5 days in Bangkok
5 Days in Bangkok: Complete Travel Itinerary
Five days in Bangkok covers temples, food, day-trips, and modern Bangkok properly. Here's the route, based on what works after multiple visits.
Day 1: Old City (Grand Palace + Wat Pho + Wat Arun)
Morning
Pre-9am Grand Palace + Emerald Buddha (500 baht). Wat Pho's Reclining Buddha (300 baht) — 10-min walk away.
Afternoon
Thai massage at Wat Pho's traditional school (260 baht for 30 min). Cross river by ferry (3 baht) to Wat Arun.
Evening
Sunset at Wat Arun's central prang. Dinner across the river at riverside restaurant: view back to Wat Arun lit up.
Day 2: Chatuchak + Sukhumvit
Morning
Chatuchak Weekend Market (Sat-Sun only. Alternate: Or Tor Kor + JJ Green). 5+ hours easily.
Afternoon
BTS to Sukhumvit. Shopping at EmQuartier + Terminal 21. Coffee break at Thonglor's cafes.
Evening
Sukhumvit dinner, pick a Thonglor restaurant or Sukhumvit Soi 38 night-market street food. Rooftop drinks at Octave or Sky Bar.
Day 3: Day trip to Ayutthaya
Morning
7am train from Hua Lamphong (~80 min, 20 baht 3rd class) — Thailand's former capital ruins.
Afternoon
Rent bicycle in Ayutthaya for temple loop. Wat Mahathat's Buddha-head-in-tree-roots. Wat Chaiwatthanaram + Wat Phra Si Sanphet.
Evening
Return to Bangkok by 7pm. Yaowarat (Chinatown) night food crawl: bird's nest soup, oyster omelets, fresh seafood.
Day 4: Modern Bangkok
Morning
Lumpini Park morning (tai chi + monitor lizards in the lake. Yes, real). BTS to Asok + EmQuartier brunch.
Afternoon
Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (free + air-conditioned). Or shopping mall day at Iconsiam.
Evening
Modern Thai dinner at Sorn (3 Michelin stars, southern Thai, book 2 months ahead) or Le Du or Gaa.
Day 5: Klong tour + departure
Morning
Longtail boat tour through Thonburi's klongs (canals). 2-hour private boat ~1,500 baht. See stilt houses + temples.
Afternoon
Lunch at Damnoen Saduak floating market (with tour) OR farewell lunch at Bangkok's famous Som Tum Nua + Krua Apsorn.
Evening
Final Chao Phraya river dinner cruise OR rooftop sunset farewell. Pack + airport transfer.
5 days in Bangkok: a day-by-day itinerary
Five days lets you pair Bangkok's temples and markets with a day trip:
Day 1 — Old City
The Grand Palace and Wat Pho (reclining Buddha), then a river ferry to Wat Arun.
Day 2 — Markets
Chatuchak weekend market (or Jim Thompson House midweek), then a rooftop bar at sunset.
Day 3 — Day trip
The ruins of Ayutthaya, or a floating market (Damnoen Saduak / Amphawa).
Day 4 — City life
Chinatown (Yaowarat) street food, a longtail-boat canal tour, and the malls of Siam.
Day 5 — Slow down
A Thai massage, Lumpini Park, and last-minute shopping.
Tip: use the BTS Skytrain and river boats to skip Bangkok's notorious traffic.
5 Days In Bangkok FAQ
Is 5 days enough for Bangkok?
Yes — time for the temples, markets, street food and a day trip to Ayutthaya.
How do you get around Bangkok?
The BTS Skytrain, MRT and river ferries beat the traffic; Grab for door-to-door.