“One night in Bangkok and the world’s your oyster.” What about two days in Bangkok, though? Don’t worry pals, I’ve got you covered on that one. And if you’re confused about the ‘world’s your oyster’ reference, that comes straight from the musical Chess, written by Benny and Björn (of ABBA fame) and Tim Rice. The song was actually banned in Thailand, but I’m telling you now: one night in Bangkok is simply not enough. With two days in Bangkok, you can pack in a lot, but I personally cannot wait to go back to the city and see more. I love it here.
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In all honesty, Bangkok was never a city that measured highly on my radar of places to visit. I’m not much of a city person, and although I was intrigued by Thailand, my first visit was actually only because it was easier for us to fly home via Bangkok; Suvarnabhumi airport is a massive international hub, after all. So after a whistle-stop tour of Vietnam, we flew from Hanoi to our final pitstop in Southeast Asia: three nights, and two days in Bangkok.
I’m delighted to say that I fully fell in love with this city.
Is two days in Bangkok enough?
It’s surprising how much you can do with only 48 hours in Bangkok, until you realise how easy it is to navigate your way around the city. The public transport network is extensive and easy to use, and taxis are generally quite affordable for western visitors.
But before you even step foot in Thailand, I recommend downloading two apps which are invaluable for exploring. First of all Grab, which is southeast Asia’s answer to Uber; it works in basically the same way and means you can travel across the city without carrying wads of cash with you.
Secondly, make sure you have data while you’re there. There’s no point having a taxi app that you can’t actually use, is there? I used an eSim from Airalo whilst travelling in Thailand and Vietnam, which worked perfectly and meant I didn’t have to faff about finding physical sim cards in each destination.
So while two days in Bangkok is rather short, it’s definitely possible to see a lot if you plan carefully.
Two Days in Bangkok: the itinerary in brief
- From the airport to the city
- Where to stay in Bangkok
- Day One in Bangkok: Chinatown and a floating market
- Day Two in Bangkok: The Grand Palace, Thonburi and the Artist’s House, a night in the city
Arriving in Bangkok: from Don Muang airport to the city
Bangkok has two airports: the mahoosive international one, Suvarnabhumi (BKK), and Don Muang (DMK), which is mainly used for domestic flights and budget airlines. Basically, Don Muang is to Bangkok what Stansted is to London or LaGuardia is to New York.
That being said, Don Muang is much closer to the city centre than you might think. The A4 bus runs between the airport and the Khao San Road in about 20 minutes. Although some buses in Bangkok have started to accept card, it’s definitely advisable to carry cash to pay on board; this is the most common way of paying.
However, with only a full two days in Bangkok, we decided that the most time-effective way of getting from the airport to Chinatown was by taxi. We went straight to the taxi rank at the airport and didn’t have to queue for too long, although if you’d rather then it’s possible to pre-book a shuttle from the airport to the city.
Where we stayed for two days in Bangkok
We spent our three nights and two days in Bangkok in Chinatown, and our hotel couldn’t have been more perfect. The Shanghai Mansion is decorated in truly opulent style throughout, from the beautiful lobby and restaurant areas to the stunning bedrooms, and after a whole variety of accommodation styles during our travels in Vietnam- a mountain homestay, shared city apartments, and a cabin on a boat, to name but a few- a stay here was the perfect end to our trip. The staff were also so, so helpful, from check-in right until the very end (and a late check-out).
Check rates and availability of the Shanghai Mansion Bangkok.
You might think it’s a strange choice to visit Bangkok for only two days and decide to stay in the heart of Chinatown, but this is a wonderfully vibrant part of the city with great transport links, and it’s also one of the world’s largest Chinatowns. Even if you don’t stay in this area, I definitely recommend a visit.
Two Days in Bangkok: our itinerary
Day One in Bangkok
Explore Chinatown
You’ll find Chinatowns in many a big city across the world- from San Francisco, London and New York City, to lesser-known cities like Port Louis, the tiny capital of Mauritius. But none of them are quite like Bangkok’s Chinatown. Yaowarat Road runs like a dragon’s spine through the heart of the area, which is lined with colourful signs and often busy with traffic. There are gold shops galore here, as well as plenty of food stalls selling all manner of delicious Chinese and Thai food.
Although Chinese immigrants had been living and working in Thailand since at least the 14th century, this particular Chinatown’s life really began in the late 18th century. Prior to then, Thailand was generally very accepting of immigrants, and for a long time the majority of Teochew Thai-Chinese people in Bangkok lived on land adjacent to King Taksin’s palace. (In case you’re curious, the Teochew are of Han Chinese descent, from the Guangdong region of southeast China. Here’s a great article all about their history.) When King Rama I came along, he evicted the Teochew people from their homes and ordered them to live on an undeveloped patch of land outside the city walls; but the Teochew turned lemons into lemonade and built a neighbourhood which very quickly began to thrive again.
One must-see in Chinatown is Wat Traimit, which aside from being a stunningly pretty temple, is home to a 5.5 tonne golden Buddha statue. The statue was once completely enshrouded in plaster, and it was only discovered to contain the golden Buddha when it was accidentally dropped during transportation. (What a magical find!) The temple is also home to the Yaowarat Chinese Heritage Centre, where you can learn about the history of Chinatown and the first Chinese immigrants to Thailand (or Siam, as it was known back then.)
Where to eat and drink in Chinatown
Without a shadow of a doubt, the most important thing you have to do when in Chinatown is eat. We had some downright delicious meals here, both Thai and Chinese, and you shouldn’t miss out on a snack or a drink or two from a street stall either. If you’re feeling a deeper delve into everything that Chinatown has to offer, a street food tour is a great idea.
In all honesty, the best thing to do in Bangkok’s Chinatown is just head out into the streets, and follow your nose. Stop at any and every stall that looks interesting. For street food, we loved this little restaurant spot down a side street.
And for coffee (or alcohol if you’d rather) and some of the most delicious cakes in a beautiful setting, head to Wallflowers Cafe. You can’t miss this pretty cafe on a corner- it’s almost completely shrouded in foliage, and the interior is also rather swathed in nature. I didn’t check out the rooftop, but I’ve heard it’s a great spot in the evenings.
See a floating market. (But see it the right way.)
There is so much to see and do in Chinatown that you could easily spend an entire day there, but if you’re up for a really jam-packed itinerary for your two days in Bangkok, you might presume that this afternoon is the perfect time to head to a floating market. But I am telling you now: learn from our mistakes.
If you have a mere two days in this glorious city, one of those days (or afternoons), should probably not be spent attempting to reach the Amphawa Floating Market. The market is wonderful, but here’s why it’s not a good idea to visit with not a lot of time on your hands. (At least, not when relying on public transport to get you there and back.)
In fact, none of the ‘Bangkok Floating Markets’ are technically actually in Bangkok. Amphawa Floating Market is about an hour and a half away by road (longer if using public transport like we did), and the larger- and busier- Damnoen Saduak is about an hour and forty minutes.
If you’re really desperate to see a floating market during your two days in Bangkok, my personal opinion is that the best way to do that is by booking yourself a guide. This is a really popular and highly-rated tour that takes you to the Mae Klong Railway Market and on to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. You’ll have to leave Bangkok early in the morning, but with limited time in the city it’s wise to cut out any faffing with public transport connections.
Day Two in Bangkok
Visit the Grand Palace
Hit the ground running with a visit to the Grand Palace, which in my opinion is one of the most important places to visit in the city, whether you have two days in Bangkok or two months.
This stunning complex of buildings became the Thai king’s official place of residence and home of his royal court and government when it was constructed in 1782, and it is truly a sight to behold. The sheer opulence and detail in this palace is breathtaking, from the mirrored and mosaic surfaces of walls, to golden claws and faces of the statues and detailed paintings and carvings on the interior walls and ceilings. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is at the very heart of it all, and is the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.
Inside the Grand Palace of Bangkok: In Photos
After the Siamese Revolution in 1932, all government agencies were moved out of the palace, and the king no longer resides here, although the palace remains an important emblem of Thailand. And although there was a revolution, Thailand does still have a king. But the monarchy is now a constitutional monarchy, not an absolute monarchy. Which means, like the King of England, the royals are more symbolic and not actually able to make any decisions about how the country is governed.
As an extremely sacred location, the dress code for the Grand Palace is super strict. Shoulders must be covered, no shorts, tight clothes like leggings, see through clothes or cropped tops are allowed, and if you wear a skirt or dress the length must be below the knee. (I actually ran to the 7/1 1 to buy a pack of safety pins as I was so worried that the buttons down the front of my dress left my knees a little too exposed to the elements.)
