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Bangkok, Thailand, is the hub of this Southeast Asian city. Whether you are heading south to the Thai islands to catch some rays or north to the jungle, you will likely spend time in Bangkok in transit.
Read on to find out as well as other things to do in Bangkok in under 24 hours.
Bangkok One Day Itinerary
Khao San Road – Did That Just Happen?
Khao San Road is a road, funnily enough, littered with restaurants, bars, market shops, men trying to sell you tailored suits, and backpackers all looking for a good time.
Hell to some, hilarity to others.
The bars are packed with blaring music, wasted travellers, and PRs trying to sell you scorpions on a stick.
Always in search of the more local options, we veered away from Bangkok’s popular street to find a vendor selling a selection of bugs, who knew there was such variety?
Eating Bugs in Bangkok
I squealed as the vendor scooped up some dead flies into a bag like it was popcorn at the cinema, strange to us, totally normal for locals.
Bangkok is more than just Khao San Road (thankfully).
Unfortunately, some of the more popular things to do in Bangkok are just as seedy such as the must-see ping pong shows.
We decided not to participate in this voyeuristic show but for those who may be interested, be wary that many visitors to Bangkok are ripped off here. We heard tales where travellers agreed on an entrance fee but were then charged a table fee, drinks surcharges, and even a price on each ejaculated ping pong!
No judgement if you do want to see this, just choose a show on the recommendation. I hate to see people ripped off. It’s also possible to get the spiritual bamboo Sak Yant tattoos in Bangkok!
Temples in Bangkok
A far less stressful Bangkok attraction is to visit one of the city’s many temples.
We took a boat to Wat Arun (Wat Chaeng), which is located in the west of the city on the river, a calming escape from the madness of the city.
Visitors can climb the stairs, which are steep and slightly nerve-wracking.
The most popular of all temples is the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, home to a gold, relaxing Buddha, all 150 metres of it!
This temple is located in the Wat Po temple area.
Tip – remember to cover up, wear trousers and bring a shawl to ensure that no skin is on show.
For even more things to do, including market visits and boat tours, check out Cory’s article on Bangkok’s wheelchair access.
Where We Stayed in Bangkok
We booked last minute into D&D’s hostel, which is on Khao San Road, after a recommendation from fellow backpackers.
I can’t say I would recommend this windowless private room, however, the hostel does have a nice rooftop pool and bar to aid that Khao San Road horrendous hangover.
In hindsight, I wish I’d researched further (I had planned out by this point of the trip) as there are heaps of options for accommodation in Bangkok, and some of the hotels are really plush!
