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 for you! During that week you will have enough time to enjoy the best things this city has to offer. From temple visits, to bike tours, cruises and much more.

With that amount of time you will be able to wander around at your leisure and not miss anything. You can even go on 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 city's temples and Thanon Khao San Street. The latter is a very popular and attractive place where you are sure to find a cheap place to stay. Be sure to find a shuttle service from the airport so that you arrive safely.

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

Walk around the city and enter the various gift and clothing shops. 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'll get there on foot in about 10 minutes. Entrance to this site costs an average 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 lunch time (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 8.30am to 2pm.

Complete your 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 metres long and 15 metres 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 metres from the Grand Palace. After this visit you can continue on 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 off right in front of the temple entrance. Entrance to this site costs around €2. When it is time for dinner, 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 at Phra Nakhon and Wat Arun in Bangkok Yai.
• Price: around €3 for entry to the temples.
• Opening hours: from 8am to about 6pm.

On the second day you can visit the Golden Mount Temple. Before doing so, I recommend that you have a good breakfast, as you have to walk up a few steps to get there. 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 transport, 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 average entrance fee to this site is about €2. I invite you to play the gongs along 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 bus stop (Opposite Suksapan) and take bus 15 AC: The Mall Thapra - Banglamphu. The journey will take approximately 40 minutes to reach the Bangkok Art And Culture Centre stop, from where you will walk for about five minutes. The average entrance fee to this museum is €5. Inside you can see the vast art collection of this American businessman.

Interesting details

• Location: The Temple of the Golden Mount is located at 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 9am to 5pm. Jim Thompson House is open from 10am to 6pm.

Bangkok Chinatown and the Golden Buddha

Hurry to Bangkok's Chinatown! To get there, 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. There is an entrance fee of approximately €2. At the end of your visit you can return to Chinatown and enjoy the night market.

Interesting details

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

If your third day in Bangkok falls right on the weekend, you must visit the Chatuchak market! The experience is amazing and you'll find lots of interesting things to see. You can even 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. Your kids will definitely love this plan.

The Chatuchak Weekend Market

Chatuchak Weekend Market is the most popular market in Chatuchak. Inside you will find more than 10,000 shops and stalls where you can find everything.

To find your way around more easily you can go to 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 things to do with children. Inside you will find many types of plants, trees and flowers. Locate the one for picnics and enjoy some family time before taking a tour of the whole site.

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

Interesting details

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

For the fourth day you can do more relaxing activities and go to less crowded places. 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 will delight you, 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'll see trees, playgrounds and a man-made lake where you can rent a boat for around €1 and cruise around for half an hour. When it's midday, you can head to the Thai restaurant Somtum Der

After lunch, if you're in Bangkok between January and April, 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.

Interesting details

• Location: Lumphini Park, 192 Witthayu Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
• Price: free admission.
• Hours: 5am-10pm.

Chao Phraya River Dinner Cruise

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

During the night, you can admire the beautiful lights of the city, 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 attractions that are a bit far away and little known, but still worthwhile. To make sure you don't waste any time, I recommend taking a personalised tour of Bangkok. This way you will have private transport and you will get to these sites quickly.

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

See Wat Samphran, the dragon temple

Wat Samphran, or Dragon Temple, is a tourist destination that doesn't always appear in guidebooks. It is located 40 kilometres from Bangkok and is cylindrical in shape and surrounded by a giant red dragon.

According to tradition, you must perform two good luck rituals 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 dragon's chin and wish for something.

Interesting details

• Location: Wat Samphran, 92 Sam Phran, Sam Phran District, Nakhon Pathom 73110, Thailand.
• Price: Free admission.
• Hours: 8am to 5pm.

Visit the Lhong 1919

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

In addition to craft shops and cultural centres, you will find many 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.

Interesting details

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

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

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

As you are travelling with a guide, this person can tell you a bit about the history of this place and the reason for its name. After dining in 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: 6pm to 10pm.

Pattaya is home to some of Thailand's best beaches and the best way to get there is with a private tour. These trips usually 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 take 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: around 70 €.
• Duration: approximately 13 hours.
• Means of transport: private vehicle and boat.

You cannot leave Bangkok without a trip to Kanchanaburi province. Before you leave, have a hearty breakfast at your 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 the opportunity to feed them. At the end of the day your guide will take you back to your hotel.

Details of interest

• Price: around 200 €.
• Duration: approximately 12 h.
• Means of transport: private vehicle.

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

For long distances or around Bangkok, I recommend using a taxi, tuk tuk or travelling with a tour guide in a private vehicle. Any of these options can be tailored to suit you and your needs.