How to Spend 2 Days in Bangkok
Last Updated: March 20, 2024
Bangkok is Thailand’s capital and most populous city, and often a place for connecting flights to popular destinations like Phuket and Chiang Mai. But is it worth it to stop and spend a few days in Bangkok? What are the top things to do in Bangkok? Can you see the top sites in Bangkok in just two days? We think it’s definitely worth it to spend some time in Thailand’s capital city. And here we’ll break down the best way to maximize your time if you’re spending two days in Bangkok.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase or book through one of our links we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Bangkok 2-Day Itinerary: Table of Contents
How many days do you need in Bangkok?
Two to three days should be plenty of time to see the top sites in Bangkok. If you, like us, are including Bangkok as a part of a broader trip to other destinations in Thailand (like Phuket and Chiang Mai), you may only have a little bit of time to spare in Bangkok.
If you have only one day in Bangkok, you could still see a lot of the top temples and get a taste of the city. But you’ll probably be happier if you can spend at least two to three days.
If you have more time, you could even spend four days in Bangkok, to go at a more leisurely pace. This will also allow you to spend more time at some of Bangkok’s less touristy spots (like their many incredible shopping malls).
Is it worth it to spend 2 days in Bangkok?
Yes, we found it was definitely worth it to spend two days in Bangkok.
You are likely planning a trip to other destinations in Thailand, like Phuket or Chiang Mai, and wondering if you should spend more time than just a brief layover in Bangkok. We think Bangkok deserves at least a few days.
Bangkok is unlike any other city in Thailand. With a population of over 11 million people, Bangkok is at an entirely different scale than other popular destinations in Thailand. Another unique aspect of Bangkok is that the city is very developed and modernized, yet still maintains ancient architecture in the many temples dispersed throughout the city. This gives the city a sort of eclectic, buzzing vibrance that is unlike anywhere else we’ve visited. You’ll see a completely different picture of life in Thailand than what you see at vacation destinations like Phuket. Overall, we found it was very much worth it to stop in Bangkok during our time in Thailand.
2-Day Itinerary in Bangkok
If you only have two days in Bangkok, here we give you the best Bangkok itinerary to make the most of your time.
- Day 1: Temples, Cultural Show, Flower Market, Asiatique Waterfront Mall
- Day 2: Railway Market, Floating Market, Chatuchak Market, Chinatown
Day 1 in Bangkok
Summary of Day 1:
- Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Grand Palace
- Temple of the Reclining Buddha
- Cultural Dance Show
- Pak Khlong Talat Flower Market
- Asiatique the Riverfront Mall
On Day 1 in Bangkok, you’ll get to experience the city’s beautiful historical architecture, experience see traditional Thai dance, and check out one of the high end malls where Bangkok locals like to go out for fun.
Temples
Undoubtedly, THE top sites to see in Bangkok are the stunning Buddhist temples. There are over 40,000 temples in Thailand, and many of the most beautiful are in Bangkok. Whenever you see the word Wat on the map, know that that means “temple” in Thai. Some of the best temples to see in Bangkok are part of huge complexes, with many stunning buildings to admire. So plan a couple hours at each of the top temples.
What are the Top Temples to See in Bangkok?
- The Temple of the Emerald Buddha/Grand Palace (and surrounding complex)
- The Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho) (and surrounding complex)
This short list is ideal for travelers who prefer to walk from site to site. The whole walk should take you no more than 15 minutes. If you’d like to see a summary of the temples and the Grand Palace on a map, click here.
What to Expect When Visiting Temples in Bangkok?
First, dress breezy and modestly. You’ll need to make sure your shoulders and knees are covered. If you show up wearing a tank top or shorts, you’ll need to buy a covering on the spot near the temple, which can cost about $5-7.
You’ll also want shoes that easily slip off, as many of the temples require you to take off your shoes before entering. You can keep your shoes on within the large complex, but before entering each temple itself, there is a shoe drop off. Some have chairs to assist in removing your shoes, sometimes you’ll just sit on the steps, and other times it’s a balancing act if it’s too crowded.
It’ll likely be crowded, so expect big crowds. It can be difficult to get photos without other people in them. But it’s still worth it to go, because the temples are truly beautiful, covered in bright colors and sparkles.
Each temple complex has an entrance fee – 500 baht (15 USD) for the Temple of the Emerald Buddha/Grand Palace, and 200 baht (6 USD) for the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.
Cultural Show (Included in Entrance Fee to Temple of Emerald Buddha Complex)
One surprising highlight of our time in Bangkok was a free cultural dance show that was included with the entrance fee to the temple complex for the Reclining Buddha. You take a free shuttle about 5-10 minutes away from the temple complex to an air-conditioned theater. In the theater, you’ll see a 30 minute dance show with live music, which takes you through some of the ancient history of Thailand. The show was honestly way better than we expected, and it was a great way to get out of the heat and sun for a bit. So we think checking out the free cultural dance show in Bangkok is worth it!
Note – you can catch one of the shuttles back to the temple complex after the show if you keep your eyes out for it, so you don’t have to take a taxi.
Pak Khlong Talat Flower Market
Next on the Bangkok itinerary, the Pak Khlong Talat is a flower market near the most popular Bangkok Temples. The market also sells fruits and vegetables. The flower market is often recommended among top sites to see in Bangkok, and it’s cool, but if you’re short on time, you may be fine skipping it, as we found it somewhat underwhelming.
