How to spend 48 hours in Bangkok

Bangkok is the vibrant, bustling capital city of Thailand. Many tourists flock to see the world’s largest golden Buddha, to eat world-renowned Thai food, to see the incredible architecture of the temples and to be part of the chaotic energy. And while you could spend longer in this incredible destination, we are jam-packing all the best bits into 48 hours in Bangkok. 

As someone who doesn’t like cities, I was pleasantly surprised about how much I enjoyed Bangkok. There seems to be something for everyone. 

Although several of the temples are in the heart of the city, you don’t feel suffocated by skyscrapers. When you step into the temple grounds, you are transported to a peaceful, tranquil area. 

This guide will help you discover why Bangkok needs to be on your Northern Thailand Itinerary.

This budget-friendly travel plan will help uncover the must-see temples, the best markets, where to find the most delicious food and so much more. 

If you are apprehensive about visiting a big city, this guide will help you with all your Thailand essentials and things to know before visiting. 

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, if you decide to press on them and make a valid purchase I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you and for that, thank you!

Are 2 days enough in Bangkok?

Yes! Two days is more than enough time to see Bangkok’s highlights, including Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Dragon Temple, Khao San Road and more. I have created a budget-friendly, action-packed itinerary to get the most out of your 48 hours.  

How to get to Bangkok 

If you are arriving in Bangkok by plane, you will either be at Suvarnabhumi Airport or Don Mueang International Airport.

Suvarnabhumi has an airport train that will transport you into the city. This train goes every 10-15 minutes between 5.30am and Midnight and costs 45 THB (£1). The journey is around 25 minutes and will drop you off at 1 of 3 stations: Makkasan Station, Ratchaprarop Station or Phaya Thai Station. 

Alternatively, you can book a Grab Taxi (like Uber) to your accommodation for around 390 THB (£9).

Don Mueang International Airport has a Limo bus service that can transport you into the city. The bus goes every 20/30 minutes between 9am and Midnight and costs 150 THB (£3.50). The journey is around 40/60 minutes and will drop you off at Khao San Road or Silom. 

Alternatively, you can book a Grab Taxi to your accommodation for around 300 THB (£7).

Both airports also have public bus services. 

If you are already in Thailand, I highly recommend booking your journey to Bangkok with 12go.asia. This platform helps you book trains/buses/ferries and calculates the journey for you. The company also takes care of your tickets if you need to take multiple modes of transport in the same trip. 

How to get around the city of Bangkok 

There are several ways to get around the city of Bangkok: 

Hire a scooter – personally, I do not advise doing this unless you are a confident driver. Bangkok is known for its chaotic energy and that includes the roads and mass traffic. If you are comfortable with this method of transportation, make sure you have an international driver’s licence. The city is busy, and this will be policed more. When you are in more rural areas like Pai and Koh Lanta, having the correct licence is less of an issue. You can rent a scooter for as little as 220 Baht (£5) a day.

Hire a car – like above, I personally wouldn’t recommend this option unless you are planning to drive out of the city, as you will spend more time in traffic than you will exploring. 

Grab Taxis and bikes – this way of transport, in my opinion, is the best method. Not only are you supporting the locals, but they have routes that will get you to your destination quicker. Bikes can weave through traffic better than cars, so keep that in mind when booking. Prices start as low as 5 Baht (12p), and most journeys around an hour cost 440 Baht (£10). 

Tuk Tuks – another way of supporting the locals is by taking the tuktuks. Sometimes this vehicle can be a tourist trap where locals charge a silly amount for the distance you go. However, it is a bit of a novelty.   

Walk – I walked the majority of the time I was in Bangkok purely because everything fascinated me. It was my second time in an Asian country (the first was Bali 4 years prior). I personally love walking, so I will always choose to walk. However, the Thailand sun is hot and humid, and a short trip can take it out of you. 

