With just 2 days in Bangkok you still have time to enjoy its impressive cultural sites as well as its fine selection of shopping and dining. Check out this 2 day Bangkok itinerary.
Bangkok Tuk Tuk © Didier Baertschiger
From places to eat to places to shop, read our itinerary for 2 days in Bangkok to find out what you should do.
For more itineraries for different kinds of Thailand trips, see our Thailand Itineraries page.
What to Do In Bangkok For 2 Days:
Bangkok Day One
Bangkok Holiday Essentials
- Where To Stay In Bangkok: See our guide to the best areas and the best hotels to stay in Bangkok.
- Things To Do In Bangkok: Check this huge list of Bangkok activities that you can book online.
- Flights To Bangkok: Find the cheapest flights to Bangkok and flight times from scores of airlines with Skyscanner.
- Bangkok Packing List: Don’t forget to take any of the essentials with our comprehensive Packing List For Thailand.
- Travel Insurance: World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Claim online anywhere in the world.
Bangkok Day Two Morning: Shopping at Ratchaprasong
Ratchaprasong is Bangkok’s biggest shopping district, home to a massive selection of malls and independent shops around BTS Siam and Chit Lom. From souvenirs to the latest fashion, a morning at Ratchaprasong is ideal for filling your suitcases.
Note that most of Bangkok’s shopping malls open at 10 am, making it a good idea to have a late breakfast before making your way to Ratchaprasong.
Siam Paragon © KhunBhun
- Siam Paragon
Located next to BTS Siam, Siam Paragon is one of Bangkok’s most popular malls. It’s home to a huge range of retail stores ranging from designer fashion to furniture, as well as a luxury cineplex, a sports car dealership and an excellent food court. - Siam Square
Located opposite Siam Paragon, Siam Square is made up of several small alleys, each home to a selection of small boutiques and retail stores. Most of the items here are aimed at teens and early 20-somethings, although there’s a huge selection of souvenirs and other products. - MBK Centre
The MBK Centre is cluttered and chaotic, but a lot of fun for shoppers. On floors one through three, you’ll find a range of clothing and accessory shops. The fourth floor is home to a huge range of smartphone, tablet and technology shops offering new and used gadgets. - Central World
Bangkok’s biggest shopping mall, Central World contains a wide range of high street retailers, a cinema and an ice skating rink. Located a short distance from BTS Chit Lom, connected by skybridge. Contains two department stores: ZEN and Isetan - Central Embassy
Central Embassy is Bangkok’s latest luxury shopping mall — a futuristic building that’s home to a selection of well-known brand names and designer boutiques. On the upper floors, you’ll find a range of high-end eateries and luxury movie theatre Embassy Diplomat Screens.
Bangkok Shopping Mall Hotels
Bangkok Day Two: Lunch
- Siam Paragon Food Court
The ground floor food court in Siam Paragon is a great place to enjoy tasty Thai food at low prices. Pick up a stored value card once you enter and receive your change once you finish eating — food is billed to your card as you order. - Som Tam Nua
This reasonably priced Isaan (Northeast Thailand) restaurant is popular with local workers and students from nearby Chulalongkorn University. Famous dishes include som tam, which is a Thai papaya salad, and Thai-style fried chicken. - Food Loft at Central Chidlom
Food Loft, the seventh floor food court inside Central Chidlom department store, serves a mix of Thai and international dishes with great views of Ratchaprasong. Collect a charge card as you enter and pay your bill on the way out.
Erawan Shrine © Shubert Ciencia
Bangkok Day 2 Afternoon: Erawan Shrine and Lumpini Park
- Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
Located opposite the MBK Centre and connected to BTS National Stadium, Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre houses hundreds of paintings, sculptures and photographs from a selection of acclaimed Thai and international artists. Free entry. - Erawan Shrine
Conveniently located opposite Central World and next to the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, this Hindu shrine contains an impressive statue of Phra Phrom. Popular with locals seeking good fortune, the shrine is usually crowded but worth stopping to appreciate. - Lumpini Park
Bangkok’s version of Central Park, Lumpini Park is a great place to escape from the hustle, bustle and heat of the city. Small boats are available for rent if you’re interested in navigating the park’s large lake, but be on the watch for the park’s population of monitor lizards, which look like Komodo dragons but are thankfully not aggressive.
