Bangkok Itinerary: How to Spend 48 Hours in Bangkok

Bangkok is one of the most visited cities in the world. Thailand’s capital sees millions of visitors every year and it’s easy to see why. From the colourful markets to the beautiful temples and the buzzing nightlife, there’s something about the city that attracts almost any type of traveller.

The city has also become one of the main transport hubs in Asia. I’ve stopped there twice now on extended layovers between other countries. So, while you could easily spend a week, if not more, exploring the huge metropolis, here’s a quick Bangkok itinerary for 48 hours in the city.

While I had previously dismissed Bangkok as being too tourist-oriented for me to enjoy, it didn’t take long for Bangkok to change my mind. It left me pretty impressed and I found myself back there a year later on another extended layover. So, if you find yourself in the same situation as me and need to kill a couple of days in the city, here’s how you can see all the major sights in 48 hours.

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How long to spend in Bangkok?

There’s plenty of things to do in Bangkok. I spent five days in the city and then returned a second time, and there’s still things that I haven’t seen or done yet. You could easily spend up to a week in the city if you wanted to visit all the different neighbourhoods around Bangkok. However, it’s possible to see the main highlights in just a couple of days.

This post certainly doesn’t include everything to do in Bangkok. But it’s perfect for those on a short stopover or just wanting to explore the city on a brief trip. This Bangkok itinerary will help you discover the best that the city has to offer in a short time.

This two day Bangkok itinerary concentrates on three aspects of the city; the temples, the markets and the nightlife. The first day outlined below is all about the city’s temples, while the second 24 hours is all about shopping at the local markets, with a couple of nightlife hotspots in the evenings.

Bangkok is also a photographers dream, especially if you enjoy street photography. The markets and nightlife of Bangkok are incredibly interesting and I had a great time walking around with my camera. Thai people are also extremely friendly, but make sure you ask for their permission first before taking a photo.

How to get around Bangkok

I have to say that the city is huge. It can be quite overwhelming when you look at a city map of Bangkok. However, it’s not too difficult to get around with plenty of transport options and some of the attractions are quite close together.

Still, if you’re on a budget, be prepared to walk a lot (I covered nearly 20km a day sometimes), although you can also jump in a tuk tuk or Grab (similar to Uber) for a short ride if you get tired. I recommend downloading the Grab app and using it for most of your transport. It works like Uber and is incredibly convenient.

Where to stay in Bangkok

It can be difficult to choose one area of the city to stay in on your visit with so many accommodation options available.

For many tourists, staying in and around Khao San Road is their first choice, especially for backpackers. However, as an alternative, I would recommend looking at the area that is across the canal just a few hundred metres to the north of Khao San Road. It’s much quieter but has plenty of hostels, guesthouses and local restaurants. It’s a really lovely area to stay and means you’re perfectly located for exploring the city. Here are a couple of recommendations in this area:

The Yard Hostel || This popular hostel has outstanding reviews. Located just outside of centre of Bangkok in Phaya Thai neighbourhood, it’s not far from a skytrain station. It’s a great place to meet other travellers with dormitories, outdoor garden, indoor lounge and a laidback vibe. Check availability here.

Roof View Place || This guesthouse is a great option if you’re travelling on a budget but would prefer your own room. They have simple, clean rooms starting from AU$20 per night. The staff are super friendly and they have free breakfast every day. Check the latest prices here.

Lost Inn BKK || Located on Samsen Road, it’s a very convenient place to base yourself for a Bangkok trip. This mid-range guesthouse has budget double rooms starting from AU$45 per night. It also has a bar and restaurant and shared lounge to hang out with other travellers. Check availability here.

48-hour Bangkok itinerary

Here’s a comprehensive guide to spending two days in the bustling city in Thailand.

Day one: Temple hopping and Khao San Road

Morning

In the morning on your first day you should head to the city’s top tourist attraction; the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew).

This can be an extremely busy place to visit with lengthy queues but heading there first thing in the morning can make it a little easier. This impressive complex is the former home of the King and royal family and includes over 100 buildings.

The highlight of a visit to the palace is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It’s considered as the most important temple in Thailand and is visited by pilgrims from all over the world. The jade Buddha figure is located inside a beautiful hall.

The Grand Palace

Hours: Daily from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Entrance price: 500 THB (AU$22)
Estimated time needed: 2 hours

Lunch

If you’re hungry for some lunch, the riverside area not far from the Grand Palace complex has plenty of options for all different budgets.

The Maharaj shopping complex on the riverside has some great restaurants and trendy cafes.

If you want to head further down south towards your next sightseeing stop, you can find a few good choices of restaurants near Wat Pho and the Tha Tian Boat Pier. AMA Restaurant gets good reviews or just down from there you can find The Sixth, another popular Thai restaurant. There’s plenty of choices in this area of the city.

Afternoon

Once you’ve had lunch, walk along the river past the Grand Palace to the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho). This impressive golden statue depicts Buddha entering Nirvana (enlightenment) and is a huge 46m long statue. You can also wander around the courtyard and other chapels which are much quieter and worth a little extra time.

Wat Pho

Hours: 8 am to 6:30 pm
Entrance price: 200 THB (AU$9)
Estimated time needed: 1 hour

From Wat Pho, walk the short 200m towards the river edge and Tha Tien Boat Pier. From here, you can easily jump on one of the frequent ferries that take you across to the other side of the river. The price for the boat is just 4 THB (AU$0.20) for the short ride. The ferry should drop you directly across to where you’ll find the Temple of the Dawn (Wat Arun).

This impressive temple complex is stunning. The highlight is the central, 80m high temple tower that has become one of the most iconic landmarks in the city. It’s one of the most beautifully designed temples and is pretty busy throughout the day. It’s become sort-of Insta-famous, and when I was there a year ago there were some barriers put in place to stop people from climbing all over the higher steps. Still, it’s definitely worth seeing.

Wat Arun

Hours: 8 am to 6 pm
Entrance price: 200 THB (AU$9)
Estimated time needed: 1 hour

Take the ferry back across the river. From here, you have one more temple to finish off your day. From the riverside, it’s just over 3km to the Golden Mountain Temple (Wat Saket), so you can either walk or take a tuk tuk or Grab ride (similar to Uber).

At the temple, you have to walk up over 300 steps to reach the top. The reward is an incredible panoramic view of the entire city. It used to be the highest point in the city before the tall skyscrapers took hold, but it still offers one of the best views of the city skyline. It’s best at sunset, which is why you should leave it for the end of the day on your Bangkok itinerary, if you can.

Wat Saket

Hours: 7:30 am to 7 pm
Entrance price: 50 THB (AU$2.50)
Estimated time needed: 1-2 hours

Night

You’ve probably had enough of seeing temples at the end of the day, but the good news is you’ve seen some of the city’s best.

From Wat Saket, you can finish your day off by heading to the infamous Khao San Road. It’s a 1.5km walk or a short Grab ride away from the temple. It’s all things cringey, intoxicating and crowded and has a reputation for being the leading tourist strip and backpacker hub in all of Asia. But, you can find some good food, bars and market stalls along the busy street and it’s worth a stroll at night when it comes to life just to check out what all the fuss is about.

Dinner

For cheap eats, you can find plenty of food carts on Khao San Road, particularly congregated at the eastern end. There are some incredibly delicious curries and pad Thai carts that are worth sitting down to eat on the sidewalk.

You’ll also find plenty of sticky rice pudding and coconut ice cream vendors walking up and down the road for dessert.