Bangkok & Pattaya Itinerary (5 days)

This itinerary will cover Bangkok, Kanchanaburi and Pattaya over 5 days. To see another related itinerary, please check out the 9 day itinerary for Ayutthaya, Bangkok & Hua Hin

Trip Summary

• Trip length and when did I go? 5 days in September 2013
• How much did it cost me? MYR 900 

At A Glance

• Day 1 - Kuala Lumpur ‣ Bangkok

 Fly from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok ‣  Chatuchak night market ‣  Patpong night market ‣  Overnight in I Residence Silom

• Day 2 - Bangkok

 Day trip by boat along the Chao Phraya ‣  Wat Arun ‣  Wat Pho ‣  Grand Palace ‣  Lunch at Khaosan road ‣  Yaowarat road ‣  Evening at Skybar at Lebua State Tower ‣  Overnight in I Residence Silom

• Day 3 - Bangkok ‣ Kanchanaburi ‣ Bangkok

 Day trip to Kanchanaburi by tour ‣  Damnoen Saduak floating market ‣  Bridge on the River Kwai ‣  Tiger Temple ‣  Overnight in I Residence Silom

• Day 4 - Bangkok ‣ Pattaya ‣ Bangkok

 Bus from Bangkok to Pattaya ‣  Day trip to Koh Larn island by ferry ‣  Big Buddha Hill ‣  Pattaya Walking Street ‣  Bus from Pattaya back to Bangkok ‣  Overnight in I Residence Silom

• Day 5 - Bangkok ‣ Kuala Lumpur 

 Check-out from I Residence Silom ‣  Lumpini park ‣  Shopping at Siam Paragon & MBK Centre ‣  Fly from Bangkok back to Kuala Lumpur

Itinerary Map (click to view POIs and routes)

DAY 1

Arrival & Chatuchak Market

• 5.00 pm - Arrival at Don Mueang International airport
• Immigration clearance
• 6.00 pm - Ride A1 bus to Mo Chit BTS station - 30 baht
• 6.30 pm - Hopped off at Mo Chit. Walked to Chatuchak Market (under 10 minutes)
• Chatuchak market was already closing, but fortunately there's still the night market. Decided to spend some time in the night market
• Light dinner - Pork satay (10 baht) & orange juice (20 baht)

Taking the A1 bus to Mo Chit

Chatuchak market was already closed by the time we were there, but the night market is still equally as interesting

Hotel Check-In

• 8.00 pm - Ride the MRT from the nearby Kamphaeng Phet station to Silom station - 42 baht
• 8.30 pm - Walk from Silom station to Sala Daeng BTS station (under 15 minutes). Took skytrain to Chong Nonsi station - 15 baht
• Walk to I-Residence Silom, which is located right in front of Chong Nonsi
• 9.00 pm - Check-in to I Residence Silom. Staying for 4 nights - accommodation and flight was booked with Expedia (total cost - 5,500 baht)

The place we stayed for the entire duration of our visit to Bangkok. Very conveniently located, it's right in front of Chong Nonsi BTS station

Patpong

• 10.00 pm - Ride skytrain from Chong Nonsi to Sala Daeng BTS station - 15 baht
• Dinner - Thai pork noodles (60 baht)
• 10.30 pm - Walk around Patpong red light district and market. Plenty of touts, just ignore when you see them unless you want to risk getting scammed
• Patpong night market stays open until 2 am. Items sold there are pretty pricey in my opinion. Decided to leave our shopping until our last day here as there are better places to get souvenirs
• 12.00 am - Walk back to hotel (under 30 minutes)

Patpong, one of Bangkok's infamous red light districts

Patpong night market

DAY 2

Pre-day

• 7.30 am - Wake up and breakfast at hotel
• Walk to Chong Nonsi BTS station and bought the one-day pass for BTS (allows unlimited rides on skytrain for one day) - 130 baht
• 8.30 am - Ride skytrain to Saphan Taksin BTS station - 25 baht
• 9.00 am - Walk to Sathorn pier (under 10 minutes) and bought one-day pass for tourist boat for 150 baht (allows unlimited rides on tourist boats for one day)

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)