Bangkok Things To Do
Bangkok Day 2: Dinner
- Thai Niyom
Right by Ploenchit BTS, Thai Niyom serves up homemade takes on classic Thai dishes. It’s one of three restaurants side by side run by Khun Oh and her American partner Billy. Their two neighbouring eateries are the super popular Mexican joint La Monita and the smoked-for-days meat heaven that is Billy’s Smokehouse. You can order dishes from all three places at any one venue. - Bo.Lan
High-end Thai restaurant Bo.Lan was featured in the Netflix series Chef’s Table and has become a pilgrimage for many foodies. Their uncompromising stance on precisely how specific dishes should be served enchant some diners and enrage others. Having been forced to shut down during the pandemic and now re-opened on a limited basis, you need to book several weeks in advance. - Bo.Ian’s more casual sister restaurant Err has also reopened as of September 2022 which gives a more informal entry into Bo and Dylan’s cooking world.
Bangkok – Soi Cowboy © VasenkaPhotography
Bangkok Nightlife
Sukhumvit is Bangkok’s most popular nightlife district so it’s easy to experience some of the city’s best bars and nightclubs. Try either of the two nightlife areas for a great taste of Bangkok nightlife.
- Thonglor
Thonglor is Bangkok’s most popular high-end nightlife area, home to a selection of bars and nightclubs that attract the city’s “hi-so” community. Good places to start your night out include Thonglor Soi 10 and Seenspace on Thonglor Soi 13. - Sukhumvit Soi 11
Located a short distance from BTS Nana, Sukhumvit Soi 11 attracts a mix of Thais, tourists and Bangkok expats seeking to party. Good places to start your night out include Levels, a large nightclub inside Aloft Hotel, Nest Rooftop Lounge and Above Eleven.
Bangkok Skyline 4 © Swaminathan
Where to Stay In Bangkok:
Luxury Hotels in Bangkok
- Mandarin Oriental Hotel
(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel is arguably Bangkok’s most luxurious hotel. With a great location on the Chao Phraya River, it’s perfectly located for visitors that want to see Bangkok’s famous temples and historical attractions during their stay. - Shangri-La Hotel
(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
The Shangri-La offers a beautiful riverside setting and some of the best rooms in the city. Like the Mandarin Oriental, it’s a convenient and luxurious choice for visitors that want to travel to the Grand Palace and other attractions near the Chao Phraya. - Sala Rattanakosin
(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
Located beside the Chao Phraya on the historical Rattanakosin Island, Sala Rattanakosin is a luxurious 4½ star hotel with a fantastic location. Minutes away from the Grand Palace and the city’s other top historical attractions, it’s a great choice for travellers seeking convenience.
Mid Range Hotels in Bangkok
- Centre Point Silom Hotel
(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
The Centre Point Silom Hotel is a short walk away from Sathorn Pier, making it a convenient and comfortable accommodation option for visitors to Bangkok that want to access attractions along the Chao Phraya by day and Bangkok’s best nightlife by night. - Arun Residence
(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
Offering some of the best views of Wat Arun in the city and home to one of Bangkok’s most popular riverside restaurants, Arun Residence is a conveniently located 4-star hotel that’s a short distance from the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and other attractions.
Budget Hotels in Bangkok
- Khaosan Immjai Hostel
(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
With a location close to Khao San Road and a selection of affordable hostel beds and private rooms, Khaosan Immjai Hostel is a conveniently located and clean option for travellers on a strict budget. - Oldtown Hostel
(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
Oldtown Hostel is a clean, simple and comfortable hostel located a short walk from Bangkok’s luxurious Riverside area. Rooms range from eight-bed shared rooms to private doubles, twins and family rooms.
Getting to Bangkok
From Suvarnabhumi Airport
- Suvarnabhumi Airport is Bangkok’s main international airport, located about 25 kilometres east of the city. There are three ways to get to Bangkok from Suvarnabhumi Airport: via the Airport Rail Link, by public bus and by taxi.
