Bangkok in 3 Days: Temples, Rooftops and Not Wanting to Leave
Bangkok in 3 Days – that was how we had planned the start of our month-long trip through Thailand and Indonesia. Two nights, then on to Phuket. But by the time we reached the airport to leave, we already knew: we weren’t done with this city. Here’s our honest travel story – with real costs, a few mistakes and the moments you simply can’t plan.
Bangkok at blue hour – our first rooftop view over Sukhumvit
Our first days in Bangkok at a glance · 9–11 April 2025 · 2 nights · Sukhumvit · Wat Arun · Wat Pho · Grand Palace · onward flight to Phuket |
For a long time, Bangkok was one of those places I knew I wanted to see someday. Not because of one specific sight, but because of the bigger picture that had built up in my head over the years: skyscrapers next to temples, street food beneath rooftop bars, tuk-tuks weaving between luxury cars – and traffic that always looks in photos as if it simply shouldn’t work.
Barbi had Thailand on her radar too, but Bali was the place she dreamed about most. We both knew Ubud from documentaries and travel videos. So the question became: spend a whole month in Thailand – or combine Thailand and Indonesia? While Barbi was researching Bali, she came across Lombok. A few photos, a film I remembered – and suddenly we had a route:
Little by little, our itinerary took shape: Bangkok to Phuket, then Bali and Ubud, followed by Lombok – and finally back to Bangkok once more, since our return flight would take us from there via Istanbul to Munich anyway.
Suddenly, four weeks didn’t feel very long at all.
One thing mattered to us from the start: this trip was not going to become a checklist. So we deliberately didn’t book everything in advance – many hotels, transfers and even some flights were only booked while we were already travelling. If we like a place, we stay longer. If we feel like moving on, we move on. That spontaneity sometimes cost us a few extra euros, but it gave us exactly the freedom we wanted.
Two backpacks, one month, a lot of anticipation
On 8 April 2025, we set off. First by train from Eggenfelden to Munich Airport, then in the evening with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul to Bangkok. We had deliberately skipped a direct flight – the stopover didn’t bother us, and the price was much better: our Munich–Bangkok return flights for the two of us cost around €1,330 in total.
Our entire luggage for a month in Southeast Asia: two backpacks. One each, nothing more. It still sounds surprisingly sensible today when we think about how often we would carry our entire lives on our backs over the weeks that followed.
On the afternoon of 9 April, we landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport – and Bangkok immediately corrected our first preconception. Instead of chaos, we found a clean, modern, extremely well-organised airport. Somewhere in the terminal, a cleaning robot was cruising around on its own. We hadn’t even stepped outside yet, and the city already felt more technologically advanced than we had expected.
Airport Rail Link to Sukhumvit – and my first sentence in Thai
Instead of taking a taxi straight away, we rode the Airport Rail Link towards Phaya Thai – an inexpensive and easy way for us to get from the airport into the city. The closer we got to central Bangkok, the denser the buildings, roads and elevated train lines became.
During the ride I kept hearing the same phrase in the announcements, which sounded to me roughly like: “Saranita Pai Paya Thai.” At that point I couldn’t speak a single word of Thai, and neither could Barbi. Most people start with “hello” or “thank you” – apparently I went straight for a full sentence. The reveal: the next station is Phaya Thai. It didn’t help me order food or introduce myself, but at least I now knew how to announce that Phaya Thai was coming up. You never know when that might come in handy.
In Phaya Thai, we understood for the first time just how big Bangkok really is: elevated rail lines above multi-lane roads, pedestrian bridges between stations and buildings, and below them taxis, motorcycles and buses. We had Google Maps – and still stood there for a while trying to work out which level of the city we were actually supposed to continue on. Eventually we found the green BTS line towards Phloen Chit, not far from our first hotel.
Then the doors of the air-conditioned station opened – and Bangkok showed us its second side: the heat. Not pleasant summer warmth, but that heavy, humid tropical heat that settles on your skin immediately and explains very convincingly why air conditioning here is not a luxury.
On the way to the hotel: big hotels, tiny shops and our first street-food stalls. Thai script everywhere, along with smells and sounds we couldn’t yet place. We had no instinct for the prices either – 100 baht, 500 baht, a lot, a little? So we did the sensible thing: hotel, backpacks down, shower, arrive.
A coconut above the rooftops of Bangkok
We spent our first night at the SureStay Plus by Best Western Sukhumvit 2 for around €46. And already we noticed something that would follow us throughout Thailand: the value for money is remarkable. A modern, clean room, friendly staff, even little things like toothbrushes and bathroom amenities included as standard. In many European cities, we would have paid several times as much for the same level.
The best part, however, was waiting on the roof: a rooftop pool overlooking the skyline. After the long journey, we didn’t need much convincing. And apparently, when you sit by a rooftop pool in Thailand for the first time, you need a coconut – at least that was our firm belief. Our first one there cost 150 baht (about €4). Later we discovered much bigger ones on the street for a fraction of the price. That afternoon, we couldn’t have cared less. Bangkok was in front of us; behind us were the train ride, Istanbul, a long-haul flight and our first expedition through the BTS system. We shared the coconut and, for the first time, really felt that we had arrived.
Arrived: rooftop pool above Sukhumvit after the long journey
Of course, this turned into a little photo shoot. Barbi reliably found her best angle, while the wind took over directing my hair.
Our first evening in Sukhumvit: rooftop bar instead of a “Ping Pong Show”
Sukhumvit after dark was the complete opposite of the quiet rooftop pool. Suddenly there was movement everywhere: restaurants, bars, street stalls, music and people from all over the world. Arab shops next to Thai restaurants, with travellers from Europe, Africa, India and across Asia in between. On our very first evening, Bangkok already felt less like a “holiday city” and much more like an international metropolis where completely different worlds exist side by side.
Outside some bars, men were handing out flyers and enthusiastically shouting, “Ping Pong! Ping Pong!” Barbi wasn’t quite sure what to make of this sudden passion for table tennis – I had a vague memory from some film that sport might not be the main attraction. We decided there had to be other ways to get to know Bangkok.
So I said to Barbi: if we’re spending our first evening in Bangkok, let’s do it properly. Google Maps open, rooftop bars compared, reviews read – and not long afterwards we were standing in the Spectrum Lounge & Bar at the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit.
And suddenly Bangkok was spread out beneath us. The city was glowing, a DJ was playing live, we ordered two cocktails, talked, looked out over the lights – and ordered two more. The four cocktails cost us 2,448 baht in total (about €63). We could have drunk much more cheaply down on the street, no question. But it wasn’t really about four cocktails. It was about that first evening, that view, that feeling of finally sitting here after months of anticipation. It was worth every baht.
Spectrum Lounge & Bar at the Hyatt Regency – our first evening above Bangkok
Day two: Why we voluntarily changed hotels again
The next morning we felt about as fresh as you would expect after a long-haul flight, four cocktails and a very eventful first evening. Still, we checked out – not because we didn’t like the SureStay, but because changing hotels was part of our plan. We deliberately wanted to experience different properties, neighbourhoods and concepts. For us, hotels aren’t just places to sleep; they are part of the journey.
Our next stop was the Montraj Coach Sukhumvit Bangkok, around €49 a night. On Google Maps, the walk looked perfectly manageable, so off we went. Bangkok had other plans: it was hot, it was humid, and at some point I was carrying both backpacks because, in a gentlemanly moment, I had decided to take Barbi’s. The surprising part: Barbi was still sweating more without a backpack than I was with two. Science has yet to provide a satisfying explanation.
On the way, we bought a huge coconut from a street stall – and by then we fully understood that our 150-baht hotel coconut had been priced more in the category of “rooftop experience”.
Wat Arun: our first Buddhist temple
The Montraj Coach welcomed us with an atmosphere straight out of the American railway world of the 1930s and 1940s: dark tones, lots of detail, plenty of character – and once again a standard that made us wonder why comparable hotels in Europe cost several times as much. Backpacks down, a quick breather. Then it was finally time to see Bangkok’s historic side.
