Bangkok was my very first taste of Asia, and boy, was it a total immersion. Markets overflowing with exotic food and goods, street vendors calling out prices, ladies offering Thai massages from their storefronts, and the sheer mayhem of the streets overwhelmed me at first.

But amidst the chaos and muggy Bangkok heat was so much to love. Below I’ve suggested my top things to do in Bangkok whether you have one, two, or three days.

Day 1 in Bangkok: Top temples and a classic market

Start your morning at Wat Pho to see the Giant Golden Buddha and get your first taste of Thai temples in their grandest form. You get a free bottle of water with your 200 THB entry – make sure you cash it in and stay hydrated to get ahead of the Bangkok heat. 

Note: to visit a temple, your shoulders, knees, and midriff must be covered! 

The hundreds of Buddhas will leave you hungry. A street food tour will fill you up and remove any worries you might have about the quality of Thai street vendors. Choose one from Bangkok Food Tours that looks good to you!

While you’re fresh and full, now’s a good time to make your way to Chatuchak Weekend Market. Walking through the 8,000 stalls is the best immersion into the absolute mayhem that is a Thai market. Looking to get a souvenir or top up your wardrobe for cheap? This is your chance.

Live like a local and grab a water taxi to your next stop. Don’t let them put you on the touristy hop-on, hop-off blue boats. Instead, get on one full of locals and ride for less than 20 THB down the river to Wat Arun. 

This temple – on the far side of the river from the rest of Bangkok – is best appreciated as the sun sets behind it. For just 50 THB, you can see the stunning white walls and intricate tiling up close. 

From the pier, get another water taxi to the Asiatique Night Market area and head to a Calypso Ladyboy Show. Ladyboys are notorious in Bangkok’s nightlife scene… you’ll be in for a funny and entertaining evening!

After the show, wander around the Asiatique Night Market, grab some Durian fruit from one of the stalls, and then wash it down with a beer, a smoothie, or an ice cream – believe me, you’ll need it. 

Day 2: Bangkok’s eccentric side

Having hit many of the major spots in day one, dive deeper into the experiences of Bangkok today. 

Grab a bite to eat or some coffee to start the morning.

After breakfast, weave through the cramped conditions and packed shops of Chinatown down to the 24-hour Pak Klong Flower Market.

Have traditional red or green (or both!) Thai curry at Baan Tha Tien Cafe. 

Ride the canal boat (an adventure in itself) to Jim Thompson’s House. After you tour the eclectic house and collections of the man who saved Thailand’s silk industry and died a mysterious death in the highlands of Cambodia, hop back on the canal boat and ride on to the Nana stop. 

Your feet will be sore by now from all the walking – let one of the numerous Thai massage parlors sort you out with either a full body massage or just a foot rub.

Dine at Pantaree (a small restaurant serving classic Thai food) or Daniel Thaiger (if you’re craving one of Bangkok’s best burgers) for dinner.

Either stay here and embrace the Nana nightlife with a ping pong show or at a ladyboy bar, or attend a Muay Thai fight at Rajadamnern Stadium (the oldest in the city)… or both, if you’re really feeling up to it. 

Day 3: Go green!

Time to escape the smog of the city on Bangkok’s Green Lung. Read my guide on getting to and around it, including how much it costs. 

It’s an easy ride over and you can rent a bike for the day for cheap. Make sure you stop by the Bang Nam Phueng floating market while you’re there and grab a variety of street foods to fuel the rest of your ride.

Back in Bangkok, grab dinner, and finish with a beer on one of Bangkok’s rooftop bars. Or, do one of the nightlife activities you missed yesterday. 

Alternative things to do in Bangkok

Lumpini Park

This is not a must-visit if you only have three days, but with more time you can do some people watching, casual cycling, or peddling a swan boat around the peaceful lake. 

Wat Samphran Dragon Temple

If architecture is your thing, then this Dragon Temple is definitely your thing. 40 kilometers (that’s 24 miles for my U.S. peeps) from the city center of Bangkok, a massive life-sized dragon wraps around the entirety of the pink exterior. 

Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles

I’ve only heard good things from people who have visited this free museum, which sits just outside the packed, and very expensive Grand Palace.

Brunch at Punjab Grill

I adore Thai curries, but there’s something about an Indian curry that makes my heart flutter (okay, my mouth water). So when our friends in Bangkok suggested a 3-hour brunch sesh at Punjab Grill with all-you-can-eat Indian food and an all-you-can-drink option, I was there before you could say peshwari naan five times fast.

This brunch only happens on Sundays, so if you find yourself in Bangkok on the day of rest, have a hankering for Indian food, and are okay with spending three hours of your day eating, then you’ve found it. 

Things not to do in Bangkok

Grand Palace

Everyone from the Lonely Planet to casual bloggers recommend a visit to this palace, but I’m here to tell you to skip it. 

It is the most expensive thing to do in the city, and you’ll be wandering around a complex reading about the year things were built (honestly, the info given is so dry) with thousands of other tourists at the same time, even if you go early. 

Seriously, swallow your FOMO and skip this touristy attraction. 

Khao San Road

Another one for the only-filled-with-Western-people-in-elephant-pants book. You will be heckled to buy everything, take tuk tuks, get a massage, and eat in every overpriced restaurant, all without authenticity and only with other tourists. Skip it!

Some people skip Bangkok on their trips to Thailand, but I think it’s definitely worth a visit. Even if you only give it a couple of days, this incredible city will surprise you.

Have you been to Bangkok? What were your favorite things to do and how long did you stay? I’d love to know!

The post Bangkok itinerary: 1-3 days in Thailand’s bustling capital appeared first on Meg's Gone Rogue.