Thailand
Discover Thailand
Thailand (Thai: ประเทศไทย Prathet Thai or เมืองไทย Mueang Thai) is the most visited country in Southeast Asia, and for good reason. You can find thick jungle as green as can be, crystal blue waters that feel more like a warm bath than a swim in the ocean, and food that can curl your nose hairs while tap dancing across your taste buds. Bustling, yet safe; cheap, and equipped with every amenity you need, there is something for every interest and every price bracket, from beachfront backpacker hostels to some of the best luxury hotels in the world. Despite the heavy flow of tourism, Thailand retains its quintessential identity, with a culture and history all its own and a carefree people famed for their smiles and their fun-seeking sanuk lifestyle. Many travellers come to Thailand and extend their stay well beyond their original plans, and others never find a reason to leave.
What to Experience in Thailand
Traveling on motorbike in norther thailand we came across these amazing sculptural temples and buildings.
white boat in between rocky mountains
five brown wooden boats
We hiked to the viewpoint at sunrise on Phi Phi Island to catch this marvelous dream of a sight.
orange temples during daytime
Maya Bay, Phi Phi Island
A spot of paradise
Long Tail Alley
On a photowalk in Bangkok, Thailand. Whenever I have free time there’s nothing more I like to do than go out and snap. On this day I was particularly lucky with this sunset.
View of tuk-tuks in Bangkok’s Chinatown
Famous Beaches
Thai
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Taste of Thailand...
The food alone is really reason enough for a trip to Thailand. Curries, fruit shakes, stir fries, noodles, fresh fish made a zillion ways - and that's just the beginning. Food in Thailand can be as cheap and easy as 25 baht pad Thai (ผัดไทย, Thai fried noodles) cooked at a street stall or as expensive and complicated as a USD100 ten-course meal by a royal chef served in one of Bangkok's luxury hotels. Since most backpackers will be sticking closer to the first than the second, one of the great t
Culture & Religion
Culture
Mainland Thai culture is heavily influenced by Buddhism. However, unlike the Buddhist countries of East Asia, Thailand's Buddhists follow the Theravada school, which is arguably closer to its Indian roots and places a heavier emphasis on monasticism. Thai temples known as wats — resplendent with gold and easily identifiable with their ornate, multicolored, pointy roofs — are ubiquitous. Becoming an orange-robed monk for a short period, typically the three-month rainy season, is a common rite of passage for young Thai boys and men. That being said, there are also prominent Mahayana Buddhist tem
Religion
Thailand is, by law, a secular state. That being said, most Thai people are religious and consider religion to be an important part of their lives. The following religions are officially recognised by the government: Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Sikhism. The overwhelmingly dominant religion in Thailand is Theravada Buddhism and is practiced by virtually all Thais. A significant minority of Thais are Muslim, mainly concentrated in the southern provinces. Most Thai Muslims are Sunni Muslims. A small number of Thais are Christian. Christianity was introduced to Thailand by Europea
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Thailand into what it is today.
The earliest identifiable Thai kingdom was founded in Sukhothai in 1238, reaching its zenith under King Ramkhamhaeng in the 14th century before falling under the control of the kingdom of Ayutthaya, which ruled most of present-day Thailand and much of today's Laos and Cambodia as well, eventually also absorbing the northern kingdom of Lanna. Ayutthaya was sacked in 1767 by the Burmese, but King Taksin regrouped and founded a new capital at Thonburi. His successor, General Chakri, moved across the river to Bangkok and became King Rama I, the founding father of the Chakri Dynasty that still rules as a constitutional monarchy. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is Southeast Asia's oldest independent country and the only one never to have been colonised by a foreign power, and the country's in...
