Thailand travel guide
Golden temples, island paradises, legendary street food and the “Land of Smiles”.
#13 most visited country35.5 million international arrivals in 2024 (UN Tourism)Capital: BangkokCurrency: THB
Top destinations
Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
Bangkok
Strict dress code — covered shoulders and legs
Wat Arun
Bangkok
Temple of Dawn on the river
Phi Phi Islands & Maya Bay
Krabi
Maya Bay has seasonal closures to protect the reef
Railay Beach
Krabi
Reachable only by boat; rock climbing
Doi Suthep
Chiang Mai
Mountain temple with city views
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Bangkok
15,000+ stalls
Sukhothai Historical Park
Sukhothai
UNESCO-listed first Thai capital
Pai
Mae Hong Son
Mountain town, hot springs and canyons
🏝 Top islands
PhuketKoh SamuiKoh Phi PhiKoh PhanganKoh TaoKoh LantaKoh LipeKoh Chang
Top cities
Chiang Mai
Old walled city, 300+ temples, night bazaar and ethical elephant sanctuaries
Route & transport
From the airport
✈️ Bangkok — Suvarnabhumi (BKK)
- Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai (connects to BTS Skytrain)
- Public taxi rank on Level 1 — metered fare plus a small airport surcharge and tolls
- Grab and Bolt ride-hailing apps
✈️ Bangkok — Don Mueang (DMK)
- SRT Red Line train from the airport station
- A1/A2 airport buses to BTS Mo Chit
- Public taxis or Grab
✈️ Phuket (HKT)
- Airport bus to Phuket Town
- Official taxis/minivans or Grab to beaches
🚆 Getting around
- BTS Skytrain and MRT subway avoid Bangkok traffic
- Grab and Bolt for cars and motorbike taxis; insist on the meter in regular taxis
- Overnight trains and cheap domestic flights (AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air) between regions
- Ferries and speedboats to the islands — book with established operators
Money & currency
- Currency: Thai baht (฿, THB)
- Thai ATMs charge foreign cards a fixed fee (around ฿220) per withdrawal
- Exchange booths in cities (e.g. SuperRich in Bangkok) give much better rates than the airport
- Cash for street food, markets and tuk-tuks; cards in malls and hotels
- Bargaining is normal in markets, not in shops with fixed prices
Live exchange rate — Thai baht (THB)
…
Rates by ExchangeRate-API, updated daily. Money changers and banks add their own margin.
What to avoid
🙏 Culture & etiquette
- Never criticise or joke about the monarchy — it is a serious crime (lèse-majesté)
- Don’t touch people’s heads or point your feet at people or Buddha images
- Cover shoulders and knees at temples; remove shoes
- Women shouldn’t touch monks or hand items directly to them
- Don’t step on money — it carries the King’s image
📍 Places, scams & seasons
- The far-south provinces (Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, parts of Songkhla) carry government travel warnings
- Avoid “closed today” and gem shop scams from friendly strangers near the Grand Palace
- Choose ethical elephant sanctuaries — no riding or shows
- Monsoon season roughly May–October on the Andaman coast
⚖️ Laws & restrictions
- E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal — fines and possible arrest
- Cannabis rules were tightened again in 2025 — don’t assume it’s legal
- Drug penalties are severe
- Always carry ID (a copy of your passport is usually fine)
💬 Words & topics to avoid
- Don’t raise your voice — losing your temper causes loss of face
- Avoid jokes about the royal family or Buddhism
- Avoid using the word “ladyboy” in a mocking way
Safety situations change. Always check the latest official advice: UK Foreign Office — Thailand · US travel advisories.
Accommodations
Bangkok
Sukhumvit (nightlife, BTS), Silom (business, food), Riverside (luxury), Khao San/Banglamphu (budget)
Stay near a BTS or MRT station
Phuket
Patong (party), Kata/Karon (families), Kamala (quieter)
Chiang Mai
Old City or Nimman
Beautiful boutique guesthouses at low prices
Islands
Koh Samui Chaweng/Lamai; Phi Phi Tonsai
Book ahead in December–March
Available, but Thai law restricts short stays (under 30 days) in many condos. Licensed hotels and serviced apartments are the safer choice for short trips.
See today’s best-rated and best-value places (live prices):
Bangkok: Booking.com — best rated & valueAgodaAirbnb
Phuket: Booking.com — best rated & valueAgodaAirbnb
Top restaurants
Yaowarat (Chinatown)
Bangkok
Night street-food heaven
Or Tor Kor Market
Bangkok
Top-quality fresh market
Chiang Mai Sunday Walking Street
Chiang Mai
Northern Thai dishes
Phuket Old Town
Phuket
Peranakan-style Hokkien dishes
Top-rated restaurants right now: Bangkok on Google MapsPhuket on Google MapsChiang on Google MapsPattaya on Google Maps
Top foods
Pad thai
Stir-fried rice noodles — the classic
Tom yum goong
Hot and sour shrimp soup
Som tam
Spicy green papaya salad
Green curry
Coconut curry with Thai basil
Khao soi
Northern curry noodle soup (Chiang Mai)
Mango sticky rice
The national favourite dessert
Language
Official: Thai
English: Common in tourist areas, hotels and with younger people; basic elsewhere
Also spoken: Isan (Lao), Northern Thai, Southern Thai dialects
| English | Local | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Sawasdee khrap (men) / kha (women) | sa-wat-DEE krap / ka |
| Thank you | Khop khun khrap / kha | kop-KOON krap / ka |
| How much? | Tao rai? | tao-RAI |
| Not spicy, please | Mai phet | my-PET |
| No problem | Mai pen rai | my-pen-RAI |
Festivals
Chinese New Year
January/February
Bangkok Chinatown
Songkran (Thai New Year water festival)
13–15 April
Nationwide
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
October
Phuket
Loy Krathong
November (full moon)
Nationwide
Yi Peng lantern festival
November
Chiang Mai
Full Moon Party
Monthly
Koh Phangan
Dates shift each year — confirm before booking.
Internet & SIM
📱 SIM & eSIM
- Main networks: AIS and True (merged with dtac)
- Tourist SIMs sold at airport arrival halls — passport required
- eSIMs work well
📶 Coverage & Wi-Fi
- Fast 4G/5G in cities and most islands
- Cafes and hotels nearly always have Wi-Fi
🔌 Power plugs
220V, 50Hz — plug types A, B, C and O
News
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Sources: Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA), UK FCDO travel advice (Open Government Licence), UN Tourism, national tourism boards. Last reviewed 2026-10-11. Prices, rules and schedules change — double-check before you travel.