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Everything you need to know before visiting Thailand: visa rules, entry requirements, SIM cards, budget, transport, food, safety, and where to go.
Planning to travel to Thailand soon? This page gives you a quick overview of what you need to know before visiting, including entry rules, money, transport, internet, safety, food, culture, where to go, and more.
We’ll also link to our related guides throughout the page, so you can learn more about each topic step by step.
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Contents
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Key Takeaways
- Most visitors from over 90 countries can enter Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days, with a possible 30-day extension at a local immigration office.
- You need to complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before flying to Thailand.
- Travel insurance is not required but strongly recommended, especially since motorcycle accidents are the leading cause of tourist hospital visits.
- November to February is the best time to visit for good weather, but it is also the busiest and most expensive period.
- Northern Thailand has serious air pollution from February to April due to crop burning, with Chiang Mai regularly recording dangerous AQI levels.
- As a tourist, you will mostly use cash and credit cards since QR payment options are limited for foreigners.
- Grab or Bolt is the safest and most reliable way to get around in major cities.
- Always drink bottled water and be cautious with free ice at restaurants.
- Criticizing the Thai royal family is illegal and can result in serious legal consequences.
- A mid-range budget of around THB4,000 per person per day covers accommodation, meals, and local transport comfortably.
Visa Requirements
Good news for travelers from over 90 countries: you can currently travel to Thailand without applying for a visa in advance under Thailand’s visa exemption scheme.
This normally lets you stay for up to 30 days, and you may be able to extend your stay once for another 30 days at a local immigration office in Thailand.
If your nationality is not eligible for visa exemption, you can apply for a tourist visa online through the official Thai e-Visa website. A single-entry tourist visa normally gives you 60 days in Thailand.
Entry Requirements
In addition to a visa, there are some other things you may need to show immigration staff in Thailand when entering the country:
- A passport valid for at least 6 months: if it’s valid for less than that, the airline may deny boarding.
- A return or onward ticket: this should show a flight out of Thailand. You can screenshot the ticket and save it on your phone.
- Proof of accommodation in Thailand: a booking confirmation. Screenshot the confirmation and save it on your phone.
- Proof of funds: at least THB20,000 in cash. This can be in other currencies, but it is not always checked.
- Thailand Digital Arrival Card confirmation.
Read our guide to getting a tourist visa in Thailand to find out more.
Immigration Form
Thailand no longer uses the old paper immigration arrival form. Instead, tourists need to complete an online form called the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, or TDAC.
I recommend completing it within 72 hours before flying to Thailand. It usually takes less than 10 minutes through the official TDAC website. You’ll need to enter basic travel information, including:
- your passport details
- flight number
- hotel address
- other details similar to what you would normally write on an arrival card in many countries.
Once you submit it, take a screenshot and save the confirmation on your phone, just in case you need to show it at immigration.
If you forget to do it before arriving, there are TDAC kiosks at international airports in Thailand. However, the queue can be long, especially when many flights arrive at the same time.
Check out our guide to the Thailand Digital Arrival Card to find out more.
Travel Insurance
While you don’t need travel insurance to come to Thailand, we strongly recommend getting one.
We’ve seen many tourists have an accident (motorcycle crashes being one of the most common) and end up unable to pay for treatment. Their families then have to send money or start a crowdfunding campaign to cover the costs.
You don’t need an expensive plan. Even a budget plan with good medical coverage from Luma or ACS is enough.
Read our Travel Insurance Guide to find out more.
SIM Card
There are plenty of options for a SIM card in Thailand. You have three main options:
- eSIM: this is my favourite option right now. You can get an eSIM from Airalo and install it before coming here. It’s more convenient since you don’t need to swap physical cards.
- Buy it at the airport: you’ll get a tourist package. This is the most convenient option on arrival, but also the priciest. For example, an unlimited internet plan for 15 days costs around THB699.
- Buy at a service provider shop: if you want the cheapest deal, buy it from a provider shop inside the city. A 30-day plan now costs around THB599 or less.
When it comes to providers, the two main options are True and AIS. There isn’t a huge difference between the two for most visitors. However, if you’re traveling frequently in rural areas or to islands, AIS is recommended for its wider network coverage.
Best Time to Visit Thailand
The travel experience in Thailand changes by season. Here are the three main periods to consider:
November to February
This is the cool season and also the peak tourist season. You normally get the best weather. However, everything is more expensive and popular tourist spots can be packed, especially during the long holidays in early December and the New Year period.
