Two Days In Bangkok

Bangkok is a seven day a week city and a great place at any time of the year. But if late night clubbing is your thing, plan to arrive in Bangkok on a Friday.

DAY 1

Temples

For first-timer visitors Bangkok's Grand Palace is a must-see.  Arrive as early as possible (the palace opens at 8:30am) to avoid the crowd and allow a couple of hours to see some of the most famous sights in the city.  Then, head over to the nearby Wat Pho (by tuk-tuk or taxi) where you will see the famous Reclining Buddha.

There are over 33,000 temples in Thailand! One of the top five is the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun). You can get to the temple by taxi via Arun Amarin Road or by boat from Tha Tien Pier near Wat Pho.

After exploring the temples, hop in a taxi to Siam to get some lunch. We suggest telling your driver to drop you at Siam Paragon mall. (If the driver wants to charge you a flat rate, insist that he uses the meter, otherwise jump out a take another).

Siam for Shopping & Eating

Siam is Bangkok's main shopping district. Your are spoilt for choice when it comes to food in this district. Every shopping mall has a huge Food Court plus dozens of restaurants, fast food chains, coffee shops, etc.

After lunch, it's time to shop.  For souvenirs, gifts, cell phone accessories, cheap clothes, go to MBK Center. For brand names and high-end labels, then Siam Paragon and the EmQuartier district are the places to be. Local designer fashion shops can be found at the adjacent Siam Center and the Siam Square One.

But that's just the beginning. Walk further down on Rama 1 Road, and you'll come to an even bigger department store - CentralWorld. Shopaholics who want to do more even shopping can take the Skytrain (Sukhumvit Line) to Terminal 21 at Asoke station and The EmQuartier and Emporium at Phrompong station.

If you're not into shopping, then visit the Jim Thompson Museum or check out the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia - Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World.

Bangkok by Night

You are spoilt for choice when it comes to places to eat in Bangkok.  Our restaurant recommendations can be found here.

After dinner take a taxi to lebua @ State Tower or the Moon Bar @ Banyan Tree hotel to get a glimpse of 'Bangkok by night' at either the Sky Bar or the Moon Bar. Both offer stunning views, but the drinks at the Sky Bar are slightly pricier. Appropriate attire must be worn (no shorts, tank tops or flip-flops).

Gay Scene

After dinner and a rooftop drink, you may want to head back to your hotel to freshen up and change to more comfortable clothes for Bangkok's gay nightlife.

The gay bars on Silom Soi 4 get busy after 10pm, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. Telephone Pub and The Balcony are perhaps the two most popular gay bars with outdoor seating and are great for people-watching. Around midnight, head to the nearby DJ Station and even later onto gay dance club G.O.D.

DAY 2

Weekend Market

If your visit falls on a Saturday or Sunday and you're in the mood for an authentic Thai shopping market experience, then the Chatuchak Weekend Market is worth a visit.

Take the skytrain to Mo Chit station or MRT (underground) to Kampaeng Phet station.

This is one of the world’s largest outdoor markets with thousands of stalls and shops, selling everything for A to Z.  This place will make you hot and sweaty, so be prepared.

Massage and Sauna

After hours of exploring, you may be up for a massage.  There is a huge choice of man-2-man massage places around Silom area.

If you're getting a one-hour body massage and you do not want a "happy ending", make sure you tell your masseur. Reviews and information about Bangkok ay Massage Spas can be found here.

Alternatively, check out one of the many gay saunas in town. Babylon Sauna is the longest-running and most frequented by foreigners. R3 Sauna and Chakran Sauna, on the other hand, are more popular with local gay men. Best time to visit is from 4pm on Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

last updated: April 2017