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Thailand

Thailand travel guide

Temples, coastlines and jungle cities for independent travellers who plan around the calendar

Best: Jan, Dec

Photo: sasint / Pixabay

Capital
Bangkok
Language
Thai
Currency
Thai baht
Time zone
UTC+07:00
Plugs
Type A, B, C, F · 220 V
Driving
On the left
Emergency
191 / 199 / 1669

Why visit Thailand

Thailand suits travellers who want a mix of cities, coast and culture without sticking to one region. Bangkok and Chiang Mai work as inland bases, while Pattaya and Phuket cover the coast. December and January are the best months, with cooler, drier air across most of the country. The honest limitation: outside this window, heat and humidity build fast, so timing your trip matters more than in many other destinations.

  • Bangkok, a very large capital

    Bangkok is the capital and by far the largest city on our list, with 5676648 people. It is a natural first stop and the easiest place to start a trip around the country.

  • Chiang Mai for an inland base

    Chiang Mai is the next-largest city listed, with about 1198000 people. It lies inland and is much smaller than Bangkok, so it offers a real change of pace from the capital.

  • Coastal stays in Pattaya and Phuket

    Pattaya and Phuket are the coastal cities in our data. Pattaya has 119532 people and Phuket has 77610, so both are far smaller than the capital. Choose them if you want the sea.

  • Smaller inland towns

    Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya has 52940 people and Kanchanaburi has 25651. Both are inland and much smaller than Bangkok or Chiang Mai. They suit travellers who prefer quieter towns.

  • Clear best time to go

    Our data rates December and January as the best months to visit. If your dates are flexible, plan around them. Outside these months, check local conditions before you book.

Is Thailand right for you?

Great for

  • Winter-sun trips in December and January: highs near 31°C and only 2–3 rain days
  • Sun lovers from January to April, with about 10–11 hours of sunshine a day
  • Beach stays in coastal Phuket or Pattaya during the dry months
  • Multi-stop trips linking Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi

Less ideal for

  • Heat-sensitive travellers in April, when highs reach 37°C and nights stay near 27°C
  • Dry-weather trips from July to October: 20–25 rain days a month
  • September visits, the wettest month with 273 mm of rain
  • Self-drive trips if you are not used to driving on the left

Thailand right now: November

4.6/10
Avg high
32°C
Avg low
23°C
Rain days
8

Averages for Thailand.

Weather by month

The chart shows 2015–2024 data for Thailand as a whole, not a single city, and December and January are the best months, with highs of about 31 °C, only 2–3 rain days and about 10 hours of sun a day. Avoid March to October, when highs reach 37 °C in April and rain days climb to 25 in September, with 273 mm of rain.

Average highs and lows in Thailand by month January: high 31°C, low 21°C , 3 rain days . February: high 33°C, low 22°C , 3 rain days . March: high 36°C, low 25°C , 6 rain days . April: high 37°C, low 27°C , 9 rain days . May: high 36°C, low 27°C , 18 rain days . June: high 35°C, low 26°C , 20 rain days . July: high 34°C, low 26°C , 22 rain days . August: high 34°C, low 26°C , 24 rain days . September: high 32°C, low 25°C , 25 rain days . October: high 31°C, low 24°C , 20 rain days . November: high 32°C, low 23°C , 8 rain days . December: high 31°C, low 21°C , 2 rain days . 31°C 21°C JAN 3d 33°C 22°C FEB 3d 36°C 25°C MAR 6d 37°C 27°C APR 9d 36°C 27°C MAY 18d 35°C 26°C JUN 20d 34°C 26°C JUL 22d 34°C 26°C AUG 24d 32°C 25°C SEP 25d 31°C 24°C OCT 20d 32°C 23°C NOV 8d 31°C 21°C DEC 2d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Thailand (country average) · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Thailand: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Chiang Mai in a Week

  1. Day 1–3

    Bangkok

    Explore Thailand's capital, home to 5,676,648 people. Spend these days seeing temples, markets and the river that runs through the city.

  2. Day 4

    Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

    Visit this former capital with a population of 52,940. Walk among the old temple ruins that give the city its historic character.

  3. Day 5–7

    Chiang Mai

    End the trip in Chiang Mai, a northern city of 1,198,000 people. Use these three days for its old town, temples and mountain surroundings.

10 days

Bangkok, Rivers and Beaches of Thailand

  1. Day 1–2

    Bangkok

    Start in the capital, home to 5,676,648 people. Two days is enough for a first look at temples, markets and the Chao Phraya riverfront.

  2. Day 3–4

    Kanchanaburi

    Head to Kanchanaburi, a smaller town of 25,651 people. It sits on rivers and is known for its World War Two history.

  3. Day 5

    Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

    Stop in Ayutthaya, population 52,940, to see the ruins of this former royal capital in a single day.

  4. Day 6–7

    Pattaya

    Reach the coast at Pattaya, a seaside city of 119,532 people. Use these two days for beach time and seafood by the Gulf of Thailand.

  5. Day 8–10

    Phuket

    Finish on the island of Phuket, home to 77,610 residents. Spend three days on its beaches and in its coastal towns.

Food to try in Thailand

Tom Yum Goong

A hot and sour soup made with shrimp, lemongrass, lime leaves and chili. It is eaten all over Thailand, from street stalls to restaurants, any time of day.

Pad Thai

Stir-fried rice noodles with egg, tofu or shrimp, bean sprouts and peanuts. You find it at night markets and street carts across the country.

Green Curry (Gaeng Keow Wan)

A coconut-based curry with green chilies, Thai basil and meat or vegetables. It is a common lunch or dinner dish in central Thailand.

Som Tum

A spicy green papaya salad with lime, fish sauce and chili, often paired with sticky rice. It began in the northeast (Isan) but is sold everywhere now.

Mango Sticky Rice

Sweet sticky rice served with fresh mango slices and coconut cream. It is a popular dessert sold by street vendors, especially when mangoes are in season.

Thai Iced Tea

Strong black tea mixed with condensed milk and served over ice. It is a common drink with street food meals throughout the day.

Know before you go

  • Currency: Thailand's currency is the Thai baht. Cash is useful outside big cities, though cards are common in malls and hotels in Bangkok and other large towns.
  • Language: Thai is the official language. English is spoken in tourist areas, hotels and many restaurants, but less so outside the main destinations.
  • Plugs and voltage: Thailand uses plug types A, B, C and F, and the voltage is 220 V. Bring an adapter if your home country uses a different plug type.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the left in Thailand. If you rent a car, motorbike or scooter, keep this in mind, especially at junctions and roundabouts.
  • Emergency numbers: The emergency numbers in Thailand are 191, 199 and 1669. Save these before you travel, since response times and services can vary by number.
  • Time zone: Thailand is in a single time zone, UTC+07:00, all year round. There is no daylight saving time change to plan around.

Thailand: frequently asked questions

Is Thailand good to visit in December?

Yes. December is the best month, with a score of 7.4. Highs average 30.6°C, rain days drop to just 1.6, and rainfall is only 12mm, so days are dry and sunny with 10 sun hours a day.

Is Thailand good in August?

No, August scores just 0.8, the lowest of the year along with May and July. It brings 23.6 rain days and 201mm of rain, plus only 8 sun hours a day, so expect frequent, heavy showers and grey skies.

When is the dry season in Thailand?

The driest, sunniest stretch runs from December to February. December has only 1.6 rain days and 12mm of rain, and January has 3.1 rain days and 17mm, with sun hours around 10 to 10.7 a day. March already shows rain days rising to 5.9.

What is the wettest month in Thailand?

September is wettest, with 273mm of rain over 24.9 rain days. August and October are close behind, with 201mm and 212mm. This is the heart of the monsoon period, when rain falls most days and sun hours drop to 8 to 9.1.

How hot does it get in Thailand?

Highs peak in April at 37°C, the hottest month in the data, with lows around 26.5°C. March and May are similarly hot, at 35.9°C and 35.7°C. From December to February, highs are gentler, ranging from 30.6°C to 33.1°C.

Similar destinations

Countries with a year of weather much like Thailand.