Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and by far its biggest city, with 8 million people and a metropolitan area of 14 M. According to a recent study, Bangkok is also the most visited city in the world by foreigners! When people travel to Thailand, they almost always stop in Bangkok. All of this makes Bangkok an incredibly buzzing city, full of life and activities for everyone, which is why we made this list of things to do in Bangkok in 4 days!
Bangkok has a mixture of tradition and modern Thai culture. The city landscape itself goes from the futuristic skyscrapers to the old markets and the Buddhist temples, so when planning the things to do in Bangkok in 4 days, we want a mix of all of this, not spending every single day enjoying only one of its striking characteristics.
Such a huge city has plenty of accommodation options, so that won’t be a problem, but you should book in advance so you can choose where to stay in Bangkok.
You may be wondering if 4 days in Bangkok is too much time. In our opinion, it’s just the right time, as Bangkok has so many things to do. There aren’t many metropolises as interesting as Bangkok, with gourmet restaurants and boutique stores within walking distance of unique street food and antique markets.
We weren’t expecting to like Bangkok as much as we did! We wandered around the city way too much, but we couldn’t help it. Each time we went out, we found new exciting things to see and do. Though this is a big city, you should have a plan, and that’s where we enter the scene. Follow this 4 days Bangkok itinerary, and you’ll have a good time on
We also found Bangkok to be a very exciting destination for couples with plenty of romantic things to do for a few days or maybe even a Bangkok honeymoon.
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Best things to do in Bangkok in 4 days
Walk, Walk and Walk
Is there any other way to really know a city? Walking will make you see, smell and listen to Bangkok. You will find new markets, streets,
But please don’t forget that Bangkok is huge and can be very hot! What looks like a small stroll on the map can be 5 or 10 km under a torrid sun 🙂
If you want to roam around the city but with a guide showing you all the best spots, have a look at this customized tour.
Try the Sky-train (BTS)
The sky-train is an attraction in itself. It’s sleek, modern, and fast to get around. It isn’t cheap, but it won’t break your wallet. The sky train passed close to our guesthouse, so we used it a lot. Unfortunately, it doesn’t go to the old center, Wat Pho, Khao San Soi… Also, be aware of (or enjoy) the crazy rush hour.
Take the boat in the Chao Phraya river
The Chao Phraya river is one of the iconic images of Bangkok. It’s also the easiest (and cheapest) way to go downtown. Take the orange express boat and enjoy the view of the Bangkok skyline from the river.
Again, like the Sky train, the rush hour can be crazy, but that’s also a way of experiencing Bangkok. If you don’t want it, you can always take the touristic boats or hire a private longtail boat to cruise the river. Either way, this is a must-do in Bangkok. It’s where the traditional, old images of Bangkok will come to your mind…
Go to Chinatown
Bangkok’s Chinatown is huge, full of shops, and somehow organized according to the different products they sell. Arts being together with arts, audio shops with audio shops, and so on… Of course, food is all over the place. 🙂
The most interesting part was all the gold… So many gold stores… We can’t believe there is a market for so much gold, even in Bangkok. However, apparently, there is! It was Chinese new year when we were there, so it was even busier than usual.
Go temple hopping – Don’t miss the Wat Pho and Wat Arun
Bangkok has hundreds of temples, so we will list them all just for you… We know you want to visit them all! Right?!? 🙂 No? OK…
We really only went to 3 temples (Wat), and we recommend you visit at least a couple of them. Wat Pho (where the giant reclining Buddha is) and Wat Arun Bangkok (aka temple of dawn) are some of the most fascinating and famous landmarks in Thailand. Note that these temples are big tourist attractions and can be crowded.
We also went to Wat Phra Kaew but check below things to be aware of in Bangkok for more details…
Book here a tour to these 3 temples o Bangkok
Eat the world’s best street food
We love street food. In Bangkok (and most of Thailand), street food sellers are on every corner. We are talking about: sausages, shakes, waffles, rotis, fruits, BBQ chicken, pork, shrimp, crepes, salads… Even restaurants serve on the street. Some of them have a kitchen right in the street/market. In the streets of Bangkok, you can eat almost everything you can imagine.
Street food is very cheap.
Chatuchak Market
Chatuchak Market is a weekend market, so you can only go there if one of your 4 days in Bangkok is a Saturday or Sunday. But it’s the biggest market in Bangkok and one you really should go to if you have the opportunity.
You will need many hours to navigate the whole market and probably won’t be able to. It’s very easy to get lost inside, but don’t worry. It’s also great fun to discover the market from the inside. What can you buy in Chatuchak?
Well, anything and everything: clothing, arts, antiques, food, plants, pets, furniture, ceramics, and many, many other things. Besides the obvious food and beverages, we particularly like roaming around the pets and animal sections.
Wang Lang Market
We love markets, and Wang Lang was one of our favorites. Especially because of the variety and delicious street food. This market is open every day except Sundays, from 07:00 to 20:00, and locals mainly use it. A hospital is nearby, so many people go to the market for lunch.
We tried several dishes, and almost everything that seemed different looked and smelled delicious. We ate an omelet with coconut and vegetables, which became our favorite dish in Bangkok 🙂 The cool thing is that the market is straightforward to go to, just catch the orange express boat and stop at the pier.
