Surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and backed by thick forest, the interconnected fairy-tale beaches of Railay (Rai Leh) are accessible only by boat. The four beaches—Tonsai, Phra Nang, East Railay, and West Railay—offer powder-soft white sand, clear calm waters, and a decidedly bohemian vibe perfect for those looking to get away from it all.
It might sound like one of the more offbeat things to see in Bangkok, but the Royal Barges National Museum is a fascinating collection of boats that will interest travelers with a range of interests. On display are eight ornately decorated barges that are used in royal processions (which are only held occasionally. Come here to learn more about Thai history and culture.
The weekend-only Chatuchak Market is a one-stop shopping spot in the Thai capital, with stands selling everything from street food to blue jeans, and silk scarves to beauty products. If you can’t find it at the sprawling Bangkok market, it probably doesn’t exist.
The Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute was opened in 1913 when it became the first place in Thailand to offer anti-rabies vaccination. Today the Institute is a leading producer of snake antivenom, using venom extracted from snakes on the farm. There are more than 1,000 snakes housed at the site.
While Bangkok is full of temples that are worthy of a visitor’s time, few people head over to the Thonburi (west side of the Chao Phraya River, where Wat Kalayanamit is located. The large temple stands out on the skyline and it’s also unusual for having Chinese influences. Travelers who have seen the major sights of Bangkok and are looking for a more off-the-beaten-path experience will enjoy visiting Wat Kalayanamit.
Situated on a bustling canal lined with teak storefronts opening onto the water, Amphawa Floating Market comes alive each afternoon as Thai locals come to shop or grab a bite from one of many boats-cum-floating restaurants. While smaller than the more famous Damnoen Saduak, this floating market offers a more authentic experience.
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park protects a swath of verdant forest and mountain ranges in Northern Thailand near Chiang Mai. Named after a hermit who lived in the forest before it became a national park, Doi Suthep-Pui is perhaps most famous for the temple at the summit of Doi Suthep Peak (known for its stunning views of Chiang Mai).
With its secluded forest location and elaborate network of tunnels, Tunnel Temple (Wat Umong) is unique among Chiang Mai temples. The 15-acre (6-hectare) temple complex is home to saffron-robed monks, as well as free-roaming deer and ponds full of fish and turtles. Signs painted with words of wisdom hang from the ‘talking trees.’
Thailand’s Similan Islands National Park (Mu Ko Similan National Park), a group of 11 islands in the Andaman Sea, is one of the most pristine places in the world for diving. The islands boast picturesque landscapes with white-sand beaches, large granite rocks jutting out from the earth, dense jungles teeming with diverse fauna and flora, and crystal-clear azure waters.
Ao Nang beach sits along the edge of the town of Ao Nang, Krabi’s main tourist hub. Fine sand, clear waters, beautiful views, and cluster of bustling bars and restaurants make the beach a popular spot to spend a day relaxing in the sun or swimming in the Andaman Sea.
The Ma Boon Khrong—or MBK Center—is a huge shopping mall in central Bangkok, near Siam Square. It’s popular with locals as well as tourists, and if you can’t buy what you’re looking for here, it probably doesn’t exist anywhere in Thailand. When shopping for low-cost gifts or souvenirs in the Thai capital, you can’t skip the MBK Center.
Bangkok’s Erawan Shrine is an important one, even though it is not the largest, oldest, or most grand. The small shrine dedicated to Than Tao Mahaprom—the god of creation, Brahma—sits on a busy central Bangkok street and is always surrounded by people and offerings. Visit to learn more about Thai culture.
A branch of the museum that first opened in Pattaya, Art in Paradise Bangkok (aka the Trickeye Museum and the 3D Museum) offers similar interactive exhibits in the Thai capital. Full of optical illusions that travelers use as photo backdrops, the family-friendly museum is a fun place to spend a few hours out of the heat or rain.
As one of the most glamorous cabaret shows in southern Thailand, the Simon Cabaret is a must for fans of glitz and drama. Shows are a flamboyant combination of costumed transgender performers, traditional Thai dance and music, and comedy routines. After the show, you’ll have the opportunity to meet the stars and take photos.
Thought to be the oldest temple in Chiang Mai, Wat Chiang Man is a typical Northern Thai temple, with massive teak columns holding aloft the central sanctuary. The wat has two important Buddha images—one on a marble bas-relief, the other a crystal seated Buddha—both of which are visible in a glass cabinet housed in a smaller sanctuary.
