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7 days in Thailand: an itinerary by city

The central prang of Wat Arun with its four smaller prangs, seen from the river with ferry boats in the foregroundThe red teak main house of the Jim Thompson House museum among tropical trees and palmsThe silver-clad hall of Wat Sri Suphan with tiered silver roofs and a silver Ganesha shrine in front

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
7 of 21 free; 14 paid — see “Cost”
Duration
7 days, 9:30 to 17:09 each day
Start and finish
Wat Arun → James Bond Island
On foot
≈ 56 min in total
Transport
9 rides, ≈ 3 h 56 min; 2 transfers between cities
Lunch
around 11:40
With kids
fine: short walks
Best time
November to February: cool in the north, calm seas in Phuket.

Cities in order

  1. Bangkok2 days · 8 places
  2. ≈ 1 h 15 min by airflight or overnight train
  3. Chiang Mai2 days · 7 places
  4. ≈ 2 hflight
  5. Phuket3 days · 6 places

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

  1. Wat Arun

    · 1 h · ≈ 200 baht

  2. 10 min on foot

  3. Wat Pho

    · 1 h · ≈ 300 baht; children under 120 cm free

  4. Lunch · 1 h
  5. 8 min on foot

  6. Grand Palace

    · 2 h 30 min · 500 baht; children under 120 cm free

  7. 20 min · transport or taxi

  8. Golden Mount

    · 1 h · Climb ≈ 100 baht

Day 2 · Bangkok09:30–15:43 · 4 places · 6 h 10 min

  1. Jim Thompson House

    · 1 h · 250 baht; ages 10–21 150; under 10 free

  2. 21 min · transport or taxi

  3. Wat Traimit

    · 40 min · Hall ≈ 40 baht, museum ≈ 100

  4. 22 min · transport or taxi

  5. Mahanakhon SkyWalk

    · 1 h 15 min · 500–1,200 baht depending on time

  6. Lunch · 1 h
  7. 20 min · transport or taxi

  8. Lumphini Park

    · 1 h 15 min · Free

Day 3 · Chiang Mai09:30–16:37 · 6 places · 7 h 10 min

Morning transfer: flight or overnight train · ≈ 1 h 15 min by air

  1. Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple)

    · 30 min · ≈ 50 baht

  2. 19 min · transport or taxi

  3. Tha Phae Gate

    · 20 min · Free

  4. 14 min on foot

  5. Wat Chiang Man

    · 30 min · Free

  6. 14 min on foot

  7. Wat Chedi Luang

    · 1 h · ≈ 40–50 baht

  8. Lunch · 1 h
  9. 10 min on foot

  10. Wat Phra Singh

    · 45 min · Grounds free; Lai Kham ≈ 20 baht

  11. 35 min · transport or taxi

  12. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

    · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 30 baht, funicular ≈ 20

Day 4 · Chiang Mai09:30–13:30 · 1 place · 4 h

  1. Doi Inthanon

    · 4 h · Entry 300 baht, children 150; car 30; pagodas ≈ 100

Day 5 · Phuket09:30–17:09 · 4 places · 7 h 40 min

Morning transfer: flight · ≈ 2 h

  1. Phuket Old Town

    · 2 h · Free

  2. 36 min · transport or taxi

  3. Wat Chalong

    · 1 h · Free

  4. Lunch · 1 h
  5. 25 min · transport or taxi

  6. Big Buddha

    · 1 h · Free

  7. 38 min · transport or taxi

  8. Promthep Cape

    · 1 h · Free

Day 6 · Phuket09:30–13:30 · 1 place · 4 h

  1. Phi Phi Islands

    · 4 h · Park fee ≈ 400 baht, children ≈ 200

Day 7 · Phuket09:30–13:30 · 1 place · 4 h

  1. James Bond Island

    · 4 h · Park fee ≈ 300 baht

Go · start

Add nearby

Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.

What the route costs

7 of 21 are free; 14 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.