Siam Paragon, Central World Plaza, etc
If you are into shopping, Bangkok, particularly the Siam area, is full of shopping centers with high-end stores. Or maybe just having some fun people-watching. We saw a queue to enter the Louis-Vuitton store of Siam Paragon…
Lumpini Park
Lumpini Park is a place to go to exercise, people watching, or relax by the Lake or in the grass. It’s an enjoyable city park right in the middle of the financial district and the most modern neighborhoods of Bangkok.
We were in Bangkok during the Chinese new year, and Lumpini Park had a big party/festival with Chinese and Thai motifs. It was full of people, with concerts, food, shows, etc. We had a lovely evening there.
Bangkok is also an excellent base for day trips. Here are some of the best day trips you can do from Bangkok.
Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)
This is probably a bit polemic, but we wouldn’t have gone there if we knew what we know now. We found it really expensive for what it delivers. Wat Phra Kaew is a magnificent temple, arguably the most majestic in Bangkok. However, it’s always crowded and really overcrowded, and the experience feels more like a tourist trap than a temple. Furthermore, inside the temple of the Emerald Buddha, you are only allowed to go slightly inside the temple, with dozens of other people doing the same.
We were so far away that we could barely see the Emerald Buddha (a very small Buddha). To finalize, you can only see the outside of the Grand Palace. You can’t tour the inside or even get close to it…
We know you will probably end up going there anyway. We understand it’s one of the biggest attractions in the city, but please understand that you’ll suffer (a lot) to see it.
Book a tour that includes the Grand Palace here
Have a Thai Massage
Thai massages are world-famous, one of the most famous things about Thailand. You can’t really leave Thailand without trying a Thai massage. Many people link Thai massages with sexual activities, but a true Thai massage has nothing to do with it.
If you are uncertain of what to expect, have a look at our post on Thai massages and learn everything about it before doing one. It’s really an experience and a different one from a western massage. We truly recommend it as it’s a cultural experience, a relaxing experience and a cheap one… even if you decide to pamper yourself and have a more luxurious one. Have a look at this!
Take a Thai Cooking Class
If you really love food, just trying out all the Thai dishes isn’t enough. You’ll want to learn more about them, the ingredients, the techniques used, and ultimately how to cook them. Fortunately for you, Bangkok is one of the best places to have a cooking class ( the other is Chiang Mai) in Thailand. The cooking class we took was easily one of our favorite activities in Thailand.
You can have a look at our full post about it here, and maybe book one for you.
Go to a Muay Thai fight
Muay Thai is a unique way of kickboxing developed by the Thai people. This ancient martial art was developed over the last 500 years and is one of Thailand’s national sports. Going to a Muay Thai fight allows you to learn about Thai culture from a very different perspective than anything else on this list. Plus, it’s a lot of fun!
Book your Muay Thai ticket here
Things to be aware of when visiting Bangkok in 4 days
Taxis and traffic
Traffic in Bangkok is a big problem. In some streets, it seems like it’s rush hour all day! So, a taxi can become expensive and take much longer than expected. Furthermore, we really disliked our experiences with taxis.
We were very poorly served both times we had to use it. Once, the driver basically didn’t want to take us where we wanted to go and acted like he didn’t know what we were talking about. The other he decided to show us around… Bad luck, we already knew that zone quite well.
The smaller floating markets (Taling Chan Floating Market & Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market) are closed on weekdays.
They are closed, as we learned the bad way! ops 🙂 Yes, both Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market and Taling Chan Floating Market are closed during the week and only open on weekends!
Bang Nam Pheung Floating Market and Amphawa Floating Market are open from Friday to Sunday.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market isn’t really in Bangkok, it’s about 100 km away and it’s more of a day trip than a day in Bangkok. However, it’s the most famous and popular floating market in Thailand and if you want to visit, you can book this cool day trip from Bangkok, which also includes the famous train market.
Khao San Road is what it is…
Well, we only really walked down the street once and then left. It’s just the place where the backpackers go to get wasted… Not really our kind of fun. Many people love it, and we understand why, but do yourself a favor and don’t limit yourself to this street. Bangkok has so much more to offer!
Bangkok deserves some of your travel time and budget. It’s a fascinating city with much more to it than you would think. Nevertheless, you should be aware of some not-so-good things. Have a look at this list of mistakes to avoid during a trip to Bangkok.
Where to stay for 4 days in Bangkok?
If you are looking for fun and a party every day, the answer is pretty simple, stay close to Khao San Road. There’s an endless list of hostels and guesthouses on Khao San Road, but we suggest Dewan Bangkok.. The W22 by Burasari is a lovely alternative!
On the other hand, if you want a more peaceful hotel or guesthouse and aren’t interested in all the noise of the partiers of Khao San, we suggest you stay closer to the financial and embassy districts. They are conveniently located close to several public transport options, so you won’t have problems going everywhere. Here we suggest the Chillax Resort if you are looking for an upscale hotel.
Any of these three options ensure you’ll be well-located during your 4 days in Bangkok! And it’s essential to have an ideally located hotel, so you don’t lose precious time.
Wow I had no idea it was the most visited city in the world! Makes me sad I didn’t make it to this side of Thailand. More reason to return!
I have had a pleasure of visiting Bangkok. I arrived at night and, at first, it did not feel like an Asian city. Your first photo captured that. By the next morning, I had a completely different fell. I do hope that I will bet to see it again some day.