Destination Guide
Your complete Thailand travel guide
The best islands, cities and street food, and the hidden gems in between, from ten years living here as an expat.
I live in Bangkok, and Thailand is the country I know better than anywhere else on earth. This page is everything I tell friends when they message me before their first trip: when to come, how to get around, what to eat, and the places I actually rate rather than the ones the algorithm does.
Use the quick facts to get oriented, steal an itinerary below, then dig into the city highlights. If you get stuck, the FAQs at the bottom cover the questions every first-timer asks me.
Not sure where to start?
Tell my free planner your dates and travel style and it will map out a Thailand route with real booking links.
If you only do three things
- 1 Charter a long-tail through the Thonburi khlongs to the Wat Paknam Giant Buddha, the half-day most visitors miss.
- 2 Eat your way down Yaowarat after dark in Chinatown and Talat Noi.
- 3 Trade the city for an island: Koh Chang is my go-to escape from Bangkok.
- Best time to visitNovember to April
- CurrencyThai Baht (THB)
- Visa60-day exemption (most UK/EU/US, under review)
- Postcard beachesKrabi
- Best family islandKoh Chang
- Best nightlifeBangkok
Where to point yourself
Where should you go?
-
01 Bangkok & Central Street food, temples and rooftop bars -
02 Chiang Mai & The North Jungle temples and mountain air -
03 The Islands & South Three coasts, pick your vibe -
04 Isan & The Northeast Sticky rice, slow trains, no tourists
A very serious scientific instrument
Which Thai island are you?
Five questions. At the end you get an island, and I get to feel like a matchmaker.
How long you've got
Thailand itinerary: one week or two?
One week: the first-timer
- Days 1 to 3
Bangkok. Temples and parks by day, Banthat Thong street food and Rajadamnern Muay Thai Stadium by night, and a bicycle loop of Bang Krachao if you need a breather.
- Day 4
Fly north to Chiang Mai (about £25) if you want culture, or head east to Koh Chang if you want a beach.
- Days 5 to 7
Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep at sunrise, Wat Pha Lat, and North Gate Jazz after dark. Or on Koh Chang: waterfalls, west-coast sunsets and not much else, which is the point.
Two weeks: the classic loop
- Days 1 to 4
Bangkok, done properly. Add Song Wat Road and a night market or two.
- Days 5 to 8
Chiang Mai, with a day for the Sunday Walking Street if the timing works.
- Days 9 to 14
Islands. Pick ONE coast: the Gulf for diving and parties (Koh Tao, Koh Phangan), the Andaman for scenery (Krabi, Railay, Koh Lanta). With time to spare, detour into Isan for the Thailand most tourists never see.
The little black book
Highlights
Where I live, and the city I never run out of: temples by day, street food and speakeasies by night.
Explore & Walks
- Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen The Giant Buddha
- The Artist House Baan Silapin
- Song Wat Road Trendy historic street
- Talat Noi Street art & engine parts
- Chinatown Yaowarat
- Benchakitti Park Forest park in the city
- Nong Bon Lake Park Sail a boat or hire a bicycle
- Bang Krachao Bangkok's Green Lung
Bars & Nightlife
- Mutual Bar Live music in the city
- Tropic City Award-winning cocktails
- Havana Social Cuban speakeasy
- Abandoned Mansion Underground jazz bar
- Jack's Bar Cheap beers on the river
- The Commons Thonglor Community mall & craft beer
- Khao San Fun if you're young
Night Markets & Street Food
- Banthat Thong Road The new street food capital
- Train Night Market Srinakarin Vintage finds & classic cars
- Jodd Fairs The popular, small central market
My Bangkok map, every pin in this list
Coffee, culture, and the best noodles of your life.
Explore & Culture
- Wat Pha Lat The Jungle Temple
- Baan Kang Wat Artist village
- Doi Suthep Go at sunrise to beat the vans
- Sunday Walking Street Chaos, but essential
- Huay Tung Tao Lake Bamboo huts over water
- Jing Jai Market Organic weekend market
Bars & Nightlife
- North Gate Jazz Co-Op Speakeasy with live music
- The Riverside Classic live music
- Bar San Incredible cocktails
- Warm Up Cafe Younger crowd
- Rise Rooftop Bar Fancy sunset drinks in Nimman
- Beer Lab Craft beer selection
Thailand's islands split across three coasts. Pick your vibe.
The Gulf (east side)
- Koh Tao Cheap diving and sea turtles
- Koh Phangan Full Moon Parties, plus a quiet north
- Koh Samui Resorts, waterfalls and direct flights
The Andaman (west side)
- Railay A climbers' paradise, reachable only by boat
- Krabi Limestone cliffs and island hopping
- Koh Phi Phi Postcard bays and a party crowd
- Koh Lanta Laid-back and good for families
- Phuket Love it or hate it, the big hub
Near Bangkok
- Koh Chang Our go-to weekend escape
- Koh Kood Thailand's most pristine island
- Koh Samet The closest beach to the capital
Hungry yet?
