Bangkok in 3 Days on a Budget: Itinerary from $60

Morning: Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew

Arrive by 8:30 (opening) — by 10:00 the crowds will be there. Entry 500 baht ($15) — the most expensive ticket in Bangkok, but it's a must. The Emerald Buddha inside Wat Phra Kaew is Thailand's main shrine. Strict dress code: knees and shoulders covered; they hand out a sarong at the entrance if needed. Address: Na Phra Lan Rd, near Tha Chang pier.

Day: Wat Pho

5 minutes' walk from the Grand Palace. The Reclining Buddha — 46 meters long, 15 high, gold-covered. Entry 200 baht ($6). Best Thai massage in the city is here — 260 baht ($8) for an hour at the temple's massage school. Address: 2 Sanam Chai Rd.

Evening: Wat Arun and Khao San Road

Cross the Chao Phraya River by boat — 4 baht ($0.10). Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) — 79 meters, decorated with Chinese porcelain. Entry 100 baht ($3). Best view — from the opposite bank at sunset. After — taxi to Khao San Road (80-100 baht / $2.50-3). Street food: pad thai 50 baht ($1.50), mango sticky rice 60 baht ($1.80), Chang beer 50 baht ($1.50).

Morning: Chatuchak (if Sat-Sun)

15,000 stalls on 14 hectares — clothing, food, antiques, plants, everything. Open only Saturday and Sunday 9:00-18:00. BTS to Mo Chit station or MRT Chatuchak Park. Free entry. Bargain — you can knock off 20-40%. Coconut ice cream 30 baht ($0.90).

On a weekday: instead of Chatuchak — Or Tor Kor Market (across from Chatuchak, open daily) — Bangkok's best food market. Fruits, seafood, curries.

Day: Jim Thompson House

The American who revived the Thai silk industry and mysteriously disappeared in 1967. House-museum of 6 teak buildings on a canal. Entry 200 baht ($6). BTS National Stadium, 10 min walk. Address: 6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama I Rd.

Evening: Lumpini Park and Silom Street Food

Lumpini Park — Bangkok's Central Park. Free. Monitor lizards 1-2 meters long roam freely (harmless). After — street food on Soi Convent (Silom): tom yum 60 baht ($1.80), som tam 40 baht ($1.20), rice with chicken and basil (khao pad krapao) 50 baht ($1.50).

Morning: Wat Saket (Golden Mount)

344 steps up an artificial hill 79 meters high. At the top — a golden stupa and 360° panorama. Entry 100 baht ($3). Best time — before 10:00, before the heat. Nearby: Wat Ratchanaddaram (Iron Temple) — free, very photogenic.

Day: Chinatown (Yaowarat)

The best street food in Bangkok — on Yaowarat Road. Grilled squid 80 baht ($2.40), dim sum 40 baht ($1.20), noodle soup 50 baht ($1.50). Wat Traimit with the Golden Buddha (5.5 tons of pure gold) — entry 40 baht ($1.20). MRT Hua Lamphong, 10 min walk.

Evening: Thonburi and Canals

Longtail boat through Thonburi's canals — 1,000-1,500 baht ($30-45) per boat (up to 6 people), 1.5 hours. Wooden stilt houses, temples, monitor lizards — a different Bangkok, no skyscrapers. Departs from Tha Tien pier (next to Wat Pho).

Alternative: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market — 80 km from Bangkok, 1.5 hours' drive. Tour from 700 baht ($21). Touristy, but photogenic. Amphawa Market (60 km) — less touristy, open Fri-Sun only.

BTS Skytrain — elevated metro, 2 lines. Ticket 16-59 baht ($0.50-1.80). Rabbit Card (transit pass) — 100 baht deposit + top-up. Runs 5:30-24:00.

MRT — underground metro, 2 lines. Ticket 16-42 baht ($0.50-1.30). Tokens at the entrance.

River boats — Chao Phraya Express Boat. Along the river to the temples. Orange flag: 16 baht ($0.50) any distance. Cross-river: 4 baht ($0.10).

Grab — Uber equivalent. Across the city 80-200 baht ($2.40-6). Rush hours — 1-2 hours stuck in traffic. Tuk-tuk — only for the experience, more expensive than taxi, bargaining required.

Pad Thai — fried rice noodles with shrimp. 40-60 baht ($1.20-1.80). On every corner.

Som Tam — green papaya salad. Spicy! 40-50 baht ($1.20-1.50).

Khao Pad — fried rice with chicken/pork/shrimp. 40-60 baht ($1.20-1.80).

Tom Yum — spicy shrimp soup. 60-80 baht ($1.80-2.40) at a street cafe.

Mango Sticky Rice — mango with sticky rice and coconut milk. 50-60 baht ($1.50-1.80). Dessert #1.

Rule: eat where Thais eat. Long queue of locals = tasty and safe. Avoid places with menus in foreign languages — more expensive and worse.