Practical guide
The 20 Best Things to Do in Thailand
Temples and street food in Bangkok, elephants and cooking in Chiang Mai, longtails and limestone in the south.
The best things to do in Thailand are a morning at Bangkok's Grand Palace and Wat Pho, an evening of street food in Chinatown, a day with rescued elephants in Chiang Mai and a longtail ride to Railay's beaches in Krabi. Those four fit the classic first trip of Bangkok, Chiang Mai and one coast. After them come a night on Cheow Lan Lake, a cooking class, the ruins of Ayutthaya by bicycle, a boat into Maya Bay and Muay Thai at Rajadamnern.
I lived in Bangkok for three to four years, and I've ranked twenty experiences below by how much each one gives you for the time and money it takes. Each has what it costs, how to get there, when to go and where to sleep nearby.
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Key Facts
The twenty sit in three parts of the country
Bangkok and the day trips around it, Chiang Mai and the north, and the southern coasts. A first trip of ten to fourteen days reaches all three, because the legs between them are flights of about an hour.
Most of them cost under ฿1,500
Temples are ฿30–500, a massage is ฿300–500 and a cooking class is ฿1,000–1,500. The costly ones are the speedboat days at ฿2,500–4,200 and a dive course at ฿11,000–12,500.
Two of them close for part of the year
Maya Bay shuts from 1 August to 30 September, and the Similan Islands are open only from 15 October to 15 May. Chatuchak fully opens on weekends, and Chinatown's stalls thin out on Mondays.
Temples want shoulders and knees covered
The Grand Palace turns away visitors in sleeveless tops and shorts. Carry a light scarf or sarong, and take your shoes off before you enter any temple building.
National park fees are paid in cash on the day
Most boat tours quote a price without the park fee, which runs from ฿200 to ฿500 for a foreign adult. Ask what's included and carry small notes.
Pick elephant sanctuaries with no riding and no shows
The good ones keep groups small and let you watch and feed the herd. World Animal Protection advises against bathing with elephants, which some half-day programs still include.
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The 20 Best Things to Do in Thailand
Ranked by how much each one gives you for the time and money it takes, and by how easily it fits a first trip. This list ranks experiences, so it reads differently from the Best Places to Visit in Thailand guide, which ranks where to base yourself. I lived in Bangkok and I've been to Railay, where I proposed on Phra Nang Beach. For the things I haven't done myself, the facts come from our own guides and records.
1. Visit the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun, Bangkok
Best first morningBangkok's three great temples sit within a short walk and a ferry ride of each other, and together they fill one morning. The Grand Palace opens at 08:30, costs ฿500 and stops admitting at 15:30. Wat Pho next door is ฿300 for the 46-meter Reclining Buddha, and a ฿5 ferry crosses the river to Wat Arun, which is ฿200.
Be at the palace gate when it opens, before the heat and the tour groups. Shoulders and knees have to be covered at all three, and the palace turns people away for it, so read the What to Wear in Thailand guide first. Wat Pho's massage school does an hour of Thai massage for around ฿480 if your legs need it afterwards.
- Getting there
- Take the MRT Blue Line to Sanam Chai, a five-minute walk from Wat Pho.
- When to go
- Any month, at 08:30.
2. Eat street food on Yaowarat Road, Bangkok
Best for foodChinatown's main road turns into Bangkok's best-known street-food strip after dark. The stalls set up from about 18:00, and the way to do it is one dish per stall at ฿60–150 each, walking east from Wat Mangkon MRT. Look for kuay jab, the peppery rolled-noodle soup, then grilled seafood, then kanom buang crêpes for dessert. Many stalls take Monday night off.
I lived in Bangkok for three to four years, and the food is what I'd plan a visit around. Away from Chinatown, the named stops are pad thai at Thipsamai on Maha Chai Road, where it's been made since 1966, and boat noodles by Victory Monument at ฿20–30 a bowl. The Best Places in Thailand for Food guide covers the rest of the country.
- Getting there
- Take the MRT Blue Line to Wat Mangkon and use exit 1.
- When to go
- Any evening except Monday, from 18:00.
3. Take the longtail to Railay and Phra Nang Beach, Krabi
Most beautiful beachRailay is a peninsula walled off by limestone cliffs, so everyone arrives by boat. The longtail from Ao Nang costs ฿100, takes 10 to 15 minutes and runs from 08:00 to 18:00. Phra Nang Beach, at the southern tip, is the one on the postcards, and it's busiest from 11:00 to 15:00.
I proposed to my wife on Phra Nang Beach in 2023, and it's still one of my favorite trips in Thailand. I stayed on Railay and mostly ate on Railay Walking Street. The whole area is scenic and peaceful at the right times, and since Phra Nang is quietest outside that midday rush, I'd stay a night. A half-day beginner climbing course on the cliffs costs ฿1,000–1,500.
- Getting there
- Fly to Krabi, then take a longtail from Ao Nang.
- When to go
- November to April.
4. Spend a day with rescued elephants, Chiang Mai
Best animal experienceChiang Mai is the place to meet rescued elephants, and the test for choosing a sanctuary is short. Look for no riding, no shows, no hooks and small groups. Elephant Nature Park in the Mae Taeng valley is the original rescue project, a full day of watching the herd for ฿3,500 with an 08:00 pickup, and it books out well ahead.
Half-day visits cost ฿1,600–2,500 with hotel pickup and are built around feeding. Some add a mud spa and bathing with the elephants, which World Animal Protection advises against, so check the program before you pay. The Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai guide compares them.
- Getting there
- Sanctuaries collect from Chiang Mai hotels, and the drive north takes about an hour.
- When to go
- All year. November to January has the best weather.
5. Island hop by longtail, Krabi
Best boat dayThe Four Islands trip is the classic Krabi day on the water. It runs from about 09:00 to 16:00 from Ao Nang and visits Phra Nang, Tup, Chicken and Poda islands. At low tide a sandbar rises out of the sea beside Ko Tup and you walk between the islands ankle-deep. It costs ฿750–1,200 plus a ฿200 park fee, and it's the easier boat day for families.
The Hong Islands are the second boat day, at ฿1,200–1,400 plus ฿300, for the lagoon hidden inside the main island. Operators time both trips around the tide, so the same tour leaves at different hours on different days. The Things to Do in Krabi guide has both in detail.
- Getting there
- Longtails and speedboats leave from Ao Nang.
- When to go
- November to April, when the Andaman Sea is calm.
6. Sleep on Cheow Lan Lake, Khao Sok
Best night in natureCheow Lan Lake fills a valley behind a dam built in 1987, with green water ringed by limestone cliffs, inside 739 km² of rainforest. The thing to do is spend a night in one of the floating raft houses on it. A two-day, one-night trip starts at about ฿2,500, and the lake costs ฿300 to enter plus ฿40 at the pier.
Khao Sok sits between the two coasts, about an hour from Khao Lak, 1.5 hours from Surat Thani, 2 to 2.5 from Krabi and 2.5 to 3 from Phuket. That puts it on the road between a week on the Andaman side and the ferries to Koh Samui. Give it two or three nights, one of them on the lake. The Khao Sok National Park guide has the fees and trails.
- Getting there
- By minivan from Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak or Surat Thani.
- When to go
- December to April.
7. Take a Thai cooking class, Chiang Mai
Best half dayChiang Mai's cooking classes are the best in the country. A half-day class costs ฿1,000–1,500 and comes with a market visit, and several schools teach on their own farms outside the city. Grandma's Home, Thai Akha Kitchen and Smile Organic Farm are the names the guides agree on.
Khao soi, Chiang Mai's coconut-curry noodle soup, is my favorite northern dish, and a bowl costs ฿50–80 in town if you'd rather eat it than cook it. A morning class leaves the late afternoon free for Doi Suthep.
