Last updated on April 13th, 2024 at 10:30 pm
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
This blog post details how to make the most of one day in Bangkok.
Earlier this year I had the chance to visit Thailand for the first time. The trip began in Bangkok, a vibrant and bustling city. Bangkok is pretty big, and has so much to do! It is easy to get overwhelmed trying to figure out how to plan your visit there, especially if you only have one day. I did an amazing day tour in Bangkok offered by Bigcountry Experiences. This tour was private, and took us all over the city.
A guide met us at our hotel, and took us around to many sights on public transit. This may sound less appealing than a bus tour, but honestly, taking the trains, boats, and tuk tuks was a pretty incredible experience. Although we could have done it alone, Bangkok is a pretty busy place and navigating it alone would definitely be intimidating. The tour guide was also able to plan a perfect customized itinerary for us, and although the day was very busy, we were able to see so much! Even though it was a private tour, it was very affordable- it cost about $110CAD for the day (not including entrance fees and transportation costs). In my opinion, this tour was the best way to spend one day in Bangkok. This blog post will outline everything we were able to see on this tour, so you can get an idea of what to do yourself, even if you opt to do it alone.
Stop 1: The Grand Palace
The Grand Palace is a must-see on any trip to Bangkok! The complex is fairly large, and you could spend a while exploring it all. Make sure you have shoulder and knees covered, or you will not be allowed in!
Stop 2: Wat Phra Kaew
This amazing temple, also known was the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is very close to the Grand Palace, and definitely worth a visit!
Stop 3: Wat Pho
Another unforgettable sight to see in Bangkok is Wat Pho. It is home of a very large reclining Buddha image- it is 46 metres long!
Stop 4: Wat Arun
Wat Arun was my favourite temple in Bangkok! Such beautiful architecture and colours.
Stop 5: Longtail boat ride
If you’re getting tired of visiting temples, a longtail boat ride is a great activity to do! This was one of my favourite things that I did in Bangkok. I didn’t know before I went that Bangkok has a network of canals, and they were so beautiful. Such a great experience! The boat ride I went on lasted about an hour.
Stop 6: Pak Khlong Talad Flower Market
The flower market is a unique place to visit in Bangkok. It is quite large and has all kinds of flowers! Definitely worth a quick visit.
Stop 7: Tuk Tuk Ride
Riding on a tuk tuk is an essential experience when visiting Bangkok. These little vehicles are so fun to ride through the crazy streets. I rode in a tuk tuk from the flower market to my next stop, and it was awesome!
Stop 8: Sampeng Market
Sampeng Market is a cool place to visit, especially if you are interested in doing some shopping. It is located in Bangkok’s Chinatown, and has lots of shops and food vendors to explore.
Stop 9: Wat Traimit
Our final temple of the day was Wat Traimit, also known as the Temple of the Golden Buddha. It is close to Sampeng Market, and is home to a 5.5 tonne golden Buddha statue.
Stop 10: A Rooftop Bar
The last stop is a rooftop bar. This was not part of the tour, but I thought I would include it as a bonus because it is a great way to spend an evening in Bangkok! There are many to choose from all over the city. This photo was taken at ABar Rooftop.
Bangkok is such a vibrant and exciting city. You could spend multiple days, if not weeks, there without running out of thing to do. However, if you only have one day in Bangkok, I believe you can get a great overview by following this list! And again, if you want to mitigate the stress of planning your day and figuring out public transit, I would highly recommend the private day tour with BigCountry Vacations!
You may also like: