Thailand Travel Guides
Expert-written guides for every kind of Thailand trip — whether you have 3 days or 3 months, a honeymoon to plan, or a laptop to keep open.
Itineraries
Day-by-day itineraries with the best places to stay, eat, and explore — sequenced to save you time.
3 days3 Days in Bangkok
Temples, street food, and skyline bars — Bangkok in 72 hours.
- Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
- Wat Pho Reclining Buddha
- Chatuchak Weekend Market
5 days5 Days in Phuket
Island hopping, limestone cliffs, and sunsets that stop time.
- Phi Phi Islands
- Phang Nga Bay & James Bond Island
- Phuket Old Town
7 days7 Days in Thailand
One week. Three cities. Thailand in full.
- Grand Palace, Bangkok
- Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai
- Elephant Sanctuary
10 days10 Days in Thailand Itinerary
Ten days. One logical route. Thailand at its full range.
- Bangkok: Grand Palace & Chinatown
- Chiang Mai: temples & jungle
- Krabi: Railay Beach & island trips
14 days2-Week Thailand Itinerary
Two weeks to see Bangkok, the north, and the best southern beaches
- Bangkok temples & street food
- Chiang Mai Old City & elephant sanctuary
- Pai mountain valley
City Guides
The best things to do in Thailand's top destinations — temples, food, activities, and nightlife.
City GuideBangkok City Guide
Street food, golden temples, and a skyline that never sleeps
- Grand Palace & Wat Pho
- Street food in Yaowarat Chinatown
- Rooftop bars with skyline views
City GuideChiang Mai City Guide
Ancient temples, mountain air, and the world's best night bazaar
- Doi Suthep temple & mountain views
- Old City moat — 300+ temples
- Sunday Walking Street market
City GuideThings to Do in Bangkok
Temples, tuk-tuks, and street food at every turn
- Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
- Floating markets & canal tours
- World-class street food & fine dining
City GuideThings to Do in Chiang Mai
Temples, jungle treks, and Northern Thai food at every corner
- Over 300 temples in the Old City
- Ethical elephant sanctuaries
- Northern Thai cooking classes
City GuideThings to Do in Phuket
Turquoise waters, jungle-clad cliffs, and Thailand's liveliest beach towns
- Patong, Kata & Karon beaches
- Phi Phi & James Bond Island day trips
- Phang Nga Bay sea kayaking
City GuideThings to Do in Koh Samui
Thailand's glamour island — beaches, boats, and barefoot luxury
- Chaweng & Lamai beaches
- Full Moon Party at Koh Phangan
- Ang Thong Marine Park snorkelling
City GuideThings to Do in Krabi
Limestone cliffs, emerald water, and the world's most beautiful beach walks
- Railay Beach — only accessible by boat
- Rock climbing on Tonsai limestone
- 4-island snorkelling day trips
City GuideWhere to Stay in Bangkok
Pick the right neighborhood and Bangkok gets 10× easier.
- Sukhumvit: best all-round base
- Riverside: Bangkok's luxury row
- Silom/Sathorn: business + nightlife
City GuideBest Islands in Thailand
Two coasts, opposite seasons, and an island for every kind of trip.
- Koh Phi Phi: the scenery superstar
- Koh Samui: comfort & direct flights
- Koh Tao: cheapest diving on earth
City GuideKoh Phi Phi Islands
Thailand's most beautiful islands — worth doing properly.
- Maya Bay before the crowds
- Pileh Lagoon by longtail boat
- The Phi Phi Viewpoint at sunset
City GuideWhere to Stay in Phuket
Thirty beaches, one airport, very different holidays.
- Kata & Karon: the first-timer sweet spot
- Patong: nightlife HQ
- Bang Tao & Surin: the luxury coast
City GuideWhere to Stay in Chiang Mai
There are at least four different Chiang Mais. Here's how to pick yours.
- Old City: temples on your doorstep
- Nimman: cafés, coworking & nightlife
- Riverside: boutique luxury on the Ping
City GuideWhere to Stay in Krabi
Limestone cliffs out your window, if you pick the right base.
- Ao Nang: the all-round resort base
- Railay: boat-in beach paradise
- Krabi Town: budget + ferry hub
City GuideWhere to Stay in Koh Samui
Seven beaches, seven personalities, one ring road connecting them all.
- Chaweng: the big beach & nightlife
- Lamai: Chaweng at 60% intensity
- Bophut: boutique Fisherman's Village
Specialist Guides
Deep-dive guides tailored to your travel style, with expert tips and curated recommendations.
GuideThailand for First Timers
Everything you need before you land — and nothing you don't.
- Visa-on-arrival for 60+ nationalities
- One of Asia's most affordable destinations
- World-class street food from ฿40
GuideThailand Honeymoon Guide
Overwater bungalows, private beaches, and evenings made for two.
- Private beach access in Koh Samui
- Overwater villas in Koh Lanta
- Sunset longtail in Krabi
GuideThailand Digital Nomad Guide
Fast WiFi, cheap coffee, and 300 sunny days a year.