Location & Landscape
Thailand lies north of the equator and comprises an area of 513,120 km², making it slightly larger than Spain. The country features a landscape of varied topography including mountain ranges, fertile river plains and plateaus. Mountains cover much of northern Thailand and extend along the Myanmar border down through the Kra Isthmus and the Malay Peninsula. The central plain, comprising about ⅓ of the country, is a lowland area drained by the Chao Phraya River and its tributaries, the country's m
Climate
Thailand is largely tropical. It's hot and humid all year around with temperatures in the 28-35°C range (82-95°F), a degree of relief provided only in the mountains in the far north of Thailand. There are, however, three seasons: There are local variations to these general patterns. In particular, the Central Gulf Coast of Thailand (including Ko Samui) has the rains reversed, with the dry peak season being May-Oct and the rainy off-season in Nov-Feb. Thailand is among one of the most diverse countries in the world. Thailand is, by law, a secular state. That being said, most Thai people are rel
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsStarting 1 May 2025, foreigners entering or transiting Thailand need to fill in a Digital Arrival Card online within 72 hours of arriving. The form includes questions about your reason for travelling to Thailand, where you will stay, when and how you will arrive and depart and so on. It is possible to fill this digital arrival card upon arrival but there may be a long queue in peak hours. Citizens of the following countries may enter Thailand for tourism visa-free for up to the following number ...
Regions
Explore AreasThailand can be divided into five geographic and cultural regions: Called the "Land of Smiles", Thailand is the heart of the Southeast Asian mainland. It has relatively good infrastructure, with Bangk…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Thailand is a large country, but the good news is that there are plenty of affordable and comfortable ways to get around. Domestic flights are a good option for lengthy trips like Bangkok to Phuket or Chiang Mai, with very competitive fares on the main routes if booked in advance, while plush VIP intercity buses ply the highways to every city of any size and there's a reasonable train network as well. Renting a car or motorbike to drive yourself is a more questionable proposition, since while th
Where to Stay
Thailand has accommodation in every price bracket. Always take a look at the room (or better still several rooms, sometimes owners offer the cheaper rooms first) before agreeing a price. In smaller establishments also do ask for the agreed price in writing to avoid problems during check out. Airbnb is illegal in Thailand except for stays of more than 30 days. The best prices (30-50% off rack rates) for accommodation can be found during Thailand's low season, which is during May-Aug, which not su
Money & Budget
The currency of Thailand is the baht, denoted by the symbol "฿" (ISO code: THB), written in Thai as บาท or บ. Wikivoyage uses "baht" in its articles. It is divided into 100 satang (สตางค์). There are six coins and six notes: There are at least three versions of most bills in circulation, some paper, some polymer, with various portraits of various Thai kings. All retain the same color scheme and al
Language & Talk
The official language of Thailand is Thai (ภาษาไทย phaasǎa Thai). It is a tonal language, so it can be difficult for native English speakers to learn quickly, but everyone will appreciate any attempt you make. Thai is a language with many dialects, though the Bangkok dialect, also known as Central Thai, is used as the standard and is taught in all schools. Language schools can be found in all larg
Safety Information
Safety Overview
The number one cause of death for visitors to Thailand is motorcycle accidents, especially on the often narrow, mountainous and twisty roads of Phuket and Samui. Drive defensively, wear a helmet, don't drink and avoid travel at night. Violent crime is in general rare, and the foreigners who get into trouble are typically those that get into drunken fights. E-cigarettes and vapes are strictly illegal. Being caught with one at the airport or in the city can lead to large fines, deportation and even imprisonment. Sunscreen containing oxybenzone or octinoxate is banned in all marine national parks
Glimpses of Thailand
Traveling on motorbike in norther thailand we came across these amazing sculptural temples and buildings.
white boat in between rocky mountains
five brown wooden boats
We hiked to the viewpoint at sunrise on Phi Phi Island to catch this marvelous dream of a sight.
orange temples during daytime
Maya Bay, Phi Phi Island
A spot of paradise
Long Tail Alley
On a photowalk in Bangkok, Thailand. Whenever I have free time there’s nothing more I like to do than go out and snap. On this day I was particularly lucky with this sunset.
View of tuk-tuks in Bangkok’s Chinatown
Traveling on motorbike in norther thailand we came across these amazing sculptural temples and buildings.
white boat in between rocky mountains
five brown wooden boats