Bangkok itinerary in 7 days

Bangkok is one of the most popular destinations in South East Asia, as well as being a great starting point for discovering Thailand and this whole part of the world. Thanks to the many direct flights, getting there is always easier!

If you have seven full days to devote to it, you can explore it far and wide at your leisure, losing yourself among its beautiful temples and enjoying its incredible nightlife. Bangkok is in fact a city of two faces: on the one hand, tradition, with its temples, historical buildings, Old Town and floating market; on the other hand, modernity, bustling life, nightlife and skyscrapers. Discover every little facet of it!

Ready to go? Here's theBangkok itinerary in 7 days!
SEE ALSO: What to see in Bangkok

Day 1: Royal Palace, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho Temples

Photo by Kevin Poh. Start the day with a visit to Bangkok's Royal Palace, the Grand Palace, the former home of the royal family. In this huge complex, which we recommend you take a morning to visit, amidst temples, halls and gilded statues of demons, is the striking emerald Buddha statue, preserved inside the Wat Phra Kaew.
Open daily from 8 a.m. to 3.30 p.m., only in the morning you will also find the amulet market here. Admission costs THB 500.00 (about €14.30).

For lunch, stop at the AMA Thai restaurant, where you can also begin to discover the culinary traditions of this land (average cost per person €5.00).
Eating in Thailand is really very cheap and you can discover unique flavours and dishes!
After recharging your batteries, it's time to visit Wat Pho, Bangkok's largest and oldest temple! Inside is the majestic statue of the reclining Buddha, 15 metres high and 46 metres long, entirely covered in gold. There is also a prestigious and ancient school of medicine and traditional massage. Here you can experience a beautiful massage according to the Thai method- highly recommended! Massages are 30 minutes at a cost of THB 260.00 (about €7.50) or one hour at a cost of THB 420.00 (about €12.00).
The temple is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. and admission costs THB 200.00 (approx. €5.70), the medical school from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

End the day with dinner at Err Urban Rustic Thai, an eatery serving typical Thai dishes, the pad thai is excellent (average cost per person €10.00).

In summary:

• Distance travelled: 3.4 km

• Places visited: Royal Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (€14.30), Wat Pho (€5.70) and 30-minute Thai massage at the medical school (€7.50)

• Daily expense: €42.00

• Card, tickets and recommended tours : Grand Royal Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun: flexible tour

• Where to eat: Lunch at AMA(Get directions), Dinner at Err Urban Rustic Thai(Get directions)

Day 2: Museum Siam, Flower Market, Wat Arun Temple

Photo by eric molina. We recommend starting the morning by visiting Museum Siam, which focuses on Thai history and culture. Here you can deepen your knowledge of this culture through exhibitions, displays, interactive installations and videos.
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and admission costs THB 200.00 (about €5.70).
Afterwards, just 300 metres away, visit the beautiful Pak Khlong Flower Market, Bangkok's 24-hour flower market! Admission is free.

Have lunch at Floral Café at Napasorn, a decidedly green eatery that looks like something out of a fairy tale (average cost per person €7.00).
It's time to visit Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, one of the best known temples in Bangkok. To get there, you have to arrive at the Tha Tien ferry terminal and take the boat that crosses the river and takes you to the Wat Arun Ferry Pier (cost THB 4.00 each way, about €0.10). We recommend you stay there until closing time and watch the sunset from here.
Open daily from 8.30am to 5.30pm, entry costs THB 100.00 (about €2.90).

Take the boat back across the canal and end the day with dinner at The Deck by Arun Residence, where you can dine, rain permitting, with a beautiful view right over Wat Arun (average cost per person €10.00).