- Getting there
- Fly from Bangkok in about an hour for ฿900–1,500, or take the sleeper train.
- When to go
- All year.
8. Cycle the old capital's ruins, Ayutthaya
Best day trip from BangkokThe old capital's ruins are about an hour north of Bangkok by train, for around ฿20 in third class from Krung Thep Aphiwat. Rent a bicycle for ฿50–100 and ride between Wat Mahathat, with its Buddha head held in tree roots, Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wat Chaiwatthanaram. The temples charge ฿80 each or ฿300 for seven.
It's the day trip from Bangkok I'd do first, and you're back in the city for dinner. A tuk-tuk for the day costs ฿1,000–1,200 if it's too hot to pedal. The Ayutthaya travel guide has the full route.
- Getting there
- By train from Krung Thep Aphiwat, about an hour.
- When to go
- November to February, starting early.
9. Take a boat into Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi
Most famous viewMaya Bay, the cove from The Beach, opens at 07:00, and the first boats in have it before the day trips arrive. A shared boat around Phi Phi Leh from the main island costs ฿1,200–1,500, and the national park fee is ฿400. Swimming in the bay is banned, with a ฿5,000 fine, and the bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September.
From Phuket, a speedboat day trip costs ฿2,500–3,000 plus the park fee and is canceled when the swell is up. I'd sleep on Phi Phi and go early. Ferries to the island cost ฿490–700 and take about two hours, and the viewpoint above the village is ฿50. The Maya Bay guide has the rules.
- Getting there
- By ferry to Koh Phi Phi from Phuket or Krabi, then a longtail or shared boat.
- When to go
- November to April. Closed in August and September.
10. Learn to dive, Koh Tao
Best place to learn to diveKoh Tao is one of the cheapest places in the world to learn to dive. An Open Water course takes three and a half days and costs about ฿11,000–12,500, often with a room included, and the island's schools start courses daily.
The course also puts you in a group with shared boats and shared meals, which makes Koh Tao the easiest island in Thailand to arrive on alone. If you'd rather snorkel, Koh Nang Yuan next door has three islets joined by a sandbar and charges ฿250 to land. The Diving in Thailand guide covers the other dive regions.
- Getting there
- By ferry from Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Chumphon or Surat Thani.
- When to go
- February to September.
11. Watch Muay Thai at Rajadamnern Stadium, Bangkok
Best night outRajadamnern is the sport's oldest stadium, and it runs fights seven nights a week. Tickets start at ฿1,000 in third class and reach ฿3,500 for the boxes, doors open between 17:00 and 18:00 and the fights start around 19:00. Saturday's Rajadamnern World Series is the biggest card of the week, and the wai khru ceremony and the live band are half the show.
Lumpinee, on Ram Inthra Road, hosts ONE Championship's Friday nights from ฿1,000. For a free look, Channel 7's studio cards run on Sunday afternoons and MBK Fight Night is on the first and last Wednesday of the month. The Muay Thai Fights in Thailand guide lists every stadium.
- Getting there
- By Grab. Rides across central Bangkok cost about ฿100–200.
- When to go
- Any night. Saturday has the biggest card.
Rajadamnern Stadium4.8(10,044)Mon–Tue 18:00–22:00, Wed–Thu 17:00–22:00, Fri–Sat 18:00–22:00, Sun 17:00–22:00
12. Get a Thai massage, Bangkok
Best valueA one-hour traditional Thai massage costs ฿300–500 at a neighborhood shop, which makes it the best-value hour in the country. Wat Pho in Bangkok is the home of Thai massage, and the school on the temple's east side charges around ฿480 an hour.
Say ‘bao bao’ if you want it gentle, and tip ฿50–100. In Chiang Mai an hour runs ฿250–500. I'd book one for the day you land and another after any long day on a speedboat.
- Getting there
- Walk in at a local shop, or go to the school inside Wat Pho.
- When to go
- Any day.