Where to stay for 48 hours in Bangkok 

Realistically you have two options for your 2 days in Bangkok. You can either stay in a hostel that is social, affordable and could lead to lifelong friends. Or you could treat yourself to a luxurious hotel with a rooftop pool for a crazy good price but miss out on the social aspect.

Hostels – 

The Bed Station is my overall favourite hostel in Bangkok because it is centrally located (10 minutes’ walk from the party street of Khao San Road), it has a social laid-back vibe (where I met one of my close friends, and we ended up travelling together for a month), and it has clean and comfy beds.

There is also a small swimming pool which is perfect for an after-adventure dip.

Prices range from £7 to £13 depending on the season. 

Lub D is a popular chain of hostels around SEA. These hostels are consistent with their cleanliness, their social areas and their perks for being loyal to them. 

Bangkok has two Lub D hostels: 

1. Lud D Siam – The Siam area is known for its shopping centres and its entertainment. It is conveniently located near the BTS Skytrain and is a modern and trendy area. Siam is very central and a great hub for travelling around Bangkok.
2. Lub D Chinatown – This hostel is nestled in the vibrant streets of Chinatown. You will be surrounded with epic street food, busy market stalls and located near lots of the Bangkok temples. This hostel area is more of a cultural experience.

In regard to the differences between the hostels, there isn’t much in it. The Chinatown hostel offers more room choices; Siam hostel has a bar attached and a movie room. Neither have swimming pools.

Lub D Siam is very popular. All my dates were sold out, but prices range from £12 to £19 depending on the season.

Lub D Chinatown is the pricier location. with prices ranging from £17 to £23.

If you are working and travelling, then you will want Once Again Hostel. This is a great digital nomad hostel with lots of work space. This hostel is all about giving with free walking tours, free Thai lessons, free cooking classes and bike rentals to help you get around the city.

Prices range from £13 to £17 depending on the season. 

*Prices based on dorm rooms, not private rooms.

Hotel –

The only hotel you need to know about is the Amara Bangkok. This gorgeous hotel is located 3 miles/5 km from the Grand Palace. It has a rooftop pool that overlooks the city and is the perfect spot for sunset. The pool has a bar, which is very handy for a sunset drink.

The hotel has a 24-hour front desk, which is becoming one of the points I look for when booking accommodation. And it has 2 restaurants on site if you want to eat close to home.

Prices start at £75 for a deluxe room.

2-day itinerary in Bangkok, Thailand

Day 1 of 48 hours in Bangkok

1. Wander around the streets of Bangkok.
2. Wat Pho 
3. Wat Arun
4. Khao San Road

Wander around the streets of Bangkok.

2 full days in Bangkok is plenty of time to see the tourist hot spots. I highly recommend getting up early to make the most of the day.

Bangkok is a big city with lots to see and do. I recommend focusing your time exploring the ancient temples.

Start your morning off with wandering around the streets of Bangkok, looking at the locals going about their day and finding a cute cafe to have some breakfast in. Alternatively, you can always save time and money and go to a 7/11 and get a cheese and ham toastie (if you know, you know). 

There are a few cute cafes around the Bed Station hostel for a coffee and light bite, like Sunny Side, Barisa Cafe and Foxhole BKK Coffee and Juice. 

Wat Arun (Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan)

The first temple I would encourage you to visit and my favourite of the day is Wat Arun, the temple of the dawn.

This temple is located on the other side of the Chao Phraya River. To visit, you will need to take a 5-minute ferry, which will cost 4 baht (9p).

Wat Arun, meaning Temple of Dawn, is named after the Hindu god Aruna, who is often personified as the radiations of the rising sun. Due to the intricate detailing on the temple, every time the sun rises, the light reflects and gives the temple a pearly shimmer.

The temple is open 8am to 6pm and costs 200 baht (£4.55) and comes with a bottle of water. If you want to avoid the crowds and the burning sun, it is best to visit early in the morning.

