Itineraries for Your Trip to Bangkok
3 Days in Bangkok for Families
Bangkok is a big, bustling city, but it’s also a colorful and fascinating place that will appeal to both kids and their parents. I had my daughter in Bangkok and found the city to be a comfortable and easy place to spend time with a newborn. Now that my daughter is five, she’s really interested in returning to her birthplace, so that’s another trip in the planning.
From golden, mosaicked temples and palaces to boat rides, lively markets, and air-conditioned indoor attractions, there’s a lot for families to see and do in Bangkok. Here’s what I recommend during three days in the Thai capital.
Bangkok is hot year round and humid in the rainy season; schedule some indoor time to stay cool.
If you only have time for one thing, make it the Grand Palace.
Get your bearings in Bangkok on a morning tour by tuk-tuk. Kids of all ages will enjoy riding these open-air motorized vehicles, and they’re a speedy alternative to getting around by taxi. Visit markets, temples, and lively neighborhoods like Chinatown. Alternatively, take a hop-on hop-off bus to see some of the main sights, or, if you’re with older kids, join a bike tour.
Retreat to the calm of a Buddhist temple (or three) in the afternoon. Kids will enjoy the larger-than-life Buddha statues, the sparkling gold pagodas, and the fantastical deities and pictures at Wat Pho, Wat Arun, and the enormous Grand Palace complex.
Bangkok curves around the busy Chao Phraya River, with many off-shoot canals. Start your second day with a boat tour to a floating market, where vendors sell food, flowers, and other goods directly from their boats. Shop if you wish or just enjoy the atmosphere.
In the afternoon, head to [SEA LIFE® Bangkok Ocean World](SEA LIFE® Bangkok Ocean World), a fantastic aquarium with glass tunnels you can walk through to get close-up views of manta rays, sharks, and other cool creatures from around Thailand and beyond.
For kids with a sensitive palate, the general spiciness of Thai street food could be a challenge. Get around this by taking a cooking class, where you can adjust the heat level to your preference. Many cooking classes start with a market visit.
End your final day in Bangkok with a special dinner. Hop aboard a kid-friendly dinner cruise or grab a buffet dinner at a restaurant atop one of Bangkok’s tallest buildings. Your kids won’t forget the views.
