Thailand is one of my favorite countries in the world. I spent a ton of time exploring it when I lived there while teaching English several years ago. So, I was really excited to get back there and fall in love all over again with the land of smiles. First stop? 48 hours in Bangkok!

Bangkok is one of those cities that you have to visit. It’s a can’t miss when you go to Thailand. And even though I’m not the biggest fan of the bustling city, you should definitely spend at least 48 hours in Bangkok exploring. The fact is, there is so much to see there and you could easily spend an entire week there and not even scratch the surface. But, 48 hours is the perfect amount of time to get a taste of the city and really see it come to life.

How To Spend 48 Hours in Bangkok, Thailand

Where To Stay

First things first. Where should you stay in Bangkok? There are so many places you could stay in Bangkok. It’s a popular backpackers spot, so there are several hostels scattered around the city. The Blocks Hostel is a great choice as it is centrally located and offers great prices! If you’d prefer to stay in a hotel, The Dream Bangkok and So Sofitel are great options.

This time around we opted for an AirBnB. It was perfect for what we wanted and right next to the skytrain, making it easy to get around. Use this link to sign up!

Day 1

Welcome to Bangkok! Grab a taxi from the airport and head to your accommodation to drop off your bags! Use your first day to get acclimated to the city! Bangkok can get really hot and humid so there is no reason to rush around trying to fit everything in! Choose what you want to do and stick to it.

The Morning

Your first morning of your 48 hours in Bangkok is going to be tough if you’re feeling tired. So, like I said, take it easy. Head to the Sukhumvit area and wander around the streets. Grab a small bite to eat for breakfast. I personally swear by a ham and cheese toastie from 7-11, but you can also find street food just about anywhere!

Pop into one of the nearby malls just to see what they’re like in Southeast Asia. A lot of them are themed, like Terminal 21. And if you’re a little bit nervous to dive into street food, head to the food court there. They have some really good options that locals frequent.

The Afternoon

It’s hot! So why not pop into a bar and grab an ice cold Chang. It’s the local beer and it is refreshing! Afterwards, head back to your accommodation. That is, if you booked something with a pool! Bangkok is hot, so the best way to spend your first afternoon is by catching some rays and cooling off in the pool.

Evening

Get dressed up and head to one of the many rooftop bars in Bangkok. We opted for the popular Skybar, which is featured in The Hangover 2. There are several other options like Octave or the Banyan Tree. Bangkok is actually a pretty beautiful city and you can definitely see that from the sky! Grab a cocktail and watch the sunset before heading off for some street food at one of the many night markets.

Day 2

Morning

Day 2 is all about temple hopping, so remember to cover your knees and shoulders. Start your day off at the Grand Palace. Tickets cost 500 baht. If you get there on a day when it’s not too busy, it’s definitely worth the visit. The Grand Palace is really stunning and takes about an hour and a half to walk around. Afterwards, walk down the street to Wat Pho.

I find Wat Pho to be way more beautiful than the Grand Palace. Plus, a lot of people skip this temple so it usually isn’t crowded. It’s also home to the largest reclining Buddha, which is something to see!

Grab lunch across the street from Wat Pho. Don’t give into the air conditioned places! There are delicious spots that aren’t air-conditioned. The food is tasty and it’s way cheaper.

Afternoon

Hop on the ferry (which should cost you 5 baht) to cross the river and visit Wat Arun. Climb the steep, narrow steps to get a great view of the beautiful Pagoda. Afterwards, hire a boat for a Khlong Tour. The Khlongs, or canals, are really interesting to visit. You can get a private boat for an hour for around 1000 baht. During your tour you’ll see houses, temples, and more along the way.

When you’re done with that, it’s time to head back to your accommodations for another cool off in the pool!

Evening

Head to Khao Son Road around 8 PM. The party won’t start until much later, but I think it’s better to see this strip before it gets packed! You’ll see people selling deep fried scorpions, inappropriate jewelry, and fun souvenirs. Khao San Road is where the backpackers come to party in the city.

Before the party starts, find some pad Thai to dine on at one of the street food stalls. I don’t suggest eating at a restaurant as prices can be 4x as much as they cost at a stall. Afterwards, grab a seat at one of the bars that have a second floor so you can people watch as the street gets busier.

Afterwards, head to another bar for a bucket! We went to the Golf Bar and enjoyed several Songsam and coke buckets. When we were feeling the buzzed we walked down the street to the ultimate party. Khao San Road is a weird place, but the reason it’s fun is because the bars overflow into the street and everyone just has an amazing time. Definitely check it out if you want a fun night out!

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