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THAILAND TOWN AND ISLAND GUIDES — UPDATED FOR 2026

Pick a town or island.
Know what is worth your day.
Then go and find it.

Place-by-place guides to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, the Gulf islands and more: temples, night markets, food and day trips, with sources you can check.

Explore Places
Towns and islands. Temples and markets. Sources you can check.
Illustration of a longtail boat moored below limestone cliffs on the Andaman coast of ThailandSOI BY SOI
01 / Illustration, not a photograph.
Start here:All destinationsThings to doHow we researchOur sources

33 towns & islandsFrom Bangkok and Chiang Mai to the Andaman and Gulf islands

753 guidesThings to do, food, nightlife, getting around and when to go

130 temple & market guidesWats, old towns, night bazaars and walking streets

173 sight & neighborhood pagesOne page per temple, market, beach or area

CHOOSE A TOWN OR ISLAND

33 places, from the northern hills to the southern islands

Start with a place guide, then open its temples, night markets, places to eat and the best time to go.

8 Best Places to Visit in Thailand

Bangkok & the central plains

The capital, the old capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, and Kanchanaburi on the River Kwai
Phitsanulok, Thailand
Bangkok & the central plains8 guides

Phitsanulok

Plan Phitsanulok with six ranked picks, one-day and two-day routes, night-market timing, and honest skip-if advice for stopover travelers.

The north

Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai and Lampang: Lanna temples, walking streets and night bazaars

The eastern seaboard & Hua Hin

Pattaya and Hua Hin within reach of Bangkok, and the islands of Koh Samet, Koh Chang and Koh Kood

Phuket & the Andaman coast

Phuket, Krabi, Ao Nang and Railay, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Khao Lak, Koh Yao Noi and Koh Lipe

The Gulf islands

Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, and the Surat Thani gateway

Isan & the deep south

Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani in the northeast, and Hat Yai in the south
Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
Isan & the deep south8 guides

Ubon Ratchathani

A practical shortlist of the 8 best things to do in Ubon Ratchathani: temples, museum, riverside evenings and a day trip, with hours, costs and a 1-3 day plan.

TEMPLES & OLD TOWNS

Wats, old towns and historical parks, place by place

Which temples to see in each town, when they open, what they cost and how to string them together.

8 Thai Temples Buddhist Temples in Thailand Thai Culture

All 53 guides

NIGHT MARKETS

Which market runs which night

Night bazaars, walking streets and floating markets: where they are, the nights they run and what to eat there.

Thai Night Markets 5 Best Night Markets in Bangkok by Food, Shopping and Vibe Floating Markets in Thailand

All 77 guides

THAI FOOD & COOKING CLASSES

What to eat, and where

The street food, noodles and curries you will meet across Thailand, and the places to eat them in each town.

All 86 food guides
Start here6 Thai Street Food Dishes to Try First in BangkokWhat to eat, where to find it, how to order, and how to stay safe. A practical Bangkok guide to Thai street food, with regional dishes and spoke guides.Read the guide

Cooking classes

Where to eat, place by place

Also on the table: Sukhothai Food · Phi Phi Food Guide · Ayutthaya Food Guide · Hat Yai Food Guide · Ao Nang Street Food · Koh Samui Food Guide · Patong Food Guide · Patong Seafood · Hua Hin Food · Chiang Rai Cafes · Chiang Rai Food · Bangkok Brunch

ISLANDS & DAY TRIPS

Islands, beaches and the trips worth a day

Island hopping from Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui, the beaches on each island and day trips from every base.

9 Best Islands in Thailand Thai Islands Guide Thailand Island Hopping

All 77 guides

SIGHTS WITH THEIR OWN PAGE

Temples, markets, beaches and neighborhoods

One page per sight: what is there, how long to allow, how to get there and what to check before you go.

132 attraction pages in 22 places 41 neighborhood pages in 10 places
BangkokGrand Palace BangkokThe Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew share one walled compound on Rattanakosin Island, so a single visit covers the Emerald Buddha, the throne halls and the Ramakien murals. This guide covers how to get there, the walking order, reported ticket and hours, and how much time to allow.Chiang MaiDoi Suthep (Wat Phra That Doi Suthep)Wat Phra That Doi Suthep sits about 10 km northwest of Chiang Mai, up a switchback road. Plan on a half-day round trip, a songthaew or hired car, a dragon-flanked staircase, and a compact temple with a big view.Chiang RaiWat Rong Khun (White Temple), Chiang RaiWat Rong Khun is not a centuries-old ruin but a privately funded Buddhist art project on the edge of Chiang Rai, still being built. Here is how to get there, what to look for along the bridge and inside the main hall, how long to allow, and how to confirm hours before you go.KrabiRailay Beach, KrabiRailay Beach is a limestone peninsula in Krabi province with no road in or out, so every arrival is by boat. Here is how the transfer works from Ao Nang or Krabi Airport, which of the four beaches fits your day, what to see on foot, and how long to stay.PhuketBig Buddha PhuketThe Big Buddha Phuket reopened in March 2026 after a long closure for landslide damage, yet some map apps still list it as permanently closed. Here is where the statue sits, how to drive or ride up Nakkerd Hill, what to see at the terraces and viewpoints, and how to build it into a half-day in southern Phuket.BangkokChatuchak Weekend Market, BangkokChatuchak Weekend Market is Bangkok's giant Saturday-and-Sunday maze of stalls in the north of the city, and the layout is the real challenge. Here is how to reach it by MRT or BTS, which zones sell what, when to arrive, and how much of a day to give it.

Sights and neighborhoods by place

PLAN BY TOPIC

Browse Thailand by subject

Every topic gathers the guides from all the towns and islands, from temples to ferries.

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How to use our guides

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