The Coach Hotel – and the sign that would only make sense to us later that evening
The journey to Wat Arun was almost as interesting as the destination: the typical bundles of cables above the streets, tuk-tuks, countless motorcycles – and, for the first time, we really noticed the motorcycle taxis. Someone stands by the road, a bike stops, the passenger hops on, and seconds later they are gone. In between, we tried small snacks that looked like tiny crispy tacos with coconut – most likely Khanom Bueang. That was exactly what we loved about Bangkok: you walk from A to B and keep discovering something new.
Bangkok’s streets: motorcycle taxis, market umbrellas and cables with stories of their own
Then we were standing in front of Wat Arun, the first Buddhist temple either of us had ever visited. Admission during our visit was 200 baht per person (about €5). Places like this look beautiful in photos – but in real life you begin to understand just how many tiny details are built into the façades: ceramics, figures, colours, patterns. Temple grounds have dress rules; Barbi covered her shoulders and legs with a red wrap. Extra clothing in tropical heat does not exactly feel like a gift, but showing respect at religious sites was a given for us.
Wat Arun – beautiful in photos, overwhelmingly detailed in real life
One moment that stayed with us was meeting a monk. In return for a small donation, we each received a blessing and a red braided bracelet. Barbi’s bracelet has since disappeared – I still wear mine today. Whether my protection lasts longer or my karma simply isn’t finished with me yet, we don’t know.
Our blessing bracelets from the monk at Wat Arun – one of them is still with us today
By boat to Wat Pho and the Reclining Buddha
From Wat Arun, we crossed the Chao Phraya by boat to Wat Pho. The enormous golden Reclining Buddha is one of those images you have seen a hundred times – and yet you still stop when you are actually standing in front of it. Admission was 300 baht per person (about €8). Preparations for Songkran, the Thai New Year, were already under way around the complex, and we received another white blessing bracelet. After two temples, we were now doubly protected.
The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho – seen a hundred times, yet you still stop and stare
As darkness fell, we found the View Arun Restaurant & Bar nearby. The way upstairs was nothing special – then we stepped onto the terrace and found one of those views that makes you go quiet for a moment: the Chao Phraya with illuminated boats, and across the river Wat Arun, which we had explored up close only hours earlier, now glowing in the dark. We got a lovely table and had dinner with that view; the meal for both of us cost around €40. One of the strongest moments of the day – not because we had planned it weeks in advance, but because we simply ended up there. That is exactly why we travel the way we do.
Dinner at View Arun – across the river, the temple we had explored hours earlier is glowing
A singer in the elevator and a bar we didn’t know existed
After an evening stroll through a market, we returned to the hotel completely exhausted – and heard music. A Thai woman was standing in the elevator, we started talking and told her we liked the music. She smiled. She was the singer. And she said we should simply come down to the bar later.
What bar? Until that moment, we hadn’t even realised what was hidden beneath our hotel. After a shower, we went down to the Abandoned Mansion: a dark, elegant 1930s-style bar with live music, small tables and cocktails whose presentation had clearly been someone’s chance to have fun – glasses shaped like high heels, decorations straight out of a gangster movie. We listened to the singer we had just happened to meet in the elevator and enjoyed the evening.
Abandoned Mansion: cocktails in high heels, Wanted posters included
These are the travel stories you can’t plan. We had booked the hotel because of its design. The bar underneath was a gift from chance.
Phuket? We’ll just book it tomorrow
We stayed just as spontaneous with the onward journey: we booked the direct Thai AirAsia flight from Bangkok Don Mueang to Phuket only about a day before departure – around €92 for two people. Departure was at 6:35 pm on 11 April 2025. We knew this kind of flexibility could sometimes cost a little more. In return, we never had to decide three weeks in advance how long we were allowed to like a city.
But we still had half a day before the flight.
Grand Palace instead of the Floating Market – with two backpacks
For our final hours, several ideas were on the table: the Railway Market, a Floating Market or the Grand Palace. Time was short, and after Wat Arun and Wat Pho we had already visited two temples, so we chose the Grand Palace. The markets would have to wait until next time.
