Why We Spent a Week in Bangkok, Thailand

We planned a week in Bangkok, Thailand for a mix of city energy, temples, markets, and amazing food. It's one of our favorite cities because it's easy to get around, the people are wonderful, the food is great, and it's extremely affordable.

Temples, Night Markets, Thai Massages, and a Whole Lot of Flavor

Here’s how we spent one week in Bangkok, Thailand including what we did, what we ate, and what it all cost.

Bangkok Basics: Quick Tips

• There are two subway systems, the MRT and the BTS, and we used them a lot to get around and avoid the really bad road traffic. Most MRT turnstiles let you tap a Visa or Mastercard directly instead of buying a token, but the BTS system required buying a ticket in advance.
• Bring cash: Markets, small shops, most street food vendors, and some attractions are cash only. There are cash machines everywhere so you don't need to get it all at the airport.
• Pack tissues: Many restrooms charge THB 5 (about $0.15) for entry, and only some provide toilet paper.
• Temple dress code: Shoulders and knees must be covered. We chose to visit all the wats (temples) in one day so we could wear pants and longer sleeves just on that day. In Bangkok the major wats are near each other.
• Use the Bolt and Grab ride share apps: There is no Uber in Bangkok and the local ride share apps are Grab and Bolt. The rides were an easy, inexpensive way to get around the city and from the airport. Make sure you add your credit card in advance and choose the credit card option if that's what you want to use. Otherwise it will default to cash and you'll need to be sure you have cash to pay the driver. Just know that road traffic can be really bad so while you get the luxury of sitting in a car for your ride, the ride might take a long time, even for what might look like short distances.

Where We Stayed

• Solitaire Bangkok Sukhumvit 11: We based ourselves in Sukhumvit at Solitaire Bangkok on Soi 11. We thought the rate was affordable for pretty good quality.
  Cost: THB 22,042 (about $677) for the 7 night stay, or roughly THB 3,150/night (about $97) including all fees and breakfast. Here's the link to the hotel we stayed at: Solitaire Bangkok Sukhumvit 11
• Airport to Hotel: We took a Bolt from the airport to the hotel for THB 320 (about $10).

First Impressions: Park Time & Riverside Dinner

• Lumphini Park: Our first afternoon in Bangkok, we walked around Lumphini Park. It’s a peaceful green space in the middle of the city and a nice place to walk off jet lag. We also saw a cute turtle and monitor lizard at the edge of the lake. Many people jog here, in case you want to do this during your trip.
• Lunch at Lily Fu’s: We ordered duck curry, basil wagyu beef with rice, a latte, and iced tea for a total of THB 1,082 (about $34). Delicious and a good intro to Bangkok’s food scene. Right on the popular Sukhumvit 11 street.
• Asiatique the Riverfront (Dinner): We headed to the Asiatique Night Market for a riverside evening and to stroll around the shops. There's lot of great food options too. At Rocking Doll, we had crab pad Thai, seafood noodles, and a 1-liter beer for THB 770 (about $24). It’s a touristy night market, but fun for a first night with a breeze off the Chao Phraya River.

Temple Day by the River

• MRT ride: THB 37 (about $1.15) per person one way
• Flower Market (Pak Khlong Talat): Free and colorful. Good for a quick walkthrough.
• Wat Pho & Reclining Buddha: THB 300 (about $9.40) per person for entry (cash only)
• Grand Palace: THB 500 (about $15.65) per person
• Eat Sight Story Deck (Lunch): 2 beers + 2 local entrees for THB 1,271 (~$39.46). This spot has a great view of Wat Arun across the river. You're paying for the ambiance and view, but we thought it was worth it.
• Ferry to Wat Arun: THB 5 (about $0.15) per person each way
• Wat Arun: THB 200 ($about $6.25) per person (cash only)

