Thailand · 5-day itinerary
5 days in Bangkok
Golden temples, river life and street food at 2am. Here's a 5-day plan that clusters each day by neighbourhood, with real times, so you walk less and see more.
Day 1
Arrive & settle into Bangkok
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Arrive in Bangkok
Check in at your stay in Sukhumvit (Asok / Phrom Phong).
- 12:15 p.m. Lunch
- 6:45 p.m. Dinner · Pad thai and boat noodles from street stalls
8:15 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. · Thonburi · ~$7
Wat Arun at sunset
The Temple of Dawn, reached by a cross-river ferry.
Day 2
Layers of history
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. · Rattanakosin · ~$21
Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
The Emerald Buddha and royal splendour.
- 12:15 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. · Rattanakosin · ~$28
Wat Pho and Thai massage
The reclining Buddha, plus a massage at the temple's famous school.
- 6:00 p.m. Dinner · Mango sticky rice
Day 3
Markets & makers
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. · Chatuchak
Chatuchak Weekend Market
15,000 stalls of everything.
Saturdays and Sundays only.
- 6:00 p.m. Dinner · Michelin-listed street food on Yaowarat
Day 4
Into the green
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. · Pathum Wan · ~$10
Jim Thompson House
Teak houses and a silk-trade mystery.
- 6:00 p.m. Dinner · Som tam (papaya salad)
Day 5
Farewell, Bangkok
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Wander Bangkok
Unscheduled time for cafés, rest, or the discovery you didn't plan.
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Depart Bangkok
Check out and head to the airport or station, allowing plenty of time.
- 7:00 p.m. Dinner · Khao soi
Where to stay in Bangkok
Shoestring
Banglamphu (near Khao San)
Cheap stays, walkable to the Grand Palace.
Hotels in Banglamphu (near Khao San)Comfort
Sukhumvit (Asok / Phrom Phong)
On the BTS line with great dining.
Hotels in Sukhumvit (Asok / Phrom Phong)Luxury
Riverside
Iconic hotels with boat shuttles.
Hotels in Riverside
What to eat in Bangkok
Pad thai
Stir-fried rice noodles with tamarind, egg and peanuts.
Tom yum goong
Hot and sour prawn soup with lemongrass and lime leaf.
Som tam
Pounded green papaya salad, as spicy as you dare.
Khao man gai
Poached chicken over rice cooked in chicken fat.
Mango sticky rice
Sweet coconut sticky rice with ripe mango.
Boat noodles
Small, intense bowls of spiced beef or pork noodle soup.
Where locals send visitors
Jay Fai $$$
Street food (Michelin star) · Old Town · Best for lunch · Reserve ahead
The goggled wok legend's crab omelette. Expect a long wait, or book ahead.
ReviewsThipsamai $
Pad thai · Old Town · Best for dinner
Pad thai wrapped in a thin omelette, cooked over charcoal since 1966.
ReviewsYaowarat Road $
Street-food strip · Chinatown · Best for dinner
After dark the street fills with stalls: seafood, noodles and sweet toasted buns.
ReviewsOr Tor Kor Market $
Fresh market · Chatuchak · Best for lunch
Immaculate produce and prepared foods, next to the weekend market.
ReviewsKrua Apsorn $$
Thai home cooking · Dusit · Best for lunch
Beloved for its crab-meat omelette and curries. Closes early.
ReviewsWattana Panich $
Beef noodle soup · Ekkamai · Best for lunch
A huge pot of beef broth that's been simmering for decades.
Reviews
Heads-up: what to steer clear of
- Scam: A friendly stranger says the Grand Palace is "closed today" and offers a cheap tuk-tuk tour that ends at a gem or tailor shop. It isn't closed. Walk to the main gate.
- Getting around: Insist on the meter in taxis, or use a ride app. Agree tuk-tuk fares before you get in.
- Local rules: Criticising the monarchy is a serious crime in Thailand. Cover your shoulders and knees at temples.
Giro's notes, reviewed October 2026. Things change, so check current advice before you go: Government of Canada travel advisories .
Good to know
- Dress modestly for temples, with shoulders and knees covered.
- Use the BTS, MRT and river boats to dodge traffic.
- Ignore anyone who says the Grand Palace is 'closed today'; it's a common scam.
Daily budget per person
| Shoestring | ~$54 |
| Comfort | ~$149 |
| Luxury | ~$519 |
A shared double room, meals and local transport. Flights and tickets not included.
Make this Bangkok trip yours
Giro rebuilds this plan for your dates, your group and your budget. Swap stops, drag them between days, add your flights and hotel, and share it with everyone coming.
Plan this tripTimes and prices are estimates (prices in CAD at the latest ECB rate). Check opening hours before you go. Place descriptions and photos from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, credited on each photo. Giro may earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to you.