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Things to Do in Thailand
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Plan language: EnglishMost popular attractions in Thailand
Top things to do in Thailand include exploring the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok, where intricate architecture stretches over several hectares. Visit Wat Pho, home to the 46-meter Reclining Buddha, and take a ferry to Wat Arun, known for its porcelain-covered central spire. In Chiang Mai, the historic Old City and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep offer cultural immersion and stunning views.
1. The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew (Bangkok)
Bangkok
Striking royal architecture shining bright in the sun. Stroll through marble courtyards, golden spires, and a revered green Buddha.
Quick facts: Golden spires and mirrored mosaics catch sunlight, making the entire complex sparkle like a crown beneath the midday sun. Royal ceremonies still take place in parts of the grounds, and artisans have adorned many buildings with over 200,000 tiny glass tiles and thousands of ceramic pieces.
Highlights: A small dark-green Buddha, about 66 centimeters tall, is ceremoniously dressed by the monarch three times annually, drawing quiet crowds at each seasonal transition. Bright mythic murals and gilt alcoves are covered with tiny mirror mosaics so densely that sunlight breaks into jeweled fragments on the temple floors.
2. Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) (Bangkok)
Bangkok
View a 46-meter gilded reclining statue up close. Admire mother-of-pearl feet and the lively temple atmosphere.
Quick facts: You will be amazed by a 46-meter-long gilded reclining statue, its soles inlaid with 108 mother-of-pearl auspicious symbols. The expansive complex of ornate chedis, murals, and courtyards also includes a living school of traditional Thai massage.
Highlights: A single reclining statue extends 46 meters and stands approximately 15 meters tall, with soles displaying 108 detailed mother-of-pearl panels, each representing an auspicious trait. A well-known on-site massage school offers short treatments and training courses, preserving centuries of practical healing techniques in active practice.
3. Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) (Bangkok)
Bangkok
A sunrise shrine topped with a soaring porcelain spire. Climb steep stairs for vast river views and detailed mosaics.
Quick facts: A towering Khmer-style prang reaches about 70 meters, its surface embellished with millions of broken Chinese porcelain pieces that gleam in sunlight. Local rituals still feature candlelit river offerings, and both weekday worshippers and weekend visitors flock to the riverside for the dramatic silhouette.
Highlights: Rama II's 19th-century restoration added layers of tiny porcelain plates and seashells, many donated by trading junks, forming a mosaic that shines like scattered coins in bright light. Climb the steep stairs flanked by carved yaksha guardians and count dozens of floral motifs up close, several no larger than a coin.
Have you heard of free walking tours?
After traveling to 30+ countries, there's one thing I wish someone had told me from day one, and it completely changed how I experience new cities.
Free walking tours. Yes, actually free. No credit card needed. No catch.
Local guide, 2-3 hours
Major sights, hidden gems, local stories
100% tip-based
Guides earn only tips, so they give their absolute best
You tip what feels right
At the end, just tip whatever you feel is right
I've done these in dozens of cities and they've been the highlight of almost every trip. If you're visiting Thailand, do this on your first day. You'll thank me later.
4. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (Chiang Mai)
Chiang Mai
Golden chedi on a hilltop with expansive valley views. Climb the naga staircase, listen to chanting, and watch the sunset color the valley.
Quick facts: Located on a mountainside above the city, the complex attracts both worshippers and panoramic view seekers. A long naga staircase ascends through incense-scented air. Golden spires catch the sun at dawn, and saffron-robed monks chant during morning alms, creating a memorable blend of color, scent, and ritual.
Highlights: Count 306 steps along the double-headed naga staircase, each scale catching light and marking a ceremonial path shared by visitors and pilgrims. A small reliquary believed to hold a Buddha relic sits beneath a shining chedi, while around 20 monks perform the morning ritual filling the courtyards with chant and incense.
5. Chiang Mai Old City - Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Explore a small walled town full of temples and markets. Savor smoky street food and see gilded roofs at golden hour.
Quick facts: A compact walled square contains over 30 temples within a short walking distance, making wandering feel like a treasure hunt. Street markets spill into the lanes after dusk, filling the air with spicy curry, grilled meats, and bargaining voices.