In summary:

• Distance travelled: 2.9 km

• Places visited: Museum Siam (€5.70), Pak Khlong Flower Market (free), Wat Arun (€2.90)

• Daily expenditure: €25.00

• Card, tickets and recommended tours : Grand Royal Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun: flexible tour

• Where to eat: Lunch at Floral Cafe at Napasorn(Get directions), Dinner at The Deck by Arun Residence(Get directions)

Day 3: National Gallery, Sanam Luang, Wat Saket Temple

Photo by Diego Delso. Start this third day by visiting Bangkok's National Gallery, an important art museum in the heart of the old city. The aim of this museum is to be the national centre for art learning and dissemination and to take the museum to international levels. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., admission costs THB 200.00 (about €5.70).

Stop for lunch at Zeze (average cost per person €5.00).
Afterwards, stop to admire Sanam Luang, a huge square, the scene of major royal ceremonies, right in the heart of Bangkok. Here you will find people relaxing under the trees, having a picnic or enjoying a nice walk.
Then head to the main attraction of the afternoon, the Wat Saket Temple, the Temple of the Golden Mount, built on top of a hill from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the entire city! To get to the top you will have to climb several steps, but the effort will be totally repaid. Open daily from 7.30am to 7pm, admission costs THB 50.00 (about €1.50).

End the day with dinner in the vicinity of the temple, perhaps at Methavalai Sorndaeng (average cost per person €15.00).

In summary:

• Distance travelled: 3.8 km

• Places visited: National Gallery (€5.70), Sanam Luang (free), Wat Saket Temple (€1.50)

• Daily expenditure: €27.00

• Card, tickets and recommended tours: Half-day Instagram tour of temples

• Where to eat: Lunch at Zeze(Get directions), Dinner at Methavalai Sorndaeng(Get directions)

Day 4: Modern Bangkok

For this fourth day move to the more modern part of Bangkok.
In the morning visit the House of Jim Thompson, an American architect and entrepreneur who helped relaunch Thai silk around the world. Here, in addition to many textiles, you can also admire many works of art. A must see in Bangkok, you can't miss it. Open daily from 9am to 6pm, admission costs THB 200.00 (about €5.70).

For lunch, stop by Jeib Roddeedet (average cost per person €7.00).
This area is full of shopping malls, including the historic MBK Center, no less than eight floors of shops, restaurants and entertainment. Enjoy some healthy shopping.
Head to Lumphini Park, the largest green area in the city. Here, you can wander among paths, trees and ponds and even come across some Malaysian lizards.

For dinner, we recommend visiting the Silom Night Market near Lumphini Park, full of stalls where you can enjoy Thai street food! The prices are very affordable, on average €5.00 per person.
And after dinner, climb up to one of the area's famous rooftop bars, panoramic terraces from where you can admire the city lit up at night and have a great drink. The most famous in this area are undoubtedly the Vertigo & Moon Bar and the Lebua Tower, famous for being the location for a scene in the film 'The Hangover 2'.

In summary:

• Distance travelled: 6.7 km

• Places visited: Jim Thompson's House (€5.70), MBK Center (free), Lumphini Park (free), Silom Night Market (free), Lebua Tower (free admission, drinks from €15.00)

• Daily expenditure: €32.00

• Recommended cards, tickets and tours: Jim Thompson House and Baan Krua Community Tour Bangkok Transport Tour and Jim Thompson House

• Where to eat: Lunch at Jeib Roddeedet(Get directions), Dinner at Silom Night Market(Get directions)

Day 5: National Museum, Khao San Road, China Town

Photo by User: (WT-shared) Shoestring by wts wikivoyage. On this fifth day we return to the Old Town, visiting during the morning the National Museum, the city's most important museum, as well as one of the most important in all of Southeast Asia. Packed with archaeological finds, works of art and precious handicrafts, here you can get to know the real Thailand. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 9am to 4pm, admission costs THB 200.00 (about €5.70).

For lunch, head to Kaoh San Road, one of the best-known and busiest streets in the Old Town. We recommend lunch at the Khao San Center Thai restaurant (average cost per person €5.00).
For the afternoon, take a tuk tuk to China Town, one of the most characteristic districts with its smells, colours and music. Here, take the opportunity to visit Wat Traimit, the temple that houses a 5.5-ton, 3-metre-high golden Buddha. This is one of Bangkok's most important temples, open daily from 8am to 5pm, entrance costs THB 40.00 (about €1.20).