March to April
These are the hot months. Expect very hot weather with strong sunlight, and temperatures that can exceed 40 degrees Celsius on the hottest days. That said, beaches can be beautiful during this period. Songkran Festival (April 13 to 15), Thailand’s water festival and New Year celebration, is the busiest period of the season.
May to October
These months are the rainy season. Expect heavy rain on many days, especially in the south of Thailand. If you plan to visit islands, check the weather forecast carefully. Some islands are best avoided when the sea is rough. There are also flash flood risks in some areas, including Pattaya.
On the upside, it’s the low season, so prices for accommodation and activities are noticeably lower.
Note About Burning Season
There is serious air pollution in Thailand from January to April, especially in northern Thailand (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and surrounding provinces), with February and March being the worst months.
I don’t recommend visiting the north during this period if you are sensitive to air quality.
Where to Go in Thailand
There are thousands of places to visit in Thailand, so this section gives you a general overview of the main destinations by region.
Central
In central Thailand, there are two main destinations for tourists:
- Bangkok: the capital city, ideal for first-time visitors and known for food, shopping, temples, and nightlife.
- Ayutthaya: the former capital of Thailand, about an hour from Bangkok. A good day trip for visiting ancient temples and ruins.
East
For the east of Thailand, Pattaya is the most popular destination, known for its nightlife.
But there’s more to the east than that. There are many good beach and island destinations here that are quieter and more affordable than the south. Notable places include:
- Koh Samed in Rayong
- Koh Chang in Trat
- Koh Kood in Trat
West
The west of Thailand is a mountainous area and a personal favourite of mine, especially Kanchanaburi province. It has many great waterfalls including the Erawan waterfall, Sai Yok waterfall, and more.
The Death Railway is also here, a historically significant site from World War II.
You can take a train from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi in about 3 hours.
South
The south is the beach region of Thailand, full of stunning coastal destinations. The most popular are Phuket and Phang Nga. Many of Thailand’s famous islands are also in the south, including Koh Tao, Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Maya.
If you want a great beach experience with fewer tourists, I recommend Krabi and Ranong.
Hua Hin, a popular retirement destination, is also located in the gateway province to the south of Thailand.
North
The north of Thailand is mostly mountainous, known for Lanna culture, coffee cafes, and a slower pace of travel. Chiang Mai is the most popular destination and is often called the capital of digital nomads.
In addition to Chiang Mai, you can visit Chiang Rai for tea plantations, Mae Hong Son for mountain scenery, and Nan for beautiful rice terraces.
Northeast
The northeast, known as Isan, is the largest region of Thailand. Tourism here is less developed compared to other regions.
Most people who travel to Isan are repeat visitors to Thailand, or those who have married a Thai and settled there, with popular cities being Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, and Nakhon Ratchasima.
Budget
While traveling in Thailand is quite affordable, there are also plenty of luxury options depending on your travel style, from a shared hostel at THB200 a night to a villa that costs over THB100,000 per night.
So a travel budget really depends on how you travel. To give you some numbers, here are average costs:
- Street food: THB60 per meal
- International food: THB300 per meal
- Drinks: THB50 per cup
- Inner-city transport: THB30 to THB200 per ride
- Intercity transport: THB400 to THB5,000 per ride
- 3-star hotel: THB2,000 to THB3,000 per night
- Entrance fees: around THB200
In short, expect to spend around THB4,000 per person per day for a standard trip. It can be significantly more or less depending on your travel style. Many travelers also find they spend more than expected in Bangkok, where food and nightlife options are plentiful and easy to overindulge in.
For a more detailed breakdown, check out our guide on the cost of living in Thailand.
Paying for Stuff
While Thailand is becoming a cashless country, with QR code payment accepted in most places, this option is not available for most tourists.
So when traveling here, most tourists still use:
- Cash for small payments
- Credit cards for bigger payments like hotels
If you want to use QR payment, only a few options are available to tourists. One of them is TagThai, but you need to open an account first with Kasikorn Bank.
Fortunately, ATMs are widely available. There is normally a withdrawal fee of around THB220.
Read our guide to QR payment to find out more information.
Transportation
If you are in a big city like Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, or Chiang Mai, using Grab or Bolt to call a taxi is the best way to get around.
When it comes to mass transportation like a skytrain, metro, or airport rail links, only Bangkok has these options. They are highly recommended since the city has heavy traffic. For a more detailed overview, check out our guide to transportation in Bangkok.
For renting a car, it’s a good option if you want to drive to other provinces. You can find a good deal on a site like Discover Cars.
Motorcycle rentals are popular in Chiang Mai and on islands. Make sure to wear a helmet and have a valid license. Motorcycle accidents are one of the most common reasons tourists end up in hospital in Thailand, so take it seriously.
