Things to Do in Bangkok in Three Days: A 72-Hour Itinerary

The best things to do in Bangkok in three days fit a simple plan: spend day one in the Old City at the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun; day two around Siam and Silom, with the Jim Thompson House, a park and a city view at night; and day three on either Chatuchak Weekend Market or Chinatown and the Golden Mount, depending on the day of the week. The plan below groups sights that sit close together, so you spend your 72 hours seeing the city rather than sitting in traffic.

It assumes a first visit and a hotel near the BTS Skytrain, the MRT or the river. Opening days matter more than you might expect: several museums close on Mondays, and Chatuchak trades only at weekends, so check the day notes before you fix the order.

Day 1: The Old City and the river

Morning: the Grand Palace

Start early at the Grand Palace, which opens at 8:30 a.m. The ticket for foreign visitors includes Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles inside the compound. The palace has a strict dress code: no sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts, torn or tight trousers, or see-through tops. The palace suggests arriving by Chao Phraya Express Boat at Tha Chang pier, or by MRT to Sanam Chai.

Midday: Wat Pho

Wat Pho is directly south of the palace, home to the 46-meter Reclining Buddha. It stays open into the evening, so there is no rush. For lunch, Supanniga Eating Room Tha Tien is on the riverbank nearby, facing Wat Arun, and serves family recipes from Trat and Khon Kaen.

Afternoon and evening: Wat Arun

Take the cross-river ferry from Tha Tien pier, next to Wat Pho, to Wat Arun on the Thonburi bank. Its central prang is 66.8 meters tall and decorated with seashells and pieces of Chinese porcelain. The Tourism Authority of Thailand says the pagoda is lit from 6 p.m., so staying on the river side until dusk rounds off the day.

For dinner, Thipsamai on Maha Chai Road has served pad thai at the Pratu Phi crossroads since the family's stall opened there in 1939. It is closed on Tuesdays.

Day 2: Siam, Silom and a view from the top

Morning: the Jim Thompson House

The Jim Thompson House museum, near BTS National Stadium, is a museum of traditional Thai houses, and visitors may enter the main house only with a guide. It opens at 10 a.m. A short walk away at the Pathumwan intersection, the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre links directly to the same BTS station, with free exhibitions from Tuesday to Sunday.

Afternoon: Ratchaprasong and Lumphini Park

Two BTS stops east, the Erawan Shrine stands at the Ratchaprasong intersection, reached by skywalk from BTS Chit Lom. From there, head south to Lumphini Park for the lake and shade late in the afternoon, when the heat eases.

Evening: the Mahanakhon SkyWalk

End the day at the Mahanakhon SkyWalk, the observation deck at the top of the King Power Mahanakhon tower by BTS Chong Nonsi. Its outdoor roof deck on the 78th floor has a glass floor 310 meters above the street, and it stays open until midnight, with last entry at 11 p.m. Silom, at the foot of the tower, is a good area for dinner afterward.

Day 3: Choose by the day of the week

Saturday or Sunday: Chatuchak Weekend Market

If your third day falls on a weekend, spend the morning at Chatuchak Weekend Market in north Bangkok, near BTS Mo Chit and MRT Chatuchak Park. Go early, carry cash in small notes and keep an eye on your bag in the crowded lanes. Back in the center, spend the late afternoon on the river or in a hotel pool.

Weekdays: Chinatown and the Golden Mount

On a weekday, go to Chinatown. Wat Traimit, the Temple of the Golden Buddha, stands at the edge of the district near Yaowarat Road. In the afternoon, climb the 320 steps of the Golden Mount at Wat Saket for a view over the Old City rooftops. Finish on Yaowarat Road, Chinatown's main street, for dinner.

Getting around in three days

• River: Chao Phraya Express Boats link Sathorn pier, next to BTS Saphan Taksin, with the Old City piers at Tha Tien and Tha Chang.
• Rail: the BTS covers Siam, Sukhumvit and Silom, and the MRT reaches Sanam Chai for the Old City and Wat Mangkon for Chinatown.
• Heat and dress: plan temples for the morning, carry water, and pack one outfit that covers shoulders and knees.

If you have longer, our guide to what to do in Bangkok for a week builds on this plan.

Sources: The Grand Palace, practical information, Wat Pho, plan your visit, TAT, Wat Arun travel guide, Jim Thompson House, visitor information, King Power Mahanakhon, SkyWalk, Erawan Shrine, TAT, Wat Saket, Chao Phraya Express Boat. Checked September 26, 2026.