Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Thailand

A photograph of Thailand
Photograph · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0

Thailand is 513,120 km² and 76 provinces, plus Bangkok, which is not a province at all but a special administrative area with an elected governor of its own. The 65,975,198 people counted in 2024 spread across four regions that behave like four separate trips: the central plain along the Chao Phraya, the north around Chiang Mai and the old Lan Na kingdom, the Khorat Plateau in the northeast, and the long strip of the Malay Peninsula in the south. Most itineraries take two of the four. Taking all four is largely a schedule of internal flights.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Thai
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+66
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Thai baht (THB)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
191 police · 1669 medical
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A, B, C and O · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide drinking-water statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: seasonal closure recorded
  8. August: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Sanam Luang
    02 40 min

    Sanam Luang

    Sanam Luang, "royal turf", officially Thong Sanam Luang, is the great open field in front of Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace in Phra Nakhon district - 74.5 rai, about 119,200 square metres of grass ringed by tamarind trees…

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Bangkok
  2. Chatuchak Park
    03 1 hour

    Chatuchak Park

    Chatuchak Park is the public park on the west side of Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road in Chatuchak district, the green half of the block whose other half is the weekend market.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Bangkok
  3. Benjakitti Park
    04 1 hr 30 min

    Benjakitti Park

    Benjakitti Park is a 450-rai forest park in Khlong Toei, wedged between Ratchadaphisek Road, the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center and the back of the Sukhumvit office district, and it is the most ambitious piece of public landscape Bangkok has…

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Bangkok
  4. Doi Suthep-Pui National Park
    05 1 hour

    Doi Suthep-Pui National Park

    Doi Suthep-Pui National Park is a protected area northwest of Chiang Mai city in northern Thailand. The park encompasses mountainous terrain including Doi Suthep and Doi Pui peaks, forming part of the Thanon Thong Chai Range.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Chiang Mai
  5. Queen Sirikit Park
    06 1 hr 30 min

    Queen Sirikit Park

    Queen Sirikit Park is a botanical garden of 0.22 square kilometres in Chatuchak district, northern Bangkok, established in 1992 and opened on 19 December 1996 to mark Queen Sirikit's sixtieth birthday.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Bangkok
  6. Suan Luang Rama IX
    07 2 hr 30 min

    Suan Luang Rama IX

    Suan Luang Rama IX is the largest park in Bangkok, covering 500 rai, or about 80 hectares, in Prawet district in the south-east of the city.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Bangkok
  7. Royal Park Rajapruek
    08 1 hour

    Royal Park Rajapruek

    Royal Park Rajapruek is a large botanical garden and agricultural exposition site located on the outskirts of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. The park was originally developed for the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek exhibition, an international horticultural event.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Chiang Mai
  8. Benjasiri Park
    10 1 hour

    Benjasiri Park

    Benjasiri Park is a 29-rai public park on Sukhumvit Road between Soi 22 and Soi 24 in Khlong Toei, laid out by the Finance Ministry's Treasury Department on ground that had belonged to the Meteorological Department and opened on 12…

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Bangkok
  9. Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden
    11 1 hour

    Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden

    Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden is a botanical garden in Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. It serves as a major centre for botanical research and plant conservation in the region.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Chiang Mai
  10. Mae Sa Waterfall
    12 1 hour

    Mae Sa Waterfall

    Mae Sa Waterfall is a multi-tiered cascade situated in the Mae Sa Valley area north of Chiang Mai city, within the broader mountainous terrain of northern Thailand.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Chiang Mai
  11. Ob Khan National Park
    13 1 hour

    Ob Khan National Park

    Ob Khan National Park is a protected natural area located in Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. The park encompasses forested mountain terrain, river valleys, and limestone formations characteristic of the region's geography.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Chiang Mai
  12. Wachirabenchathat Park
    14 2 hours

    Wachirabenchathat Park

    Suan Wachirabenchathat is a 375-rai public park in Chatuchak district, run by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, which lists it under its older popular name Suan Rot Fai, the Railway Park.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Bangkok
  13. Santichaiprakarn Park
    15 40 min

    Santichaiprakarn Park

    Santichaiprakarn Park is a small riverside park at the northern end of Phra Athit Road in Phra Nakhon, laid out in 1999 around Phra Sumen Fort on the bank of the Chao Phraya.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Bangkok
  14. Rommaninat Park
    20 1 hour

