One Week in Bangkok


One week in Bangkok really allows you time enough to see the main attractions as well as to snoop around and get a feel for the more authentic Bangkok, to see the city through the eyes of its inhabitants and to understand more why it is they are so happy to stay here. Our suggested itinerary for Bangkok should provide you with inspiration and potentially a clear plan for how to spend 7 unforgettable days in the Thai Capital. To make it easier to adjust the itinerary to your specific needs, we have setup the schedule in half and whole day events, as well as evening activities that can easily be re-shuffled according to your plans and wishes, in order to give you the greatest possible amount of flexibility.



Day 1


Grand PalaceMorning: (1/2 day, sightseeing) After breakfast, head to the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho for a true Thai temple experience. They should offer a good 2 hours of sights. Upon completion, head to the river and take a boat towards Saphan Taksin. The boat ride offers it own sights along with a welcome breeze.

Afternoon: (1/2 day, relaxing) Either have lunch close to Saphan Taksin (The Oriental Hotel and The Peninsula Hotel are excellent for some truly high living), or alternatively take the BTS to Siam and enjoy the multitude of choices there. Another alternatively is to grab lunch at a noodle vendor right there on the street - it is tasty, cheap and a true Bangkok experience. After lunch, have a Thai massage and visit a tailor. Bangkok boasts an impressive number and it is a great opportunity to have some clothes made. It is good to start early on in order to allow time for corrections. And do not pay fully until you are satisfied with the delivered product.

Evening: Take a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya river. These come in may price classes from the more basic to the mundane 5 star versions offered by the best hotels. Common among them, however, is the pleasure of cruising down the river past lighted temples like Wat Arun while enjoying good food and drinks. After the cruise, head to State Tower and have a drink at Sky Bar. It is a must and a great view and ambience - has to be seen.


Day 2


Khlongs Daytime (Full Day Event) From the main Chao Phraya river, head onto the Khlongs of Thonburi. Here, longtail boats are the main mode of transportation, houses are on stilts and life goes on unlike in any other part of Bangkok. Sail past the river houses, plantations and beautiful scenery of the Khlongs, and pass by as people live, eat and sleep in extention of the Khlongs. As you get back to the main river, visit Ko Kret, an island inhabited by a community of craftsmen known for their distinctive style in Pottery. Enjoy this oasis in the middle of the river. Just of the island, visit the school of the blind where we get a steam bath and a massage by the blind - an unforgettable experience.

Evening: Head to Lumpini Stadium for a true Thai experience - Thai boxing. Watch these modern gladiators battle it out. This surely is full contact and combined with the traditions and myths that surround it a truly Thai experience. Next to the stadium is Suan Lum Night Bazaar which offers numerous dining options as well as a large food-court with live music. This area also features the biggest selection of German beers in Bangkok.


Day 3


Ayutthaya Daytime (Full Day Event) From Bangkok, drive north to the ancient city of Ayutthaya. In its glory days, Ayutthaya was the capital city of Thailand, vastly admired throughout the east and west. Back then the city was larger than both London and Paris and famous for its more than 2000 golden spires. Its 15 square kilometer area was filled with temples and palaces and people moved around between them by boat. Today, only the ruins remain but these are definitely still worth a visit. Ayutthaya is a UNESCO world heritage area.
From Ayutthaya, drive to nearby Bang-Pa In, built to serve as the summer residence of the King of Ayutthaya. King Rama V later used it for his summer residence. At Bang-Pa In, you can drive around in golf carts between the different scenic palaces and take in the beautiful sights. Also go on a boat trip to get a seaside view of the area, as well as a short sail on the Chao Phraya River.
After leaving Bang-Pa In, go for a good Thai lunch. Following that, visit the Bang Sei's Royal Folk Art and craft center where farmers from rural areas undergo training in folk arts and craft. You get to see how farmers in different parts of Thailand live and work and how their products and crafts are produced.
Instead of either renting a van or going by an established tour, Ayutthaya can also be done slightly more luxurious. Thus, the Marriott Resort & Spa offers an overnight cruise up the river from the hotel with sightseeing on the way, dinner on board and sleeping on the boat. It is an excellent but also more expensive alternative to the more traditional way of visiting.

Evening: Visit the backpacker area of Khao San Road which also houses a vast night market and excellent people watching. Khao San Road does not feel like any other part of Thailand (or the rest of the world for that matter) and really is its own little world. Have some food excellent Thai food at Tom Yum Gung, browse the market and enjoy the general vibe of the area.