Food
There’s a huge variety of food in Thailand. What I normally do is look at Google Maps and search for nearby restaurants. If a place has a rating of 4 stars or above from a good number of reviews, I’ll go there.
Here’s a list of dishes you should try in Thailand:
- Pad Thai: stir-fried rice noodles with egg, tofu or shrimp, bean sprouts, and peanuts
- Tom Yum Goong: spicy shrimp soup with lemongrass, kaffir lime, and galangal
- Green Curry (Gaeng Khiao Wan): coconut milk curry with vegetables and your choice of meat
- Som Tum: green papaya salad, very popular and typically very spicy
- Khao Pad: Thai fried rice, a safe and filling option for most visitors
- Massaman Curry: a mild, rich curry with potatoes and peanuts, good if you can’t handle much spice
- Pad Kra Pao: stir-fried meat with Thai basil, usually served over rice with a fried egg
- Mango Sticky Rice: a popular dessert with sweet mango, glutinous rice, and coconut milk
For a quick meal, you can pick something up from a 7-Eleven. The ham and cheese toastie is popular among tourists.
Note: Always drink bottled water to avoid stomach issues. Be cautious with free ice at restaurants. Smoothies from dedicated smoothie shops are generally fine.
Thai Culture
Thailand has a strong culture of keeping the peace. Raising your voice, losing your temper, or creating a scene in public is taken badly here, even in a disagreement. If something goes wrong, stay calm and smile. You’ll get a much better result.
As a tourist, there are some important aspects of Thai culture to be aware of:
- Always wear a shirt in public. Even on a hot day, going shirtless outside of the beach is considered disrespectful.
- When entering a temple or a royal place, dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered.
- Never speak badly about the royal family.
- Be polite when talking to locals.
- Don’t use your feet to point at others or at sacred objects.
- Resting your feet on a chair or table in a public place is also considered rude.
Also, a small effort with the language goes a long way. Saying khob khun krap (thank you, for men) or khob khun kha (thank you, for women) usually gets a warm response from locals.
Good to know: Monks are highly respected in Thai society. Give them space when nearby. Women should never touch a monk or hand anything to them directly. Many temples provide wraps at the entrance if you’re not dressed appropriately.
Useful Apps
Here’s a list of useful apps for traveling in Thailand:
- Grab and Bolt for transportation. Download them before you arrive and link your credit card so you’re ready to go on arrival.
- Google Maps for navigation. It’s quite accurate and also shows bus numbers and metro train routes.
- Google Translate with a Thai language pack installed in advance. This isn’t essential if you’re staying in big cities, since most service providers speak some English.
- LINE for messaging. It’s the main messaging app in Thailand, similar to WhatsApp. You’ll need it if you contact hotels or travel services directly.
Emergency Numbers
Save these emergency numbers in your phone before you travel:
- Tourist Police: 1155
- Medical emergency: 1669
- Police: 191
- Fire: 199
- Your embassy
- Your travel insurance emergency hotline
- Your hotel front desk
Useful Services
Here’s a list of useful services for traveling to Thailand:
- Agoda: my main app for booking hotels and flights in Thailand
- Discover Cars: for booking a rental car
- Luma Health: a good option for travel insurance
- 12Go: for booking trains, buses, ferries, and other intercity transport
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa to visit Thailand?
Most visitors from over 90 countries can enter Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days. If your nationality is not eligible, you can apply for a tourist visa online through the official Thai e-Visa website. Check the Thai immigration website to confirm your country’s eligibility.
How much money should I budget per day in Thailand?
A realistic mid-range budget is around THB4,000 per person per day, covering a 3-star hotel, meals at local and tourist restaurants, and local transport. Backpackers can spend significantly less, while luxury travelers will spend much more.
Is Thailand safe for tourists?
Thailand is generally safe for tourists. The most common issues are traffic accidents (especially with motorbike rentals), petty theft in crowded areas, and scams in tourist-heavy areas of Bangkok. Travel insurance is strongly recommended, and always wear a helmet if you rent a motorbike.
What SIM card should I get in Thailand?
For most visitors, buying a local SIM card on arrival is the easiest option. AIS has the strongest rural and island coverage. True is also reliable in urban areas. Alternatively, set up an eSIM from Airalo before you leave home for maximum convenience.
What is the best time to visit Thailand?
November to February is the best time to visit, with cooler temperatures and less rain. March and April are very hot. May to October is the rainy season with lower prices, but heavy rain can affect island trips. If you’re heading to northern Thailand, avoid February and March due to serious air pollution from crop burning.