We arrived at the palace early in the morning so that we could be amongst the first to enter and not queue too long at the entrance gate. If you’d rather book ahead check out a guided tour like this one of the Royal Road and its landmarks, or this tour of only the Grand Palace.
See a traditional Khon performance
What is Khon? That would be traditional masked Thai dance, and I’m telling you now- it is a beautiful style of dance to witness. The dances normally feature four main groups of characters- lords, ladies, ogres and monkeys- and the movements can be slow, graceful and elegant, or strong and acrobatic, appearing more like a martial art than a dance. Combine these movements with the intricately embroidered costumes, elaborate golden headpieces and incredible monkey masks, and you’ve got a recipe for something spellbinding.
Watching a Khon performance in Bangkok was one of my favourite things that I did during our two days in the city, and it was actually included in our entry ticket to the Grand Palace. There are performances in the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre from Monday to Friday at 1pm, 2.30pm and 4pm, and a bus leaves from the Grand Palace half an hour before each performance to take visitors to the theatre. (It’s possible to buy tickets directly from the theatre as well, for 400 bhat.)
Witness a more peaceful side of Bangkok at the Artist’s House
Bangkok is a crazy city, and can be a bit of a sensory overload if you’re not generally a city person. But there are pockets of tranquility to be found, if you’re prepared to go a bit out of your way.
The Artist’s House is on the banks of a sleepy canal (khlong) in the sleepy Thonburi district, and I think it’s worth a visit for several reasons. Firstly- if, like me, you like to get slightly off the beaten path and love a wander round a quiet area, simply walking through Thonburi to reach the Artist’s House is a lovely experience. The leafy lanes are lined with houses (and spirit houses, for the spirits to live in), and populated mostly with locals and bicycles. It feels almost like being in the countryside.
Secondly, for The Artist’s House itself. Once you reach the banks of the canal (it’s about a 20 minute walk from the Bang Wa Skytrain station), follow the boardwalk all the way along, past a few little restaurants. The atmosphere here is worlds apart from the gridlocked roads of the city. Women hang laundry outside their houses, and painted long-tail boats glide calmly through the water; the only noise disturbance is the occasional hearty splash from beneath the surface, where giant fish swim and clamour to the top when handfuls of fish food is thrown in.
The Artist’s House is a 200 year old wooden building, where people of all ages gather to create art. Mostly locals, mixed with a few foreign visitors, paint, draw and craft here by the canal, and inside you can buy handmade gifts, grab a coffee from the little cafe, or even (if you time it right) watch a free traditional puppet show.
Check opening hours for the Artist’s House.
Head out for an evening at the Speakeasy
After dinner in the city, you might be wondering how best to spend an evening in Bangkok. Don’t get me wrong, Khao San Road is world famous as a party destination, particularly for backpackers. And then of course there are the other red light districts like Phat Pong and Soi Cowboy, flashing neon and luring all manner of (mostly) men into their bars and clubs. Let’s face it, the red light districts of the world can be great places for people-watching and partying, but also seedy and, depending on your personality type, rather overwhelming. If you’re up for something a bit, well, chic-er- I’ve got you.
We absolutely loved Havana Social, a bar and club tucked away in a little alleyway. In true speakeasy style, you’ll have to locate the phone booth and type in the code to gain entrance (there’s someone on hand to assist if you’re not sure). Inside, every room looks like shabby-chic Havana in the 1940s and 50s, and the music fits the scenery. The vibes are good, the cocktails are great, and it feels like stepping back in time.
Go for a tuktuk ride. It’s important.
It would be criminal to go to Bangkok and not grab a ride in a tuk tuk. It’s a truly touristy thing to do, but there’s no denying that whizzing through the dazzling lights of the city in one of these colourful little vehicles is seriously fun. Seriously.
You can either hail one on the street- and make sure you negotiate a price before you take a ride, as there are no meters- or book one in advance as part of a tour. This is an extremely highly-rated nighttime tuk tuk tour which takes you on a culinary journey through the city.
I left Bangkok wanting more, and like they always say: it’s better to leave them wanting more than wishing they had less, isn’t it?
Two days in Bangkok was honestly nowhere near enough time to fully explore, but it’s possible to give it a really good go. We managed to cram in a whole combination of activities, learning as much as we could about the city and and its culture, whilst keeping a healthy mixture of touristic landmarks with slightly more off-the-beaten-path experiences. This city is absolutely spellbinding- even at the height of its sweltering summer heat- and I am so incredibly excited to return to Thailand after this bitesize taster I had.