Bangkok After Dark: Rooftops, Street Food & Riverside Shopping
See it in NavoySix days of Bangkok's best nightlife, shopping and food, based around your friends in Sukhumvit. You'll start with Thonglor rooftop drinks, then spend a morning on the temples. The trip also covers Yaowarat street food at night, Chatuchak on Saturday, a full Chao Phraya river day, lively Khao San evenings and a farewell sunset at Sky Bar. Saturday 5 December is Thailand's Father's Day holiday, so expect yellow-clad crowds and festive decorations around town. Check venue hours and any alcohol-sales restrictions that day.
1Sukhumvit Soft Landing & Rooftop Welcome
$190Settle into Sukhumvit with easy shopping in Phrom Phong, a restorative massage and dinner in Thonglor. The day ends with your first rooftop cocktails above the city lights.
Sukhumvit Soft Landing & Rooftop Welcome
EmQuartier & Emporium Browsing and Lunch
Wander the Phrom Phong malls, which have Thai designer boutiques, a cool indoor waterfall atrium and an excellent food hall. Have a relaxed Thai lunch, and use the air-conditioning to shake off the jet lag.
Thai Massage in Thonglor
Book a 2-hour traditional Thai massage and foot treatment for two at Health Land on Sukhumvit 55. It is a good way to recover from the journey before the evening.
Thonglor Dinner with Friends
Meet your Sukhumvit friends for a Thonglor dinner. Try a modern Thai sharing-plates restaurant and order a spread of local dishes.
Rooftop Cocktails at Octave
Go up to Octave, the Marriott's multi-level rooftop bar. It has 360° views over Sukhumvit and a lively crowd. Choose the highest level for the best skyline photos, and expect to pay a premium for cocktails.
2Golden Temples & Yaowarat After Dark
$192Spend the morning on the temples of Rattanakosin before the heat builds, then rest. In the evening head to Chinatown, where Yaowarat's neon-lit street food scene comes alive.
Golden Temples & Yaowarat After Dark
Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha
Arrive at opening time to beat the crowds and the heat. Wear covered shoulders and knees. Explore the glittering royal halls and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Wat Pho & the Reclining Buddha
Walk 10 minutes south to see the 46-metre gold Reclining Buddha. Wat Pho's quieter courtyards are full of ornate chedis and detail.
Riverside Lunch & Wat Arun by Cross-River Ferry
Have lunch at a riverside spot near Tha Tien pier. Then take the 5-minute ferry across to Wat Arun, whose porcelain-covered prang is stunning in afternoon light. Climb the steep steps for river views.
Yaowarat Chinatown Street Food Night
Return to the hotel for a rest and shower, then head to Yaowarat for a guided evening street food tour. Sample roast duck, oyster omelettes, mango sticky rice and Chinese desserts. The neon-lit street is at its best after dark.
3Chatuchak Saturday & Sukhumvit Night Out
$185Saturday means Chatuchak, one of the world's biggest weekend markets, followed by a food market nearby and a lazy afternoon. The evening is a Sukhumvit bar crawl with your friends. It's also Father's Day, so expect a festive mood.
Chatuchak Saturday & Sukhumvit Night Out
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Go early to avoid the worst heat. Browse the vintage clothing, ceramics, plants, home decor and local designer stalls, and graze on coconut ice cream and street snacks. Allow budget for shopping and bargain politely.
Or Tor Kor Market Lunch
Walk across the road to one of Bangkok's best fresh markets. It has pristine fruit, ready-to-eat curries and regional specialities. It's a great place to sample Thai fruit.
Soi 11 Dinner & Bar Hop with Friends
After a rest at the hotel, meet your Sukhumvit friends for dinner and a bar crawl along Soi 11. The soi has cocktail bars, clubs and late-night eateries. Take taxis or BTS between venues.
4A Day on the Chao Phraya
$210Spend the day on the river. Explore the quiet canals of Thonburi by longtail boat, then shop and eat at ICONSIAM. In the evening a dinner cruise shows the illuminated skyline.
A Day on the Chao Phraya
Private Longtail Boat Through Thonburi's Khlongs
Hire a private longtail boat from the pier near the Grand Palace. It goes through quiet canals lined with stilt houses, temples and orchid farms, and gives a close view of old riverside Bangkok. Agree the price and duration before boarding.
ICONSIAM Lunch & Shopping
Take a river ferry to ICONSIAM. SookSiam, the indoor floating-market food hall, has regional Thai dishes. Afterwards browse the luxury and Thai craft shops, then rest before the cruise.
Chao Phraya Sunset Dinner Cruise
Board an evening dinner cruise with a buffet or set menu and live music. Pass Wat Arun and the Grand Palace lit up at night. It's the best way to see the riverside landmarks after dark.
5Siam Style & Khao San Nights
$168Spend the day in the Siam district with silk heritage and shopping, then cross town for the backpacker energy of Khao San and Soi Rambuttri after dark.
Siam Style & Khao San Nights
Jim Thompson House Museum
Tour the teak house of the American silk entrepreneur, which has Asian art and a tropical garden. It's a calm way to start the day. Guided tours in English run regularly.
MBK Center & Siam Shopping
Walk to MBK for bargain shopping and Thai street-style fashion. Grab lunch at a food court, then browse Siam Square's boutiques and Siam Paragon's gourmet food hall.
Soi Rambuttri Dinner
Take a taxi or the MRT and river ferry to the Khao San area. Have dinner at an open-air restaurant on the leafy, lantern-lit Soi Rambuttri, with pad thai, grilled seafood and cold beers.
Khao San Road Night
Join the buzzing crowds on Khao San Road, with street food carts, bars, live music and neon signs. Browse the stalls, try a bucket drink or fried insects, and end the night with a local beer.
6Farewell Brunch & Sky-High Sunset
$190A relaxed last day. Brunch in Sukhumvit, final shopping at Terminal 21, then a farewell sunset at one of the city's most famous rooftop bars. No departure time was given, so plan around your flight.
Farewell Brunch & Sky-High Sunset
Phrom Phong Brunch
Have a slow brunch at a cafe near Phrom Phong. Order Thai-inspired brunch dishes and iced coffee, and say your goodbyes to your Sukhumvit friends.
Terminal 21 Souvenir Shopping
Shop at the airport-themed Terminal 21 for last-minute gifts. It has Thai fashion labels, quirky souvenirs and a top-floor food court with good cheap eats.
Sunset at Sky Bar, Lebua
Finish with sunset cocktails at the iconic open-air Sky Bar on the 64th floor, with panoramic views over the Chao Phraya. Smart dress code applies, and arriving by 17:00 helps you get a good spot.