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Bangkok is Thailand’s crazy capital city and its location has it easily accessible from all over the world. Most tourists will first arrive in Bangkok and often continue on to the country’s tropical islands or the mountain regions of the north. But at the very least visitors should spend 24 hours in Bangkok.
The city offers some of the best street food in Thailand, stunning temples, great shopping and wild nightlife.
In this guide, I will break down how to spend 24 hours in Bangkok. Plus, I’ll add a couple more suggestions in case you’re lucky enough to be in Bangkok any longer. And I will also give some tips for first-time visitors to Thailand.
Travel Tips for Bangkok
I believe Thailand in general is a great country for new travellers to start exploring south-east Asia. This is due to the friendly locals, limited language barrier, great food and high level of safety. Bangkok may be a big city but if you just take one district at a time, it never feels too overwhelming.
Here are some of my tips for those arriving in Bangkok for the first time.
Transport From Bangkok Airport
The majority of international tourists will fly into Suvarnabhumi Airport which is 31km from the city centre. The other airport in Bangkok is Don Mueang Airport, this is a hub for low-cost carriers.
If you don’t have a pre-booked airport transfer, taxis are available out the front and they will use the meter. The average cost to the city is 240THB so this can be a cheap option even for those travelling alone.
There are options to get public transport from the airport to the city, and this can cost as little as 70THB. But this option will take over an hour and depending on where you’re staying, it may also involve walking.
Thailand Currency
The official currency in Thailand is Thai Bhat. ATMs are widely available all over the city. I found all the ATMs around Bangkok were changing a fee of around $9.12AUD. This was regardless of what amount we were withdrawing or which Australian bank we used. Also, there are heaps of currency exchanges for those who brought cash from home, just always count your money before you leave.
Language in Thailand
The official language in Thailand is Thai and most people can also speak English so the language barrier for has never been an issue for me in Bangkok.
When is The Best Time of Year to Visit Bangkok?
The weather in Thailand is always warm and there are two main seasons, the dry season and the monsoon season. The monsoon season starts in late May/early June and continues into mid-October. During these months, Bangkok can be hit with heavy rain.
April & May are usually the hottest months of the year, and this can make walking around the city during the day a bit unbearable.
Getting Around Bangkok, The Best Transport Options
There are some great transport options around Bangkok including, bus, train and ferry. The Sky Train has stops all over the city (although not one close to Khao San Road, which is an area I recommend you stay in). And the network is very easy to follow for tourists as the signs & maps are also written in English characters.
During the day ferries run up and down the river, with tickets only costing 40THB per trip and you can also purchase all-day passes if you think you’ll use them a lot.
Although there are heaps of public transport options, if you’re only in Bangkok for 24 hours I would just recommend getting Taxis. They are usually very cheap, easy to find and will drop you exactly where you want to go.
Drivers should be using the meter but if they don’t and you’re only travelling within the city, get another taxi. Their fixed prices will always be a rip-off
The State Railway of Thailand was the first rail network and is still in operation today. Although this train network is for long distant journeys, not trips within the city. It’s a great option if you are travelling elsewhere in Thailand after Bangkok.
The Perfect Way to Spend 24 hours in Bangkok
Morning:
To beat the crowds and the heat I would suggest starting your day reasonably early and visiting one of Bangkok’s most beautiful temples, Wat Pho. This is also where you will see the Reclining Buddha, everything is seriously so beautiful here!
The reclining Buddha is inside a temple, and with his large size it’s unfortunately very difficult to get a photo of the whole statute.
The entrance fee to Wat Pho is 100THB.
If you weren’t too hot by this point and up for another temple I would recommend Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan. This is just across the river and there are ferries from Wat Arun Pier to Tha Thien and the ferry will cost as little as 10THB.
Entry to Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan is also only 100THB for foreigners.
Afternoon:
After lunch, you should visit one of Bangkok’s most popular shopping malls, the MBK Centre. This modern mall has 7 levels of shopping, everything is so cheap so I have no doubt you’ll find heaps of amazing bargains here.
After being on your feet all day, why not get a traditional Thai massage. Prices in Bangkok start from 250THB. The local parlors will always be the cheapest and I always try to find somewhere which already has customers, (I assume then that the massages will be good).
Night:
China Town or Soi Rambuttri & later Khao San Road.
By the evening the temperature has dropped & Bangkok’s streets are coming alive.
For dinner, pre-drinks & local shopping you should explore the area of Soi Rambuttri, which is very close to Khao San Rd. During the day this area is pretty quiet but then from late afternoon, small quirky bars start to open, and market stalls & restaurants begin to fill up.
Or, another option is to visit Bangkok’s China Town, particularly Yaowarat Road.
This area is popular with tourists because of the number of seafood restaurants, street food stalls & photogenic neon lights that line the street.
