Bangkok is known for its temples, spicy Thai food, and bustling nightlife. I went in late December, with cool mornings around 20°C, and it’s the peak holiday period where everyone is clearing their annual leave. Trains were packed, roads gridlocked, and even supermarket trolleys barely fit through the aisles. Still, the crowds didn’t really ruin the trip, and I managed to do everything I’d planned. 

I spent 5 days exploring the city, so here’s what I’d recommend, what to skip and why. 

In this Guide

• 1. Good to Know Before You Go
  • Bangkok Weather: Best Time to Visit
  • Getting Around Bangkok
  • Where to Stay in Bangkok
  • Safety Tips in Bangkok
• 2. Places to Visit within the River Cruise Route
  • Chao Phraya River Cruise
  • Yaowarat (Chinatown)
  • Wat Pho
  • Wat Arun
  • The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
  • Khaosan Road
• 3. Day Trip
  • Safari World Bangkok
• 4. Markets in Bangkok
  • Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market
  • Jodd Fair Night Market
  • Chatuchak Market
• 5. Shopping & Places to Eat
  • Luxury to Budget Shopping
  • Anju Korean Rooftop Bar
  • Bay Aree Cafe
  • Ongtong Khaosoi
• Final Thoughts
• FAQ

1. Good to Know Before You Go

Bangkok Weather: Best Time to Visit

November to February for cooler weather. Recommended to come here in January or February to avoid crowds.

Getting Around Bangkok

The BTS Skytrain covers the city centre and reaches some outskirts, costing THB 17–65 (~S$0.67–2.55) a trip. Most lines let you tap in and out with an international credit or debit card. The exception is the Sukhumvit, Silom, and Gold lines, which still require a Rabbit card or paper ticket, so budget extra time if your route touches these.

Skip Grab taxis. You’ll be stuck in traffic for hours. Grab bike is a faster workaround, though it can feel a little unsafe weaving through heavy traffic.

Where to Stay in Bangkok

Stay at a walkable distance near train stations. Avoid staying near bars and main roads as it can be noisy. 

Budget: Heyyyy Bangkok Hostel (~S$15 per night)

Mid-range: Bangkok City Hotel (~S$60 per night)

Luxury: Shangri-La Hotel (~S$270 per night)

Safety Tips in Bangkok

Keep belongings in sight. Avoid taking local taxis or getting into taxis that approach you. Best not to take a tuk-tuk as they often overcharge.

2. Places to Visit within the River Cruise Route

Chao Phraya River Cruise

Taking the Chao Phraya River ferry is a fast, cheap, and convenient way to dodge Bangkok’s brutal traffic. It’s especially scenic at sunset when the golden light reflects off the river. Boats come by fairly frequently, but they do get crowded sometimes, so don’t expect a seat every time.

Grab tickets at Sathorn Pier, a 2-minute walk from BTS Saphan Taksin (S6): THB 40 (~S$1.63) one-way, or THB 150 (~S$6.10) for a full-day pass, which pays off if you’re hopping between stops. Icon Siam, Wat Pho, Chinatown, and Khao San Road are all just a short ride away.

Address: 10120, Thailand, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Sathon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon

Opening Hours: Daily, 8.30am – 7pm

Cruise Information Website

Yaowarat (Chinatown)

Stop at Ratchawong Pier (N5), and take a 3–5 minute walk to Yaowarat, Bangkok’s Chinatown. There’s plenty to shop and eat here, so don’t skip the roadside stalls offering everything from BBQ meats to hearty bowls of noodles. 

Chinatown is also where to find Chinese specialities like bird’s nest and shark’s fin soup, sold in restaurants along the street. I tried the bird’s nest dessert. Yes, it’s made from swiftlet saliva, which sounds disgusting, but it’s silky and delicately sweet. It’s also said to help with collagen production and respiratory health, so it’s an easy sell once you get past the ick factor.

Bird’s nest dessert: THB 100–200 (~S$4.07–S$8.13)

Address: PGR5+4XP, Yaowarat Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand

Opening Hours: 24 hours

Wat Pho

After visiting Chinatown, hop off at Tha Tien Pier (N8) and take a 10-minute walk to Wat Pho. Wat Pho is one of Thailand’s oldest temples, dating back to the Ayutthaya period. The main draw is the 46-metre Reclining Buddha, covered head to toe in gold leaf, impressive enough to justify the entrance fee on its own.