Chinatown, Street Art & Night Market Feasting

• Chinatown + Talat Noi street art: We loved exploring all the cute and colorful streets in Chinatown, especially Talat Noi. 
• Hufu Café: THB 220 (about $6.90) for 2 iced Thai teas. This was a cute cafe down an alley in Chinatown. It was the perfect spot to rest after lots of walking.
• Chop Chop Cook Shop: THB 871 (about $27.25) for lunch that included two local entrees. It's one of the more high-end spots in Chinatown, but it was recommended by a friend and the Chinese food was delicious. 
• Tuk Tuk: THB 100 (about $3.10) for a short ride from the MRT station to our hotel. Tuk tuks aren't regulated so they can charge whatever they want. Make sure you agree on the price before you get in. 
• Jodd Fairs Night Market: THB 180 (about $5.60) for Thai 2 entrees + THB 160 (about $5.00) for dessert and a fresh coconut, all from food stall vendors. We watched them make the pad Thai and chocolate banana roti right in front of us. Everything was fresh and delicious. The market also has a lot of cute shops. We got there shortly after they opened at 5pm and had no trouble getting a table to eat, but when we left about two hours later it was extremely crowded. 

Day Trip: Ayutthaya Sunset & Boat Ride

One of our favorite days was a trip outside the city to explore Thailand’s former capital, Ayutthaya. We left Bangkok around 1pm and returned around 7:30pm. Half the time was spent getting to Ayuthaya and back, and the other half was visiting three wats (temples) and a long boat ride.

• Ayutthaya Sunset Discovery & Boat Ride — THB 1,500 (about $48.00) per person. We thought the tour operator did a good job and would recommend them.
  Click here to check the Ayutthaya tour 
• Nadimos Lebanese Mediterranean (Lunch): On our way to the tour departure point we stopped here. THB 884 (about $27.65) for two Lebanese combo platters. We were in the mood for something other than Thai and this place had great seats along the sidewalk in the Si Lom area. 
• Hom Run Juan Cuisine (Dinner): THB 560 (about $17.50) for two bowls of beef pho also in the Si Lom area after the tour. It was great for some Vietnamese food. We just couldn't eat Thai for every meal!

Massages & Weekend Market Finds

• Nature Thai Massage: 90 minutes for THB 814 (about $25.00). This is on the high end for a Thai massage, but it was amazing. They started by washing my feet, then did a full 90-minute massage, and ended with a delicious cup of tea and coconut cookies. The venue is really nice and they were very professional and skilled!

• Chatuchak Weekend Market: This is a must-do activity if you are in Bangkok on a Saturday or Sunday. This is a massive market with a lot of local goods to see and buy. We thought it was better than all the night markets. Plan to spend several hours here, but get here in the morning because the market gets very crowded by lunchtime. Here's how we spent our money:
  • Coconut smoothie: THB 50 (about $1.50)
  • 3 pairs of men’s shorts: THB 900 (about $28.00)
  • Lunch: THB 348 (about $10.90) for two local entrees
  • Beers at The Secret: THB 240 (about $7.50) for two Changs
• Paradise Sports Bar: Has great people watching and street-side dining if you want to watch all of the craziness on Sukhamvit 11. We spent THB 668 (about $20.90) for 2 beers + 2 entrees

Cooking Class 

• Thai Cooking Class — THB 1,400 per person (about $43.80)
  See the Thai Cooking Class. The class started with a tour of a local food market, followed by a multi-course class. Everything was amazing and they give you the recipes at the end. We made papaya salad, shrimp pad Thai, green curry with chicken, and mango with sticky rice. 

Vaccine

• Yellow fever vaccine at Wellmed Bangkok Clinic — THB 2,200 (about $69.00) per person at Wellmed Bangkok Clinic. We've been meaning to get this vaccine for a while, but it costs anywhere from $400-$700 most places in the U.S. so we kept putting it off. It was easy to make an appointment at this clinic, everything was clean, and everyone spoke English.

Final Thoughts

Bangkok gave us a week full of temples, river views, bustling markets, massages, and incredible food. It’s a city where you can splurge a little on river views one night and keep things budget-friendly the next with markets and street food. With easy day trips like Ayutthaya and endless places to explore, it’s a fantastic base for a longer Southeast Asia adventure.

Planning your own Bangkok trip? Don’t forget to grab our free packing list and our free travel safety checklist so you can have everything you need to enjoy your trip and stay safe along the way.