13. See the White Temple, Chiang Rai
Most unusual templeWat Rong Khun, the White Temple, is the reason most people go to Chiang Rai. It's open from 08:00 to 17:30 and costs ฿200. The Blue Temple is free and open from 07:00 to 20:00, and Baan Dam, the Black House, is ฿80, so the three make one day.
Chiang Rai is 3.5 hours from Chiang Mai by Green Bus for ฿260–400. Day tours from Chiang Mai cost ฿1,200–1,800 and take about twelve hours, so I'd stay a night. The Chiang Rai travel guide covers all three.
- Getting there
- By Green Bus from Chiang Mai, 3.5 hours.
- When to go
- November to January.
14. Ride the sleeper train north, Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Best journeyTrain 9 leaves Krung Thep Aphiwat station in Bangkok at 18:40 and reaches Chiang Mai at 07:15. A second-class air-conditioned berth costs ฿941–1,041 and gets you a flat bed with a curtain, and the ticket replaces a night's hotel and a day of travel.
Lower berths sell out weeks ahead in high season, so book on the State Railway site or 12Go once your dates are fixed. The train leaves from Krung Thep Aphiwat and no longer from the old Hua Lamphong station. The Trains in Thailand guide has the classes and the other overnight routes.
- Getting there
- Take the MRT Blue Line to Bang Sue for Krung Thep Aphiwat.
- When to go
- All year. Book early from November to February.
15. Canoe through the sea caves, Phang Nga Bay
Best in any weatherPhang Nga Bay is sheltered water full of limestone islands. A full-day trip takes you by canoe through sea caves into the hongs, the lagoons inside the islands, then to a stilt village and James Bond Island. It costs ฿1,400–2,800 plus a ฿300 park fee.
Because the bay is sheltered, the trip runs in almost any weather. That makes it the boat day to choose from May to October, when Phi Phi trips are canceled for swell. The Phang Nga Bay guide compares the tours.
- Getting there
- Day trips leave from Phuket.
- When to go
- All year.
16. Shop Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok
Best marketChatuchak has 15,000 stalls, and it's only fully open on Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 18:00. On weekdays you get the plant section and JJ Mall next door. Go when it opens, before the heat builds.
For a night market, take the MRT to Thailand Cultural Centre for Jodd Fairs in Bangkok. In Chiang Mai, the Sunday Walking Street runs through the Old City from 16:00 to 22:30.
- Getting there
- Take the MRT Blue Line to Chatuchak Park.
- When to go
- Saturday or Sunday, from 09:00.
17. Join Songkran or Loy Krathong, Chiang Mai
Best festivalsSongkran, the Thai New Year, runs from 13 to 15 April and turns the country into a three-day water fight. In Bangkok the biggest crowds are on Silom and Khao San Road, and Chiang Mai's Old City is the other place to be. April is the hottest month of the year, so getting soaked helps.
Loy Krathong falls on the November full moon, when people float candlelit krathongs on rivers and lakes, and Chiang Mai's Yi Peng lanterns go up at the same full moon. Domestic fares double over Songkran, so book early for either festival. The Thailand Festivals guide has the dates.
- Getting there
- Both happen everywhere. Chiang Mai is the best base for either.
- When to go
- 13–15 April, and the November full moon.
18. Climb to Doi Suthep at dawn, Chiang Mai
Best temple viewWat Phra That Doi Suthep is the north's holiest site, 1,000 meters above Chiang Mai at the top of a 306-step naga staircase. Entry is ฿30, and a cable car skips the steps for ฿20–50. Shared songthaews leave Chang Phuak Gate from about 05:30 for ฿40–50.
Go at dawn for the monks' morning chant and the valley under mist, and start down before the tour coaches arrive at 09:00. On the way, Wat Pha Lat is a mossy forest temple halfway up, linked to the city by the 45-minute Monk's Trail. Back in the Old City, Wat Chedi Luang costs ฿40.
- Getting there
- By shared songthaew from Chang Phuak Gate.
- When to go
- November to January for clear views.
19. Swim at Erawan Falls and walk the River Kwai bridge, Kanchanaburi
Best for history and waterfallsKanchanaburi pairs the Death Railway with Erawan Falls. The Bridge on the River Kwai is free to walk, the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre costs ฿160, and Hellfire Pass, 80 km farther on, is free and open from 09:00 to 16:00.
Erawan Falls is seven tiers of pools in a national park. Entry is ฿300, the gates open at 08:00 and the last entry is at 15:30. A day trip from Bangkok only covers the town, so stay two or three nights to see both. The Kanchanaburi travel guide has the plan.
- Getting there
- Trains leave Bangkok's Thon Buri station at 07:45 and 13:55 and cost ฿100.
- When to go
- November to February.
20. Snorkel the Similan Islands, Khao Lak
Best snorkelingThe Similans are eleven granite islands with the clearest water in Thailand and the best snorkeling in the country. The park is open from 15 October to 15 May. A day trip from Khao Lak costs about ฿3,700–4,200 including the ฿500 park fee.
Khao Lak is the closest base. From Phuket the pickup is at 04:30, so I'd sleep in Khao Lak the night before. The Similan Islands guide has the season and the boats.
- Getting there
- By speedboat from Khao Lak, 75 to 80 km north of Phuket airport.
- When to go
- 15 October to 15 May.
What the 20 Cost and How Long They Take
| Thing to do | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun | ฿500, ฿300 and ฿200 | One morning |
| Street food on Yaowarat | ฿60–150 a dish | An evening |
| Longtail to Railay | ฿100 each way | A day, or stay a night |
| Elephant sanctuary | ฿1,600–2,500 half day, ฿3,500 full day | Half or full day |
| Four Islands from Krabi | ฿750–1,200 plus ฿200 | About 09:00 to 16:00 |
| Night on Cheow Lan Lake | From about ฿2,500, plus ฿300 and ฿40 | Two days, one night |
| Cooking class in Chiang Mai | ฿1,000–1,500 | Half a day |
| Ayutthaya by bicycle | ฿300 for seven temples, bike ฿50–100 | A day from Bangkok |
| Maya Bay by shared boat | ฿1,200–1,500 plus ฿400 | Half a day from Phi Phi |
| Open Water course on Koh Tao | ฿11,000–12,500 | 3.5 days |
| Muay Thai at Rajadamnern | ฿1,000–3,500 | An evening |
| Thai massage | ฿300–500 | An hour |
| The White Temple | ฿200 | A day in Chiang Rai |
| Sleeper train to Chiang Mai | ฿941–1,041 | Overnight, 18:40 to 07:15 |
| Phang Nga Bay by canoe | ฿1,400–2,800 plus ฿300 | A day |
| Chatuchak Weekend Market | Free | Half a day |
| Songkran and Loy Krathong | Free | 13–15 April, November full moon |
| Doi Suthep | ฿30 | A morning |
| Erawan Falls | ฿300 | A day in Kanchanaburi |
| Similan Islands day trip | ฿3,700–4,200 | A day |
Things to Do for Your Kind of Trip
| If you're | Do these | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A couple | Railay, a night on Cheow Lan Lake, Loy Krathong | Quiet, scenic and built for two |
| Traveling with kids | An elephant sanctuary, the Four Islands, Doi Suthep by cable car | Elephants work from about age six, and the sandbar walk is ankle-deep |
| Looking for nightlife | Muay Thai, Yaowarat, the Full Moon Party | Fights seven nights a week, and the party about thirteen times a year |
| After something unusual | The sleeper train, a raft house on the lake, the White Temple | Three you won't find a version of at home |
| Watching the budget | Chatuchak, Songkran, the River Kwai bridge, any beach | All free, and every beach in Thailand is public |
| Caught in the rain | A cooking class, a massage, Phang Nga Bay | Two are indoors and the bay runs in almost any weather |
| Chasing adventure | An Open Water course, climbing at Railay, the Similans | Koh Tao's course is ฿11,000–12,500 and a climbing half day ฿1,000–1,500 |
| Here for the food | Yaowarat, a cooking class, khao soi in Chiang Mai | Dishes from ฿50, classes from ฿1,000 |
| Here for history | Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Sukhothai | Two ruined capitals and the Death Railway |
More Things Worth Doing
Eight more come up in most plans, and each suits a certain kind of trip.
The Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan
The party happens about thirteen times a year on Haad Rin's Sunrise Beach, and entry is ฿200 at the gate. A bucket costs roughly ฿300–500. Haad Rin's rooms book out and want minimum stays around each date, so check the calendar in the Full Moon Party guide before you book the island.
Wild elephants at Khao Yai and Kui Buri
Khao Yai National Park is about three hours northeast of Bangkok and costs ฿400. Wild elephants walk the main road, the animals are most active at dawn and dusk, and a night safari truck costs ฿600 for up to eight people, so give it a night near the park. Kui Buri National Park, a day trip from Hua Hin, runs afternoon safaris to see its herds.
Sukhothai by bicycle
Thailand's first capital is a UNESCO ruins park you cycle around. Each zone costs ฿100 plus ฿10 for the bike, and bikes rent for about ฿50. It sits between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, so it breaks the trip north.
Maeklong Railway Market and Amphawa
At Maeklong a train runs through the market stalls eight times a day, arriving at about 08:30, 11:10, 14:30 and 17:40. Check the board at the station, because the timetable changes. From Friday to Sunday it pairs with Amphawa's evening floating market. Damnoen Saduak, the floating market on the postcards, is open from 07:00 to 13:00 and only worth it before 09:00.
A few days in Pai
Pai is a small mountain town three and a half to four hours and 762 curves northwest of Chiang Mai. The van costs ฿150–220 and scooters rent for ฿150–200 a day. Go between November and January, before the smoke season.
The Mahanakhon SkyWalk
From 78 floors up, Bangkok's sprawl finally makes sense. The daytime ticket is ฿1,000, sunset slots cost more and sell out, and sunset falls between about 17:50 and 18:40 depending on the month. Book online a day ahead.
Bang Krachao and Talat Noi
These are two quieter Bangkok half days that I've done myself. We've gone to Bang Krachao several times to cycle around and stop at cafés, and bikes rent there for ฿80 a day. In Talat Noi we went for the cafés, the riverside and the street art.
Bangla Road at night
I've been to Bangla Road in Patong at night, and it's a little chaotic and busy but fun, with lights, loud music and action everywhere. My advice is to pick a bar, have a beer, feel out the vibe and move on if it doesn't match your style. The Phuket Nightlife guide covers the rest.
Arriving in Bangkok
Top-Ranked Hotels in Bangkok
The top of my ranked list of the 10 best hotels in Bangkok. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com with your dates filled in.
#2Shangri-La Bangkok4.6 (11,460 reviews)
Luxury riverside hotel in Bang Rak with Chao Phraya views, acclaimed service, and full resort facilities.
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#3Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok4.7 (6,977 reviews)
Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok solves the Siam district's biggest weakness — nowhere serene to sleep — by hiding a resort-style garden of saltwater pools directly
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#4Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok4.7 (6,702 reviews)
A legendary riverside hotel in Bangkok's Bang Rak district, offering elegant rooms, world-class dining, and a celebrated spa.
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How to Fit Them into One Trip
With one week, pick two bases. Bangkok and Chiang Mai covers the temples, Yaowarat, Muay Thai, Chatuchak, the sleeper train, the elephants, a cooking class and Doi Suthep. Bangkok and Krabi trades the north for Railay, the Four Islands and a day on Phi Phi.
