The Thailand travel guide since 2013
Plan a better trip to Thailand
Temples and night markets, quiet islands and busy beaches, visas, money and getting around. Careful, independent guides for travelers, digital nomads and anyone thinking of staying longer.
What are you planning?
Seven sections and 265 guides, from your first night in Bangkok to a long stay in Chiang Mai.
Destinations
From Bangkok's temples and street food to the mountains of the north and the limestone coast of the south: where to go in Thailand, and what each place is really like.
Islands
Two seas, three island groups and very different seasons: how to choose between Thailand's islands, and how to get there and around.
Plan Your Trip
When to go, visa and entry rules, money and costs, what to pack and how to get there: everything to sort out before you land.
Getting Around
Trains, buses, ferries, ride-hailing apps, tuk-tuks and scooters: how to move around Thailand safely and without overpaying.
Health & Safety
Pharmacies, medicines, food and water, mosquitoes, scams, natural hazards and the animals worth knowing about.
Culture & Food
Etiquette, festivals, food and drink, and the everyday details of Thai life that puzzle first-time visitors.
Live & Work
Digital nomads, retirees and long-stay visitors: visas, reporting rules, daily life and relationships.
What readers look up most
The guides our readers return to: from the gym on Koh Lipe to buying gold, pharmacies and the best time to travel.
How to find a gym at Koh Lipe?
Weights, cardio and air conditioning on a small island, plus the low-budget alternatives.
The Significance of Gold in Thailand
Merit, status, savings and that deep yellow hue: the cultural weight of a precious metal.
When is the best time to visit Thailand?
Dry season, rainy season and the north's smoky months, plus why low season can be worth it.
Visa and Retirement in Thailand
How retirees and younger long-stayers approach Thai visas, and the pitfalls of relying on visa runs.
Price Level in Thailand
What meals, massages, rooms and rides typically cost in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and more.
What Medications Can I Buy Over-the-Counter at Pharmacies in Thailand?
Painkillers, allergy pills and stomach remedies, plus why some purchases carry real legal risk.
Never Do This in Thailand: A Traveler's Essential Guide to Cultural Respect and Safety
The taboos and legal pitfalls that can turn a smooth trip into real trouble.
12Go.asia: The Easiest Way to Get Around Thailand
One booking site for sleepers, island ferries, cross-border buses and multi-leg journeys.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Welcome to Visit-Thailand.org
Thailand is not called the Land of Smiles for nothing. The warmth and helpfulness of the people are a big part of why so many visitors come back, and why some never quite leave. Add a cost of living well below most Western countries, and everyday comforts that would be a luxury at home become part of normal life.
Thailand is far more than beaches and nightlife. It is a country with a long and proud history, a living Buddhist culture, extraordinary food and some of the most beautiful landscapes in Asia, from the limestone islands of the Andaman Sea to the misty mountains around Chiang Mai.
We have written about Thailand since 2013, from many trips across the country. Our guides cover where to go, how to get around, what things cost, the visa rules, staying healthy and safe, and the customs that help you feel at home. Whether you are flying in from Europe or America, or coming for a long weekend from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or China, you should find practical answers here.
Who we are
Visit-Thailand.org is a private initiative and should not be confused with tourist information from the Thai authorities. We check rules and prices against official sources and date our updates, but visa rules, fees and timetables change. Always confirm anything important with the relevant authority or operator before you travel. Read more about us and our editorial policy.
Where to go in Thailand
Bangkok
Temples, river life, street food and malls the size of small towns: how to make sense of Thailand's capital, where to stay and how to get around.
Chiang Mai
The cultural capital of the north: old city temples, night markets, mountain day trips and the burning season you should plan around.
Chiang Rai
The White Temple, the Golden Triangle and a calmer northern town that works as a base or a day trip from Chiang Mai.
Pai
A small valley town in Mae Hong Son province, known for canyon sunsets, hot springs and the 762-curve road that gets you there.
Sukhothai
The first Thai kingdom's ruined capital, best explored by bicycle at sunrise.
Ayutthaya
Temple ruins of the old Siamese capital, an easy day trip north of Bangkok by train, boat or van.
Kanchanaburi
The Bridge over the River Kwai, the Death Railway and Erawan's seven-tier waterfall, three hours west of Bangkok.
Hua Hin
The royal beach town on the Gulf, popular with families, golfers and long-stay visitors, a few hours south of Bangkok.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Thai islands, compared honestly
Koh Lipe
A small island in the far south of the Andaman Sea, with reefs right off the beach and ferries to Langkawi in Malaysia.
Phi Phi Islands
Koh Phi Phi Don's twin bays, viewpoints and Maya Bay boat trips, between Phuket and Krabi.
Koh Lanta
A long, relaxed island with sunset beaches, old town stilt houses and easy access from Krabi.
More Andaman Islands
Koh Yao, the Similans and the Trang islands: quieter alternatives on the west coast.
Koh Samui
The Gulf's big resort island, with an airport, ring road and beaches for every budget.
Koh Tao
One of the world's busiest places to learn to dive, with small coves and viewpoints.
Koh Phangan
The Full Moon Party island, with a quieter north and west coast beyond Haad Rin.
Koh Chang
A green, mountainous island near the Cambodian border, reachable by road and car ferry from Bangkok.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Latest guides
Taking a Speedboat to the Thai Islands: What the Ride Is Really Like
Tickets, boarding cards, luggage, the best seat and seasickness: an honest guide to the ride.
Two Weeks in Thailand: A First-Timer's Itinerary (with 10- and 21-Day Variations)
Bangkok, the north and the islands in 14 days, with realistic travel legs and no rushing.
Working Legally in Thailand: The Non-B Visa and the Work Permit
Non-B visa, work permit and the jobs foreigners may not do in Thailand.
How Many Islands Does Thailand Have? The Largest Islands Ranked
The official count of 936 islands, the six largest, and how they split between two seas.
Koh Mak: Beaches, Getting There and Who It Suits
A small, flat, quiet island of coconut groves and beaches between Koh Chang and Koh Kood.
Koh Jum: The Low-Key Island Between Krabi and Koh Lanta
A quiet island of fishing villages and simple beach huts between Krabi and Koh Lanta.
Medical Care on Koh Lipe: Clinics, Pharmacies and When to Go to the Mainland
A health station and clinics on the island, real hospitals on the mainland, and when to leave.
Vaping in Thailand: The Ban, the Fines and What Happens If You Are Caught
The law, the enforcement in 2026 and what happens if police stop you.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.