Five Days in Thailand: Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Chiang Mai

The standard complaint about five days in Thailand is that it is not enough. It is not: but it is enough to understand why people keep coming back. This itinerary runs Bangkok for two days, Ayutthaya as a day trip, and Chiang Mai for two days. It skips the islands deliberately: getting to and from a southern island on a five-day window eats too much of the clock.

Before You Arrive: Visas and Entry Requirements

Thailand’s visa policy changed significantly in 2025 and 2026. The 60-day visa exemption that operated in 2024 was rolled back in May 2026; most nationalities including US, UK, EU and Australian citizens now receive a standard 30-day visa-free stay. If you want longer, apply for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) or a tourist visa at your nearest Thai consulate before travel.

Since 1 May 2025, all foreigners entering Thailand must complete a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before arrival. This replaced the paper TM6 form. The TDAC is free, completed online within 72 hours before arrival, and generates a QR code you show at immigration. Do this before you get to the airport.

Getting from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok City

Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) serves Bangkok’s international flights. The Airport Rail Link runs from the basement of the airport to Phaya Thai Station in approximately 30 minutes and costs THB 45 (around USD 1.30). From Phaya Thai you can transfer to the BTS Skytrain network and reach most central Bangkok areas for another THB 15 to THB 50. This is the fastest and cheapest option for the city centre and avoids the motorway traffic.

Metered taxis from the official taxi counters in the arrivals hall cost THB 200 to THB 400 plus the THB 75 expressway toll, depending on your destination and traffic. Grab (the regional equivalent of Uber) operates from the airport and quotes a price upfront.

Where to Stay

Bangkok has accommodation at every price point. The most convenient zones for five days using this itinerary are Sukhumvit (BTS access throughout the city, wide range of restaurants and bars), Silom/Sathorn (quieter, close to the riverside), or the old town area near Rattanakosin (best walking access to the Grand Palace but limited transport infrastructure).

Budget: Good hostels and guesthouses in Banglamphu (the Khao San Road area) run THB 300 to THB 700 per night (USD 8 to USD 20). Clean, well-located and very busy during peak months.

Mid-range: Ibis Bangkok Sukhumvit or Ibis Styles on Nana are consistent mid-range options at THB 1,500 to THB 2,500 (USD 40 to USD 70). The Sukhumvit strip has dozens of similar properties.

Luxury: Mandarin Oriental Bangkok (Riverside) and Peninsula Bangkok are among the best hotels in Southeast Asia. Both sit on the Chao Phraya River and both are genuinely extraordinary for a special occasion. Rates from THB 8,000 to THB 25,000+ per night.

In Chiang Mai, the old city (inside the moat) is the most convenient base. Guesthouses run THB 400 to THB 800, boutique hotels THB 1,500 to THB 4,000.

Day 1: Bangkok: Grand Palace and Riverside

The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) are non-negotiable on any first visit to Bangkok. They are crowded, they are worth it, and they require covered shoulders and long trousers or a sarong: rental wraps are available at the gate if you arrive unprepared. Entry costs THB 500 for foreigners. The Emerald Buddha is not large; the surrounding complex and the ceremonial halls are the main spectacle. Get there when it opens at 08:30 and you will have the first 45 minutes in notably lighter crowds.

Walk south from the Grand Palace to Wat Pho, home to the 46-metre reclining Buddha and one of the oldest massage schools in Bangkok. The temple entry is THB 300; a 30-minute traditional Thai foot massage in the school on the temple grounds costs THB 420 and is significantly better than most tourist massage parlours.

From Wat Pho, cross the Chao Phraya by the cross-river ferry (THB 5, runs constantly) to Wat Arun on the west bank. The temple’s central prang (tower) is covered in fragments of Chinese porcelain and catches light differently at different times of day; sunset from the ferry crossing back is particularly good.

Where to Eat Day 1: The area around Tha Tien pier near Wat Pho has excellent street food in the lanes back from the river: pad kra pao (basil stir-fry with rice) and tom yum soup from open-front shops for THB 60 to THB 120. For dinner, Chinatown (Yaowarat Road, 20 minutes by Grab from the Grand Palace) turns into one of Bangkok’s best street food strips from about 18:00: grilled seafood, roast duck, crab fried rice, raw oysters from vendors who have been at the same spots for generations.

Day 2: Bangkok: Temples, Markets and Nightlife

Wat Benchamabophit (the Marble Temple) in the Dusit district is quieter than the major sites and arguably more photogenic: white Carrara marble, a canal-fronted facade, and a gallery of Buddha images from across Asia. Entry THB 20. Early morning, when monks are present, is the best time.

Jim Thompson House in the Siam area preserves the Bangkok home of the American businessman who revived the Thai silk industry in the 1950s before disappearing without explanation in Malaysia in 1967. The guided tour covers six traditional Thai houses he assembled and his impressive collection of Southeast Asian antiques. Entry THB 200, mandatory guide included.

Chatuchak Weekend Market (Mo Chit, BTS/MRT intersection) operates on weekends only and is the largest market in Southeast Asia: over 8,000 stalls across 27 acres, selling everything from vintage clothing and ceramics to live plants and street food. Go early (08:00 to 10:00) before the heat builds.

The scam to know in Bangkok: Near the Grand Palace and major temples, you will encounter locals who approach you and say “The Grand Palace is closed today for a special ceremony” or “Wat Arun is closed this morning.” The closure is fabricated. They then offer to take you somewhere in a tuk-tuk: typically to a gem shop or tailor. The Grand Palace has no irregular closures for ceremonies; the tuk-tuk fare is inflated and the shops pay the driver commission. Walk past and continue to the entrance.

Where to Eat Day 2: Thipsamai on Mahachai Road is the most famous pad Thai restaurant in Bangkok and has been operating since 1966. Expect a queue of 20 to 40 minutes on weekday evenings; the wrapped-in-egg version and the version with river prawns are the ones to order. The total bill will be under THB 200 per person.

Day 3: Ayutthaya Day Trip

Ayutthaya, 80 km north of Bangkok, was the capital of the Kingdom of Siam from 1351 to 1767, when it was sacked and burned by a Burmese army. The ruins of the royal palaces, monasteries and prang towers that remain: now a UNESCO World Heritage Site: give a sense of a city that at its peak had a population of around one million and was one of the largest in the world.

The train from Bangkok Hua Lamphong (or Bang Sue Grand Station) to Ayutthaya runs frequently and costs THB 20 to THB 40 depending on class; the journey takes 75 to 90 minutes. A tuk-tuk hired for the day in Ayutthaya covers the spread-out historical park for THB 150 to THB 300 for the vehicle. Bicycles are also widely available to rent near the train station for THB 50 to THB 80 per day.

Wat Mahathat has the famous Buddha head enclosed in tree roots: one of the most reproduced images in Thai tourism. Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon has a large reclining Buddha and is still an active religious site. Wat Chaiwatthanaram, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya, has the most dramatic skyline of any site in Ayutthaya and is photogenic in the late afternoon light.

Day 4: Chiang Mai

Fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (CNX); flights take approximately one hour and cost THB 800 to THB 2,500 depending on airline and lead time. Air Asia, Nok Air and Thai Lion Air all run this route frequently.

Timing note: Do not visit Chiang Mai between mid-February and early April. The burning season: when farmers burn their fields and forests across the north: causes air quality in Chiang Mai to reach some of the worst particulate levels recorded anywhere in the world during this period. The air is visibly hazy, people wear masks outdoors, and the experience of the city is severely compromised. October through January is the best window for clear air and comfortable temperatures.

Chiang Mai’s old city sits within a square moat and contains several important temples. Wat Phra Singh has the most significant Buddha image in the city and a beautiful wihan (assembly hall) with gilded woodwork. Wat Chedi Luang has a partially ruined chedi (stupa) that was the city’s tallest structure in the fifteenth century; it is still impressive at two-thirds of its original height.

Where to Eat Day 4: The Saturday and Sunday Night Markets in Chiang Mai are tourist-facing but useful for khao soi, the signature northern Thai dish: a coconut-curry noodle soup served with crispy noodles and pickled mustard greens. It is not commonly available in Bangkok; Chiang Mai is where you eat it. Khao Soi Khun Yai on Nimman Road and Khao Soi Islam near Charoen Prathet Road are frequently recommended by people who live in the city.

Day 5: Elephant Sanctuary and Departure

Elephant Nature Park, founded by conservationist Lek Chailert, is the most established ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai and operates on a model that does not involve riding, performances or hooks. Day visits cost approximately USD 80 to USD 100 per person and include transport from the city, meals, and a full day interacting with and observing the sanctuary’s rescued elephants. Book in advance; spaces fill weeks ahead in peak season.

It is worth spending a moment on what “ethical” means in this context: sanctuaries that offer elephant riding or bathing on command are using elephants that have been trained through processes that cause suffering. Reputable sanctuaries allow the animals to move freely and interact on their own terms. Elephant Nature Park has been operating since the 1990s and its model is well-documented.

Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) has flights back to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi for same-day connections. For your return, book a Grab or use the airport tuk-tuks (negotiate price first).

Practical Notes

Cash: Thailand is still largely cash-based outside of major hotels and malls. ATMs are everywhere but charge a THB 220 to THB 250 foreign card fee per withdrawal; withdraw larger amounts less frequently. Street food and market vendors, temple admission, local tuk-tuks: all cash.

SIM card: A Thai SIM with data costs THB 100 to THB 300 for a week of data and is available at the airport arrival hall from several operators (DTAC, AIS, True). Getting one immediately makes transport, maps and ordering via Grab straightforward.

Temple etiquette: Covered shoulders and knees are required in all temples. Shoes are removed at the entrance. Do not touch Buddha images or monks. Photography is generally permitted outside but restricted in some inner sanctuaries: signs are posted.