A photograph of Thailand

Country guide

Theme: History in Thailand — page 3

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. Th...

Photograph · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0

9,526 Places
3Cities

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

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.

Checked 2026-08-25

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

Seasonal closures come from recorded opening hours.

  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. Wat Pariwat Wat Pariwat
    51 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
  2. Wat Phra Sing Wat Phra Sing
    52 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
  3. Old Phuket Town Old Phuket Town
    53 45 min

    Old Phuket Town

    เมืองเก่าภูเก็ต

    Old Phuket Town is Phuket's historic commercial quarter, where streets of Sino-European row houses show the island's trading and tin-mining past.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Phuket
  4. Sampeng market Sampeng market
    54 45 min

    Sampeng market

    ตลาดสำเพ็ง

    Sampeng Market is a historic wholesale and retail market in Bangkok’s Chinatown, running through a narrow lane parallel to Yaowarat Road.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Bangkok
  5. Wat Si Suphan Wat Si Suphan
    55 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
  6. Chiang Mai City Art & Cultural Center Chiang Mai City Art & Cultural Center
    56 1 hr 30 min

    Chiang Mai City Art & Cultural Center

    หอศิลปวัฒนธรรมเมืองเชียงใหม่

    The Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre is a museum and cultural institution located in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Chiang Mai
  7. Wat Inthakin Sadue Muang Wat Inthakin Sadue Muang
    57 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
  8. Artist House Artist House
    58 1 hr 30 min

    Artist House

    บ้านศิลปิน

    Artist House, known locally as Baan Silapin, is a historic wooden residence along a Bangkok canal. The building serves as a cultural venue preserving traditional Thai arts, particularly puppetry.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Bangkok
  9. Baan Chinpracha
    59 1 hr 30 min

    Baan Chinpracha

    บ้านชินประชา

    Chinpracha House stands as Phuket's best-preserved private Sino-colonial house museum, representing a core element of the old-town interior. This historic residence exemplifies the architectural fusion of Chinese and European colonial influences that characterises Phuket Town's heritage district.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Phuket
  10. Bangkok City Pillar Shrine Bangkok City Pillar Shrine
    60 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
  11. Chang Chui Market
    61 45 min

    Chang Chui Market

    ช่างชุ่ย

    Chang Chui Market, known locally as ช่างชุ่ย, is a creative market and lifestyle destination in Bangkok. The name translates to "meticulous craftsman," reflecting its artistic ethos.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Bangkok
  12. Channel 7 Boxing Stadium Channel 7 Boxing Stadium
    62 45 min

    Channel 7 Boxing Stadium

    สนามมวยเวทีสถานีโทรทัศน์สีกองทัพบกช่อง 7

    Channel 7 Boxing Stadium is a televised Muay Thai venue operated by the Royal Thai Army's Channel 7 television station in Bangkok.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Bangkok
  13. Chiang Mai Historical Centre Chiang Mai Historical Centre
    63 1 hr 30 min

    Chiang Mai Historical Centre

    Chiang Mai Historical Centre is a museum about the city’s history and cultural development. Its story follows Chiang Mai from the era before the Mangrai dynasty through Burmese rule, integration into Siam, and the present day.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Chiang Mai
  14. Corrections Museum Corrections Museum
    64 1 hr 30 min

    Corrections Museum

    พิพิธภัณฑ์ราชทัณฑ์

    The Corrections Museum occupies a former prison compound in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district. It preserves the history of Thailand’s penal system within structures connected to incarceration.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Bangkok
  15. Lanna Traditional House Museum CMU.
    65 1 hr 30 min

    Lanna Traditional House Museum CMU.

    พิพิธภัณฑ์เรือนโบราณล้านนา มช.

    The Lanna Traditional House Museum is a cultural heritage site in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, dedicated to preserving and showcasing traditional Lanna architecture and domestic life.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Chiang Mai
  16. Madame Tussaud's Bangkok
    66 1 hr 30 min

    Madame Tussaud's Bangkok

    มาดามทุสโซ กรุงเทพฯ

    Madame Tussauds Bangkok is a wax museum and tourist attraction located in the Thai capital. It belongs to the global Madame Tussauds chain, which operates similar venues worldwide.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Bangkok
  17. Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders
    67 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders

    พิพิธภัณฑ์แมลงโลกและสิ่งมหัศจรรย์ธรรมชาติ

    The Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders is a specialized museum in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. It was established by Dr. Rampa Rattanarithikul, a Thai entomologist, and her husband Manop Rattanarithikul.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Chiang Mai
  18. Patpong Museum Patpong Museum
    68 1 hr 30 min

    Patpong Museum

    Patpong Museum is a museum located in the Patpong area of Bangkok. The museum documents the history and development of the Patpong district, which has been known internationally for its night market and entertainment venues.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Bangkok
  19. Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall
    69 1 hr 30 min

    Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall

    นิทรรศน์รัตนโกสินทร์

    Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall is a permanent exhibition space in Bangkok's historic Rattanakosin Island district. The facility presents displays related to Thai heritage, culture, and the history of the Rattanakosin period beginning in 1782.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Bangkok
  20. Silp Bhirasri National Museum Silp Bhirasri National Museum
    70 1 hr 30 min

    Silp Bhirasri National Museum

    พิพิธภัณฑสถานแห่งชาติศิลป์พีระศรี

    The Silp Bhirasri National Museum is a national museum in Bangkok dedicated to the life and work of Silpa Bhirasri, an Italian-born sculptor who became a pivotal figure in modern Thai art.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Bangkok
  21. Wat Loi Kroh Wat Loi Kroh
    71 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.