Looking for a 5 Day Bangkok itinerary to help you get the most out of your visit to the city? With so much to do in the Thai capital, it can be hard to know where to start. Although we are definitely advocates for the ‘no-plan backpacking strategy, if you’re limited on time, it can help to have a rough idea of what the best places are and how to get to them!
DAY 1 – Weekend Market and Chinatown for 5 Days in Bangkok
The Grab driver who took me from the Airport to my hostel recommended I visit the Chatuchak weekend market the next day. Having done absolutely no research into where to go in 5 Days in Bangkok before arriving there, I decided to follow his recommendation.
Shopping at the Chatuchak Weekend Market
A photo from above looking down at the Chatuchak Weekend Market
I was lucky that my first day in Bangkok was a Sunday, which means the famous Chatuchak Market was open.
The market is open every week from Friday to Sunday. On Fridays from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Chatuchak Market is the biggest market of its kind in the world and definitely one of the top things to do in Bangkok.
While walking around aimlessly is fantastic, you never know what kinds of treasures you might find, there is also a very convenient app to find your way around the market. You can search for shops and other facilities by category, and the in-app map will guide you from your current location to the destination.
Everything at the Market is super cheap, and so I really couldn’t stop myself from buying a natural lemongrass soap for 80 bahts and some beautiful trousers for 100 bahts (3 US dollars!).
The vendors are accommodating but not pushy at all which is great if you just want to browse and see what’s on offer.
Get a Foot Massage at Good Massage
You can’t leave Thailand without getting a Thai massage. After walking for a couple of hours in the narrow streets and the heat, I got tired. A foot massage at a time like this was the perfect remedy.
There are many massage parlors throughout the city. I found mine via the useful Chatuchak Market App and paid 250 Baht (8 US dollars) for a one-hour foot, head, shoulder massage. This was perfect to rejuvenate me for my 5 Days in Bangkok trip.
A one-hour foot Thai massage costs the same, and as far as I could see all the shops have exactly the same prices. But the level of comfort might be different (air conditioning, chairs, and wifi are all things you might want to consider).
Get a Full Body Massage
A Thai full-body massage is also a good idea and is available in most massage parlors. But know this. A Thai massage is very different from your regular soft and soothing rubbing massage, this is more manipulating your body and getting all the cracks out of your system. I’ll be honest and say it’s not always a relaxing experience, but you will feel amazing after. You can also check out the best places to get a Soapy Massage in Bangkok if you feel like it.
What to Eat at Chatuchak Weekend Market
There is so much delicious-looking food at the weekend market. I had my first (but not my last) mango with sticky rice of my visit. It was delicious!
For lunch, I went to the food court and had delicious Pad Thai and Tom Yum fried rice. It was freshly prepared, super cheap and so yummy. There are proper restaurants around the market, but I recommend you eat at the food court, sitting on a plastic chair and eating from a plastic plate. It is way cheaper and the atmosphere is entirely different.
I also wanted to try the coconut ice cream that was on offer everywhere, but after lunch, I was so full I couldn’t possibly eat any more, an excellent reason to revisit Bangkok, don’t you think.
Visit Chinatown
I asked one of my Thai friends for a food recommendation, and she suggested I check the food in Chinatown. So, I tried to get a taxi from Chatuchak Market to Chinatown. But the taxi drivers who wait around at the exits of the market are there to rip off tourists. I couldn’t find a single one who was willing to turn on their meter.
They also wanted between 200 and 300 Baht for a distance I knew wouldn’t even cost 100. I said thanks, but no thanks.I took the metro which was better anyway because I could avoid the crazy traffic of Bangkok.
Chinatown Gate
I got off at Hua Lamphong Station (the central railway station in Bangkok) and walked the short way to Chinatown. The great Chinese gate was my first stop. After a couple of pictures, I headed into the heart of Chinatown. Here you can get a wide variety of Chinese and Thai street food.
Eat Lobster for Dinner
If you can afford it, I recommend you have dinner at one of the seafood restaurants in Chinatown. For example Jumbo Lobster. As the name suggests, they sell humongous lobsters (seriously I had never seen such big lobsters before).
I can’t afford lobster for dinner because this 5 Days in Bangkok trip is a budget one. But I still drank in the atmosphere at one of these restaurants, ordering some fried rice and fresh coconut and watching the lobsters be prepared in different ways (grilled or topped with cheese and baked) . . . Another thing to do in Bangkok on my next visit! If you are a foodie, a Chinatown food tour may be right up your street.
