If you’re visiting Bangkok for a couple of days, whether you’re en route to Phuket, or somewhere else in Asia, I have suggestions on things that you should consider adding to your itinerary during your visit.
Bangkok is Thailand’s most populous city and it’s the only cosmopolitan in a country mostly made up on small towns and villages. It has a non-stop hustle, similar to NYC or possibly Chicago. It’s also a very beautiful city. The temples are unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure if I had such a good time because my expectations were low or because I was happy to be out the country, but I had an amazing time. I found 2 days to be not enough time, but I jammed as much as I could in the 48 hours I was there. Check out my itinerary below:
Day 1:
We stayed at the W Bangkok, so were close to a lot of restaurants, bars and the Metro station. It took some time for us them to get us checked in because it was really busy, so we hung out on the rooftop. Luckily there was a pool party with a DJ, so we were able to pass the time away while getting great views of the city.
After we checked in, my friends went to check out some of the local night markets. They raved about all of the delicious food, clothing and jewelry. I was extremely jet lagged, so I slept all day. I even missed the delicious dinner they had at Feuang Nara – a Thai restaurant close to our hotel. I woke up around 10 p.m. ready to hit the streets. Ha!
Day 2:
When I woke up on day 2, I was refreshed and ready to go. We were up at 5 a.m. (yes that early) to do a tour of the Maeklong Railway Market, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, as well as temple tours which included the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. Our tour was conducted by Tour with Tong, and they were phenomenal to work with.
Both the markets are approximately an hour and a half away from Bangkok, so you want to leave very early to get the most out of the experience.
While I enjoyed the railway market, it wasn’t my favorite thing to do. The only real cool thing about this market is the train that passes through and all of the food including seafood, veggies, meat and Thai sweets.
I did, however, enjoy the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. As I mentioned before, we got there VERY early and it was already crowded. The goods that are sold at the market are things that you can buy anywhere in Bangkok, but the experience is unique because you are shopping in the bustling waterways via a longtail boat. Please remember that the vendors’ offers are 2-3x higher than normal, so you will want to negotiate, and don’t be afraid to leave if they say no.
My favorite experience in Bangkok was our visit to the temples. We started at the Grand Palace. In my opinion, the Grand Palace is a must visit. It is a breathtaking complex of various buildings and it is absolutely stunning. Please remember when visiting the palace (and any of the temples) you must cover up. I would cover shoulders, arms and ankles. We visited In November and it was very hot, so be sure your attire is very light also. Also, keep in mind that you can take photos of the temples, but you can’t take photos inside the temples.
Wat Pho (the Temple of the Reclining Buddha) is also a must see. It’s approximately a ten-minute walk between there and the Grand Palace. It’s also a must see and a much more relaxing experience. It’s known for a Thai traditional massage and medicine, so be sure to get a good foot massage while you’re there.
After leaving the temples, we headed back to our hotel to relax a bit before preparing for the evening’s festivities. We headed to a dinner at a Thai restaurant near our hotel (can’t remember which one) and then ended our night with going to a couple of rooftop lounges: Red Sky Bar and CRU Champagne Bar
