Bangkok began as a modest trading post on the Chao Phraya River and rose to become the thriving capital of Siam (Thailand) in 1782 under King Rama I. Today, it’s a tapestry of royal palaces, golden temples, and canal-side neighborhoods set against a skyline of glass towers and rooftop bars.

Expect contrasts: monks gliding past murals at dawn, office workers queuing for boat noodles at lunch, and neon-lit night markets serving skewers and mango sticky rice till late. The city rewards curiosity—duck down alleyways, ride the river ferries, and carve out time for old neighborhoods like Talat Noi and Thonburi.

Practicalities: dress modestly for temples (shoulders and knees covered), carry small bills for markets, and use the BTS/MRT to skip traffic. Metered taxis start at 35 THB; river ferries run 16–32 THB; the BTS usually costs 17–47 THB per ride. Hydrate often—Bangkok is hot year-round—and keep an eye out for common scams (e.g., “temple closed” tuk-tuk detours).

Bangkok

Bangkok’s heartbeat is the river. Temples and palaces gleam on its banks, while khlongs (canals) weave through wooden stilt homes and floating kitchens. Neighborhoods have distinct moods: Rattanakosin for royal history, Chinatown for sizzling woks and gold shops, Thonglor for cocktail bars and sleek dining, and the Creative District (Charoen Krung) for galleries and street art.

Base yourself riverside for vistas and boat access, or along the BTS/MRT for fast cross-town hops. With a full month, you’ll ease into routines—your favorite breakfast cart, a go-to massage spot, sunset ferries—while still having time for day trips and detours.

Getting there and around

• Flights to Bangkok: compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Regional hops (e.g., Singapore, KL, Hanoi) are often 2–3 hours; long-haul routes commonly connect via the Middle East or East Asia.
• Trains within Thailand: for intercity routes (Ayutthaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai), browse Trip.com Trains.
• Local transport: BTS/MRT for speed, Chao Phraya Express Boat for river access, and Grab or metered taxis late night. Consider a stored-value Rabbit card for BTS convenience.

Where to stay (handpicked)

• Browse apartments and homes: VRBO Bangkok.
• Compare hotels by neighborhood: Hotels.com Bangkok.
• Splurge by the river: Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok (jazz at Bamboo Bar; storied service) or The Siam Hotel (art deco suites, serene urban resort).
• Resort vibe with shuttle boat: Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort.
• Design-forward budget near MBK/BTS: Lub d Bangkok Siam.
• Backpacker-classic heritage stay: Niras Bankoc Cultural Hostel.

Days 1–3: Riverside Orientation, Royal Bangkok, and a Khlong Cruise

Start on the river to get your bearings. Take the Chao Phraya Express to Tha Chang for the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew). Walk to Wat Pho to meet the Reclining Buddha, then ferry across to Wat Arun for sunset light on its porcelain spires.

Glide into Thonburi’s canal life—wooden houses, local temples, and orchids on balconies—on a longtail boat tour. It’s Bangkok at its most intimate: laundry fluttering on decks, temple bells across water, kids waving from piers.

Featured experience: Bangkok Canal Tour: 2-Hour Longtail Boat Ride

Tip: arrive at the Grand Palace early (8:30 a.m.), dress code enforced; avoid gemstone “detours.”

• Coffee/breakfast: Blue Whale Cafe (Thai tea lattes, photogenic blue hues) near Wat Pho; On Lok Yun (Old Town diner, Thai-American breakfasts since the 1930s).
• Lunch: Krua Apsorn (royal-style Thai—stir-fried crab with yellow chilies); Thip Samai (iconic charcoal-fired pad thai).
• Dinner: The Deck by Arun Residence (riverfront Thai with Wat Arun views); Err (Thai bar food classics; fun for shared plates).
• Nightcap: Sala Rattanakosin rooftop or the understated river views at Eagle Nest.

Days 4–6: Chinatown Heat, Night Markets, and Bangkok by Night

Roam Yaowarat (Chinatown): stacked gold shops, timeworn shophouses, and some of the city’s best street eats. Swing through Talat Noi for street art, shrine smoke, and old mechanics’ alleys filled with engine parts.

After dark, the city truly wakes. This is the time for sizzling woks, hidden speakeasies, and neon signs reflected in stainless-steel noodle bowls.

