Bangkok in 7 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

If you plan to spend seven days in Bangkok, I have good news! During that week you will have enough time to enjoy the best things this city has to offer. From visits to temples, to bike tours, cruises and much more.

With that amount of time you will be able to walk around at your leisure and not miss anything. You can even take excursions from this city to get to know a little more of this beautiful country, so get ready for an unforgettable adventure!

For your first day in Bangkok I recommend a tour of the temples of this city and Thanon Khao San Street. The latter is a very popular and attractive place where you will surely find a cheap inn to stay. Be sure to find a transfer service from the airport so that you arrive without any problem.

The tour of the main temples can be done by bicycle or on foot. The latter option is the most recommended, as it allows you to get to know the city in depth. As you will be in Bangkok for seven days, it is a very good idea.

Visit Thanon Khao San

The first stop will be Khao San Street. Here you will find multiple restaurants and bars, choose one and have breakfast before continuing! Gastronomy is one of the things you can't miss in Thailand and this place is the best place to get a taste of the city.

Walk around the city and go into the different gift and clothing stores. You will also see numerous street vendors and fast food stalls. You can even take a bicycle tour of this and other areas of the city.

Details of interest

• Location: Khaosan Rd, Khwaeng Talat Yot, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand.
• Price: free ride.
• Hours: you can go during the day and even at night, as it has a very active nightlife.

Visit the Grand Palace

The Grand Palace is probably the most visited tourist attraction in the city. You will get there by walking for about 10 minutes. The entrance to this site has an average cost of 15 €. Inside the large complex of buildings you should visit the famous Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

Continue your tour and visit the Chakri Mahat Prasat Palace, the textile museum, the Royal Thai Decoration Museum and the Coin Museum. When you leave it will probably be time for lunch (about 1:30 pm), so I recommend eating at Pad Thai Kratong Tong.

Details of interest

• Location: Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand.
• Price: around 15 €.
• Opening hours: open daily from 8:30 am to 2 pm.

Complete the visit to the most important temples with Wat Pho and Wat Arun

Wat Pho is known as the temple of the Reclining Buddha, as it houses a statue 45 meters long and 15 meters high. This large monument represents the death of Buddha. Please note that the entrance fee to this site is approximately 3 €.

You can easily reach this temple, as it is just a few meters from the Grand Palace. After this visit you can continue to the Wat Arun temple, but to get there you must take a boat. This trip costs less than 1 €.

The boat will drop you right in front of the entrance of the temple. The entrance to this site costs about 2 €. When it is already dinner time, you can visit the Shabu Nangnai restaurant, located just 10 minutes from the last temple you visit. You can end your day here and then return to your hotel.

Details of interest

• Location: Wat Pho is located in Phra Nakhon and Wat Arun in Bangkok Yai.
• Price: about 3 € for the entrance to the temples.
• Opening hours: from 8 am to about 6 pm.

For the second day you can visit the Golden Mount temple. Before doing so, I recommend you to have a good breakfast, because to get there you have to walk a few steps. Then visit amazing places like the Jim Thompson House and Chinatown.

On this day you will find more lively and cheerful places. Plus, you'll be taking public transportation, isn't that exciting?

Visit the Temple of the Golden Mount and Jim Thompson's House

The Golden Mount temple was built on top of a hill from where you can enjoy a beautiful 360-degree view of Bangkok. The entrance to this site has an average cost of about 2 €. I invite you to play the gongs on the way to attract good luck.

After this visit you can continue to the Jim Thompson House. To get there, walk to the Democracy Monument stop (Opposite Suksapan) and take bus 15 AC: The Mall Thapra - Banglamphu. The trip will take about 40 minutes until you reach the Bangkok Art And Culture Centre stop, from where you will walk about five minutes. The entrance to this museum has an average cost of 5 €. Inside you can see the vast art collection of this American businessman.

Details of interest

• Location: the Temple of the Golden Mount is located in Pom Prap Sattru Phai. The Jim Thompson House is located in Pathum Wan.
• Price: between the two tourist attractions the cost is 7 €.
• Opening hours: the Temple of the Golden Mount is open from 9 am to 5 pm. The Jim Thompson House is open from 10 am to 6 pm.

Bangkok Chinatown and the Golden Buddha

Hurry up to Bangkok's Chinatown! To do so, go to Opposite Mbk bus stop and take bus 21 REG : Wat Khu Sang - Chulalongkorn University. You will travel for 10 minutes to the Soi Makham stop, where you will have to walk only five minutes to Chinatown. There you can have lunch at the Tang Jai Yoo restaurant.

After touring Chinatown, you can head to the Temple of the Golden Buddha, located just a few minutes away. You must buy an entrance fee of approximately 2 €. At the end of your visit you can return to Chinatown and enjoy the night market.

Details of interest

• Location: Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand.
• Price: the entrance to the Golden Buddha has an average cost of about 2 €.
• Opening hours: Chinatown is open all day long, while the Temple of the Golden Buddha is open from 8 am to 5 pm.

If your third day in Bangkok falls right during the weekend, you must visit the Chatuchak market! The experience is amazing and you will find a lot of interesting things to see. You will even be able to buy some very interesting food and souvenirs.

Very close to this amazing market is a huge park. You can buy a few things at the market and enjoy a picnic there. No doubt, your kids will love this plan.

The Chatuchak weekend market

Chatuchak weekend market is the most popular market in this city. Inside this site you will find more than 10 thousand stores and stalls where you will find everything.

To locate more easily you can go to the entrance number three and ask for a map. This way you will be able to locate the different sections of the market more quickly. You will find clothes, food, handicrafts and much more. If you prefer, you can have breakfast there and even buy what you need for a midday picnic.

