2 Days in Bangkok Itinerary For Culture Lovers

Uber or Grab – to save money, order a scooter taxi rather than a cab.

Skytrain – Bangkok has a good Skytrain system which is affordable and a great way to avoid traffic.

Tuk-tuks – Organise a price with the drivers. They’re not always the cheapest option, but not too expensive either.

As someone who’s been to the Grand Palace twice in three years, I clearly think it’s worth the hefty 500 baht entrance fee. It has a lot of history but I think its the sheer decadence that appeals to me: every surface is encrusted with diamonds and slathered in gold.

The Grand Palace was built when King Rama I decided to make Bangkok the new capital of Thailand. If you know about Thailand’s history, this has changed several times.

Ayutthaya was the capital from the 1300s, while Thonburi was the headquarters until it became Bangkok.

The Thai royal family actually lived in the Grand Palace until the end of the 19th century. Nowadays, functions and rituals are sometimes held there but it’s mainly a stomping ground for tourists. Even if you visit early, it will be packed. It’s a fact of life!

Inside the Grand Palace is Wat Phra Kaew AKA The Temple of the Emerald Buddha. This is one of the most famous and holy relics in all of Thailand, believed to have been made in India over 2,000 years ago. It was documented in Chiang Mai’s Wat Chedi Luang temple in the 1400s, then was moved to Laos, and finally returned to Thailand. What a journey!

During a ritual that continues to this day, the King of Thailand changes the statue’s clothes with the changing of the seasons.

Tips for visiting the Grand Palace:

• The dress code is strict so if you don’t have long pants/skirt and a top that covers your shoulders, you can pay a deposit to borrow a very hot and unattractive outfit at the entrance. I would recommend planning your outfit ahead of time to avoid this!
• You’re also meant to cover your feet so I put some socks on under my sandals but no one checked (and I just looked stupid). Inside the temples, you have to take off your shoes, and in Wat Phra Kaew you can’t take any photos.

Entrance fee: 500 baht; fee includes tickets to Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall and Vimanmek Mansion (valid within 7 days of purchase).

Opening hours: 8:30am-3:30pm.

How to get there: Easily accessible via tuk-tuk, taxi, water taxi, Chao Phraya River Express or by taking the skytrain to Saphan Taksin Station followed by the Chao Phraya River Express.

It’s easy to see the main sites during two days in Bangkok because Wat Pho is just a 5-minute walk from the Grand Palace.

This temple is a must for your Bangkok 2 day itinerary because it’s smaller and less crowded (and cheaper – entrance is 100 baht) than the Grand Palace.

It’s no less colourful, and I marvelled at the bejewelled domes and pagodas.

As well as wandering the decorative grounds of Wat Pho, you should head inside to see the Reclining Buddha statue which is a massive 46 metres in length. While this is very impressive, there are over 1,000 other Buddha statues within the Wat Pho grounds.

The site is actually older than the Grand Palace, making it the most ancient temple complex in Bangkok.

Entrance fee: 100 baht.

Opening hours: 8am-6:30pm.

How to get there: Easily accessible via taxi or tuk-tuk.

Wat Arun was my favourite temple in Bangkok, and definitely worth saving ’til last. You won’t get bored during this day of temple-hopping in Bangkok because the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun are all so different.

Another perk of visiting Wat Arun is the 100 baht entrance fee: half of the price of the Grand Palace!

The Temple of Dawn revolves around an enormous white spire, decorated with colourful mosaics quite unlike any I’ve seen before. You should spend at least an hour wandering around, especially if you’re into photography.

I’ve only been to Wat Arun in the daytime but I hear it’s gorgeous lit up at night.

Entrance fee: 100 baht.

Opening hours: 8:30am-5:30pm.

How to get there: Cross the road from Wat Pho and board a ferry across the river. This takes 5 minutes and costs a very minimal 3 baht.

Yaowarat stays busy until late at night, as do many areas of Bangkok. Khao San Road is a party zone seven nights a week but there are so many other areas of Bangkok to drink and socialise.

Go for drinks at a rooftop bar

If the backpacker bars of Khao San Road don’t take your fancy, there are plenty of rooftop or sky bars to choose from and they are sure to make a great addition to your Bangkok itinerary.

Banyan Tree Vertigo & Moon bar

The Banyan Tree Hotel’s Moon Bar is located alongside their restaurant, Vertigo, named one of the world’s top ten bars. It’s popular so make sure you arrive early. There are incredible views of the city since you’ll be enjoying your drinks on the 61st floor.