Featured experience: Bangkok by Night: Temples, Markets and Food Tuk-Tuk Tour

• Coffee: Sarnies (Charoen Krung roastery, chunky cookies and flat whites); Hong Sieng Kong (riverfront heritage house with espresso and antiques).
• Lunch: Nai Mong Hoi Thod (crispy oyster omelet); Kuay Jub Mr. Joe (peppery rolled rice noodle soup with crispy pork).
• Dinner street-food crawl: Yaowarat Road—look for guay jub (rolled noodle broth), khanom bueang (Thai crepes), and grilled satay. For a splurge, book Le Du (innovative Thai; seasonal tasting menu).
• Drinks: Teens of Thailand (gin-focused cocktail pioneer), Tep Bar (traditional Thai liquors with live music).
• Night markets: Jodd Fairs (Rama 9 or DanNeramit) for Thai comfort foods and thrift finds.

Days 7–9: Art, Parks, and Skyline Views

Start at the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre (BACC) to catch rotating contemporary shows, then wander to Jim Thompson House for Thai architecture and silk lore. Balance the day with greenery at Lumpini Park and the skywalk loop at Benjakitti Forest Park.

Cap an evening at Mahanakhon SkyWalk or Octave Rooftop for sweeping views from dusk into a glittering night.

• Coffee: Gallery Drip Coffee (pour-overs by art lovers), PAGA Microroastery (precise extractions, Nordic-style pastries).
• Lunch: Som Tam Jay So (Isan salads near Sala Daeng); Pe Aor Tom Yum Goong (rich, prawn-laden tom yum noodles).
• Dinner: Paste (refined regional Thai recipes), Baan (chef Ton’s homestyle Thai—gaeng keow wan and stir-fries done right).
• After-hours: Octave Rooftop (Marriott Sukhumvit), or Above Eleven (Peruvian-Japanese, park-like rooftop setting).

Days 10–12: Sukhumvit Food Safari and Cocktail Culture

Spend days neighborhood-hopping by BTS between Asok, Phrom Phong, Thonglor, and Ekkamai. Explore EmQuartier’s waterfall atrium, Terminal 21’s world-themed floors, and indie boutiques along Thonglor’s side streets.

Evenings belong to tastings and tipples: Bangkok’s bartenders play with pandan, coconut, and local gins to striking effect.

• Breakfast/coffee: Roast (brunch stalwart at The Commons), Kaizen (Aussie-style cafe; sleek and focused).
• Lunch: Boon Tong Kiat (Singaporean chicken rice), Bamee Kon Sae Lee (egg noodles with roast duck/BBQ pork).
• Dinner: Sorn (southern Thai tasting menu—reserve well ahead), Rang Mahal (North Indian rooftop, naan fresh from the tandoor).
• Drinks: Rabbit Hole (inventive cocktails), Iron Balls (gin distillery bar), and Tropic City (Caribbean-leaning cocktails near the river).

Days 13–15: Wellness, Crafts, and Island-in-the-City Escapes

Dedicate time to wellness. Try a traditional massage at Wat Pho’s massage school or a spa session at Health Land; follow with a gentle river ferry ride to clear the mind.

Make a half-day trip to Koh Kret (Nonthaburi), a car-free island of Mon pottery. Rent a bicycle, sample herbal rice-flour snacks, and browse hand-thrown ceramics at family kilns.

• Coffee: Phil Coffee Company (micro-roastery tucked into a quiet lane), Hands and Heart (minimalist space, meticulous brews).
• Lunch: Supanniga Eating Room (eastern Thai recipes; lush curries), Err’s daytime cousin dishes (if open) for casual bites.
• Dinner: R-Haan (royal Thai tasting; elegant and seasonal) or 100 Mahaseth (nose-to-tail, Isan influences).
• Relax: Benjakitti Park boardwalk at golden hour; watch monitor lizards laze under the trees.

Days 16–18: Day Trip to Ayutthaya and Bangkok’s Museum Circuit

Ayutthaya, the former Siamese capital, lies about 80 km north. Brick prangs rise from grassy parks; headless Buddhas and tree-root-wrapped statues tell stories of a cosmopolitan city on ancient trade routes.

Featured experience: Small Group Tour to Ayutthaya Temples from Bangkok with Lunch

Back in Bangkok, slot in Bangkok National Museum (royal artifacts, lacquerware, khon masks) and Museum Siam (playful, interactive Thai identity exhibits). If you’ve time, visit Wat Saket’s Golden Mount for a breezy hilltop stupa and city views.

• Coffee: Ha Tien Cafe (hidden, vintage-chic), Roots at The Commons (Thai beans done many ways).
• Lunch: Or Tor Kor Market (sparkling-clean produce market—green curries and durian tastings), Boat noodles near Victory Monument (tiny bowls, rich broth; stack them high).
• Dinner: Nusara (intimate Thai tasting near the Grand Palace) or Jay Fai (Michelin-starred street-side wok wizard—be ready for queues and heat).

