Thailand
Bangkok's gilded temples and night markets never really slow down, and Krabi's limestone cliffs rise straight out of turquoise water. Beyond them lie the ruined capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, Chiang Mai's mountain temples and some of the world's best street food. The north and the islands suit very different trip lengths and budgets, so plan accordingly.
Overview
Thailand's classic first trip is a loop: a few days in Bangkok, a day trip to Ayutthaya, then north by overnight train or short flight to Chiang Mai, with side trips to Chiang Rai, Pai or Sukhothai, before flying south for beaches. The south splits in two: the Andaman coast — Phuket, Krabi, Ko Lanta and Ko Phi Phi — and the Gulf of Thailand islands of Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao, which have a different rainy season. Inland, Khao Sok's rainforest makes a good bridge between the coasts, while the north-east, Isan, rewards return visitors with Khmer temples and few tourists.
Thailand is easy: transport is cheap and reliable, accommodation ranges from £10 hostels to superb resorts, and English is widely used in tourist areas. That ease brings crowds — Phi Phi, Phuket and Chiang Mai's old city can feel saturated in peak season — but quieter islands and towns are rarely far away. Food is a highlight at every budget, from market stalls to Bangkok's fine-dining scene. It suits first-time Asia travellers, families, divers and food lovers. Surprises include the April heat, smoky haze in the north during the February–April burning season, and how seriously Thais take respect for the monarchy and Buddhism.
Map of Thailand
Top 5 highlights
- 1Architecture
Grand Palace and Wat Pho, Bangkok
The former royal residence houses the revered Emerald Buddha in Wat Phra Kaew; next door, Wat Pho shelters a 46-metre gilded reclining Buddha and a renowned massage school. Cover shoulders and knees.
- 2History
Ayutthaya Historical Park
Capital of Siam for four centuries until Burmese armies sacked it in 1767, Ayutthaya's brick prangs and headless Buddhas spread across a river island north of Bangkok. Cycle between the ruins and stay for sunset.
- 3Sacred site
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Climb some 300 steps up a naga-flanked staircase, or take the funicular, to this golden-spired temple on the mountain above Chiang Mai, one of northern Thailand's holiest sites, with views over the city.
- 4Nature
Khao Sok National Park
Ancient rainforest, limestone karsts and the vast Cheow Lan reservoir make this the south's best inland escape. Sleep in floating raft houses on the lake and look for gibbons, hornbills and, in season, the giant Rafflesia flower.
- 5Beach
Railay, Krabi
Cut off from Krabi's roads by sheer limestone cliffs, this peninsula is reached by longtail boat. Rock climbing, the cave shrine at Phra Nang Beach and kayaking among karst islands fill the days.
Biggest cities
Bangkok
Glittering temples, canal boats, rooftop bars and legendary street food make the capital far more than a transit stop; stay near the river or a Skytrain line.
Chiang Mai
The north's cultural capital has a moated old city dotted with temples, a Sunday walking-street market, cookery schools and easy access to the hills and Doi Suthep.
Nakhon Ratchasima
Known as Korat, this gateway to Isan is a workaday city, but it makes a base for Khao Yai National Park and the Khmer temple at Phimai.
Figures are urban-area estimates: Bangkok's metropolitan region is far larger than the city proper, and Chiang Mai's total includes the built-up districts around the old city.
Holiday regions in Thailand
These areas have their own season and weather — see their guides for sea temperatures, resorts and flights.
When to go to Thailand
Best time: Nov–Feb.
Average climate in Bangkok
Festivals & events
- AprSongkran
Thai New Year, 13–15 April, turns streets into a nationwide water fight, especially in Chiang Mai and on Bangkok's Silom Road, alongside quieter temple merit-making and Buddha-bathing rituals.
- Sep–OctPhuket Vegetarian Festival
For nine days in the ninth lunar month, Phuket's Chinese community abstains from meat, and devotees in trance pierce their cheeks in dramatic street processions.
- NovLoy Krathong and Yi Peng
On the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, usually November, people float candlelit krathong on rivers; in Chiang Mai, Yi Peng adds thousands of paper lanterns released into the sky.
How much does Thailand cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Pad thai
Stir-fried rice noodles with egg, tofu or prawns, tamarind, palm sugar and fish sauce, finished with peanuts, beansprouts and lime; best from a street wok.
Tom yum goong
Hot-and-sour prawn soup sharp with lemongrass, galangal, makrut lime leaves and chilli; the creamier 'nam khon' version adds milk.
Som tam
Shredded green papaya pounded in a mortar with chilli, lime, fish sauce and palm sugar; Isan versions add pungent fermented fish.
Getting around
Budget airlines such as Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and Thai Lion Air make long hops cheap, while overnight sleeper trains to Chiang Mai leave from Bangkok's Krung Thep Aphiwat station. Government and VIP buses reach almost everywhere, and ferries and speedboats serve the islands. In Bangkok, the BTS Skytrain, MRT and river boats beat the traffic; Grab and Bolt work in most cities.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- ABCFO220V — bring a UK-to-A/B/C/F/O adapter
- Emergency numbers
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +66
- Time zone
- UTC+7 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Not safe — drink bottled or treated water
- Driving
- On the left
- Tipping
- Not traditionally expected, but leaving loose change or 20–50 baht in restaurants, rounding up taxi fares and tipping masseurs and guides is now common.
