Bangkok in 3 days

Three days is enough to get a good feel for Bangkok without turning it into a checklist. I divide the city into three parts: a day with the classics, a day that takes you beyond the centre, and a third day that I deliberately leave open. What you do with that depends on what the first two days have already shown you.

By Tim van Dellen, who lives in Thailand and regularly travels to Bangkok

Day 1: Old Bangkok

Day 1 starts with the classics. Breakfast at On Lok Yun, a place that has been in the same spot since 1933. Then the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. From there, take the river to Iconsiam, on the other side of the Chao Phraya. In the afternoon, finish in Talat Noi, Song Wat and Chinatown. I cover that route neighbourhood by neighbourhood on What to Do in Bangkok.

Day 2: The Other Bangkok

Day 2 takes you beyond the centre. Start at Khlong Toei Market, then cycle from there through Bang Krachao, the quiet island in the middle of the river. You'll find more about it, including the boat ride to get there, on What to Do in Bangkok. Back in the city, you'll pass Lumphini Park, with its water monitors, and in the evening you head up to Dusit Arun Skypark, Thailand's largest rooftop park.

Day 3: You Choose

Day 3 is up to you. At the weekend, go to Chatuchak. During the week, choose the canals of Thonburi, or the quieter Ari. Fancy a night out? Then spend the evening in Thonglor. Like the other two days, this third day is covered in Bangkok: 72 Hours and is also available as a guide in 72 Hours in Bangkok.

How many days do you need in Bangkok?

For a first introduction, three days is more than enough: the classics, a few neighbourhoods and an evening that suits you. You won't know the whole city in three days, and you don't need to. I don't live in Bangkok myself, but I keep coming back, and the city changes a little every time: a new café here, a warehouse that has just opened there. Three days is a start, not an endpoint.

Plan Bangkok in 3 days yourself or follow the route?

You can work all of this out yourself: when Chatuchak is open, how to map out a route between the neighbourhoods, and what you can realistically fit into each day. Or you can use Bangkok: 72 Hours, with the three days above already mapped out for you. No rigid schedule to follow, just a clear starting point for each day, with room for whatever you come across along the way. The companion 72 Hours in Bangkok guide includes the full route, a cheat sheet and an SOS page for when you're out and about.

Want the written guides, the neighbourhood walk and the full map with 400+ places? The guides and maps are available together for less in the Complete Bangkok Bundle.