Top Things to Do in Bangkok in 3 Days

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and one of the most fun places on earth in my opinion. When my then-fiancé, now ex- and I first visited we had severely low expectations and didn't even want to spend 3 days there. But we figured it would be a good place to rest before going off to travel the rest of Thailand. Ironically, perhaps, we loved our 3 days in Bangkok so much that we ended up actually spending 6 days there, and then a year later we ended up living there for 3 months (hence why we humbly believe we have enough insight to direct you on how to spend a weekend or so there). So I've written this post about the top fun things to do in Bangkok in 3 days (and some other related useful stuff :)

11 Top Things to Do in Bangkok in 3 Days

There are so many things to do in Bangkok, how do you make sure you see the best bits in a relatively short amount of time? With all the different colours, smells and noises Bangkok can be a bit overwhelming, but I think the best way to deal with that is to jump head-first into it and do as much as possible!

#1. Visit a Buddhist Temple

With over 40,000 Buddhist temples in Thailand and 400 in Bangkok alone, it's hard to miss them, and a shame if you do because they are so beautiful! The 3 most famous temples in Bangkok are Wat Pra Kaew (the one with the jade Buddha), Wat Arun (the one next to the river) and Wat Pho (the one with the reclining Buddha). (By the way, Wat means temple in Thai.) Our favourite temple in Bangkok though, was Wat Saket - the Golden Mount. There are great views of Bangkok from the top, and unlike the famous ones, it's not too crowded with tourists. Make sure you cover your shoulders and knees to be respectful, and it's best to go early in the morning (so you don't faint from covering your shoulders and knees in the heat).

For more of an adventure find your way across the city by bus, water taxi or taxi. For more of a relaxing experience try this Bangkok Temple Tour

#2. Hit a rooftop bar at sunset

Speaking of great views, with Thailand's insanely incredible sunsets and Bangkok's abundance of lights, you must get up high at night for the best views. The best way to do this is to go for a cocktail (or three) just before sunset, trust us, you will feel like the Queen/King of the world! Partly because of the cocktail of course, but mostly because of the views. We personally enjoyed the Octave Rooftop Lounge and Bar, though it may not be the absolute best rooftop bar in Bangkok. (Do you have a favourite rooftop bar in Bangkok? Let us know in the comments below and we'll add your favourites here!)

#3. Stuff your face with street Food

Thai food is great. And nothing is more authentic that sitting down for a good Pad Thai/ fried rice/ soy noodles by the side of the road. We didn't really have any tummy issues when we were in Thailand, possibly because we followed a simple rule: to avoid getting sick in Thailand, find the washing up bowl. We found that judging a street-food seller's cleanliness by the state of their washing up bowl really worked. If the bowl has pretty clean water and everything's stacked in a neat-ish way, you're good to go. If the water looks disgusting and there are flies everywhere, give it a miss. This is easier said than done when they're trying to make you sit down and order your food, but we found it was worth the hassle. There are probably lots of street-food carts with bad washing up that don't make you sick, but if you're being cautious it's a good rule to have. If you want to be extra careful, only eat at places where women and children are eating. If they're eating there you've an even greater chance that the food is 'safe'.

For more foodie info please check out the post on my sister site Healthy Vegan Thai Food (And Where To Find It in Thailand)

#4. Get crazy (or not) on Khao San Road

Khao San Road is the infamous backpacker/tourist road where everyone stays/eats/drinks. Khao San Road is packed with (surprisingly cheap) street food, touristy merchandise, bars, restaurants, people asking if you want to see a sex show... and, of course, backpackers. Although we are convinced Khao San Road is responsible for a lot of people's hatred to Bangkok, we still think it's a place you should see, just once. We wouldn't recommend staying here as we imagine that would kind of suck, especially after a couple of nights. But it is fun to visit for an hour or so.

Just like Times Square, it's somewhere where you have to visit, just to be able to have an opinion on it. (Note, we're not big fans of Khao San Road or Times Square, but it's just our opinion, not a fact.) As for whether Khao San Road is 'authentic' or not, the jury is out, personally we think this a great example of where the (bad parts of the) West meet the (bad parts of the) East. You can probably blame the West for that, we seem to bring out the worst in everyone. Soz... finally, if someone makes a weird 'pop' noise with their mouth at you, walk away - they're asking if you want to see a sex show.

#5. Market shopping in Bangkok

Whether it's a floating market, a flower market, a food market, a clothes market, it doesn't matter - you've got to visit some kind of market when you go to Bangkok. Like most of Bangkok they are vibrant and fun and, if you're lucky, you might be able to pick up a bargain. It is true that, as a visitor, you will almost certainly be given a tourist price. Don't make the mistake I made and offer way, way below what they were asking for (like you do in China). In desperation not to be ripped off I was rude and undervalued what they were selling.. and got shouted at... ANYWAY, the prices are cheap so you'll always get a good deal, but as for bartering down to get a really really good deal, like if you're squabbling over pennies think about it: no matter how low your budget is, you were able to afford a flight ticket to get over here, the seller probably would never be able to do that, be fair. Bangkok is actually perfect for shopping, be it for super cheap bargains (see above) or top of the range, latest fashion, designer labels. Even if you're not in the market for buying labels, go and give these shops a look - they are fascinating.

