Visas & entry
For U.S., Canadian, UK, EU, Australian, New Zealand, Japanese, South Korean and many other passport holders, Thailand's visa-exemption scheme generally permits up to 30 days for tourism; other nationalities may need an e-Visa or Visa on Arrival. Rules change: verify your passport's status with a Thai embassy before booking, complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) within three days of arrival, and carry onward-travel, accommodation and possible proof-of-funds evidence.
Getting in
- Suvarnabhumi Airport: Bangkok's main long-haul gateway and the sensible arrival airport for most international visitors. The Airport Rail Link runs from the basement into central Bangkok; use it rather than a road taxi at rush hour.
- Don Mueang International Airport: The main low-cost and regional-flight airport, especially useful for domestic connections. It is less convenient for the river/Old City than BKK; the free BKK–DMK shuttle is only for ticketed flight transfers.
- Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal: Bangkok's main intercity rail hub for northbound services, including Ayutthaya. Use it for the former capital; do not expect rail to be the efficient answer for every Central Thailand side trip.
Getting around
In Bangkok, combine BTS, MRT, Chao Phraya boats and Grab; rail beats taxis whenever traffic is moving badly. Base within a short walk of BTS or MRT, not simply somewhere with a fashionable Sukhumvit address. Train works well for Ayutthaya; use a road transfer for a multi-stop Kanchanaburi trip, while Samut Songkhram and Hua Hin are possible by public transport but slower and more fiddly. Khao Yai is best done with a car, driver or small-group tour.
Money
Thailand uses the Thai baht (THB/฿). Cards work reliably in hotels, malls and better restaurants, but cash remains essential for street food, markets, small shophouses, local transport and many provincial stops; carry small notes. Tipping is discretionary rather than compulsory—round up small bills, and leave modest service tips where service has been good.
Daily budget · THB (฿)
- Value
- ฿1,800–3,000
- Mid-range
- ฿3,800–7,000
- High-end
- ฿12,000–30,000+
- Per person per day, excluding international flights and assuming two people share a room. Solo travelers should add substantially for accommodation.
- Value: hostel or simple guesthouse, local meals, BTS/MRT/boats, modest sights and one or two Grab rides.
- Comfortable mid-range: a good 3–4-star hotel within a short walk of BTS or MRT, street food plus sit-down meals, Grab when heat or rain makes sense, regular sightseeing and an organised day trip every few days.
- High-end: five-star hotels, private transfers, tasting menus, cocktails and premium experiences. Bangkok luxury is good value until suites, imported wine, rooftop bars and famous restaurants enter the bill.
- Accommodation is the main swing factor. New Year, Songkran and major events can push rates sharply upward; do not book a cheaper hotel far from rail and then spend the saving in traffic.
- For the wider orbit, use trains for Ayutthaya; budget road transfers or a driver for Kanchanaburi, Samut Songkhram and Hua Hin if time matters. The cheapest public-transport routing is often not the sensible one.
Eating well
- Go to markets early morning for ingredients and breakfast; go late afternoon or evening for cooked food.
- Do not schedule an important meal between 2 and 5 p.m.; many specialist kitchens close between services.
- In Bangkok, pick the stall or shophouse that does one thing well, not the place with 120 items on a laminated menu.
- Bangkok’s fine-dining scene is deep, but do not let tasting menus replace street stalls and shophouses.
- At dinner, order shared dishes with rice rather than treating every meal as a single bowl or plate.
Book before you land
SRT Bangkok–Nam Tok Waterfall excursion train on weekends and public holidays · Bangkok's sought-after Michelin-starred and tasting-menu restaurants, if they are a priority
- Complete the TDAC only through the official immigration site; it is free, and fee-charging copycat sites exist.
- For the Grand Palace and major temples, cover shoulders and knees. Ignore anyone outside claiming the palace is closed and steering you to a tuk-tuk tour.
- Use metered taxis or Grab. If a driver refuses the meter, leave rather than negotiating from a bad starting price.
- Build temple and ruin days around the heat: start at opening, retreat for lunch, then resume late afternoon. Do not schedule Ayutthaya cycling or Old City walking at midday.
- Wet-season downpours can turn a normal cross-city transfer into a long one; leave serious buffer time for airport runs and evening connections.
- At markets and food stalls, choose specialists with a short, focused menu. Many of Bangkok's best lunch places close between roughly 2 and 5 p.m.
Entry rules change — verify visa requirements for your passport before booking this region.
Season by season
November–February
Bangkok is relatively dry and less oppressive, with the best walking weather of the year, but high demand concentrates around Christmas, New Year and Lunar New Year.
first visitstemples and river districtsAyutthaya excursionsoutdoor food wandering
Well-located BTS/MRT and riverside hotels cost more, and popular restaurants need advance reservations during holiday periods.
March–May
Heat and humidity are severe, so plan temple visits and markets early, retreat indoors at midday, and resume after sunset.
food-focused tripsmuseums and shoppingseasonal khao chaeSongkran celebrations
Long outdoor sightseeing days are punishing, and Songkran brings wet streets, traffic and crowded central areas.
June–October
Expect high humidity and intense afternoon or evening downpours rather than constant rain; delays and waterlogging can disrupt road journeys.
better hotel valuemuseums and spasBangkok dininglush Kanchanaburi waterfalls
Build slack into airport transfers and evening plans, expect traffic snarls and puddled pavements, and check park conditions in Kanchanaburi after severe weather.
Events worth planning around
Songkran · Usually April 13–15; major Bangkok programming often extends across roughly a week, with exact dates and venues varying annually. · Bangkok, especially central event zones and major nightlife areas.
Come deliberately for citywide water fights, concerts and crowds; otherwise avoid central Bangkok, book hotels early and expect disrupted transport and soaked clothes.
Loy Krathong · Usually October or November, on a lunar-calendar date. · Bangkok riverfronts and canal-side areas.
Waterfronts become crowded and dinner cruises fill or raise prices; it is pleasant if you are already in town, but not worth rebuilding an itinerary around.
What to eat
Bangkok is the place to eat across Thailand, but its local language is Central Thai: jasmine rice with shared dishes, coconut-rich curries, sharp relishes, river seafood and a huge Thai-Chinese shophouse tradition. Eat one-plate lunches when you are moving, then order several dishes to share at dinner; for serious food, favor specialists over giant laminated menus.
Rice with shared Central-Thai dishesNam prik chili relish with raw vegetables and fried fishGreen curryMassaman curryTom yum goongCentral-style kaeng som, soured with tamarindFish cakesBoat noodles: dark, intense small bowls, best ordered in multiplesKhao chae: chilled jasmine-scented rice with elaborate savory accompaniments; seek it in the hottest monthsThai-Chinese roast duck, peppery pork soup, crab noodles and wok-fried seafood
Bangkok: Boat noodles around Victory Monument or at dedicated specialists · Seasonal khao chae · Thai-Chinese roast duck, peppery pork soup, crab noodles and wok-fried seafood in Yaowarat
Ayutthaya: Boat noodles · Charcoal-grilled giant river prawns; choose places that treat them as food rather than a photo prop
Samut Songkhram / Amphawa: Fresh seafood · Coconut sugar products · Grilled squid · Mackerel · Canal-side snacks
Kanchanaburi: River fish · Grilled freshwater prawns · Mon-influenced dishes around Sangkhlaburi
Phetchaburi / Hua Hin: Phetchaburi palm-sugar, coconut and egg-yolk sweets · Hua Hin seafood at straightforward local restaurants