3 Days in Bangkok

If Thailand is the pearl of South East Asia then Bangkok is the heart of it. We love this city so much! From its fancy skyscrapers to the narrow side streets. The city is colorful, eventful and just full of basically everything! Even if you have only 3 days in Bangkok, you can experience a lot and get the feel of the city. We have listed the best things to do in Bangkok. Keep reading, my friend!

 

Related: 10 Things to Do in Phuket

 

Temples

Bangkok is full of gorgeous temples! Make sure you visit them early in the morning as you probably don’t want to fry at midday when it is +40 degrees Celsius. And of course, you are not the only one who wants to visit them, so going as early as possible will help to avoid the crowds. The feeling inside a Buddhist temple is just indescribable. It brings you amazing inner peace conversely to what is happening on the streets. These are the must-visit temples even if you have only 3 days in Bangkok:

The Grand Royal Palace – entrance fee 500 THB (13,50 EUR; 15,30 USD)
Wat Arun – entrance fee 50 THB (1,35 EUR; 1,50 USD)
Wat Pho – entrance fee 100 THB (2,70 EUR; 3 USD)
Wat Traimit – entrance fee 40 THB (1 EUR; 1,20 USD)

 

 

What to Wear

A very important thing when visiting any temple is your clothes. No shorts, skirts, no-sleeve shirts allowed! If you are not wearing appropriate clothes, they won’t allow you in, no excuses! We recommend bringing with you long pants and some scarf whenever you are out in the city as it is full of beautiful temples and you will want to visit as much as you can. Probably you don’t want to spend extra money on the pants at the entrance of a temple. Also, a great bonus for wearing long sleeves and pants – avoiding sunburns!

Example: the price for the popular “elephant pants” at the market is 100 THB while at the entrance of the Grand Royal Palace it is 200 THB.

 

Be Aware of Scammers

Seriously, please be careful! Even if you are spending only 3 days in Bangkok, you can get ripped off. Scammers will hunt you at the moment you are getting out of a taxi. Really, we do not want to exaggerate but that’s exactly how it is! Let’s be honest here, it is very obvious that you are a tourist, these guys can spot you from the distance. They will tell you different stories and try to convince to go with them because they know the best way to get from one place to another etc. And if they succeed you will end up buying some crystal vase, suit and a gold necklace from his friend on the way to China Town. The key is to just ignore them, politely refuse and carry on with your day! We have learned to ignore them completely throughout the months living in Bangkok.

Example: you get out of a taxi just in front of the Grand Royal Palace and a guy walks up to you and starts to elaborate that today is the Buddha day (or any other holiday). For this reason, the palace is closed for a couple more hours. Meanwhile, you can visit the Wat Arun which is across the river, but as the pier is so far away, he offers to take you there. Don’t trust him! The nearest pier is located literally 5 min walk away from the palace and the palace is open as always. So, just say “Ok, thanks, buddy” and carry on!

 

Skyscrapers

Wander around fancy streets full of modern skyscrapers! If you are one of those people who is dreaming about New York City and its heights, Bangkok is for you. Get lost in the concrete jungle, feel that fancy life, be amazed by all the things happening there. Feel the contracts of the city’s high’s and low’s. Even if you are more of a nature-lover, we bet you will be fascinated when you see the King Power MahaNakhon. After the walk around the fancy streets, we recommend experiencing a bit of luxury on a budget.

 

 

Medinii Restaurant

Dine at the Medinii restaurant which is located on the 35th floor of the Continent Hotel. For only 1175 THB (31,60 EUR; 35,90 USD) you can get a three-course meal, additionally unlimited pasta and pizza and of course unlimited beer, wine, and cocktails. Sounds amazing, right? It is even better than that, as you are accompanied by the gorgeous skyline of Bangkok. Make sure to book in advance, as they tend to get booked out!

Visual impression: Dinner at Medinii – Vlog!