Highlights: Crisp temple roofs gleam gold in the morning sun, reflected in the shallow moat that still surrounds the old walls. Every Sunday evening a 1.5-kilometer pedestrian market appears along the main street, with more than 200 stalls selling snacks and handmade crafts.
6. Ayutthaya Historical Park (Ayutthaya)
Ayutthaya
Enter a landscape of towering brick chedis and Buddhas wrapped in banyan roots. Look forward to golden-hour photos, peaceful canals, and centuries-old cracked stucco.
Quick facts: Ruined temples rise from gentle river plains, framed by banyan roots and crumbling stupas. Local markets and leisurely long-tail boats add a lively atmosphere to afternoons here.
Highlights: A solitary Buddha head, embraced by banyan roots with only the face visible, attracts photographers at sunrise; small groups frequently gather by 6:30 a.m. for the perfect shot. More than 400 temple sites once dotted the floodplain, revealing unexpected views as you pedal between ruins.
7. Sukhothai Historical Park (Sukhothai)
Sukhothai
Ancient ruins and lotus ponds make a perfect morning bike ride. Ride past towering Buddhas, reflective waters, and quiet brick chedis.
Quick facts: Low brick chedis and elegant Buddha statues break up a park of wide grasslands and lotus-filled moats. Visitors can cycle between major sites, covering several peaceful kilometers while spotting local vendors and temple bells.
Highlights: Step inside Wat Si Chum's narrow mondop to face the 11-meter Phra Achana Buddha, where chanting echoes off the stone and the face almost fills the doorway. At Wat Mahathat sunrise bathes the lotus ponds in gold and orange light, hundreds of pads drifting past crumbling chedis for dramatic reflections and photos.
8. Phi Phi Islands — Maya Bay / Ko Phi Phi (Krabi/Phuket area)
Krabi/Phuket area
A stunning turquoise lagoon set against sheer limestone cliffs. Swim, snorkel, and take cinematic photos in calm, clear waters.
Quick facts: A stunning crescent of soft white sand nestles inside dramatic limestone cliffs, accessible only by boat. Boat trips often include snorkeling over shallow reefs bustling with colorful parrotfish and schools of sergeant-major fish.
Highlights: After a four-year closure to allow nature to recover, snorkelers now report vibrant coral growth and frequent sightings of parrotfish and wrasse in waist-deep water. Towering limestone cliffs rise about 100 meters on both sides, creating a jewel-toned lagoon that shines under the midday sun.
9. Phang Nga Bay — James Bond Island (Khao Phing Kan)
Khao Phing Kan
Dramatic limestone towers rising from the sea. Paddle through narrow caves and catch sunrise reflections.
Quick facts: Jagged limestone towers rise from the sea, forming maze-like channels and small mangrove-lined caves that kayakers enjoy exploring. A solitary 20-meter limestone stack sits near a tiny beach and gained global fame after appearing in a 1974 Roger Moore spy film.
Highlights: A lone limestone pillar rises about 20 meters from the water, the same silhouette featured in a 1974 Roger Moore spy movie, attracting photographers at sunrise. Early-morning tours allow paddling into narrow sea caves where sunlight pierces through, turning water neon turquoise and highlighting orange barnacles on rock faces.
10. Railay Beach - Krabi
Krabi
Sea, sand, and tall cliffs make the short boat ride worthwhile. Expect turquoise waters, striking rock faces, and lively beach bars.
Quick facts: Towering limestone cliffs cradle a postcard-perfect bay where clear water, fine sand, and jungle meet. Access requires a short longtail-boat ride, keeping vehicles away and creating a relaxed, island-like atmosphere.
Highlights: A shallow sea cave contains a small wooden shrine where local sailors leave hundreds of garlands, tiny carved boats, and coins, creating a colorful, slightly salty altar. Sheer limestone walls reach about 300 meters in some places, attracting climbers from over 40 countries to tackle more than a hundred bolted sport routes, especially when evening light warms the rock to orange.
11. Museum of Siam
A must-visit for playful, interactive views on national identity. Leave with a printed personality ID and new cultural questions.
