Thailand is one of the world’s most popular travel destinations. If you ever get the opportunity to visit Thailand, a beautiful tropical paradise, you will understand why Thailand is a great place to travel. There are many memorable things to do in Thailand. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), over 7 million people have visited the country through October 2022, an amazing accomplishment considering the huge impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism worldwide.
According to TAT, as of October 2022, Thailand is now fully re-open to international tourism with no requirements to show proof of vaccination.
I remember arriving in Bangkok for my first visit there in 2006. I was immediately taken in by the friendliness of the people, the excitement in the air, and the multitude of sights, sounds, and smells that filled the air. I have been back to visit Thailand numerous times, sometimes for business, sometimes for traveling, and I always enjoy my time there.
What Are the Best Things to do in Thailand?
But what are the best things to do in Thailand? The answers are many and are different for different people. However, let’s take a look at some of the more common ones for first-time visitors to the “land of smiles.”
Enjoy Delicious Thai Food
Serving up some great Thai street food in Bangkok
There is something magical about Thai food. It’s another reason why Thailand is a great place to travel!
It’s hard to explain until you have had the luxury of enjoying the delicious tastes that characterize this exquisite cuisine.
From simple favorites such as Pad Thai (noodles stir-fried in a special sauce with shrimp, pork, or chicken) to the multitude of curry dishes and fresh seafood, there is little in life that is more enjoyable that enjoying a freshly cooked Thai meal.
Thai food often has the reputation of being extremely spicy. This is a false impression. Yes, it’s true that it CAN be spicy, but it doesn’t have to be. You can order it to suit your taste and it can even not be spicy at all. I know some Thai people who don’t even like spicy food.
Whatever you do, don’t miss sampling Thai street food. You can find it everywhere and know you are in an area that sells it by the unmistakable food carts or stalls with the food for sale visible through the cart’s glass windows.
You can ask your server to spice your food as you like, or you can ask for it to be served mild and simply add the amount of chili pepper to suit your spicy level.
Whatever you do, don’t miss sampling Thai street food. You can find it everywhere and know you are in an area that sells it by the unmistakable food carts or stalls with the food for sale visible through the cart’s glass windows. There are also certain parts of town that are known as “street food centers.” It’s worth getting to know where those are when visiting different cities in Thailand.
For example, in Bangkok, there are a lot of good choices along Silom Road and Surawong Road (the street that parallels Silom Road near the Sala Daeng Skytrain station) and a very well known one on Sukhumvit Soi 38, near the Ton Lo Skytrain station.
There is such a wide variety and you can just stroll along the rows of vendors and pick out what looks good.
If you are new to Thai cuisine, please see my post on Thai street food here.
Explore the Impressive Shopping Malls
Bangkok’s Terminal 21 shopping center with a replica of the Golden Gate Bridge
If you like shopping, you just cannot beat the venues Bangkok has to offer. Shopping is truly one of the most popular things to do in Bangkok. There is something for everyone, no matter your interest.
You could literally spend days in the gigantic shopping malls in the Siam area of the city. You can easily get to this area by taking either the Sukhumvit or the Silom Skytrain (BTS) lines to Siam, also known as “Central.” You can exit the station and enter directly into Siam Paragon, for example. This mall is gigantic and you could spend hours in this one alone. There is every kind of shop you could imagine, including one of the best bookstores I have in for years. It’s called Kinokuniya Bookstore and it is the largest bookstore in Thailand.
But Siam Paragon is only one of several large malls in the Siam (Central) area. There is also CentralWorld and Siam Discovery, all within walking distance of the BTS station.
These malls tend to be on the higher end of the price range, but you can certainly find some great bargains without too much effort. And even the regular price is much cheaper than what you could find in large cities back home.
If you are truly looking for bargains, Bangkok has some great places you should check out. Mahboonkrong, more commonly known as MBK, is a huge 8-story center full of everything you could imagine. There is every type of clothing, including a great collection of shoe shops, fashion accessories, and jewelry. You will find all kinds of Thai souvenirs and collectible items for sale here as well. There are also many food courts for you to eat or to have a refreshing drink.
