You are now ready to land in Thailand and you have two or even three days to devote to the visit the capital, whether you are dedicating this visit to the beginning or end of your stay, or even if you plan to do part of it upon arrival and the rest before returning, the question then arises: what should you not miss?
An obvious question that I had never really answered until now. So here is a suggestion of how to fill your two or three days to visit the main sites of bangkok.
1st day in Bangkok
What better way to start your first day than to discover the must-sees of the old town, which I have already dedicated an article to: Bangkok Essentials in One Day.
If you have all the details on this other article dedicated to this day, I give you here what you need to remember:
1- Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaeo)
2- Wat Arun (temple of dawn)
3- Boat trip on the canals (khlongs)
4- Flower market
5- Wat Pho (temple of the Reclining Buddha)
6- Optional: evening in a “rooftop” bar
The advantage of this day is that everything is grouped together in the same place, this avoids wasting time in transport and will be even more ideal if your hotel is located near the Bang Lamphu district, around Khao San Road.
The Grand Palace and Wat Pho are next door to each other, and Wat Arun is easily accessible across the river from Tha Thien Pier (just opposite Wat Pho). It's a small ferry that currently costs 5 baht.
From Wat Arun, you will find a longtail boat rental service (the famous longtails boat) to take a tour of the khlongs. You can also ask the latter to drop you off at the pier near the flower market.
You will then have to walk 500m to return to Wat Pho, which is a little quieter to visit at the end of the day and where you can attend a ceremony with the monks singing at 17 p.m. in the building at the back of the complex.
2nd day in Bangkok
After having seen the essentials of the old town, I suggest you take an interest in other districts of the city. In theory, this would give this:
- Wat Saket (Golden Mountain)
- Jim Thompson House
- Siam District – Pratunam
- Chinatown
Map summarizing the sites of this 2nd day in Bangkok
1- Wat Saket (Golden Mountain)
Visiting time: 1 hour
We start with a temple a stone's throw from the historic center. Le What Saket, his full name What Saket Ratcha sack Maha Wihan (available in thaï : วัดสระเกศราชวรมหาวิหาร) is nicknamed the temple of the golden mountain, because it is characterized by its chedi gilded at the summit, dominating a small artificial mound of 80 m, vestige of a construction started by King Rama III (reigned from 1824 to 1851).
The building collapsed due to the soft ground on which it is built, right next to two canals. Abandoned for a time, the partial construction became covered with vegetation, giving it the appearance of a small hill. It is from this period that he earned his nickname Phu Khao (mountain), the hill.
His successor Rama IV (1851-1868), then had a small one built chedi at the top. The latter was completed during the reign of Rama V. (one- 1910). It was then that an important relic of the Buddha, coming from India, was enshrined under the chedi.
By the 50s, the temple had its current appearance, after its hill was surrounded by a concrete wall to prevent the earth from eroding. The latest change, and I learned about it while writing this article, but after spending 111 in the What Saket, the famous Buddha relic has moved.
And I'll give you a thousand guesses, it's been in France since 2009! Indeed, at the time, the Patriarch of Thailand donated this sacred relic to Buddhist Union from France. The latter has since been enshrined in the pagoda in the Bois de Vincennes.
To enjoy the temple, it is un a bit of a "fitness" visit, because to climb the What Saket, you will have to climb the 377 (small) steps of the temple. But the view is worth it, because you will then dominate all of Bangkok with a 360° panorama.
On the way up, the first part is covered, often with a refreshing artificial mist. An artificial waterfall adds to this somewhat unrealistic setting in the heart of Bangkok. Before lingering in the covered area at the top of the steps (keep your shoes on for once), I invite you to go all the way to the top and walk around the famous golden chedi.
You will see on your right the towers forming the “ skyline » from Bangkok, facing the city center, you will realize the extent of the metropolis. We can also clearly see the Mahanakhon Tower, the tallest tower in Bangkok to date at over 300 m.
On the other side, you will be facing the old city. You should then spot the Grand Palace, but also Wat Pho and Wat Arun, which are among the classics that you should have seen on your first day if you follow the instructions in the previous article.
On one side, below, you can see the dwellings of the temple monks while in the distance, you will be facing Chinatown. Once you have done the tour, you can go down a notch to linger under the chedi, in the prayer area.
Apart from its "hill", the temple is rarely visited, but it has its charm and contains a few surprises, be curious;-)
Getting to Wat Saket
If you are staying near Khao San Road (Rambuttri, Phra Athit, Samsen Soi 1 to 4, ), it is quite possible to get there on foot. Just walk up the main avenue of Ratchadamnoen and with a map you should easily find it. Otherwise, there are tuk tuks.
If you are coming from the Siam district, Sukhumvit or somewhere along the San Saep canal, you can take the public boat that runs there, Wat Saket being not far from the latter's terminus.
Normally, you should arrive through the back entrance, towards the carpenters' quarters. There will surely be some tuk tuk parked in front (don't take them by the way, they are mostly scammers). Once inside the temple grounds, head right to reach the entrance stairs, there is a direction of ascent, if you see other steps without a counter, it is because it is the descent (and it's not good to cheat).
There was a time when this temple was still free to visit. (I'm talking about only 4/5 years ago years). Since the massive arrival of Chinese tourists in Thailand, the What Saket, although still untouched by the excessive number of tourists, has become chargeable, initially rising to 20 Baht, then 50 Baht a year later.
And if previously the outfit was not particularly restricted, the rules have now become stricter. (afterwards of course, it is a Temple). Keep in mind that you must have your knees covered as well as your shoulders and no low-cut tops for ladies.
There are sarongs available to rent on site if you don't want to add another layer of clothing to your body all day.
Good to know
2- Jim Thompson House
Visiting time: 1 hour
La Jim Thompson's house is a museum located in the heart of the Siam district, the commercial center of Bangkok. The place contrasts quite a bit with the modern buildings surrounding the house composed of a group of traditional Thai houses on stilts (if we ignore the Ban Krua district located just across the canal, I talk about it below).
Built Since 1953, the one that today serves as a museum was once Jim's home Thompson, an American businessman, known for having revived the silk industry in Thailand. While his disappearance in 1967 remains a mystery, his legacy is well known. Jim Thompson having become a recognized brand producing silk clothing, ties, bags and other accessories.
But the house is a bit like a showcase of this heritage, a mixing between cultures thai and western, whether from a craft or architectural point of view.
Jim Thompson was an architect by training, he furnished his house with European touches while mixing character Thai of these teak wood houses. In addition, he was a great art lover and collected statues and ancient objects that are still visible today in the decoration that makes up the house.
Appreciable point, the tour is in French and there is little waiting even if it can be crowded. To complete the visit, I invite you to go to the original district where silk fabric was made at the time when Jim Thompson had settled on the banks of the San Canal Saep.
This neighborhood, Ban source, just across the canal, still has two houses producing silk rolls on a small scale, on an artisanal basis. To learn more, I invite you to read my article dedicated to Jim Thompson's house).
Getting to Jim Thompson's house
If the house is easily accessible by BTS (the overhead metro), stopping at the National station Stadium then taking the exit 1 (Exit 1), again, I assume that you are following the recommendations and therefore the order of this article.
In which case, you would arrive since What Saket. In that case, it's by boat that it is the most direct and easy way to reach the house. To do this, join the canal located not far from the golden mountain, on the right when leaving the entrance of the street Boripat (carpenters street).
The quay " Phanfa Bridge » will be located just after the bridge of the same name (Phanfa). This is the terminus, so take any boat that just arrives. The tickets are taken into the boat directly and cost only 9 Learn More.
Get off at the station Sling Hua Chang Pier (there will be two stops before).
Good to know
3- Siam District – Pratunam
Visiting time: varies depending on your mood and shopping desires
As such, you don't have to stop there. But it is an opportunity to get a glimpse of another side of the city and not just see the historical aspect of it.
From Jim Thompson's house, I suggest you experience the contrasts that can be seen in Bangkok, passing from the quiet neighborhood of the house to the heart of the commercial and modern frenzy. This little tour is basically to join the sky train (BTS) at Siam station and continue your day to Chinatown.
Personally, when I visit a city, I like to see both the old and the new, because it is a whole that makes up a city and not just one aspect or another that should predominate.
I say this because some people would normally not be thrilled with the idea of seeing shops and wealth spread out before their eyes, assuming that you can see it elsewhere, and that it is not really Thai "culture". But it is still an integral part of Thai life. Many people think that these department stores are aimed at wealthy tourists and that is a poor understanding of the country.
Inequalities are great in Thailand, it's a fact, especially when you arrive from the small neighboring district of Ban Krua. But there is a wide range of the population appreciating the many shops, restaurants that can be discovered sheltered from the rain when it's the season, and above all, in the cool.
To do this, return to the boat dock where you should have arrived if your day is still based on this article. And continue under the bridge. Walking along the sidewalk, you will pass the entrance to the Palace of one of the princesses and then arrive just after at Siam Discovery.
Go through the building, then you will then enter another shopping center, Siam Center. It appears to be just another shopping centre since its recent complete renovation, but this isone of the city's first shopping centers, present since 1973.
Same, cross it, but going up one floor at a given moment. Follow the signs for the BTS, but exit towards the esplanade in front rather than the BTS station (which will be on your right). You will then be on the forecourt of the Siam Paragon, one of the city's iconic shopping centers, built in 2006 to replace a large hotel.
Behind you will then be the imposing station of the aerial train, SIAM, where the lines cross Silom et Sukhumvit. If you are at all curious, I invite you to take a tour inside Siam Paragon. On the 3rd floor, you can even see windows displaying luxury cars such as Roll Royce, Aston Martin or Porsche to name just a few.
If you cross the building, you will arrive at the basement area dedicated to catering and in particular its food center, a sort of canteen with a wide choice of dishes. There is also a giant aquarium in the basement, the SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World. Once you have done the tour as you wish, you will have enjoyed a bit of freshness, it will be time to join the BTS platform at Siam station and look for the Silom Line platform (direction Bang Wa).
Good to know
4- Chinatown
Visiting time: approximately 2 hours to ++
Chinatown represents one of Bangkok's most iconic historic districts. Firstly, by its size, Bangkok's Chinatown being one of the largest in the world (excluding China) but also by its particularly teeming appearance, day and night.
Because if in day cIt is a lively area with many shops located there, and in the evening it gives way to a whole series of street restaurants lined up along the main street. Many offer seafood and seafood specialties, blending Thai and Chinese flavors.
Chinatown is a maze of alleys where you can find everything, among the shops and restaurants, Chinese temples, you come across stalls with food galore, tea and spices, shops dedicated to the religious aspect and beliefs but also all kinds of low-cost products that can be bought in bulk, bags, shoes, costume jewelry, you name it.
Again, assuming you are still following the recommendations in this article. So to sum up, you have just visited Jim's house. Thompson, a quick tour of the Siam district and you will normally arrive by metro. So, based on this premise, here is what route to take in Chinatown to get a good overview.
Wat Traimit and the Golden Buddha
And we start with one of the flagship elements of this district, the temple of the Golden Buddha, and its imposing statue made of 5,5 tons of gold.At 3 m, it is the largest gold statue in the world. Worked in the so-called style of Sukhothai, its exact age and origin remain a mystery to this day. Several elements tend to indicate that this statue was created 700 years ago and came from India.
The temple is located right next to the large gate marking the official entrance to Chinatown (as is usually the case in all Chinatowns around the world).
This temple with an atypical history is located not far from Hua Lamphong station, from where you should arrive via the underground metro (MRT, see section getting to Wat Traimit).
By atypical, I mean that the statue housed here was once located in a temple in Ayutthaya, and was for a long time ignored as to its true value, and only revealed by chance much later.
To summarize, the precious statue was saved from looting by being covered in plaster during the war between Siam and Burmese, just before the fall of the ancient capital, more than 200 years ago. Apparently becoming a statue like so many others, it remained in that state in the field of ruins that Ayutthaya had become.
When Bangkok was founded in 1782, as many statues as possible were brought back in good condition to be placed in the new temples being built in the new capital. The statue is then transported among others by boat via the Chao Phraya and placed in a small temple on the banks of the river. In the early 30s, the temple in question was abandoned and outdated, and there was no hesitation in razing it to make way for development work on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Although not very attractive, the statue was then moved to Wat Traimit Wittayaram, to remain in Chinatown.
The temple was so a small temple without scope, with With few resources and considering the statue to be of lesser importance because it was still covered in its plaster, it was left outside under a simple sheet metal shelter for over 20 years. It was only when they managed to find funds to build an additional building that they decided to place it inside.
The move took place in 1955. It was the rainy season and a crane had been hired to move it carefully, but a sling gave way and the statue fell into the mud. According to local beliefs, such incidents are considered a bad omen. At that moment, all the workers became frightened and abandoned the statue as it was. And as a bad omen, in fact that day, a violent storm raged all night, drowning the city in torrents of water.
It was only the next day that the head monk of the pagoda decided to assess the damage. While rubbing the mud to try to wash the statue, he distinguished a crack in the stucco layer, revealing a shiny metal underneath. It was then that after all these years, when the initial ploy in Ayutthaya had been completely forgotten, it was realized that this innocuous statue was in fact solid gold.
When the news spread around the city, the temple acquired a reputation and attendance that has never waned since. The current building where the statue is located was built specially in 2010 to provide a shelter worthy of the name.
Getting to Wat Traimit
If you are following the thread of this article, you will have taken the skytrain from Siam station, get off at Sala Daeng station and follow the signs to join the other metro, underground this time (MRT) at Silom station.
Get off at Hua Lamphong station and exit at exit no. 1. Go straight across the bridge over a canal and turn left at the 2nd street (so not the street along the canal, the one after).
Good to know
Chinatown Walking Tour
So starting from Wat Traimit, exit in front of the temple at Charoen Krung Road, and go up the street on the right. You will pass a first crossroads and at the second, continue on Charoen Krung along the sidewalk on the right side. In doing so, you will pass an area of sellers of lottery tickets, amulets, trinkets of all kinds, street restaurants and a first Chinese temple.
When you reach the next crossroads, take the street Phlap phla Chai for 30 m and go into the small street Charoen Chai 2. Don't worry, I know that when you say it like that, the directions aren't necessarily clear without knowing the surrounding environment, but I'll provide you with a map afterwards to help you locate it better.
In this alley, you will be surrounded by old houses called " shophouses » (literally, store houses), all or almost all, dedicated to Chinese culture and in particular that, consisting of the Chinese New Year and the anniversary dates of a deceased, to send them gifts in the afterlife. This is done by burning cardboard effigies representing clothes (usually luxury, while we're at it), banknotes from "heaven", credit cards, and even cars (with driver) or entire villas.
At the next intersection, take the alley on the left (Itsara Nuphap) to return to the main road of Charoen Krung. You will be next to the new Wat Mangkon MRT station, named after the Chinese temple of the same name (Wat Mangkon Kamalawat) located not far on your right. It is the main Chinese temple and the largest in all of Bangkok, founded around 1871.
If you continue on Itsara Nuphap crossing Charoen Krung, you will be in an alley dedicated to food. This is where you will come across all sorts of Chinese specialties, including Peking duck, Chinese cabbage, steamed doughnuts (dim (som) and spices, tea flowers, etc.
About 50 m after entering this alley, on your left, you can take a look at the Leng Good Ia shrine. Wedged in among the dwellings, it is a quiet little temple with all the hallmarks of a small Chinese shrine, incense, red, dragon and gold.
At the end of the alley Itsara Nuphap, you will land on the main avenue making up Bangkok's Chinatown, Yaorawat. This is the artery that transforms into a giant street restaurant in the evening. During the day, there are shops selling gold jewelry, fruit vendors and continuous traffic giving the place a rather teeming appearance. Looking on each side of the street, you will be surrounded by a whole series of large signs on the front of the different stores, all written in Chinese, no doubt, you are in the heart of Bangkok's Chinatown!
If you have had enough, you can very well stop the visit there. Some admit defeat, not being comfortable with the crowd, combined with the possible heat.
For others, cross just opposite from Itsara Naphap Street to reach Soi Yaorawat 11, passing under the portico, around which several fruit vendors cluster (cherries, apples, strawberries, mangoes, pineapples, a bit of everything depending on the season). Do not take the first right but the second, which will be a new alley, quite narrow, Soi Wanit 1 (formerly known as Sampeng Lane).
Along, you will have all kinds of shops with a particularity, so much the place is not wide and the shops all have air conditioning, the air is therefore fresh right on the street! Many people use it to find anything and everything, from simple watches, to hats, electronic objects and others, seasonal like Halloween costumes, Christmas decorations or Valentine's Day hearts to name a few.
Coming out of the alley at the intersection with the street Ratchawong, if you continue straight on, continuing again in the alley, covered this time, you will arrive at Prahurat, the Indian quarter of Bangkok. Depending on the time and your thirst for discovery, it is still possible to take a trip there. Alternatively, you can reach the quay for the public boat by going left to join the Chao Phraya. You will come across a beautiful building at the intersection of Song Wat Street.
You can then take a shuttle bus to Saphan Taksin station and take the BTS back to your hotel if needed. You can also get off at the next stop (Wat Rajsingkorn) to reach The Asiatique, a popular shopping area on the Chao Phraya River that features a Ferris wheel.
In addition, if you have time, you can extend the visit to Chinatown with the small district of Talat Noi, which is in absolute terms included in Chinatown but has an atmosphere of its own.
The walk in Chinatown summarized on a map
3nd day in Bangkok
In absolute terms, there are obviously still multiple possibilities for a 3rd day in Bangkok. In addition to exploring the neighborhood in more depth, Rattanakosin (the historic district of the Grand Palais, etc.), I offer you here not one, but two options for visits, one of which assumes that you have at least one day in Bangkok falling on a weekend:
- Option 1: Lat Mayom coupled with Chatuchak (weekends only)
- Option 2: Bike to Bang Kachao and stroll through the small neighborhood of Kudee Jin
Also note that depending on your preferences and desires, it is possible to interchange the two different parts of the proposed options: for example, if weekend, visit Lat Mayom then Kudee Jin instead of Chatuchak if shopping is not your thing.
Option 1 (weekend only)
Lat Mayom Floating Market
Visiting time: 1 hour
For me it is the most charming floating market close to the center of Bangkok. There is always that tricky question of “which floating market to see in Bangkok?”", when it is not a more general question of where to go, because many people still imagine when we talk about " the market floating in Bangkok”, that there is only one…
Knowing by default that taxis, if you ask them for a floating market, will take you to Damnoen Saduak, which is NOT in Bangkok but 100 km away and is the only one open on weekdays.
All other markets only open on weekends. The most popular in Bangkok, even being Taling Chan, because it is the easiest to access from the center. Personally, I prefer wide Mayom already because it has a few boats really selling fruit and vegetables and because the general atmosphere is resolutely local.
I'm not going to describe in more detail what this can give since I have also written an entire article on the subject, which I invite you to discover by clicking below:
Getting to Lat Mayom Floating Market
Basically, there is no public transport leading directly to the market. The most direct way is to take a taxi from your hotel. It is also possible to take either the overhead metro (BTS) either underground (MRT, partly aerial now too) up to bang Wa, which will bring you closer, but will still require you to finish the journey by taxi.
Alternatively, you can first go to the floating market in Taling Chan, and take a longtail boat from there. But having never done it, I couldn't say what the prices were.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Visit time: varies depending on your mood and shopping desire (allow at least 2-3 hours)
Chatuchak is one of the largest markets in the city, and even in Asia, welcoming up to 200 visitors every weekend. It is also considered the largest weekend market in the world,With these 15 stands, spread over an area of 000 hectares, it must be said that there is plenty to do!
The market remains very widely visited by locals coming to stock up on goods for their own shops, as it is also a wholesale market. (this is also the case on Friday evening of 18h at midnight, dedicated to wholesalers). To make your visit easier, the market is divided into 27 areas, each with a specialty, clothing, furniture, antiques, and even animals. The aisles are also numbered like "streets" but it is likely that you will need some time to adapt to find your way around!
There you will find all the country's crafts and souvenirs from all regions, which is why Chatuchak is an ideal place to complete your souvenir purchases before heading back to Europe (or elsewhere). If the market as a whole only opens on weekends, you will not find the doors closed the rest of the week (except Monday and Tuesday) because you have two days dedicated to the sale of plants and flowers, which is also visually interesting to see if you are in the area.
Finally, as Thailand requires, you will of course find something to eat on site, whether it be snack stands (skewers, sweets etc.) but also restaurants in good and proper form.
Getting to Chatuchak Market
You can get there by metro or by air. (BTS), either underground (MRT) from Mo stations Chit et Kamphaeng Phet respectively. There are also many buses passing nearby via one of the three roads surrounding the market (Khampaeng Phet Road 1 and 2 as well as Phahon Yothin Road). To name just three, you have near Khao San Lines 3 (from Phra Athit Road) and 59 or 509 from Ratchadamnoen Avenue (towards the Democracy Monument).
Good to know
Option 2 (weekday or weekend)
Cycling in Bang Kachao
Visiting time: depending on the route, allow at least 3-4 hours
Known as the “green lung” of Bangkok, Bang Kachao is an ideal place to relax and explore by bike. It is a preserved area covering more than 1 hectares. (19 km²) where buildings are limited in surface area and height in order to keep the area as green as possible.
A favorite place for Thais on weekends to get some fresh air, it is not only a vast space to exercise, but there are also some interesting little visits to be made there. It all gives a countryside feel just a stone's throw from the city centre and you can also see a market there on weekends. (described as "floating", although there are no boats on the canal adjoining).
Again, I won't go into detail about this any further since I've already written an article about it that I invite you to read below.
Getting to Bang Kachao
If you are following the thread of this article, you will have taken the skytrain from Siam station, get off at Sala Daeng station and follow the signs to join the other metro, underground this time (MRT) at Silom station.
Get off at Hua Lamphong station and exit at exit no. 1. Go straight across the bridge over a canal and turn left at the 2nd street (so not the street along the canal, the one after).
Good to know
Kudee Jin District
Visiting time: approximately 2 hour
Kudee Jin is a neighborhood that is still off the radar, although it has been developing a little bit in recent years with the appearance of several small local cafes. It is a Sino-Portuguese Quarter, where Portuguese and Chinese merchants had settled side by side, even before the founding of Bangkok, since following the destruction of Ayutthaya, the new capital was briefly Thonburi, where Kudee Jin is located.
Following the new King Taksin the Great to his new capital, Thonburi, the Portuguese were offered land in gratitude for the war effort against the Burmese. A community of Chinese merchants then joined this community which today retains an undeniable charm, with its mixture of cultures.
In fact, in this same area, you will find Buddhist temples, Chinese sanctuaries, a Portuguese church, and even a mosque. As you stroll through these small streets, you will come across the private museum, which also serves as a café, the Baan Kudichin Museum. Run by descendants of these Portuguese, they have created a small museum upstairs that I invite you to take a look at, the opportunity before or after to refresh yourself in this calm and atypical place in the heart of Bangkok.
Once again, I will let you discover the complete article already written on this relatively little-visited district, which nevertheless faces the old quarter of Bangkok and in particular Wat Pho (where the reclining Buddha is located).
Getting to Kudee Jin
It is possible to get there after a canal trip on a long-tail boat, in fact, they can drop you off at a different location than your starting point. This is true if you do not particularly follow the order of visits as stipulated in these articles.
