Culture and food
7 Days in Thailand: Bangkok and Chiang Mai
A first week with two bases: Bangkok’s royal and riverside sights, an evening food walk, and Chiang Mai’s Old City and hilltop temple. Seven calendar days include arrival, one domestic transfer and departure, leaving four main sightseeing days.
7 days 2 destinations Reviewed November 2026
Use this itinerary
Maintained by Thailand Navigator ยท Practical planning notes and official sources
Day by day
Your itinerary
Arrive in Bangkok and settle in
Morning
Arrival at BKK or DMK
Check the airport code on your ticket. Allow for immigration, baggage and the journey to your actual hotel; a late arrival means deleting the afternoon suggestion, not trying to catch up.Afternoon
Check in, rest and orient yourself
Locate water, food and the nearest useful transport connection around your booked accommodation. Keep this part of arrival day free of timed admission or a prepaid tour.Evening
Dinner near your accommodation
Eat close to your base and prepare temple-appropriate clothing for tomorrow. Choose an easy first meal and finish early so the first full sightseeing day starts comfortably.Grand Palace and nearby Wat Pho
Morning
The Grand Palace
The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew form a major royal and religious visitor complex in Bangkok’s Rattanakosin area.
Explore the royal compound and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha as the main morning visit. Allow roughly 2–3 hours, check the official visiting schedule and follow the palace dress code. Leave time to look closely rather than rushing to the next admission.Afternoon
Wat Pho
Wat Pho is the temple complex beside Bangkok’s Grand Palace, known for its reclining Buddha and traditional Thai learning and massage heritage.
Continue to the nearby reclining-Buddha temple and its courtyards if the group is comfortable with another visit. Allow about 1–2 hours, with admission checked separately. If the heat is tiring, move this visit to another day.Evening
Unhurried dinner in your Bangkok base
Return by an operating licensed service and keep dinner flexible. Do not make a late river boat the only way home; check current services before relying on a connection.Wat Arun and an evening in Yaowarat
Morning
Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan
Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, is a Buddhist temple on the west bank of Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River, known for its central prang.
Plan a separate morning at the Temple of Dawn. Confirm your river crossing or road approach and the actual entrance. Allow time for steps and crowds, and check access directly if mobility is limited.Afternoon
Lunch and a proper rest
Return to your base or choose a comfortable lunch stop. Leave this gap between the temple and Chinatown; spending the hottest hours crossing several distant districts adds little to the day.Evening
Ultimate Bangkok Food Tour
Plan a self-guided Bangkok food tour through Yaowarat, Talat Phlu or Nang Loeng, with practical routes, dishes, transport, dietary questions and food-safety guidance.
Use the linked food guide’s Yaowarat route, starting around Wat Mangkon MRT. Choose a few small tastings and ask about ingredients. Finish early enough to pack for tomorrow; the guide is an independent route, not a booked tour.Fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Morning
Check out and go to the ticketed Bangkok airport
BKK and DMK are different airports. Confirm the airline, baggage allowance and check-in cut-off, then allow for the road transfer. This plan assumes a flight; using an overnight train changes the night count and next day.Afternoon
Arrive at CNX and check in
Keep the whole travel block available for the flight and transfers. A quoted flight duration excludes hotel journeys, check-in and baggage collection. Do not book Doi Suthep or a cooking class immediately after arrival.Evening
Short local orientation and northern Thai dinner
Explore near your Chiang Mai accommodation and leave the first evening light. A northern Thai meal and a short walk are enough after the transfer. If delayed, save the orientation for tomorrow.Chiang Mai Old City temples and local food
Morning
Wat Chedi Luang (Chiang Mai)
Wat Chedi Luang is an active Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai’s Old City, centred on its large historic brick chedi.
Begin at the historic brick chedi complex on Phra Pokklao Road. Allow around 60–90 minutes to appreciate its scale and courtyards at a gentle pace. Dress respectfully and follow current visitor instructions.Afternoon
Wat Phra Singh (Chiang Mai)
Wat Phra Singh is a major Lanna Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai’s Old City, including the Wihan Lai Kham and the revered Phra Phuttha Sihing image.
Continue to the Lanna temple on Sam Lan Road, including Wihan Lai Kham where visitor access permits. Both temples are in the Old City; use a short vehicle transfer if heat or mobility makes walking uncomfortable. Leave worshippers space.Evening
Dinner and an optional Old City stroll
Keep the evening local. A walking-street market is a bonus only if your actual weekday and the current event arrangements match; the itinerary does not promise one every night.Doi Suthep with a central-city fallback
Morning
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is the hilltop Buddhist temple west of Chiang Mai, known for its golden chedi and terrace overlooking the city when visibility permits.
Visit the golden chedi and, when visibility permits, the terrace looking towards Chiang Mai. Arrange a licensed vehicle and return collection; allow roughly a half-day for the road journey and visit. Check weather, air quality and current access before leaving.