5 Days In Bangkok: Street Eats, Night Markets, Temples, & More

If you’re like us and prefer diving into the everyday pulse of a city rather than ticking off the usual touristy spots, our 5-day Bangkok travel guide is going to be just your style.

Now, we’ll admit that we don’t live in Bangkok — but having been there over six times (Papu claims this is his second home), we’ve seen and done a lot over the years.

You know what we discovered? There’s so much to do outside of temples and shrines. There’s even too much to do to fit into five days.

In this 5-day itinerary, you won’t be spending all your time visiting Bangkok’s many temples. Instead, you’ll experience the city like a local—eating, shopping, exploring on day trips, enjoying night markets, and finding time to relax (massages, anyone?).

Of course, we do have some touristy activities on this list, but in our opinion, the ones we’ve included are way more fun than temple-hopping for five days straight!

Our 5-day Bangkok itinerary has it all—temples, street food, night markets, local shops, relaxing massages, and a dash of art and culture—giving you the perfect blend of classic to-do’s and local experiences.

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Day 1: Grand Palace, Temples, CentralwOrld

We’re going to get some of Bangkok’s top historical landmarks out of the way so you can go into the rest of your itinerary with a solid introduction to Thailand’s history and culture.

City Highlights Temple and Market Walking Tour

Kick off your 5 days in Bangkok with the half-day City Highlights Temple and Market Walking Tour.

This tour is perfect if you’re new to Thai culture, as you’ll explore the Grand Palace (the #1 attraction in Bangkok), aka the former royal residence, and learn about its role in Thailand’s history. At Wat Phra Kaew, you’ll see the Emerald Buddha, a small but incredibly sacred statue carved from a single piece of jade.

Next, visit the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho. This temple is among the six in Thailand classified as the highest grade of first-class royal temples. Its highlight is the massive Reclining Buddha statue, stretching 46 meters and covered in gold leaf.

Finally, you’ll head to Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, another one of Bangkok’s most famous landmarks. This temple is best known for its striking 70-meter tower, intricately decorated with tiny pieces of colored glass and Chinese porcelain.

All throughout the tour, your guide will share stories about the significance of these spots and local rituals, helping you connect with the spiritual side of Thai traditions.

Honestly, you’ll learn so much more on a guided tour than if you were to visit them on your own. These days, we never visit historical landmarks without a guide. Whenever we visit landmarks alone, we have no idea what we’re looking at, don’t fully understand the significance behind it, and often find ourselves bored.

A tour guide will bring history to life with storytelling and sharing all the backstory you need to understand their culture/history. Plus, you can ask them all the questions you have, which is the biggest win!

👉 DRESS APPROPRIATELY: Wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, as these sites have a strict dress code. For the Grand Palace, this applies to BOTH men and women!

Dinner at CentralwOrld

At this point, you’re probably craving some air conditioning. CentralwOrld is a great place to end your first day in Bangkok.

If you’re going to visit just one mall in BKK, make it this one. It’s one of the largest malls in all of Bangkok (currently the 9th largest in the entire world) and contains literally everything you can think of.

This mega mall houses more than 500 stores ranging from all kinds of international brands and local brands to famous restaurants, wine shops, and even street food stalls that you’d typically find at night markets across Thailand.

The fact that it’s air-conditioned means you can enjoy a slice of night market culture without the struggle of being exposed to Bangkok’s humid weather.

Whenever we go to CentralwOrld, we tend to skip the shops and make a beeline for the food area, Food wOrld, on the 7th floor. There are so many local Thai treats up there to enjoy both with the eyes and mouth. And the food is so cheap, too!

I’d recommend browsing through the food stalls slowly and trying stuff that piques your interest. Grab some dinner, drink a fresh coconut juice, and look for the stall that sells pandan pancakes with a slice of coconut meat inside them–my favorite dessert in all of CentralwOrld!

Let me reiterate — this mall is massive! Between the shopping, eating, and browsing, you could easily spend the entire evening here.

If you have more energy, you can walk over to Siam Paragon — they’ve got a truly impressive 2-part food court that you need to see for yourself. Words do not do it justice!

