Roavina

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.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

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
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  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. Erawan Shrine Erawan Shrine
    02 20 min

    Erawan Shrine

    ศาลท้าวมหาพรหม

    The Erawan Shrine is a small open pavilion on the corner of the Ratchaprasong junction, hemmed in by department stores and skywalks, holding a gilded four-faced image of Phra Phrom — the Thai form of Brahma.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Bangkok
  2. Wat Bowonniwet Vihara Wat Bowonniwet Vihara
    03 45 min

    Wat Bowonniwet Vihara

    วัดบวรนิเวศราชวรวิหาร

    Wat Bowonniwet Vihara is the headquarters temple of the Thammayut order, and that single fact governs everything a visitor sees in the compound.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Bangkok
  3. Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Sri Maha Mariamman Temple
    04 30 min

    Sri Maha Mariamman Temple

    วัดพระศรีมหาอุมาเทวี

    Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, known to Bangkok as Wat Khaek and formally as Wat Phra Si Maha Uma Thewi, is the principal Tamil Hindu temple in Thailand, standing at the corner of Si Lom Road and Pan Road in Bang…

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Bangkok
  4. Wat Yan Nawa Wat Yan Nawa
    05 40 min

    Wat Yan Nawa

    วัดยานนาวา

    Wat Yannawa is the temple on Charoen Krung Road in Sathon whose principal monument is a full-size masonry Chinese junk with two chedis rising from its deck.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Bangkok
  5. Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre
    06 30 min

    Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre

    ศาลาเฉลิมกรุง

    Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre is the modernist cinema at the corner of Charoen Krung and Tripet roads in Wang Burapha, opened on 2 July 1933 and built with 9,000,000 baht of King Prajadhipok's personal money to mark the 150th anniversary…

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Bangkok
  6. Wat Traimit Wat Traimit
    07 45 min

    Wat Traimit

    วัดไตรมิตรวิทยารามวรวิหาร

    Wat Traimit stands at the western gate of Yaowarat, where Chinatown meets the road in from Hua Lamphong, and it exists in the guidebooks for one object: a Sukhothai-style Buddha image of solid gold.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Bangkok
  7. Wat Pathum Wanaram Wat Pathum Wanaram
    08 40 min

    Wat Pathum Wanaram

    วัดปทุมวนารามราชวรวิหาร

    Wat Pathum Wanaram is a royal temple standing in its own belt of old trees between Siam Paragon and CentralWorld, in the middle of Bangkok's densest shopping district.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Bangkok
  8. Wat Mangkon Kamalawat Wat Mangkon Kamalawat
    09 45 min

    Wat Mangkon Kamalawat

    วัดมังกรกมลาวาส

    Wat Mangkon Kamalawat is the largest and most important Chinese Buddhist temple in Bangkok, standing on Charoen Krung Road between sois 19 and 21 in Pom Prap Sattru Phai.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Bangkok
  9. Wat Hua Lamphong Wat Hua Lamphong
    10 40 min

    Wat Hua Lamphong

    วัดหัวลำโพง

    Wat Hua Lamphong is a third-class royal monastery of the ordinary type in Bang Rak, pressed directly against Sam Yan station on the MRT Blue Line, and it is best known in Bangkok as a place to make merit by…

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Bangkok
  10. National Theatre National Theatre
    11 1 hour

    National Theatre

    โรงละครแห่งชาติ

    The National Theatre is a major performing arts venue in Bangkok, Thailand. It serves as a principal stage for traditional Thai performing arts, including khon masked dance drama, lakhon classical dance, and other national heritage performances.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Bangkok
  11. Wat Prayurawongsawat Worawihan Wat Prayurawongsawat Worawihan
    12 1 hour

    Wat Prayurawongsawat Worawihan

    วัดประยุรวงศาวาสวรวิหาร

    Wat Prayurawongsawat Worawihan is a Buddhist monastery on the Thonburi bank of the Chao Phraya whose claim on a visitor's attention is a restoration rather than a relic.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Bangkok
  12. Santa Cruz Church Santa Cruz Church
    13 30 min

    Santa Cruz Church

    วัดซางตาครู้ส

    Santa Cruz Church is a Catholic parish church on the west bank of the Chao Phraya in Thon Buri District, in Khwaeng Wat Kanlaya, at the heart of the Kudi Chin neighbourhood.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Bangkok
  13. Wat Pariwat Wat Pariwat
    14 30 min

    Wat Pariwat

    วัดปริวาสราชสงคราม

    Wat Pariwat, also known as วัดปริวาสราชสงคราม, is a working Buddhist temple in Bangkok. It is a place of worship and community life, so the visit is shaped by religious practice rather than by a formal museum route.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Bangkok
  14. Wat Phra Sing Wat Phra Sing
    15 30 min

    Wat Phra Sing

    วัดพระสิงห์

    Wat Phra Singh is a historic Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai's old city, regarded as one of the most significant religious sites in northern Thailand.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Chiang Mai
  15. Wat Si Suphan Wat Si Suphan
    16 30 min

    Wat Si Suphan

    วัดศรีสุพรรณ

    Wat Sri Suphan is a Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. The temple is commonly known as the Silver Temple due to its distinctive silver-colored exterior decoration.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Chiang Mai
  16. Wat Inthakin Sadue Muang Wat Inthakin Sadue Muang
    17 30 min

    Wat Inthakin Sadue Muang

    วัดอินทขีลสะดือเมือง

    Wat Inthakhin Sadue Mueang is a Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. Its name references the city pillar, indicating historical significance in local urban foundation traditions.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Chiang Mai
  17. Bangkok City Pillar Shrine Bangkok City Pillar Shrine
    18 30 min

    Bangkok City Pillar Shrine

    ศาลหลักเมืองกรุงเทพมหานคร

    The Bangkok City Pillar Shrine is the oldest thing in Bangkok, and it is older than the city in the strict sense: the acacia pillar at its centre was raised on 21 April 1782, before the walls, before the ministries…

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Bangkok
  18. Wat Loi Kroh Wat Loi Kroh
    19 30 min

    Wat Loi Kroh

    วัดลอยเคราะห์

    Wat Loi Kroh is a Buddhist temple situated in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. The temple occupies a position along Loi Kroh Road, a thoroughfare known for its concentration of visitor-oriented businesses in the central city area.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Chiang Mai

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.