Golden temples, island-hopping and street food around every corner.
Thailand combines busy cities, ancient capitals and tropical islands. Bangkok's Grand Palace and Wat Pho sit beside riverside markets and skyscrapers, while Ayutthaya and Sukhothai preserve the ruins of earlier kingdoms. In the north, Chiang Mai is ringed by hills and temples, and in the south the limestone cliffs of Krabi, Phuket and the Phi Phi Islands frame the Andaman Sea.
Street food sets the tone, from pad kra pao to green curry and mango sticky rice. Travel is easy on sleeper trains, buses, ferries and cheap domestic flights. November to February is cooler and drier across most of the country; March to May is very hot, and the Gulf islands such as Ko Samui see their heaviest rain from October to December.
Best time to visit Thailand
January, February, November, December.
Places to visit in Thailand
Bangkok: Thailand's capital pairs gilded royal temples with night markets, rooftop bars and some of the world's best street food.
Chiang Mai: Northern Thailand's cultural capital, with hundreds of temples, night markets and cooking schools inside a moated old city.
Phuket: Thailand's largest island mixes lively beaches, luxury resorts, a colourful old town and boat trips to Phang Nga Bay.
Krabi: Towering karst cliffs, the beaches of Railay and Ao Nang, and longtail boats to dozens of offshore islands.
Ko Samui: A palm-covered island in the Gulf of Thailand with soft-sand beaches, spa resorts and boat trips to Ang Thong marine park.
Ayutthaya: The ruined temples of the old Siamese capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site an easy day trip north of Bangkok.
Ko Phi Phi: Two dramatic islands off Krabi, with turquoise lagoons, snorkelling and the famous Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh.
Chiang Rai: A laid-back northern town known for the dazzling White Temple, the Blue Temple and trips to the Golden Triangle.
Sukhothai: The serene ruins of Thailand's first capital, with lotus-bud chedis and seated Buddhas reflected in ponds.
Ko Tao: A small, rocky island in the Gulf of Thailand famous for learning to dive, with coral bays and a relaxed pace.
Ko Pha Ngan: Home of the Full Moon Party at Haad Rin, but also of calm northern beaches, jungle waterfalls and yoga retreats.
Kanchanaburi: A riverside town with sobering Second World War history, floating guesthouses and the waterfalls of Erawan National Park.
Ko Lanta: A laid-back Andaman island with long sunset beaches, an old stilted fishing town and boat trips to Ko Rok.
Pai: A small, easy-going town in a northern valley, known for its hot springs, canyon walks and 762 curves of road.
Khao Sok: One of the world's oldest rainforests, with limestone peaks, jungle treks and raft houses on Cheow Lan Lake.
Essentials
Currency: Thai Baht (THB)
Language: Thai; English common in tourist areas
Plugs: Type A / B / C / O, 230 V
Driving: Left side
Time zone: UTC+7
Tipping: Not expected; rounding up or small change is appreciated
Getting around: Domestic flights, sleeper trains, buses and ferries; ride-hailing in cities
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking