Things to Do in Thailand and the Best Places to Visit

Where should you go in Thailand: Bangkok, the north or the south, and what's worth building a trip around at each stop? Start in Bangkok for the Grand Palace, then split north or south: Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai for temples and mountain air, or Phuket, Krabi and the Gulf islands for beaches and diving. The Andaman and Gulf coasts run on different monsoon calendars, so check the season for whichever one you pick. The Grand Palace costs 500 baht at the gate. Book a room on Ko Pha Ngan before the Full Moon Party, and pick an elephant sanctuary that doesn't offer rides.

The Grand Palace's ornate buildings in Bangkok — 18 places

Stalls of clothing and souvenirs at a street market in Thailand — 18 places

A week covers Bangkok plus one region well, either the north or one stretch of coast. Ten days fits all three: domestic flights connect the capital to Chiang Mai and to the southern coast in under two hours each, without a full day lost to travel between legs.

Book a room on Ko Pha Ngan before the Full Moon Party date, not the party itself. The party draws 5,000 to 30,000 people a month, so rooms go first.
Choose an elephant sanctuary that doesn't offer rides. Observation-only sanctuaries, like the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, let you feed and bathe elephants instead.
Maya Bay's access rules have changed more than once in recent years. Check the current rule with Thailand's national park authority before booking a boat.

Bangkok and Central

A MonkeyEatingMango itinerary marks each sight Must-do, Maybe or Skip if short on time.

Bangkok

Must-visit

Grand Palace (incl. Wat Phra Kaew): 500 baht, tickets sold 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, grounds open until 4:30 PM; strict dress code, long pants and sleeves for men, shoulders and knees covered for women
Chatuchak Weekend Market: over 10,000 stalls, weekends only, free to enter
Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha): Bangkok's oldest temple, also home to its well-known traditional massage school
Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn): riverside temple reached by a short boat ride, spires lit up at sunset
Plan it: 5-day Bangkok itinerary, 10-day Thailand itinerary

Gold spires and a walled 1782 royal complex mark the Grand Palace, the first stop on most trips and the home of Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Buy the ticket at the gate; nothing here requires advance booking.

A short walk or boat ride covers the rest of old Bangkok: Wat Pho's reclining Buddha, Chatuchak's 10,000-plus weekend stalls, and Wat Arun's riverside spire across the Chao Phraya. Southwest of the city, the Damnoen Saduak floating market runs on canals rather than streets.

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Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya Historical Park: brick-and-stupa ruins of Siam's former capital, 14th to 18th century; explorable by rented bicycle; UNESCO (1991)

Ayutthaya ruled as Siam's second capital from 1350 until a Burmese army burned it to the ground in 1767, and the city was never rebuilt on the same site. UNESCO's own listing calls it "one of the world’s largest and most cosmopolitan urban areas and a center of global diplomacy and commerce" at its peak.

What's left today is an open-air archaeological park: rows of brick prangs and headless Buddha statues spread across an island formed by three rivers. Bikes rent at the edge of the park, and the ruins make an easy morning's ride.

Wat Chaiwatthanaram, a temple at Ayutthaya Historical Park

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Kanchanaburi

Bridge over the River Kwai / Death Railway: WWII-era bridge built by Allied POWs and forced laborers; a two-hour train ride continues on to Nam Tok
Erawan Falls: seven-tiered waterfall in Erawan National Park, named for its resemblance to the elephant Erawan

The Bridge over the River Kwai still carries trains across the river it's named for, part of the Thailand-Burma "Death Railway" built under brutal conditions during the Second World War. Museums near the bridge and the war cemetery in town cover that history in more detail than the bridge itself can.

Erawan National Park, a further drive out of town, holds a seven-tiered, swimmable waterfall. Between the bridge and the falls, Kanchanaburi needs one or two nights.

The historic bridge over the River Kwai, Kanchanaburi

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Pattaya

Beach day from the capital: about two hours from Bangkok by road; watersports, shopping centers and entertainment venues along the bay

Pattaya is close enough to Bangkok for a day trip, about two hours away by road, with sea breezes and fresh seafood on the beachfront. A long stretch of watersports operators, shopping centers and entertainment venues lines the bay alongside the beach itself.

Pattaya's beachfront skyline on the Gulf of Thailand

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Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat)

Khao Yai National Park: Thailand's first national park, 2,100 sq km of rainforest and limestone mountains with elephants and gibbons; part of the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, UNESCO (2005)
Phimai Historical Park: 11th-century Khmer temple complex along the ancient road from Angkor; not UNESCO-inscribed

Phimai is a smaller and far less crowded Khmer temple complex than Angkor, sitting along the same ancient royal road and predating most of Ayutthaya's ruins by several centuries.