- Etiquette
- Never criticise the royal family, stand for the royal anthem, don't touch anyone's head or point your feet at people or Buddha images, and remove shoes before entering temples and homes.
- Main airports
- Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Bangkok; Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), Bangkok; Phuket International Airport (HKT), Phuket
Visas & entry for Thailand
Shown for a British passport.
No visa needed
From 15 September 2026, if you enter Thailand under the visa exemption scheme, you can stay for up to 30 days for tourism only. Visa-exempt entry does not cover business travel, including attending conferences, meetings or other business activities. If you are travelling for business purposes, you should obtain the appropriate visa before you travel.
Visa-exempt entry for tourism through land-border immigration checkpoints is normally limited to 2 entries per calendar year. This restriction does not generally apply to arrivals by air. If you frequently enter Thailand as a tourist, immigration officials may ask for evidence of your onward travel, accommodation, or sufficient funds, and may refuse entry if they believe you are not a genuine visitor.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanus
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- ChikungunyaDengueHepatitis BJapanese encephalitisMeaslesRabiesTuberculosisTyphoid
- Yellow fever certificate
- A yellow fever certificate is only required if you arrive from (or transit through) a country with yellow fever risk — not if you fly direct from the UK.
- Malaria
- Low risk of malaria
- There is a low risk of malaria in the rural, forested borders of Thailand with Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar: awareness of risk and bite avoidance recommended.
- There is a very low risk of malaria in the remaining areas of Thailand including Kanchanaburi (Kwai Bridge): awareness of risk and bite avoidance recommended.
- There is no risk of malaria in the cities of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, and Pattaya: bite avoidance recommended.
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Thailand
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Fri 23 Oct 2026 | HM King Chulalongkorn Memorial Day |
| Sat 5 Dec 2026 | HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great's Birthday · National Day · National Father's Day |
| Mon 7 Dec 2026 | HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great's Birthday (in lieu) · National Day (in lieu) · National Father's Day (in lieu) |
| Thu 10 Dec 2026 | Constitution Day |
| Thu 31 Dec 2026 | New Year's Eve |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Sat 9 Jan 2027 | National Children's Day |
| Sun 21 Feb 2027 | Makha Bucha |
| Mon 22 Feb 2027 | Makha Bucha (in lieu) |
| Tue 6 Apr 2027 | Chakri Memorial Day |
| Tue 13 Apr 2027 | Songkran Festival |
| Wed 14 Apr 2027 | Songkran Festival |
| Thu 15 Apr 2027 | Songkran Festival |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | National Labour Day |
| Mon 3 May 2027 | National Labour Day (in lieu) |
| Tue 4 May 2027 | Coronation Day |
| Thu 20 May 2027 | Visakha Bucha |
| Thu 3 Jun 2027 | HM Queen Suthida's Birthday |
| Sun 18 Jul 2027 | Asarnha Bucha |
| Mon 19 Jul 2027 | Buddhist Lent Day |
| Tue 20 Jul 2027 | Asarnha Bucha (in lieu) |
| Wed 28 Jul 2027 | HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn's Birthday |
| Thu 12 Aug 2027 | HM Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother's Birthday · National Mother's Day |
| Wed 13 Oct 2027 | HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej Memorial Day |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Thai
| English | Thai | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | สวัสดี | sah-wah-DEE (krap/kah) |
| Thank you | ขอบคุณ | kop-KOON (krap/kah) |
| Please | กรุณา | gah-roo-NAH |
| Excuse me | ขอโทษ | kor-TOHT |
| How much is this? | อันนี้เท่าไหร่ | an-NEE tao-RAI |
Know before you go
- If a friendly stranger says the Grand Palace is closed and offers a cheap tuk-tuk tour instead, decline: it usually ends at a gem or tailor shop.
- Riding a scooter without a valid motorcycle licence and helmet is illegal and usually voids travel insurance; check your UK licence covers motorbikes before hiring one.
- The Andaman coast is wettest from May to October, while Ko Samui and the Gulf islands get most rain from October to December — pick your coast by month.
Thailand travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Thailand?
The best time to visit Thailand is generally Nov–Feb. Peak months are January, February, November and December. Average highs in Bangkok range from 32°C to 36°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Thailand cost per day?
Roughly £30 a day on a tight budget, £75 mid-range and £170+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Thailand?
Thai baht (THB).
What plug type does Thailand use?
Type A, B, C, F and O sockets at 220V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Thailand?
Traffic drives on the left in Thailand — the same as in the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Thailand?
Not safe — drink bottled or treated water.
Do I need a visa for Thailand?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: From 15 September 2026, if you enter Thailand under the visa exemption scheme, you can stay for up to 30 days for tourism only. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Thailand before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Thailand?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A and Tetanus for most travellers, with Chikungunya, Dengue, Hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, Measles and Rabies sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