Entrance is THB 200 (~S$8.13) per adult. Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered. If you’re caught out, sarongs (fabric) are available for rent at the temple for a small fee.

Address: 2 Sanam Chai Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

Opening Hours: Daily, 8am – 7.30pm

Wat Arun

To get here from Wat Pho, take the cross-river ferry from Tha Tien Pier (N8), a quick ride across the Chao Phraya River. Wat Arun is one of Bangkok’s most photographed landmarks, best known for its 82-metre central tower covered in porcelain and seashells that shimmer beautifully at sunrise and sunset.

Entrance is THB 200 (~S$8.13) per adult. Dress modestly, shoulders and knees covered, no see-through or sleeveless clothing.

Address: 158 Thanon Wang Doem, Wat Arun, Bangkok Yai, Bangkok 10600, Thailand

Opening Hours: Daily, 8am – 6pm 

The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew

Hop right back on the boat and make your way to Tha Chang Pier (N9), followed by a 3-minute walk to the Grand Palace.

The Grand Palace is where big ceremonies are held, the King’s official residence, and government offices are located. Inside the complex is Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Both are open to the public.

Foreign visitors need to pay THB 500 (~S$20.33) to enter. Dress code is strictly enforced, shoulders and knees covered, no shorts or sleeveless tops. Sarongs and cover-ups can be rented at the gate if needed.

Address: Na Phra Lan Road, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200

Opening Hours: Daily, 8.30am – 3.30pm

Khaosan Road

At the final stop of the Chao Phraya River cruise, Phra Arthit (N13), you can explore Khao San Road, an area known for its lively mix of bistros and bars. It’s built almost entirely around tourists. The food here leans adapted for international palates rather than authentic Thai flavours, prices run higher than elsewhere in the city, and you’ll notice far fewer locals eating here than tourists. It’s fine for a night walk, but not where I’d go for a proper meal. Walk a few streets away, and you’ll find better, more authentic options for less. 

Address: Talat Yot, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

Opening Hours: Daily, 2pm – 11pm

3. Day Trip

Safari World Bangkok

Safari World gets you close to a huge range of animals, with plenty of chances to feed or interact with them. The giraffe enclosure is where most visitors end up spending the longest. You can feed them for THB 100  (~S$4.07 per feed) and they’ll stretch their long tongues out to grab it from your hand, which never stops being funny to watch. There are also live shows featuring dolphins, sea lions, birds, and monkeys throughout the day.

The other big draw is the safari drive, where animals roam freely in open enclosures. Just keep your windows up when you pass the tigers and lions for obvious reasons.

Safari World sits outside the city centre, so it’s best to book a private driver or day tour rather than trying to get there on your own.

Address: 99 Panya Indra Rd, Sam Wa Tawan Tok, Khlong Sam Wa, Bangkok 10510, Thailand

Opening Hours: Closed on Mondays; Tuesdays to Fridays 9am – 4.30pm; Saturdays to Sundays 9am – 5pm

Day tour: Bangkok Safari World Shared and Private Transfers Service Tour – Klook

4. Markets in Bangkok

Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market

Most of Bangkok’s floating markets don’t actually have boats floating on canals anymore, and Khlong Lat Mayom is one of them. Now vendors sell from fixed platforms, not boats. You can still ride a longtail boat down the canal, and it’s the closest you’ll get to the old-school floating market experience. 

Prices for a motorised boat ride: 

• Per person: THB 100 – 150 (~S$4.07 – S$6.11)
• Per private boat of 8 to 12 people: THB 1,000 – 1,200 (~S$40.70 – S$48.84)

Food is one of the reasons to come here. I had grilled river prawns and the salt-baked fish. Both were so delicious that I wanted a second serving, but I held off only because I wanted to save room for other food. 

Salt-baked fish is stuffed with herbs through the mouth, then grilled whole with its skin coated in large-grain salt. You peel the salt-crusted skin off and eat just the flesh underneath, which comes out flavoured from the herbs inside. 