- The Airport Rail Link (ARL) connects with the BTS Skytrain at Phayathai Station, making it a convenient option for visitors staying along the Sukhumvit Line. Trains depart on a frequent schedule from the basement floor of the airport terminal.
- Taxis from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok cost 250 to 400 baht, depending on traffic and your destination, and are available from the taxi stand on the ground floor of the terminal. You often have to wait in line for a taxi to become available. A 50 baht fee is applied to all taxi fares departing from the airport.
- You can also book a private airport transfer to be waiting with your name on a sign in Arrivals. A cheaper option is to book a shared transfer from the airport to your Bangkok hotel in a minivan too.
- Bangkok’s somewhat confusing public bus system is the cheapest way to get into the city from Suvarnabhumi. Buses depart from the Transport Centre close to the airport for a wide range of destinations.
- See Travel Happy’s Bangkok Airport Guide for more info
From Don Mueang Airport
- Don Mueang Airport is Bangkok’s second airport. It primarily serves domestic and short haul international flights. There is currently no direct train service to Don Muang Airport, so you’ll need to catch a taxi from the airport into the city.
- Taxis depart from the taxi stand on the ground floor of the airport terminal. Turn left once you exit customs and you’ll find the stand. Like at Suvarnabhumi Airport, a 50 baht fee is applied to all taxi fares from Don Mueang Airport, and there is often a queue to get a taxi.
- You can also book a private airport transfer to be waiting with your name on a sign in Arrivals. A cheaper option is to book a shared transfer from Don Mueang airport to your Bangkok hotel in a minivan too.
- See Travel Happy’s Bangkok Airport Guide for more info
Moving On From Bangkok
Bangkok is the gateway to the rest of Thailand – whether it’s by plane, bus, boat or train, you can get to anywhere in Thailand from Bangkok. If you’ve a next destination in mind, for example Koh Phi Phi, check 12Go for an overview of the different types of transport available and to see how much it costs and how long it takes.
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Bangkok and Thailand Travel Itineraries
- 1 Day In Bangkok: Must See Itinerary
Only have 1 day in Bangkok? You can see many of Bangkok’s iconic attractions in the space of a day, plus sample some great food and enjoy the nightlife too. - 2 Days in Bangkok Itinerary
With just 2 days in Bangkok you still have time to enjoy its impressive cultural sites as well as its fine selection of shopping and dining. Check out this 2 day Bangkok itinerary. - 3 Days in Bangkok Itinerary
From temples and museums to shopping malls and outdoor markets, Bangkok has more than enough to keep you occupied for 3 days in Bangkok. - 1 Week In Bangkok Travel Itinerary
While most visitors spend a few days in the capital before travelling elsewhere in Thailand, it’s far from challenging to spend a week in Bangkok taking in all that the city has to offer. - 1 Week Thailand Beaches Itinerary
Thailand has hundreds of great beaches, ranging from large tourist resorts to remote beaches largely undiscovered by tourists. Thailand’s long coastline and wide range of destinations make it arguably Asia’s best destination for lovers of sand, sea and sun. - 1 Week Bangkok And Mountains Itinerary
Planning a trip to Thailand but prefer not to spend too much time on the beach? While Thailand is best known for its beautiful beaches, its capital city and mountain destinations are also great places to spend your holiday. - 1 Week In Chiang Mai Itinerary
Thailand’s mountainous north offers a very different experience from its famous southern beach destinations. A cooler climate, beautiful mountainous scenery and a more relaxed, laid back feel make northern Thailand a unique destination that’s worth experiencing. - 2 Weeks In Thailand And Vietnam Itinerary
Our Two Weeks in Thailand and Vietnam itinerary lets you see the best of two of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic and rewarding destinations, all in just 14 days. - 2 Weeks In Thailand And Cambodia Itinerary
Our Two Weeks in Thailand and Cambodia itinerary includes everything from modern cities and relaxing beach resorts to some of the world’s most incredible historical temple complexes and ancient cities - 3 Weeks In Thailand, Cambodia And Vietnam
Our Three Weeks in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam itinerary lets you experience three of Southeast Asia’s most exciting, rewarding and unique countries from multiple perspectives.
