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Best places to visit in Thailand

Bustling stay in the city or an island escape? Uncover the best places to tick off in Thailand.
With over 1,430 islands, bustling cities and picture-perfect beaches all vying for attention, Thailand certainly isn’t short of must-sees. With that in mind, choosing where to spend your time in The Land of Smiles can be tricky. So, we’ve rounded up the best places to visit – from colourful Buddhist temples to floating markets. If you still can’t decide after you’ve taken a look, take a look at our Multi Destination holidays which can help you tick off two or more places on one trip.

Phuket

Not only is Phuket Thailand’s biggest island in terms of size, it’s also got one of the biggest colour palettes going. Dip into its bottle-green lagoons and swim with cobalt blue starfish at Paradise Beach, spot orange-robed monks at the Big Buddha temple, and relax with a Chang beer on the beach as the sunset paints the sky pink. Talking of beaches, there are over 90 miles of coastline on offer in Phuket, so it’s fair to say you’ve got plenty to choose from. Soak up some rays on unspoilt Kamala Beach if you’re after some peace and quiet, or head to Patong Beach if you like things a little livelier – its main strip runs for almost 500 metres and it’s lined with bars dishing out cocktails and beers in buckets on both sides. Phuket also puts you in perfect day-tripping distance of Koh Phi Phi, where you can hop on a long-tail boat to Maya Bay – the iconic setting from Leonardo DiCaprio’s The Beach.
A stretch of beach in Phuket.

Bangkok

Bangkok is the world’s most visited city, and no trip here is complete without ticking off the glittering Grand Palace. Built way back in the 18th century, it’s been home to plenty of Thai kings, so there are tonnes of different styles of architecture to admire as you wander. Marvel at the Emerald Buddha, known as Wat Phra Kaew and carved from a single block of jade, and get some snaps by the ‘chedis’ – golden pagodas that replicate Angkor Wat. Don’t forget to take a trip to Yaowarat Road, AKA Chinatown on the way there. Experience the buzz of the city from the back of a tuk-tuk and feast on a pick ‘n’ mix of freshly prepared dishes from steaming woks and banana leaves loaded with satay. When you’re done, walk it all off at the nearby flower market.
A temple in Bangkok.

Krabi

There are roughly 200 islands that cling to the coast of Krabi, making it the perfect place to join a kayak, river raft or speedboat tour and go exploring. Our top pick for an island adventure? Koh Lanta. It’s only a one-hour ferry ride away and once you’re there you can head out on a paddleboard to explore the island’s coastal caves before heading back to catch the sunset from a bar in the island’s old town.

If you’d rather stick to dry land, check out southern Thailand’s beaches and sip coconuts on two of the big hitters – Kata Noi Beach and Ya Nui Beach. Fancy something more hush hush? Railay Beach is a hidden lagoon that can only be reached by boat and is home to a handful of monkeys as well as some of the best climbing spots in the world. Meanwhile, over at enchanting Thung Teao Forest Natural Park, you can hike through thick jungle, spot exotic birds and go for a swim in the Crystal Lagoon. Nights in Krabi are pretty special, too. Head to Krabi Town and rummage for take-homes at the night markets or sit back and soak up the atmosphere with a beer or two.
Longtail boat sailing past remote islands.

Khao Lak

Khao Lak pairs jungles with beaches to bring you the ultimate tropical paradise. Head to Khao Lak Lam Ru National Park and swim beneath waterfalls, or stay dry and canoe between majestic limestone cliffs. Sound too much like hard work? Test your spice resistance at a cookery class and make your favourite Thai dishes, then turn up the heat in Ban Bor Dan’s mineral-packed hot springs. And, if you’re into nature, time your trip for the first week of March and watch turtles flipper their way from sand to sea at the Turtle Releasing Festival on Thai Muang Beach.
A big, golden Buddha statue in the rainforest.

Koh Samui

Trips to Koh Samui are a tale of two halves. On one hand, you’ve got street-food stalls serving pad Thai for pennies and on the other, there are modern shopping centres and big bars with international DJs on the decks. Pick a place in Chaweng Beach if you want to be close to the action – its namesake stretch of sand is backed by bars. Evenings tend to kick off with a fire show before an all-night party takes place on the sand. For something a little more laidback, head north to Maenam where you can soak up the sunshine on a five-kilometre stretch of white sand. Fancy a daytrip? No problem. Koh Toa and Koh Phangan are around a two-hour ferry ride away, the latter’s best known for full-moon parties while Koh Toa is one of Thailand’s top picks for diving. Eyes peeled for whale sharks, turtles and tropical fish.
View over a national park with golden beaches and rainforest.
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Author: Katie Gregory and Karl Taylor

Last updated: 05.03.2025

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