Day 2 – Grand Palace and Temples
The Grand Palace for your 5 Days in Bangkok Trip
On day 2 it is time to explore some culture in Thailand. This can be found abundantly in the old town area of Bangkok. A visit to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, as well as some of the other famous temples in Bangkok, are all possible in one day.
I started my day at a typical Thailand style cafe with some real Thai breakfast. Hia Tai Kee is where the locals have their morning coffee. But they do have pictures of their menu, and therefore it was very foreigner-friendly. The iced mocha was delicious and abundant. It fit perfectly with the breakfast, a plate filled with sausages, toast, an egg, and a small salad.
After Breakfast in Old Town
After this rich breakfast, I was ready to explore the Grand Palace. As I already mentioned above, I took a taxi to the site and the first person who talked to me already wanted to scam me. But not with me. I ignored him and went to the Palace, which was open to visitors. At least to those who were willing to pay the ticket price of 500 bahts. I was shocked at the price, at least at first.
The ticket includes not only the entrance fee to the Grand Palace. But also a 30-minute classical dance performance at the Thailand National Theater, which I decided also to attend that day. The is also the option of a ticket that includes entry to Vimanmek Palace and Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall.
Alternatively, you can book a guided tour in advance. This is also a nice way to avoid any potential scams, such as the ones I mentioned earlier. A close-up picture of a temple in the Grand Palace enclosure.
The Grand Palace Is Grand
The Grand Palace was, well, grand. There is no other word for it. It is an impressive area of buildings, temples, and roofed over corridors with beautiful paintings, mosaics, and carvings. You can spend hours walking around the area and finding new things to discover around every corner. Unfortunately, you are not alone in doing so. Even in the heat, it was crowded like crazy.
It is home to Wat Phra Kaew or Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram to give it its full name. It's a large temple complex that is ais regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand. In English, the name translates to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It is one of the best highlights of the tour.
By the way, the dress code is strict. Men and women are advised to wear long trousers and shirts that cover the shoulders (no shorts or tank tops). This is enforced at the entrance. You will be turned away or given clothing to change into if your dress isn’t deemed appropriate.
Grab the River Ferry Across Chao Phraya River
From the Grand Palace, I walked the way to the ferry crossing over the Chao Phraya River to Wat Arun. You can also take a Tuk-tuk if you don’t feel like walking, just make sure you agree on a price before you get on.
The public ferry crossing over the river cost a total of 4 Baht (13c), and it was quite lovely to see the city from the river.
Visit Wat Arun Temple
Wat Arun, the temple of the dawn, is worth a visit not only because of its location directly at the riverside but also because of its unique and stunning design. Unfortunately, on the day of my visit, it was closed for some kind of ceremony at which many monks were attending.
I got to snap some pictures from outside, at least. And if you want to dress up in typical Thai clothing, called Chut Thai, to take some pictures with the Wat Arun temple in the background, you can.
Discover Wat Pho
My visit to the first temple was shorter than expected, and I was back on the other side of the river in no time. That left me enough time to visit Wat Pho where you can see the golden reclining Buddha. At 46 meters long it is an imposing statue. Don’t forget to take a picture of its feet. Trust me when you spend 5 Days in Bangkok, you will want to see this.
The ticket price to enter Wat Pho temple grounds is 100 bahts (a little over 3 dollars) and included a small bottle of water. If you asked me, I think every entrance fee in Bangkok should include a small bottle of water. In the heat, you really need it to avoid a heat stroke.
Enjoy Dinner at Supanniga Eating Room
The last highlight of the day was a delicious meal at Supanniga Eating Room. From the rooftop, you can see the party and dinner cruises floating by on the river and the beautifully lit-up Wat Arun.
The experience was high-class but surprisingly more affordable than I had expected. For two people we paid 1200 bahts (40 USD). Even on a budget trip around the world, I want to splurge sometimes. And that dinner was a very lovely luxury. Is it strange to return to a 3 dollar a night bed after a 20 dollar dinner? Maybe. But that’s totally what I did.
Enjoy the Bangkok Nightlife
If you want to continue into the early hours, Bangkok is not shy about coming forward in its nightlife. There are many wonderful rooftop bars with live music and of course but I have to also mention Soi Cowboy. While it’s not really my thing, it is probably the most famous sight in Bangkok and has featured in many movies including The Hangover 2 and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. Nightlife in Bangkok is crazy sometimes.
It is a small street, around 150 meters long with more than 30 (mostly go-go) bars packed into it. The atmosphere is pretty wild and has been described as “the place morality and decency forgot” and mostly populated by travelers and ex-pats.
