The best things to do in Bangkok, by mood

The best things to do in Bangkok are the Grand Palace, a dinner on a rice barge on the Chao Phraya, a night of street food in Yaowarat and a rooftop at sunset. If you only have time for four things, do those. The rest of this list depends on your mood, so it is grouped that way.

Hours and prices below come from official sources where they were available, as of November 2026. They change, so check before you go. Short on time? Our 3-day Bangkok itinerary puts the best of this into a day-by-day plan.

If you want the icons

1. The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew. The one sight worth the crowds. The ticket costs 500 baht and is on sale from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Read our Grand Palace guide before you go, because the dress code is strict and the street scams are real.

2. Wat Pho. Home of the Reclining Buddha, with mother-of-pearl on its feet and eyes. It is open from 8 am to 7:30 pm and costs 300 baht, and it is next door to the palace. Stay later than the tour groups do.

3. Wat Arun. The Temple of Dawn is covered in porcelain and seashells, which you only see up close. TAT lists it at 200 baht. See our Wat Arun guide, and compare the others in the best temples in Bangkok.

4. The golden Buddha at Wat Traimit. A solid gold Sukhothai-style statue on the fourth floor of the temple’s newer building, which TAT says was certified by Guinness World Records in 1991 as the largest of its kind. It is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm, close to Chinatown.

5. The Golden Mount at Wat Saket. Climb the 344 steps of the spiral staircase for a view over the Old City. TAT lists it as open from 8 am to 5 pm.

6. The Marble Temple, Wat Benchamabophit. Worth the trip if you like architecture. The main hall is built from Italian marble. TAT lists it as open from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.

If you want the river

7. A rice barge dinner cruise. The best evening in the city for a couple. Apsara by Banyan Tree and Manohra by Anantara both serve plated Thai menus on restored rice barges. Our dinner cruise guide compares six boats.

8. The orange flag express boat. The operator lists it at 19 baht, and it is the best transport deal in Bangkok. It connects Sathorn Pier, at BTS Saphan Taksin, with Tha Tien and Tha Chang for the temples. Read getting around Bangkok first.

9. Sunset opposite Wat Arun. Cross to the Tha Tien side in the late afternoon and watch the sun go down behind the temple.

If you want to eat

10. Yaowarat at night. Chinatown’s street food strip is the one food experience in the city you should not skip. Take the MRT to Wat Mangkon. Our street food guide tells you what to order.

11. Pak Khlong Talat. The flower market is a short walk from MRT Sanam Chai and easy to combine with your temple day.

12. Talat Noi. An old Chinese riverside community of alleys, restaurants and street art, close to Yaowarat. Come for an hour’s wander before dinner.

13. A Thai cooking class at Blue Elephant. Sessions last about 3.5 to 4 hours and include cooking and tasting. The standard rate is 2,800 baht plus tax and service, or 3,296 baht net. The Sathorn school is by BTS Surasak.

If you want culture without temples

14. Jim Thompson House. The Bangkok home of the Thai Silk King, now a museum of his Asian art. 250 baht, open daily from 10 am to 5 pm. Take the BTS to National Stadium, Exit 1. You can only enter the main house with a guide.

15. MOCA Bangkok. The Museum of Contemporary Art is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm, for 400 baht. It is an easy pairing with Chatuchak.

16. Khon at Sala Chalermkrung. The historic theatre on Charoen Krung lists Khon, Thailand’s masked dance drama, in its programme. Check the theatre’s calendar for dates and prices before you plan around it.

17. Museum Siam. A museum right next to MRT Sanam Chai, about half a kilometre from Wat Pho, so it pairs easily with your temple day. Check the museum’s site for current hours.

If you want the night

18. Mahanakhon SkyWalk. The observation deck at 314 metres has a glass floor and open views. Tickets cost 500 to 1,200 baht depending on the time, and it opens from 10 am to midnight, by BTS Chong Nonsi. Go at sunset.

19. A rooftop bar. The city’s real skyline moment, with a drink in your hand. Our rooftop bars guide tells you which one suits you.

20. Muay Thai at Rajadamnern. The stadium runs fights on most nights of the week, with a Saturday World Series. Seats range from ringside and VIP balcony to unassigned 3rd class. Buy online for popular nights. If you want more after dark, try the night markets.

If you want to slow down

21. A massage, and not necessarily at the luxury hotel. The school at Wat Pho charges 520 baht for 60 minutes of Thai or foot massage. For a broader choice, see the best massage in Bangkok.

22. Bang Krachao. The Tourism Authority of Thailand calls it the lung of Bangkok. Rent a bicycle in Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park, then visit the Bang Nam Phueng market nearby. It is the easiest escape from the traffic.

Worth it if you have more time

Chatuchak Weekend Market. It spans 35 acres, and the whole market opens on Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm. Go early. A floating market is the most popular trip out, and our floating markets guide tells you which one to pick. For more, see day trips from Bangkok.

What to skip

Skip any tuk-tuk tour offered by a stranger, and anyone who says the palace is closed today. Avoid gem shops you are steered towards. Do not build your trip around a market on the wrong day: Chatuchak’s full market runs only at the weekend.

Plan the rest

Choose your base with where to stay in Bangkok or go straight to the luxury hotels. Check the best time to visit Bangkok, sort your airport transfer, and fill in your TDAC arrival card. For our longer ranking of the city, see The List.

Questions people ask

What is the number one thing to do in Bangkok?

The Grand Palace with Wat Phra Kaew. Go at 8:30 am, cover your shoulders and knees, and pair it with Wat Pho and Wat Arun on the same day.

What can you do in Bangkok at night?

Take a dinner cruise, go up to a rooftop bar or the Mahanakhon SkyWalk, watch Muay Thai at Rajadamnern, or eat your way along Yaowarat.

How many days do you need in Bangkok?

Three days covers the main sights without rushing. Add two more if you want a floating market or a day trip.

What should you skip in Bangkok?

Skip any tuk-tuk tour offered by a stranger, and any gem shop you are steered towards. These are the classic Bangkok scams.