    Rommaninat Park

    Rommaninat Park, known locally as สวนรมณีนาถ, is a public green space in Bangkok. The park serves as a recreational area for residents and visitors seeking respite from the dense urban environment.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Bangkok
  15. Patong
    31 1 hour

    Patong

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Phuket
  16. Hat Kata
    34 1 hour

    Hat Kata

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Phuket
  17. Karon Beach
    35 1 hour

    Karon Beach

    Karon Beach is a coastal stretch on Phuket's western shore, positioned between Patong to the north and Kata to the south. It ranks among the island's more extensive beachfronts, drawing visitors seeking relative spaciousness compared to denser neighbouring areas.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Phuket
  18. Ter Bay
    39 1 hour

    Ter Bay

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Phuket
  19. Laem Sing
    45 1 hour

    Laem Sing

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Phuket
  20. Mai Khao
    46 1 hour

    Mai Khao

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Phuket
  21. Rawai
    47 1 hour

    Rawai

    Rawai Beach is a coastal area at the southern tip of Phuket island, Thailand. It serves primarily as a working beach and anchorage for fishing vessels and longtail boats rather than a swimming destination.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Phuket
  22. Banana beach
    48 1 hour

    Banana beach

    Banana Beach is a coastal area on the island of Phuket, Thailand. The beach lies along the western shoreline of the island within Phuket province, one of Thailand's southern provinces.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Phuket
  23. Nakalay Beach
    52 1 hour

    Nakalay Beach

    Nakalay Beach is a coastal area on the island of Phuket, Thailand's largest island and a major tourist destination in the Andaman Sea. Phuket province encompasses the island and adjacent mainland areas, featuring numerous beaches, resorts, and visitor attractions.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Phuket
  24. Pansea Beach
    53 1 hour

    Pansea Beach

    Pansea Beach is a secluded cove on the western coast of Phuket, Thailand. It sits between Surin Beach to the south and Laem Singh Beach to the north, nestled against granite headlands.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Phuket
  25. Surin
    54 1 hour

    Surin

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Phuket
  26. Ya Nui
    55 1 hour

    Ya Nui

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Phuket
  27. Ao Yon Beach
    64 1 hour

    Ao Yon Beach

    Ao Yon Beach is a coastal area located on the southeastern side of Phuket island in southern Thailand. It sits within Phuket province, which is the country's largest island province and a major international tourism destination.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Phuket
  28. B
    67 1 hour

    B

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Bangkok
  29. Back Lawn
    68 1 hour

    Back Lawn

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Bangkok
  30. Bo Nammon
    78 1 hour

    Bo Nammon

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Bangkok
  31. Child Park
    96 1 hour

    Child Park

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Bangkok

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Thailand be?

Ten to fourteen days allows three or four days in Bangkok, about three in Chiang Mai, and a separate southern base. If an island follows an international arrival, keep a spare transfer day because the last road or ferry connection may not align with the flight.

What entry documents are needed for Thailand?

Thailand's entry permission depends on the traveller's passport, purpose, and stay length. Use the linked Thai immigration guidance to confirm the applicable visa route and whether a Thailand Digital Arrival Card is required for the arrival date.

What is the best way to travel around Thailand?

Bangkok anchors Thailand's transport network. The Tourism Authority of Thailand lists buses, trains, urban rail, vans and songthaews for land journeys, alongside domestic aviation and boat services. Check any island's final sea or road connection separately before booking the inbound leg.

When is a practical time to visit Thailand?

November through February is the broad starting point for this route, not a nationwide weather guarantee. Northern conditions and the monsoon timing on each coast differ, so choose dates around the island or ferry leg rather than Bangkok alone.

What money and payment basics apply in Thailand?

Thailand uses the Thai baht (THB). Cards may work in larger hotels and businesses, but market purchases and some island transport can require cash, so retain a modest baht reserve without assuming a particular exchange fee.

What practical safety details should I save for Thailand?

Record 191 for police and 1669 for medical emergencies in Thailand. Power is 220 V with Type A, B, C, and O sockets; tap-water safety is not recorded here, so ask the accommodation rather than treating the missing entry as approval.