Travel advice for Thailand
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Thailand
Book your individual trip, stress-free with local travel experts
written by Keith Drew
updated 9.12.2018
With Michelin launching its first-ever guide to the city, the food scene in Bangkok is (literally) on everybody’s lips right now. But with an estimated ten thousand new restaurants opening every year in Thailand's capital, choosing where to eat can be a minefield. Here’s our guide to five places that you simply can’t afford to miss.
Food in Bangkok © Room98/Shutterstock
5 days / from1180 USD
Chiang Mai Safari Adventure
The perfect trip for some family fun and adventure, lovely Chiang Mai with its lush valleys and national parks ticks all the boxes. Expect majestic cliff-top temples, sprawling national parks and exciting safari adventures.
customize ⤍12 days / from2750 USD
Thailand's Islands and Highlands
Experience the best of Thailand as you discover glitzy Bangkok's temples, markets and waterways. Compare the bustling, lively capital with the glorious rolling hills and lush interior of mountainous Chiang Mai before heading south to beach bliss and unexpected cultural delights in hedonistic Phuket.
customize ⤍12 days / from2450 USD
Thailand Discovery
A great way to discover Thailand, take in the Central Plain and Bangkok, the north with Chiang Mai and the south at the lively resort of Phuket.
customize ⤍8 days / from1250 USD
Bangkok-Pattaya Explorer
The perfect trip for adventurers, sun seekers and lovers of island life: take in cosmopolitan Bangkok’s wats or temples, street markets and waterways. Witness the excitement of Bangkok before heading to Thailand’s east coast for island-hopping in the sunshine.
customize ⤍5 days / from950 USD
Pattaya Sun
The sandy beaches and tiny offshore islands, dense forests and hidden waterfalls are a natural draw to Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard. Pattaya abounds with activities – from watersports to international-standard golf courses.
customize ⤍5 days / from680 USD
Chiang Mai Sustainable Trails
Chiang Mai offers a balmy escape from Bangkok’s humidity. Regarded as the cultural heart of the country, come here for nature, lovely Lanna-style temples, museums and the infamous night bazaar.
customize ⤍3 days / from615 USD
Thailand Luxury Camping
Experience Thailand in a different light, with this unique glamping trip. This trip is the perfect add-on to any trip to Thailand. You'll stay at the Hin Tok River Camp, near Kanchanaburi, one of Thailand's finest tented luxury camps, and explore the surrounding area, including the River Kwai.
customize ⤍8 days / from1150 USD
From Bangkok to Hua Hin
Ideal for those not wishing to travel too far, this multi-centre trip to Thailand combines exciting Bangkok city with royal-favourite resort Hua Hin, just a few hours from the capital.
customize ⤍5 days / from1350 USD
Southern Thailand Explored
Discover the best of Southern Thailand: soak in the serenity at a forest temple, experience the opulence of a summer palace fit for a king, marvel at seemingly impossible limestone formations and walk bare-footed along pristine white-sand beaches – all of this, and much more, with this unique trip!
customize ⤍7 days / from1750 USD
Northern Thailand Explored
Experience the best places to visit in Thailand, from the majestic former capital of Siam at Ayutthaya and the ancient temples and pagodas at Sukhothai, to the beautiful green hills of Chiang Mai and the famous Golden Triangle, all with this unique trip!
customize ⤍8 days / from1150 USD
Thailand exploration with nature and beach
Dreaming of a trip that allows you to spend time in the jungle and on the beach? You can do both on this 8 day Thailand exploration trip! From Bangkok head down south by overnight train, to explore the jungle in Khao Sok and stunning beaches in Krabi.
customize ⤍14 days / from2450 USD
Explore Northern Thailand with beach days in Koh Samui
Thailand has a lot to offer and this trip will take you to the best natural and cultural spots in the country! Spend the first part of your trip exploring the cities, national parks and cultural sites of Northern Thailand, then head down to the stunning island of Koh Samui for some relaxation.
customize ⤍5 days / from829 USD
Krabi Beach Escape
Stretching along Thailand’s spectacular Andaman Coastline, bordered by striking limestone karsts and providing visitors with a relaxing getaway is Krabi. Soft-sand beaches and inviting turquoise waters await, as well as rainforest excursions and boat trips to iconic Ko Phi Phi.
customize ⤍13 days / from7235 USD
Thai Sojourn
This ultimate luxury multi-centre tour of Thailand combines cosmopolitan Bangkok with the lush valleys, mountains and national parks of Chiang Mai before venturing south to the amazing beach bliss to be found at stunning Khao Lak. A wonderful overview of Thailand in style and complete comfort.
customize ⤍5 days / from751 USD
Bangkok Sustainable Trails
Visit Thailand’s must-see capital Bangkok with its evocative markets, glitzy malls, Buddhist philosophy and traditional reserve. Discover its fabulously rich culture, great nightlife and have lashings of fun.
customize ⤍5 days / from990 USD
Bangkok Culture
Visit Thailand’s urban capital for a fabulous cultural experience. Explore Bangkok’s wonderfully ornate wats, learn about history at the stunning Grand Palace, tour the eccentric floating market and get a taste of Siam Thai culture.
customize ⤍22 days / from4799 USD
The Ultimate Southeast Asia Grand Tour
Explore the highlights of four countries in a bit over 3 weeks: Halong Bay & the Mekong Delta in Vietnam combined with the cities Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Proceed to Cambodia with Angkor Wat before watching the monks in Luang Prabang/Laos. Your trip ends in Thailand with elephants and Bangkok.
customize ⤍6 days / from1200 USD
Krabi Discovery
Visually striking, Krabi and its islands make for one of Thailand’s most charming spots. It’s perfect for beach-lovers, sports enthusiasts and those seeking a bit of adventure around the Andaman Coast.
customize ⤍12 days / from2150 USD
Thailand Explorer
A great way to see Thailand, this multi-centre trip takes you from lively Bangkok to the beach resort of Pattaya before completing your circuit in the fresher climate of verdant Chiang Mai.
customize ⤍5 days / from1450 USD
Bangkok Gourmet
Enjoy a culinary whirlwind tour of Bangkok. Partake in one-to-one cookery classes, explore the fragrant markets and delight your tastebuds with Michelin-star menus and street food alike. Take some time out to explore the city too and meet monks at Wat Pho and visit the Grand Palace.
customize ⤍15 days / from5250 USD
Family Time in Thailand
Explore incredible Bangkok city before heading to the verdant Chiang Mai area to meet elephants in their natural habitat. From here, it’s down to the spectacular beach resort of Khao Lak for complete family relaxation. The perfect trip for the whole family to enjoy.
customize ⤍3 days / from680 USD
River Kwai Discovery
Discover the stunning River Kwai and its surroundings with this unique, compact trip, which would make the perfect add-on to an existing trip to Thailand. Experience unforgettable scenery, walk along the spot where the infamous Thailand-Burma Railway once stood and canoe down the River Kwai!
customize ⤍4 days / from730 USD
Hua Hin Getaway
Thailand’s Northern Gulf Coast is home to attractive sandy beaches, good weather, interesting towns and two national parks. Come stay in chic Hua Hin, a popular getaway spot with Thai royalty.
customize ⤍12 days / from1750 USD
Bangkok-Pattaya Safari Adventure
Visit Thailand’s exciting capital Bangkok where you can explore the city by bike and see giant Buddhas and extravagant temples. Then head east to the coastal resort of Pattaya for some watersports and beach time.
customize ⤍5 days / from1400 USD
Thailand's Golden Triangle
Tour Thailand's glorious Golden Triangle. An almost untouched region, come here for a sense of romance and adventure as you travel through the verdant hills and river valleys of Thailand's lush north taking in both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai's markets, temples and mouthwatering northern cuisine.
customize ⤍9 days / from1850 USD
Off the beaten track in Thailand
Are you ready to explore the lesser-known destinations in Thailand? From busy Bangkok to relaxing Chiang Mai, along the way, you will explore off the beaten path cities, such as Uthai Thani, Phitsanulok and Lampang, where temples, rivers, mountains and local markets are waiting to be discovered!
customize ⤍12 days / from1980 USD
Unique Thailand
Discover the hidden treasures of Bangkok, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai. A unique multi-centre trip around Thailand, this is the perfect package for those seeking adventure, culture and an off-the-beaten-track experience.
customize ⤍10 days / from1850 USD
Best of Thailand with Phuket
Discover Thailand's busy capital Bangkok with its unique markets and temples before heading north to Chiang Mai - the cultural center of Thailand offers authentic family experiences as well as elephants up close. End your trip with beach days in beautiful Phuket.
customize ⤍13 days / from2050 USD
Olde Thailand – North & South
This is a trip to Thailand for the adventurer. It takes in must-see Bangkok, exploring the city’s waterways by boat and delving into its lively and unique markets. From here you will head to Chiang Mai to admire awe-inspiring temples and then on to Hua Hin, just a few hour’s drive from Bangkok.
customize ⤍15 days / from3715 USD
Signature Vietnam & Thailand
Discover 3 main areas in each country: Vietnam with Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and the Halong Bay. Thailand with Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. Discover authentic food experiences, historic city tours with knowledgeable guides and much more on this two week itinerary.
customize ⤍If there’s one dish you just have to eat while you’re in Bangkok, it’s pad thai. Sure, you’ve probably tried this thrown-together meal of noodles, shrimp, bean sprouts, tofu and egg, dozens of times at home. But the Bangkok version is so much better.
And Thip Samai’s is the best of the lot. Cooked over a charcoal fire, sprinkled with crushed peanuts and served with a wedge of lime, the pad thais at this unpretentious little place on Maha Chai Road have been keeping the hungry residents of Bangkok’s Old City satisfied for over half a century.
Get here early (it opens at 5 pm) and order their egg pad thai – sweet and sour, bitter and salty, it ticks all the boxes needed to tantalise your taste buds and comes encased in a protective (and delicious) omelette wrap.
Pad thai © wing f chen/Shutterstock
Pad Thai polished off, you don’t have too far to go to find Bangkok’s next culinary must-do. Right next door to Thip Samai, the queue that permanently snakes out of the door at number 327 is a good indication that you’ve found Raan Jay Fai. Then there’s the unmistakable form of Jay Fai herself, the seventy-year-old so-called 'Queen of Thai Street Food', who mans her flaming pans in a ski hat and goggles.
'Aunty Fai' is the only street-food vendor in Bangkok to have been awarded a Michelin star. Her signature dish is khai jeaw poo, a (very expensive) rolled omelette stuffed with chunks of white crabmeat so big you could easily mistake them for chicken, but you might prefer the poo pad pong karee, a mild curry that also uses crab as its feature ingredient.
Don’t worry about that queue, though – it just gives you more time to enjoy the elaborate cooking demonstration, as Aunty Fai weaves between the woks.
You’ll feel good eating at Bo.lan. Not only is the food unlike anything else you’ll probably try in Thailand but the whole restaurant is run with the aim of reducing its environmental impact at every turn.
The name comes from the celebrity chef couple behind the concept – Duangporn 'Bo' Songvisava and Dylan Jones – who have turned their farmhouse-style restaurant on a narrow alleyway off Sukhumvit Road into a fine-dining phenomenon.
Treat yourself to the Bo Lan Balance, a mouth-watering journey through Thailand’s culinary heritage that mixes long-forgotten recipes with refined home-cooking classics. Like everything else on the menu, it’s all organic and seasonal, meticulously sourced from local producers and independent farmers or handpicked from their own garden.
What’s more, water is filtered in-house, they generate a lot of their own energy, and any organic waste goes back into the food chain as fertilizer for their herb garden – simple steps but still fairly revolutionary in a city like Bangkok.
The food from Northeast Thailand, a region known as Isaan, is spicier and stronger than the rest of the country’s cuisine, with a reputation for featuring copious amounts of chillies and punchy fish sauce. There are several Isaan restaurants in Bangkok, but for really authentic flavours, head to Somtum Der, a trendy place on Sala Daeng Road.
The focus here is som tum, the northeastern staple of spicy green papaya salad, which is served in over twenty different varieties, from salted egg to freshwater crab. Other regional specialities to share include pork skewers marinated in coconut milk, nam prik pla ra (chilli paste with fermented fish), Isaan sausages and larb, a spicy salad best eaten with little balls of sticky rice.
Larb © peeraporn kwanprom/Shutterstock
It’s great fun watching the comings and goings on the Chao Phraya River from any one of the restaurants that line the banks of the capital’s main thoroughfare. But for knockout views, you need to head up high, and nowhere does higher better than the aptly named Vertigo restaurant at the Banyan Tree.
Projecting out over Downtown Bangkok, this 61st-floor place serves steaks, baby chicken and other grilled goodies against a backdrop of spikey skyscrapers. Despite the cost (the food is pricey), it’s always busy, so you’ll need to reserve in advance – book the first slot of the evening’s service and you’ll be able to catch the sunset and that magical moment when the lights start twinkling into life below.
Discover more of Bangkok with The Rough Guide to Bangkok. Compare flights, find tours, book hostels and hotels for your trip, and don’t forget to purchase travel insurance before you go. Top image: Bangkok street food © Anansing/Shutterstock.
written by Keith Drew
updated 9.12.2018
A former Rough Guides Managing Editor, Keith Drew has written or updated over a dozen Rough Guides, including Costa Rica, Japan and Morocco. As well as writing for The Telegraph, The Guardian and BRITAIN Magazine, among others, he also runs family-travel website Lijoma.com. Follow him @keithdrewtravel on Twitter and @BigTrips4LittleTravellers on Instagram.
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