If you are looking for the seedy side of Bangkok, the area is within walking distance from the BTS Sky train Asok Station and the Bangkok MRT’s Sukhumvit Station.
Day 3 – Ayutthaya Day Trip
Temple in Ayutthaya
When I’m in a city for 4 or 5 days, I love to try and include a day trip to explore a little further away. In fact, this time for this 5 Days in Bangkok itinerary, I included an overnight, so I was returning to Bangkok the following day. There are many day trips from Bangkok you can consider:
Rose Garden
The Floating Market in Damnoen Saduak
- Amphawa
- Koh Si Chang
- Samut Prakan
- Kanchanaburi
- And many more
However, my recommendation out of all of the alternatives is Ayutthaya. It is easy and cheap to get to and just dripping in history. If you also decide to stay overnight (recommended) You can easily bolt on a visit to the monkey temple in Lopburi, one of my favorite places ever.
Rent a Bike and Explore the Temples
The best way to explore the city is by bicycle. At my accommodation, I could borrow a bike for free, but even if your accommodation doesn’t have bicycles, you can rent them for a very low price at every corner.
Being the old capital of Thailand boasts countless beautiful temples and ruins throughout the sprawling Ayutthaya National Park. And if you have the time and money to visit them all I recommend you do so. If you only have one day you might want to prioritize.
How to Get from Bangkok to Ayutthaya
There are multiple ways to get from Bangkok to Ayutthaya. You can take a bus, minivan, taxi or tour, but the cheapest option is to take the train, and that is what I did. You can see more details in this guide. 5 Days in Bangkok means you have to check out this place.
Ayutthaya Tours from Bangkok
If you don’t want to organize your own trip, you can also participate in an Ayutthaya day tour from Bangkok. I recommend checking out the From Bangkok: Ayutthaya Day Tour by Bus & Boat on Get Your Guide.
What to Eat in Ayutthaya
Aside from the Thai food that you can get anywhere in Thailand, there are a couple of local delicacies that originated there and that you simply have to try during your one day in Ayutthaya.
Try Boat Noodles
The name ‘boat noodles’ comes from the boats these noodles used to be sold from. Nowadays the only boat they come into contact with is the ones put in the restaurants for decoration. Boat noodles are a strongly flavored noodle soup made from pork and beef served with pork meatballs and liver. The dish is served in a small bowl and to get really full, most order at least 2 to 5 bowls. I had two bowls of noodles at Pa Lek Boat
Noodle and They Were Delicious!
Roti Sai Mai is Ayutthaya’s cotton candy. But it is better than cotton candy because it comes in crazy colors and is served in a sweet roti (an Indian-style crepe).
I tried very hard to buy one in the morning on my second day in Ayutthaya. But even though I visited the area that is famous for many Roti Saimai stands they typically only open in the evenings and I was not able to try any.
Where I Stayed in Ayutthaya
I stayed at the Ray Nu Guest House. A private room with a shared bathroom costs about 13 US dollars here. It comes with WIFI and a very simple kitchen for you to use, as well as free bicycle rental. The room is air-conditioned, spacious and clean, although the walls are very thin and you can hear what the people in the next room are talking about.
You can see more reviews, check availability, and book your stay at Ray Nu Guest House by clicking here.
If you are looking for something even cheaper for your 5 Days in Bangkok trip, a dormitory bed 1301 Hostels Ayutthaya might just be what you are looking for. The reviews are excellent, and from the pictures, this hostel seems very modern, comfortable, and well thought through. At 6 dollars a night it isn’t quite as cheap as hostels in Bangkok but definitely a reasonable price for a bed including breakfast.
DAY 4 – Return from Ayutthaya and Khao San Road
I spent the morning of my third day exploring more of Ayutthaya (read the full Ayutthaya itinerary here) and headed back to Bangkok at around noon. I arrived back at my hostel in the afternoon. Enough time to explore a little bit more of Bangkok if you aren’t too tired.
Khao San Road
Not far from my hostel was the chaos of Khao San Road, the famous backpacker mile where you can buy clothing and knock-off t-shirts, exotic street food such as grilled crocodile and roasted worms, and cheap beer. Khao San Road is a real party destination.
The street is lined with bars, and party hostels and everything is loud, flashing and in my opinion just a little bit too crazy. Surprisingly, everything is also a little bit more expensive than in other parts of the city, so there was really no good reason for me to linger.
It was enough to have seen it once. If you are a party backpacker, this is the place to be. If you aren’t, about 15 minutes on Khao San Street will probably be enough for you.
