Two days in Bangkok works if you decide in advance what you won't see.
Day one#
8:30 Grand Palace at opening. 10:30 Wat Pho. Midday Lunch and the heat break; Bangkok at 2pm is for air conditioning. 4:30 Ferry to Wat Arun for the light. 7pm Yaowarat Road, Chinatown: eat from the stalls, four or five of them. 10pm A rooftop if you have the energy.
Day two#
Morning A canal boat through Thonburi, or Chatuchak if it's a weekend. Afternoon BTS to Ari, Thonglor or Silom: a neighbourhood, a massage, a coffee. Evening Dinner where Bangkokians eat and the rooftop you skipped last night.
Cut without guilt#
Floating markets, Ayutthaya, the malls, bus tours, Pattaya. All of them need the day you don't have. They're in the 3-day and 4-day versions.
Where to sleep for two nights#
By the river (Old City side or Thonburi) for the temples, or on the BTS at Siam, Asok or Sala Daeng for everything else. Where to stay in Bangkok has the trade-offs; airport to the city the arrival.
Two days, one night#
Day one as above. Morning of day two in Chinatown by daylight or at a market, then the airport by early afternoon. Shorter than that is the layover guide.
The evening that makes it#
Two days of sights and you still won't have talked to anyone from here. Post your dates on Roavi Community and a Local Friend can take your one free evening: their street, their stall, their bar.
Two days in Bangkok? Give one evening to someone who lives there.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
Is 2 days enough for Bangkok?
For a first taste, yes: the Old City, Wat Arun, Chinatown and one neighbourhood. It isn't enough for day trips or markets outside the centre. Most two-day visitors come back.What should I skip in Bangkok with 2 days?
The floating markets (half a day each way), Ayutthaya, the big malls, and any 'city tour' by bus. Keep the temples, the river, Chinatown and one evening in a neighbourhood.Where should I stay for 2 nights in Bangkok?
Near the river for the Old City, or on the BTS (Siam, Sukhumvit, Silom) for everything else. Two nights in a traffic pocket wastes a quarter of your trip.What about 2 days 1 night in Bangkok?
Day one as written, sleep, then the morning of day two in Chinatown's daytime or at a market, airport by early afternoon. The layover guide covers even shorter.
