You have decided to check out Bangkok, but you want to know how long you need to truly take in everything it has to offer. First let’s cover the two main areas I would consider staying in.
Bangkok has certainly changed over the years with lot’s of investment and development. When I first started going there in 2006 everything was centred around Koh San road. The streets would be lined with market stalls selling DVDs, knock off bags. Even back then you would find many internet cafes which in general are a thing of the past. Still worth a visit and staying around Koh San road can be as cheap as 700 THB ($20) for a room in a very basic hotel or hostel (sharing). For a nicer hotel and swimming pool you are looking around $1,800 ($52).
These days I tend to stay in central Bangkok near Terminal 21 (Asok). There is plenty to do around here and the transport links are very good to get on the underground or even the airport rail link. If booking in advance or wanting a basic hotel, you can get rooms from about 1,200 THB ($35) a night. But if you want to spend a little more to have a pool etc then you’ll be looking at about 2,500 THB ($72) a night.
So we have covered what area to stay in, let’s now cover what to see how long this will take. We’ll give each experience, the amount of time we think is needed. Plus some recommendations, we can’t say fairer than that.
1. Rooftop bars in Bangkok
Who does love a rooftop bar to take in the city. There seems to be new ones popping up all the time in Bangkok and prices can be extreme (one of my recommendations, sorry). I have listed down 3 of my favourites:
Sky Bar Bangkok (Lebua Hotel)
Having been here mainly because it was in the film Hangover 2 I must admit it does feel amazing here. When I went in 2012 the drinks were around 500 THB ($14) which was very expensive. Drinks have gone up with inflation and in some cases even more. This really will not be a cheap night. But I think for the views and atmosphere, it’s worth going once. You should book in advance and be prepared to spend. This can be somewhere to go for a birthday celebration in Bangkok.
Brewski (top of the Radisson Blu Hotel)
This is a great one to meet a mate and have an on tap craft beer. Not the cheapest at around 400 THB ($11.50) a pint but it doesn’t half taste good with these views. You just have to go through the hotel and up the lift.
Bar.Yard (atop of Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok Hotel)
The views are great here and in-line with the pricing at Brewski, cocktails are about 450 THB ($13) and beers a little cheaper. If you get bottled beers they are more like 300 THB ($9). One thing that is a little different is it probably is more instagram friendly to get some quality pics to make your friends jealous.
2. Enjoy the Nightlife of Khao San Road
Time needed: 0.5 days head down around 4pm to take in the street and area before it morphes into the night.
I think this has to be done. There is something for everyone here if you enjoy a drink. Bars, clubs and live performances. I would say just walk down the street and see what the vibe is, where it’s kicking off. But if you do want to plan in advance, these would be my recommendations:
Brick Bar
Here they play live music every night and have a very casual and fun atmosphere. The place can get quite busy so if you are wanting a seat probably best to get there early, they open from 7pm daily. This place is located at the back of the Buddy hotel.
Roof Bar Khaosan
Very similar to Brick Bar as they also have live music daily starting from 7pm and from the name you can guess it’s on a rooftop. They play many different music genres. It’s located on the third floor of Centre Point Plaza.
The One
Firstly this place has a very distinct feature, its exposed roof makes it feel very airy and great for pictures especially at night. Here they normally have a DJ and open from 10am so you can go during the day for a drink or even some food.
3. Take a Boat Ride on the Chao Phraya River including a visit to Wat Arun
0.5 day best to do earlier in the morning say 10 am and finish by 2-3pm to then get some lunch.
A bit like London with the iconic Thames, Bangkok has its own river flowing through the city. There are so many options on how to enjoy this experience. You can take a boat during the day, take one at night and include a meal and drinks. You can even use it to get from A to B i.e. Wat Arun temple.
I think the best way is a tour to include Wat Arun and use the river as the way to get there. You can rent a local longtail boat with a driver. You’ll need to do this when you are there for the best price. You can book something before you go but will work out more expensive and be a pretty fixed itinerary and times.
4. Visit Terminal 21
Time needed: 0.2 days look to have lunch here and really to see something a little bit different.
I’ll be honest, I am not the biggest shopper out there. But I do like to go to Terminal 21 and have a nosey around. They normally have some kind of event or theme going on, on the basement floor. You also have some good sports shops and independent sellers. The theme of the Mall is an airport and even the security staff are dressed up like pilots.
As I say, I think you should certainly have food here. The food Court has many options but I always end up at coco ichibanya located on floor 4. You can get this many places but it seems a bit of a tradition for me to go here now. It is just a curry with rice and bread crumbed meat but always enjoy it!
If you are into shopping then check out this post on the best shopping malls in Bangkok.
5. Visit the Jim Thompson House
Time needed: 0.3 days this will be a journey, if there is heavy traffic you are best to take the underground or a motorbike taxi. If you fancy you could also do a Tuk-Tuk but make sure to agree a price before starting the journey.
The Jim Thompson House, located in the heart of Bangkok, is a museum that stands as a tribute to the American businessman and silk entrepreneur Jim Thompson. The house, an architectural masterpiece, is a complex of traditional Thai teakwood buildings surrounded by lush gardens.
You can explore the meticulously preserved interiors adorned with a stunning collection of Asian art and antiques. The museum narrates the enigmatic tale of Jim Thompson’s life, his efforts in revitalising the Thai silk industry, and his mysterious disappearance in 1967.
The Jim Thompson House not only offers a glimpse into the sophisticated taste of its former owner but also serves as a cultural treasure trove, showcasing the harmonious blend of traditional Thai design and Western aesthetics.
6. Try local street food
Time needed: 0.2 days,so many options and can even grab and go.
You probably can’t walk more than 100 metres without seeing or smelling food. There are numerous street vendors selling all kinds of things or even a restaurant setup on the side of a street. One of my favourite street foods is Moo Ping (grilled pork) and sticky rice. Normally you can pick this combination up for about 50 THB ($1.50), a few bags of rice and 3 or 4 skews.
There are also many street food places down back alleys or randomly placed. These places are always great when I’ve been and normally have Pad Thai, morning glory (lots of green veg) and normally pay 300 THB ($8.50) along with a beer.
Summary
I would say to enjoy the city fully you can get away with staying just 3 nights. Most people will use Bangkok as a hub to fly in and out of for other Asian countries and also for Thai islands and resorts.
One of the main parts of Bangkok is the nightlife, food markets and just the general vibe of a big Asian city. Whenever I go back to Asia I always make time for a few nights in Bangkok, mainly to see how much it has changed and new places to enjoy (normally rooftop bars).