What to eat in Thailand: order these first
Point at the Thai script if all else fails. Nobody will mind.
- ผัดกะเพรา Pad krapow say "pat gra-pow"
Holy basil stir fry with a fried egg on rice. The true national dish, and the default answer to "what should I order?"
- ข้าวซอย Khao soi say "cow soy"
Chiang Mai’s coconut curry noodles topped with crispy noodles. Worth the flight north on its own.
- ส้มตำ Som tam say "som tam"
Green papaya salad, pounded to order. Ask for "pet nit noi" (a little spicy) and mean it.
- หมูปิ้ง Moo ping say "moo bing"
Grilled pork skewers with sticky rice, ideally from a smoky street cart at 8am.
- ข้าวมันไก่ Khao man gai say "cow man gai"
Poached chicken on garlicky rice for about 50 baht. Look for the glass cabinets of hanging chickens.
- ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง Khao niao mamuang say "cow neow ma-muang"
Mango sticky rice. In peak mango season (April to June) it is genuinely life-changing.
Things I wish I'd known
Essential Thailand travel tips
When to Go
Three seasons: cool, hot, and wet.
- Nov to Feb: Cool, dry and close to perfect. Also peak: higher prices, busier islands.
- March to May: Hot, up to 40°C. Songkran water fights in April make up for a lot.
- June to Oct: Wet, but usually an hour of rain rather than a washout. Green, and cheaper.
Getting Around
- In Bangkok: The BTS and MRT beat any car stuck on Sukhumvit. Cheap and air-conditioned.
- Taxis and bikes: Meter on, or get out. Grab settles the price before you move.
- Inter-city: Domestic flights often run £20 to £30. Sleeper trains north are slower and better.
Culture & Etiquette
- The wai: The prayer-like greeting. A nod is fine as a visitor, but return one if given.
- Presentation: Thais are immaculate. Look presentable, even in the humidity.
- Keep your cool: Raised voices lose you the room. Politeness goes a very long way here.
- Temples: Shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before the main hall.
Money & Budget
- Cash is king: Malls take cards. Street food, tuk tuks and markets want notes.
- 7-Eleven: Pay bills, buy a SIM, eat a toastie. The lifeline.
- ATMs: 220 THB fee on foreign cards, every single withdrawal.
Longer reads
Thailand blog posts
-
Thailand Guides The 50 Best Cafes in Bangkok -
Thailand Guides What to Eat in Bangkok: A Street Food Guide That Skips the Tourist Menu -
Thailand Guides Best Parks in Bangkok: The Famous Ones and the Hidden Gems Worth Finding -
Thailand Guides Chinatown, Song Wat and Talat Noi: Bangkok's Most Atmospheric Neighbourhood -
Thailand Guides Getting Around Bangkok: The Only Transport Guide You Need -
Thailand Guides How Many Days Do You Need in Bangkok? An Honest Answer -
Thailand Guides Koh Chang Travel Guide: The Island Escape That Keeps Pulling Us Back -
Thailand Guides What It Costs to Live in Bangkok as a Digital Nomad
Before you message me
Thailand travel guide FAQs
Do I need a visa?
Most passport holders from the UK, USA, EU and Australia currently get a 60-day visa exemption on arrival, extendable once for 30 days at a local immigration office for 1,900 THB. Thailand has approved cutting this back to 30 days, so confirm the current rule before you travel.
Is street food safe to eat?
Yes, and you can often watch it cooked fresh in front of you. My golden rule: eat where the locals are queuing. High turnover means fresh ingredients; if food is sitting there with no customers, skip it.
Do I need a scooter license?
You need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to ride legally in Thailand. Many tourists rent without one, but police checkpoints are common and your travel insurance is void if you have an accident without a license.
Which SIM card should I get?
Thailand has incredibly fast 5G. AIS and TrueMove are the best providers. Buy a tourist SIM at the airport, a 7-Eleven, or an AIS shop, or install an e-SIM online before you arrive.
Is it safe for solo travellers?
Incredibly safe. Violent crime against tourists is very rare; the biggest danger is road accidents, so always wear a helmet.
Is Thailand expensive?
No, it is still one of the best-value countries anywhere. Street food meals run 60 to 100 THB, a comfortable double room 800 to 1,500 THB, and a Grab across town costs a couple of pounds. Backpackers get by on roughly £30 a day, and £60 to £80 a day travels very comfortably.
How many days do I need in Thailand?
Ten days to two weeks is the sweet spot for a first trip: three or four nights in Bangkok, then split the rest between the north (Chiang Mai) and an island. One week works too if you pick a single region instead of trying to see everything.