24 Hours in Bangkok Itinerary with TAGTHAi Pass

I usually stay as far away from cities as possible – especially cities as large and metropolitan as Bangkok. I’ve never been one to make any extended plans in cities while travelling. For me, cities are primarily for transit to get to the countryside or to take day trips to the surrounding countryside! And that’s exactly how I’d planned my two-month backpacking trip across Thailand. Phuket was an exception as I had to spend five days there for a conference I was attending. Apart from that, I had planned to stay away from all cities in Thailand. But that was before I realised how fun a 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary could be.

When I found out about the TAGTHAi Day Pass, I was more than intrigued. I’m not new to the concept of city passes. I know most other city passes will allow entry to most tourist attractions for free – but that’s mostly where they draw the line. What fascinated me most about TAGTHAi was that apart from the MANY tourist attractions they had listed across Bangkok, they also had massages, transportation choices and even food and drinks choices in select restaurants and cafes – how cool is that! So that’s when I decided to give TAGTHAi a go – I thought it’d be the perfect way to max it out and chart out a 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary. It would also be a good excuse to give Bangkok a shot and it ended up changing my mind – and how!

There can be many reasons to spend 24 hours in Bangkok – whether you’re in transit to another city, here for a work project and looking for fun things to do on the weekend, seeking inspiration for ways to spend a layover in Bangkok…or just simply want to explore the city. Regardless of what your reason is, I promise you won’t find a better way to experience a 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary than with TAGTHAi.

So before I jump into this 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary, let me first give you a little glimpse about what the TAGTHAi Pass is, and why it’s your biggest (time and money) saviour when it comes to spending 24 hours in Bangkok.

TAGTHAi Pass: All You Need to Know

TAGTHAi is essential to this 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary because that’s what I used to explore a majority of the tourist attractions in the city.

• TAGTHAi is a virtual city pass through which you can avail a whole lot of sightseeing, food and other quintessential Thai experiences in whatever city you choose – making it an important companion on your 1 day trip itinerary in Bangkok.
• Apart from food, sightseeing, transport and other activities, TAGTHAi also offers every pass holder a 7-day tourist SIM card with data, completing your 1 day Bangkok tour package.
• TAGTHAi currently has passes for Phuket, Bangkok, Pattaya, Ayutthaya and Chiang Mai with more and more cities coming very soon. I chose to avail it in Bangkok, and that’s how this 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary came to be! In a nutshell, if you were to just use TAGTHAi passes all over, your Thailand 5 days itinerary would be sorted!

• While most of them are single-day passes, Phuket and Chiang Mai have additional exclusive 3-day passes as well. There are other kinds of passes available for various cities as well: these include the Bangkok Foodie Pass, Chiang Mai Massage Pass and others.
• The TAGTHAi pass is the most cost-effective way to explore a city. The Bangkok Single-Day City Pass in itself is about 30 USD (990 THB/ 2,450 INR). But the cost of all listed experiences cumulatively comes to 345 USD (11,380 THB/ 28,170 INR). That’s well over 10 times the value of the pass – how cool is that – the cheapest hack for your 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary – almost like the cheapest Bangkok tour package you have ever seen!
• You just have to buy the pass on their app, have your QR code ready to be scanned and voila – your experience can be redeemed!
• The TAGTHAi mobile app features are quite great too. To find the nearest experience to you, you just have to switch on your phone’s location and select the “nearby” tab. This makes it very easy to plan your next move. This feature actually came in quite handy while I was exploring this 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary.
• The pass is available till 12 midnight of the day you activate it – making it the perfect aid to your Bangkok travel itinerary.

24 Hours in Bangkok Itinerary

Now that you’ve understood what the pass is about and how it works, let me lay out the 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary that I personally followed and found quite efficient to make the most of your TAGTHAi Bangkok pass – and the limited 24 hours in Bangkok.

Please keep in mind that I was staying in Bangkok Old Town near Khao San Road so my 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary started and ended around that location. Depending on where you decide to stay (Sukhumvit, Chinatown etc, this itinerary may look a little different for you.)

