We spent more than 1 night in Bangkok, but what we learned when speaking to a lot of couples who have traveled to Thailand was that there was a common theme: they chose to spend very little time in Bangkok. Everyone has their own travel likes and dislikes, so this post is devoted to those travelers who have 2 days to see as much of Bangkok as possible.
Bangkok is quite a large city, encompassing 18 different neighborhoods. It’s obvious that travelers won’t possibly be able to visit all of them in 2 days, but we’ll give you some tips on how to make the most of your time in Neil’s favorite city.
Where to Stay
Staying in Phra Nakhon District will provide a good deal of fabulous Bangkok sites all within walking distance. Within Phra Nakhon, you’ll find the Grand Palace, Khao San Road, and many temples.
We really enjoyed Chillax Resort. The hotel really is quintessential Bangkok, completely decked out in purple neon lighting and most rooms have in-suite jacuzzis. It’s conveniently located in Phra Nakhon and very reasonably priced at about $80USD a night. The hotel includes a rooftop pool with bar service. A lot of the hotels in the district do not have pools, so if a pool is important to you (it is to us), check out Chillax.
The Grand Palace
Less than a 2 mile walk from Chillax is the Grand Palace. It is open from 8:30am – 3:30pm every day and has an entry fee of around $30USD. Try to arrive early as it gets very crowded. Also, out of respect, it’s advised that women cover their legs with pants or a sarong and both men and women should wear sleeves, so tank tops are a no go.
Wat Pho
Wat Pho is a short walk south from the Grand Palace. It’s a royal Buddhist temple with some really gorgeous architecture. It’s not as crowded as The Grand Palace, so if you’re looking to avoid the larger crowds, it’s a great alternative. As with the Grand Palace, you should also dress accordingly at Wat Pho.
Khao San Road
Less than a mile from Chillax is Khao San Road. Khao San Road is a famous market that is pretty much dedicated to tourists. It’s open during the day with street vendors and shops, but the real fun happens at night when all the street food carts come out. We like Khao San so much, we’ve been there a bunch of times. Khao San Road is also one place in Thailand where you can find the famous ping pong show. Why should you do this? Because travel is about experience and getting out of your comfort zone. Just don’t touch ANYTHING.
Phahurat Market and Tha Tian Market
Phahurat Market is also known as little India. Itβs the Indian neighborhood in Bangkok where you can find all the pretty Indian handmade textiles. The buildings in Phahurat are old with interesting architecture with market stalls lining the sidewalks. Unlike all the tourist markets, this one felt more local in purpose. We were in awe at all of the silks, clothing, blankets, shawls, and sarongs this market had to offer. From here, its a short walk over to Tha Tian Market.
At Tha Tian Market, youβll find more of the traditional Thai market offeringsβwhich is everything! The really cool thing about Tha Tian is that its on the river, right next to the pier. Definitely some really pretty views ancillary to the shopping.
Vesper Bar
Vesper is located in the commercial district called Bang Rak, which is a 10 minute Uber ride from Phra Nakhon. Uber is very accessible in Bangkok and easy to use. You won’t get the rooftop view of the Sky Bar at the Labua Hotel, which is most famous from the Hangover 2 movie, but you will enjoy some of the best cocktails in the world without dealing with the overcrowded mess at Sky Bar, entry fee, and inflated drink prices.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
More commonly known as JJ Market, this place is overwhelming in a good way. You can and will spend hours getting lost in JJ. JJ Market is not a night market, it’s only open during daylight hours. It has over 15,000 vendors. You can find everything from soap shaped dicks to Thai themed clothes for your dogs. If you’re wondering if we bought those things, you better believe we did! We highly recommend JJ Market. JJ Market is in Chatuchak district, which is too far to walk from Phra Nakhon. Take a 30 minute ride over on a tuk-tuk, which is a memorable experience itself.
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