The Wat Arun complex is quite big, so take a picture of the map before you start to explore.

When I visited, I spent a couple of hours wandering around the whole place, as there is so much detail in the architecture. I have broken it down into 3 sections.

The first area that you enter is the Ordination Hall, and this is guarded by two giant warriors protecting the place of worship. Along the hall are mural paintings narrating the Buddha’s life. The walls are also lined with golden Buddhas.

Its second area is the Spires. As you make your way around them, you will have to navigate some steep steps to get a better view of the temple complex. Each spire has colourful intricate detailing.

And the 3rd area is the grounds, a place to sit, relax and be in the energy of this sacred temple.

This temple also lights up its spires every evening.

Wat Pho (Wat Phra Chetuphon)

The Wat Pho temple is home to the reclining Buddha. This temple is one of the largest in Bangkok, housing over 1000 images of the Buddha. Including the 46-metre (151 ft) reclining Buddha.

This amount makes it the largest collection in Thailand.

Fun Fact: Wat Pho is one of Bangkok’s oldest temples. It existed before Bangkok was established as the capital by King Rama I.

The name refers to the monastery of the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, where Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment.

Visiting hours are between 8.30am and 7.30pm and entry for foreigners costs 300 THB (£6.80), which includes a bottle of water.

When entering the reclining Buddha building, you will take off your shoes as a sign of respect before entering and being wowed by the sheer size of this Buddha. I honestly think they must have had to build the building around him because there is no way they could have gotten him through the front door!

Surrounding the Buddha are 108 bronze bowls that line the hall. You can purchase a bowl of coins and put them into different bowls of your choice. This arrangement is a symbol of luck. 

Khao San Road 

Once you have started chatting to other hostel guests, it won’t be hard to wrangle together a group of you to explore Khao San Road.

Khao San Road is a famous tourist street located in the heart of Bangkok. The road is known for its cheap alcohol prices, its many market stalls, its excellent street food and its unusual entertainment.

If you want a night out in Bangkok with other backpackers, this is the street to be on.

The street may be short at 410m but it has a lot to offer tourists. 

One thing I wish I had done when I was in Bangkok, is a food tour. So many people rave about them and I feel I missed out!

Day 2 of 48 hours in Bangkok

1. Dragon temple
2. The Grand Palace
3. Maeklong Railway Market

Thailand Essentials

Before departing on your travels to Thailand, make sure you have the following items.

1. An eSIM.. Having an esim will help you to navigate your travels quicker and more efficiently. Gone are the days of trying to rely on downloaded maps and hailing a taxi. With an eSIM like Airlo, you can land in Thailand and message your family to say you have arrived safely and book a Grab, all while retrieving your bags.
2. A portable charger. As a backpacker, I never leave the hostel without a portable charger. There is nothing worse than having a low battery and stressing about how you are going to get back to your accommodation. I carry a 30 mAh which is a heavier power bank, but it allows me to charge my phone 5x before having to charge the bank itself.
3. A reusable water bottle. Now this one might sound a little strange, as you will be buying water bottles daily, but having a double vacuumed-sealed water bottle will keep your water colder for longer. I recommend getting 1 litre.
4. Trainers. You will be walking a lot over these two days, and while your Birkenstocks look cute in photos, if they aren’t the real deal, chances are they will perish quickly. Bring a pair of comfortable trainers that double up as hiking shoes.
5. A padlock. Although I found Thailand very safe, unfortunately bad things happen, and my GoPro got stolen from my bag in a hostel. So make sure you always lock your valuables, no matter if you trust your roommates or not.

Things to know before going to Bangkok, Thailand. 

Currency

For first-timers in Thailand, the local currency is Thai baht (THB). This is broken into 1, 2, 5, 10 coins and 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 notes. The money is very straightforward and easy to get your head round after the first few goes. I worked on this rough guideline (THB to GBP):

• 1฿ = 2p
• 2฿ = 5p
• 5฿ = 12p
• 10฿ = 24p
• 20฿ = 50p
• 50฿ = £1.20
• 100฿ = £2.50
• 500฿ = £12
• 1000฿ = £24

Thai Phrases

Whenever visiting a new country, it is always good manners to learn a few basic phrases. By trying to speak the language, it shows you aren’t an ignorant tourist and can go a long way in the eyes of the locals. In Thailand, males and females have a different ending they add onto the end of a saying. If you are a woman, you add Kah, and a man, you add Khrap (sounds more like Kap).

• Hello = Sawasdee Kah/Khrap (sounds like Sah-wah-dee)
• Thank you = Kop Kun Kah/Khrap
• Toilet = Hong Nam
• Bye = La Gorn Kah/Khrap
• Yes = Chai
• No = Mai
• Please = Pord
• How Much = Tao Rai Kah/Khrap
• Check Please = Check Bin Kah/Khrap

Thailand Visa

One of the most important things to know before visiting Thailand is what visa you need to be on. If you reside in the UK, you can enter Thailand for 30 days without a visa (for tourism purposes only). If you wish to stay longer, you can extend another 30 days as long as you have applied within your first 30 days. A 60 day tourist visa costs $30 (US); you can either extend it online or at a local immigration office.

Here are the links to the Thai embassy and the UK government website. Be careful not to pay for any “packages”, as they are expensive and unnecessary.

If you accidentally overstay your 30 days, do not panic! While I do not advice this, you can pay a fine of 500 ฿ (£12) per day until you leave the country.

Temple Etiquette

If this is your first time visiting a Thailand temple, here are a few basics to help you stay respectful in the houses of worship:

• Please cover your shoulders and knees.
• Please be quiet inside of the temples, as people will be there to worship.
• Please take your shoes off before entering the temple.
• Please no public displays of affection.

Scams

Unfortunately sometimes being a tourist can make you a target. Here are a couple of common scams to watch out for:

A local asking to swap their change for a note and then using a clever magic trick to make you think you have the right amount, but you’re actually short. Make sure you recount the money while they are in front of you.

Another scam I encountered but knew to ignore is a “helpful” local telling you that the temple or attraction is closed and that you should visit somewhere they recommend instead. Always go and check for yourself to avoid disappointment, and 98% of the time the place is open.

How much money do you need for 2 days in Bangkok?

Before visiting Thailand, it is good to have a rough idea of the budget you want to live off. Whether you are going for 1 week or 6 months, having a basic guide will help take the stress of money away. Thailand is a backpacker’s best friend. You can quite easily live off £20 per day and feel like royalty.

Let’s break down some of the costs:

• Hostels – £2 – £20 / 88 – 892 ฿
• Hotels – £7 – £50 / 308 – 2200 ฿ (5* hotels, the more boujee, the more expensive)
• Street food – 50p – £3.00 / 20 – 132 ฿
• Meal Out – £3 – £10 / 132 – 440 ฿
• Beer – 50p – £2.50 / 20 – 100 ฿
• Cocktails – £2.50 – £5 / 100 – 220 ฿
• Taxi/Tuk Tuks – 12p – £20 / 5 – 880 ฿ (depending on distance/if you use the meter a 1 hour journey will be around £10)
• Hiring Motorbikes – £2.50 – £8 / 100 – 352 ฿ (24 hours)
• Temples – Free – £10 / 0 – 440 ฿ (usually around £2.50)
• Boat Trips – £12 – £32 / 528 – 1408 ฿
• National Parks – Free – £10 / 0 – 440 ฿

Final thoughts 

Bangkok, Thailand, is the city of contrast. With ancient temples amidst the vibrant, bustling streets. 48 hours in Bangkok will give you time to see the highlights of Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Dragon Temple and more. Whether you’re a budget backpacker or a luxury seeker, Bangkok offers something for everyone, with incredible food, rich culture, and unforgettable sights on every corner.