5 days in Bangkok

5 Days in Bangkok: Complete Travel Itinerary (2026)

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

Day 1: Old City (Grand Palace + Wat Pho + Wat Arun)

Pre-9am Grand Palace + Emerald Buddha (500 baht). Wat Pho’s Reclining Buddha (300 baht) — 10-min walk away.

Thai massage at Wat Pho’s traditional school (260 baht for 30 min). Cross river by ferry (3 baht) to Wat Arun.

Sunset at Wat Arun’s central prang. Dinner across the river at riverside restaurant — view back to Wat Arun lit up.

Day 2

Chatuchak Weekend Market (Sat-Sun only — alternate: Or Tor Kor + JJ Green). 5+ hours easily.

BTS to Sukhumvit. Shopping at EmQuartier + Terminal 21. Coffee break at Thonglor’s cafes.

Sukhumvit dinner — pick a Thonglor restaurant or Sukhumvit Soi 38 night-market street food. Rooftop drinks at Octave or Sky Bar.

Day 3

7am train from Hua Lamphong (~80 min, 20 baht 3rd class) — Thailand’s former capital ruins.

Rent bicycle in Ayutthaya for temple loop. Wat Mahathat’s Buddha-head-in-tree-roots. Wat Chaiwatthanaram + Wat Phra Si Sanphet.

Return to Bangkok by 7pm. Yaowarat (Chinatown) night food crawl — bird’s nest soup, oyster omelets, fresh seafood.

Day 4

Lumpini Park morning (tai chi + monitor lizards in the lake — yes, real). BTS to Asok + EmQuartier brunch.

Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (free + air-conditioned). Or shopping mall day at Iconsiam.

Modern Thai dinner at Sorn (3 Michelin stars, southern Thai, book 2 months ahead) or Le Du or Gaa.

Day 5

Longtail boat tour through Thonburi’s klongs (canals). 2-hour private boat ~1,500 baht. See stilt houses + temples.

Lunch at Damnoen Saduak floating market (with tour) OR farewell lunch at Bangkok’s iconic Som Tum Nua + Krua Apsorn.

Final Chao Phraya river dinner cruise OR rooftop sunset farewell. Pack + airport transfer.