It’s mostly an open space where they sell many identical hanging flower garlands (called phuang malai), which are used as offerings to Buddha at temples. Plus, the main road outside the flower market is cute and colored with shops and produce corners.
Overall, the flower market is a cool site to see if you have time, but it wasn’t our top thing to do in Bangkok.
Asiatique the Riverfront
One of our favorite surprises in Bangkok was the lovely open air shopping experience at Asiatique The Riverfront. The Asiatique is a gorgeous waterfront shopping mall on the Chao Phraya River, with many open air restaurants, a Ferris wheel, and some rides. The mall is brightly lit and adorned with lots of hanging flowers. It was full of Bangkok locals enjoying a night out, which gave it a less touristy feel than some of the other spots in Bangkok.
Day 2 in Bangkok
Day 2 Summary:
- Railway Market
- Floating Market
- Chatuchak Market
- Chinatown
On Day 2 in our Bangkok itinerary, we recommend you enjoy some unique sites in the area just outside of Bangkok, as well as some iconic markets within the city.
Maeklong Railway Market
What is the Maeklong Railway Market? It’s just what it sounds like–a market on active train tracks. How does that work? There are tightly packed market stalls on either side of the tracks, and you walk along the tracks to shop. When the train comes, the store owners start collapsing their tents and moving everything quickly away from the tracks. Barrels of live eels will be quickly dragged back as water splashes onto the tracks. And you, as a shopper, have to cram tightly against the stalls, as quickly as possible, as everyone makes way for the train.
The Maeklong Railway Market was chaos in the best way, and it is an incredibly unique experience near Bangkok that you don’t want to miss.
How do you get to the Maeklong Railway Market? You can use public transport (a train and a bus transfer) to get from Bangkok to the Maeklong Market, which is the most affordable option, but it will take longer. The easiest way to see the railway market is to book a half-day tour, which takes you not only to the Maeklong Railway Market (you even get to ride the train through the market!), but also to the fascinating Damnoen Saduak Floating Market as well (more on that below).
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
The next stop we recommend on our 2-day Bangkok itinerary is the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. This was another incredibly unique experience–a market where you and all the vendors are on the water!
What is the floating market? Picture hundreds of boats selling their snacks, produce, and merchandise while in a boat on a river. And you, as a tourist, get to rent a boat with a driver who takes you along the canals to experience the local movement and buy some snacks for yourself! Plus, the boats also have umbrellas to shield you from the sun.
The boat ride is about 35 minutes, so don’t wait too long to realize you want the coconut ice cream. (And trust us, you want the coconut ice cream.)
After the boat ride, you can explore more of the market on foot. There are plenty of food stalls where you can find pad thai for 100 Baht (about 3 USD). We recommend you try Thailand’s traditional coconut dessert called Khanom Krok, which is like a small coconut custard pancake.
This day trip to the Railway Market and the Floating Market is about 1.5 hours away from downtown Bangkok. The pro of this trip is that on the way back, you can take a nap to refuel for more exploring in Bangkok! We did and were happy to have some energy at the end of the day, to catch the Chatuchak Market before it closed, as well as dinner at Chinatown.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
What is the Chatuchak Weekend Market? For starters, it’s massive and spans multiple blocks. But it’s a collection of artisans, and small shops and boutiques selling just about everything. With 15,000 stalls, the Chatuchak Market offers more than just the same elephant pants you’ll see at every souvenir shop in Thailand. At Chatuchak, you’ll find lots of unique clothes and goods. And you’ll see lots of Bangkok locals around enjoying the market as well.
After walking around for a bit, you can also stop for a half-hour foot massage at various spots in the market, which is perfect after a long day of walking.
Important note about visiting Chatuchak: As the name implies, it’s a weekend market, i.e. it’s open on the weekends. Certain parts are open throughout the week, but to see the whole market, you have to go on Saturday or Sunday from 9:00am-6:00pm.
Chinatown (Yaowarat Road)
The last stop on our 2-day Bangkok itinerary is Chinatown. Specifically, Yaowarat Road within Chinatown. This last stop is not to be missed when visiting Bangkok. It’s hard to explain the dazzling lights and chaos of Chinatown in Bangkok. To be honest, it felt more chaotic than any evening we’ve spent in Times Square, NYC. If you go to Bangkok’s Chinatown in the evening, expect to be packed like sardines and barely move. It’s an exciting experience, but not for the faint of heart.
There are tons of restaurants to try, but it can be difficult to find a seat. And if you can’t handle really spicy food, remember to emphasize no spicy. Their ratings are a bit different in Thailand, so even their mild might have you sweating profusely.
Other Experiences in Bangkok if You Have More Time
- Eat a meal at Rongros, a Michelin Guide restaurant, close to the most popular temples in Bangkok.
- Try coffee at Cafe Amazon, one of Thailand’s most popular coffee chains.
- Ride a tuk-tuk! You can hail a tuk-tuk from just about anywhere in Bangkok, and they’ll often give you cheaper prices than a taxi. You can also book a night tour by tuk-tuk if you want to experience it but you’re too intimidated to hail one yourself.
- Check out some of Bangkok’s stylish shopping malls, like River City Bangkok, the MBK Center, and Icon Siam.
Overall, Bangkok offers an exciting peek into Thailand’s history and modern life, and it is worth it to spend at least two days in Bangkok. When visiting Bangkok, you can enjoy some really unique experiences you’ll never see anywhere else. When planning your trip to Thailand, we highly recommend checking out Bangkok!