8 am: Wat Suthat

My first stop on this 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary after grabbing breakfast was to walk straight to the Wat Suthat Thepwararam temple. This is a royal temple – one of ten such kinds of temples in Bangkok and was first opened in 1807. It holds revered statues of the Buddha and is also home to 28 Chinese pagodas which symbolize the 28 Buddhas born on Earth.

One of my favourite parts of this temple is the vihara hall. This room contains the grand gold statue of Phra Si Sakyamuni, with the walls painted with fantastic murals depicting various Buddhist scenes. The murals are especially astounding and so well-detailed – you will spend hours just looking at them!

Wat Suthat was a great first stop on my 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary. If you’re interested in Buddhist philosophy, stunning architecture and/ or art and sculpture, I definitely recommend a visit to Wat Suthat.

• Address: 146 Bamrung Mueang Rd, Wat Ratchabophit, Phra Nakhon
• Timing: 8:30 am to 6 pm
• Entry Fee: 3 USD (free with TAGTHAi)

10 am: Tuktuk Hop

After spending about an hour at Wat Suthat, I walked over to Tha Maharaj, where the Tuktuk Hop begins. The tuktuk hop is the second experience on the 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary. The tuktuk hop is essentially a one-hour tuktuk ride along over 20 famous attractions of Bangkok Old Town including the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Golden Mound, National Museum and a lot more.

Even though the ride doesn’t stop to let you explore each individual sight, it’s a good way to quickly acquaint yourself with the area and make a mental note of the places you’d want to come back to on a later day (that is in case you choose to spend more than 24 hours in Bangkok!)

• Timing: 10 am or 2 pm
• Experience Cost: 12 USD (free with TAGTHAi)

11 am: Museum Siam

I had asked the Tuktuk Hop driver to go counter-clockwise (as opposed to the route they usually take) so I could ask him to drop me off at Museum Siam – which was one of the sights on the Tuktuk Hop, and also on the TAGTHAi Pass – to make my 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary as time efficient as possible.

I’m usually not very fond of museums because they mostly bore me. But Museum Siam was different. Their “Decoding Thainess” Exhibition is unlike any other I’ve ever seen. This is definitely the best place to visit in Bangkok for first timers. It’s an incredibly interactive way to chart out the history of Thailand and differentiate between how Thailand is perceived by the outside world versus what it actually means to be Thai. They have rooms where you can change into different traditional Thai dresses and take pictures against a backdrop of your choosing. They also have a simulation of a Thai shrine where you can learn about your future. But my favourite room was “Taste of Thai” where they had a super fun way to learn about the ingredients and the history of different Thai dishes.

The time I spent at Museum Siam was definitely my highlight from this 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary.

Even if you’re like me and not much into museums, I’d definitely recommend going to this one!

• Address: 4 Sanam Chai Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon
• Timing: 10 am to 6 pm
• Entry Fee: 3 USD (free with TAGTHAi)

1 pm: Seafood Cafe and Restaurant

A few hours into the 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary, hunger had finally come knocking on my door. So after spending about 90 minutes at the Museum Siam, I walked over to the Rajinee ferry terminal just 150 meters away. Here, I availed my Chao Phraya Tourist Boat unlimited day pass and took the boat to Ratchawongse terminal.

From Ratchawongse, The Seafood Cafe & Restaurant was only about 900 meters away. So I walked in for a hearty (and dare I say well deserved) lunch and availed the Seafood Set D: Stir Fried Rice Noodles with Water Mimosa and Shrimps + Mini Deep Fried Battered Squid + Crab Sticks. It was a heavy, wholesome meal and I enjoyed every bit of it. After all – feasting on seafood is a quintessential Thai experience, isn’t it!

Chao Phraya Tourist Boat

• Timing: 9 am to 5:30 pm
• Boat Day Pass Cost: 4.5 USD (free with TAGTHAi)

While you’re at Chao Phraya, you might want to also want to consider the Royal Princess Dinner Cruise!