• 9.15 am - Ride tourist boat to Tha Thien pier. Wat Arun is located across the river from Tha Thien.
• Take a ferry from Tha Thien to Wat Arun - 3 baht
• 10.00 am - Arrival at Wat Arun. Bought ticket for entry into Wat Arun - 50 baht
• Quick photo ops at the top. Exit Wat Arun and explored the surrounding areas
• 11.00 am - Ride ferry back to Tha Thien - 3 baht

Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn

The view from the top of Wat Arun

Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)

• 11.30 am - Walk from Tha Thien pier to Wat Pho (under 15 minutes)
• Paid for admission into Wat Pho - 100 baht (inclusive of free drinking water)
• Visited points of interest, including the Reclining Buddha, Phra Buddha Theva Pattimakorn and the surrounding areas in the temple complex
• 12.40 pm - Exit Wat Pho and proceeded on foot to Grand Palace

The big reclining Buddha in Wat Pho

Phra Buddha Theva Pattimakorn

The Grand Palace

• 1.10 pm - Quick photo stops along the way and arrival at Grand Palace entrance. Admission is 400 baht and there's a strict dress code for those who wish to enter the palace grounds
• Travel partner wasn't too keen on entering, therefore decided to view only from the outside
• 1.30 pm - Exit Grand Palace and photo ops in the surrounding areas before heading to Tha Chang pier (under 15 minutes) 

The entrance to the Grand Palace. Proper attire is required for entry

The Grand Palace grounds

Khaosan Road

• Arrival at Tha Chang pier. Walk around the market nearby the pier before taking the boat to Phra Athit pier
• 2.00 pm - Arrival at Phra Athit pier. Walk around Soi Rambuttri to look for cheap tour packages to Kanchanaburi.
• Managed to find one for 1,300 baht, but decided to check out Khaosan road first before deciding
• Lunch at Khaosan road - Economy rice (40 baht)
• 2.30 pm - Walk around Khaosan road, but nothing much is going on at the moment. Decided to come back here again at a later time
• Head back to Soi Rambuttri and bought the Kanchanaburi tour package after asking around in Khaosan road - 1,300 baht
• Went back to Phra Athit to ride the boat to Yaowarat road

Walking around Soi Rambuttri

The world famous Khaosan Road, a mecca for backpackers from all around the world

Yaowarat Road

• 4.00 pm - Hopped off at Rajchawongse pier 
• Walk to Yaowarat Road (under 15 minutes). Made several quick photo stops along the way
• Grabbed some quick snacks at Yaowarat Road 

Yaowarat Road, Bangkok's Chinatown

Back to the hotel

• 5.00 pm - Ride boat to Sathorn pier from Rajchawongse
• Ride skytrain to Chong Nonsi from Saphan Taksin BTS station - 25 baht
• Quick shower and relax at hotel

Taking the boat back to Sathorn pier

Skybar at Lebua State Tower

• 6.00 pm - Get dressed and depart hotel for Lebua State Tower
• Dress in smart casual attire as there's a rather strict dress code to adhere if you wish to enter the skybar
• Ride skytrain to Saphan Taksin from Chong Nonsi BTS station - 25 baht
• Walk to Lebua State Tower from Saphan Taksin station (under 10 minutes)
• 6.30 pm - Arrival at Lebua State Tower. Took the elevator up to the top floor from the hotel lobby. Was asked by waiting staff whether you came here for drinks or dinner. Just answered "drinks" and was brought to a waiting area where I could order drinks. Ordered expensive orange juice - 350 baht
• Sunset views at the skybar. The views you get here are pretty amazing. Wait till nightfall to see the real magic
• 9.00 pm - Return to hotel by walking back to Saphan Taksin BTS station and then taking the skytrain back to Chong Nonsi - 25 baht

The golden dome of Lebua State Tower. The skybar has a strict dress code, make sure you dress appropriately or you might be denied from entering

