Thailand’s story stretches from the ancient kingdoms of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya to modern Bangkok’s glittering skyline. You’ll feel that time-travel effect in a single week: gilded temples, canal-side wooden homes, and royal palaces set the stage for a country that prizes hospitality and flavor in equal measure.

Bangkok—home to the Grand Palace and a thousand snack carts—is one of Asia’s great food cities, where a bowl of boat noodles can be as memorable as a white-tablecloth dinner. Fly south to Phuket for postcard bays, island-hopping on limestone seas, and the pastel shophouses of Phuket Old Town. It’s city energy first, then salt air.

Practical notes: dress modestly for temples (shoulders/knees covered). November–April is prime beach weather; May–October brings tropical showers but fewer crowds. Cash is handy for markets, though cards and e-wallets are widely accepted. Use metered taxis, Grab, or the BTS/MRT in Bangkok; never accept unsolicited “gem” shop detours.

Bangkok

Bangkok is where saffron-robed monks share dawn streets with office workers and fruit vendors. Grand sights—Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, and the riverside Wat Arun—sit alongside neighborhoods famous for coffee, craft bars, and legendary street food (Thipsamai’s pad thai, anyone?).

• Top sights: Grand Palace, Wat Pho’s Reclining Buddha, Wat Arun at sunset, Jim Thompson House, Chinatown (Yaowarat), and the klongs (canals) of Thonburi.
• Eat & drink: Try Krua Apsorn for royal-style curries, Jay Fai for crab omelet, Phed Mark for spicy pad kra pao, and Nana Coffee Roasters or Sarnies for specialty coffee.
• Fun fact: Bangkok’s official ceremonial name has 168 letters—the longest city name on earth.

Where to stay (Bangkok): Browse stays on VRBO or Hotels.com. Standouts: riverside icon Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, serene design at The Siam Hotel, resort vibes in the city at Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort. Budget-chic: Lub d Bangkok Siam or heritage style at Niras Bankoc Cultural Hostel. Also consider Lub d Bangkok Silom.

How to get here: Fly into BKK or DMK. Compare fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Airport Rail Link/MRT/taxis bring you to the center in 30–60 minutes depending on traffic.

Day 1 – Arrival, Old City sunset, and night eats by tuk-tuk

Morning: Fly to Bangkok. Book tickets on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Hydrate and download an eSIM if needed; ATMs are plentiful at the airport.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs around Rattanakosin. Grab an iced latte at Blue Whale (near Wat Pho), then walk to Wat Arun for golden-hour photos across the river. Early dinner ideas in Chinatown: Nai Ek for peppery pork noodles, Khao Gaeng Jek Pui for curries served on banana leaves, and dessert at Sweettime.

Evening: Hop on the award-winning Bangkok by Night: Temples, Markets and Food Tuk-Tuk Tour for neon-lit temples, secret snacks, and market stops. Expect aromatic stir-fries, moo ping (grilled pork), and a sweet finish with mango sticky rice.

Day 2 – Grand sights, canals, and a river dinner cruise

Morning: See the city’s icons on the efficient Bangkok City Highlights Tour: Grand Palace & Three Iconic Temples. You’ll visit the Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaew, the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, and more with skip-the-line ease and cultural context.

Afternoon: Lunch at Krua Apsorn (order crab omelet, green curry with young coconut). Then drift through Thonburi on the serene Bangkok Canal Tour: 2-Hour Longtail Boat Ride—stilt houses, pocket temples, and a slower Bangkok many miss.

Evening: Dress smart-casual for the Newest Luxury 5-Star Bangkok Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise (8–10 pm). Glide past the lit-up Grand Palace and Wat Arun while dining to live music—Bangkok at its most cinematic.

Day 3 – Floating market + railway market day trip

Ride a train straight through a market and boat along palm-lined canals on the classic Bangkok: Floating Market and Train Market Experience. Try boat noodles and coconut ice cream, and watch umbrellas whisk shut as the train approaches Maeklong. You’ll be back mid/late afternoon.

Dinner ideas back in town: Thipsamai (charcoal-fired pad thai), Paste (creative regional Thai tasting menus), or Baan for home-style recipes. Cocktails at Teens of Thailand (gin-forward) or Vesper (Asia’s 50 Best) if you want a polished nightcap.

Phuket

Phuket is Thailand’s big island with small-island moods: jungle-fringed bays, long sandy arcs, and a historic Old Town painted in sorbet colors. Use it as a launchpad for the Phi Phi Islands and Phang Nga’s karst towers, then linger for lotus-slow sunsets.

