Exploring Bangkok: Markets, Luxury and Street Food

Day 1: Designer Dreams & Knock offs

After arriving in Bangkok, we checked into the Mandarin Hotel Managed by Centre Point we booked through booking it was ideally located for us making it easy to explore the city on foot. Once we dropped off our luggage we headed out to the Dior Café a must visit for my 15-year-old daughter. The café is stylish and sleek inside the Dior flagship store. While the drinks and desserts were pricey the experience was worth it for the atmosphere and the chance to soak in some luxury.

From there, we walked to MBK a large shopping centre known for its mix of souvenirs and knock offs. At first it seemed like a typical busy market, but after exploring further we found rooms filled with better quality bags and trainers. In our experience prices at the MBK seemed quite high compared to what we found later at Phuket’s Naka Market. It was interesting to see the difference in pricing between Bangkok and Phuket markets. It was a reminder that haggling is expected.

By midday the Bangkok heat called for a break, so we returned to the hotel to relax by the pool and recharge for the evening.

Later we took a walk to Patpong Night Market just a short distance from the hotel. Known for its seedy nightlife the market also has a family friendly section where we enjoyed street food from stalls selling pad Thai, grilled chicken skewers, mango sticky rice and bubble tea all delicious and affordable. My kids enjoyed browsing the market stalls.

It was a full first day balancing luxury experiences, shopping adventures and local street food all within walking distance of our hotel.

Day 2: Floating Markets, Train Tracks & Bangkok by Night

We started the day early with a private tour booked ahead through viator which made the whole day easier and more relaxed. Our guide Grace was just the loveliest, friendly and full of interesting information making the experience even better.

Our first stop was the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Although it’s a popular tourist spot the scene of boats crowded along the canals selling fresh fruit, snacks and souvenirs is truly unique. My daughter found a bamboo hat she liked but the vendor’s first price was £80. After some firm but friendly negotiation we got it for £8 a good reminder that prices often start high and haggling is expected.

Next, we visited the Maeklong Railway Market where vendors set up their stalls directly on the train tracks. When the train arrives everyone quickly moves their goods away from the tracks and then puts them back after the train passes. The whole process is fascinating and something you won’t see anywhere else.

After returning to the hotel in late afternoon for a break we prepared for an evening tuk tuk tour to see Bangkok by night we booked this through. Riding through the city streets in a tuk tuk was an exciting way to experience the bright lights and bustling energy of the city after dark.

We stopped at Wat Arun during sunset enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and beautiful views. Although we couldn’t enter the Grand Palace at night seeing it illuminated from outside was still impressive. The tour continued to the Flower Market full of colour and life and then to Chinatown where the streets buzzed with activity and amazing food smells. Finally we went down Khao San Road known for its lively nightlife to take in the atmosphere and have our evening meal before heading back to the hotel.

The tuk tuk ride itself was a highlight with the city rushing by music playing and the breeze cooling us after a long day of sightseeing.

That was the end of our fast paced two days in Bangkok and while we could have easily stayed longer with so much more for the teens to explore it was time to move on to Chiang Mai.

Our Family’s Final Thoughts on Bangkok

Would we go back to Bangkok? Without a doubt! Two nights simply weren’t long enough to take in everything this vibrant city has to offer. We packed in as much as we could – from temples to street food – but left with a long list of things we still wanted to do.

One big disappointment was missing the chance to go up the tower with the glass floor viewing deck, my son was especially looking forward to it but it was closed due to tremors from a nearby earthquake. Just one more reason to come back! Next time, we’d plan for a longer stay so we can explore at a more relaxed pace and tick off those bucket-list experiences we missed the first time.

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I’ve included links in this post to the tours we booked on Viator, our flights via Skyscanner and our accommodation through Booking.com. If you decide to book using these links it will not cost you anything extra but I may earn small commission as an affiliate, which helps support this blog. Thank You!