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Visit an ethical elephant sanctuary
Places where elephants are observed rather than ridden or bathed on demand. Riding and forced bathing remain widespread, the distinction is worth researching before booking.
Southeast Asia
Things to do in Thailand
Street food economics, limestone islands, and a warmth that isn't just the climate.
Explore Thailand on the map →- Budget
- $
- Best for
- 10-14 days
- Capital
- Bangkok
- Visa
- Visa exemption 60 days for most nationalities as of August 2026; Thailand's Cabinet approved reducing this to 30 days starting mid-2026, but the change was still pending official publication as of this check. Confirm the current figure for your nationality before booking.
- Currency
- Thai baht (฿)
- Languages
- Thai
- Internet
- Good
- Typical lodging
- $20–$50/night
- Driving side
- Left
- Power & voltage
- 220V / 50Hz (Type A/C/O plug)
- Time zone
- UTC+7 to UTC+8
- Emergency number
- Varies by country. Save the local number on arrival.
- Dialing code
- +66
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled or purified water only. Not customary. Rounding up is common.
Thailand's two coasts run on opposite monsoon cycles: when the Andaman side is being rained on, the Gulf side is often sunny, and vice versa. It's one of the few countries where picking the right beach is mostly a question of which month it is.
When to go
Cool and dry
November–February
The best all-round window nationwide: comfortable heat, low rain, and both coasts generally workable. Also the busiest and priciest.
Hot season
March–May
Genuinely hot, into the high 30s. Songkran in mid-April turns the whole country into a water fight for several days.
Green season
June–October
Rain in short heavy bursts rather than all day, landscapes at their greenest and prices at their lowest. September–October are the wettest.
Coast timing
Year-round
Andaman side (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta) is best November–April. Gulf side (Samui, Phangan, Tao) is better January–August, with heaviest rain October–November.
21 things to do
Wildlife & nature
Trek into Khao Sok's rainforest
Older than the Amazon, with limestone cliffs above a reservoir and floating bungalows you wake up in surrounded by water.
Culture & history
See the Grand Palace and Wat Pho
Gold, mirror mosaic and a 46-metre reclining Buddha. Strict dress code: covered shoulders and knees, enforced at the gate.
Watch monks collect alms at dawn
A daily ritual in most towns, at its most striking in Luang-style processions through Chiang Mai's old city before sunrise.
Cycle the ruins of Ayutthaya
A former capital sacked in 1767, its brick temples and a Buddha head grown into tree roots, an hour north of Bangkok.
Walk among Sukhothai's lotus ponds
The first Thai kingdom's capital, quieter and greener than Ayutthaya, best on a bicycle in early light.
Watch the lanterns rise at Yi Peng
Thousands of paper lanterns released in Chiang Mai in November, alongside Loy Krathong's floating candles on the water.
Get soaked at Songkran
Thai new year, marked with three days of nationwide water fights. Nothing stays dry, including you and your phone.
Food & markets
Eat dinner from a plastic stool
Bangkok's street food runs from noodle carts to Michelin-listed stalls. The queue of locals is the only review that matters.
Take a cooking class in Chiang Mai
Usually starts at a market picking herbs, ends with you eating four dishes you made and a recipe book you'll actually use.
Spend a morning at a fresh market
Chiang Mai's Warorot, Bangkok's Or Tor Kor, fruit you won't recognise, curry pastes ground on the spot, and breakfast.
Wander a floating market at opening
Damnoen Saduak and Amphawa are both busy by mid-morning; the first hour is when they're still functioning as markets.
Adventure & outdoors
Ride the Mae Hong Son loop
Around 600km of mountain switchbacks in the north, through hill villages, hot springs and coffee-growing valleys.
Coast & water
Kayak the limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay
Vertical islands, sea caves and hidden lagoons reached by paddling under low rock at the right tide.
Dive or snorkel off Koh Tao
One of the cheapest places in the world to get certified, with shallow reefs and whale sharks passing through.
Find a quieter island
Koh Lanta, Koh Kood and Koh Yao Noi trade nightlife for hammocks, and are usually a ferry further than most people go.
Cities & design
Take a boat through Bangkok's canals
The city was built on water before it was built on roads. Longtail boats still run the khlongs behind the main river.
Sit through a Muay Thai night
Live bouts at Bangkok's Rajadamnern or Lumpinee stadiums, with the crowd's betting more theatrical than the fight.
Slow days
Get a proper Thai massage
Stretching and pressure rather than oil and relaxation, Wat Pho runs the school that trained most of the country.
Take the night train south
Sleeper berths from Bangkok toward Surat Thani, with curtains, cold air and a morning arrival for the Gulf ferries.
Do nothing on a beach in the green season
Rain comes in bursts, the crowds thin out, and a beach hut costs a fraction of the December rate.
Common questions
Is Thailand safe to visit?
Yes. Thailand is one of Southeast Asia's most visited and tourist-friendly countries, with well-developed infrastructure for travelers and low rates of violent crime. Standard precautions around scams and road safety apply, and occasional unrest near the far-southern border with Malaysia rarely affects the main tourist circuit.
How much do Thailand's national parks cost to enter?
Foreigners pay noticeably more than Thai citizens at national parks: typically 150-500 baht (about $4-14) for foreign adults, roughly 5-10 times what Thai nationals pay at the same gate. On top of that, a new 300-baht (about $9) tourist entry fee began rolling out for air arrivals from February 2026, covering basic travel insurance and tourism infrastructure. Land and sea arrivals are exempt for now.
How many days do you need in Thailand?
10-14 days covers a solid mix: a few days in Bangkok, then a few more split between northern Thailand (Chiang Mai) and the islands or beaches of your choice. A shorter one-week trip usually means picking just one region rather than combining north and south.
Do I need a visa for Thailand?
Most nationalities, including the US, UK, EU and Australia, can currently enter visa-free for up to 60 days. Thailand's Cabinet approved cutting this to 30 days for most nationalities starting in 2026, but as of this check that change was still pending formal publication and had not yet taken effect. Confirm the exact allowance for your passport close to your travel date, since this is actively in flux.
What's the best time to visit Thailand?
November through February is the coolest, driest window across most of the country and the most popular time to visit. March through May turns hot, especially inland, and the rainy season from June through October brings short, heavy downpours rather than all-day rain, so it's still a reasonable time to visit if you don't mind the occasional wet afternoon.
Is Thailand expensive?
Thailand remains one of the better-value destinations in Asia: street food, local transport and budget guesthouses are cheap, and even mid-range resorts cost a fraction of comparable properties in Europe or the Caribbean. The new 300-baht entry fee and national park charges are small relative to the overall cost of a trip.
Nearby destinations
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