Khao Yai, Thailand's oldest national park, is a weekend trip from the capital that still holds real rainforest, waterfalls and wild elephants.

Tropical grassland in Khao Yai National Park

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The North

Chiang Mai

Must-visit

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep: hilltop temple 300 meters above the city, reached by 300 steps or a cable car
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar: evening market across several city blocks, plus weekend walking-street markets
Elephant Nature Park: rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary near the city; observation-only, no riding
Doi Inthanon National Park: national park around Thailand's tallest mountain, nicknamed the "Roof of Thailand"
Plan it: 4-day Chiang Mai itinerary, 10-day Thailand itinerary

The Night Bazaar and the weekend walking streets run the length of several city blocks after dark. Chiang Mai's old quarter itself sits inside a square moat, a walled city of narrow lanes and temples that's walkable in a day on foot. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, on a hill just outside town, is reached by 300 steps or a cable car, with a view back over the valley.

Just outside the city, the Elephant Nature Park lets visitors feed and bathe rescued elephants rather than ride them. Doi Inthanon National Park, home to Thailand's highest peak, is a day trip from the same base for cooler air and a nature trail. Base a northern stay here: Chiang Rai makes an easy add-on.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, lit up at night above Chiang Mai

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Chiang Rai

Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple): contemporary all-white temple designed by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, still being expanded
Golden Triangle: the point where the Mekong and Ruak rivers meet, also where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet

Wat Rong Khun, built entirely in white with mirrored details that shimmer in the sunlight, looks nothing like Thailand's older gilded temples. New structures are still being added decades after construction began. Inside, murals mix Buddhist imagery with pop-culture figures.

North of the city, the Golden Triangle marks the river confluence where three countries meet, once the center of regional opium production and now home to the Hall of Opium museum. Add Chiang Rai to a Chiang Mai stay rather than basing yourself there.

Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, at Chiang Rai

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Pai

Pai Canyon and the Wednesday Market: red-clay canyon ridges, the Mo Paeng and Pombok waterfalls, hot springs and a nightly walking street

Rice paddies and forested hills surround Pai, a small town known as the north's base for slowing down. The Pai Canyon's narrow red-clay ridges and the Mo Paeng and Pombok waterfalls outside town are the two closest stops.

Trekking trips from Pai reach the Lisu, Karen, Lahu and Hmong hill-tribe villages in the surrounding mountains. Time the stay for market day: the town's own Wednesday market draws visitors from villages across the valley.

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Sukhothai

Sukhothai Historical Park: ruins of Thailand's first capital, founded 1238, spread over 70 sq km; UNESCO (1991)

Choose Sukhothai over Ayutthaya when crowds matter more than distance. Its ruins, the seat of the first Kingdom of Siam in the 13th and 15th centuries, see far fewer visitors, though reaching them means going deeper into the north. Rent a bicycle to cover the 70 sq km site.

The UNESCO listing also covers two related towns, Si Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet, which shared the same infrastructure, language and administration. The style of sculpture that developed here, known simply as the Sukhothai style, marks the beginning of a distinctly Thai school of art.

A stone Buddha statue at Sukhothai Historical Park

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Mae Hong Son

The Mae Hong Son Loop: a mountain motorbike route linking Mae Sariang, Pai and Mae Hong Son, usually ridden over about four days from Chiang Mai

Time a stop at Tham Lod, known as the Coffin Cave for the ancient coffins found inside, for sunset, when thousands of swifts return as bats leave for the night. Tham Lod sits in Soppong, a village that stays far quieter than Pai.

Mae Hong Son Province is mountainous terrain in Thailand's far north, bordering Myanmar. The Mae Hong Son Loop, a four-day motorbike circuit out of Chiang Mai through Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son town and Pai, is the usual way to see it.

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The South and the islands

Phuket

Must-visit

Big Buddha: 45-meter marble-clad statue on Nakkerd Hill; dress code applies, cover shoulders and knees, sarongs available at the gate
Phang Nga Bay (incl. "James Bond Island"): limestone karst islands reached by boat or kayak from Phuket or Krabi
Similan Islands: marine national park known for coral diving, whale sharks most often seen March to May
Plan it: 7-day Thai islands itinerary

Whale sharks turn up most often between March and May around the Similan Islands, a marine national park north of Phuket known for coral diving. Phang Nga Bay's limestone karst islands, closer to Phuket, include the islet used in a 1974 Bond film.

Phuket itself is Thailand's largest island, big enough to base a whole trip around rather than treat as one stop. The Big Buddha, a 45-meter marble statue on Nakkerd Hill, overlooks the island's south coast and requires covered shoulders and knees to approach.