- ฿40,000–60,000/month comfortable mid-range budget
- Fastest nomad internet in SE Asia in major cities
- LTR Visa for 10-year residency
GuideThailand Solo Travel Guide
Your own pace, your own itinerary, your own adventure
- Safe and very solo-traveller friendly
- Easy to meet other travellers
- Excellent hostel and guesthouse network
GuideThailand with Kids
Elephants, temples, and beaches the whole family will love
- Koh Samui — calm beaches for young kids
- Chiang Mai — elephant sanctuaries
- Bangkok — interactive museums & malls
GuideSolo Female Travel in Thailand
One of Asia's safest and most rewarding solo destinations for women
- Generally very safe for solo women
- Strong solo female traveller community
- Chiang Mai — top city for solo women
Travel Planning
When to go, how much to budget, and everything else you need before you book.
PlanningBest Time to Visit Thailand
Plan around the weather, not against it
- November–February: peak season, best weather
- March–May: hot & dry — cool in the north
- June–October: rainy season (great value)
PlanningThailand Budget Travel Guide
Thailand on less — without missing the best of it
- Live well for $30–40/day
- Street food meals from $1.50
- Overnight trains from $8
PlanningThailand Travel Tips
What every visitor to Thailand should know — before they land
- Visa-free entry for most nationalities
- Never disrespect the monarchy
- Cover up at temples
PlanningIs Thailand Safe?
Last reviewed April 27, 2026 — an honest, up-to-date safety assessment
- Overall safety rating: very safe for tourists
- Lèse-majesté & strict laws to know about
- Common scams and how to avoid them
PlanningBest Beaches in Thailand
Crystal waters, white sand, and limestone cliffs — coast by coast
- Andaman coast: Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta
- Gulf coast: Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao
- Best Thai islands for every traveller
PlanningThailand Cultural Etiquette
Respect the culture, connect with the people — the unwritten rules every visitor should know
- Temple dress codes and behaviour rules
- Why you should never touch anyone's head
- The monarchy and lèse-majesté laws
PlanningThailand Visa Requirements
TDAC card, who can enter visa-free, how long you can stay, and what to do next
- TDAC mandatory for all foreign nationals (since May 2025)
- 93 nationalities get 60-day visa exemption
- Visa-on-arrival available for 19 nationalities
PlanningSongkran Festival Thailand
Songkran 2027 — Thailand's legendary water festival returns April 13–15. Start planning now.
- April 13–15, 2027 (official dates — fixed each year)
- Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket & Pattaya celebrations
- Booking lead times: when to lock flights and hotels
PlanningThailand Weather by Month
Every month, every region — the actual numbers.
- Month-by-month temps & rainfall
- Bangkok, Phuket, Samui & Chiang Mai compared
- Sea conditions for both coasts
PlanningThailand Currency: The Thai Baht
Baht, ATMs, and the exchange traps to skip.
- ฿33 ≈ $1 (2026)
- The ฿220 ATM fee workaround
- Where (and where not) to exchange
PlanningWhat Language Is Spoken in Thailand?
Thai, the dialects, and how far English gets you.
- Thai: official & tonal
- Where English works (and doesn't)
- 10 phrases that change your trip
PlanningCost of Living in Thailand
What a month in Thailand actually costs — by city and lifestyle.
- Monthly budgets: $1,000–2,500
- Bangkok vs Chiang Mai vs Phuket
- Nomad, retiree & couple budgets
PlanningThailand Visa for US Citizens
No visa needed for 60 days — but the TDAC is mandatory.
- 60 days visa-free for US passports
- TDAC: the one mandatory pre-arrival step
- +30-day extension for ฿1,900
PlanningBangkok to Phuket
861 km south — in 85 minutes or 14 hours. Your call.
- Flight: 1h25m, from $14
- Bus: 12–14h overnight, $22–35
- Train + bus: the scenic combo
PlanningBangkok to Chiang Mai
The one route in Thailand where the slow way is usually the right way.
- Sleeper train: Thailand's classic journey
- Flights: 70 minutes from $20
- VIP buses: the budget workhorse
PlanningThailand Travel Insurance
The ฿2,000,000 question tourists don't ask until the ambulance arrives.
- Not legally required — practically essential
- Scooter crashes: claim #1, and the fine print
- Private ER visits run ฿20,000–80,000+
PlanningThailand eSIM & SIM Cards
Sort your data before you fly, and skip the airport SIM queue entirely.
- eSIM: connected before you land
- Airport SIMs: unlimited data bargains
- AIS, True & dtac coverage compared
Travel Data
Research-backed data to help you budget and understand Thailand tourism trends.
Thailand Travel Cost Index 2026
Daily costs for 11 regions across budget, mid-range, and luxury tiers. Interactive currency toggle and regional comparison table.
Thailand Tourism Statistics
Visitor arrivals, revenue trends, top source countries, hotel occupancy, and economic impact from official sources.