Bangkok in 4 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

During four days in Bangkok, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of activities including visiting important temples such as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Temple of Dawn, strolling through the local markets of Chatuchak and Chinatown, sampling delicious street food, enjoying the nightlife on Khao San Road and Asiatique, and exploring the historic neighbourhoods of Thonburi and Ratanakosin.

Other activities in Bangkok include taking a cruise on the Chao Phraya River, visiting some of the modern shopping malls, or relaxing in a traditional Thai spa. Even a trip to the Damnoen Saduak floating market is a must. Here are some of the best things to see and do in Bangkok in four days.

Assuming you arrive in Bangkok early in the morning, or have been in the city since the night before, your first day will be packed with things to do and places to see. On day one of your trip you'll have the opportunity to see sights such as the Grand Palace, which is one of the city's most touristy temples, the floating market and the Chinatown locality.

Visit Bangkok's Grand Palace, which includes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha

At around 8:00 and after having eaten a good breakfast, either at your accommodation or at any restaurant in Bangkok city, you will go straight to the Bangkok Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, two of the most important tourist attractions in the city, and whose visit will be a unique experience in your trip. Inside the Grand Palace, you can explore the impressive temples inside, including the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which is considered the holiest temple in Thailand.

It is an architectural gem that houses a golden image of the Emerald Buddha, one of the most important religious statues in the country. Both the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha offer a fascinating insight into Thailand's culture and history, so this is a must-see if you're visiting Bangkok. To visit both sites you will need to follow a dress code and behave respectfully.

To visit both monuments you should allow at least 3 to 4 hours, which will allow you to see all the sites in their entirety. With this in mind, I recommend that before you buy your tickets to the Grand Palace, you consider saving the whole morning to visit the site. Between 11:00 and 12:00 you should be leaving the Grand Palace, so it will be a good time to try some Thai food at a Thai restaurant in the city.

Stroll around the Damnoen Saduak floating market

After a hearty lunch, it's time to head to the Damnoen Saduak floating market, a great place to shop for everything from fresh produce to handicrafts. The most iconic thing about this place is that whatever the merchants sell, they offer it from inside their boats on the canal, which makes it a unique experience.

There are several options for visiting the market, you can do it on your own by taking a taxi or public transport. You also have the option of booking a tour that will take you on a comfortable round trip, in fact this is the option I recommend the most. There are tours of Bangkok's floating markets that take you to experience the floating market and get to know the area.

The market tends to be busiest in the early hours of the day, so you may get a better experience if you visit early in the day, but in this case you'll be going after noon, which still qualifies as an incredible experience. You'll need at least half a day to be able to visit the whole market, navigate the canal and see what the producers have to offer.

You'll be leaving this place around 18:00, just to go for a walk to the next point on this Bangkok tour, which is none other than Chinatown.

Enjoying street food in Chinatown

After a morning and afternoon wandering around some of the city's most interesting sights, it's time to head to Chinatown, which is also known as Yaowarat. Inside you can find a vibrant and authentic street food scene. The food in Chinatown focuses on street food, with numerous stalls serving a wide variety of dishes, from traditional Thai food to Chinese-inspired dishes such as dim sum, roast duck and fried rice, so the experience will be incredible and sensory to the palate.

There's no doubt that exploring the culinary offerings of Chinatown is one of the best things to do in Bangkok's Chinatown because you'll experience a lively atmosphere. By joining one of Bangkok' s best food tours that take you to the best street food stalls and restaurants in the area, you can sample a variety of dishes while learning about the history and culture of local food.

Since you will be arriving in Chinatown after 18:00, you can spend as much time as you want wandering the streets of the city, sampling street food and learning about the local culture. Plus, given the time of day, you'll finish your stroll after a nice dinner. At the end of the day, it's time to head back to your accommodation to continue exploring the city the next day.

For this second day in Bangkok you will have the opportunity to learn a little more about the culture and history of this Thai city through its temples, for them you will start by visiting Wat Pho and Wat Arun, two must-see places in the city.

After these two visits you will explore a little more of Bangkok, perhaps taking in some of the city's popular shopping malls. At the end of the day, you will enjoy a Thai massage at one of the many spas or wellness centres. The day will start very early, around 8:00, with a good breakfast either at your accommodation or at a nearby restaurant.

Tour the Wat Arun Temple, known as the Temple of Dawn

You will start your day by visiting the Wat Arun in Bangkok first thing in the morning, so I recommend you arrive early to avoid the crowds, queues and the heat of the day, because this is nothing less than one of the best temples in Bangkok. Once inside the grounds you'll be able to see the famous Khmer central tower, and you'll also be able to take a few photos before continuing your tour.

You will also have the opportunity to see other ornate structures and architectural details that will surprise you. I recommend spending at least two hours inside the temple for a complete tour. You can also sign up for one of the best Bangkok tours that will take you on a more detailed tour of the history and culture of the temple and the city in general.

As you will spend at least a couple of hours touring the temple, you will be out of the temple by around 11:00 to go to the next point on your four-day Bangkok itinerary.

Visit Wat Pho Temple, where you can admire the 46-metre Reclining Buddha

After a visit to the Wat Arun Temple, it's time to head to the Wat Pho Temple for a unique experience. Inside the temple you will see the reclining Buddha, which is one of the most impressive treasures of the place, as well as other decorations, gardens and architectural details.

To be able to see all this and appreciate every detail I recommend spending at least a couple of hours inside the temple, so you will stay until after 13:00. You can also sign up for a guided tour that will help you learn more about the history and culture of the temple.

As you already know, inside Wat Pho you will be able to see the Reclining Buddha, which is one of the most sacred religious images for the Buddhist faith. You'll love taking pictures of it because it's one of the oldest temples in Thailand, although before doing so, you should ask your tour guide if you're allowed to take pictures of the temple, as this is a culture that is quite respectful of its religious images.

Visit some of the city's shopping malls

By the time you're outside the Wat Pho Temple, it will be around 13:00, so it might be an opportune time to grab some lunch. To do this, I recommend you visit one of the city's shopping malls. You should know that Bangkok is known for its large and modern shopping malls, as well as its themed malls.

Some of the mall options to visit in Bangkok include the MBK mall, Siam Paragon, CentralWorld, Terminal 21 and EmQuartier. Each of these places are ideal not only for shopping, but also for food and entertainment. I recommendtaking advantage of the time inside the mall, so that you not only go there to eat, but also to explore all the areas and enjoy all the shopping, dining and entertainment options.

Enjoy a Thai massage at one of the many nearby establishments

After you have spent the whole afternoon browsing through Bangkok's shopping malls, the best plan to continue the day is definitely to treat yourself to a Thai massage Thai massages are very popular and are considered unique due to the techniques used by Thai masseurs. Often performed on a low bed, pressure and stretching are used to relieve muscle tension and improve blood circulation.

To enjoy a Thai massage in Bangkok, you can visit one of the many massage centres located throughout the city, in fact, if you decided to visit the MBK Center, you can stay there for a Thai massage to end the day. Thai massages are considered special because they are believed to help relieve stress and improve overall health. In addition, the practice of Thai massage dates back hundreds of years in Thailand and is considered an important form of traditional Thai therapy.

With this massage you will have finished your second day in Bangkok and it will be time to rest and prepare for a third day of travel and sightseeing in Bangkok.

For this third day in Bangkok, you will have the opportunity to visit the klongs, taking a traditional long-tail boat along the canals to explore local life on the river. Afterwards, you will visit the bustling Khao San Road neighbourhood for its youthful atmosphere and small shops.

As the last activity of the day, you can visit the famous Patpong Night Market, a popular place to shop for a variety of goods such as clothes, electronics, souvenirs and local food.

Take a tour of Bangkok's canals, also known as the klongs

To start the third day of your trip, and after having eaten a hearty breakfast, you will continue your tour of Bangkok with a tour of the city's canals, also known as the klongs. This is definitely a great way to explore the city from a unique perspective on the water. During a boat ride along the klongs, you can visit traditional neighbourhoods, see the city's temples, and see how the locals live in the houses along the river.

You can sign up for one of the best Bangkok cruises to tour the Klongs and also learn some of the most fascinating stories about life in the city and the hidden secrets of the city that many tourists don't know. I recommend allowing around three to four hours to tour all the canals, so you will spend the whole morning on this activity.