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Day 2: Shopping, Massages, Bangkok Backstreets Food Tour

Now that you’ve checked off some of Bangkok’s top tourist attractions, you can spend your second day in Bangkok exploring the more local side of the city.

You’ll fit in some shopping, some relaxation, and explore one of the city’s most famous neighborhoods: Chinatown!

Siam Square

First up is Siam Square, our favorite area in Bangkok to shop for quirky and trendy goods.

This area consists of both indoor and outdoor areas filled with mostly local brands, eateries, tea shops, and coffee shops. Young people love this area.

Some of our favorite stores to browse through are Daddy and the Muscle Academy, Frank Garcon, and Stickerland. They are all located on the same block, but don’t stop there! This area is teeming with hip and trendy stores.

Peep into the alleyways while you’re here. You’ll find additional stalls that set up shop for the day selling everything from women’s clothing, elephant pants, handmade goods, and more.

Get a massage

Spas and massages are practically a must in Thailand! Whenever we’re in Thailand, we always make time for at least 2-3 treatments throughout our stay.

Within Siam Square, you’ll find Pela Massage and ThaiThai Massage. Both skew more on the modern side with cute Wabi Sabi-style decor.

As my birthday treat this past year, Papu treated me to a spa day at Pela Massage. We found some really affordable spa package deals on Klook — the total price was half what they were charging in-store!

We opted for one of their 3-hour spa packages and would 100% go back the next time we’re in Thailand.

ThaiThai Massage also offers discounted spa packages on Klook, so take a look at their packages and opt for the one that you like better.

Take a food tour through Chinatown’s backstreets

If you want to end your second day in Bangkok with a bang, the Bangkok Backstreets food tour through Chinatown is the way to do it.

With 15+ tastings (yes, you read that right!), you’ll get a true crash course on the flavors and local culture of Bangkok’s Chinatown area.

Hosted by A Chef’s Tour, the stops on this food tour are handpicked by an actual chef, focusing on small, local businesses—many of which are Michelin Guide recommended.

You won’t be visiting touristy spots — the first part of the tour brings you to the backstreet of Chinatown, onto Charoen Krung Road for local establishments you’d only really find with a guide. The second part of the tour takes place on Yaowarat Road, the main street of Chinatown.

DEAL ALERT: For a limited time, use the promo code CHEFSFRIEND5 for an additional 5% off your food tour when booking directly. This code is valid for all food tours in any of their destinations!

I can’t recommend this tour enough. The 15+ tastings were no joke (at most stops, you’ll get a full serving unless you ask to share), and everything was so delicious! The locals making the food were also so sweet and friendly.

Our two guides made sure everything ran like clockwork: our main guide, Nood, kept us entertained with all the best stories and tidbits about the local businesses we visited which made the tour that much better. Aom, our assisting guide, was always a step ahead, securing tables and pre-ordering food so there was zero wait time for us as soon as we arrived.

I highly recommend this tour for anyone who wants to discover local foodie finds (yes, it’s a great tour even if you’ve already been to Thailand before).

👉 ALTERNATIVE FOOD TOUR: A Chef’s Tour also has a daytime tour, good for people who don’t mind the early afternoon heat. During the Old Siam Food Tour, you’ll water taxi up the klong canals to an old district of Bangkok known for its lip-smackingly good street eats. Expect 15+ tastings!

Enjoy drinks and live music at Shanghai Mansion

Since the food tour ends in Chinatown, take a short stroll over to Shanghai Mansion Hotel for a round of drinks. You can’t miss it—it’s the one with live music flowing out of the hotel lobby and onto Yaowarat Road!

Spend an hour or two soaking in the vintage Art Deco-meets-Chinese decor while sipping on craft cocktails that’ll set you back about 300 baht each.

Sure, they’re pricier than your average dive bar in Bangkok, but it’s so worth it for the free music and the high energy! Between the live band, swanky atmosphere, and the lively buzz of Chinatown’s main street just outside, it’s the perfect way to wind down your night.

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Day 3: Maeklong Railway & Amphawa Floating Market Day Trip

Your third day in Bangkok is all about uncovering Bangkok’s lesser-known wonders and soaking in its authentic, local spirit. We’re heading outside of the city for this Maeklong Railway & Amphawa Floating Market Day Trip.