Grilled river prawns are also widely found in Thailand. It is grilled on its own without any seasoning to retain its natural seafood taste. Fresh ones have firm meat and a slightly sweet flavour. The batch I had ticked both boxes. 

Bring cash when coming here to eat and shop; stalls don’t take cards.

Prices for seafood: THB 200 – 400 (~S$8.13 – S$16.26) per plate

It’s only open on weekends, so plan your Bangkok days around that if this is on your list. It also gets busy fast. Go right when it opens if you want to walk around without dodging crowds.

Address: 30/1 หมู่ที่ 15 Bang Ramat Rd, Bang Ramat, Taling Chan, Bangkok 10170, Thailand

Opening Hours: Closed on Mondays to Fridays; Saturdays to Sundays 8am – 5pm

Jodd Fair Night Market

Jodd Fair food ranges from pancakes to fried insects, alongside the usual clothes and knick-knacks stalls. Prices aren’t the cheapest, but the range and the atmosphere make up for it.

A few things worth trying:

• Coconut Ice Cream – served straight in the coconut shell, cold and not overly sweet.
• Grilled Seafood – Fresh, perfectly seasoned, and full of flavour.
• Grilled Skewers –  the chilli powder coating is what sets these apart from skewers elsewhere; it adds real heat, not just colour.

Price Range: THB 100 – 250 (~S$4.07 – S$10.18)

Address: 129 Ratchadaphisek Rd, Din Daeng, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Opening Hours: Daily, 5pm – 1am

Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak is the biggest market in Bangkok with over 15 hectares and more than 15,000 stalls. Budget half a day if you actually want to shop rather than just walk through.

The layout works in your favour. Stalls selling the same type of product are usually clustered in the same section, so it’s easy to compare a few before you buy instead of hunting all over the market. Food, clothing, and homeware/retail stalls are also kept in separate zones.

Clothing stalls — some stalls sell genuinely thick, good quality, modern pieces that are worth considering, not just the usual printed tourist tees. Price ranges from THB 100 – 600 (~S$4.07 – S$24.42).

Food — it’s on par with any other Bangkok market: pad thai, local coffee, skewers, seafood, and slushies. Nothing stands out from what you’d get elsewhere. Skip it if you’ve already tried in other markets or restaurants in Bangkok. Prices range from THB 40 – 150 (~S$1.63 – S$6.11).

Address: 587, 10 Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd, Khwaeng Chatuchak, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

Opening Hours: Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays; Wednesdays & Thursdays 7am – 6pm; Fridays 6pm – 12am; Saturdays & Sundays 9am – 6pm

5. Shopping & Places to Eat

Luxury to Budget Shopping

Bangkok’s shopping centres are clustered close together, so you can easily hit a few in one day depending on what you’re after.

Luxury: ICONSIAM, Siam Paragon, Central Embassy, Emporium, and EmQuartier are where you’ll find both local names like Jim Thompson and international ones like Dior and Chanel. The upside of buying luxury here over back home is the exchange rate plus the VAT refund available to tourists, which can add up on bigger purchases.

Mid-range: CentralWorld, EmSphere, and Siam Square carry the usual international brands like Adidas and H&M, so don’t expect bargains. Prices aren’t much different from Singapore’s. Each one does have its own focus: 

• CentralWorld: Everyday brands, plus an ice skating rink and cinemas if shopping isn’t your thing
• EmSphere: Newer mall, leans trendy lifestyle fashion, brands like Gentlewoman
• Siam Square: Mostly local brands and streetwear, less of the international chain feel

Budget: Platinum Fashion Mall is the one to know if you’re watching your spending. You can find basic tees, jeans, accessories, and souvenirs. Prices here run on wholesale pricing; buy more, and you’re more likely to get a discount. Small accessories can cost about THB 20 (~S$0.81) while basic tees and shorts cost around THB 100 – 200 (~S$4.07– S$8.13). 

Where to get a manicure: Just outside Siam Square, there’s a cluster of nail salons worth knowing about. I paid around S$34 for gel nails with designs and multiple layers, and it took about 1.5 hours. I can’t remember which salon exactly, but there are enough of them in the area that you can just walk in and compare.

Big C Supermarket: This is the place I’d go to stock up on Thai snacks before flying home.