Day 4


Pratunam Market Morning (1/2 Day Event) Start the day by visiting the temple of Wat Saket. Set on the photogenic golden mount, it offers an excellent view of old Bangkok. From there, head to Vimanmek Palace. If you have not done so yet, you might want to take a tuktuk. It really is part of the Thai experience. Vimanmek Palace is the largest teak wood building in the world, build by Rama V, and is set in beautiful surroundings with gardens and smaller classic buildings around it. From here, head to the house of legendary silk tycoon Jim Thompson (Jim Thomsons House. See the beautiful classic Thai house where he formerly resided.

Afternoon (1/2 Day)Day) In the afternoon, it is time for some Thai style shopping. First, head for the clothing market at Pratunam Market. Here, clothes are sold retail and wholesale and you can get excellent deals on mostly anything. Enjoy the outdoor and indoor market that sprawls over a large area filled with al kinds of clothing. After this market experience, cross the road to Panthip Plaza, the main computer mall in Bangkok. Here, there are excellent deals on especially software and DVD movies. Both are sold at bottom prices - it is definitely a grey zone market.

Evening: Head to Sala Rim Naam for a classic Thai Dance/dinner show. Enjoy a 7 course meal while the many traditional Thai dances are showcased before you. Definitely a memorable experience - don't forget you camera.


Day 5


KanchanaburiDaytime (Full Day Event) Head to Kanchanaburi, home of the famous death railway and the bridge over the river Kwai. Here, see the bridge, the museum on the history of the railroad and the allied soldier's cemetery. It is a powerful story and worth visiting. From here, continue east to the tiger temple. Visit the tigers and get up close and personal with one of the most dangerous cats around. You have to sign a document agreeing it is your own fault if they eat you when you enter... After the temple, should time permit, visit one of the many waterfalls of the area before heading back to Bangkok. It should be noted that overnight trips to Kanchanaburi are also a available which include elephant trekking, riverboat trips and much more. The area is also filled with nice jungle resorts and bungalows for most budgets, so if you want to spend some more time with the hills jungle and river, it is very possible.

Evening: For dinner pick you favorite type of restaurant at Lost in Bangkok close to your hotel and eat there. Alternatively, find a nice place in the Silom area. An example for those with a taste for the Italian would be Zanotti in soi Saladaeng. Wherever dinner takes you, afterwards head to the busy Patpong night market. Here, you especially find copies like belts and watches, and the gogo area that is also housed here actually fades in the background as the market has all but taken over.


Day 6


Daytime (Full Day Event) Head to Chatuchak Market, the largest of the outdoor Bangkok markets with thousands of stalls selling everything from Japanese fighting fish to handy crafts and clothes. There are also numerous very local dining and drinking options available when you need a break. It is a true market experience and well worth a day.

Evening: Head off to one of the more chic, Bangkok restaurants where the more high society locals come. Good choices include Summer, Kuppa or Vanilla Restaurant.


Day 7


Chinatown Morning (1/2 Day Event) Start the day by visiting Chinatown and Little India. These sections of town are home to another thriving market, one with a textile focus but which has clearly branched out to nearly everything else, and which has a distinctively different feel. It is more business here. There area is also home to some classic Chinese buildings and offers many good places to have lunch.

Afternoon: (1/2 day) In the afternoon, it is time to hit the main shopping district for the last big splash. Siam Square is home to several shopping complexes, the most important ones being MBK and Siam Paragon. The first of these offers bargains on everything, but with a clothing focus. The other treats you to brands of every kind, from Chanel and Hugo Boss to Ferrari cars and more - it is all in there at this mall. The basement of Siam Paragon also houses a vast aquarium with a large glass walk-through tunnel - Siam SeaWorld. Here, it is also possible to get into the water yourself and e.g. dive with the sharks.

Evening: In the evening, head for your current favorite place or whichever you would still like to try, for the last dinner out. For a truly unforgettable night, try out Vertigo which offers excellent food, a uniquely beautiful setup and the memory of a lifetime. Another cheaper, quite amusing alternative is Cabbages & Condoms which in addition to its excellent Thai food offers condoms in place of after dinner mints.



The Floating MarketWith this program, we are sure you will have gotten a full week of Bangkok, including a thorough introduction to its many offers. Alternatives to the above that we did not include, but which could still be of interest, includes the following.

  • A trip east to the salt fields, floating market, rose garden and elephant camp there, along with Phra Pathom chedi, the largest chedi in Thailand
  • An overnight trip to Koh Chang, Pattaya or Hua Hin to sample some beach living
  • Visits to the Bo Bae clothing market. Other markets of interest include Pat Klong Talad, Bangkok's biggest flower market, which gets started by nightfall, and Talad Fai Chai, the biggest nighttime flea market.
  • Go cart tracks, shooting ranges, golf course and driving ranges
  • The Bangkok bowling alleys which have turned bowling into a much more kitsch party experience

We wish you all the best with your upcoming adventure in Bangkok