The Big Buddha statue on its hilltop above Phuket

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Ko Samui

Must-visit

Ang Thong National Marine Park: archipelago of 42 islands in the Gulf of Thailand, reached by day-trip boat or kayak

Ko Samui runs on the Gulf of Thailand's monsoon calendar, not the Andaman coast's, so check the season for your coast before you book. Resorts and beaches line most of the island's coast, developed enough to support direct flights from Bangkok.

A short boat trip from Samui reaches Ang Thong National Marine Park, a 42-island archipelago of limestone peaks with an enclosed lagoon. Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao both sit within ferry reach for an island-hopping extension.

Green islands scattered across Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park

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Krabi

Must-visit

Railay Beach: peninsula beach reachable only by boat, ringed by limestone cliffs popular for rock climbing
Ao Nang: beach town and boat-pier departure point for Railay, Koh Poda and the Phi Phi islands
Plan it: 10-day Thailand itinerary, 7-day Thai islands itinerary

Limestone cliffs rise straight out of the sea around Krabi, cutting Railay Beach off from the mainland so completely that a longtail boat is the only way in. Climbers come for the same cliffs that keep the beach itself free of road traffic.

Stay in Ao Nang, the mainland town just across the water from Railay, for the ferry to Koh Poda and the Phi Phi islands.

Limestone cliffs rising from the water at Railay, Krabi

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Ko Pha Ngan

Must-visit

Full Moon Party: monthly all-night beach party on Haad Rin beach; book accommodation on the island well ahead

Book Haad Rin for full-moon week: the beach fills with a monthly all-night party, timed to the full moon. Outside it, Ko Pha Ngan's quieter beaches, Hat Khuat and Hat Thian among them, draw a calmer crowd the rest of the month.

Diving, snorkeling and sea kayaking fill the daytime hours here the same way they do on neighboring Ko Samui and Ko Tao.

The Haad Rin peninsula from above, with a beach on each side

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Ko Phi Phi

Maya Bay: cliff-ringed bay on Ko Phi Phi Leh made famous by a 2000 film
Monkey Beach: small beach known for its resident long-tailed macaques, usually visited alongside Maya Bay
Plan it: 7-day Thai islands itinerary

Maya Bay, the cliff-ringed cove on the uninhabited Ko Phi Phi Leh next door, is the cove the 2000 film "The Beach" made famous. It has since reopened, but the visitor rules keep changing, so check them directly with Thailand's national park authority before you book a tour. Ko Phi Phi Don itself is the archipelago's largest island, the base for day trips out to the smaller islands by boat.

Monkey Beach, a short boat ride from the main island, pairs long-tailed macaques with the same clear water and snorkeling most Phi Phi boat tours promise.

Maya Bay, the cliff-ringed cove on Ko Phi Phi Le

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Hua Hin

Hua Hin Railway Station and the Summer Palace: a Thai-and-European-style train station and King Rama VI's 1923 seaside Summer Palace

Hua Hin became Thailand's first beach resort when King Rama VII began using it as a royal getaway in the 1920s. King Rama VI's 1923 Summer Palace still stands on the waterfront, and the train station is built in a mixed Thai and European style.

Bangkok residents treat Hua Hin as a weekend escape, a few hours south by road or train. Pick Hua Hin over Pattaya for the more historic side of a Gulf-coast weekend: golf courses and waterparks sit a short drive away, and the Hua Hin Night Market gets busy after dark.

The red-and-cream royal pavilion at Hua Hin Railway Station

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Ko Chang

White Sand Beach and the Ko Chang Marine Park: the island's longest beach, backed by waterfalls, coral reefs and rainforest across Thailand's third-largest island

Ko Chang is Thailand's third-largest island, with most of it and its nearby reefs protected inside Mu Ko Chang National Park: a mountainous stretch of rainforest, waterfalls and coral reef near the Cambodian border. White Sand Beach, on the island's northwest corner, is lined with resorts.

Base a stay at White Sand Beach, the island's longest stretch of sand.

White Sand Beach curving along the Ko Chang coast, seen from the hillside

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Ko Tao

Learn to dive: about 7,000 new divers certify on Ko Tao each year, with reef and wreck dives including the sunken HTMS Sattakut

Ko Tao, Thai for Turtle Island, certifies around 7,000 new scuba divers a year. Hawksbill and green turtles still breed in its waters.

Wreck dives to the sunken HTMS Sattakut and reef sites with resident black-tip reef sharks round out the island's dive sites beyond the certification courses. The John-Suwan and Mango viewpoints overlook the island.

