Country guide

Thailand

Som tam that will hurt you, and boat noodles worth the queue.

7Guides published1Cities coveredNov–FebBest season
Read the guides
Where we have beenCounted from the guides themselves — nothing here is typed by hand.
01Bangkok4 of the guides here are about Bangkok.4 guides
Every guide

All 7, newest first.

Everything we have written about Thailand. The list fills itself as we publish.

  • Best Night Markets in Bangkok: Where to Eat After Dark
  • Vietnam vs Thailand: Which One for Your First Trip
  • Krabi vs Phuket vs Koh Samui: Choose by the Trip You Want
  • Best Islands in Thailand: Which One, and in Which Month
  • Best Party Islands in Thailand, and the Ones That Sleep
  • Bangkok Nightlife by Neighbourhood: Pick Your Street First
  • Thailand Nightlife Guide: Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, the Islands
  • Bangkok Food Guide: The City That Eats Better Than Anywhere Else
  • Things to Do in Bangkok: What’s Actually Worth Your Time
  • Where to Stay in Bangkok: What the Neighbourhood Gets You
  • Thai Curry Types: Ultimate Guide to Red, Green & More
  • What to Eat in Chiang Mai: 15 Northern Thai Dishes to Try
  • Best Street Food in Bangkok: 10 Must-Try Dishes
  • Thai Street Food Beyond Pad Thai: 7 Dishes Worth the Hunt
Newest first, straight from the Thailand tag.
Know before you go

The practical bits, answered.

Six things to know, then the questions people write in and ask.

VisaMany nationalities get a visa exemption on arrival. The length has changed recently — check yours.
CurrencyThai bahtCash for street food and markets, cards fine in malls and hotels.
Best seasonNov–FebNovember to February is dry and cooler. March to May is punishing heat.
DataA local SIM or eSIM is cheap and fast. Airport counters are fine but pricier.
Getting aroundBangkok: BTS, MRT and the river boat. Avoid taxis at rush hour, they do not move.
TippingNot expectedRounding up is plenty.
When is the best time to visit Thailand?+

November to February: dry, cooler and the most comfortable for walking a city all day. March to May is very hot, and the rains arrive around June.

Is Thailand expensive?+

No, and street food is the cheapest great eating anywhere. Accommodation and alcohol are where budgets actually go.

How many days do you need in Thailand?+

Ten days covers Bangkok, Chiang Mai and one more stop without rushing. A week means choosing two.

Is the street food safe?+

Generally yes, and it is often cleaner than restaurants because you watch it cooked. Pick the stall with the queue and high turnover.

Bangkok or Chiang Mai?+

Bangkok for the eating and the energy; Chiang Mai for the north, the pace and a different kitchen entirely. They are a short flight apart, so most trips take both.

What should you eat first in Thailand?+

Boat noodles, som tam, and whatever the busiest stall on the street is selling. Pad thai is the least interesting dish in the country and it is what most visitors eat.

In Chiang Mai the food changes completely — khao soi, sai ua, northern herbs. Treat it as a different cuisine, because it is.

Thailand
Where next

If you liked Thailand, start here.

Same instinct, different table.

VietnamVietnam3 guides · Hanoi & SaigonIndonesiaIndonesia4 guides · BaliMexicoMexico2 guides · Mexico CityIllustrated Italy travel posterItaly6 guides · Rome & FlorenceIllustrated Spain travel posterSpain11 guides · Madrid & Barcelona
Every count is read live from that country’s tag, so a card never claims a guide that is not there.All destinations