Seafood Cafe and Restaurant

• Address: 51/1 Phadung Dao Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Samphanthawong
• Timing: 11 am to 11 pm
• Food Cost: 10.5 USD (free with TAGTHAi)

3 pm: Total VR

After fueling up, I decided to do something very city-like and actually quite non-touristy for my 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary. I went back to the Ratchawongse ferry terminal and took another boat (courtesy of the unlimited boat pass included in TAGTHAi) and got off at the Sathorn pier to get closer to Central Bangkok.

From Sathorn Pier, I took the metro to Ekkamai Station and entered the Gateway Ekkamai Mall for my first-ever VR experience – and also Bangkok’s first-ever VR arcade! It was pretty fun and my TAGTHAi Pass let me play a VR game for full 60 minutes. It definitely took a little bit to get used to but after that, I kicked some ass!

• Address: M120, 3rd Floor Gateway Ekamai Mall, 982 22 Sukhumvit Road, Phra Khanong, Khlong Toei
• Timing: 10 am to 10 pm
• Experience Cost: 17 USD (free with TAGTHAi)

5 pm: King Power Mahanakhon

After my 60-minute VR game at Total VR ended, I took the metro again from Ekkamai station and got off at Chong Nonsi station to go up to the King Power Mahanakhon – the tallest building in all of Thailand, and the fifth tallest building in the world! The actual cost of this activity on my 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary is equivalent to the price of the TAGTHAi pass and yet I didn’t pay a single penny for it!

The views of the city from the observation deck up there were absolutely astounding. I was also just in time for the sunset and it was a great way to get a 360-degree view of the city and Chao Phraya River with the sky playing with different colours every few minutes – another one of my highlights on the 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary, and also one of the best places to visit in Bangkok for first timers!

• Address: 114 Narathiwas Road, Silom, Bangrak
• Timing: 10 am to 6 pm
• Experience Cost: 27 USD (free with TAGTHAi)

7 pm: Ko-Lok Thai Massage

I spent about an hour at the King Power Mahanakhon tower and after that, I was finally starting to get hungry and tired. So the only way I know to relax from tiredness and also build an appetite in the process is to get a Thai massage. So from the Yaek Decho bus station, I caught a bus to the Ko Ang Khaomankai Pratunam bus stop and walked into Platinum Fashion Mall to get a massage at Ko-Lok Thai Massage Centre. At Ko-Lok, I availed the 60 minutes foot scrub and massage which was very needed after an entire day of going around the city. This was the most relaxing stop on the 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary, I must admit!

• Address: 5th Floor Platinum Fashion Mall, 222 Phetchaburi Rd, Thanon Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi
• Timing: 11 am to 8 pm
• Experience Cost: 15 USD (free with TAGTHAi)

9 pm: O:T BKK Restaurant

After the massage, it was definitely time for me to EAT and end the day. For dinner, I walked 900 meters from Platinum Mall to Central World Mall. I went to the O:T BKK Restaurant which had some lovely live music playing and a very chilled-out vibe. I was served the fried rice with beef and gulped it down with a beer I ordered. This restaurant was a rather unique thing to put on the 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary because it was an after-hours joint where many corporate workers came down to unwind and grab a meal before heading home. It was an interesting peak into the nightlife of Bangkok for those who live in the city – one you might not get otherwise. (All thanks to TAGTHAi!)

• Address: 1st Floor Groove Central World, Pathum Wan
• Timing: 5 pm to 11 pm
• Food Cost: 12 USD (free with TAGTHAi)

10:30 pm: Saffron Sky Garden

After dinner, I was in the mood to have one last drink before I called it a night. I am in a city, after all – I thought. Wouldn’t it be a pity if I left before at least getting a tiny taste of what the nightlife in Bangkok looks like?

To figure out my next (and last) stop on this 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary, I opened my TAGTHAi app and realised Saffron Sky Garden was only 4 kilometres away. So I grabbed a bike taxi from the Bolt App and headed there. It is Bangkok’s highest outdoor rooftop bar with stunning views of the glittering Bangkok skyline overlooking the Chao Phraya River. I ordered the “City of Slow Life” which is essentially gin with ginger, cucumber, lime and ginger ale while watching the Bangkok nightlife carry on.

