Plan Your Trip

The best months to visit Thailand are November to February, when the weather across most of the country is cool, dry, and comfortable. March to May is the hot season, and June to October brings the monsoon rains, which usually fall in short afternoon bursts rather than all day.

Many nationalities, including US, UK, EU, Australian, and Canadian passport holders, enter Thailand visa-free as tourists. The stay is 60 days today, but a cut to 30 days is approved and awaiting publication in the Royal Gazette, so plan around 30 and check before booking. Everyone arriving must also complete the free online Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) within three days before landing.

Thailand is excellent value. A street meal costs only a few dollars, local transport is cheap, and mid-range travelers are comfortable on roughly 1,500 to 3,000 baht a day, not counting flights and bigger hotels.

Pack light, breathable clothing for the heat, plus one modest outfit that covers shoulders and knees for temples. Add sandals, a rain layer for the wet season, sunscreen, and any medication you rely on, since specific brands can be hard to find.

Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain and MRT subway are fast, cheap, and air-conditioned, and they skip the city’s heavy traffic. For everything else, the Grab app is the easiest way to book a metered car, and river boats connect many riverside sights.

A week is enough to pair Bangkok with one other region, but ten to fourteen days is the sweet spot, letting you combine Bangkok, the northern culture of Chiang Mai, and a southern beach or island without rushing.