The view from Skybar at Lebua State Tower

DAY 3

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

• 5.00 am - Wake up and quick shower. Bought a tour package to Kanchanaburi and had to be at the travel agent's office in Khaosan road by 7 am
• 5.45 am - Walk to Chong Nonsi BTS station and ride the first skytrain out to Saphan Taksin station - 25 baht
• Walk to Sathorn pier (under 10 minutes)
• The ticketing booth was closed (tourist boats only start their operations at 9 am). Asked around and I took a taxi boat to Phra Athit - 15 baht
• 6.30 am - Arrival at Phra Athit pier. Walk to Khaosan road (under 15 minutes) and waited at the travel agent's office
• 7.30 am - Pick up at the travel agent's office by van. There was a short delay as it still needed to ferry some passengers around
• 10.00 am - Arrival at Damnoen Saduak floating market
• Breakfast - Pork satay (50 baht)
• 10.20 am - Floating market sightseeing on rowboat (included in tour package)
• 11.00 am - Ride longtail boat to surrounding villages near the floating market (included in tour package)
• 11.30 am - Van pickup, heading to Kanchanaburi district

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. The place felt overly touristy to me, every few minutes you'll be prompted to buy something and it does get annoying at times

Riding a longtail boat to the surrounding villages

Bridge on the River Kwai

• 12.00 pm - Stopover for lunch enroute to Kanchanaburi district
• Lunch - Rice with mixed dishes (included in the tour package)
• 1.00 pm - Arrival at the Bridge on the River Kwai
• Photo op at the bridge and the JEATH war museum
• Admission into JEATH war museum is only 30 baht, but didn't enter as I didn't have much interest for museums
• 2.00 pm - Van pickup, heading to Tiger Temple

Bridge on the River Kwai, Kanchanaburi

Walking over the bridge to the other side 

JEATH Museum, Kanchanaburi

Tiger Temple

• Updated in 2016: The Tiger Temple was shut down recently due to animal abuse and trafficking, so you can leave off this part of the itinerary
• 3.00 pm - Arrival at Tiger Temple entrance
• Admission into Tiger Temple is 600 baht (included in tour package)

• Some simple tips to follow: Try not to wear bright clothing (especially red) and don't try to taunt the animals as they may attack when threatened

• Tiger temple sightseeing. Nothing much to see in the temple though, as it was still undergoing heavy renovation. Had a once-in-a-lifetime chance to touch an actual tiger
• 5.00 pm - Van pickup, depart for Bangkok

Just a tiger taking a nap in Tiger Temple, Kanchanaburi

A monk feeding the largest tiger in the sanctuary

Back at Khaosan Road

• 7.00 pm - Arrival in Khaosan road. It was already dark by then, which is very good timing as I've wanted to see Khaosan road at night
• Dinner - Padthai (40 baht)
• Khaosan road & Soi Rambuttri sightseeing

Night time in Khaosan Road 

An evening walk around Soi Rambuttri

Back to hotel by boat

• 8.00 pm - Walk to Phra Athit pier (last boat is at 8.00 pm, any later than this, you may have to catch a tuk-tuk back)
• 8.20 pm - Boat arrives. Ride boat back to Sathorn pier - 15 baht
• 8.50 pm - Ride skytrain back to Chong Nonsi from Saphan Taksin station - 25 baht
• Walk to hotel from Chong Nonsi station

Rama VIII bridge at night, seen from Phra Athit pier

View of Wat Arun at night time

DAY 4

Pattaya to Bangkok by bus

• 7.00 am - Wake up and breakfast at the hotel
• 8.00 am - Ride skytrain from Chong Nonsi to Ekkamai station (transit at Siam station) - 42 baht
• 8.45 am - Arrival at Ekkamai BTS station. Walk to Ekkamai bus station (under 5 minutes)
• Bought one way ticket for the 9.30 am bus to Pattaya - 124 baht

Arrival in Pattaya

• 12.00 pm - Arrival in Pattaya. The bus stops at Roong Rueang bus terminal. Enquired about the departure times, the last bus to Bangkok leaves at 11.00 pm
• Ride songthaew to Pattaya beach - 35 baht. Hopped off near the Royal Cruise hotel (building that looks like a ship). You can take the songthaew all the way to Walking Street if you like.
• Walk along Pattaya beach to Walking Street (30 minutes)
• Walking Street sightseeing. Not much going on at the moment, so decided to do a side trip to Koh Larn first

