Ready-made plans
Ready-made plan

4 days in Bangkok for friends

Sukhumvit 3 nights

I mixed the big temples with street food, a floating market, live Muay Thai and a rooftop bar. It suits a group of friends who want to see the classics by day and enjoy Bangkok properly by night.

Grand Palace and Wat PhoChinatown street food on YaowaratMuay Thai at Rajadamnern StadiumBest in Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec
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Hotels, 3 nightsShown for your dates when you make it yours
Prices are checked when you open the plan, a month ahead. They are never saved in it.

Day 1 Arrive, Chinatown and a rooftop

  1. 14:00Land at Suvarnabhumi Airport, transfer to SukhumvitBuy a tourist SIM or set up an eSIM in arrivals. Get a little baht at the airport, SuperRich exchange in the city has better rates.Suvarnabhumi Airport · about 45 min · 45 to 150 THB per person
  2. 15:30Check in and restCool down, it is hot outside.Sukhumvit · about 2 hrs · FreeArrive by car or MRT
  3. 18:00MRT to ChinatownMRT Blue Line from Sukhumvit to Wat Mangkon station, then a 5 minute walk to Yaowarat Road.Sukhumvit to Wat Mangkon · about 30 min · 30 to 45 THBWalk to Sukhumvit MRT
  4. 18:45Street food crawl on Yaowarat RoadStalls light up after dark. Share many small dishes and walk. Good vegetarian options at the jay (vegetarian) stalls with yellow flags.Chinatown · about 2 hrs · 300 to 600 THB · Order: Pad Thai, mango sticky rice, and vegetarian jay noodlesWalk, 5 min
  5. 21:15Drinks at Sky Bar, Lebua at State TowerFamous open air bar on the 63rd floor. Smart casual, no shorts, vests or flip flops. Drinks are pricey, one each is plenty.Silom · about 1 hr · 1,000 to 1,500 THB for a drinkGrab or taxi, 15 min

Tip: Wear long trousers and closed shoes tonight, the Sky Bar turns people away in shorts.

Day 2 Temples and Khao San Road

  1. 08:30Grand Palace and Wat Phra KaewThailand's most sacred temple, the Emerald Buddha. Shoulders and knees must be covered, no tight or ripped clothes.Rattanakosin · about 2.5 hrs · 500 THB
  2. 11:15Wat Pho and the Reclining BuddhaThe 46 metre golden Reclining Buddha, plus quiet courtyards. A Thai massage at the temple school is a great break.Rattanakosin · about 1 hr · 300 THBWalk, 10 min
  3. 12:30Cross the river to Wat ArunTake the small ferry from Tha Tien pier. Climb the steep steps of the porcelain covered tower.Thonburi · about 1 hr · 200 THB plus 5 THB ferryWalk to Tha Tien, ferry 5 min
  4. 13:45Lunch at Krua ApsornMuch loved Thai restaurant, Michelin Bib Gourmand listed. Good vegetarian options if you ask.Dinso Road, near Democracy Monument · about 1 hr · 300 to 500 THB · Order: Crab omelette and green curryFerry back, then Grab, 20 min
  5. 15:00Back to the hotel, pool and restHeat break before the night.Sukhumvit · about 3 hrs · FreeGrab, 35 min
  6. 19:00Dinner at May KaideeSmall, long-running vegan and vegetarian Thai restaurant. Everything on the menu is meat free.Tanao Road, near Khao San · about 1 hr · 200 to 400 THB · Order: Vegetarian green curry and pumpkin hummusGrab, 35 min
  7. 20:30Khao San Road night outBackpacker street of bars, live music and street snacks. Gets busier after 22:00. Rambuttri Road next door is calmer.Banglamphu · about 2.5 hrs · 300 to 800 THBWalk, 5 min

Tip: Carry a scarf and wear long trousers for the temples. Grand Palace also checks shoes, no flip flops.