5 Days in Bangkok - Food & More Food
Dinner at the Family
What I needed was a quiet place to relax that evening, and The Family restaurant is the perfect place to do that. Directly at one of Bangkok’s canals with cozy seating inside and outside and the cutest cats roaming around it was great to end the day here. My 5 Days in Bangkok trip is now coming to an end.
DAY 5 – Goodbye to My 5 Days in Bangkok
With an early flight, I didn’t actually get to do anything on my last day in Bangkok. I slept in, checked out and made my way to the airport. I used a regular metered taxi and paid almost the same price as I did use Grab. If you still have more time on your last day here are a couple of additional attractions in Bangkok.
5 Days in Bangkok - Asiatique Night Market
Take a River Trip
I did mention the dinner and party cruises on the Chao Phraya River, right? You could participate in one of them as a memorable evening.
There are also other options for a river cruise up and down the river, you could for example simply take a water taxi to another part of Bangkok to get a glimpse of the city from the water.
5 Days in Bangkok - Muay Thai
Watch Muay Thai
No matter where you go in Thailand you will find Thai kickboxing, called Muay Thai. But the biggest fights happen in Bangkok. If you are into these kinds of sports you shouldn’t miss watching a fight in Bangkok. If you can, the Rajadamnern Boxing Stadium is the home of the sport in Thailand and one of the best places to watch it in Bangkok.
You can buy a VIP ticket for a Muay Thai boxing match on Get Your Guide!
Thai Kickboxing Is Called Muay Thai
On for the shopaholics among you. Siam Square is known as the center of Bangkok and is home to many (luxury) shopping malls such as Siam Center. If you wanted to break free of the markets and have a bit of a decadent shopping spree, this is the place to do it.
While we’re talking about shopping, if it is your thing, you may also enjoy a visit to Siam Paragon Mall. It is one of the largest malls in Thailand and as well as stores are home to a 15-screen cinema, an opera concert hall, the Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World aquarium, and the Thai Art Gallery. It also has a bowling alley and karaoke center!
Take a Night Market Walk
The atmosphere in night markets is fantastic and one of the better ones in Bangkok is the Train Night Market Ratchada, a market with many stalls selling a variety of goods & street food with live music. It is easy to get to on the Bangkok Subway (known as the MRT) Blue Line. Just get out at the Thailand Cultural Center and you’re pretty much there.
Visit a Museum
There are a number of great museums to enjoy in Bangkok that would certainly deserve a place on many itineraries, here are some of the best:
5 Days in Bangkok - Jim Thompson House
Jim Thompson House
The Jim Thompson House is one of the more quirky tourist attractions in Bangkok. It sits on the Saen Saeb Canal and is a complex of 6 traditional Thai teakwood houses that have been transported to the center of the city from Ban Krua Silk Village.
Jim Thompson was an American businessman who spent over 30 years in the Thai silk industry. Aside from the houses, visitors come for the relaxing garden and the wonderful collection of art and antiques.
Erawan Museum
While I didn’t get to it on this itinerary for 5 Days in Bangkok, it is certainly going to be a part of my next trip to Bangkok. Though officially it’s located outside of the city, in Samut Prakan, it’s close to the Bang Na BTS station.
Built over three floors topped by a huge elephant sculpture, it is all about the heritage of Thai culture. The first floor represents the underworld, The second floor represents the earth (or human world), and the top floor represents the Tavatimsa Heaven, with each floor having exhibits to match the theme. The museum is surrounded by a wonderful tropical garden complete with water features and intricate sculptures.
5 Days in Bangkok - Temples
Bangkok National Museum
More of a traditional museum, it is home to extensive exhibits of Thai art and history and is one of the largest in Southeast Asia.
5 Days in Bangkok - Lumphini Park
Relax and People-Watch in a Central Park
Parks are great places to see day-to-day life, grab an ice cream and kick back to some serious people watching. My recommended choice would be Lumphini Park. It is one of the largest green spaces in central Bangkok, spanning over 500,000 sq m and popular with tourists and residents. From jogging and cycling to more leisurely pursuits such as tai chi or a paddleboat ride on the lake, there is always something to see.
If you time it right you may even get to join in with some of the free workouts that happen regularly, just listen out for the pumping techno music and get involved.
But Lumphini Park isn’t your only option, here are some other popular parks when you spend up to 5 Days in Bangkok:
- Chatuchak Park
- Benjasiri Park
- Benjakitti Park
- Queen Sirikit Park
- Rama IX Park