Situated away from the usual tourist trails, this full-day adventure blends local markets, historic sites, and magical riverside moments into one epic day:

• Maeklong Railway Market: Watch a train pass through this 100-year-old railway market, as vendors skillfully clear their stalls only to reset moments later.
• Wat Bang Kung: Visit a temple encased in Banyan tree roots, where history and nature intertwine.
• Amphawa Floating Market: Stroll along the canal, indulging in seafood and street foods and browsing handcrafted goods.
• Firefly Boat Tour: As the day winds down, enjoy a tranquil ride on the Maeklong River. Watch as fireflies illuminate the trees!

I’ll be honest, when I booked this tour, I didn’t fully read through all the stops included in this day trip. I just wanted to visit the Amphawa Floating Market.

To my total surprise, our tour included a nighttime boat ride at Amphawa Floating Market — to see fireflies! This ended up being an unbelievable experience and the highlight of the day trip. We live in California where there are no fireflies, so getting to witness them in the wild was absolutely magical.

The tour starts at around 12 pm and ends at 8:30-9 pm so be prepared to be out all day.

Banthat Thong Road

The tour doesn’t come with meals, so after you get dropped off, you’re going to want to get some food in you. Banthat Thong Road is a must.

Nicknamed ‘Chinatown 2’ for its sensational flavors, Banthat Thong Road has recently become a hotspot for young foodies, offering a mix of both brick-and-mortar eateries and a lively night market scene. From 8pm to late, this area gets really busy!

You’ll find popular restaurants like Jeh O Chula (known for tom yum), ZAPPONFAI (has great seafood and pork neck), and my personal favorite: Chicken Rice by J’Bo.

I wasn’t able to get the names of all the restaurants that stood out to me, but you’ll find tons of Thai-Chinese restaurants, seafood restaurants, fried chicken stalls, pork leg over rice, Thai boat noodle shops, and more.

For dessert, I have two recommendations for you: Tuay Tung Ice Cream for ice cream or June Pang for tasty brick toasts!

We love this street and try to visit every time we’re in Thailand.

👉 Pro Tip: Calling a Grab to get out of this area can be a challenge. I recommend walking out of the area as much as possible before attempting to call a car.

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Day 4: Chatuchak Weekend Market + Ari Neighborhood

Spend your next day in Bangkok like a local! You’ll be exploring the largest weekend market in the world as well as trendy neighborhoods nearby.

From bargain hunting at the sprawling Chatuchak Weekend Market to bumping elbows with the locals at Train Night Market DanNeramit, today is all about diving into Bangkok’s local culture.

Note: Chatuchak Weekend Market is only open on Saturdays and Sundays. If Day 4 of your itinerary isn’t on a weekend, adjust the schedule to make sure your visit falls on a Saturday or Sunday.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

Welcome to one of the largest markets in the world! At Chatuchak, you’ll find over 15,000 stalls selling everything from new and vintage clothes and handcrafted jewelry to quirky souvenirs and home decor.

Many of the stalls do sell the same stuff (elephant pants, scarves, Buddha figurines, bags, home goods, aromatherapy, etc.) but there are tons of stalls that sell one-of-a-kind items. The more unique ones sell aloha shirts, beautifully carved wooden furniture, handmade artwork, vintage collectibles, and more.

This market is so massive that if you spot something you love, don’t sleep on it—either haggle and buy it right away or jot down the stall number. If you leave with the hopes of going back later, finding it again later will feel like searching for a needle in a haystack!

On Saturdays and Sundays, the market is open to the public from 9am – 6pm. If you’re serious about souvenir shopping (or shopping for yourself), allow at least half a day to have a good look around Chatuchak.

While there are plenty of street snacks available in the central area of the market, we recommend heading across the street instead to Or Tor Kor Market for a proper meal.

Or Tor Kor Market

This local food market is a feast for the eyes, with colorful displays of fresh produce, sausages, seafood, sweets, and other Thai delicacies.

Don’t be surprised if you don’t find any English menus here. Like I said, it’s super local. From the many entrees displayed, choose what catches your eye, and the vendors will whip up a rice plate with your selections.

Note: There is no air-conditioning in this market.

