Thailand Travel Guide: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Islands in 2026

Depends on what you want. For luxury beaches and easy logistics, Koh Samui — direct international flights, Four Seasons-tier resorts, plus ferry connections onward to Koh Pha Ngan (full moon parties) or Koh Tao (diving). For dramatic limestone scenery, the Phi Phi Islands or Krabi province on the Andaman coast, accessed via Phuket. For quiet and unspoiled, Koh Kood in the east (near Cambodia) or Koh Lipe in the deep south — both require longer transfers but reward with empty beaches and clear water. Avoid Phuket and Phi Phi as your only Thailand impression — they're beautiful but overdeveloped. Maya Bay ("The Beach") has reopened after restoration but is now capacity-controlled. A two-week trip can comfortably do Bangkok + one island + Chiang Mai.

Yes — and skipping it is the biggest mistake first-time visitors make. Thai street food is among the best food in the world, and Bangkok's street vendors include Michelin-recognised stalls. Three rules to follow: eat at busy stalls with high turnover (food doesn't sit), watch the cook to confirm everything goes through the wok or boiling oil, and follow the locals — full tables of office workers at lunch are the strongest possible signal. Pad Thai, som tam (green papaya salad), tom yum goong, khao soi (in Chiang Mai), and mango sticky rice are the must-tries. Drink bottled water, avoid pre-cut fruit from unrefrigerated stalls, and skip ice only in rural areas — Bangkok ice is factory-made and fine. If you're worried, lean into rice and noodle dishes rather than salads with raw seafood.

November to February is the cool, dry season and the best window — temperatures 25–32°C, low humidity, almost no rain, and the country looks its best. It's also peak season, so flights and hotels cost more and Phi Phi gets crowded. March to May is the hot season — 35–40°C, still dry on the islands but punishing in Bangkok. June to October is the wet/green season: cheaper, lush, and rain usually comes in 1–2 hour bursts rather than all day. The far south (Koh Lipe, Koh Lanta) gets heavy weather in May–October; the Gulf side (Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan) gets its rain in October–December and is fine in summer. April brings Songkran (Thai New Year, mid-April) — the world's biggest water fight, joyful but borderline impossible to travel during.

Don't skip it — but give it the right amount of time. Two to three full days is the sweet spot: Wat Arun and the Grand Palace, a long-tail boat ride through the canals, dinner at a rooftop, one night-market dive, and Chatuchak weekend market if your trip falls on Saturday or Sunday. Bangkok is overwhelming if you stay longer without a project. Where to base: Riverside (Charoen Krung) for first-time visitors, Sukhumvit (Asoke, Phrom Phong) for nightlife and shopping, Ari for the local cool-neighbourhood vibe. The BTS Skytrain and MRT subway are clean, cheap, and air-conditioned — use them constantly and avoid taxis at rush hour. Tuk-tuks are a one-time tourist experience, not transport. Add Ayutthaya (1 hour by train) as a day trip if you have time.

Citizens of around 90 countries — including the US, UK, EU member states, Australia, Japan, Canada, and (since 2024) China and India — can enter Thailand without a visa for up to 60 days for tourism under the visa-exemption scheme. You can extend once at any Thai immigration office for another 30 days (around 1,900 baht / $55). For longer stays, the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), launched in 2024, allows up to 180 days per entry over 5 years and is popular with digital nomads — proof of funds (~500,000 baht) is required. Always have proof of onward travel and accommodation ready; immigration officers check both at random. Russian citizens currently get 60-day visa-exempt entry as well. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from entry.