Bangkok is our favourite city in the world.

It was the first place we landed in when we first left the UK back in 2006 and it’s never left our hearts.

It’s such a huge city that there is so much to see and do. We’ve lived there twice and there’s still more for us to see.

However, if you only have 3 days in Bangkok, we have some places we’d recommend you see.

Our Bangkok itinerary will show you some of Bangkok’s key sights, but we also want to show you some more off-the-beaten-track things to do there. So expect some of the typical suggestions mixed together with some more unusual ones.

Day One

On your first day in Bangkok, you should see the main temples to get yourself started.

Get up and out early because it’s going to be really hot and the white walls of the Grand Palace attract the heat and it’s like an oven! The main historic sites in Bangkok are all situated on Rattanakosin Island, which is less an island than a bend in the Chao Praya river.

Day Two

Yesterday was a busy and rather hot day, so today let’s stay a bit cooler. Bangkok isn’t just history, it’s also modern. On day 2 of our Bangkok itinerary, we’re going to see some of the more modern areas.

You might not think that shopping centers are somewhere you want to explore if you only have 3 days in Bangkok, but trust us, Bangkok shopping centers are something else.

Day 3

Bang Krachao – Bangkok’s Green Lung

It’s time to get out of the city completely. Bang Krachao is a patch of green space in the bend of the Chao Praya river. There are only a few roads, with elevated concrete paths taking you above plants and trees, what’s basically a jungle.

There’s a country park with a lake in the center, a floating market at the weekend, and local houses built on stilts. The Siamese fighting fish museum is a strange exhibition of different fighting fish in bowls.

To get to Bang Krachao, you need to find Wat Klong Toey, where you can get a long-tailed boat over to the other side of the river.

Once there, you’ll find a stand renting out bikes, so you can ride around and explore, although we prefer to walk. The women on the stand will give you a map of the area so you can find what to see.

Spend the day exploring the area, either on foot or by bike. If you are feeling very energetic, the Tree House is an eco-friendly hotel and restaurant on the other side of the area, where you can have lunch and/or a beer looking over the river.