2-Day Visit in Bangkok

What do you recommend visiting in Bangkok over 2 days during a cruise stop in January?

Hi there,

As a courtesy, a little greeting is always appreciated by those who’ll help you out.

The must-see is the Grand Palace, THE marvel of Thailand, and then you can take a quick stroll to Wat Pho Temple, which is right next door.

Lots of visitors enjoy wandering around Chinatown, with its narrow alleys and great Chinese restaurants.

After that, you’ll have to choose between a boat ride through the klongs (canals), which I think is an absolute must, grabbing a drink at a rooftop bar in one of the skyscrapers, going shopping in one of the massive malls, or checking out the brand-new attraction that is Jurassic World.

If you take taxis, which are ridiculously cheap, make sure to insist they turn on the meter. It might not work the first time around.

Thanks!

Do you know if it’s possible to visit any floating markets near Bangkok?

You can combine this with a walk along the klongs.

Be careful, the floating markets are only open on Saturdays and Sundays.

Hi there,

So much to do... 😉

Grand Palais Wat Pho and its golden Buddha Boat ride through the klongs Wat Saket and the whole surrounding neighborhood Wat Arun (for the photo op 😉) Getting lost in the stalls around Khao San Road

Not bad for 2 days! 🙂

2 days in Bangkok is short but doable

Okay, 2 days is tight, but you can still get a good overview. Here’s what I recommend personally:

Day 1: Historic district in the morning (Wat Pho + the Grand Palace—get there at opening around 8:30 AM or it’ll be packed). Afterward, lunch near Tha Maharaj (a cool food court by the river, dishes for 2-3 €). In the afternoon, stroll through Chinatown, Yaowarat Road... evening is the best time to eat there. The street food stalls there, from what I remember, are 1-2 € per dish.

Day 2: Chatuchak Market if it’s a weekend (it’s huge, like 15,000 stalls). Otherwise, I’d say Lumpini Park in the morning to see the giant monitor lizards (yes, really, there are tons), then Jim Thompson House. And in the evening, a rooftop bar for sunset. Sky Bar is the most famous but a bit of a tourist trap—I prefer Octave at the Marriott, it’s cheaper and the view is just as good.

Transport tip: Take the BTS (skytrain) + boats on the Chao Phraya. A BTS ride costs around 0.50 €. Avoid tuk-tuks at all costs around the Grand Palace—they’ll pull the classic "temple’s closed today" scam to take you to a tailor shop.

2-day budget: From memory, 25-30 € per day is plenty if you eat local.