With ten days to two weeks, do all three. Spend three or four days in Bangkok with a day in Ayutthaya, three or four in Chiang Mai, then four to six on the coast that's in season. From November to April that's Krabi, Phuket and Phi Phi. From May to September it's Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
With three weeks, add the ones in between. Kanchanaburi fits before or after Bangkok, Chiang Rai extends Chiang Mai by a night, and Khao Sok sits on the road between the Andaman coast and the Samui ferries. The Thailand Itinerary guide has day-by-day routes, and the Best Places to Visit in Thailand guide ranks the stops themselves.
When to Do What
November to February is the cool, dry season in Bangkok, the north and on the Andaman coast, and everything on this list is open. It's also the busiest time of year, so book the sleeper train, Elephant Nature Park and beach hotels ahead.
From March to May the country is hot and the north is smoky from mid-February to April, so save Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Pai for another month. Both coasts are usually dry from February to April, and Songkran falls on 13 to 15 April.
From June to September the Gulf islands are in their dry season, which makes it the time for Koh Tao. On the Andaman side, Maya Bay closes for August and September, the Similans are shut until 15 October, and Phang Nga Bay keeps running. Bangkok's temples, markets, massages and Muay Thai work in any month. The Best Time to Visit Thailand guide rates every month.
Plan the trip
Things to do by destination
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about The 20 Best Things to Do in Thailand.
A morning at the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun in Bangkok. The three cost ฿500, ฿300 and ฿200, the palace opens at 08:30, and almost every trip starts in Bangkok anyway.
The Grand Palace and Wat Pho, street food on Yaowarat Road, the longtail to Railay, a day with rescued elephants in Chiang Mai, island hopping from Krabi, a night on Cheow Lan Lake, a cooking class, the ruins of Ayutthaya by bicycle, a boat into Maya Bay and an Open Water course on Koh Tao.
Bangkok's temples and Chinatown, an elephant sanctuary and Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, and one boat day on the coast that's in season. That's Krabi or Phuket from November to April and Koh Samui from May to September.
Stay a night on Railay, sleep in a raft house on Cheow Lan Lake and float a krathong at Loy Krathong on the November full moon. I proposed on Phra Nang Beach at Railay in 2023, so that's the one I'd put first.
An observation-style elephant sanctuary from about age six, the Four Islands boat trip from Krabi with its sandbar walk, and Doi Suthep by cable car. The Thailand with Kids guide has more by age.
Sleeping on Cheow Lan Lake in a floating raft house, riding the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, watching a train run through Maeklong Railway Market and joining the Songkran water fight on 13 to 15 April.
Every beach is public, Chatuchak Weekend Market and the night markets cost nothing to walk, and the Bridge on the River Kwai, Hellfire Pass and the Blue Temple in Chiang Rai are free. Songkran and Loy Krathong are free too.
Yes, for one person before international flights. $1,000 over seven days is about ฿4,800 a day, which is above the ฿2,500–4,000 that a comfortable mid-range day costs, so it covers a good hotel and a paid activity every day. Thailand Travel Costs has the full breakdown.
Ten to fourteen days covers Bangkok, Chiang Mai and one coast, which reaches most of this list. One week is enough for two of the three.
Skip elephant rides and shows, never take a tuk-tuk that offers a ฿20 tour, and stay out of the water at Maya Bay, where swimming carries a ฿5,000 fine. Cover your shoulders and knees at temples, and leave vapes at home, because the UK Foreign Office says they are illegal to possess in Thailand.
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Capital, sleeper train, mountains, then the Andaman coast by ferry — nine nights, one direction, no backtracking.
7 Days in Thailand
Capital, mountains, islands — six nights, two short flights, and no day lost to transit.
Thailand Honeymoon Guide and 10-Day Itinerary
Private pool villas, longtail sunsets, and evenings made for two.
Thailand on a Budget
Thailand on less, without missing the best of it
Written by
Mac Kiley
I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled the country from there. The guides are my own opinions, written the way I'd explain them to a friend planning a trip.
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