Nearly 200 different ruins are strewn across the 27-square-mile (70-square-kilometer) Sukhothai Historical Park (Historic Town of Sukhothai), including towering Buddhas, ornate palaces, and crumbling temples. The UNESCO World Heritage Site—one of Thailand’s most impressive—hints at what the country’s first capital might have looked like in its golden age.
Wiang Kum Kam, an ancient “lost city” on the banks of the Mae Ping River, was founded in the 13th century by King Mangrai as the Lanna capital before Chiang Mai. The city was abandoned in the 16th century due to flooding and was only rediscovered in 1984. Since then the temples and other structures have been partially restored.
Chiang Mai’s Night Bazaar is perhaps the city's most popular attraction. The colorful mix of shops and stalls sell all sorts of things, from ersatz designer fashions to embroidered hill tribes textiles, Thai silks, silver jewelry, carvings, ceramics, and antiques. It’s also one of the best places in town to sample some spicy street food.
The Sampeng Market, in the Chinatown area of Bangkok, is one of the city’s busiest and most vibrant local markets. Although it can be crowded, it’s a must-visit destination for travelers who like their shopping to have local character. It’s an especially good place to buy things wholesale or in bulk, so should be a priority when you’re shopping for souvenirs and gifts.
Head to the beachside Pattaya Water Park to cool off from the hot Thai sun. The classic water park features everything you need for a day of fun in the sun, including a lazy river, wading pool for toddlers, water slides, a whirlpool, and private beach access for swimming in the Gulf of Thailand.
Nestled among the forested mountains of Northern Thailand, Ban Mae Kampong village epitomizes traditional Thai culture with wooden cottages and ancient agricultural practices. The village is in the vanguard of sustainable tourism: Visitors enjoy homestays, jungle ziplines, and hiking routes through tea plantations, while villagers maintain their traditional way of life.
Sold around the globe, Chalong Bay Rum is Thailand’s best-known rum brand. At the Chalong Bay Rum Distillery in Phuket, travelers can go behind-the-scenes to discover how the facility uses centuries-old French distillation techniques to transform freshly pressed sugarcane into smooth white rum.
With its dreamy gilded stupa and soaring medieval brick spire, Wat Phra That Hariphunchai is the most beautiful temple in Lamphun—and one of the most important temples in northern Thailand. Once part of a royal palace, it houses an ornate library alongside Buddha relics and images and hosts festivals and rituals.
Bangkok’s Sky Bar is one of the highest rooftop bars in the world, and one of the most exclusive bars in the Thai capital. It’s located on the 63rd floor of the State Tower. For a special date, to celebrate an occasion, or just to enjoy a sophisticated evening with delicious drinks in an unforgettable location, the Sky Bar is a good option.
Not far from Krabi sits Pa Phru Tha Pom Khlong Song Nam (Thai for “canal of two waters”, a natural area where freshwater springs meet saltwater mangrove forests. It’s popular with kayakers, but worth visiting even if you just want to take a stroll, with boardwalks lined with wooden chairs above the water offering great views.
Floating markets are a popular attraction for travelers to Thailand, and the Tha Kha Floating Market is a less touristy, more local option that’s great for avoiding the crowds. It’s smaller than some others and is an especially good place to buy cooked food as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s a fun half-day trip destination from central Bangkok and will give you a taste of the Thai countryside without going too far.
The landscaped hillside grounds at Butterfly Hill in Koh Samui are home to hundreds of colorful butterflies, as well as insects, moths, and bees. Tropical flowers add to the Garden of Eden–like setting, and picturesque views from its hilltop position showcase the island and the sea. Plus, you can take a walk to a nearby waterfall to cool off.
Sometimes known as Ripley’s World, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Pattaya combines seven distinct attractions. The classic Ripley’s “Odditorium,” with 10 galleries of bizarre exhibits, is the star of the show. But you can also enjoy waxworks, two spectacular mazes, a haunted house, a shooting ride, and a “9D” multisensory moving cinema.
Situated in the heart of Chiang Mai’s walled city, the Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center tells the story of the city from its ancient roots to the present day through a series of artifacts, audio recordings, photos, dioramas, and multimedia exhibits. The former Provincial Hall, built in 1927, houses the collection.
Ko Kret is an artificially constructed island about 10 miles (17 kilometers) north of central Bangkok that’s totally encircled by the Chao Phraya River. It’s a popular weekend day trip for Bangkok residents, who come mainly for the food, but there are also other sights and attractions to check out any day of the week.