#6. See a Traditional Thai Puppet Show

Watching a Thai puppet show is an authentic and exciting experience. The puppets are ornately decorated and the puppeteers are incredibly talented. I'm not really a fan of puppets (thanks to the film 'the Conjuring') but even I loved watching the puppet show. The show comes with a story and traditional Thai music. The puppets will probably come into the crowd at the end of the show (so you can take selfies). The puppets also accept (expect) tips. We combined our puppet show with a boat tour and recommend it - here is the link 

#7. Flowboard at Flow House

Sure Bangkok is nowhere near good waves, but that shouldn't stop you if you want to surf! We had an awesome afternoon surfing and chilling at Flow House Bangkok, which is incidentally also a bar. Surfing was completely different to surfing on 'real' waves, but still a really cool, fun experience. If (like me) you don't really enjoy surfing, but DO enjoy drinking and watching people fall over, then this is still the place for you!

#8. Go on a canal tour in Bangkok

Canal life, or rather klong life, used to be how the majority of Bangkok lived, until the skyscrapers and (awesome) rooftop bars took over. Taking a tour through the canals is like leaving one world and entering a new world, you can really imagine what it was like 'back in the day'. Our tour was on a traditional Thai long boat and included entry to a puppet show. For more information, check out this post: Canal Tour in Bangkok.

#9. Relax (maybe) with a Thai Massage

Try a Thai massage, it's a weird mixture of being beaten up/doing passive yoga, so for me (as someone who loves kickboxing and yoga) it was perfect. For Tanbay, not so much. At some points it really does hurt A LOT, but afterwards it feels amazing. We had lots of massages all over SE Asia, some were high-end , expensive ones, some were really cheap. All were amazing. Don't leave Bangkok without having one! 

#10. Treat yourself to a luxury hotel

I think the main reason we were chill when we were in Bangkok, was because we got the chance to stay in some very nice hotels, like the Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit. Bangkok is chaotic, and stepping into one of these luxury hotels is like instantly transporting yourself to somewhere more serene. If you're on a budget, consider timing your trip to Bangkok with a special date - we went there for Valentine's day and then again to celebrate our ten year anniversary. Alternatively (or additionally) have a look at hotels.com for the best deals on your favourite hotels. 

#11. Shoot a real gun at a shooting range

You might be interested in firing live ammo at a popular shooting range in Bangkok - one which allows foreigners to shoot guns. As you will be handling real guns, there will be an instructor by your side to make sure that your Bangkok shooting experience is smooth, safe and exciting. Getting to the gun range will take approximately 45 minutes (depending on where you are coming from and how bad the traffic is). At the venue your pre-booked set of weapons will be ready for your shooting event. The weapons include pistols, revolvers, shotguns and rifles. I was surprised to see how popular these programs are for visitors not just from South East Asia and China, but also Europe and North America. Having experienced the adrenalin rush myself I can understand why people are attracted to the live-ammo shooting events. (Though as a pacifist and a vegan I do wish people could keep to these safe and controlled environments only.) 

Why Does Everyone Hate Bangkok?

So we've already given you a few tips for not hating Bangkok: avoid Khao San Road, search for the washing up bowl, stay in a fancy hotel, but there has to be more to it than that right? Bangkok is a lot of people's first impression of South East Asia, and jetlag combined with home sickness can make people biased against a place, especially when exacerbated with things like:

• how busy it is: There are over 10 million people in Bangkok
• how dirty it is: Stinky drains, coakroaches, rats, even certain street food stalls, stinky tuk tuks
• how loud it is: traffic, people trying to sell you things, tuk tuks...

Bangkok is the most contrasting city we've ever come across: bright pink, orange, green and yellow cabs running alongside dirty grey telephone cables, ladies of the night strolling near(ish) monks, super high-end hotels raised above super slums... It can be extremely overwhelming for all your senses. Pair that with a bad taxi experience and/or a bad hotel and Bangkok will leave you with a bad taste in your mouth.  But Bangkok is also the most fun city we've ever come across. We want to help you to love Bangkok like we do. So let us help you deal with taxis:

Tips for Using Taxis in Bangkok

Should you take the pink taxi or the orange taxi or the green/yellow taxis? Don't worry about any of that just remember this one thing: take a metered taxi. Metered taxis have an obvious red light sign in the bottom-right corner of the windscreen. Ask if they will switch the metre on, if they refuse find another taxi, there are SO MANY taxis in Bangkok, but sometimes you might have to take the second or third one you flag down. It's always better to flag down a taxi, because the ones which are stood still (especially in front of hotels) are going to be looking for non-metered passengers. Most metered journeys in Bangkok will cost you less than 100 baht, and most trips through Bangkok to one of there airports will be about 300 baht. Here are some examples:

• Khao San Road to National Stadium BTS Skytrain: 75 Baht
• Ratchathewi Station to Rajadamnern Stadium: 80 Baht
• Amari Watergate to Don Mueang Airport: 200 baht
• Maduzi Hotel to Suvarnabhumi Airport: 280 baht

These are all rough guides, when you get in the taxi (after asking them to put the metre on) the fair will already be at 35 baht, it then goes up slowly in a weird combo of mileage and time (when the taxi's stood still it charges you 2 baht/minute). Taxis are super cheap and super convenient, but if traffic's really bad or if you're squeezing every penny, get the BTS as far as you can, and take a taxi for the last bit. The BTS is really easy to use, it's actually a much better system than most European tube systems (looking at you London). But, like most metros it does get crowded at peak times. The BTS also unfortunately doesn't go across the whole city, places like Wat Pho, Khao San Road and even Don Mueang Airport are impossible to reach without a taxi, and plenty of hotels are more than a 20 minute walk from the station (which will feel like a 200 minute walk if you're carrying your luggage). For more information on Bangkok public transport, try this website, www.transitbangkok.com/ and rome2rio.com.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly: taxis in bangkok don't know any places in bangkok! Even having the address in Thai never seemed to help... it's infuriating. In the end we just took a taxi to a famous landmark or a BTS station and directed them for the last bit or just gave up and walked, which brings me onto my next point very nicely:

Where to Stay in Bangkok, in Which Area?

If you take just one thing away from this post let it be this: book accommodation near the BTS Skytrain or a well known tourist attraction.  Near meaning 5-10 minutes walk from it. You don't want to be right on top of said station or attraction (no sleep) but you don't want to be too far either being near the BTS/attraction will guarantee that your taxi will always find where it it. Because trust us, the taxi won't know where your accommodation is otherwise. Even if it's a nice hotel (which I hope it is), most taxi drivers probably haven't heard of it, and even having the address in Thai never seemed to help us much. SO, grab a hotel nearish a BTS station/attraction for ease of taxi use and for travelling round the city.

Lots of backpackers head straight to Khao San Road and set up camp. Khao San Road is great for meeting other backpackers and for buying lots of touristy souvenirs (which I love btw). But if you're looking for something less backpacker-y and more authentic head over to the Sukhumvit area. This is a more ex-pat like area, full of business people looking posh, it also has some perfect hotels. Here are some of them:

Bangkok Hotels

1. Amari Watergate Bangkok

We stayed at the Amari Watergate for Valentine's Day and it was perfect. It's centrally located and super near the best shopping in Bangkok. As for the hotel itself; it's luxurious and comfortable and they have the best spa area ever with a sauna and a steam room! For up-to-date rates and availability compare prices on hotels.com.

2. Oriental Residence Bangkok

The Oriental Residence is perfect if you want those home comforts (like a kitchen!) but still want the luxuries and conveniences of a hotel. It's also in the safest location in Bangkok. For up-to-date rates and availability compare prices on hotels.com

3. Ma Du Zi Hotel

The Maduzi is our favourite boutique hotel in Bangkok, they go out of their way to do everything they can to make your life easier: eg check-in and check-out is at any time, as is your welcome drink! For up-to-date rates and availability compare prices on hotels.com

Bangkok Accommodation on a Budget

If you're travelling on a budget, you might want to try out these hotels. We haven't personally stayed at these two places, but the reviews seem pretty positive, if you do stay at the Overstay, please let us know what the reviews mean by 'smells like cats' - what do cats smell of?

1. Grand Mandarin Residence

prices from £7.50/night for a Standard Room
Pros: the price, fast wifi;
Cons: outside of the touristy area (though this COULD be considered a pro AND it's only 100 baht to get to the touristy areas.) For up-to-date rates and availability compare prices on hotels.com

2. The Overstay Hostel

prices from £4.50/night for a Double Room
Pros: Cheap, local food nearby, good wifi;
Cons: Smells like cats (?)

3. AirBnB in Bangkok

AirBnB is also a good option in Bangkok, because they offer everything from cheap stays on someone's sofa, all the way up to your own luxury apartment with a private swimming pool. We haven't actually used AirBnB in Bangkok yet, but have used it in many other cities including Chiang Mai, Ho Chi Minh and Manila and we've always loved the experience. 

Wrap Up: Top Things to Do in Bangkok in 3 Days

Bangkok is one of our absolute favourite cities in the whole world and we sincerely hope that you love it too. Don't forget our tips:

• stay in nice hotels 
• only take metred taxis
• find the washing up bowl 
• stay near-ish a BTS station/ famous site

We have also made a video to go with this post: 

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Finally, let us know in the comments below - have you been to Bangkok? Did you love it or loath it? What would be your advice for first timers?

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ABOUTME

We overland. We eat plants and fungi. We live outside as much as possible. We are all connected. A female travel blogger overlanding and writing about ecotourism, ethical and sustainable travel, socially conscious travel and housesitting. An online travel magazine since 2015.