Walking along Pattaya beach 

Pattaya Walking Street. Nothing much to see during the day though

Pattaya to Koh Larn and back by ferry

• 1.30 pm - Walk to Bali Hai pier from Walking Street (under 5 minutes)
• Bought ticket for 2.00 pm ferry to Koh Larn - 30 baht
• 2.45 pm - Arrival at Naban port in Koh Larn
• Walk around Naban port and rented a scooter for a day - 200 baht
• Visited the following points of interest (mainly beaches) in Koh Larn: Nual, Samae, Thien and Tawaen beach. My personal favorite is Thien beach
• Ride the 5.00 pm ferry back to Bali Hai pier in Pattaya - 30 baht (tickets can be bought directly at the Naban port pier)

Taking the ferry to Koh Larn island, just 45 minutes away from Pattaya

Thien Beach, my favorite beach in Koh Larn

Big Buddha Hill - Wang Sam Sien & Wat Phra Yai

• 5.45 pm - Arrival at Bali Hai pier
• Walk to Big Buddha hill (under 20 minutes). The way up wasn't exactly easy to find, had to ask around and finally managed to find it after a few trial and errors
• 6.20 pm - Quick photo stop at Wang Sam Sien temple
• Sightseeing in Wat Phra Yai. Very good views of Jomtien and Pattaya from up here
• 7.00 pm - Head down to Pattaya Walking Street

Interesting depictions of Chinese folklore in Wang Sam Sien Temple

Stairway to Wat Phra Yai. You can get a pretty good view of Jomtien at the top

Pattaya Walking Street & Back to Bangkok

• 7.30 pm - Quick photo stop at Bali Hai pier (good views of the Pattaya city skyline from here) & sightseeing in Walking Street
• 8.15 pm - Meet up with travel partner and ride a cab back to the Roong Rueang bus station - 200 baht. Tried to take a songthaew back to the bus station but the driver wanted to charge 150 baht per person
• 8.35 pm - Arrival at bus station. Bought ticket for the 9.00 pm bus back to Bangkok - 124 baht
• 11.00 pm - Arrival at Ekkamai bus station. Ride skytrain back to Chong Nonsi (transit at Siam station) - 42 baht
• Walk back to hotel from Chong Nonsi station

Pattaya Walking Street at night

Pattaya beach road 

DAY 5

Lumpini Park

• 8.00 am - Wake up and breakfast in the hotel
• 9.00 am - Hotel check-out
• Ride skytrain from Chong Nonsi to Sala Daeng station - 15 baht
• Walk to Lumpini Park from Sala Daeng (under 15 minutes)
• 9.30 am - Photo ops in Lumpini Park

Lumpini Park, Bangkok's largest park

Siam Paragon & Siam Center

• 10.30 am - Walk back to Sala Daeng BTS station. Ride skytrain to Siam station - 22 baht
• Last minute shopping in Siam Paragon
• Walk to Siam Center and Discovery Mall for some sightseeing

The entrance to Siam Paragon, one of Bangkok's most popular shopping malls

Siam Center, located just next to Siam Paragon

MBK Center

• 12.00 pm - Ride skytrain to National Stadium station - 15 baht
• Walk to MBK Center (under 5 minutes)
• Last minute shopping in MBK. One of the best places in Bangkok to get souvenirs
• Lunch - Fried rice (50 baht)

MBK Center to Don Mueang international airport

• 2.00 pm - Ride skytrain to Mo Chit station (transit at Siam station) - 42 baht
• Ride A1 bus back to Don Mueang international airport to catch flight home - 30 baht

MBK Center, one of the best places in Bangkok for souvenir hunting

Last minute shopping before the flight home

Trip Cost & Expenses

How much?	What for?
THB 2,868	Ground Cost
THB 60	A1 bus to & from Don Mueang international airport
THB 615	Transportation around Bangkok (by MRT, skytrain & boat)
THB 50	Entrance ticket – Wat Arun
THB 100	Entrance ticket – Wat Pho
THB 1,300	Floating market, Kanchanaburi & Tiger Temple tour package
THB 248	Bus from Bangkok to Pattaya and back
THB 235	Transportation around Pattaya
THB 60	Ferry to & from Koh Larn island
THB 200	Scooter rental in Koh Larn island (1 day)
THB 5,500	Flight & Accommodation
THB 5,500	Accommodation (4 nights) & return flight from & to Bangkok
THB 620	Misc
THB 620	Food & Drink
THB 8,988	Total

How much did it cost me?

• In local currency: THB 8,988
• Conversion rate (at the time): MYR 1 = THB 9.80
• After conversion: MYR 917 (for 5 days)