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Scuba divers silhouetted against the sun underwater off Ko Tao

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More places to add to a trip

Place	Go for	Region
Khao Sok National Park	jungle-clad limestone karsts, Cheow Lan Lake, floating rafthouse stays	South
Surin Islands	a quieter diving alternative to the Similan Islands	Andaman coast, South
Ko Tarutao	an island national park near the Malaysian border	Andaman coast, South
Nong Khai	a Mekong riverside town nicknamed Naga City, a crossing point into Laos	Isaan (Northeast)
Lopburi	an ancient capital shared with a resident population of monkeys	Central Thailand

The best places to visit in Thailand at a glance

Place	Go for	Book ahead
Bangkok	the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Chatuchak Market	no
Ayutthaya	the Historical Park ruins	no
Kanchanaburi	the Bridge over the River Kwai, Erawan Falls	no
Pattaya	a quick beach day from Bangkok	no
Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat)	Khao Yai National Park, Phimai Historical Park	no
Chiang Mai	Doi Suthep, the Night Bazaar, the Elephant Nature Park	no
Chiang Rai	the White Temple, the Golden Triangle	no
Pai	the canyon, waterfalls and hot springs	no
Sukhothai	the Historical Park ruins	no
Mae Hong Son	the mountain loop road	no
Phuket	the Big Buddha, Phang Nga Bay, the Similan Islands	no
Ko Samui	Ang Thong National Marine Park	no
Krabi	Railay Beach, Ao Nang	no
Ko Pha Ngan	the Full Moon Party	yes
Ko Phi Phi	Maya Bay, Monkey Beach	no
Hua Hin	the railway station, the Summer Palace	no
Ko Chang	White Sand Beach	no
Ko Tao	learning to dive	no

Plan your Thailand trip

For trip length, getting around and costs, start with the Thailand guide. The Thailand food guide covers what to eat at each stop. When you build a trip with MonkeyEatingMango, the booking checklist lists what to book and how many weeks ahead.

Plan your Thailand trip

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Common questions

What is the best place to visit in Thailand for a first trip?

Bangkok, Chiang Mai and one coastal base cover most first-timers' lists. Start in Bangkok for the Grand Palace and its temples, add Chiang Mai for the mountains and night markets, then finish on Phuket, Krabi or Ko Samui for the beaches. Ayutthaya and Chiang Rai both work as a short add-on from one of those three bases.

Is it better to visit the north or south of Thailand?

Most trips do both, but on a short one: the north (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai) is temples, mountains and cooler air, while the south (Phuket, Krabi, the Gulf islands) is beaches, diving and island-hopping. The Andaman coast and the Gulf of Thailand also run on different monsoon calendars, so the better season depends on which coast you pick.

How many days do you need in Thailand?

A week covers Bangkok plus one region well, either the north or one stretch of coast. Ten days allows a three-stop loop, Bangkok, Chiang Mai and one southern base, connected by a short domestic flight between each leg rather than a full day on the road.

Do you need to book the Grand Palace in advance?

No online booking is required. Tickets are sold at the gate from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM for 500 baht, the grounds stay open until 4:30 PM, and a strict dress code applies inside Wat Phra Kaew: long pants and sleeves for men, shoulders and knees covered for women.

Is Maya Bay open to visitors?

Yes, but the exact visitor and swimming rules are set by Thailand's national park authority and have changed more than once in recent years. Check the current rule with that authority directly before booking a boat.

Is it okay to ride an elephant in Thailand?

Riding camps and observation-only sanctuaries both operate in Thailand. The Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, for example, runs as a rescue and rehabilitation center where visitors watch, feed and bathe elephants rather than ride them.

How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites does Thailand have?

Thailand has 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 6 cultural (the Historic City of Ayutthaya, the Historic Town of Sukhothai, the Ban Chiang Archaeological Site, Si Thep, Phu Phrabat and Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat) and 3 natural (the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, the Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries and the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex).

What is the Full Moon Party and when is it held?

It's a large, all-night beach party on Haad Rin beach on the island of Ko Pha Ngan, held once a month around the full moon and drawing 5,000 to 30,000 people. Book a room on the island well ahead rather than the week of the party.

Is Sukhothai or Ayutthaya better to visit?

Both are UNESCO-listed ruined capitals explorable by rented bicycle, so the choice comes down to crowds and distance. Ayutthaya is a short trip from Bangkok and sees far more day-trippers, while Sukhothai sits deeper in the north with noticeably fewer visitors at its ruins.

What is the Golden Triangle?

It's the point near Chiang Rai where the Mekong and Ruak rivers meet, marking the spot where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar come together. The area once centered on opium production and now draws visitors for the river viewpoint and the Hall of Opium museum.

Can Bangkok, the north and the islands all fit in one trip?

Yes, a 10-day loop is long enough to connect all three: 4 days in Bangkok, 3 in Chiang Mai, and 3 on a southern base such as Krabi, flying between each leg. Shorter trips do better picking two of the three regions rather than rushing all of them.