Plan 01
1 day in Bangkok
- 01
Day 1: Royal Bangkok and the river
Be at the Grand Palace when it opens at 8:30 am, dressed with knees and shoulders covered, and give it two hours. Walk or take a short taxi to Wat Pho for the Reclining Buddha, then cross the river by the small cross-river ferry to Wat Arun. Have lunch near the river and rest at your hotel through the hottest hours. In the late afternoon, ride the Chao Phraya boat to Sathorn Pier and the BTS onward, and finish with dinner at an Indian vegetarian restaurant on Sukhumvit if you want a familiar meal.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Grand Palace About 2 to 3 hours Moderate Opening time (8:30 am) on a weekday, November to February Wat Pho About 1.5 hours Easy Early morning or late afternoon, November to February Wat Arun About 1 to 1.5 hours Moderate Late afternoon for the light, November to February Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.
With parents at Grand Palace: The site is largely flat but very large, open and hot, with little shade and long queues at the entry. Some halls have steps and you walk on hard paving all the time. Older visitors should arrive at opening, carry water and a hat, and plan a rest afterwards.
With parents at Wat Arun: Reaching the temple needs a short ferry ride, and the ground-level courtyards are easy. The steps up the prang are steep and narrow with high risers, which many older visitors skip. Shade is limited.
Plan 02
2 days in Bangkok
- 01
Day 1: Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun
Start at the Grand Palace at opening time, then walk to Wat Pho and finish the temple loop by crossing the river to Wat Arun in the afternoon light. Use the river boat for the trip back instead of a taxi, which is cooler and faster in rush hour.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Grand Palace About 2 to 3 hours Moderate Opening time (8:30 am) on a weekday, November to February Wat Pho About 1.5 hours Easy Early morning or late afternoon, November to February Wat Arun About 1 to 1.5 hours Moderate Late afternoon for the light, November to February Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.
With parents at Grand Palace: The site is largely flat but very large, open and hot, with little shade and long queues at the entry. Some halls have steps and you walk on hard paving all the time. Older visitors should arrive at opening, carry water and a hat, and plan a rest afterwards.
With parents at Wat Arun: Reaching the temple needs a short ferry ride, and the ground-level courtyards are easy. The steps up the prang are steep and narrow with high risers, which many older visitors skip. Shade is limited.
- 02
Day 2: Jim Thompson House, Erawan and Chinatown
Visit Jim Thompson House in the morning, when its garden is shaded and the guided tour is quiet. Walk or take the BTS to the Erawan Shrine and the malls around Ratchaprasong for lunch and a rest. After sunset, go to Yaowarat for the gold shops, the Chinese shrines and street food, using the MRT to Wat Mangkon station.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Jim Thompson House About 1 to 1.5 hours Easy Morning, any time of year Erawan Shrine About 20 to 30 minutes Easy Morning or early evening Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.
Plan 03
3 days in Bangkok
- 01
Day 1: Rattanakosin
Grand Palace at 8:30 am, Wat Pho by late morning, lunch nearby, and Wat Arun from the river at the end of the day. Return by river boat.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Grand Palace About 2 to 3 hours Moderate Opening time (8:30 am) on a weekday, November to February Wat Pho About 1.5 hours Easy Early morning or late afternoon, November to February Wat Arun About 1 to 1.5 hours Moderate Late afternoon for the light, November to February Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.
With parents at Grand Palace: The site is largely flat but very large, open and hot, with little shade and long queues at the entry. Some halls have steps and you walk on hard paving all the time. Older visitors should arrive at opening, carry water and a hat, and plan a rest afterwards.
With parents at Wat Arun: Reaching the temple needs a short ferry ride, and the ground-level courtyards are easy. The steps up the prang are steep and narrow with high risers, which many older visitors skip. Shade is limited.
- 02
Day 2: Museums, parks and the modern city
Begin at Jim Thompson House, then take the BTS to Siam for lunch in an air-conditioned mall. Visit the Erawan Shrine, then walk or ride to Lumphini Park for the cooler evening hours, when it fills with walkers and exercise groups. Dinner in Silom, with a look at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple if you want a Hindu temple on the way.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Jim Thompson House About 1 to 1.5 hours Easy Morning, any time of year Erawan Shrine About 20 to 30 minutes Easy Morning or early evening Lumphini Park About 1 to 1.5 hours Easy Early morning or late afternoon, November to February Sri Maha Mariamman Temple About 30 to 45 minutes Easy Morning or midday session Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.
- 03
Day 3: Golden Mount, Chinatown or Chatuchak
On a Saturday or Sunday, go to Chatuchak Weekend Market as early as you can manage, then leave before the afternoon heat. On a weekday, climb Wat Saket's Golden Mount in the morning, then visit Wat Traimit's Golden Buddha and spend the evening on Yaowarat Road.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Chatuchak Weekend Market About 2 to 3 hours Demanding Weekend mornings, November to February Wat Saket (Golden Mount) About 1 to 1.5 hours Demanding Late afternoon for the light and the heat Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha) About 45 minutes to 1 hour Easy Morning, before Yaowarat gets busy Pace: Chatuchak Weekend Market and Wat Saket (Golden Mount) involve a lot of walking or steps — do them early, and keep the rest of the day light.
With parents at Chatuchak Weekend Market: Narrow, crowded lanes in the heat with uneven floors and little seating. It is easy to get lost and tiring to cover. Stay near the main lanes, rest in cafes and keep your visit short.
With parents at Wat Saket (Golden Mount): A long, winding staircase with many steps and little shade. Shorter people and those with knee trouble should skip it. The temple grounds at the base are level and quiet.
Read before you go
Guides for the stops on these routes
Pacing
Pacing a Bangkok trip for parents and children
- Visit temples between 8:30 and 11 am, then rest in an air-conditioned place through the afternoon. Midday heat on bare stone courtyards is tiring even in the cooler months.
- Choose hotels near a BTS or MRT station with a lift to the platform. Skytrain stations have stairs and lifts, but check where the lift is before you commit to a route.
- Temples need covered shoulders and knees, and shoes come off at many halls. Wear slip-on shoes and carry a light scarf or shawl.
- Use the Chao Phraya river boats or taxis for the old city, as road traffic is heavy, and keep a screenshot of your hotel's name in Thai for taxi drivers.
- Arrange travel insurance that covers hospital care. Bumrungrad International Hospital in central Bangkok is among the best-known private hospitals for visitors, but costs without cover can be high.
- Pavements are uneven, with raised kerbs and street stalls in the way. Carry a stick or use a taxi for short hops if balance is a concern.
Book the pieces
Stay close to the route
Pick a base near the first day's sights. Our guide to where to stay in Bangkok compares the areas.
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