Bangkok rewards travellers who skip the obvious and wander one street over. This is the loop we'd walk if we only had two days and wanted every meal to be worth it.
Day 1: Chinatown to Ari
Start at the Yaowarat food stalls before 6pm, while the queues are still short. Head north to Ari in the evening — it's quieter, full of independent coffee shops, and a fraction of the price of Sukhumvit.
The best meal we had cost under $3 and came from a stall with no sign, just a queue of regulars.
Where to stay
Pick a hotel near the BTS Ari or Phrom Phong stations — both put you within a 20-minute ride of everywhere on this list, without paying Sukhumvit prices for the room itself.
Day 2: Old Town by boat
Take the Chao Phraya express boat instead of a taxi — it's cheaper, faster in traffic, and gives you a proper look at the city from the water on the way to the Grand Palace and Wat Arun.
Full deal-checked flight and hotel packages for Bangkok are on the Deals page — we refresh them daily.