Days 19–21: Kanchanaburi Overnight and Waterfall Day

Break the city rhythm with an overnight to Kanchanaburi (2.5–3 hours). Take the morning train from Thonburi Railway Station to cross the famed Bridge on the River Kwai, visit the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, and reflect at the war cemetery.

On day two, head to Erawan National Park for tiered emerald pools (bring water shoes). Return to Bangkok by evening via minivan or train.

• Transit notes: Train fares are inexpensive (~100–150 THB ordinary class); minivans and buses run frequently. For rail options to/from Bangkok, see Trip.com Trains.
• Pack: quick-dry clothes, mosquito repellent, and a small dry bag for electronics near waterfalls.
• Eat: riverside grills in Kanchanaburi town; try grilled river prawns and som tam by the water.

Days 22–24: Creative District, Galleries, and River Walks

Return to the Charoen Krung Creative District. Explore Warehouse 30’s boutiques and River City’s galleries and antiques. Hunt murals in Talat Noi, where car-part yards sit beside Chinese shrines and coffee bars.

Walk the riverside promenade at sunset, then slip into a jazz or cocktail den.

• Coffee: Sarnies (again, for cold brews and hearty sandwiches); Rongros (for a daylight espresso with Wat Arun backdrop if you’re riverside).
• Lunch: Prachak Pet Yang (Bang Rak’s century-old roast duck over rice), Joke Prince (smoky rice porridge, evening hours).
• Dinner: Baan Phadthai (wok-kissed noodles, quality seafood), Sala Rim Naam (traditional dance set with dinner—check nightly schedules).
• Drinks/music: The Bamboo Bar (classic jazz at the Mandarin Oriental), Smalls (eclectic, neighborhood vibe; late-night art crowd).

Days 25–27: Markets, Cooking, and Neighborhood Cafés

Time your weekend for Chatuchak Market (JJ)—thousands of stalls selling everything from handwoven baskets to vintage denim. Balance it with Or Tor Kor next door for photogenic fruit and ready-to-eat curries.

Book a Thai cooking class (Silom, Sukhumvit, and Old Town schools abound). You’ll shop a wet market with the instructor, then pound curry paste, fold pandan desserts, and perfect your pad kra pao.

• Coffee: Ari neighborhood crawl—Nana Coffee Roasters (flagship greenhouse-style space), Common Room x Ari for calm corners.
• Lunch: Victory Monument boat noodles (choose beef or pork; rich, spiced broth), Guay Tiew Kua Gai (old-town chicken fried noodles, smoky from a blazing wok).
• Dinner: Jeh O Chula (late-night tom yum “mama” noodles piled with seafood), Err Night (if open; Thai drinking food reinvented), or Supanniga Cruise set menus if you want a lighter river supper.
• Snack trail: Mae Varee (Thonglor’s famous mango sticky rice—go early for top fruit).

Days 28–30: Spa Day, Muay Thai Night, and a River Farewell

Unwind with a full spa day—steam, scrub, and a final 2-hour massage. Stroll Bang Krachao (the “green lung” of Bangkok) by rental bicycle for elevated walkways and canal-side gardens.

Catch a Muay Thai bout at Rajadamnern or Lumpinee in the evening (ringside is a thrill, tickets typically tiered). Close your month with a dinner cruise past the Grand Palace and illuminated temples.

Featured experience: The Newest Luxury 5-Star Bangkok Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise

• Coffee: Brave Roasters (Siam Discovery) or Roots (EmQuartier kiosk) before your spa.
• Lunch: Krua Rommai (quiet Thai comfort dishes) or a light khao man gai (chicken rice) near your hotel.
• Dinner: Board the dinner cruise; before or after, stroll the ICONSIAM riverfront for fountain shows and dessert stalls.

Bonus: One more food adventure if you have appetite

Bangkok is a city you taste as much as you tour. If you’ve still got room, ride a tuk-tuk between Michelin-rated curbside legends and hidden kitchens with a local guide.

Featured experience: Bangkok Michelin Food by Tuk Tuk - Hotel-pickup Lunch or Dinner

Essential tips (quick hits)

• SIM cards: AIS, dtac, and True kiosks at the airport offer quick setups; eSIMs are common.
• Money: ATMs are widespread; many markets are still cash-first. Keep small notes for ferries and street eats.
• Etiquette: remove shoes at temple thresholds; don’t touch monks; avoid public displays of frustration. Smile—it goes far here.

Thirty days in Bangkok lets you live the city’s rhythms: morning monks and market breakfasts, afternoons of museums and massages, and nights of sizzling woks and river breezes. From Ayutthaya’s ruins to canal backstreets, this itinerary balances icons with insider corners.

Leave with a favorite coffee stall, a trusted massage spot, and the memory of temple spires reflected on the Chao Phraya—Bangkok’s timeless signature.