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Thailand · 7 days · checked 30 October 2026

Thailand itinerary: 7 days (Bangkok and Chiang Mai)

A first-timer's week: three days in Bangkok for the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, the river and Chinatown, then the overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai for temples, an ethical elephant sanctuary and Doi Suthep. We chose Chiang Mai over the islands because November to February is its cool, dry best season, it is one train or one 1 h 20 m flight from Bangkok, and the night train saves a hotel night; the Gulf islands are in their rainy season from November, and the Andaman islands cost half a day each way in flights, transfers and ferries. The pace is steady, not rushed. Expect about $410 per person on a shoestring, $710 mid-range and $1,160 comfortable, excluding international flights.

BangkokChiang Mai
Budget, per person$410hostels, street food
Mid-range, per person$710double rooms, sit-down meals
Comfort, per person$1,160upper mid-range

On the ground for the whole trip, excluding international flights. Per person, 7 days and 6 nights (2 hotel nights in Bangkok, 1 night on the train, 3 in Chiang Mai), at 33 THB to $1.

When to go

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

November to January is the sweet spot: dry, and cool in Chiang Mai. Late February to April is smoke season in the north; in 2026 Chiang Mai was ranked the world's most polluted major city for several days around 1 April, and the haze only cleared in late April. If you travel in March or April, swap Chiang Mai for the Andaman coast (Krabi or Phuket). May to October is the rainy season. Bangkok had severe flooding in late September 2026 (all 50 districts declared disaster areas); it receded within days, but check before travelling in September and October.

Before you go: UK FCDO (updated 12 October 2026, still current 29 October) advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the land border with Cambodia (land crossings are suspended after the 2025 clashes), and to Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces, four districts of southern Songkhla, and the Hat Yai to Padang Besar railway. The US State Department rates Thailand Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) with increased caution near the Thai-Cambodian border and in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat. This route (Bangkok and Chiang Mai) enters none of these areas. Travel against FCDO advice can void your insurance. Bangkok was declared a disaster area after floods in late September 2026; the water receded within days, but allow extra time to the airport in heavy rain. Chiang Mai air quality is often unhealthy from late February to April.

Visa and entry

From 15 September 2026 Thailand cut its visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days, tourism only, for 60 countries including the UAE, India, the US, the UK and every EU country. UAE residency gives you nothing on its own: it depends on your passport. UAE, Indian, US, UK and EU passport holders can stay up to 30 days visa-free; residents of the UAE holding a passport that is not on the list must apply online at thaievisa.go.th (the Abu Dhabi embassy no longer takes paper applications). Everyone must fill in the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) at tdac.immigration.go.th within 3 days before arrival. Carry a passport valid 6 months with a blank page, proof of onward travel, and be ready to show THB 10,000 per person in funds. The long-discussed THB 300 tourist entry fee was not in force as far as we could confirm; check before you fly.

Official sources: tatnews.org, newdelhi.thaiembassy.org, abudhabi.thaiembassy.org, thaievisa.go.th.

Is a transport pass worth it?

Not worth buying a pass. The BTS one-day pass costs THB 140 (some sources say 150) and covers the BTS only, not the MRT, boats or Airport Rail Link. BTS single fares run about THB 17 to 62, so the pass only pays off if you make four or more BTS rides of THB 35 or more in one day. This plan uses the MRT Blue Line and the river as much as the BTS. The Rabbit card has an issue fee (reported THB 100 plus a minimum top-up) that you will not earn back in three days. The one exception is the Blue Flag river boat: a day pass is THB 150 against THB 40 a hop, so buy it on Day 2 only if you plan four or more hops. In Chiang Mai there is no pass; use Grab and red songthaews.

The day-by-day plan

Day 1: Arrive, the river and Chinatown street food

Base: Bangkok

Morning

Land at Suvarnabhumi (BKK). Clear immigration with your TDAC done in advance. Buy a tourist SIM at the arrivals counters (AIS around exit gates 6-7, True/dtac around 7-9) or skip it and buy cheaper at a 7-Eleven in town.

How: Take the Airport Rail Link from the basement level to Phaya Thai (end of the line), then the BTS Sukhumvit Line to Siam and change to the BTS Silom Line for Sala Daeng or Saphan Taksin. For Banglamphu, take the Airport Rail Link to Makkasan, cross to MRT Phetchaburi, and ride the MRT Blue Line to Sam Yot.

Time: About 1 h to your hotel (check: we could not confirm the rail ride time) · Cost: Airport Rail Link THB 15-45 (Phaya Thai is THB 45, about $1.40); BTS THB 17-62

Tip: Trains run about 05:30 to midnight, every 10-15 minutes. The line is changing operator on 1 February 2027, so fares may change after that. A metered taxi instead costs the meter plus a THB 50 airport surcharge plus expressway tolls; use the official public-taxi queue only.

Afternoon

Check in, sleep off the flight, then ride the river at golden hour on the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat (Blue Flag) from Sathorn pier up past Wat Arun and the Grand Palace.

How: BTS Silom Line to Saphan Taksin, walk down to Sathorn (Central) pier, Blue Flag boat. It runs daily 08:30-19:40, about every 30 minutes.

Time: 1-2 h · Cost: THB 40 a hop (about $1.20) or THB 150 for a day pass

Tip: The cheaper Orange Flag boat (THB 19) now runs only on weekday rush hours. Daytime and weekends it is replaced by the Yellow Flag (THB 24), which skips some tourist piers. For sightseeing, the Blue Flag is simplest.

