Thailand rewards the curious. Buddhist kingdoms flourished here for centuries—from Sukhothai to Ayutthaya to Bangkok’s Rattanakosin—leaving a legacy of gilded stupas, serene Buddhas, and royal palaces. Today, you’ll find that history humming alongside modern skytrains, craft cocktail dens, and a culinary scene that’s equal parts street-side charcoal and white-tablecloth finesse.

Fun fact: Bangkok’s ceremonial name is the longest city name in the world. Another: Southern Thailand’s tin-boom past shaped Phuket’s colorful Sino‑Portuguese shophouses and cosmopolitan palate. Across the country, the wai (a palms-together greeting) and temple etiquette—covered shoulders and knees—are small courtesies that go a long way.

Practical notes: Thailand is warm year-round; November–April is drier on the Andaman coast. Cash is handy at markets, though e-payments are common. Taste boldly—fiery som tam, fragrant khao soi, and char-kissed moo ping are national pastimes—but start at “medium spicy” if you’re not sure.

Bangkok

Bangkok is kinetic poetry: saffron-robed monks at dawn, canal boats skimming teak houses, and night markets perfumed with lemongrass and charcoal. The Grand Palace dazzles, Wat Pho soothes, and long-tail boats reveal a slower life on the “Venice of the East.”

• Top sights: Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho (traditional massage school), Wat Arun at sunset, Chinatown’s Yaowarat Road, Jim Thompson House, Mahanakhon SkyWalk.
• Eats & drinks: Thip Samai (classic pad thai), Krua Apsorn (royal-style Thai), Nai Mong Hoi Thod (crispy oyster omelet), Jeh O Chula (late-night tom yum “mama”), Teens of Thailand & Tep Bar (craft cocktails with Thai botanicals), Sarnies Bangkok & Blue Whale (coffee).
• Good to know: Use BTS/MRT to dodge traffic; carry a light scarf/sarong for temples; river ferries are cheap and scenic.

Where to stay (Bangkok):

• Iconic splurge by the river: Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
• Design-forward sanctuary: The Siam Hotel
• Resort-in-the-city with boat shuttle: Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort
• Stylish budget hostels: Lub d Bangkok Siam or Niras Bankoc Cultural Hostel
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com Bangkok | VRBO Bangkok

Getting here: Fly into BKK or DMK. Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From the airport, the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai (30–40 minutes) or a metered taxi/Grab (45–75 minutes, traffic dependent) works well. If flying to/from Europe, you can also check Omio.

Day 1: Arrival, Riverside Warm‑Up & Tuk‑Tuk Night Eats

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with a gentle Chao Phraya stroll: hop the public ferry to Tha Tien pier and sip a butterfly‑pea latte at Blue Whale (near Wat Pho). If time allows, pop into Wat Arun’s porcelain spires for golden hour photos.

Evening: Kick off with Bangkok’s award‑winning tuk‑tuk night tour—temples lit after dark, sizzling snacks, and hidden courtyards you’d never find alone. Bangkok by Night: Temples, Markets and Food Tuk-Tuk Tour (often 6–7 PM start).

Late night: If you still have steam, Chinatown’s Teens of Thailand (gin-forward) or Tep Bar (Thai herbs and live music) are a short ride away.

Day 2: Royal Bangkok, Canals & Chinatown Bites

Morning: Old‑Bangkok triad: Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew (arrive at opening to beat heat and tour groups), then Wat Pho for the Reclining Buddha and a traditional Thai massage at the on‑site school. Coffee stop at Gallery Drip (BACC) or a cooling coconut ice cream by the river.

Afternoon: Hire a long‑tail boat at Tha Tien or Taksin piers (1.5–2 hours) to cruise Thonburi’s khlongs—stilt houses, pocket temples, and canal life you won’t see from roads. Lunch at Krua Apsorn (try the crab omelet and green curry) or Phed Mark for spicy basil stir‑fry.

Evening: Chinatown food crawl: oyster omelet at Nai Mong Hoi Thod, peppery pork noodle soup at Nai Ek Roll Noodles, and mango sticky rice from a Yaowarat cart. Cap with a rooftop—think a river‑view terrace near Tha Tien—for temple silhouettes and night breezes.

Day 3: Floating Market, Railway Market & River Night

Morning: Day trip to two uniquely Thai spectacles. Ride the train through Maeklong’s “umbrella” market and boat around Damnoen Saduak’s canals with fruit vendors in flat skiffs. Book Bangkok: Floating Market and Train Market Experience.

Afternoon: Return to the city for a restorative foot massage (1 hour) near your hotel. Coffee and pastries at Sarnies Bangkok (Charoen Krung) in a restored warehouse.

Evening: Dinner with a view: riverside Thai at Supanniga Eating Room (Tha Tien) or modern Thai plates near Charoen Krung. Nightcap along Soi Nana (Chinatown) where shophouse bars pour inventive drinks infused with pandan, pomelo, and makrut.