Anju Korean Rooftop Bar

If you’re planning to hit up a rooftop bar in Bangkok, remember to book in advance. I got turned away from a few for being fully booked and only managed to snag a table at Anju on the day.

The food wasn’t the best, honestly, but the ambience made up for it. The live DJ music and a clear view of the Bangkok city skyline made it worth the visit. Service was fast too, which isn’t always a given at busy rooftop spots. 

Price range: THB 260 – 850 (~S$10.57 – S$34.60)

Address: 68 Soi Langsuan, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Menu here

Bay Aree Cafe

Ari is known for its cafe scene, and this one wasn’t even on my list. I was too tired to walk further to the cafe I’d originally planned and stumbled onto this one instead. What drew me in was the dark, industrial interior. Most cafes I’ve been to lean towards light, airy colour schemes, so this stood out immediately.

Seats are limited, and most of them are taken up by people working on laptops, so don’t expect to walk in and grab a table easily. The drinks menu is what makes this place different. Coffee and juice mocktails are served in wine glasses, a nice change from the usual lattes and fruit smoothies. Come here if you’re after something outside the standard cafe order. Do note prices run steep here, with drinks starting from THB 200.

Price range: ≥ THB 200 (~S$8.13)

Address: 111 ถนน Phahonyothin Soi 7, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Ongtong Khaosoi

Khao soi isn’t something you’ll find on the menu at most Thai restaurants in Singapore, so I went in curious. I picked this spot after reading up on it via the Michelin Guide, figuring I’d rather try a well-regarded version than a random one.

Honestly, I didn’t find it anything special. It tasted close to Singapore’s curry mee, just topped with crispy noodles and a wedge of lime. That said, I don’t regret ordering it. It answered my curiosity of how the dish tasted.

Not a must-try for the food itself. Go if you’re curious, skip it if you’re tight on time. 

Price range: THB 200 – 400 (~S$8.13 – S$16.26)

Address: 31 Phahonyothin Soi 7, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Menu here

Final Thoughts

In hindsight, 5 days in Bangkok was a bit too long. I found myself running out of things to do towards the end and had to slow the pace down more than I wanted to. 3 to 4 days is probably the sweet spot if you’re mainly here for temples, markets, and food, unless you’re planning to add on day trips outside the city.

The traffic is genuinely some of the worst I’ve dealt with anywhere, so build in extra time between stops and lean on the river ferry whenever you can.

Bangkok still works well as a short getaway from Singapore, with temples, markets, and malls all within a few BTS stops or a boat ride of each other. Go in the cooler months if you can, and if it’s peak season like when I went, just accept the crowds as part of the deal. They didn’t stop me from doing anything I’d planned.

Considering day tours out of Bangkok? Discover what Ayutthaya has to offer.

FAQ

Is Bangkok very cheap?

It is affordable, depending on how you spend. Local street food costs THB 40 to 80. Tourist night market food costs THB 100 to 250. Restaurant food with seated dining costs THB 200 to 850.

How many days is enough for Bangkok?

3 to 4 days

What to buy in Bangkok?

Hong Thai nasal inhaler, Poy Sian inhaler, Chao Sua Rice Crackers, Koh Khae peanuts, Bento cuttlefish snack, Pretz Thai flavours

What is the best time to visit Bangkok?

November to February.

What to do in Bangkok?

Visit Yaowarat (Chinatown), Wat Pho, Wat Arun, the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew while taking the Chao Phraya River cruise. Make a day trip to Safari World Bangkok. Shop at markets like Chatuchak and Jodd Fair, or the malls around Siam and Phrom Phong. Dine at local cafes and restaurants like Bay Aree and Ongtong Khaosoi. 

How long is the flight from Singapore to Bangkok?

2.5 hours

Is Bangkok safe?

Bangkok is generally safe for tourists, but stay alert. Avoid taxis and tuk-tuks that flag you down on the street. Book a taxi through reputable companies like Grab instead. Keep valuables in sight at all times.

How should I plan a 4-day Bangkok itinerary?

Day 1: Safari World Bangkok day trip.

Day 2: mall shopping and cafe hopping.

Day 3: Floating market, Chatuchak, and Jodd Fair, best done on a weekend, since some are closed on weekdays.

Day 4: Chao Phraya River cruise to the temples and Chinatown.