. Boats on the Chao Phraya are the fastest way into the old city from Sathorn.
- Carry small notes: many stalls and some ticket windows do not take cards.
- Temple dress code: cover shoulders and knees; some sites lend wraps.
- Buy BTS/MRT tickets outside rush hour (07:30–09:30, 17:00–20:00).
| Item | Price (2026 estimate) | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Palace | 500 THB (check) | 08:30–15:30, closed some days (check) |
| Wat Pho | 200–300 THB (check) | 08:00–18:30 (check) |
| Wat Arun | 100 THB (check) | 08:00–18:00 (check) |
| BTS single ride | 17–62 THB by distance (check) | 06:00–24:00 (check) |
| MRT single ride | 17–45 THB (check) | 06:00–24:00 (check) |
| Chatuchak Weekend Market | free entry | Sat–Sun approx. 09:00–18:00 (check) |
| Airport Rail Link | 45 THB Suvarnabhumi–Phaya Thai (check) | 06:00–24:00 (check) |
Getting there
Bangkok has two airports. Suvarnabhumi (BKK) handles most long-haul flights and connects to the city by the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai, or by taxi on the expressway. Don Mueang (DMK) is used by low-cost carriers and sits north of the centre; a taxi or the SRT Red Line gets you in.
From Suvarnabhumi, the Airport Rail Link is the predictable option when traffic is bad. A metered taxi plus expressway tolls costs more but goes door to door. From Don Mueang, allow 45–90 minutes by road in peak traffic.
If you are arriving from abroad, see travel to Thailand for entry rules and How to plan a trip step by step for sequencing Bangkok with the north or the islands.
- Keep the taxi meter on; agree a price only if the meter is refused.
- Airport Rail Link runs roughly 06:00–24:00 (check).
- Allow extra time on 30 Dec and 2 Jan, when roads and trains are packed.
| From | Option | Time | Cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suvarnabhumi (BKK) | Airport Rail Link | 26 min to Phaya Thai | 45 THB (check) |
| Suvarnabhumi (BKK) | Metered taxi + tolls | 30–60 min | 300–500 THB (check) |
| Don Mueang (DMK) | Taxi | 45–90 min | 300–500 THB (check) |
| Don Mueang (DMK) | SRT Red Line + MRT | 60–90 min | approx. 50 THB (check) |
| Hua Lamphong / Krung Thep Aphiwat | MRT | varies | 17–45 THB (check) |
Tips
Start early. Temples and markets are cooler and quieter before 10:00, and you avoid the worst traffic. Carry water and a hat; April reaches 38 °C and the cool season still hits the low 30s.
Use the Skytrain and metro for long hops and boats along the river; taxis are fine off-peak but slow in the centre. Grab and similar apps give a fixed price, which helps when you do not speak Thai.
For a fixed-price bundle of transport and entry, compare a bangkok city pass against paying at the gate; it only wins if you use most of what it covers. Guided options are listed under best tours in bangkok.
Where you sleep changes your days: riverside and Silom put you near boats and the Skytrain, while Sukhumvit is better for nightlife and food. See best area to stay in bangkok before booking.
- Dress for temples: shoulders and knees covered.
- Carry small notes and coins for boats, buses and stalls.
- Book Ayutthaya trains a day ahead in high season (check).
- Keep the hotel card for taxi drivers.
- Check air quality in March–April, when the north and sometimes Bangkok haze up.
Questions people ask
Is 3 days enough for Bangkok?
Yes for the main sights: old city temples, a market and one day trip. Three days is tight if you also want Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi; pick one and keep the third day local.
What is the best 3-day itinerary for Bangkok?
Day 1: Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Chinatown. Day 2: Chatuchak or Or Tor Kor, Jim Thompson House, Siam, rooftop bar. Day 3: Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi or a market-and-spa day.
Which day trips fit a 3-day stay in Bangkok?
Ayutthaya is the easiest full day by train. Kanchanaburi needs an early start or an overnight. Half-day options include Ko Kret and the Mae Klong railway market. See day trips from bangkok.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialTourism Authority of Thailand
- officialBTS Skytrain
- officialMRT Bangkok
- officialAirports of Thailand
- officialState Railway of Thailand
- secondaryWikivoyage – Bangkok