End the day at one of the many bars you'll find along the main street, perhaps at Kuai Chap Uan Photchana (average cost per person €5.00).

In summary:

• Distance travelled: 5.3 km

• Places visited: National Museum (€5.70), Khao San Road (free), China Town (free), Wat Tramit and Golden Buddha (€1.20)

• Daily expense: €17.00

• Where to eat: Lunch at Khao San Center(Get directions), Dinner at Kuai Chap Uan Photchana(Get directions)

Day 6: Excursion to Ayutthaya

Visit the wonderful city of Ayutthaya, the former capital of the Kingdom of Siam.
Just 80 km from Bangkok, getting there is really quite easy: by train, journey time of around 2 hours, tickets from just THB 15.00 in third class (approx. €0.40), by bus, journey time of 3 hours, average ticket cost of THB 60.00 (approx. €1.70), or by taxi, which is faster, journey time of around one hour and average ticket cost of THB 1,500.00 one way (approx. €43.00).
Alternatively, you can take part in the many organised tours that depart daily from Bangkok.
Thebest way to get around is to hire a bicycle and set off to explore it with map in hand (average rental cost THB 40.00, about €1.20).

In Ayutthaya, there are several historical sites, all open from 8am to 5pm, with varying entrance fees. It will be impossible to see all the sites in one day, so we recommend you concentrate on the most important ones. In the morning, start with Wat Ratchaburana, one of the most beautiful and best-preserved temples today (ticket THB 50.00, about €1.50). Continue on to Wat Maha That, the Temple of the Relic (ticket THB 50.00, approx. €1.50) and end the morning with Wat Thammikarat, which houses a statue of the reclining Buddha (ticket THB 50.00, approx. €1.50).

Stop for lunch at Pa Lek Boat Noodle (average cost per person €5.00).
Then continue your tour to Wat Phra Si Sanphet, the largest and most important complex in this area (ticket THB 50.00, approx. €1.50) and pay a visit to the nearby Viharn Phra Mongkhon Bophit (ticket THB 50.00, approx. €1.50). Conclude the tour of historical sites with Wat Lokaya Sutharam, with its large 42-metre-long statue of the reclining Buddha (ticket THB 50.00, approx. €1.50).

Before returning to Bangkok, end the day with an unforgettable dinner at the Thao Ka Lao Restaurant (average cost per person €10.00), ask for a table on the terrace overlooking the river and dine with a magnificent view of the city's ruins.

At a glance:

• Distance travelled: 7.5 km

• Places visited: Wat Ratchaburana (€1.50), Wat Maha That (€1.50), Wat Thammikarat (€1.50), Wat Phra Si Sanphet (€1.50), Phra Mongkhon Bophit (€1.50), Wat Lokaya Sutharam (€1.50)

• Daily fee: €25.00

• Card, tickets and recommended tours: Tour of 5 UNESCO temples from Bangkok Ayutthaya temples and floating market 1-day bus and boat tour from Bangkok

• Where to eat: Lunch at Pa Lek Boat Noodle(Get directions), Dinner at Thao Ka Lao Restaurant(Get directions)

Day 7: Floating Market Excursion

Photo by Roberto Faccenda. For the last day, we recommend visiting the famous floating markets! The most famous is the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Open daily from 8:00 to 11:00, it takes about two hours to get there. Given the route and opening times, we definitely recommend taking part in an organised tour with pick-up directly from your hotel.

The departure of this tour is scheduled for 7.30 a.m., so you will be at the floating market around 9.30 a.m. maximum. It also includes a boat ride among the stalls, where you can shop. Take advantage of the market to enjoy delicious Thai street food, perhaps at the typical Halalfood Malayu restaurant (about €10.00).

