Start here: when is the best time to visit Thailand?
The best time to visit most of Thailand is the cool season, from mid-October to mid-February (Thai Meteorological Department). It is also high season, so hold the villa and the boat early. The plan your trip chapter answers the other first questions, how long to stay and what the border asks for, with dated facts. You land in the evening, our host meets you in the arrivals hall, and by nine you are at a table by the river.
Since 15 September 2026, nationals of 60 countries and territories may stay up to 30 days without a visa, for tourism only. Every visitor files the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before landing (Immigration Bureau).
Our best time to visit guide gives the weather month by month, and the practical chapter covers money, phones, health and local law.
Want to see the whole trip in one place? Our trip planner builds your route stop by stop, with "from" prices, and sends it to Tanner.
Where should you go on a first trip to Thailand?
On a first trip, pair one city with one beach. Bangkok gives you palaces, the river at sunset and the widest choice of fine dining. Phuket, the largest island by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources' measure, and Koh Samui are the beach bases. Both have private pool villas, so start with either one.
Chiang Mai brings the cooler north, old temples and mountain resorts. Hua Hin is the royal seaside town south of Bangkok, and Pattaya is the closest beach city by road. Krabi has limestone cliffs and quiet islands, best seen by private boat at dawn.
The destinations chapter gives our verdict on every city and island. Our regions guide explains the six regions the Royal Institute uses.
Where should you stay in Thailand?
The MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2026 gave Three Keys, its top hotel rating, to six hotels. Two set the standard for us: Amanpuri above the sea in Phuket, and The Siam on the river in Bangkok.
For a family or friends travelling together, book a private villa with its own staff. The accommodation chapter covers hotels, villas and where to stay in each city.
Things to do, dining and nightlife
The best days are private: a yacht on the Andaman, a chef's table in Bangkok, a round on a championship course. The experiences chapter covers each city, and golf lists courses with their published green fees.
Bangkok is where you eat best: the MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2026 gives three stars to Sorn and Restaurant Sühring. Our dining chapter tells you how to get the table you want.
After dark, you start on a rooftop above the river and finish at a club table after midnight. Our nightlife chapter covers rooftops, superclubs and members' clubs, all legal and high-end.
Events coming up
Four dates shape early 2027. The Thailand International Boat Show runs 14-17 January at Phuket Yacht Haven Marina. Chinese New Year falls on Saturday 6 February; it is not a Thai bank holiday. MotoGP opens its season at Chang International Circuit in Buriram on 5-7 March.
Songkran, the Thai New Year, brings public holidays on 13-15 April (Bank of Thailand). Our 2027 events calendar marks each date as confirmed, expected or not yet announced. The events chapter covers festivals, regattas and music weekends.
Getting around in comfort
Long-haul flights land at Suvarnabhumi (BKK). Phuket (HKT) and Samui (USM) serve the islands; Bangkok Airways owns and runs Samui. Phuket, Don Mueang and U-Tapao each have a private jet terminal.
Clear immigration, and the car is already outside. The getting around chapter covers routes, transfers and private flights.
Private services and occasions
Much of Thailand's best is not for sale online: a staffed villa, a yacht day, a private jet. Tanner plans the whole trip, for two people or a whole company, with our team in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Koh Samui and Chiang Mai and trusted partners across the rest of Thailand. If a famous hotel, beach or club is not worth your time, Tanner tells you and books the better one. Private means private. Bigger plans are quoted to your group.
The services chapter shows what we arrange. Occasions covers company trips, milestone birthdays and celebrations, and sample plans show how a 3, 5 or 7-night trip can look.
Send Tanner your dates, and we get back to you right away.
Example plan: a weekend in Bangkok
Example plan. What a first weekend in Bangkok can look like. Friday: our host meets you in the arrivals hall at Suvarnabhumi, and a car takes you to The Siam on the river. That arrival with car is from ฿9,500, VAT included. Saturday: a private temple tour in the morning, from ฿38,000 with guide and car, tickets extra. You sit down to dinner at Sorn, and the car waits outside. Sunday: a long lunch by the river, then the car to the airport.
Live in Thailand
Staying longer? The Live in Thailand chapter covers long-stay visas, property and healthcare. The Board of Investment's LTR visa runs for 10 years, with a ฿50,000 fee when collected in Thailand.
Under the Condominium Act, a foreigner may own a condo unit freehold, within a 49% foreign share of each building. The Land Code bars foreigners from owning land in their own name.
How many people visit Thailand?
Thailand had 32,974,321 foreign arrivals in 2025, with an average stay of 9.89 days (Ministry of Tourism and Sports). Our data library turns official figures like these into dated tables. Middle East visitors spent ฿7,713 a day, against ฿4,865 for all visitors.
This year is running slightly behind. From 1 January to 17 October 2026, Thailand received 24,423,680 foreign tourists, 4.12% fewer than a year earlier, the Minister of Tourism and Sports said on 19 October 2026.
Every dataset is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0, with credit to ThailandWiki.
Who writes ThailandWiki
Tanner and Peter Bank write and check every page. Tanner speaks English and Thai as native languages. Read about both on our team page.
Our editorial policy explains our sources and how we re-check pages. About ThailandWiki covers the company, and contact gives our address and WhatsApp number.
