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Bangkok is one of the busiest cities in the world, welcoming over 22 million tourists annually. The Thai capital is therefore rightly called a metropolis. But Bangkok is also so much more than a big, chaotic city. Look through the crowds and you will find an exotic metropolis full of smells, colors and impressive cultural and historical sights. Will you start your trip through Thailand or Asia with a few days in Bangkok? We give you tips to explore Bangkok in 3 to 4 days.
1. Explore the different neighborhoods in Bangkok
Two major rivers in northern Thailand, The Ping and the Nan, converge to form the Chao Phraya River. On this wide river lies Bangkok. Covering an area of over 1,500 km², there are many different areas of Bangkok to explore. The areas are intersected by several canals ("khlongs") of the Chao Phraya River. These khlongs characterize the city and distinguish the different neighborhoods in the metropolis.
Old versus new Bangkok
Bangkok is often thought of as having two parts: old Bangkok and new Bangkok. The old Bangkok is the area around the popular backpacker street Khao San Road (the Banglamphu district), Chinatown and the Dusit District. New Bangkok is the modern center around the business district with the districts of Siam, Silom, Pratunam and Sukhumvit. The old part of Bangkok is particularly popular with tourists and backpackers and the modern center is mostly visited by business travelers.
Do you have 3 or 4 days to explore Bangkok? Then be sure to visit a few different neighborhoods in Bangkok! Both the old and modern parts of the city are worth visiting. Simply dividing the city into old and new therefore does certain impressive but often forgotten neighborhoods, such as Thon Buri, absolutely disservice.
Old Bangkok
Old Bangkok is known for its various historical highlights as well as Khao San Road and Rambuttri Village. Khao San Road is without a doubt the most famous place in Bangkok's old town. It is Bangkok's backpacker's mecca and absolutely nothing is too crazy in this street.
Khao San Road
From eating fried scorpions to getting tattoos and partying into the early hours, everything is possible on Khao San Road. In the evening, the street is literally taken over by pubs, clubs and bars all trying to drown each other out in terms of volume. Khao San Road is a mishmash of all nationalities in the world and the real Thai culture is hard to find here. Nevertheless, you must have seen the street during your trip to Bangkok. The diversity is overwhelming; everything and anything can be bought and done here.
Rambuttri Village
Running parallel to Khao San Road is Rambuttri Road, one of the coziest streets in this area. Rambuttri Road is more pleasant than Khao San Road with many nice restaurants and market stalls selling souvenirs. You will also find several 'cocktail vans' here: vans from which you can order a cocktail!
Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
On the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the historic center, you will find Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew; Bangkok's main cultural attractions. Grand Palace is the former home of the Thai Royal Family and has a total area of 94.5 acres. This is equivalent to a whopping 142 soccer fields! Within the palace walls you will find Wat Phra Kaew: Thailand's holiest temple.
Although there are more than 100 buildings within the palace walls, Wat Phra Kaew actually claims all the attention. A gold-colored temple with ornate towers, gleaming Buddha statues, brightly colored mosaic tiles and gleaming gemstones shines within a beautifully landscaped courtyard. Wat Phra Kaew is truly enchantingly beautiful.
Chinatown
Chinatown is a lively and chaotic district with unusual stores, gold dealers, markets and eateries. Chinatown is one of the most colorful parts of Bangkok and is worth an evening stroll through. We visited Chinatown during Chinese New Year and were surprised with various parades, performances and celebrations and saw red lanterns and yellow-red Chinese dragons everywhere. It was immense fun to experience this!
The modern center of Bangkok
The modern center of Bangkok is characterized by huge skyscrapers, ultra-modern shopping malls and trendy entertainment venues. An extreme contrast to the eastern part of Bangkok. Modern Bangkok is regarded by locals as the business center. Luxury hotels, restaurants and offices of multinational corporations form the backdrop where wealthy Thai and expats spend their leisure time.
Siam
The Siam district in the modern center is the most popular district among tourists. There are countless places to eat and drink in Siam and the district is characterized by impressive shopping malls such as CentralWorld, Siam Discovery, Siam Paragon and MKB. In these shopping malls you'll feast your eyes. Every designer store you can think of can be found in these malls and you can really buy anything, even cars. Unlike the expensive shopping malls, MKB is a mall with fun, inexpensive gadgets and souvenirs.
Silom
Besides Siam, Silom is also a popular district in modern Bangkok. During the day, Silom is mainly a business district, but when night falls, Silom forms the city's most famous nightlife area. This is where the famous Patpong night market is held. The Patpong Night Market is a cozy market where you can buy all kinds of souvenirs and visit sidewalk cafes until late hours. Keep in mind that this area is also a red light district of Bangkok. Therefore, this is also the area where, behind the night market, most of the ping pong shows are held.
In Silom, you will also find the popular street Sala Daeng, Lumphini Park and, since 2018, the King Power Mahanakhon SkyWalk. Lumphini Park is an oasis of calm in hectic Bangkok and therefore one of the best places to escape the crowds, exercise outdoors and spot monitor lizards.
The Mahanakhon SkyWalk is one of Thailand's highest observation platforms and offers fantastic views of the city.
Sukhumvit Road
At over 488 kilometers in length, Sukhumvit Road is one of the longest streets in the world. Sukhumvit Road runs through the heart of Bangkok and is bordered by endless hotels, restaurants, bars, stores and office buildings. As a result, this road is alive 24 hours a day and there are traffic jams all day long. If you want to experience the streets of Bangkok, this is the place to be. Thousands of cabs, TukTuk's, motorcycles and scooters pass along Sukhumvit and you will never tire of sitting on a terrace with a cold drink.
Bangkok Riverside
Bangkok Riverside is the area directly along the Chao Phraya River. It borders both the old, and the modern part of Bangkok. Along the riverside of Bangkok, you see more and more high-rise buildings appearing, such as luxury hotels and apartment complexes.
Yet this part of Bangkok has also managed to retain much of its old charm. If you want to discover the authentic part of Bangkok then a bicycle tour is the best option. At Bangkok Riverside you will also find the best rooftop bars, you have little trouble with traffic jams and you can escape the daily hustle and bustle that is present in many places in Bangkok. You will also find Asiatique Riverfront along the river; one of Bangkok's most popular night markets.
Thon Buri
Thon Buri is a district of Bangkok often forgotten by travelers. However, a trip to Thon Buri is absolutely recommended.
Thon Buri is a traditional residential neighborhood west of the Chao Phraya River. Thon Buri is the only place in Bangkok where you can still take a boat through the traditional khlongs. The khlongs used to run all the way through Bangkok, but today they can only be seen in Thon Buri. The district can hardly be explored on foot, so if you want to explore Thon Buri, you will have to do so by local boat. Taking a boat tour here is highly recommended, where you will sail past the traditional wooden houses and experience local life in Bangkok.
A major attraction in Thon Buri is the iconic Wat Arun temple. This is a towering pagoda with several, beautifully gilded Thai Buddha statues.
2. Cycle through multi-faceted Bangkok
Want to be surprised by different highlights of the city? Then choose to take a bicycle tour of Bangkok.
The most popular, and by far the most enjoyable provider of bicycle tours in Bangkok is Co van Kessel. The originally Dutch company has been organizing bicycle tours in the city for over 30 years and has put cycling in Bangkok on the map. During a tour with Co van Kessel you will discover local, traditional Bangkok. You ride through the different streets of the city, visit a local market and depending on the duration of your tour you can enjoy a Thai lunch in a traditional, cozy restaurant. Co van Kessel offers 3-hour, 5-hour and 9-hour bicycle and boat tours.
3. Try the exotic flavors of Thai cuisine
Every lover of Asian food gets their fill in Bangkok. After all, the food is almost nowhere in the world as good as in Thailand. Bangkok has endless dining options - from street food to upscale restaurants. You can find street food stalls in many places on the street. At these stalls, you can eat a well-filled meal between 40 and 150 Baht, which converts to a maximum of about €2 to €3. Don't be afraid to eat street food either, as the food is prepared with super fresh ingredients. Not for nothing do locals particularly seek out these eateries! Is it busy? Then feel free to join us.
Typical Thai dishes you absolutely must try are Pad Thai, Khao Man Gai (Thai Chicken Rice), Tom Yum soup, Roti with banana and nutella and Mango Sticky Rice (sticky rice with the most delicious mango).
Take a cooking class in Bangkok
Can't get enough of Thai food and enjoy cooking? Then take a cooking workshop in Bangkok. I took a cooking class at Silom Thai Cooking School in the Silom district, an incredibly good cooking school where you will learn about Thai cuisine and commonly used ingredients in a fun way. During the workshop, we learned to make several typical Thai dishes the traditional way, such as Pad Thai, Thai curry and Mango Sticky Rice.
4. Tear through Bangkok by TukTuk
A visit to Bangkok is not complete without having taken a ride in a TukTuk. A TukTuk lets you experience Bangkok like no other means of transportation does.
A tour by TukTuk is not the cleanest and healthiest way to arrive at your destination due to all the smog and exhaust fumes, but it is a true experience. The mixture of smells in the city, the sound, the clammy heat and the speed at which the TukTuk driver drives and maneuvers through the busy streets; you must have experienced it in Bangkok.
Tip: Remember to negotiate with the TukTuk driver and avoid stops that are offered. A TukTuk does not have a meter like a cab and often the price is therefore higher. Generally, half of what the TukTuk driver charges is a reasonable price.
I spotted a TukTuk in Thailand with my own date of birth as the license plate. Of course that had to be captured!
5. Marvel at the city at altitude
Rooftop bars in Bangkok have become a global concept. No city in the world has as many rooftop bars as Bangkok. If you are in Bangkok, then a night out in a sky bar is a must. The view you have of Bangkok from a sky bar is simply magical. Standing at such a height makes you realize just how gigantic the city is. You can really enjoy the spectacular view of the city for hours.
With so many different options of sky bars, there is actually something for everyone (in terms of price range and type of crowd). In general, though, prices are (a lot) higher than other bars in Bangkok. Also, many rooftop bars have a dress code. Always check the website of the bar before visiting.
Our favorites? Sirocco & Sky Bar at Lebua At State (the famous sky bar from The Hangover II), Above Eleven, Octave Rooftop Bar and Bangkok Heightz.
6. Behold the cultural and historical attractions in Bangkok
Bangkok boasts more than 400 magnificent temples. The aforementioned Wat Phra Kaew is Bangkok's most important temple complex. But besides this temple complex, there are thus many more cultural and historical attractions in Bangkok to visit. Looking for the most beautiful temple complexes in Bangkok? These are the most beautiful temples in Bangkok:
- Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew;
- What Arun;
- Wat Saket (The Golden Mountain of Bangkok): at a height of 80 meters, here you have an amazing view of Bangkok's skyline;
- Wat Pho (The Reclining Buddha);
- Wat Traimit (with a gold Buddha statue worth over 200 million euros!)
Different modes of transportation to travel around the city
Bangkok is easy to explore in 3 to 4 days by public transportation, cabs and the typical Thai TukTuk's. Public transportation is very well organized and both the BTS (above-ground subway) as MRT (underground subway) take you quickly and safely to most places in Bangkok. Renting your own car or scooter is not recommended due to the chaotic traffic.
Traveling to the historic center, such as Khao San Road? Then you will have to take a TukTuk or cab. As there are no subways going to the old center. However, a TukTuk ride to a the old center is just as fun!
Travel on to the tropical islands of Thailand
Have you seen enough of Bangkok after 3 days and are you passing through the multifaceted Thailand? Discover all our tips for an adventurous round trip through Thailand.
Travander
At Travander, we’re all about exploring hidden gems, unique destinations, and off-the-beaten-path travel experiences. Our motto, “Let’s Travel and Wander,” reflects our passion for discovering both local treasures and faraway adventures. As experienced travel bloggers and travel consultants, we share insider tips, personal stories, and practical advice to help you make the most of every trip. From city breaks and weekend getaways to tailor-made travel itineraries, we guide you to the most beautiful and inspiring places. Explore the world with Travander and let us spark your next unforgettable adventure!
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