Evening

Chinatown (Yaowarat Road) street food. Start with rolled noodle soup at Nai Ek Roll Noodles, then pepper-broth rolled noodles at Guay Jub Ouan Pochana (408 Yaowarat Road, opens 18:00).

How: MRT Blue Line to Wat Mangkon (from the Silom area: BTS Sala Daeng, cross to MRT Si Lom).

Time: 2-3 h · Cost: THB 300-600 per person for a full food crawl (about $9-18)

Tip: Go after 19:00 when the street stalls are fully set up. Bring small notes.

Where to sleep: Silom / Sathorn, near BTS Saphan Taksin or Sala Daeng: on the BTS and MRT, two stops from the river boats, with easy airport access. Shoestring: Banglamphu near the old town (MRT Sam Yot), cheaper and walkable to the temples but further from the BTS.
Budget: Hostel bed or basic room about $16-32 a night (check live rates) · Mid: 3-4 star room about $32-96 a night (check live rates) · Comfort: 5-star river hotel from about $148 a night on average; top riverside hotels from about £340 (check live rates)
Eat: Nai Ek Roll Noodles, Chinatown: rolled noodle soup THB 70 / 100 / 150 by size. Guay Jub Ouan Pochana, 408 Yaowarat Road: small bowl THB 60, large THB 100, open 18:00-03:00.
If it rains: Skip the boat. Go straight to Chinatown by MRT; most of the stalls have awnings, and the MRT gets you door to door.

Day 2: Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun

Base: Bangkok

Morning

Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (the Emerald Buddha) at opening. One ticket also covers the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles.

How: MRT Blue Line to Sanam Chai, then walk about 15 minutes north. Or the Blue Flag boat from Sathorn to Tha Chang (N9); the first boat leaves around 08:30, so the MRT gets you in earlier.

Time: 2-2.5 h · Cost: THB 500 (about $15) for foreigners

Tip: Opens 08:30, tickets sold until 15:30. Be at the gate by 08:30 before the tour groups. Dress code is strictly checked: no sleeveless tops, short tops, see-through tops, shorts, mini skirts, torn or tight trousers. Wear sleeves and long trousers or a long skirt. Ignore anyone outside who says it is closed; check only at the official ticket gate.

Late morning

Wat Pho: the 46 m reclining Buddha and the best-kept temple grounds in the old town. Then lunch nearby.

How: Walk south from the Grand Palace along Sanam Chai Road, about 10 minutes.

Time: 1-1.5 h · Cost: THB 300 (about $9)

Tip: Advance tickets are sold at watphobooking.com at least 24 h ahead; walk-up tickets are fine outside holidays. Pay cash at the booth.

Afternoon

Cross the river to Wat Arun and climb the lower terraces of the central prang. Then ride the Blue Flag boat back to Sathorn and rest at the hotel through the hottest hours.

How: Cross-river ferry from Tha Tien pier (behind Wat Pho) to Wat Arun. Return on the Blue Flag boat from Wat Arun pier (W) to Sathorn.

Time: 1 h at Wat Arun, 30 min boat · Cost: Wat Arun THB 200 (about $6); ferry about THB 4; Blue Flag THB 40

Tip: Check Wat Arun's closing time on the day; sources disagree.

Evening

Pad thai at Thipsamai, the old-town shop famous for egg-wrapped pad thai, then a walk down to the floodlit temples.

How: MRT Blue Line to Sam Yot, then 10 minutes on foot along Maha Chai Road. Grab or a metered taxi back.

Time: 1-1.5 h including the queue · Cost: Egg-wrapped pad thai about THB 150; orange juice THB 100-199

Tip: Sources disagree on hours and closing day (one says closed Tuesday). Check before you go, and expect a queue at peak dinner time.

Where to sleep: Same hotel as Day 1.
Budget: As Day 1 · Mid: As Day 1 · Comfort: As Day 1
Eat: Thipsamai, Maha Chai Road: egg-wrapped pad thai about THB 150, the signature orange juice THB 100-199. For lunch near Wat Pho, any shophouse on Maharat Road; check prices on the board.
If it rains: Temples are mostly open-air but the Grand Palace halls and Wat Pho's Buddha hall are covered. In a downpour, do the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, skip Wat Arun, and use the MRT instead of the boat.

Get the full 7-day itinerary (PDF)

Print it, save it to your phone, or attach it to your visa application.

Full PDF coming soon

Days 1 and 2 are free above. The full PDF goes on sale shortly.

Day 3: Market or Jim Thompson House, then the night train north· in the full PDF

Base: Bangkok to Chiang Mai (overnight train)

Saturday or Sunday: Chatuchak Weekend Market.

Day 4: Old City temples and khao soi· in the full PDF

Base: Chiang Mai

Arrive 07:15.

Day 5: Elephant Nature Park· in the full PDF

Base: Chiang Mai

A day at Elephant Nature Park, a rescue sanctuary with no riding and no shows.

Day 6: Doi Suthep and a slow last afternoon· in the full PDF

Base: Chiang Mai

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the gold chedi on the mountain above the city, with views over Chiang Mai on a clear day.

Day 7: Fly back to Suvarnabhumi for your flight home· in the full PDF

Base: Chiang Mai to Bangkok (departure)

Breakfast and a last walk, then to Chiang Mai airport (CNX).

Get all 7 days in full →

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Sources

We checked 54 sources for this itinerary, official ones first. Prices change; check before you book.

Trip Under is reader-planned, not a travel agency. Prices and rules were checked on 30 October 2026 and move with season and demand. Where a figure could not be confirmed we say "check".