One of their popular drinks is called the Vertigo sunset which contains a fruity mixture of pineapple, cranberry and lime juices mixed with Malibu.

Opening hours: 5pm-1am.

Dress code: Smart casual.

How to get there: Easily accessible via taxi, tuk-tuk, or bus, the Banyan Tree Hotel is located just south of Lumphini Park.

Day 2 Bangkok itinerary: culture & hidden gems

Done with temples after yesterday? I don’t blame you. If you’re a history or architecture lover, there’s always more to add to your Bangkok trip itinerary. For the average person, you’re probably ready to see a more modern side to the city.

Here are a few things to do in Bangkok during a second day…

Admittedly this is more a stop for photographers and Instagrammers than anyone else, but I enjoyed it so I thought I’d give it a mention.

Chalermla Park is just a minute’s walk from Ratchathewi station which can be easily reached from anywhere in the city. The graffiti-style street art here is some of the coolest in Bangkok, providing the backdrop for a colourful photoshoot.

How to get there: Accessible via tuk-tuk, taxi or by ferry. If you take a ferry make sure you get off at Hua Chang (Siam Square).

Proving that Bangkok is so many things, this stylish art centre would be at home in any forward-thinking city in the world.

Outside, you’ll find this enormous artwork of the King who sadly passed away in 2016. Inside, the spiral-shaped centre is filled with cute cafes, galleries and shops. You only need about an hour here and entry is free.

Entrance fee: free.

Opening hours: 10am-9pm, Tuesday-Sunday.

How to get there: Accessible by bus via BTS National Station.

If you follow this Bangkok itinerary exactly and visit Chalermla Park’s street art and Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, walk there along the canal and stop for a local lunch.

To do this, walk down Soi Phaya Nak then head to the canal path. There are lots of modern cafes on Phaya Nok where you can make a pitstop. Check out Lazy Mary and Oasis Cafe.

These make for a contrast to the local culture and bargain street buffets just metres away on the canal path.

Jim Thompson House

The Jim Thompson House is just a short 6-minute walk away from the Bangkok Art and Culture Center. It’s a museum that houses the art collection of Jim Thompson, an American businessman and architect.

He was also known as the Thai Silk King, since he spent a lot of time reviving and working with the material. Mysteriously, he disappeared somewhere in Malaysia in 1967 and his art collection and home have been preserved as a museum ever since.

Entrance fee: 200 baht for adults, 100 baht under age 22 (must show ID), free for children.

Opening hours: 10am-6pm, last guided tour starts at 5pm.

How to get there: Easily accessible via taxi, tuk-tuk or skytrain via the National Stadium station exit number 1.

With 2 days in Bangkok, you can squeeze in some nature by visiting Lumphini Park. This massive city oasis is named after the birthplace of the Buddha and used by locals for exercise including tai chi classes.

Despite being in a city of 6.5 million people, there’s wildlife to be seen in Lumphini Park like this enormous monitor lizard that ran across my path.

I savoured the sense of contrast: peaceful water and greenery with a backdrop of city skyscrapers. Of all the things to do in Bangkok, Lumphini Park has to be the most relaxing. With plenty of shady areas, it would be a for a relaxed picnic after your busy Bangkok 2 day itinerary.

How to get there: There are multiple bus stops that border the park such as Lumphini Park (Ratchadamri Side Stop.2), Lumpini Park (Sansin Side), Lampini Park transport interchange, and the Embassy of Japan bus stop.

If you have more than 2 days in Bangkok, consider a trip to Ayutthaya or one of the following places. You could even squeeze two of the below into a day if you don’t mind a bit of travel time.

I go into more detail in my blog post but I wasn’t entirely sold on the Airplane Graveyard. It’s very quirky and great for photoshoots, but the 200 baht entrance fee is expensive to essentially climb on a scrap heap. But it’s cheap and easy to get to: 17 baht each way by riverboat!

Wat Samphran Temple is a crazy pink dragon temple with 17 storeys. It’s off the tourist track and there’s very little information available as to who built it and why. Take a wander around the complex dotted with statues, shrines and a large seated gold Buddha.

Located 40km from Bangkok, a taxi costs around 400 baht fare each way.

Phuttha Monthon

I’d never heard of Phuttha Monton before but a friend I made in Thailand spoke so highly of it that I had to add it to this Bangkok travel itinerary. It’s a giant Buddha statue in an enormous leafy park, a 25-minute drive from central Bangkok.

It’s to the west of the city, in the same direction as Wat Samphran. Do both together if you can.

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