 

Maya Restaurant & Bar

Have a cocktail night at the Maya Restaurant & Bar which is on the 29th floor of Holiday Inn and also gives an amazing view of Bangkok. On Thursdays, they have a special offer from 6 – 9 pm. The price for free flow cocktails is 715 THB (19,25 EUR; 21,80 USD) and is very reasonable. They serve great cocktails and, the fun part – they are pretty strong.

 

Lumphini Park

Lumphini Park offers a public space where you can relax, work-out enjoy the views and huge lizards. (Yea, definitely the huge lizards are super enjoyable!) There is pretty much everything going on, people are jogging, riding bikes, eating delicious food, enjoying beers, watching fishes and other creatures in the ponds. It again gives you a little bit of that NYC feeling. Gather friends, grab some drinks, snacks and spend a few hours in Lumphini Park even if you have only 3 days in Bangkok.

Chinatown

In every place in the World Chinatown is a must visit. Bangkok is definitely not an exception. Chinatown’s visit can be easily combined with the Golden Buddha (Wat Traimit) visit as they are in the same area. Try some great Chinese food, get lost in the busy streets, and be amazed by all the colors.

 

Chatuchak Market

It doesn’t matter if you are a shopaholic or not the Chatuchak Market is a place to visit. This is one of the largest weekend markets in the World and the largest market in Thailand. It is literally HUGE! You can easily spend a whole day buying clothes, shoes, accessories, food, drinks, souvenirs, and even puppies. You can also watch cockfights at the furthest / most local corner of the market if you are into that kind of stuff.

Visual impression: Chatuchak Market – prices and tour!

 

Have a Good Time at Khao San Road

What could be 3 days in Bangkok without a single party?! Yes, there are so many places to go out that it is hard to choose. Bangkok is famous for its nightlife! That’s why you should trust us! Here’s an idea for a great night out: have some fancy cocktails at the Maya and then head to the Khao San Road for a bit of a wilder party! Get a henna tattoo, drink cocktails from buckets, (the same as you would do on the islands) and snack on some roasted scorpions, if you are up for it!

 

Getting Around

Bangkok is one of the busiest cities in the world and getting around can be a bit of a struggle. No stress, everything is manageable. First of all, get familiar with Grab which is like Asian Uber. We praise it every single time it comes to transportation in Asia. You can choose between a car and a motorbike. When the traffic is not as busy getting around by car which has air conditioning is a perfect choice. However, during busier hours we recommend taking a motorbike taxi. Those drivers are slightly crazy but professional, it will definitely be the quickest way to get from one place to another. Also, during your 3 days in Bangkok try to use the Skytrain at least once. It is what it sounds like – a train that is going above the regular streets on gazillion different levels.

 

 

Where to Stay in Bangkok

 

AVANI Riverside Bangkok Hotel – great hotel with very friendly and professional staff, modern interior and amazing dining options. Rooms are clean, spacious and comfortable with gorgeous river views. The rooftop bar and swimming pool are just perfect. There is also a good taxi service provided by the hotel. The place is a bit more on the expensive side, but it delivers the money’s worth!

 

Hotel Icon Bangkok Sukhumvit – very nice hotel with amazingly friendly staff. The rooms are spotless and mattresses quite comfy, perfect for a shorter stay. The location is great, very easy to go to the main attractions. The breakfast is very delicious and high quality. And of course, the pool is superb!

 

Sena Place Hotel – a great choice for the price if you are on a budget, but do not want to stay at a hostel. It has its own character (the place is like frozen in time) which gives you an extra nice feeling while staying there. Rooms are clean and comfortable, the pool is great and the staff is very friendly and polite. The location is very nice. The hotel offers a good breakfast, free tuk-tuk to the metro station, and free luggage storage after the check-out.

Summary

 

Bangkok is the city to fall in love with, trust us! It doesn’t matter if you spend 3 days in Bangkok or a week, you will explore, taste and enjoy its greatness. Although Bangkok is very modern and super busy it still has its Thai authenticity. You just have to look for it. When in Thailand, one cannot miss the amazing experiences that Bangkok offers.