4 days in Bangkok with family: airport transport and sightseeing tips

Hi everyone,

We’re leaving Zurich on Sunday, February 23rd, heading to Bangkok, and we’ll land on February 24th at 12 PM local time.

We’ll be there for 3 full days and then leave on the 28th for the islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.

I had a question about our domestic flight with Bangkok Airways at Suvarnabhumi Airport—our flight is at 6:00 AM. Our tickets say check-in closes 40 minutes before for domestic flights.

I’m looking for the best way to get to the airport from our hotel. Should we be there 2 hours early, and if so, what’s the safest and most convenient transport option? Some lines, like the ARL, only start at 6 AM if I’m not mistaken, so that might be cutting it too close. Our hotel is near Makkasan Station. Should we book a taxi with Bolt, or go through the hotel to arrange one for more reliability (even if it’s pricier)? Thanks for your advice.

Also, I’d love to hear your 3-day itinerary suggestions. I’m traveling with my wife and our two daughters, aged 9. We’re used to walking, but we’d rather focus on specific areas to avoid wasting time on transport or trying to do too much. We want to enjoy the moments instead of rushing around.

Here are a few ideas I found:

Day 1: Grand Palace / Wat Pho Temple / Small boat cruise on the Thonburi canals / Wat Arun Temple at sunset

Day 2: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (or Amphawa) / Maeklong Railway Market / Chinatown / Evening at Khao San Road For Day 3: Option 1: Visit Wat Sam Phran (Dragon Temple) Option 2: Explore the ancient city of Samut Prakan and the open-air museum Muang Boran Option 3: Day trip to Ayutthaya’s temples Just a heads-up: we’ll be returning from the islands the day before our departure at 4:50 PM and will stay in Bangkok until our flight at 7:15 PM the next day (Monday, February 10th), so we’ll have one more full day. Sorry for the long post! Thanks in advance for your tips. Raphaël, Marina, Charlize & Giliana Happy travels to those who are heading out!

Hi there,

For the very early taxi ride and as a precaution, book it through the hotel. You can also order one via Bolt on the same day, but since you're catching a flight, it's better to play it safe. For your Day 3, I’d go with Option 3.

For your return to Bangkok, you can visit Samut Prakan on the last day in the morning. Take the BTS to the Kheha terminus on the light green line, then a taxi from the station. After that, head back to your hotel where you’ll have left your luggage in the early afternoon around 2 PM. If your hotel is near Makkasan, it’s quick to get to the airport with the AirLink (20 mins).

Hi Marina, Charlize, Giliana & Raphaël,

Should we book a taxi with Bolt instead, or go through the hotel to reserve a taxi for more assurance (but more expensive)? Thanks for your advice.

Meh, I don’t think it’s a big enough deal to worry about. Do what feels right—Bolt or booking a taxi with your hotel’s help. But there’s a much more important question about Bangkok that you didn’t ask, so I’ll answer it anyway: no, you won’t hit traffic* that early—it’ll be smooth sailing. * Rush hour is roughly 6:30–9:30 AM and 3–8 PM.

Day 1: Grand Palace / Wat Pho Temple / Small boat cruise on Thonburi canals / Wat Arun Temple at sunset

No tour agency? Yep, that’s what most visitors do. You’ll be wiped out by the time you get back to the hotel, but it’s a solid plan.

Day 2: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Yes, but to avoid the tourist hordes that arrive after 8 AM (the bus parking lot size says it all), you’d need to visit between 6:30–8 AM when it’s still a real market. That means staying overnight nearby (there are a few places to stay). Otherwise, skip it.

(or Amphawa)

It’s only open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, so no luck for your trip. Don’t sweat it—it’s just as touristy and hasn’t been a real floating market in ages. For those who do go to Amphawa, the King Rama II Memorial Park (its gardens and old buildings) on the way out of town is worth a quick look.

Maeklong Railway Market

It’s touristy but fun to see. The best way to soak in some local vibes is to arrive or leave by train (two train rides + a short boat crossing), though sadly, most visitors don’t bother. Timing-wise, the train only works in one direction—the other leg will have to be by bus.

Evening at Khao San Road

I didn’t realize it had become a must-see even if you’re not staying there…

Option 3: Day trip to explore the temples of Ayutthaya

I’ve always thought day trips there are a waste—you spend as much time traveling (morning/evening traffic or train delays) as you do sightseeing, and it forces you to rush through everything. Plus, you miss the boat ride to some ruins at sunset. Another issue: for good photos, avoid visiting between 11 AM–3:30 PM. For all these reasons, Ayutthaya deserves at least one overnight stay—three if you have the time (great for recovering from a long flight, for example).

Well, aside from Day 1, my answers aren’t exactly thrilling—sorry about that!

Thank you in advance for your expert advice.

One day biking around the charming rural river island of Koh Kret would be lovely, though in your case (staying near Makkasan), it’d make more sense to take a taxi all the way to Pak Kret. I’ve written a ton about it (info, photos, how to get there) here: https://forumvoyage.forumactif.com/t1821-une-journee-dans-la-tranquilite-de-koh-kret

Hi Songsam,

For day 1: no, I’m not going through an agency, so we can adjust as we like, and it’s clear we don’t want to end up exhausted. We’re free, so if you’ve got better suggestions, we’re all ears!

Our base will still be at our hotel near Makkasan Station. We’d like to visit a floating market.

For the Khao San Road area, we’d also like to check it out but avoid the places to avoid...

If you’ve got any suggestions,

thanks anyway for your feedback

We’d like to visit a floating market.

It’s both more "authentic" and open on weekdays, but I don’t know of any.

Hello,

On my first visit to Thailand over thirty years ago, the Damnoen Saduak floating market was already a tourist attraction organized by the tourism office with fake vendors dressed in traditional costumes. It's a show—it’s no longer authentic at all, like everything near Bangkok. The boat ride on the klongs is also very touristy and often a rip-off price-wise.

I really liked taking the yellow-line boat bus to the terminus—it costs next to nothing. You get to see life along the river and the busy, varied traffic on the water. At the terminus, there’s a market where you can observe the commercial life of Thais, and it’s often surprising to see what’s being sold. We also had a great lunch there.

As for the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, they’re packed with people, overrun by Chinese tour groups who push others aside. You can no longer get close to most of the wonders, which are now protected by glass or ropes, but it’s still a unique experience. All that gold, those colors, those mosaic-covered monsters, those colorful roofs... and the Thais praying undisturbed... my kids loved it (30 years ago). I think you should try the experience if you can go early in the morning. Maybe one day for the Grand Palace and Wat Arun, and the next day for Wat Pho and a boat bus ride on the river.

A day in Ayutthaya to see ruins with kids... meh. I went there by train five years ago (easy from Bangkok), and at the station, there were tuk-tuks for four people offering to take us to some of the main sites. It was easy—no guided tour, but I had enough info from all the time I’ve spent in the country, and we were five adults.

I don’t know Khao San Road, but for my Thai friends, it’s a tourist zone with shops and meals for tourists.

I think you should plan a program for the first day, and then adjust the rest based on how the kids react.

Have a great trip!