Plan your Thailand trip
Pair Bangkok with one northern or coastal base, rather than trying to cross the country every few days. Leave room for weather, slow travel days and a final-night airport buffer.
Choose what matters most
Showing all 6 places.
Best places to visit
Bangkok
Temples, river travel, neighbourhood food and easy domestic connections.
Chiang Mai
Markets, old-city temples and a relaxed base for the surrounding countryside.
Ayutthaya
A rewarding day trip or overnight from Bangkok, best explored early or late in the day.
Phuket & Krabi
Airport access, beaches and boat excursions—check conditions before booking.
Ko Samui
An island base with varied stays and onward links to nearby islands.
Railay
A boat-access beach escape that rewards a slower transfer day.
Arriving in Thailand
Choose your Bangkok arrival airport below for practical onward options. Times are estimates: check the airport and operator shortly before travel.
Phaya Thai or Makkasan
Useful for central rail connections; allow time for your final hotel transfer.
Central Bangkok
Check current routes and hours before travelling.
Door to your hotel
Use the signed official taxi system and keep your address available in Thai.
Central Bangkok
Allow time for a connection to the wider rail network.
City districts
Check the current route before travelling.
Door to your hotel
Follow airport signs to the official taxi rank.
Getting around Thailand
- Thailand drives on the left; only rent with the correct licence and insurance.
- Keep small cash notes for local transport and markets.
- Use licensed operators for boat travel.
Where to stay
Bangkok: riverside or old town
Good for temples and river access, with a calmer evening feel.
Bangkok: Sukhumvit or Siam
Useful for BTS links, shopping and a large choice of hotels.
Chiang Mai: old city or Nimman
Choose old-city temples or Nimman cafés and newer stays.
Practical travel essentials
Open a topic for the details most travellers need while planning or already on the road. Recheck live transport, weather, entry and health information shortly before travel.
Entry and travel documents
Check passport, visa and entry requirements with the Thai embassy or consulate responsible for your location.
Money, cards and ATMs
Cards work widely in larger hotels and malls; cash remains useful at markets, smaller shops and for local transport. Use established bank ATMs and check your bank's fees.
Local transport and ride booking
Use official stations, signed taxi systems and recognised ride-booking apps where available. Confirm the pick-up point, route and fare conditions before leaving.
Pharmacies and medicines
Bring essential medicines in their original packaging and carry the prescription if relevant. Ask a pharmacist for help rather than relying on unfamiliar products.
Power, plugs and charging
Thailand commonly uses 220V electricity. Pack a suitable travel adaptor and keep a charging cable or power bank for long transfer days.
Connectivity and offline backups
Install your eSIM on Wi-Fi before travel and keep the QR code available offline. Download accommodation details and key maps before island or rural transfers.
Heat, rain and packing
Pack sun protection, light layers and rain cover. Check the local forecast rather than assuming conditions are the same across Thailand.
Water and island safety
Check local weather and sea conditions before boat trips. Use licensed operators, follow crew advice and avoid tight connections before an international flight.
Emergency numbers and visitor support
Save Tourist Police 1155, general emergency 191 and ambulance 1669. For immediate danger, contact local emergency services first.
Temple etiquette and respectful travel
Dress respectfully at temples, remove shoes where asked and follow local signs. Ask before photographing people, religious sites or ceremonies.
Luggage and airport transfers
Keep passports, medication and valuables with you. Leave extra time for hotel transfers, especially when traffic or a ferry is involved.
Accessibility and family needs
Check your exact hotel and transport connections in advance: pavement, lift, pier and boat access can vary significantly by destination.
Shopping, receipts and tax refunds
Keep receipts for larger purchases and confirm any tax-refund requirements directly with the retailer or airport before relying on them.
Opening hours, bookings and last services
Check current opening times, reservation policies and final train, boat or flight schedules shortly before travel; these can change by season and location.
Food and markets
What to try
Choose busy, well-lit stalls where food is cooked fresh.
Save a Thai-language note for allergies.
Ask for less spice if needed.
Carry small notes for independent vendors.
Find food by your mood
Food districts, markets and local streets worth adding to your route.
Yaowarat Chinatown
An evening food district with many small stalls and restaurants. Go with a flexible appetite and keep cash for independent vendors.
Tourism Authority guide ↗Chatuchak Weekend Market
A large weekend market with snacks, drinks and stalls alongside shopping. Check current opening days and plan a heat break.
Tourism Authority guide ↗Or Tor Kor Market
A market stop for fruit, prepared food and ingredients. Combine it with nearby Chatuchak rather than crossing the city for one meal.
Tourism Authority guide ↗Warorot Market
A central market area for northern snacks, ingredients and everyday shopping. Visit early or later in the day when the heat eases.
Tourism Authority guide ↗Phuket Old Town
Historic streets with cafés, local dishes and an easy evening wander. Confirm any walking-market schedule before making a special trip.
Tourism Authority guide ↗Krabi Town
A practical base for local food and an evening market atmosphere, especially before or after an island transfer.
Tourism Authority guide ↗Fisherman’s Village
Restaurants and evening stalls in a beachside setting. Check the current event schedule and transport home before staying late.
Tourism Authority guide ↗Seasonal fruit and sweets
Markets are a good place to try regional fruit and desserts. Ask directly about ingredients if you have an allergy or dietary requirement.
Tourism Authority guide ↗Showing all 8 food favourites.
Thailand with children
Build in shade
Plan indoor or pool breaks during the hottest part of the day.
Keep transfers short
Avoid combining a long road journey and boat crossing on the same day.
Practical stops
Larger malls and stations make useful air-conditioned breaks.
Stay flexible
Keep a weather buffer for water activities and island travel.
Suggested itineraries
Use these as flexible route foundations, not a race to complete every sight. Reserve popular accommodation and domestic connections early, and leave room for heat, rain and island-weather changes.
Best for: a first visit with two bases and one domestic connection at most.
Bangkok: arrive, then explore by area
Stay in one Bangkok hotel. Pair the river and old town on one day with a neighbourhood, market or museum day rather than crossing the city repeatedly.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai or one beach base
Make one onward journey, then keep the evening close to your hotel after check-in.
Slow second base
Use Chiang Mai for markets and temples, or a coastal base for a beach day and a weather-dependent boat excursion.
Return and depart
Keep the final night near your departure airport if you have an early international flight.
Best for: travellers who want Bangkok, the north and one coast without changing hotel every night.
Bangkok
Arrive gently, then divide time between temples and river travel, one market or food area, and a flexible neighbourhood day.
Chiang Mai
Fly north, use one day for the old city and markets, and choose a single day trip only if it suits your pace.
One beach or island base
Fly or connect to the coast. Check the seasonal weather pattern for your chosen side of the peninsula and leave a buffer for boats.
Return for departure
Build in time for the domestic connection and airport transfer; avoid a same-day island boat before a long-haul flight.
Best for: a relaxed first trip that adds a historic stop and more recovery time between longer journeys.
Bangkok
Settle in and explore by district. Use an early start for major sights and reserve the hottest hours for a slower meal, museum or hotel break.
Ayutthaya
Take a historic day trip or stay overnight from Bangkok. An overnight creates cooler early and late-day exploring time.
Chiang Mai
Move north for temples, markets and a different pace. Keep one unplanned day for a cooking class, countryside trip or rest.
One coast or island group
Choose one side of the peninsula, settle into one base and avoid treating a boat trip as a fixed plan if conditions change.
Return and depart
Return to the airport city with a weather and transfer buffer, then keep the last day close to your departure point.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an eSIM for Thailand?
It is a convenient way to use maps, ride bookings and translation without swapping your physical SIM.
Can I visit Bangkok, Chiang Mai and an island in one week?
It is possible but rushed. Choose two bases for a gentler first trip.
Should I carry cash?
Yes. Cards are useful in larger businesses, but cash remains practical for markets and local transport.
Stay connected
eSIM plans for Thailand
Pick a plan before you travel and activate it when you arrive.
Sources and review
Travel information can change. Check official transport, government and provider sources before your trip.
Last updated novembro 4, 2026.
Country facts source