The tour returns around 14:00, allowing you to have the whole afternoon ahead of you to dedicate to sightseeing. We recommend wandering around the streets of the Old Town and enjoying this wonderful city.

Enjoy your last evening in one of the city's liveliest streets, Khao San Road, with music, drinks and souvenir shops! Dine at The One Streetbar Khaosan (about €10.00), a beautiful venue with music until late at night.

In summary:

• Distance travelled: 193 km

• Places visited: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (tour cost €21.27), Old Town Bangkok (free), Khao San Road (free)

• Daily expense: €42.00

• Card, tickets and recommended tours : Damnoen Saduak Floating Market: 6-hour tour

• Where to eat: Lunch at Halalfood Malayu(Get directions), Dinner at The One Streetbar Khaosan(Get directions)

How much does a week in Bangkok cost

NB: The prices in the table above are per person.

Bangkok is a very cheap city indeed, catering for all budgets! You can have lunch and dinner for very little thanks to the many stalls scattered around every corner of the city. Hotels and hostels are also very cheap, and of course there is no shortage of luxury ones with beautiful infinity pools and incredible views over the city. What will affect your budget the most is the cost of the plane ticket, but by booking in advance you can find good deals.

• Cheap flights: from €430.00 - see offers

• Where to stay: Hotels and B&Bs from €15.00 per room - see offers

• Card, tickets and recommended tours: Night Bike Tour with Wat Arun and Wat Pho Grand Royal Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arunb

• Total cost for one week, including flights: from €705.00 per person

Before you go: useful tips

• When to visit Bangkok: visit at all times of the year, thanks to its consistently high temperatures. The best time is from November to February, the dry season, with November and December being the driest months - find out more

• Getting there: Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport is one of the main airports in all of Southeast Asia, connected to Italy by many direct flights. It is about 30 km from the centre and the fastest and most convenient way to get there is by taxi. Head to the designated area to book your official taxi, don't take the unofficial ones, and it will take you to your destination for an average cost of THB 450 (about €13.00). Or you can take the skytrain, which will take you to the nearest metro stop, where you can catch the underground (cost about €1.00). Alternatively, you can book your private transfer to/from the airport online.

• Where to sleep: the best location is the centre of Bangkok, as you will be close to the main attractions and can get around easily. As for the district, it really depends on the experience you want to have: Sukhumvit is one of the main avenues of the city, where you will find shops, boutiques, bars, restaurants and nightclubs, it is in the most modern part of Bangkok and is perfect if you are looking for nightlife and entertainment; Riverside is the area along the river, close to the main attractions such as Wat Arun and the Royal Palace, it is one of the most expensive areas, as you will find the most exclusive hotels; the Old City, along Khao San Road, is the historical centre of Bangkok, close to major attractions and an ideal area for young people and backpackers, as there are very cheap offers while being close to everything.

• How to get around: the city is very large and chaotic, you will need to take public transport to get from one point to another in the city, while within the individual districts you can easily get around on foot. To get around, you can use the BTS metro line, which reaches the main points and districts (ticket cost about €3.50 per day). Alternatively, you can try taking a tuk tuk, a typical Thai taxi, the cost of which should be negotiated directly with the driver before getting in! The same goes for normal taxis - find out more

• Local currency: Thai Bath (THB) / €1.00 = THB 34.77

• Time zone: +6h compared to Italy; +5h when daylight saving time is in effect in Italy

• Entry requirements: passport with residual validity of at least 6 months, no visa required for tourist stays of less than 30 days

• Card and recommended passes: Bangkok City Pass, 2 Day Pass and 3 Day Pass available. Includes entrance fees to attractions, discounts and concessions on transport and both walking and boat tours.

• Safety info: the city is safe for tourists, but it is necessary to move carefully, avoid the more suburban districts and observe proper behaviour in respect of the place you are visiting; keep up to date by visiting the Thailand section on the Farnesina website