If you are truly looking for bargains, Bangkok has some great places you should check out.
This mall draws a more international crowd and you will see merchants from other countries here to purchase wholesale for selling in their own shops. You could spend an entire day in MBK alone. It’s only one more Skytrain stop from Siam (Central), called National Stadium. From the station exit, it’s only about a two-minute walk to entrance of MBK.
For a more local flavor, venture out to Platinum Fashion Mall (Thais pronounce it “pratunam”), where you will see how Thais really shop. It’s mostly clothing and accessories. This one is a bit more of a walk, as it’s not really close to a Skytrain stop. But if you’re ok with walking about 20 minutes, it’s worth checking out. Take either the Sukhumvit or Silom Skytrain to Siam (Central) but don’t exit the station. Just ask one of the friendly and helpful clerks in the ticket booth how to get to the Platinum Fashion Mall and they will happily assist you.
Along the way to Platinum Fashion Mall, you can also check out CentralWorld, another great mall in Bangkok. You can walk a good part of the way to Platinum through CentralWorld to avoid some of the heat.
For an authentic Thai experience, don’t miss the famous Jatujak (also spelled “Chatuchak”) weekend market. It’s HUGE and you can find just about anything you can imagine there.
It’s easy to get to. You can take the BTS Sukhumvit line to the Mo Chit station or the MRT (underground) to the Jatuchak station and you will be right at it. Some sections of the market are open all week long, but the best time to visit is on Saturdays or Sundays, when the entire market is open.
If you find yourself in Chiang Mai, likewise, don’t miss the Night Bazaar, open from about the time it gets dark until midnight. This is considered one of Chiang Mai’s most popular attractions.
Have Fun in the Sun at Thailand’s Awesome Beaches
Thailand has some of the world’s most beautiful and famous beaches and spending time at them may be one of the best things to do in Thailand. If you like the beach, you won’t want to miss the many opportunities you can have to lie on the soft white sand of a Thai beach and chill out with a book, or take a refreshing dip in the clear blue waters.
There are many options for stellar beaches on the Thai islands. From Phuket to Koh Samui, there is something that will suit your needs. My favorite island in Thailand would have to be Koh Phi Phi. It has no airport, so the only way to get there is by boat. The trip was over two hours long but spending time on this small island was one of my more memorable adventures in Thailand.
Many travelers consider Koh Phi Phi to be the most beautiful set of islands in the world and would rank it as one of the best islands in Thailand. The movie, The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, was filmed at Maya Bay.
It’s 31 miles (50 km) from Phuket and many travelers consider it to be the most beautiful set of islands in the world and would rank it as one of the best islands in Thailand. The movie, The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, was filmed at Maya Bay, on the coast of one of the other islands near the main island of Koh Phi Phi Don. Don is the only Phi Phi island that is currently inhabited.
I would recommend highly that you research locations when choosing where to stay on the island. The areas near Ton Sai Village and Loh Dalum are where most of the nightlife takes place, and where all the noise is.
If you’re needing a quick and easy getaway, a good option would be Koh Samet. It’s moderately easy to get to. You can take a clean and efficient bus from Bangkok’s Eastern Bus Terminal, located just outside the Ekkamai Skytrain Station on the Sukhumvit Line to Sri Ban Phe Pier in Rayong, a coastal city. The trip takes about three hours. This bus will drop you off directly at the ferry depot.
Be sure to take the bus to the Sri Ban Phe Pier, not to the Central Station.
From the pier, it’s just either a 20-minute speed boat ride or a 45-minute ferry ride to the island. Prices will be clearly indicated on a sign at the ticket counter. The high-speed option is more expensive.
Koh Samet is a great place to get a great foot massage right on the beach while enjoying your favorite drink. If you’re the adventurous type, you can hire a guide to take you out on a boat for snorkeling or diving.
The sea life in Thailand is unbelievably beautiful!
When returning from Koh Samet, just take the next ferry from the Ko Samet pier to either the Nuan Thip or Sri Ban Phe piers. They are only a short walk away from each other, so it doesn’t matter which one you take.
