How to Spend a Weekend in Bangkok
Spending a weekend in Bangkok is the perfect introduction to Thailand. And boy is it an introduction! This is a the perfect two days in Bangkok itinerary for first-time visitors to this vibrant and bustling city.
A weekend in Bangkok was just enough to get a taste of this buzzing city. Bangkok is a cacophony of sights, sounds, and smells; it's chaotic and polluted, but also luxurious and full of history. Bangkok can feel a bit gritty, and I understand why some travellers don’t love it, but it’s a must-visit if you’re in Thailand. Let’s start with a few basics for a weekend in Bangkok.
Getting to Bangkok
As Thailand’s biggest city, there’s no shortage of transit options to Bangkok, including planes, busses, and trains. Bangkok is serviced by two airports: Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Don Mueang Airport (DMK). Most international and some domestic flights land at Suvarnabhumi Airport, whereas Don Mueang Airport takes fewer international flights and more domestic.
Getting around Bangkok
Getting around Bangkok is easy with public transit, which includes the BTS (Skytrain), MRT (subway), busses, and a river taxi network. Taking taxis and using ride share apps is cheap, but with the notorious Bangkok traffic, hopping in a car can be slower than taking transit. Consider jumping on a tuk tuk or on the back of a motorcycle taxi (both of which you can also hire on Grab) for a cheaper, sometimes faster, and definitely more exhilarating ride.
Currency in Bangkok
Like the rest of Thailand, Bangkok uses the Thai Baht. When it comes to getting your hands on some baht, either bring cash from home to exchange or plan to use ATMs (which do have If you can avoid it, it’s best not to exchange money at the airport. The best place to exchange money is at a reputable exchange office in the city, such as Super Rich, or at one of Thailand’s major banks.
Budget Stays
During my weekend in Bangkok, I stayed at the Barn and Bed hostel. It's a capsule hotel and the rooms were clean and fairly quiet. My capsule was small, but the location was perfect. It always pays off to be near a transit hub, and this hostel is steps away from Phrom Phong train station. It's also just down the street from some of Bangkok’s best malls. I’d absolutely recommend staying there, especially if you are a solo traveller.
Now onto the Bangkok itinerary.
Here are some must-do activities for a weekend in Bangkok:
Day 1: Shop your way through Chatuchak Weekend Market
Chatuchak Market is gigantic, with around 8000 stalls. It’s totally overwhelming, and you’re bound to get lost (but that’s just part of the fun).
Vendors sell a huge range of products, such as clothes, housewares, antiques, souvenirs, and also so much food. It's a dizzying experience to wander through the colourful stalls and immerse yourself in the scents, sounds, and the heat.
The market is open on Saturdays and Sundays, all day (9am to 6pm). It is organized into sections based on what vendors sell (maps are available). Some sections are also open on weekdays. But for the full experience, it’s best to come during a weekend trip in Bangkok.
Eat & Drink on Khaosan Road
Khaosan Road is Bangkok’s notorious backpacker’s area. It’s full of hostels, restaurants, nightlife, and street vendors (scorpion on a stick anyone?). And it’s absolutely chock-full of tourists. I’m not sure I’d want to visit Khaosan Road again, but it should be part of every first trip to Bangkok!
I remember sitting in a restaurant on Khaosan Road, people watching, eating curry, and sweating buckets (the spicy food and the humidity will do that to you). It was one of those, “wow, I’m really here” moments.
It’s easy to eat and drink the night away on Khaosan Road, and plenty of travellers party here late into the night. With such an international crowd, Khaosan Road is a great place to meet fellow travellers.
I’m a slow traveller, so the market and Khaosan Road took me the entire day. But if you want to add another activity to your two day Bangkok itinerary, just scroll to the end of this post for some more ideas.
If you’re from a cold climate (like my Canadian self), it’s a big shock to your body to be outside in the heat and sun all day, so it really doesn’t hurt to take things slow. Make sure to drink plenty of water, apply sunscreen, wear a hat, and take some shade breaks. That’s the advice I wish I had before my first weekend in Bangkok! I did a poor job of the above and ended up with heat stroke and a wonderful sunburn, both of which were avoidable.
Day 2
Dress appropriately! Day two of this weekend in Bangkok itinerary is going to be a temple day. This means:
Cover your knees and shoulders (or bring something to cover up with)
Remember that these temples are religious sites and should be treated with respect
Do some research on etiquette: Trip Savvy has a great guide on Thailand temple etiquette
Wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off (not essential, but it will make your life easier)
Take a river ferry
Many of Bangkok’s famous temples are along the Chao Phraya River. Ferries chug up and down the river daily and give tourists a unique view of the city. The ferries are charming, loud, and your best option for temple hopping. Even if you don’t use a ferry for transit, it’s worth just hopping on a route once to experience the city from the water.
Marvel at the spires of Wat Arun
Wat Arun’s 70-meter tall main spire glitters over the Chao Phraya river. The gorgeous white temple is covered in intricate mosaics which are made of broken bits of ceramic. Wat Arun is one of Bangkok’s most famous temples and is one of the most visited sites in all of Thailand.
I went during the day, and it was amazing to see the mosaic details in the sunlight. I heard that the temple is also spectacular at night when it is all lit up.
Wander through Wat Pho
Wat Pho is famous for its giant gold reclining Buddha statue, which sits (well, lies) at 46 metres long and 15 metres high. The size of the statue is incredible, but what makes Wat Pho even more interesting is its history.
Wat Pho is one of the oldest temples in Thailand. The reclining Buddha was built in 1848 and is the largest Buddha in the country. The temple is notable for being the centre of education for traditional Thai medicine and massage
Wat Pho came up on my radar because of the famous Buddha statue. I didn’t realize it also has a sprawling and ornate temple grounds. The temple grounds were equally as exciting to explore. It's much larger than first meets the eye, and it's easy to spend a couple hours wandering through.
Wat Pho is very close to the Grand Palace, so if that's on your two days in Bangkok itinerary, you can visit both locations in one day.
We finished off day two by going to the mall to relax and cool down (EmQuartier was our mall of choice since it was near our hostel), but if you’re looking for more things to do in Bangkok, here are a couple of other activities to add to the itinerary.
Other activities to do in a weekend in Bangkok:
Visit the Grand Palace
We chose not to visit the Grand Palace because it’s a little pricey (500 baht/ ~$15 USD) and we were on a shoestring budget. The Grand Palace is huge, and it is one of Bangkok’s most famous sites. Within the Palace, there are temples, courtyards, and gardens to explore.
Relax at the mall
Sweet, sweet air conditioning. We ended up at the mall at least once a day, just to cool off and grab a snack. Bangkok’s malls are huge and you can find tons of international brands, local goods, or convincing brand-name knockoffs, depending on which mall you visit. It’s the best way to escape the heat and relax for a few hours.
I honestly think mall hopping through Bangkok was one of my favourite things to do. Malls are more than just malls here, they're hubs of activity with restaurants, theatres, bowling alleys, rooftop gardens, and more. Some were so beautifully decorated that they felt like an attraction within themselves.
Visit the floating markets
Arnie Chou // Pexels.com
I can't wait to go back to Thailand and experience a floating market. It's one of the unique experiences I missed on my first visit. Floating markets are on every must-do in Bangkok list—it’s such an experience to float past vendors on a long-tail boat, eating and snacking the day away.
Wander around the Bangkok National Museum
Bangkok National Museum has Thailand's largest number of Thai artifacts and art in one location. It's within walking distance from the Grand Palace, so these two attractions are easy to squeeze into one day. The museum is constantly expanding and visiting is a great way to learn more about Thai art and culture.
There's so much to do in a weekend in Bangkok.
In fact, you really just can't fit in all in one weekend. If you have the time, I'd recommend staying a little longer. This is one of my favourite lists of what to do in Bangkok.
Bangkok is beautiful and frenetic, and leaves an impression on all of its visitors. Whether you’re just passing through or making a longer pit stop, a weekend in Bangkok is an experience you don't want to miss.