In this case, ask to be dropped off at What Kalayanamitr, knowing that it is likely to drop you off on the platform on the side and not directly in front. In this case, take the first left when arriving in the small street ahead.
Since Covid, the barge to cross from the Yodpiman Riverwalk, itself located behind the flower market, no longer seems to be operational. This could be temporary because they have completely renovated the path along the river.
In this case, you have to cross the Memorial Bridge (the green metal bridge) from the flower market to reach the end of the district (at the Wat Prayurawongsawat Worawihan and its large white Chedi).
12 Comments
Hello,
Your blog is full of useful information!!
we are going to come to Thailand in February 2023, I am planning our itinerary, not easy... we are planning to do Bangkok - Kanchanaburi - Krabi and finish with Koh Lipe (if it is feasible in 17 days) 🙂
In Bangkok we plan to stay 2 or 3 days. I have a chef husband who is passionate about the food of each country, he just came back from Japan.
Do you have any advice or restaurant locations (we are more looking for street food) to recommend to us?
With all my thanks in advance.
Alexia
Hello,
Given the program (I corrected it but I imagine that it was indeed Ko Lipe that you were talking about) it seems feasible to me over 17 days. To have a lot of street food, two essential spots, Khao San Road on the one hand (the backpackers' street), otherwise there is the main artery of Chinatown, Yaowarat, which, in the evening around 18 p.m., fills up with street vendors and attracts people.
Hello,
We are coming to Thailand from February 23 to March 11, 2024 with our son who will be just 3 years old.
Since we are arriving in Bangkok on February 23rd at the end of the day, I plan to stay there for 3 nights and therefore 2 full days on February 24th and 25th with visits to: the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Chinatown, Phahurat, Khlong Lat Mayom.
optionally: city tour by tuktuk, visit of the Khlongs
We will be back in Bangkok at the end of our trip 2 nights with 1 full day see 1.5 days and I was thinking of doing Chatuchak (last minute shopping and souvenirs) and the Children's museum right next to Chatuchak + Wat Arun.
What do you think of these itineraries with 2 arrivals and departures from the country with a 3-year-old child?
After Bangkok, we would like to go to Ayutthaya (2 nights?) then Kanchanaburi (2 nights?) then the South (8 nights?). Nothing is organized for the moment after Bangkok. I was thinking of going by train to Ayutthaya. I am there in my organization. And I imagine private transfer between Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi then return by train to Bangkok.
What do you think of this second part of the trip?
Then the South but for now no idea because I haven't looked at anything.
Thank you in advance if you take the time to answer me.
Magali from Toulouse
Hello,
It is quite common to visit Bangkok a little at the beginning and then come back on arrival, it allows you to familiarize yourself with the country, the climate and to settle down a little after a long trip while at the end, it allows you to be "on site" before the big return, to do your last souvenir shopping etc. In short, I see no problem in doing so.
For the rest, I would rather advise only one night in Ayutthaya and rather 3 nights in Kanchanaburi instead of 2. To put it simply, a private transfer will indeed be necessary between Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi.
Thank you very much for your answer
Hello,
Your blog is super interesting and very detailed. Thank you so much. I'll be in Bangkok for two days initially and then one day at the end of my trip. Could you please tell me which klong you preferred: the one after Wat Arun or the one at Lat Mayom?
Frédérique de Toulouse
I would like to add another question:
What do you think of the Ong Ang Canal and Talat Noi districts?
Hello,
The atmosphere isn't quite the same; the canals around Want Arun are still in the city, and you can feel it, even if there are still some wooden shacks. Around Lat Mayom, it feels more like the countryside.
Both are nice to see, photogenic but not quite the same atmosphere. Ong Ang Canal straddles the Indian quarter (Prahurat) and Chinatown and everything revolves essentially around food, while Talat Noi is at the very end of Chinatown, with the mechanics' quarter, and more and more cafes.
Thank you for your replies. I will adjust my itinerary!
This blog is great! We're going at the end of February and we can't wait to get lost in this city and come back with lots of memories! Thanks!
Thank you! I wish you many wonderful discoveries!