THE BEST BANGKOK ONE DAY ITINERARY ( +MAP, TIPS, INFO)

Bangkok is fascinating city. A one day itinerary will only give you a taste of the myriad of possibilities that this Asian metropolis has to offer, and it can be the perfect introduction to the most important landmarks.

I have traveled to Thailand many times and I used to refuse to stay in Bangkok for too long but as the city revealed its hidden secrets I felt more and more in love with the place.  Wether you are on a Bangkok layover to other destination or you are passing by the city for just one day to catch a train or bus to other destination in Thailand, trust me, getting to know a bit of the city is really worth it.

As I have spent in total longer than a month in Bangkok I have put together my best experience about the city to help you prepare the best one day itinerary out there that will give you an introduction to the city in a relaxed way.

TIP: If you are too busy to go into the details and prepare the itinerary by yourself I recommend this Bangkok one day tour with a guide or this alternative tour in Bangkok.

IS IT WORTH GOING TO BANGKOK FOR ONE DAY?

Oh, Yes! It is very worth to go to Bangkok for one day and get introduced to its impressive landmarks. Some of them are very close to each and the famous Chao Praya river that crosses the city so you can get to see a lot in one day and to get a glimpse about the local life.

You will even get to try some of the delicious Thai food and do some shopping while getting to know some of the most iconic temples and buildings in the city.

And after your short visit to Bangkok you will probably leave the city craving for more as it happened to me and many other travelers who explored the city for some time. You can keep exploring the city during your various visits to the country while you tick off items from your Thailand bucket list.

HOW TO GET TO BANGKOK FROM THE AIRPORT?

There are several ways to get to Bangkok from the Suvarnabhumi aiport but they require time, and once you land in Thailand you will have to queue, some times for very long time at the immigration line.

If you are spending just one day or less in Bangkok you might want to skip all the lines by getting a VIP fast track lane service that will bring you quick through the immigration counters to gain you some time in the city.

Once your passport has been officially stamped and you are free to wander around Thailand you will have to get some transport to the city center.

There are three options available at the airport, taking a public bus, that is the cheapest option but it can take quite a long time, as the bus departs every 35 minutes and it has many stops in a city which has a lot of traffic.

You can also walk around and find some shuttle services or taxis. Shuttle services can some times be full and you will have to wait until the next one, as there are so many tourists arriving in Thailand everyday and for the taxi services you will have to walk around and bargain which can be a pretty cumbersome endeavor when you are jetlagged after an intercontinental flight. Trust me, I have been there.

If you are going to stay in Bangkok for a longer period you might want to go through all this hassle but as you are only planning to stay for a maximum of one day in the city my recommendation is to book your transport to the city center. You will not want to waste a minute at the airport and miss some of the wonders Bangkok has to offer.

You can either have a private transfer to the hotel of your choice or the city center. Even if you will no spend the night in Bangkok you can pay a hotel a little amount of money to take just a shower and you might want to do that before starting your exploration. I have done that several times at the Rambuttri Plaza when I was just passing by Bangkok for a few hours. You can also take a shuttle service to the city center.

ONE DAY IN BANGKOK ITINERARY TIPS

• Bring plenty of water: Bangkok has been rated by the world metheorological organization as the world’s hottest city. As you will be walking around under the scorching sun some parts of the day make sure to stay hydrated to make the best of your trip.
• Change to some Thai cash in your country: Not all places accept credit card payments in Bangkok and there are lots of stalls selling food and trinkets you might want to buy. To avoid having to search for an ATM or queue to get change at the aiport I recommend you to bring some cash with you.
• Bring some extra batteries for your camera: Bangkok is a very photogenic place and you will want to record as much as you can of your experience. I recommend you to have 3 fully charged batteries in your camera so that you do not have to waste some time sitting on a café recharding your batteries.
• Bring appropiate clothes: Most of the temple and public places in Thailand will require you to cover your knees and shoulders. You can get rent some clothes at the temple entrances but I recommend you better bring your own clothes, mostly if you would like to have your own looks for the photos.
• Book things in advance: It is possible to do things on your own in Bangkok but with such a short time in the city my recommendation is to book everything in advance as most places have long queues and you will wait a precious time

ONE DAY IN BANGKOK ITINERARY

Bangkok is such a big city with so many things to do that I could write a whole book about it. However you can see the most important landmarks and a couple of hidden gems in just one day. I have designed this itinerary that will bring you to the best places to see in the city just in one day. All the attractions are pretty close to each other so it is all doable at a relaxed pace that will allow you to enjoy and take your time visiting the attractions.

8:00 – Wat Arun – Temple of the Dawn

What a better place to start your day in Bangkok than at one of its most iconic landmark the Temple of the Dawn, Wat arun. The temple is a living as testimony to the Thai’s nation spiritual soul and as the Sun ascends to the heights of an epic day visiting Bangkok you will be greeted by the first day lights reflecting on the temple spires giving the area a heavenly golden glow.

As you ascend to the main spire stairs you will get a unique view of the city and the next attractions to come for the day.

9:30 –  Grand palace

Getting from Wat Arun to the Grand Palace is very quick and easy. There is a Chao Praya Express stop just at the entrance of the temple. You need to take the ferry to the Tha Tien Pier that is just a short walk to the Grand palace. This is the quickest way to do it and it takes you approximately 20 minutes.

The Grand Palace complex is an architectural gem that offers a flavor into Thailand’s royal legacy. As you walk around comtemplating the stunning buildings you can imagine how the royal members lived inside here. Do not forget to visit the Emerald Buddha temple, inside the complex.

The Grand Palace can get very busy later in the day, and this is the reason why I have included it the morning part of your day.