There was just one practical problem: our backpacks. Going back to the hotel and then crossing the city again to Don Mueang Airport would take too much time. Barbi asked what we were going to do with the luggage. I immediately had a very convincing theory: a world city like Bangkok, a sight like the Grand Palace – of course there would be lockers or luggage storage somewhere.
So we took the backpacks with us. Rain was starting, so we went by taxi. Once there, I bought a pair of lightweight purple elephant pants from a street vendor to meet the dress code, while Barbi covered her shoulders and legs. Then we went looking for the luggage storage.
My theory had one flaw: there was no luggage storage. We asked at the entrance, then again inside, and eventually even at lost and found – nobody wanted our backpacks. My theory was finished. I, unfortunately, was not: I got to tour the Grand Palace carrying both backpacks. Long trousers, tropical heat, high humidity, two backpacks on my back and an Insta360 on a stick in my hand. At some point I felt like a hot slice of salami pressed between two bread rolls.
And still: the Grand Palace is impressive – and absolutely worth the 500-baht admission per person (about €13) for us. Golden façades, mirrored mosaics, figures and courtyards, all so detailed that even our luggage problem eventually faded into the background. The only thing I would no longer sell as reliable Bangkok travel advice is my confident prediction about the lockers.
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Grand Palace: dress code met, backpacks out of the photo – but still on my back
Grab, Bolt or inDrive? Our experience with taxi apps in Thailand
Plenty of taxis were waiting outside the Grand Palace – with price expectations far above what the apps were showing us. At the beginning of the trip we used Grab and Bolt; with Grab, however, we had several situations where drivers simply couldn’t find us. So we ordered a Bolt a short walk away from the crowded main entrance, coconut in hand – after half a day with two backpacks, it felt less like a refreshment and more like medical treatment.
Our driver arrived in a car that looked as if it had auditioned for a supporting role in “Fast & Furious: Bangkok”. On the way he asked whether we wanted to take the toll highway – faster, but with extra fees. With a flight to catch, the decision was easy. The ride cost 685 baht (€17.98) plus tolls, and at the airport we even got a selfie with our Fast-and-Furious driver.
Later in the trip, we switched almost completely to inDrive – for us it was cheaper, straightforward and reliable. Our tip for Bangkok first-timers: install several ride-hailing apps and compare both prices and availability. Depending on the place and time of day, a different one may win.
Bangkok in 3 Days: Why Two Nights Weren’t Enough
Everything at Don Mueang Airport went smoothly – with two backpacks and no checked luggage, we had become a well-practised team by then. Our flight was slightly delayed, and while we waited, we were genuinely looking forward to Phuket: sea, beach, the next chapter.
And yet there was that feeling: Bangkok had been too short. In less than three days we had experienced an incredible amount – Sukhumvit at night, our first rooftop bar, Wat Arun, Wat Pho, the Chao Phraya, dinner opposite the illuminated temple, the Abandoned Mansion, the Grand Palace. But we had only just begun to understand how many different worlds this city contains.
Before we had even properly left Bangkok, one thing was already decided: on the way back from Lombok, we would stay here again. At first we thought one or two days. In the end, it became three.
And as our AirAsia flight lifted off towards Phuket, we knew one thing for certain: we would be back.
➡️ Read what happened next in the next part: [Phuket – link coming soon].
What our first days in Bangkok really cost us
All prices are our actual travel expenses from April 2025 (currency conversions rounded). Hotel, flight and admission prices can of course change.
Expense | Cost |
Munich–Bangkok–Munich flights (2 people, Turkish Airlines) | approx. €1,330 |
SureStay Plus Sukhumvit 2, 1 night | approx. €46 |
Montraj Coach Sukhumvit, 1 night | approx. €49 |
Coconut at the rooftop pool | 150 baht (approx. €4) |
4 cocktails, Spectrum Lounge & Bar (Hyatt Regency) | 2,448 baht (approx. €63) |
Wat Arun admission, per person | 200 baht (approx. €5) |
Wat Pho admission, per person | 300 baht (approx. €8) |
Grand Palace admission, per person | 500 baht (approx. €13) |
Dinner at View Arun Restaurant & Bar (2 people) | approx. €40 |
Bolt ride Grand Palace → Don Mueang (plus tolls) | 685 baht (€17.98) |
Bangkok–Phuket flight (2 people, Thai AirAsia) | approx. €92 |
ATM fee on a 5,000-baht withdrawal | 220 baht (approx. €6) |
Other cash spending (street food, coconuts, clothing, etc.) | approx. €100 (estimate) |
An honest note on completeness: the table shows the expenses we can document or still reconstruct precisely. We also paid for many things in cash – street food and finger food, coconuts from roadside stalls, my purple elephant pants, a scarf for Barbi and other spontaneous purchases. From what we remember, those came to roughly €100; that is an honest estimate, not a documented figure, because we did not record every street purchase. Our actual total spending was therefore a little higher than the table suggests. We deliberately do not list the 5,000-baht withdrawal itself as a separate expense – it was simply the source of those cash payments. The only true additional cost was the ATM fee.
Our cash lesson: when we withdrew 5,000 baht, the ATM charged an additional 220-baht fee. Next time, we would probably withdraw money less often and in larger amounts – provided we actually need the cash.
Our eSIM lesson: We needed less
Before the trip, we bought mobile data through an eSIM – in hindsight, far more than we actually needed. In Bangkok, Wi-Fi was available almost everywhere in hotels, restaurants and cafés. For Google Maps, messages, travel apps and normal social-media use, 2 to 5 GB would have been more than enough for a few days. Anyone uploading videos regularly or using their phone as a hotspot will obviously need more. Our tip: start with a smaller package and top up if necessary – unused data benefits nobody.
Our tips for a first trip to Bangkok
We would do many things exactly the same way again: take the Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi Airport as an inexpensive connection into the city, use Sukhumvit as a base for the first nights, and combine Wat Arun, Wat Pho and the Grand Palace for a strong first impression of historic Bangkok.
Two things we would do differently: allow more time – two nights are enough to get to know Bangkok, but not to understand it. And compare several ride-hailing apps – Grab and Bolt worked well at first, but later inDrive became our clear favourite.
And if anyone is thinking of taking two large backpacks to the Grand Palace because there are “surely lockers somewhere”: maybe don’t rely exclusively on that theory.
Frequently asked questions about a first trip to Bangkok
Are three days enough for Bangkok?
Two to three days are enough for Wat Arun, Wat Pho, the Grand Palace, an evening in Sukhumvit and a first impression of the city. If you want to experience Bangkok at a more relaxed pace, visit markets and explore different neighbourhoods, plan at least four to five days.
Where is the best place to stay in Bangkok for a first visit?
We found Sukhumvit a very practical base: BTS stations, restaurants, bars and hotels in every price range are easy to reach. If you are more interested in the historic old city, staying closer to the Chao Phraya can also be a good choice.
Which taxi app is best in Bangkok?
We started with Grab and Bolt and later used almost only inDrive because, for us, it was inexpensive, reliable and straightforward. The best approach is to install several apps and compare prices.
What’s the cheapest way to get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to central Bangkok?
Take the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai and continue from there by BTS, for example towards Sukhumvit. For us, it was the easiest and most affordable option when we arrived.
How much mobile data do you need in Bangkok?
For normal use with Google Maps, messaging, booking apps and some social media, around 2 to 5 GB is enough for a few days. Hotels, restaurants and cafés offer Wi-Fi almost everywhere.
Which temples are worth visiting on a first trip?
Wat Arun and Wat Pho are perfect to combine because they sit on opposite sides of the Chao Phraya. Make sure to include the Grand Palace as well – with enough time and a quick check of the current dress code.
Would we visit Bangkok again?
We made that decision at the airport. Three weeks later, we were back.
About BaRe World
We’re Barbi & Renato, and we share places the way we really experience them – with our own photos and videos, real prices and the stories in between. For hotel, destination and travel collaborations: Work with us →