A landmark piece of public art that’s also a shrine, the Three Kings Monument (Anusawari Sam Kasat) sits at the heart of Chiang Mai’s old administrative district. It commemorates the three kings—King Ngam Muang of Phayao, King Ram Khamhaeng of Sukhothai, and King Mangrai of Lanna—who worked together to found the city.
Part of the tiny Poday archipelago off the coast of Krabi, Poda Island (Koh Poda) ranks among the most pristine of the islands that line the coast. Dramatic limestone formations are visible from the white sands of the beach and a nearby coral reef provides excellent snorkeling.
Thailand’s Tham Krasae Bridge is the longest railway bridge in Thailand. It’s a trestle bridge over the Khwae Noi River and part of the Death Railway, built during World War II by prisoners of war. The POWs had horrible working conditions, and more than 12,000 lost their lives. The railway stretched from Myanmar to Thailand to transport war supplies. Visiting this area will take you back in time to World War II.
Boasting the title of the largest fresh food market in Bangkok, stalls at Khlong Toey Market sell meat and vegetables straight from rural farms and seafood direct from the nearby fishing port. While you can find random items such as batteries and electronics here, the real draw is the food. Come hungry, as you’ll be met with an array of Thai specialties and fresh fruit and vegetable samples.
The Mae Ping River cuts through Chiang Mai just a few blocks east of the old city and night market, where its banks have been developed with hotels, open-air restaurants, and bars. As it passes through the countryside, the river retains its natural charms. The ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam is also set on its shores south of Chiang Mai.
Lumpini Park is a large green open space in the middle of concrete Bangkok. Local residents like to exercise here before and after work, and families hang out here at the weekends. Plus, it’s home to some increasingly rare Thai flora and fauna. When you’re tired out by the shopping malls and glittery temples of Bangkok, Lumpini Park is a nice place to chill out.
This eclectic strip of bars, discos, shops, and attractions is the epicenter of entertainment in Patong. It offers a taste of local traditions and access to plenty of Western amenities, such as high-end boutiques in the modern Bangla Mall and restaurants that serve everything from pizza to pad thai.
The 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) stretch of sand known as Pattaya Beach ranks among the area's liveliest beaches. The crescent-shaped coast remains lively day and night, with the party atmosphere of the bars and restaurants of Beach Road to one side and a host of water sports—wind surfing, jet skiing, parasailing, or banana boating—to the other. The popular beach also serves as a departure point for diving expeditions to Pattaya's offshore coral islands.
This Bangkok monument commemorates the Siamese Revolution of 1932, the catalytic event that led Thailand to become a constitutional monarchy. At the center of the monument sits a sculpture of a manuscript box holding the Thai Constitution; it is guarded by four massive wings that represent the Thai air force, army, navy, and police.
Built in 1793 on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, Phra Sumen Fort is one of many forts built around Bangkok during the Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin periods. The hexagonal structure is now closed to the public, but it can be admired from the grassy Santichaiprakarn Park surrounding it.
Bangkok’s open-air Ancient City Museum (or the Muangboran Museum is a fun way to experience the most important of Thailand’s historic buildings and monuments…without actually experiencing them, that is. The park features more than 100 buildings spread over land formed in the shape of Thailand, all replicas of Thailand’s most important buildings, in miniature.
Home to miniature replicas of both top Thailand sights and global landmarks, Mini Siam is a family-friendly Pattaya attraction. Travel through Thai history on the Mini Siam side, where you’ll see to-scale versions of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Bridge on the River Kwai, and then admire the Eiffel Tower in Mini Europe.
Located midway between Phuket and Krabi in Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay, Koh Yao Noi (Ko Yao Noi) is replete with mangrove forests and white-sand beaches. While the primarily Muslim island is home to a few high-end resorts and restaurants, it offers a much more relaxed alternative to its rowdy neighbors.
Calypso Cabaret is a live lip-synching and choreography show that celebrates Thailand’s transsexual performance culture.
Join other Thai culture and architecture enthusiasts at Suan Pakkad Palace, a museum complex of renovated houses from all over Thailand. See artifacts and antique objects representing the arts, crafts, and traditions of Thailand in each house. The palace was formerly home to Prince and Princess Chumbhot, who made it a museum in 1952.
