How To Spend 48 Hours In Bangkok

How To Spend 48 Hours In Bangkok

Bangkok is an amazing city, with everything from historical temples, to green leafy parks , to the most fantastic markets to some of the best food you will have the chance to experience for pennies.

Day One

Insider Tip: Book a hotel in walking distance to a BTS station or ensure your hotel has a shuttle bus or tuk tuk.

Book into your hotel and then waste no further time and head to your BTS station. The BTS is an excellent way to introduce yourself to the Big Mango – watch the sites of the city go whizzing by from the train in the sky.

Buy a rabbit card (this will cost you 100B but 50B is a refundable deposit and so overall it will work out cheaper than two one day passes – you may wish to put an additional 100B on as well so you are not wasting time topping up over the weekend).

Catch a sky train heading towards Saphan Taskin station. Once at the station, leave by  exit 2 and head towards Sathorn Central pier.

Insider Tip: Ignore the touts that hang around the pier trying to get you to take their trip.

When you reach the Chao Phraya River catch an orange flagged local transport ferry (do not take the blue flagged tourist boat, it doesn’t go as far as the place that we recommend you check out). A ticket will cost you 15 baht and is purchased on board.

DSC00702

Take in the sights of the river life along the Chao Phraya, from the numerous long tail ferries, to the fishermen, to the houses on the river to Wat Arun, to the tips of the gleaming roofs of Wat Pho and the Grand Palace. There will be less passengers after the Khao San Road pier, and now you can really sit back and enjoy how tranquil life on the river of Bangkok can be.

Exit the ferry at the last stop. You are now in a province called Nonthanburi. Head towards the clock tower and from there you will see a large authentic wet market. Take an hour to wander around the market and enjoy watching the locals haggle and barter.

Lunchtime

Head back towards the pier, and catch the ferry and deport at Thewet Pier (Pier 15). Head towards Steve Café for lunch which you can see from the pier. Wander down the road from the pier, take your first left, stroll through the market until you see the temple. After taking a few minutes to admire the temple, follow the white signs to Steve Café, and sit back and enjoy a tasty Thai lunch on the river . There is no better place to soak up the ambience of the Chao Phraya River.

SONY DSC

Mid Afternoon

When you are ready head back to the pier and catch the ferry to Pier N8 Tien and then catch the commuter ferry for 3 baht to Wat Arun.

Wander around the temples and awe at the amazing temple, often called the teacup temple for the millions of ceramic pieces attached to it. The climb to the third tier is steep but those who do will be rewarded with magnificent views of Bangkok’s riverside.

wat arun2

Sunset/Dinner

Before the sun starts to set, head back across the river on the transporter ferry and then head to the Arun Residence (36-38 Soi Pratoo Nok Yoong, Maharat Road) to enjoy a drink on the deck, watching Wat Arun light up during sunset, before enjoying a meal in the restaurant.

Head back to Sathorn Central on the boat, enjoying the lights and sights of the River at night.

Evening

Continue one pier further than Sathorn and experience Bangkok’s newest night market Asiatique. The night market is filled with stalls of the latest (counterfeit) watches, clothes stores with the cutest designs, live music and bars. Take the opportunity to see Bangkok all lit up at night from the air by riding the 60 metre high Asiatique Sky big wheel (250B).

009

Day Two

Morning

Today you are out on food tour with us this morning!

Insider tip: skip breakfast – come hungry!

Same as yesterday you need to make your way to Saphan Taskin BTS and we meet outside exit 2 at 10.00am.

Prepare for a morning filled with curry puffs, roasted duck, Royal Thai green curry, a chance to wander through another wet market and learn about some special history of one of Bangkok’s oldest areas.

IMG_9667

SONY DSC

IMG_9678

IMG_9959

Afternoon

After all of that food you might want to take a bit of a stroll. Head towards Silom MR and take the exit for Lumpini Park.

This is a fantastic spot for a stroll around the lake, taking in people practising tai chi, riding bikes, or as you are, just a chilled Sunday walk. If you still have energy, take one of the Swan paddle boats out onto the lake for 30 minutes.

090

Have your camera ready however because Lumpini is really famous for its monitor lizards, who like to skulk around the banks of the lake – they range from tiny little babies to some fairly big beasts.

Early Evening

Head up to Octave, the signature 360 degree bar of the Marriot Hotel, Thong Lor, and enjoy signature cocktails which are buy one get one free between 5-7pm and soak up the magnificent views of Bangkok.

bkkms_octave_home

Evening

Expand what you learnt this morning. Just across the road from the Marriot is Soi 38, home to one of the most famous Bangkok night food markets, offering everything from pad thai, to massaman, to tom yum goong.

Enjoy our Bangkok!