Visit the Khao San Road neighbourhood, famous for its backpacker street scene

After spending all day touring the klongs, you're bound to be a little hungry, so it's time to grab a bite to eat before continuing your tour. To do so, I recommend heading straight to your next stop on your four-day Bangkok itinerary, which is none other than the Khao San Road neighbourhood. Here you will have the opportunity to find plenty of options for lunch, from local Thai food to international dishes.

But after a good meal it will be time to take a tour around the Khao San Road neighbourhood, where you will find that it is a very busy and young area with small shops, restaurants and bars. This is a good place to shop for clothes and souvenirs, and also a good place to experience a bit of Bangkok's nightlife, although in this case you'll be walking around the neighbourhood in the evening hours.

Among the activities you should not miss during your tour of this neighbourhood are visiting the Wat Chana Songkhram temple and sampling the amazing street food. You'll spend the whole afternoon here, and if you want to get a taste of the nightlife, I recommend staying a little longer until it's time to move on to your next stop on the itinerary: the Patpong Night Market.

Shopping at Bangkok's night markets, such as Patpong Night Market

To end the night on a high note, I recommend you continue your tour of the city at the Patpong Night Market in Bangkok. You will find this experience unique and fascinating because you will find a lot of stalls selling imitation items of famous brands, including clothes, accessories and souvenirs. You can also find a variety of local food and drink stalls to enjoy dinner before finishing your tour.

In addition to all this, you will have the opportunity to see and experience the vibrant and bustling atmosphere of the night market. Going to the night market is definitely a good way to experience the night life in the city, so visiting the night market is one of the best things to see and do in Bangkok at night.

With this activity you will be closing the third day of activities in Bangkok, returning to your hotel and getting up early in the morning to continue sightseeing and exploring the city.

For this fourth and final day in Bangkok you will have the opportunity to visit the Vimanmek Palace, a magnificent teakwood mansion with a wealth of royal artefacts and treasures. You can also sample the food and enjoy a good show at the famous Siam Niramit Theatre. At the end of the day you can visit the Sukhumvit neighbourhood to explore its nightlife and enjoy a night out.

Visit the Vimanmek Palace, the largest teak building in the world

You'll start the day with a visit to the Vimanmek Palace in the morning as a great way to get to know an important part of Bangkok's culture. Once inside this palace, you'll realise that it's a magnificent teakwood mansion with a wealth of royal artefacts and treasures.

Also, if you go with a tour guide, you will have the opportunity to see the wide variety of historical items that are kept inside the palace, including antique furniture, paintings, ceramics and jewellery. You should enter the palace around 9:00 and you'll need at least two and a half hours to visit the entire palace, so you'll leave around 11:30.

Enjoy a Thai dance and music show at the Siam Niramit Theatre

After lunch, it's time to go and enjoy a good Thai dance and music performance at the Siam Niramit Theatre, a show that usually includes more than 100 performers on stage. During the show, you can hear and see traditional instruments such as the khene and ranat thum, as well as enjoy the beautiful costumes and technique of the professional dancers.

If you don't enjoy the show, you also have the opportunity to take a guided tour of the venue, which includes a tour of the different stages where the performances take place, as well as detailed explanations about Thai history and culture. You will also see live demonstrations of various traditional Thai arts, such as fruit and vegetable carving.

You will spend about three hours visiting this theatre, so leave after 15:00.

Finish the day in the Sukhumvit district, where you will find numerous bars and restaurants to enjoy the evening

To end the last day of your tour of Bangkok, it is time to visit the Sukhumvit neighbourhood at night. You will love this neighbourhood, which is famous for its vibrant nightlife. You will find a lot of restaurants, bars and nightclubs to explore and spend the afternoon and evening. You will also find different shops and malls to browse and shop.

You can take a guided tour of Sukhumvit to get to know the neighbourhood better and discover some of its most interesting places. You should also be aware that the tour of the neighbourhood can take two to three hours, depending on the number of places you visit, although in this case you can stay as long as you like to enjoy the nightlife before continuing to your accommodation.

After this tour, it will be time to go to your hotel room to rest and get ready for an early start back home.