A little more prepared for Thailand.
Explore Bangkok’s royal landmarks, river piers, Chinatown lanes and working markets, then use its monthly guides to plan around the tropical heat and seasonal rain. Thailand spans many climates and regions, so check each city’s own conditions and transport before travelling onward.
Explore ThailandExplore Thailand by city
Before you zip the bag
Heat, sun and rain
- Choose breathable clothes and sun protection for hot afternoons; plan a shaded or air-conditioned break.
- Carry a compact rain layer in the wet season and protect a phone or camera during sudden showers.
Temples and city travel
- Pack shoulder- and knee-covering clothes and shoes that are easy to remove for temple visits.
- Check each city’s local transport, ticket and weather guidance; Bangkok’s rail, bus and river services use separate operator fares.
- Currency
- Thai baht (THB)
- Plug types
- A / B / C / O · 220 VCheck your adapter →
- Emergency number
- 191
Tourism Authority of Thailand — practical travel checklist · ITU — National Numbering Plans · Thailand Tourist Police — useful contacts · World Standards — Thailand plugs and voltage
Stay connected
Mobile data for your trip. Check what your current plan includes for roaming. If you need another option for maps, messages and booking details, compare NXTL eSIM coverage and rates. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked, and check coverage for every stop. Download important maps and confirmations for offline use too.
Useful reads for Thailand
Bangkok markets: Pak Khlong Talat and Chatuchak
Choose a market by day and interest: see the working flower trade at Pak Khlong Talat, or set aside a weekend morning for Chatuchak’s wide mix of stalls.
Chao Phraya river evening: piers, ferries and temple views
Use the river as a compact evening route: check the boat service, cross between old-town piers and watch the light change around Wat Arun without packing in distant stops.
Your first weekend in Bangkok: palaces, river and Chinatown
Pair the Grand Palace and Wat Pho with a ferry crossing to Wat Arun, then save a separate stretch for the lanes and food stalls of Yaowarat.
Bangkok temple route: Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun
Build a practical half- to full-day route around three riverside landmarks, with time for security, separate admissions, modest dress and the ferry crossing.
Yaowarat food walk: Chinatown’s evening lanes and flavours
Follow Yaowarat’s neon-lit main street into its side lanes, choosing a few stalls and shophouses instead of trying to eat everything in one crowded evening.