The calls of birds and monkeys can be heard throughout the leafy Ton Pariwant Wildlife Sanctuary, a 139-square-mile (224-square-kilometer forest in the southern province of Phang Nga. Hidden beneath the low-lying mountain forest are ATV trails, ziplines, boardwalks, and the bubbling Klong Song Phrek River.
Seclusion and solitude might be hard to find on Koh Tao, one of Thailand’s most popular islands, but on its southeastern side, between Sai Daeng Beach to the north and Tanote Beach to the south, lies the 65-foot-long (20-meter Aow Leuk Beach. This stretch of sand is slightly more remote so the large crowds stay away.
Lopburi is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, dating back to the Dvaravati period when it was known as Lavo. The influence of the Khmer Empire is particularly evident throughout the city, but it reached the peak of its commercial, cultural, and political importance in the 17th century, when King Narai made it his second capital.
One of several Talu Islands in Thailand, the Koh Talu Island Resort is a private island off Bang Saphan in the Gulf of Thailand with a dramatic natural stone arch. The white sand beach offers gorgeous sunset views, while activities run from snorkeling and diving to kayaking, sailing, hiking, massage, and cooking classes.
Put yourself at the heart of the action in Phuket Trickeye Museum, one of the optical illusion galleries that have taken Asia by storm. Large-scale paintings turn 2D into 3D and deliver hilarious selfies. Scale a waterfall, extinguish a blazing superhero, cling to the ceiling to escape an alligator, or get the boot from a giant foot.
Just south of bustling Ko Lanta is the picturesque Thai island of Koh Kradan (Ko Kradan). Most of Kradan island is a national park—perfect for hikers—and the 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) of sandy beach offer visitors a serene place to relax. Plus Koh Kradan is surrounded by crystal-clear waters teeming with marine life, great for divers and snorkelers.
At the base of Doi Suthep sits Huay Tung Tao Lake, a man-made reservoir popular as a swimming and picnicking area favored by locals and expats looking for a break from Chiang Mai. On a sunny day, it’s common to see groups of Thais sitting on the banks of the lake dining on steamed fish and cold beers.
Though only a 10-minute boat ride from the bustle of Patong, Freedom Beach feels like a remote island. Known as Hidden Beach, the white sands of Freedom Beach offer a far quieter alternative to Phuket’s other beaches. Forested hills, palm trees, and translucent waters provide a scenic backdrop to the sands.
The remnants of Chiang Saen’s former glory—as the 7th-century capital of the Lanna Kingdom—still lie scattered around the modern town. One of Thailand’s oldest towns, it boasts a strategic location along the Mekong River, serving as a border crossing to Laos and the gateway to the famed Golden Triangle region.
Encircled by jungle-clad mountains and lapped by turquoise waters, Nai Harn Beach is a far cry from the crowded shores of Patong. The horseshoe-shaped bay is home to only a few hotels and restaurants, which allows the beach to maintain a quiet charm—it's also a prime place to go kitesurfing or windsurfing.
In the heart of Bangkok’s central commercial district, Siam Square is a haven for shoppers. It's an area rather than just a single square, full of malls selling designer products, narrow lanes with stalls vending low-cost goods, and everything in between. Whether or not you plan to shop, head here to experience contemporary Bangkok.
Spend a day in the water at the largest floating water park in northern Thailand. Located in an abandoned limestone quarry outside of Chiang Mai, the 33-acre (13-hectare) Grand Canyon Water Park offers plenty of opportunities for water fun in the form of waterslides, splash pools, watercraft, and inflatable obstacle courses.
Sprawling over 370 square miles (958 square kilometers of forest right up to the Myanmar border, Sai Yok National Park offers elephants, raft resorts, magical caves, weird and wonderful wildlife, and more. Most travelers visit for small but beautiful Sai Yok Yai waterfall or Sai Yok Noi falls, near Nam Tok, the end of the Death Railway.
Nobody goes to Pattaya for the snow, but Frost Magical Ice of Siam, a wintry theme park kept at a temperature of 14°F (-10°C), features plenty of ice. Inside the chilled dome, enjoy ice carvings themed around the Arctic, an ice bar, an ice slide, and even an ice tuk-tuk. Outdoors, view white-sand sculptures inspired by Thai culture.
Splash Jungle Water Park's exhilarating rides–including Boomerango and the Superbowl–and the six-level wave pool attract hundreds of visitors to this coastal Phuket destination every day. Themed rides give a nod to the ancient Mayans, lush landscapes of Turkey, old-world architecture of Northern Europe, and the culture and colors of Africa.