Soak Up the Tropical Weather
Yes, this is one of the easiest things to do in Thailand! Thailand can be somewhat on the warm side for those unaccustomed to tropical weather. But it’s so nice to be in a place that rarely gets cold!
And it’s amazing not only how quickly you will get used to the higher temps, but come to appreciate them. The warm Thailand weather makes for a great excuse to go to the beach, spend the afternoon under a shady tree in a park, and just getting outdoors and enjoying a balmy evening.
The warm weather makes Thailand an “outdoor culture,” which makes it more fun, friendly, and enjoyable.
If you tend to be cold-natured (as I am) be aware that if you are visiting the northern part of the country, around Chiang Mai, for example, it can get a little cool (50°F, 10°C) in the morning.
Also, it’s always a good idea to take a light jacket or sweater with you when you travel, as you never know what either the weather or the interiors of buildings will be like. I was once in a nice hotel in Bangkok for a professional conference and I thought I was going to be frozen to my seat it was so cold in there.
Get to Know the Friendly Thai People
Thailand didn’t earn it’s nickname for no reason. It’s amazing how freely people will smile, say hello, and even walk up and start talking to expat travelers whom they have never even met. I have always been treated like a welcome visitor when I’ve asked locals for directions or how to find a particular place.
When entering a shop, restaurant, department store, pub, or tourist attraction, you will almost always be greeted with a very sincere “sawatdee” (“hello” in Thai) and a genuine smile by someone, or maybe even several people.
Even walking down the sidewalk, you will receive smiles from total strangers. This is perfectly normal in Thailand and you should always smile and nod as a greeting back.
I always feel very welcome when I am in Thailand and am totally at ease being places, even crowded ones, where I am the only farang (the Thai word for expat) in the entire area. I never feel that the people are wondering why I am there, what I am doing, etc. Thailand is an easy place to be, primarily because of the warmth of the people.
Party, Eat, and Shop Day and Night
Thailand has many beautiful pagodas to visit.
There is always something fun to do in Thailand. You never have to look far to find excitement.
In the larger cities, at any time of day, you can always entertain yourself simply by walking down the thumping streets and take in the local scene.
You are never too far from a place a sit down and have a great meal or to enjoy a relaxing drink.
By night, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and the islands become a whirl of activity that you can take part in, or not, depending on your mood. Restaurants are abuzz serving up the delicious Thai food on offer there.
There are numerous world-class clubs and pubs in Bangkok. The city has much to offer, and is one of the best places to visit in Thailand. It has everything you could possibly want, helping make Thailand the wonderful place to visit that it is.
Best Time to Visit Thailand
You may ask, “When is the best time to visit Thailand?” Well, Thailand is always warm, so there is no concern there. Thailand is in the tropical climate zone. In fact, during the months of April and May, it is quite hot and muggy. Temperatures hit highs over 105°F (40°C). I would recommend avoiding those two months, if possible.
From June through November, most of Thailand receives quite a bit of precipitation. Almost daily rains cool the temperature down a bit. Sometimes rains are strong and come and go quickly. Others are light but may last most of the day. If you travel to Thailand during these months, be sure to bring light wet-weather gear and always have a plastic bag to put your mobile phones, cameras, and wallets in so they don’t get water damaged.
From November through March, the temperatures are very pleasant throughout most of Thailand, and rainfall is very rare. These months are the best time to visit Thailand.
From November through March, the temperatures are very pleasant throughout most of Thailand, and rainfall is very rare. These months are the best time to visit Thailand. In addition, hotel rates tend to be cheaper during these months. I would recommend that you book your accommodations well in advance of your arrival date, using a booking service such as Agoda, where you can often find the lowest prices for hotels.
If you found this post on the best things to do in Thailand helpful, and would like to learn more about the wonders of travel to Thailand and other places in Southeast Asia, please take a look at my book, Southeast Asia: Travel with Confidence to Lands of New Adventure, available through Amazon.
Wes is originally from Florida, but has been living and working in Vietnam since 2008. He has traveled extensively throughout Southeast Asia and enjoys taking photographs and writing about his experiences in order to share with others. See his story or feel free to contact him.