2 Days In Bangkok - Best Things To Do In 48 Hours

A sunset cruise should definitely form part of what to do in Bangkok in 2 days. You can enjoy a delicious meal from the deck of your boat as you lazily travel down the Chao Phraya River. With so many different chartered companies taking guests for dinner each evening, I like to recommend the Bangkok Dinner Cruise. It isn’t cheap, but the food is good, the prices are reasonable and it truly is an authentic Thai experience. The Chao Phraya river is 372 km long and is the largest in Thailand. Guests can enjoy a unique view of the city that’s removed from its busy streets as they watch the skyline gets illuminated in colors of bright orange and pink. Sunset is relatively early in Bangkok (around 7pm in summer), which leaves you with plenty of time for the rest of the night’s activities.

If you’re wondering what to do in Bangkok in 2 days, then taking the BTS Skytrain after dark to Sukhumvit should definitely be on your list. Sip on delicious, tropical cocktails at the Octave Rooftop Bar and Lounge. Starting on the 45th floor of the Marriot Hotel Sukhumvit, this bar boasts the top three storeys where you can get a 360 degree view of Bangkok. Not only are the lights beath-taking, but the later it gets, the more energetic the atmosphere becomes, and you can enjoy a night of dancing far above the busy city below. What makes this spot so special, beyond being the highest cocktail lounge in Bangkok, is its relative obscurity. As of yet, it’s not really on the tourist trail - I guess that’s the best part of discovering the city with a local!

Begin your second day by exploring Chinatown and its street food! In these tiny lanes, you will find everything from fabrics to cheap clothes, jewelry, electronics, and things you’ve probably never even seen before. Try Sampeng Lane earlier on in the day before the heat and foot traffic becomes overwhelming. Expect a cluttered, chaotic, fun few hours as you haggle, shop, and explore this labyrinth of streets. Sometimes visitors comment on the heat in Bangkok, at which point I recommend a nice fresh juice to cool them down! You’ll find many kiosks that serve cold-pressed juices here – my favorite is usually the green juice, but they’re all delicious. No experience of the neighborhood is complete without sampling food from its many stalls. Chinatown is an assault on the senses, but as the world’s largest, it’s definitely a part of must-see Bangkok in 2 days.

After the hectic foot traffic of Chinatown, it might be time to relax and have some photo-taking fun at ART in Paradise. This is Thailand’s first 3D Art Museum and boasts over 150 interactive paintings. The different themes include Classical Paintings, Fantasy World, Media Art, Underworld, Safari & Forest, and Modern World. Here you can pose in the dramatic scenes and take photos wherein you’ll complete the image. For instance, you might be Jasmine with Aladdin flying through the air on a magic carpet ride, or be a tightrope walker balancing on a rope strung out over a canyon. Escape indoors (to the AC) and enjoy some light-hearted fun with your family or friends. If you’re hungry, we need only pop outside to a nearby food kiosk where you could enjoy some Pad Thai or Som Tam. One of my favorite things about Bangkok is that you’re never far away from a delicious meal!

Spend your evening getting a traditional Thai massage at Dahra Spa in Sukhumvit. Right on the busy Sukhumvit Road, this spa is known for its high quality treatments and luxurious products, minus the massive price tag. You can go home and say you had a Thai massage right in the middle of its capital city, isn’t that something? You’ll no doubt find the serene rooms, cool marble slabs and elegant ambiance to be a treat after a long day on your feet. You also have the option of booking massages between 1 to 4 hours. People who go here always say they will return!

When you’re nimble from your massage, not to mention smelling fantastic and feeling well-rested, you’ll be ready for another night out in Bangkok! Every Bangkok 2 day itinerary demands a visit to Soi Cowboy, otherwise known as the city’s red-light district, even if its a mere walkthrough. Named after the hat-wearing African American to first open a bar in this area during the 1970s, the atmosphere is open-minded and laid back. There is a popular shopping mall called Terminal 21 just across the road (if you’d like to duck out), but overall, the neon-lit clubs are a popular venue for all party-goers. From electric clubs to go-go bars, entrance is always free and the drinks are cheap. You’ll feel like you’ve walked into a scene from Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival!