Thailand has always been on top of my list so it was beyond exciting for me to finally visit this past month. I spent two days in Bangkok and two days in Chiang Mai and the experience was more than I could imagine. I also really wanted to explore Phuket but it was quite far and Thailand was the second half of my Asia trip, so I didn’t really have time. The positive is that I definitely want to return and would explore the islands the next time I am there.

For first time explorers like me, I highly recommend doing Bangkok and Chiang Mai together, with Bangkok being the first stop because it’s a great way to explore the city life, while using the later half of the trip to relax and admire the cultural ambiance of Chiang Mai. Bangkok was exciting and fueled my energy for my Thailand adventures. It’s obviously a busy city so I thrived off the constant movement. I don’t think you need more than three days in Bangkok, so if you only have 48 hours like me, here are my top highlights and recommendations that I would suggest:

BANGKOK

• TEMPLES : As many of you know, temples are a huge attraction in Thailand. I was a bit overwhelmed by all the options since there are 400 temples and I didn’t know how to narrow them down. Since I stayed at Shangri-La Bangkok, I decided to explore the ones that were near the hotel, which included Wat Pho and Wat Phra Krew. It’s important to remember that these temples are sacred sites, so be cautious of your clothing as you are not allowed to wear anything that shows too much skin. A shawl would be great to cover your shoulders and upper body and I would make sure whatever bottoms you choose to wear are below the knee. Both temples were absolutely stunning and I was completely mesmerized by the decor and grand interior. I have visited temples in the past, so I was familiar with the peaceful energy and it was exactly what I needed to be present and detach my life in NYC to fully absorb the beauty that Bangkok had to offer.

• MUSEUMS: Since we are in the age of social media, it’s no surprise that I did some Instagram stalking for Bangkok prior to my trip. I stumbled across a photo that was taken at Bangkok Art & Cultural Centre and knew immediately that I wanted to visit. The BACC is  “an art gallery that creates a variety of knowledge to create a sustainable society” and is “an organization aimed at excellence at the international level.” The space offers many activities and attractions including art exhibits and galleries, shops and cafes and monthly events. I have to confess that I didn’t exactly know what the purpose of this gallery was since I instantly judged it based on the amazing interior. However, I am glad I visited because not only did I satisfy my initial desire for photos, but I was able to learn more about Thai artists and works. I find it fascinating to learn about different cultures, especially in the art landscape since it’s often different from that of America.

• CHINATOWN: Chinatown is a vibrant neighborhood in Bangkok that offers everything a tourist and local can ask for including delicious street foods and local restaurants and shops. Included in this must-do is obviously taking a tuk tuk since that’s one of the main mode of transportation in Thailand. It was exhilarating to ride in a tuk tuk because I felt in flow with the traffic. Yes, it can be a little dangerous but I simply let go of my fear and enjoyed the rides as it was such an essential part of being in Thailand. There are endless options for street food and local restaurants to eat so I would say try as much as you can! You definitely have to get the Thai Bubble Tea because it’s out of the world.
  
  
• FLOATING MARKETS: A friend told me if there’s only one thing I could do in Bangkok, it would be the floating markets. I was aware of what this is based on reading previous articles on Thailand, so I definitely added this into my itinerary. There are many options to choose from, but the one I would recommend would be Damnoen Saduak Floating Market since it’s the most popular floating market in Thailand. Try to book this in advanced as it does fill up rather quickly. Our tour began with a meet up time at 8 AM. We drove a few hours and made our first stop to an Orchid Farm where they showed us how they produced coconut and sugar. There was also a cute tree house, which makes for great photos! We were then transferred to Damnoen Saduk Floating Market and the experience was remarkable. The boat that brought us into the narrow canals is far from the one I took in Venice but it was still enjoyable because we were extremely close to the vendors that were on the sidelines of the interconnected waterways. You simply flag to the boat operator whenever you were interested in an item and can shop from the vendors up close. After the floating market, you can also shop and eat since there is a huge space that offers something similar to the floating markets except it would be on land.
  
• NIGHTLIFE: I’m not a huge nightlife person especially when it comes to traveling, but I did visit Sky Bar since it was only a 10 minute walk from my Shangri-La hotel and it’s made popular due to the movie Hangover. I’m actually extremely glad that I did visit because the view from above is breathtaking. There are other bars throughout the building that you can also visit including an all pink bar! There is live music and the vibe is indescribable. It’s a great spot for a date but also a night out with your girls!

• NIGHT MARKETS: You simply can’t visit Bangkok without visiting the night markets. There is nothing I love more than food and shopping. Similar to what you can find in the daytime in Chinatown, you can find at the night markets, but there’s something more magical and lively when it’s happening at night. I took the ferry from the pier that was located just minutes from my Shangri-La hotel and explored ASIATIQUE The Riverfront, a night bazaar and mall combined. The ferry ride is an experience itself and I was a little girl, filled with excitement when I got off. Don’t be surprised if you get a little overwhelmed by everything the market has to offer because there’s a lot! You are surrounded by tons of shops and boutiques, restaurants, vendors and even activities such as a ferris wheel and merry go round. This is where I experienced the fish foot massage and I can’t even begin to describe my experience. For those who aren’t familiar, a fish foot massage is almost like a pedicure without the polish.  Tiny toothless carp (Garra rufa) nibble on your feet and remove dead skin, exposing new ones. The feeling is more like a tickling sensation and a bit uncomfortable, but not painful. For the first 2-3 minutes, I kept taking my feet out because it was so odd to have fish attack your feet. However, I made sure to calm myself and tried to relax my body. I did manage to survive the 20 minutes and my feet definitely felt more smooth afterwards. I’m not sure if I would try it again but for those who never tried it, I would say do it for the experience!

These top recommendations should fill up your 48 hours in Bangkok! I usually suggest doing the more tourist activities in the morning such as the temples, museums and floating markets. I would then reserve the evening for the nightlife and night market since those only happen at night anyways. I already miss Bangkok and would recommend visiting if you haven’t since it’s extremely inexpensive and you will truly take away some great memories and stories!