But, I need to give you my personal & honest option on Yaowarat Road.
It’s so overrated! I visited in May 2022 and it was by far the busiest place I had been in two years, it was like being at a festival. There was so much traffic on the road, so predestinations were crammed onto the sidewalk, all while trying to order & eat food.
I knew it was popular for seafood but I still hoped to be able to find some vegetable dishes, but no. And, there were also Shark fin soup restaurants, which I absolutely despise.
Ok, so then later in the night (I hope you didn’t expect to sleep during your 24 hours in Bangkok 😆) head to Khao San Road for the crazy, but so much fun, nightlife.
I first like to walk up the street to take a look at the bars, before turning around to pick a starting point. While walking along Khao San Road you’ll constantly have people in your face trying to get you to take a seat & they’ll be drink deals to tempt you, I usually go with the bar that’s playing the best music.
Where to Stay in Bangkok
Personally, I believe the 2 best areas in Bangkok are the Backpacking District & Pathum Wan District. Both of these areas have so much to offer and are both very different. If you only have 24 hours in Bangkok it’s important to stay somewhere central so you don’t have to spend too much time on transport.
Khao San Road is perfect if you’re on a tight budget and are keen to party. Any hotel close to Khao San Rd will be noisy at night though. If you aren’t one of those people out making the noise, this may not the best area for you.
The Pathum Wan District has more upmarket hotels, heaps of great restaurants and some awesome shopping malls like the MBK Centre.
I have stayed in both of the hotels listed below, and as you can imagine each trip was very different. So the one which is right for you will depend on your budget and what kind of night you’re after, partying or relaxing?
Pathumwan Princess Hotel – Next to MBK shopping mall
Best Places in Bangkok to Eat & Drink
Something everyone needs to try in Bangkok is street food! Thailand is famous for this and some of the best street food in Bangkok can be found on Khao San Road and the surrounding streets, especially Rambuttri Alley.
Made fresh in front of you and so fast I have always wondered how they made it taste so good. Whether you want traditional hot Thai dishes or sweets, there is so much to choose from.
Also during the day to get a break from the heat, fresh fruit smoothies or juices are only 40THB.
The next street over from Khao San Road is Rambuttri Road and there’s a local restaurant called “I ❤️ Thai food”. The menu is massive & had nearly every Thai dish you could think of, and food could also be ordered to take away. So if you only have 24 hours in Bangkok you definitely need to have a meal at I ❤️ Thai food.
In Conclusion
Bangkok definitely isn’t a city for everyone, I get that some people just don’t like big and crowded places. I personally have always loved big cities and Bangkok would have to be one of my favourite cities in Asia. Mainly for the delicious food, beautiful temples and the fact that it’s so safe & easy to get around.
In this guide I suggest how to spend 24 hours in Bangkok, and a few extra suggestions if you happen to have more time in the city. Plus some helpful travel tips for those visiting Bangkok for the first time.
If you enjoyed this article and now want even more of Bangkok, check out this guide on visiting Wat Samphran Temple (the dragon temple, just outside of Bangkok).
Thanks for reading,
Happy Travels
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Elyse is the author & content creator behind A World To Live. After traveling to over 40 countries, she has a passion for discovering new places. Elyse is a money-conscious traveller who loves writing independent travel guides to help her readers get the most out of their travels.
Its been over ten years since I visited Bangkok, and so your post brought back happy memories of the trip. This post is highly informative for travellers on limited time to make the most of 24 hours of sightseeing – you definitely couldn’t visit Bangkok and not see the reclining Buddha!
Thank you so much Angela, and I agree, the Reclining Buddha is stunning
I love Bangkok! I think you included the best things to see in the city if you only have 24 hours, even though I would suggest anybody spend more time because it is worth it!!! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you heaps. Yeah 24 hours is the minimum 🙂
I have many friends who have visited Thailand and love it. One even had an extended stay. Maybe I need to consider it now. Great ideas.
I can definitely see why someone would have an extended stay. Thailand is such an awesome country. Thanks a lot, Rosemary
This article about Bangkok has made me so excited to visit Thailand! I’ve been discussing with my boyfriend about planning a trip to Asia, because neither of us have been to the continent. Thailand seems like the perfect place to start exploring Asia, especially with the number of people that speak English there. Thanks so much for sharing! Looking forward to trying the street food!
Oh you definitely need to go. It’s such an awesome part of the world. Let me know if you need any help planning. Thanks for reading Kia
So many great things to do in Bangkok, all neatly packed into 24 hours. I’m living in Vietnam now and Bangkok has always been my favorite weekend getaway destination. Will definitely save this post for future reference!
I’ve never visited Bangkok, but it’s on the list! I love visiting big cities so I think I’ll really enjoy it. Good to know you can see a lot in just 24 hours!