Thailand
Land of Smiles — temples, beaches, and world-class street food
Currency
฿
THB
Thai Baht
THB
Cashless Payments
6 / 10
Moderately cashless-friendly
Thailand has been rapidly adopting cashless payments, especially in Bangkok. PromptPay QR codes are widely used by locals. Credit cards are accepted at malls, hotels, and chain restaurants. However, street food, markets, tuk-tuks, and smaller shops are still cash-only. Always carry Thai Baht for daily expenses.
Cash Advice
Bills (฿20, ฿50, ฿100, ฿500, ฿1,000) and coins (฿1, ฿2, ฿5, ฿10). Cash is essential for street food, markets, tuk-tuks, and smaller shops. ATMs are widely available but charge ฿220 per withdrawal for foreign cards.
Daily Budget Guide
Meals & Transportation only — excludes accommodation · Prices in THB
฿350–฿700
≈ $10–$20 USD
Street food and market meals (฿40–฿80 per dish). BTS/MRT rides (฿16–฿59 per trip) and songthaews.
฿900–₿1,800
≈ $25–$50 USD
Casual restaurants (฿150–฿400 per meal). Mix of BTS/MRT and Grab rides.
฿2,800+
≈ $80+ USD
Fine dining and rooftop restaurants (฿1,000–฿3,000+ per meal). Private transfers and domestic flights.
Tipping Guide
Restaurants
Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. At sit-down restaurants, leaving ฿20–฿50 or rounding up the bill is common. Street food vendors do not expect tips.
Hotels
Tip bellboys ฿20–฿50 per bag. Housekeeping ฿20–฿50 per day. Not mandatory but appreciated.
Taxis / Drivers
Rounding up the fare is common for metered taxis. For Grab, tips are not expected. Tour guides typically receive ฿200–฿500 per day.
Visa Requirements
Select your passport to view visa requirements.
Official Links
🔒Always verify you are on official government domains (.gov). Be cautious of third-party sites charging fees for free government services.
- 🔗Visa Information
Ministry of Foreign Affairs — official visa requirements and application procedures
- 🔗Tourism Authority of Thailand
Official tourism board with travel guides, events, and destination information
- 🔗Immigration Bureau
Official immigration authority — entry requirements and visa extensions
- 🔗Customs Department
Thai Customs — what you can and cannot bring into Thailand
Rules & Restrictions
⚠️ Always verify current laws before travel. Laws can change and penalties vary.
⚖️Legal
- Lèse-majesté laws are strictly enforced. Criticizing, defaming, or insulting the Thai monarchy (King, Queen, or royal family) is a criminal offence punishable by up to 15 years in prison per count.
- Drug laws are extremely strict. Possession of Class I substances (heroin, methamphetamine) can carry the death penalty. Marijuana has been re-regulated — recreational use is restricted.
- Vaping and e-cigarettes are illegal in Thailand. Importing, selling, or using e-cigarettes can result in fines up to ฿30,000 or imprisonment up to 10 years.
- It is illegal to step on Thai currency (banknotes or coins) as they bear the image of the King.
🎭Cultural
- Remove shoes before entering temples and homes. Dress modestly at temples — cover shoulders and knees.
- The head is considered the most sacred part of the body. Never touch someone's head, even a child's.
- Feet are considered the lowest and dirtiest part of the body. Do not point your feet at people, Buddha images, or temples.
🏥Health
- Tap water is not safe to drink. Drink bottled water. Ice in reputable restaurants and hotels is generally made from purified water.
Apps & Getting Around
Bangkok has the BTS Skytrain (elevated rail), MRT (underground), and Airport Rail Link — all modern and efficient. Buy a Rabbit card for BTS or use single-journey tokens. Tuk-tuks are iconic but always negotiate the fare before getting in. Grab is the safest option for taxis. Songthaews (shared pickup trucks) are common in Chiang Mai and other cities. Long-distance travel is best by domestic flights or overnight trains. Ferries connect the southern islands.
Transport
- GrabTransport✅ Foreigner-friendly
Primary ride-hailing app in Thailand. Works for cars, bikes, and food delivery. Accepts international cards.
- BoltTransport✅ Foreigner-friendly
Ride-hailing alternative to Grab, often slightly cheaper. Growing presence in Bangkok and major cities.
- ViaBusTransport✅ Foreigner-friendly
Real-time Bangkok bus tracking app. Shows bus routes and arrival times.
Navigation
- Google MapsNavigation✅ Foreigner-friendly
Reliable for Thailand. Good for finding restaurants, temples, and transit routes. Works offline.
Food
- RobinhoodFood⚠️ Locals mainlyRequires local SIM
Thai food delivery app with zero commission for restaurants. Requires Thai phone number.
Public Holidays 2026
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Power & Plugs
Type
Type A
Voltage
220V
Frequency
50Hz
Type
Type B
Voltage
220V
Frequency
50Hz
Type
Type C
Voltage
220V
Frequency
50Hz
SIM Card Guide
Typical price range
฿299–฿599 (approx. USD $8–$17) for a 7–15 day tourist SIM
AIS
Thailand's largest network. Tourist SIM (Traveller SIM) available at airports with unlimited data options for 8–15 days.
TrueMove H
Tourist SIM at airports and 7-Eleven stores. Good coverage and affordable data packages.
DTAC (now merged with True)
Happy Tourist SIM available at airports. 7-day and 15-day unlimited data plans.
Suggested Attractions
Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew (Bangkok)
Thailand's most sacred temple complex and former royal residence. Strict dress code enforced.
Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
Home to the 46-meter reclining Buddha. Also the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.
Phi Phi Islands Day Trip
Stunning islands with crystal-clear water. Day trips from Phuket or Krabi include snorkeling.
Doi Suthep Temple (Chiang Mai)
Sacred hilltop temple with panoramic views of Chiang Mai. 306 steps to the top.
Chatuchak Weekend Market (Bangkok)
One of the world's largest outdoor markets with over 15,000 stalls. Open Saturday and Sunday.
Elephant Nature Park (Chiang Mai)
Ethical elephant sanctuary. Full-day visit includes feeding and bathing elephants.