3 Days in Bangkok

The royal district is best experienced before 9 am — cooler, quieter, and bathed in golden light. Plan at least half a day for the temple complex here; dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) or you'll be turned away at the gate. The Chao Phraya river is the neighbourhood's spine — cross it by ferry to reach the west bank's shrines, then ride the express boat back north past the flower market district. By midday the heat arrives in force; riverside restaurants with shade and a view are the sensible answer. Your hotel choice anchors everything — the picks below span the old city, riverside, and Sukhumvit, each with different trade-offs between atmosphere and transport access.

Bangkok operates two market speeds: chaotic open-air bazaars that sprawl for acres, and sleek air-conditioned malls where you could lose an afternoon without noticing. Do both. Weekend mornings belong to the massive northern market district — thousands of stalls, a serious fresh produce section, and some of the best casual food in the city. Weekday visitors can pivot to cultural attractions and museum districts instead. By mid-afternoon the heat makes a BTS-connected mall the rational choice. As the sun sets, Bangkok's rooftop bar scene comes into its own — cocktails with a skyline view are a genuinely spectacular experience here, and the city's nightlife runs late enough that there's no need to rush.

Save your last morning for eating. Bangkok's food scene is one of the world's great arguments for travelling — breakfast noodles from a cart older than most restaurants back home, fruit-and-sticky-rice served out of a glass cabinet, coffee roasted in-house at a neighbourhood café. The old Chinese district is a pilgrimage for food lovers: the street food density is extraordinary and the atmosphere — gold shops, old shophouses, incense smoke — adds texture to every bite. Before you pack, a traditional Thai massage is the obvious send-off; the quality and value here are unmatched anywhere. Pick up last-minute gifts at one of the neighbourhood markets on your way to the station.