Red Building Vintage Chatuchak

For vintage and thrift lovers, head across the street to Red Building Vintage Chatuchak. The Red Building is filled with curated retro finds—think antique furniture, vintage cameras, classic vinyl, whatchamabobs, chotchkes, and clothing.

It’s perfect for grabbing a one-of-a-kind souvenir (or even just browsing as you cool down from the itense heat outside).

Since the building is air-conditioned, this is also a great place to use the restroom before moving on to the next spot on the list!

Ari Neighborhood

Take a break from treasure hunting and head to the Ari neighborhood for a change of atmosphere. Ari is one of the coolest neighborhoods in Bangkok.

Stroll through its tree-lined streets, pop into one of the many cafes found here, or browse the art galleries. If you’re still not sick of shopping, there are boutique shops galore.

Because there are lots of business offices in this area, you’ll also find so much street food here — get some papaya salad, drink a coconut smoothie, or try one of the southern curry shops or boat noodle shops.

This is an especially great area for coffee lovers to visit — some of our favorites include Aribica Specialty Coffee and NANA Coffee Roasters, both of which offer great specialty brews.

For dessert, don’t miss another one of our favorites in the area: Ting Ting Dessert Shop. We love all the black jelly goodness this spot serves up.

Train Night Market DanNeramit

End your day at one of Bangkok’s local night markets, the Train Night Market DanNeramit.

This open-air market is divided into sections with vintage wares, trendy clothing, and plenty of quirky finds. But the real star here is the food!

You can enjoy classic Thai street eats like grilled skewers, spicy papaya salad, and pad kra pao (stir-fried basil chicken). For dessert, grab yourself a mango sticky rice, a roti, or a coconut ice cream served in a fresh coconut shell.

Address: Phahonyothin Rd, Chom Phon, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

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Day 5: Bangkok Along The River

Coffee and art at Warehouse 30

Tucked away in the heart of Bangkok’s Creative District, Warehouse 30 is a repurposed industrial space turned lifestyle hub.

Spend a bit of your morning browsing through art studios like ATTA Gallery or 333 Gallery, perusing trendy shops, or grabbing a bite at one of the many cafes and restaurants.

The area isn’t too large, but it’s pretty unique and unexpected for a busy city like Bangkok. Tiktok-ers and “aspiring influencers” seem to love this area too.

a Coffee Roaster by li-bra-ry is a great place to grab your morning coffee!

👉 EXTRA DOSE OF LOCAL CULTURE: Located just behind Chinatown and a 7-minute walk away from Warehouse 30 is Talat Noi, one of Bangkok’s oldest and most legendary neighborhoods. You’ll find some of the city’s oldest surviving mechanic shops as well as street art, hip cafes, and shrines here. Get lost in these cozy mural-adorned streets, visit 32Bar X (a Thai craft chocolate shop), and try some daytime street food while you’re there.

River City Bangkok

Need some AC after all of that? Walk a few minutes over to River City Bangkok to cool down while enjoying even more art.

No, this is not your average big brand mall — it’s a small mall that houses mostly contemporary art galleries along with some interesting local boutiques. There are also some modern cafe restaurants and coffee shops there too.

Once you’re done, you can head outside to enjoy the river views!

River City is also the starting point of a couple of different tours including:

• Wonderful Pearl Dinner Cruise + Live Performances – if you’re sick of walking outdoors and want to end your time in BKK with a river cruise, this is a great option (just skip Asiatique, below).
• Michelin Guide Street Food Tour By Tuk Tuk – I’ve done this food tour before! Focusing mainly on Chinatown spots, it’s a good alternative for people who prefer getting from restaurant to restaurant by tuk tuk (instead of walking).

Explore and dine at ICONSIAM

After you’ve enjoyed the eastern river bank, it’s time to head to the other side, easily reached by riverboat. Your next stop: ICONSIAM.

ICONSIAM is not just a mall—it’s an entire destination on the banks of the Chao Phraya River.

Your first stop needs to be SookSiam, a ground-floor zone recreating Thailand’s regional food markets with tons of vendors offering everything from spicy Isaan sausages to northern-style curries.

Within SookSiam, there are over 3,000 distinctive local businesses from all over Thailand. You can immerse yourself in seven zones: Sook Sanae, Sook Sab, Sook Sanook, Sook Sangsan, Sook Sampan, Sook Suebsan, and Sook Somwang. We can spend hours in this area alone!