• Address: 21/100 S Sathon Rd, Khwaeng Thung Maha Mek, Sathon
• Timing: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm and 6 pm to 11 pm.
• Cocktail Cost: 12.5 USD (free with TAGTHAi)

And just like that, I had completed everything I had planned for my 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary. I ended up availing benefits worth 116.5 USD from a pass which otherwise costs only 30 USD – how incredibly cool is that!

24 Hours in Bangkok Itinerary – Where to Stay in Bangkok

Depending on your budget and where you’d like to stay, there are several options you can choose from when it comes to the best places to stay in Bangkok during the 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary.

I chose to stay in Bangkok Old Town primarily because most of the temples and museums are within a 3-5 kilometre radius of Bangkok Old Town. This also works on the 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary because of its close proximity to a lot of TAGTHAi locations. Another reason is that this is where the famous Khao San Road is located and it is great for shopping, nightlife and street food. Here are some of my top recommendations for places to stay in Bangkok Old Town for all budget levels:

• Slumber Pool Party Hostel (low budget): If you are looking to stay in the heart of the busy, crowded and loud Khao San Street and party all night long with like-minded people for a very affordable price!
• Bangkok Saran Poshtel (low-budget): For budget-friendly rooms located near the Khao San Road, but without the party and a much quieter environment.
• Baan Noppawong (mid-budget): A restored hotel located in a rare colonial house, decorated with the Thai sense of Feng Shui.

• Ayathorn Bangkok (high budget): A 4-star hotel with incredible views of the Old Town and within walking distance of many points of interest.

Chinatown is another great place to stay on your 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary for its rich culture and history, and unique food that you might not find elsewhere. Here are my top picks for places to stay in Bangkok Chinatown:

• Time Sabai 32 (low-budget): Located in the heart of Chinatown, this is a comfortable and budget-friendly option with tourist attractions located all close by.
• Hostel Urby (low-budget): For solo travellers who like to meet other like-minded people, this may be the best (and cost-effective) option in Chinatown.
• The Mustang Blu (mid-budget): This is located in a gorgeous art deco building with very moody interiors. Perfect option if you’re willing to shell a little more money for a very well designed hotel.

• Talakkia Boutique House (mid-budget): This is a very well-located hotel with the Aisatique Riverfront and the Bangkok Railway station within walking distance.
• Shanghai Mansion Bangkok (high budget): If you want to experience Chinatown in its authentic, yet luxurious and stylish way, this is the place to go.

Sukhumvit in Central Bangkok is a nice place to stay if you want to be in the heart of the city, with shopping malls and grand hotels, restaurants and bars, and Lumpini Park – the Central Park of Bangkok to be in close vicinity. Though this can often mean that it’s hard to find budget-friendly accommodation.

Some of my top picks for places to stay in Sukhumvit:

• 3Howw Hostel Sukhumvit 21 (low-budget): This is one of the far and few cheap hotels in Bangkok near the city centre.

• Nidhra Boutique (mid-budget): This is an excellent boutique hotel known for its exceptional Thai hospitality.
• Ascott Thonglor (high budget): Located in the upscale and lively neighbourhood of Sukhumvit 1, this is the place to stay for all your luxurious comforts.

Or if you would like to search for places to stay in Bangkok directly, I recommend booking.com – that’s where I make all my hotel bookings!

When to Visit Bangkok

Bangkok is a pleasant city to visit mostly all year round. But I think the best time to visit Bangkok is in the heart of winter. The humidity is at its lowest then and the weather is absolutely pleasant to be out and about. December to February would also be the best time to experience this 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary with TAGTHAi so you can be up and about without worrying too much about extreme heat or incessant rains!

How to Reach Bangkok

By Air: Bangkok has two airports: one international and one domestic. The Suvarnabhumi Airport is the international airport with direct and connecting flights flying in and out from and to all over the world. Don Mueang Airport is the domestic airport with several flights connecting to various cities across Thailand including Trat (best for visiting islands like Koh Chang), Trang (for Koh Libong), Surat Thani (for Khao Sok National Park and islands like Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao), Phuket, Krabi (for islands like Koh Lanta and Koh Yao Yai) and many others – making reaching for your 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary very easy!

By Rail: The Thailand Railway may not be as well connecting as our Indian Railway, but it definitely is a very comfortable experience. There are trains from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi, Hat Yai, Trat and many other destinations – a fun way to get to your 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary without losing precious time.

By Road: Bangkok by road is probably one of the most exciting ways to reach the city. There are overnight buses from various cities like Phuket, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani etc. To make things more adventurous for your 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary, you can even rent a car wherever in Thailand you are and drive to Bangkok. The roads in Thailand are well made and highway conveniences are easy to find.

How to Get Around in 24 Hours in Bangkok

There are several ways to get around Bangkok. For this 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary, I used a combination of several transportation methods already mentioned in detail above. Here’s a rundown of the best ways to get around in Bangkok using different Bangkok public transportation systems:

• Bike Taxis: You can hail these down at the side of the road but Boalt and Grab mobile apps were my trusted way to get a bike taxi, the most convenient way to get around for the 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary.
• Tuktuks: These are found everywhere and you can just hail one down.
• Songthaews: These are like shared taxis in a pickup truck. You would need to hail one down and ask if they’re going in the direction you are – as most routes are written only in Thai.

• MRT: MRT is the subway of Bangkok. This is the metro line that runs underground.
• BTS: Also known as Skytrain, this is the Bangkok metro line that runs overground.
• Public buses: These are the cheapest way to get around Bangkok. You can find the right bus for your route by selecting the “transit” option on Google Maps. It’s almost always accurate – and was my go-to option on this 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary.

• Boat buses: Since Bangkok has several canals running through the city, boat taxis can often be the right way to skip traffic. These are also quite cheap – a nice adventure to add to your 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary.

FAQs for 24 Hours in Bangkok Itinerary

Can I leave the airport during a layover in Bangkok?

Whether you can leave the airport during a layover in Bangkok or not depends on how long the layover is. Depending on which country’s passport holder you are, you may also need to procure a transit visa. Best to check these details with your flight operator and the Thai Embassy to make sure everything is smooth sailing on your itinerary for Bangkok.

Is Bangkok enough for one day?

Well, one day is definitely not enough for Bangkok. I will soon be writing a proper Bangkok trip guide – maybe even a 3 day Bangkok itinerary – with more things to do in addition to this 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary so you know what to see in Bangkok in 3 days. If you’re wondering how many days to stay in Bangkok, I’d suggest at least 3 days if you have the time. But regardless of how long you stay – even if it’s 48 hours in Bangkok, you MUST avail of the TAGTHAi on one of these days.

How can I spend one day in Bangkok?

This 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary should be your holy grail while figuring out ways to spend one day in Bangkok. The easiest and most cost-effective way would be to get a TAGTHAi city pass and max it out while exploring the city.

What to do with 12 hours in Bangkok?

You can take cues from this 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary and use it as inspiration for figuring out a 12 hours Bangkok itinerary. Most things can remain the same, you’ll just need to have your distances in order. Again I’d suggest using TAGTHAi to make the most out of your 12 hours in Bangkok.

Is Bangkok safe to travel alone?

I found no threats to my security while travelling across Bangkok. I also used a lot of different types of public transport (as already mentioned in this itinerary for Bangkok) and stayed out as late as 12 midnight and yet felt completely safe. So yes, Bangkok is safe to travel alone and Bangkok is safe at night.

And with that, this 24 hours in Bangkok itinerary is finally coming to a close. I would love to hear about your experience with using a TAGTHAi pass in Bangkok – or any other Thai city for that matter, so don’t forget to drop a line below please, thanks!

We love transparency! This post was sponsored by TAGTHAi but I speak the truth and nothing else when raving about the pass. Some links here might be affiliate links – which means I get a small commission for every sale made through them, at no extra cost to you. So please send that mulah my way, thanks 😉

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