Interesting details

• Location: Chatuchak Weekend Market, Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
• Hours: The market is active throughout the weekend.

Enjoy a picnic in Chatuchak Park and visit the museum

Chatuchak Park is a public park just five minutes away from the market. Visiting it is one of the best activities you can do with children. Inside you will find many types of plants, trees and flowers. Locate the one meant for picnics and enjoy family time before taking a tour of the whole site.

In the park you will also find the Children's Discovery Museum. There children will be able to do multiple fun activities designed just for them.

Details of interest

• Location: Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
• Price: Access to both the park and the Discovery Museum is free of charge.
• Hours: The park is open from 8 am to 6 pm. On the other hand, the Children's Discovery Museum is open from 10 am to 4 pm, Tuesday to Sunday.

For the fourth day you can do more relaxing activities and go to places not so crowded. One of them is Lumphini Park. There you can connect with nature and get away from the busy city.

You can also enjoy the Chao Phraya River on a cruise that you will love, dine on delicious Thai food and watch the city at night!

Stroll through Lumphini Park

Lumphini Park is considered the first park in Bangkok and in all of Thailand. There you will see trees, playgrounds and an artificial lake where you can rent a boat for about 1 € and sail for half an hour. When it is noon, you can head to the Thai food restaurant Somtum Der

After lunch, and if you travel between January and April to Bangkok, you can return to the park. During these months there is a Thai music festival that takes place every Sunday during these months between 5pm and 8pm.

Details of interest

• Location: Lumphini Park, 192 Witthayu Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
• Price: free admission.
• Hours: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya River

To end your fourth day in Bangkok on a high note, I recommend you to take one of the best dinner cruises in Bangkok on the Chao Phraya River. These tours usually include a delicious dinner with international and national dishes.

During the night, you can admire the beautiful lights of the city. You will have a unique and breathtaking view! Admire all the monuments and buildings fully illuminated and enjoy the relaxing music that accompanies this tour.

For your fifth day in Bangkok I suggest you to visit somewhat distant and little-known, but worthwhile attractions. So that you don't waste any time, I recommend you to take a personalized tour of Bangkok This way you can count on private transportation and you will get to these sites quickly.

Another option is to take a cab after each visit you make. Remember that these sites are a bit far from the most touristic part of the capital, so fares may be higher than usual.

Visit Wat Samphran, the dragon temple

Wat Samphran, or Dragon Temple, is a tourist destination that does not always appear in travel guides. It is located 40 kilometers from Bangkok and has a cylindrical shape and is surrounded by a giant red dragon.

According to tradition, you must do two rituals for good luck without entering the temple. First, at the entrance, you must rest a hand on one of the dragon's claws and recite a Buddhist prayer in Thai. Then, on the terrace, you must stroke the chin of the dragon and wish for something.

Interesting details

• Location: Wat Samphran, 92 Sam Phran, Sam Phran District, Nakhon Pathom 73110, Thailand.
• Price: free admission.
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visit the Lhong 1919

After spending a few hours at the dragon temple, you can head with your guide to the Lhong 1919. This site is located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. It is a large complex of stores and recreational spaces that is worth visiting.

In addition to handicraft stores and cultural centers, you will find multiple cafes and restaurants. You can choose one of them and have Thai or Chinese food for lunch. You can also visit the shrine of Mazu, the goddess of the sea.

Details of interest

• Location: Lhong 1919, 248 Chiang Mai Rd, Khlong San, Bangkok 10600, Thailand.
• Price: free admission.
• Hours: from 8 am to 7 pm.

Visit the Srinakarin Train Night Market, near the Seacon Square shopping mall

After an evening exploring the Lhong 1919, it's time to head to the Srinakarin Train Night Market. This is an exclusive market located near Seacon Square Mall. You can spend an amazing night in its lively bars or visit its fashion and antique stores.

As you are traveling with a guide, this person can tell you a bit about the history of this place and the reason for its name. After dinner at one of the many restaurants, you can go shopping and see many second-hand items that might interest you. At the end of the day, your guide will take you back to your hotel.

Details of interest

• Location: Srinagarindra Train Night Market, 1 4 Srinakarin Rd, Nong Bon, Prawet, Bangkok 10250, Thailand.
• Price: free admission.
• Hours: from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

In Pattaya you will find the best beaches in Thailand and the best way to get there is with a private tour. Usually these trips take a full day. I recommend you to have breakfast at your hotel and wait for your guide to pick you up in the morning.

When you arrive in Pattaya you can visit the Wat Phra Yai temple and then get on a boat to Coral Island. There you can swim in the sea and enjoy marine activities. You can also enjoy the lunch that these tours usually include. At the end of the day, your guide will take you back to your hotel.

Details of interest

• Price: about 70 €.
• Duration: approximately 13 h.
• Means of transportation: private vehicle and boat.

You cannot leave Bangkok without a trip to Kanchanaburi province. Before leaving, have a hearty breakfast at the hotel and wait for your guide to pick you up. When you get into the vehicle you will head to Erawan National Park. There you can swim in the waterfalls and then have lunch at a nearby restaurant. Your guide will tell you where, as lunch is included in the tour.

After lunch you can visit the Elephant Haven Observe. Hear all the details about **Thailand'**s elephants and their history. You will also have a chance to feed them. At the end of the day your guide will take you back to your hotel.

Details of interest

• Price: about 200 €.
• Duration: approximately 12 h.
• Means of transportation: private vehicle.

In Bangkok you can use the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority. This transport system has 65 lines and the average cost of a trip is less than 1 €. However, some buses offer more amenities and the price can reach up to 5 € approximately.

For long distances or around Bangkok, I recommend you to use cab, tuk tuk or travel accompanied by a tour guide with a private vehicle. Any of these options can be adapted to suit you and your needs.