Day 3 Markets, shopping and Muay Thai

  1. 06:30Drive to Maeklong Railway MarketBook a half-day tour that combines Maeklong and Damnoen Saduak with pickup, or hire a car and driver.Bangkok to Samut Songkhram · about 1.5 hrs · 600 to 1,200 THB per person on a group tour
  2. 08:15Maeklong Railway MarketStalls sit right on the railway track and fold back as the train rolls through. Stand where the vendors tell you.Samut Songkhram · about 1 hr · FreeArrive by tour van
  3. 10:00Damnoen Saduak Floating MarketRide a long boat through canals of floating stalls. Agree the boat price first, and only buy what you want.Ratchaburi · about 1.5 hrs · 150 to 300 THB per person for the boatTour van, 25 min
  4. 11:45Boat noodles and coconut pancakes at the marketCooked from the boats. Ask for vegetable or tofu noodles if you are vegetarian.Damnoen Saduak · about 45 min · 100 to 200 THB · Order: Kuay teow reua (boat noodles) and khanom krokWalk
  5. 14:00Back to the hotel and restRest and recharge.Sukhumvit · about 1.5 hrs · FreeTour van, about 1.5 hrs
  6. 16:00Shopping at MBK and Siam SquareMBK for cheap bags, phones and souvenirs with bargaining, Siam Square for Thai fashion brands.Siam · about 1.5 hrs · free to browseBTS to National Stadium, 20 min
  7. 18:00Muay Thai at Rajadamnern StadiumThailand's oldest boxing stadium. Ringside is pricey, the upper seats have the best atmosphere for the money.Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue · about 2.5 hrs · 1,500 to 3,500 THBGrab, 25 min
  8. 20:45Dinner at Thipsamai Pad ThaiBangkok's most famous pad thai, cooked over charcoal since 1966. Queue moves fast. Good vegetarian version too.Maha Chai Road · about 45 min · 150 to 300 THB · Order: Pad thai wrapped in egg, and fresh orange juiceGrab or walk, 10 min

Tip: The market tour starts early. Eat a quick breakfast at a 7-Eleven if the hotel breakfast is not open.

Day 4 Silk house and home

  1. 10:00Jim Thompson HouseBeautiful teak houses of the American silk trader, with a short guided tour inside.Soi Kasemsan 2, near National Stadium · about 1.5 hrs · 200 THB
  2. 12:00Lunch at Som Tam NuaFamous for spicy papaya salad and fried chicken. Ask for less chilli, and they have vegetarian som tam.Siam Square Soi 5 · about 1 hr · 250 to 450 THB · Order: Som tam (papaya salad) and sticky riceWalk, 10 min
  3. 13:30Back to the hotel and check outCollect bags from reception.Sukhumvit · about 1 hr · FreeBTS to Asok, 15 min
  4. 15:00Transfer to Suvarnabhumi AirportLeave at least 3 hours before your flight, evening traffic is heavy.Sukhumvit to airport · about 45 min · 45 to 150 THB per personFrom the hotel

Tip: Spend leftover baht at the airport, most exchange counters give poor rates when you sell back.

Where to stay

Bangkok, Sukhumvit (Nana to Asok) · nights 1 to 3On the BTS and MRT lines, full of restaurants and nightlife.
  • ibis Styles Bangkok Sukhumvit 4 budget · about 1,300 to 2,000 THB a night Bright, cheap and a short walk to Nana BTS and the Sukhumvit nightlife.
  • Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 mid · about 2,500 to 4,000 THB a night Big modern rooms and a rooftop pool, close to Asok for both BTS and MRT.
  • Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit luxury · about 5,500 to 9,000 THB a night Classic luxury hotel connected to Asok BTS, with a great pool and spa.

Hotel prices are typical. Make it yours to see today's prices for your dates.

What to eat

  • Pad thai at Thipsamai, Maha Chai Road The most famous pad thai in Bangkok.
  • Street food crawl at Yaowarat Road, Chinatown Dozens of stalls in one lit-up street.
  • Crab omelette and green curry at Krua Apsorn, Dinso Road Classic Thai cooking loved by locals.
  • Vegetarian Thai curries at May Kaidee, near Khao San Road Fully vegetarian, perfect for Indian travellers.
  • Som tam and fried chicken at Som Tam Nua, Siam Square Spicy Isaan food in the middle of the shopping area.
  • Boat noodles at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Small, rich bowls cooked on the boats.

Bangkok nights are huge. Rooftop bars in Silom and Sukhumvit, Khao San Road for backpacker fun and Sukhumvit Soi 11 for clubs. Use Grab or the BTS, which runs until about midnight.

Why it is planned this way

  • The Grand Palace is at 08:30 on day 2, before the tour buses and the midday heat.
  • I put the floating market on an early morning, it is dead by noon.
  • Dinner on day 3 is Thipsamai, a 10 minute walk from the boxing stadium.
  • I kept you in Sukhumvit so the skytrain gets you almost everywhere.

Opening times and prices change. Tomo checks them again for your dates when you make the plan yours.

Your dates, your hotel, your pace