11:00 -Amulet Market

This hidden gem in Bangkok is located just 550 meters from the Grand Palace and a walk along its magical stalls will be an immersive experience into the Thai culture. Thai people believe in the power of amulets to protect them from all kind of misfortunes and you will be amazed but all the different types of amulets you can find in there.

I have visited myself the market several times and I have written a full Amulet Market BangkokThailand guide that you can read to get more information about the place.

Check here also a video about one of my visits to the market that includes a sunset over the Wat Arun temple:

12:00 – Wat Pho- Temple of the reclining Buddha

It takes a 16 minutes walk to get from the market to the Wat Pho temple.

Entering the temple will give you a sense of peace and serenity as there are Buddhist ceremonies to create positive Karma happening inside the temple. You can even sit and attend a ceremony.

Do not forget to check the temple most iconic landmark the Reclining Buddha, that is a giant Golden Buddha statue extending 46 m. Check the complete Wat Pho temple guide for more details about this temple.

13:30 – Lunch

At this point of the day you will probably be pretty exhausted and will need a big of break, so I recommend you to take a long lunch break to rest and recharge the batteries.

I recommend you to walk to the Tha Tien pier as that is the pick up point for most Bangkok canal tours and there is a market there and pleny of good places to eat.

Get some Pad Thai or try the delicious Tom Yum soup. My favorite one is the one with shrimps, Tom Yum Koeng.

I am so crazy about this soup I can eat it everyday when I am in Thailand.

15:00 – Bangkok Canal Tour

This is one of the coolest things to do in Bangkok, as it will bring you along a scenic route along the Chao Praya river and then it will introduce you to other part of Bangkok you will no see any other way, gliding through silence waterways where the city of contrasts, as I called it since day number one I set foot on it, will reveal its more local site.

This off the beaten path activity is really relaxing and you customize the tour to suit your wishes, at your own pace. I recommend you to take a two or three hours tour so that you have plenty of time to see many of the places  Check my complete guide to Bangkok canal tour where you can find many more details about this activity and the kind of experience you can expect to have.

18:00 – Sunset

There are two epic places to watch the sunset in Bangkok and those are the “Vertigo café” or from the “Amorosa bar”   rooftop terrace.

The Amorosa Bar offers a stunning view over the iconic Wat Arun temple and it is walking distance from the Tha Tien Pier where the boat tour will drop you.

If you would like to head to the Vertigo café for the sunset you might run into a traffic jam as Bangkok can be pretty packed during rush hours.

So my recommendation is stay in the area for sunset and take it easy.

19:00 – Dinner and massage

For dinner time my recommendation is to head to Kao San road area that is not too far from the main area you visited during the day and there you can find many dinner and massage options for all budgets.

It will also give you a glimpse of the backpacking Asian scene. I usually choose rather to have dinner or massage in Rambuttri street, that is a street very close to Kao San Road, but a bit less busy.

Enjoy a nice dinner and indulge in a nice Thai massage to have a good end of the day. I some times take two hours in a row, one hour full body Thai massage and one hour foot massage and I can guarantee you it will leave you feeling amazing.

If you are on a high budget and you will like to have other kind of experience you can book a dinner at Vertigo bar. It is one of the places with the best views of the city and it offers some really delicate food. Do not forget to book in advance as it gets very quickly fully booked.

ONE DAY BANGKOK ITINERARY MAP

BEST BANGKOK IN ONE DAY TOURS

You can do all that I listed above by yourself following my instructions that are designed to give you the best experience but if you would like to get some local person to give you some context and history background to your visits you might want to spend the day on a guided tour. Find here some of my recommendations:

Bangkok customizable private guided tour: This is highly rated tour that you can customize at your own will.  It can bring you to the places that I have listed on this article or you might add some others of your choice.

Private tour best of Bangkok in one day: This private tour will bring you to see some of the main landmarks of the city on an air conditioned vehicle.

Bangkok one day tour: One of the best tours with an English speaking guides to spend one day in Bangkok

BANGKOK ONE DAY ITINERARY FAQs

CAN I LEAVE BANGKOK AIRPORT DURING LAYOVER?

In order to leave the airport, you’ll need a Visa. Although Thailand offers Visa on Arrival for select nationalities, the process can take up to 2 hours, requiring payment in Thai currency. Additionally, you’ll need two passport photographs. Immigration will only permit exit with a valid Visa. But you can speed up your proccess with a VIP service.

HOW LATE DO THINGS STAY OPEN IN BANGKOK?

It depends but some call Bangkok the city that never sleeps as there are some places almost open 24 hours for party time. About business they have normal business hours as in Western countries.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While one day in Bangkok is a short time it will allow you to enjoy some of the main attractions of this city and I bet you will for sure come back after this experience to get to know more of the place.

In case you would like to do this you can also read this Bangkok 4 days Itinerary and plan a longer visit to the city.

But do not worry this one day in Bangkok as I planned for you with lots of care and love int his article will be for sure an epic unforgettable experience will tell your friends about once you return home.

MORE BANGKOK AND THAILAND GUIDES

I have been several in Bangkok and have spent in total months there during several stays in the city arriving from Europe or just on the way to other several destination in Thailand. Check here some more Bangkok guides;

• Amulet market Bangkok, Thailand
• Wat Arun temple Bangkok: The complete 2024 guide
• Bangkok Canal Tour: All you need to know 2024
• Bangkok 4 day itinerary
• 16 facts about Bangkok

And it is not only about Bangkok but Thailand is one of the most beautiful countries in the world that I have travel extensively and I know quiet well. Check here some of the guides:

• Scuba diving with whale sharks in Thailand
• Koh Phayam, one of Thailand’s hidden gems
• Koh Kood: An idyllic pirates island in Thailand
• A guide to Koh Phi Phi diving
• Koh Lanta diving guide 2024
• Yoga in Koh Phangan