3 days in Bangkok: an itinerary day by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 2 of 10 free; 8 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 3 days, 9:30 to 16:38 each day
- Start and finish
- Wat Arun → Chatuchak Weekend Market
- On foot
- ≈ 18 min in total
- Transport
- 5 rides, ≈ 1 h 54 min
- Lunch
- around 11:40
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- November to February, with day three at the weekend.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Bangkok09:30–16:38 · 4 places · 7 h 10 min
Wat Arun
· 1 h · ≈ 200 baht
- 10 min on foot
Wat Pho
· 1 h · ≈ 300 baht; children under 120 cm free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 8 min on foot
Grand Palace
· 2 h 30 min · 500 baht; children under 120 cm free
- 20 min · transport or taxi
Golden Mount
· 1 h · Climb ≈ 100 baht
Day 2 · Bangkok09:30–15:43 · 4 places · 6 h 10 min
Jim Thompson House
· 1 h · 250 baht; ages 10–21 150; under 10 free
- 21 min · transport or taxi
Wat Traimit
· 40 min · Hall ≈ 40 baht, museum ≈ 100
- 22 min · transport or taxi
Mahanakhon SkyWalk
· 1 h 15 min · 500–1,200 baht depending on time
- Lunch · 1 h
- 20 min · transport or taxi
Lumphini Park
· 1 h 15 min · Free
Day 3 · Bangkok09:30–14:31 · 2 places · 5 h
Baiyoke Sky
· 1 h · 450 baht incl. a drink
- Lunch · 1 h
- 31 min · transport or taxi
Chatuchak Weekend Market
· 2 h 30 min · Free
What the route costs
2 of 10 are free; 8 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Wat Arun | 51 | 1 h | ≈ 200 baht |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Wat Pho | 50 | 1 h | ≈ 300 baht; children under 120 cm free |
| 3 | Grand Palace | 49 | 2 h 30 min | 500 baht; children under 120 cm free |
| 4 | Golden Mount | 37 | 1 h | climb ≈ 100 baht |
| 5 | Jim Thompson House | 38 | 1 h | 250 baht; ages 10–21 150; under 10 free |
| 6 | Wat Traimit | 36 | 40 min | hall ≈ 40 baht, museum ≈ 100 |
| 7 | Mahanakhon SkyWalk | 37 | 1 h 15 min | 500–1,200 baht depending on time |
| 9 | Baiyoke Sky | 32 | 1 h | 450 baht incl. a drink |
| Other 2 places | 4 h | Free | ||
| Total | 13 h 10 min | 2 of 10 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Wat Arun. The Temple of Dawn with its 70 m prang covered in coloured porcelain. About 200 baht; the ferry from Tha Tien takes 3 minutes.
- 2
Wat Pho. The 46 m Reclining Buddha and a Thai massage school inside the temple. About 300 baht, under 120 cm free.
- 3
Grand Palace. Home of Thailand's kings since 1782, with the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. 500 baht; tickets sold only until 15:30, strict dress code.
- 4
Golden Mount. An artificial hill with a golden stupa: about 300 steps up a gentle spiral and a view over the old city. About 100 baht.
Day 2
- 5
Jim Thompson House. Six 19th-century teak houses on a canal. 250 baht; the main house is guided only.
- 6
Wat Traimit. The 5.5-tonne Golden Buddha, the largest solid-gold statue. About 40 baht, at the gate of Chinatown.
- 7
Mahanakhon SkyWalk. Thailand's highest observation deck: a rooftop and glass floor 310 m up. 500–1,200 baht, more at sunset.
- 8
Lumphini Park. Bangkok's first park, with a boating lake and wild monitor lizards. Free, 4:30–21:00.
Day 3
- 9
Baiyoke Sky. A revolving open-air deck on level 84. 450 baht with a drink, 10:00–22:00.
- 10
Chatuchak Weekend Market. The country's biggest market: 15,000 stalls in 27 sections. Mainly Saturday and Sunday.
Who this route is for
- A first trip of 3–4 days
- Independent, by metro
- Temples and shopping
- Ayutthaya and floating markets need another day
- Weekdays — Chatuchak is mostly closed
November to February, with day three at the weekend.
How the three days work
The first two days are the 2-day itinerary. Day three is in the north and centre: Chatuchak by MRT Kamphaeng Phet and BTS Mo Chit, Baiyoke Sky in Pratunam, with the Pratunam clothes market at its foot.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
More than 15,000 stalls in 27 sections: clothes, ceramics, plants, antiques. Open Saturday and Sunday roughly 9:00–18:00; on Wednesday and Thursday only the plant section, on Friday some stalls. Cash, and haggling is normal. Come at opening time, before the heat.
Is 3 days in Bangkok enough?
Yes, with time to spare. A fourth day could be Ayutthaya or the floating markets. Bangkok is also the hub for the rest of the trip: Chiang Mai is about an hour's flight north, and Pattaya about two hours by road.
How to do it right
- Do Chatuchak on a Saturday or Sunday, by 9:00.
- No flip-flops at Baiyoke Sky.
- Temples want shoulders and knees covered — no vests or shorts; shoes come off at the door of the halls. Sarongs are often lent at the gate or for a deposit.
- Thailand uses the baht (THB). Temples, markets, longtails and songthaews want cash; Grab and Bolt are the easiest taxis.
- Bangkok traffic is heavy: the BTS and MRT beat taxis between districts.
Questions
What is a good 3-day Bangkok itinerary?
Rattanakosin's temples; Wat Traimit, the Thompson house, Lumphini and Mahanakhon; Chatuchak and Baiyoke Sky.
Is 3 days in Bangkok enough?
Yes, for the city. Ayutthaya needs one more day.
When is Chatuchak open?
Saturday and Sunday, roughly 9:00–18:00.
How much is Baiyoke Sky?
450 baht with a drink at the bar on level 83.
Mahanakhon or Baiyoke Sky?
Mahanakhon is higher and has a glass floor but costs more; Baiyoke is cheaper and has a revolving roof.
How do I get to Chatuchak?
MRT to Kamphaeng Phet or Chatuchak Park, BTS to Mo Chit.
How much does it cost?
About 2,300–3,000 baht in tickets over three days, plus transport and shopping.
Is it good with kids or teens?
Yes; Chatuchak is crowded and hot — go early with small children.
Where to go after Bangkok?
North to Chiang Mai, or to the sea in Pattaya, Phuket, Krabi or Koh Samui.
What currency is used in Thailand?
Thailand uses the baht (THB). Temples, markets, longtails and songthaews want cash; Grab and Bolt are the easiest taxis.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Chatuchak Weekend Market: opening hours
- BTS and MRT network maps