• Top sights: Phuket Old Town’s Sino-Portuguese shophouses, Big Buddha, Karon/Kata/Nai Harn beaches, Promthep Cape, and offshore stars like Phi Phi and Hong Islands.
• Eat & drink: One Chun and Tu Kab Khao for southern Thai, Raya for crab curry, Mor Mu Dong for rustic seafood, Torry’s for Peranakan-inspired ice cream.
• Good to know: Island tours start early (5:30–7:30 am pickups). Sea is calmest Dec–Apr; monsoon season can bring swells—operators adjust routes for safety.

Where to stay (Phuket): Explore VRBO or Hotels.com. Splurge: Trisara Phuket, JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, The Shore at Katathani, or design legend Amanpuri. Family-friendly: Sunwing Kamala Beach or Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket. Social/budget: Lub d Phuket Patong.

Getting from Bangkok to Phuket: 1h25 nonstop flight (BKK/DMK → HKT) from ~$35–$90 one-way if booked in advance. Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Add 45–70 minutes total for airport transfers.

Day 4 – Fly south, Phuket Old Town, southern Thai flavors

Morning: Fly Bangkok → Phuket (aim for ~9–10 am departure; 1h25 flight). Book via Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Taxi or hotel car to your resort (45–60 minutes to the west coast).

Afternoon: Wander Phuket Old Town: Sino-Portuguese façades on Thalang Road, street art alleys, and heritage cafés. Coffee at Campus Coffee Roasters; snack on moo hong (braised pork belly) buns. If it’s Sunday, the Lard Yai Walking Street market brings live music and local snacks.

Evening: Feast on southern Thai at One Chun (order gaeng som sour curry, crab curry, and stink bean stir-fry). For a casual rooftop digestif, try Dibuk House or a mango sago at Torry’s.

Day 5 – Phi Phi Islands speedboat adventure (full day)

Set your alarm for an early pickup on the award-winning Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Trip w/ Seaview Lunch by V. Marine—a Viator Experience Awards winner. Expect Maya Bay views, snorkeling over coral gardens, Viking Cave, Pileh Lagoon’s emerald bowl, and a seaside Thai lunch. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and your sense of wonder.

Back at your hotel, refuel with beachside seafood: Kan Eang@Pier for grilled prawns and chili-lime dressings, or Chao Leh Kitchen for a breezier, modern take.

Day 6 – Ethical elephants, slow beaches, and sunset

Morning: Meet rescued gentle giants on A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. You’ll observe them roaming, bathing, and snacking—no riding—across a lush 30-acre refuge. It’s one of the island’s most meaningful experiences.

Afternoon: Beach-hop: Nai Harn (calmer), Kata Noi (scenic), or snorkel at Ao Sane’s rocky cove. Light lunch: papaya salad and grilled chicken from a beachside shack, or smoothie bowls at a local café.

Evening: Sunset at Promthep Cape, then dinner at Mor Mu Dong—rustic salas over mangroves with grilled fish, turmeric soups, and smoky chili dips. If you prefer town vibes, Raya’s crab curry with rice noodles is a Phuket classic.

Day 7 – Old Town brunch, last dips, and departure

Morning: Brunch at The Feelsion Café or a simple Thai breakfast of jok (rice porridge) and patongo (fried dough) near the market. Last swim at Kamala or Karon; pick up cashew nuts, pineapple jam, and batik as souvenirs.

Afternoon: Fly out of Phuket (HKT). Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you have time to spare, a quick Thai massage near the airport is a fine finale.

Evening: Connect to your onward flight or settle in for one last coconut at the gate—sawasdee kha/krub and see you next time.

Optional swaps and add-ons

• Food lovers: Swap Day 3 evening for the Bangkok Michelin Food by Tuk Tuk for 15+ tastings and chef-loved stalls.

  

• More islands: Trade Day 6 for sea caves and karst spires on Phang Nga Bay Sea Cave Canoeing & James Bond Island by big boat.

  

Where you sleep shapes the trip. In Bangkok, book the river-facing Mandarin Oriental for old-world service or the artful hideaway The Siam. In Phuket, villas at Trisara or Amanpuri make sunrise coffee a ritual; families love slides and kids’ clubs at Sunwing Kamala and Centara Grand Beach. Prefer apartments? Filter neighborhoods and budgets on VRBO Bangkok and VRBO Phuket.

Bonuses for food-focused mornings: In Bangkok, start at On Lok Yun (old-town diner for kaya toast and Thai coffee) or Roast for skillet breakfasts. In Phuket, stop at a roti shop for egg roti with condensed milk or hunt down a Hokkien mee stall for wok-charred noodles—both are delicious snapshots of local life.

Summary: In 7 days, you’ll trace Thailand’s soul from Bangkok’s temples and klongs to Phuket’s luminous bays. With thoughtful hotel picks, time-saving flights, and handpicked tours, this itinerary balances big sights with slow moments you’ll remember long after the sand is gone from your shoes.