By Hanna · Updated August 19, 2026

Thailand travel guide: what to know before you go

Most Western passport holders currently enter Thailand visa-free, though the exemption is shrinking from 60 to 30 days. November-February is the best weather window, and a local eSIM is worth setting up before you land for maps and ride-hailing apps.

Thailand rewards a little planning around visa timing and season, but it's still one of the easiest countries in Southeast Asia to just show up in and figure it out.

Best time to visit

November through February is the coolest, driest window and also the busiest and most expensive. March-May runs hot and dry; June-October is the rainy season, with lower prices, fewer crowds, and lush landscapes between afternoon downpours.

Getting around

Bangkok's BTS Skytrain and MRT cover the tourist core well and skip the traffic entirely. Between cities, overnight trains and budget flights are both easy and cheap; Grab handles rides and food delivery almost everywhere.

Top things to do

• Explore Bangkok's Old City temples, then cross the river for the quieter Thonburi canals
• Base in Chiang Mai for a few days if you want the slower, cafe-and-mountain pace
• Visit Ayutthaya for ruins without the Angkor-scale crowds
• Island-hop in Krabi or Koh Lanta if beaches are the priority over cities
• Eat at a no-name street stall at least once — often better than the tourist-facing restaurants nearby

Budget tips

Street food and local restaurants stretch a budget much further than hotel restaurants or tourist-zone dining. Guesthouses and 3-star hotels outside the main tourist strips are consistently cheaper for similar quality.

Where to stay

Sukhumvit is convenient for transit and nightlife in Bangkok but busier; riverside areas near the Old City are quieter with easier access to temples on foot.