Phuket

Phuket is Thailand’s Andaman gateway: jade seas, limestone karsts, and a food scene shaped by Hokkien, Malay, and Peranakan influences. Beyond the beaches, Phuket Town’s pastel shophouses and night markets tell the island’s story as vividly as any museum.

• Top sights: Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay day trips, Big Buddha, Promthep Cape sunsets, Old Town murals and mansions, snorkeling at Ao Sane and Kata Noi.
• Eats & drinks: One Chun and Raya (southern Thai), Mee Ton Poe (Hokkien noodles), Mor Mu Dong (rustic seafood huts), Go‑Benz (pork rice soup), Campus Coffee Roasters & The Feelsion (coffee/brunch).
• When to go: Peak beach weather November–April; May–October sees surfable swells and occasional showers.

Where to stay (Phuket):

• Private-villa elegance: Trisara Phuket
• Romantic cliffside: The Shore at Katathani
• Family-friendly & beachfront: Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket or Sunwing Kamala Beach
• Resort comforts up north: JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa
• Social and central: Lub d Phuket Patong
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com Phuket | VRBO Phuket

Getting from Bangkok to Phuket: Morning flights from BKK/DMK to HKT take ~1h20–1h30 and often cost ~$35–$90 one-way if booked early. Compare on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. HKT to beach areas: 45–75 minutes by taxi or pre-booked transfer.

Day 4: Fly South to Phuket, Beach Time & Old Town Flavors

Morning: Fly Bangkok → Phuket (~1.5 hours). Aim for a 9–10 AM departure; with airport transfers you’ll hit your hotel by early afternoon.

Afternoon: Beach unwind. If you’re near Kata/Karon, grab a casual lunch at The Pad Thai Shop (low-key, high-satisfaction) or beachside grilled seafood. Kamala/Bang Tao bases can try Project Artisan for breezy garden plates.

Evening: Stroll Phuket Old Town’s Thalang/Romanee roads—pastel shophouses, chic cafes, and murals. Dinner at One Chun (bold southern curries) or Raya (crab curry with rice vermicelli). If it’s Sunday, the Walking Street Market fills with music and local bites. For a nightcap, Dibuk House mixes classic cocktails with a local twist.

Day 5: Full‑Day Phi Phi Islands by Speedboat

Spend the day exploring turquoise lagoons, snorkel reefs, and sugar‑white crescents around Phi Phi. Early departures help beat the rush; bring reef‑safe sunscreen and a dry bag. Book the award‑winning Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Trip w/ Seaview Lunch by V. Marine from Phuket.

Evening idea: Celebrate back on shore with dinner at Laem Hin Pier, then a short boat hop to floating seafood restaurants—grilled prawns, turmeric fish, and sea views at dusk.

Day 6: Ethical Elephant Morning, Spa & Sunset Cape

Morning: Meet rescued elephants in Phuket’s first ethical sanctuary. No riding—just observation, feeding, and learning. Book A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary.

Afternoon: Spa time near your resort or a lazy snorkel at Ao Sane (calm, fishy shallows). Coffee/brunch pick-me-up at The Feelsion (retro‑industrial sweets) or Campus Coffee Roasters (single‑origin pours).

Evening: Golden-hour at Promthep Cape or the Kata/Karon viewpoints. Dinner at Mor Mu Dong—wooden huts over mangroves serving smoky southern dishes—or Suay in Cherngtalay for creative Thai by a celebrity chef. Post-dinner, swing by a beach bar or Surf House (Kata) for a laid‑back night.

Day 7: Final Swim, Brunch & Departure

Morning: Sunrise swim or beach walk, then a hearty brunch—try The Tent in Old Town for Thai‑leaning comfort plates or a seaside café near your beach. Pick up edible souvenirs: Phuket pineapple, cashews, or local curry pastes.

Afternoon: Transfer to HKT for your flight. Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Aim to arrive 2–2.5 hours before departure in high season.

Optional Add‑Ons (If You Have Extra Time)

• Ayutthaya’s UNESCO temples from Bangkok with lunch: Small Group Tour to Ayutthaya Temples
• Chao Phraya dinner cruise with live music: Newest Luxury 5‑Star Bangkok Dinner Cruise

Local dining cheat sheet (quick picks): Bangkok breakfasts at On Lok Yun (retro Thai diner) or Blue Whale; lunches at Krua Apsorn or Thip Samai; night eats in Yaowarat and Samyan (Jeh O Chula). Phuket’s musts: Raya for crab curry, Go‑Benz for pork rice soup (late), and seaside grills across Kata–Kamala.

Hotels recap for quick booking: Bangkok—Mandarin Oriental, The Siam, Anantara Riverside, Lub d Siam. Phuket—Trisara, The Shore at Katathani, Centara Grand Beach, JW Marriott, Lub d Patong. Or explore: Hotels.com Bangkok | VRBO Bangkok | Hotels.com Phuket | VRBO Phuket.

In one week, you’ll taste Bangkok’s temple-to-street-stall rhythm and unwind in Phuket’s island-blue embrace. From market trains and canal cruises to elephant mornings and karst-ringed bays, this Thailand itinerary balances culture, cuisine, and coast in all the right measures.