Head upstairs to explore luxury brands, but don’t miss ICONCRAFT on the 4th and 5th floors, where you can shop for contemporary Thai handicrafts like ceramics, silk scarves, and modern takes on traditional designs.

When you’re feeling hungry, head to the Alangkarn Zone, home to the finest international restaurants on the 6th Floor of ICONSIAM.

After you’ve explored the inside, you can head outside to walk along the river. River Park, the official name of the area just outside ICONLUXE, is open daily and welcomes visitors to enjoy views of the Chao Phraya River amid lush green trees.

Asiatique The Riverfront

Around dinner time, you’ll wanna cross the river and head to Asiatique.

Asiatique is a shopping and entertainment complex located on Charoen Krung Road, right along the Chao Phraya River. It feels like a bougie, more upscale night market with entertainment options.

Once a bustling port warehouse for the East Asiatic Company, it’s now a colonial-style venue reminiscent of the golden days of King Rama V.

The site is divided into four zones:

• Charoen Krung District: over 1,000 shops selling souvenirs and decor
• Town Square District: where you can eat and catch performances like the Calypso Cabaret
• Factory District: a revamped 100-year-old sawmill now filled with trendy fashion stores
• Waterfront District: home to riverside restaurants and a panoramic promenade

For something extra date night-y, you can opt for a ride on the Asiatique Sky Ferris Wheel.

Don’t forget to get your last mango sticky rice in Bangkok here!

Rest your weary feet with a final foot massage

After a busy day of exploring Bangkok’s river area, treat yourself to one of Bangkok’s ubiquitous foot massages—they’re everywhere and incredibly affordable.

We recommend checking Google reviews when you’re on the go to find a spot with good ratings.

Not in the mood for a foot massage? Many spas stay open late, so you can unwind with other treatments like a traditional Thai massage, aromatherapy massage, or a rejuvenating facial, even after dinner.

Oasis Spa is another upscale option we like in Bangkok; they have multiple locations across town.

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What Is The Best Area To Stay In Bangkok?

There are tons of neighborhoods you can choose from, but we’ve personally found the Siam area to be the most convenient.

The closer you can get to Siam BTS Station or Chit Lom BTS Station, the better! These train stations are super central in Bangkok and are connected to all the big malls like CentralwOrld, Siam Paragon, MBK, etc.

Here are some of the hotels I’ve personally booked and recommend:

Grand Hyatt Erawan – love this hotel so much! They have an amazing breakfast buffet spread as well as an indulgent dinner buffet. The afternoon tea at Erawan Tea Room is also amazing.

Pathumwan Princess Hotel – a cheaper alternative that’s still considered a 5-star hotel and pretty conveniently located in the Siam area; located just next to MBK Shopping Center and opposite Siam Square.

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Bangkok Travel Tips To Help You Travel Smarter

If you need a way to access the internet, Airalo is the eSIM provider we use every time we go to Thailand.

Grab is super cheap. Outside of weekends, it’s our favorite way to get around the city. Download the app and set up your payment before you arrive.

Don’t feel like walking in the heat to get food? You can use Grab to order food to your hotel. It’s incredibly cheap, even with the delivery fees.

Traffic on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays is horrible. While we’ve never been stuck in this insane traffic ourselves, our hotel host told us that it’s very possible to find yourself stuck in traffic for 2-3 hours. On these days, opt for the BTS train if possible.

With that said, if you are planning on scheduling day trips or excursions that include transportation by car, try to schedule them for Monday – Thursday. If you plan day trips on weekend days, you might find yourself stuck in traffic for longer than you’d like.

Bangkok can be swelteringly hot and humid. Even during our visit in December, highs reached 94°F. Insane! Drink water whenever you’re able to. Grab cheap electrolyte packs from 7-Eleven to stay extra hydrated.

Pack light and dress appropriately for temples. Bangkok’s heat and humidity make light, breathable clothing essential. Jeans? A terrible idea. If you plan on visiting the Grand Palace or any of the temples across town, carry a shawl to cover up any bare shoulders and wear pants/skirts that cover the knees.

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