A local guide to Thailand from the Bangkok night markets to the Andaman coast and every plate of noodles in between
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Day 2 · Bangkok
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More than 200 of the best places in Thailand, in one guide with photos and tips.
The route that fits without rushing: three nights in Bangkok, three in the north, four on an island, and why a cheap domestic flight beats every overland option.
A calmer, more established beach town two to three hours from Bangkok, built around a royal summer palace, a long beach, golf courses and an easy train ride rather than a party scene.
A canalside market that only really runs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, with grilled seafood cooked straight from the boats and firefly tours after dark.
Sky lantern releases around Chiang Mai are restricted to permitted zones and hours, the famous mass releases are ticketed private events, and flights get moved. What you can actually do, and what the festival leaves behind.
Wild elephants and gibbons within three hours of Bangkok, a UNESCO forest, waterfalls, and the country's best-known wine region on its doorstep. What a day trip or overnight actually looks like.
How the night at the most famous beach party in Thailand actually runs: getting in and the wristband, where to stay and how far it is, what the buckets cost, the safety risks worth taking seriously, and getting back safely at dawn.
The core guides to start from.
Where to stay in Bangkok: Sukhumvit, Silom, Riverside, the Old City and Khao San compared, which suits which trip, and the one rule about transport that decides everything else.
How to visit the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun without the heat and the crowds: the dress code enforced at the gate, the order that works, the scam at the entrance, and what each is actually for.
What a Thailand trip really costs: where the money goes on beds, food, transport and boat days, the three lines that break budgets, and how to travel well without spending much.
When to visit Thailand: the cool, hot and green seasons explained, how the monsoon differs by coast, plus Songkran, Loy Krathong and how to pick the perfect travel dates.
How entering Thailand works in 2026: the 60-day visa exemption and the proposed cut to 30 days, the TDAC digital arrival card, passport validity rules, extensions, proof of funds and onward travel.
How to get around Thailand: cheap domestic flights, scenic trains, comfy buses, island ferries, the Grab app, tuk-tuks and BTS, and when to use each one to save time and money.
Many nationalities can enter visa-free for 30 to 60 days for tourism, you just need a passport valid for at least six months. Check the latest rules for your passport before you fly, and you can extend your stay at a local immigration office for a fee.
The dry season, November to March, is the best time for most of the country, with pleasant weather and calm seas. April is very hot (Songkran), and the monsoon (May to October) brings rain but greener scenery and lower prices.
Thailand is one of the most affordable destinations in Asia. The currency is the baht (THB), and it is best to withdraw cash from ATMs (there is a fixed fee). Cards work at hotels and malls, but markets, street food stalls and tuk-tuks need cash.
Yes. Thailand is friendly, well set up for tourism and easy to get around, which makes it popular for a first trip to Asia and for families. Stick to bottled water, take care on the road around scooters, and travel with valid insurance.
Cheap domestic flights link Bangkok, the north and the islands. In the cities use the BTS and metro in Bangkok, tuk-tuks, metered taxis or the Grab app. Ferries and speedboats connect the islands.
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