1Wat Arun511 h≈ 200 baht
2Wat Pho501 h≈ 300 baht; children under 120 cm free
3Grand Palace492 h 30 min500 baht; children under 120 cm free
4Golden Mount371 hclimb ≈ 100 baht
5Jim Thompson House381 h250 baht; ages 10–21 150; under 10 free
6Wat Traimit3640 minhall ≈ 40 baht, museum ≈ 100
7Mahanakhon SkyWalk371 h 15 min500–1,200 baht depending on time
9Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple)3930 min≈ 50 baht
12Wat Chedi Luang391 h≈ 40–50 baht
13Wat Phra Singh3845 mingrounds free; Lai Kham ≈ 20 baht
14Wat Phra That Doi Suthep311 h 30 min≈ 30 baht, funicular ≈ 20
15Doi Inthanon174 hentry 300 baht, children 150; car 30; pagodas ≈ 100
20Phi Phi Islands294 hpark fee ≈ 400 baht, children ≈ 200
21James Bond Island244 hpark fee ≈ 300 baht
Other 7 places7 hFree
Total31 h 20 min7 of 21 free

Who this route is for

Good for
  • A first trip to Thailand
  • Independent: domestic flights, Grab, boats
  • Temples, mountains and sea in a week
Not for
  • Beach only — go straight to an island
  • The Andaman coast is rainy from May to October
Best time

November to February: cool in the north, calm seas in Phuket.

How the week works

The route is a triangle: Bangkok — Chiang Mai in the north — Phuket in the south. Each day is a YesGo city itinerary: two days each in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, three in Phuket.

Fly into Bangkok and home from Phuket, so you never double back.

The cities on the route

Bangkok is the capital: the royal palace, temples on the Chao Phraya and rooftops over the city. Chiang Mai is the north: Lanna temples inside the moated Old City, Doi Suthep on its mountain and Doi Inthanon, the country's highest point. Phuket is Thailand's biggest island: beaches, temples and boats to Phi Phi and Phang Nga.

Getting around independently

Bangkok to Chiang Mai is about an hour and a quarter by air, or an overnight train. Chiang Mai to Phuket is a direct flight of about two hours. In the cities use Grab and Bolt; in Bangkok the BTS, MRT and river boats.

A different beach instead of Phuket

Swap Phuket for Krabi — Railay and the islands off Ao Nang — or Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand, where the rains come in October–December and January to September is dry. Pattaya is about two hours from Bangkok by road, no flight needed.

Thailand itinerary for 5 or 10 days

Five days: drop Chiang Mai — two days in Bangkok and three in Phuket. Ten days: add a third Bangkok day with Chatuchak, a third Chiang Mai day with the elephant sanctuary, and a couple of days in Krabi.

How to do it right

  • Grand Palace tickets stop at 15:30.
  • Book the Chiang Mai elephant park and Phuket boat trips in advance.
  • Pay island park fees in cash.
  • Thailand uses the baht (THB). Temples, markets, longtails and songthaews want cash; Grab and Bolt are the easiest taxis.
  • 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.

Questions

What is a good 7-day Thailand itinerary?

Bangkok for 2 days, Chiang Mai for 2, Phuket for 3.

Can you travel around Thailand independently?

Yes: domestic flights, Grab and Bolt, Bangkok's metro and island boats.

How do I get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?

About an hour and a quarter by air, or by overnight train.

How long is the flight from Chiang Mai to Phuket?

About two hours direct.

What can I do in Thailand in 5 days?

Two days in Bangkok and three in Phuket, Krabi or Koh Samui.

When is the best time to visit Thailand?

November to February. On Koh Samui the dry season is January to September.

Phuket, Krabi or Koh Samui?

Phuket has the most sights and trips, Krabi the cliffs and islands, Koh Samui a different season and a calmer pace.

Is it good with kids?

Yes; children under 120 cm are free at many temples, and Chiang Mai has the elephant sanctuary.

Is there a temple dress code?

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.

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
  • Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
  • State Railway of Thailand: Bangkok–Chiang Mai train
YesGo editorial team ·
How we checkedEach day is a YesGo city itinerary of 1–3 days: the main sights, the order with the shortest transfers, lunch. Flight times are rough airborne times; check schedules before you go.

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