Quick facts: Interactive exhibits and playful quizzes transform national history into engaging storytelling, with photo booths and touchscreen maps inviting participation. Expect a mix of archival photos, pop-culture references, and life-size dioramas that make cultural questions feel personal and immediate.
Highlights: A popular interactive quiz prints a personalized identity card after about a 10-minute challenge, blending your answers with everyday iconography. Step into a recreated canal house where wooden beams creak underfoot and faint scents of teak and spices make history feel alive.
12. Lanna Folklife Museum
Experience northern culture in atmospheric rooms and handwoven textiles. See ritual objects, wooden houses, and vibrant crafts up close.
Quick facts: Step inside carefully recreated northern living spaces where lacquered wood, ceremonial altars, and everyday tools are arranged as if a family just stepped out. Labels and bilingual captions explain weaving techniques, rituals, and stories behind heirloom textiles without sounding like dry museum language.
Highlights: Look for the upstairs textile room filled with dozens of handwoven pieces showing indigo hues and metallic threads, with raised embroidery almost tangible under soft gallery lighting. A life-sized spirit house with miniature bowls, wooden figurines, and the scent of incense recreates household rituals so vividly you almost hear the clink of offerings.
Where to Stay in Thailand
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Traditional Sweet Dishes
Mango sticky rice
Mango sticky rice pairs creamy coconut-glazed glutinous rice with sun-ripened mango, and vendors time it to coincide with Thailand's short mango season so the dessert is a herald of summer.
Khanom chan
Khanom chan is a fragrant, steamed layered dessert traditionally made with nine layers because the number nine sounds like a word for progress in Thai and is considered auspicious at weddings and ceremonies.
Thong yip
Thong yip, whose name means 'pinched gold', traces its origins to Portuguese egg-yolk sweets and is served at celebrations to symbolize wishes for wealth and good fortune.
Traditional Savory Dishes
Pad Thai
Pad Thai was promoted as a national dish in the mid 20th century, and its signature smoky flavor comes from high-heat stir-frying as vendors toss noodles in a hot wok.
Tom Yum Goong
Tom Yum Goong owes its punchy sour and spicy flavor to fresh aromatics like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and galangal, and the soup's name literally means 'boiled shrimp'.
Green Curry
Green curry gets its vivid color from fresh green chilies and herbs, and the paste is pounded with coconut, giving the curry a creamy heat that balances spicy, sweet and savory flavors.
Traditional Beverages
Thai iced tea
Thai iced tea is brewed strong with black tea and warm spices, then sweetened with condensed milk so the drink becomes rich and creamy and turns a signature amber color when poured over ice.
Cha yen (sweet iced tea)
Cha yen simply means 'cold tea' in Thai, and street vendors often serve it over crushed ice so the sweet, milky tea becomes a cooling companion to spicy dishes.
Nam manao (lime juice)
Nam manao, Thailand's tart lime juice drink, is the go-to refreshment for cooling down in the heat and its bright acidity helps cut through the richness of spicy Thai food.
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Most popular day trips
Kanchanaburi (Bridge on the River Kwai & Erawan)
WWII history, scenic waterfalls and national parks.
Damnoen Saduak & Maeklong Markets
Iconic floating market and train market experience.
Rent a car in Thailand
Getting there
Airports
Train stations
Northern, Northeastern, Southern, Eastern long-distance lines
City hub; connections to regional lines (Northern, Northeastern, Southern)
Use the Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi; prebook metered taxis or Grab from Don Mueang.
Click to get eSim for Thailand
The easiest and most affordable way to get mobile internet wherever you travel.
Visa & entry
EU (Schengen), USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan
Many African countries and some South Asian passports — check embassy requirements.
Check visa-exemption vs. visa-on-arrival; ensure 6 months passport validity and onward ticket.
Comments (9)
Temples are stunning, but many felt overrun and commercialized. I wanted calm and found constant touts and souvenir stalls.
Street food is incredible, be picky about stalls that look too touristy. Ate cheaply most days and always felt safe.
Hot and humid almost every day, pack light and stay hydrated. Island hopping was lovely but the travel days are long.
Book overnight sleeper trains for long routes to save a night's accommodation, and reserve a lower berth early during high season.
Budget friendly if you avoid tourist traps, inland buses and street food keep costs down, resorts jack prices up badly.