Thailand is hands down one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, thanks to its abundant beaches, islands, temples, and delicious street food, all at affordable prices.
With so many places to see in Thailand, it can be quite overwhelming for those of you who are first-timers. To help you pick the best places to visit on your first trip to Thailand, I have compiled the ultimate list of the best places to visit in Thailand here in this article.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the 11 best places to visit in Thailand on a map.
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11 Best Places to Visit in Thailand
- Koh Kood, Eastern Thailand
- Bangkok, Central Thailand
- Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand
- Doi Inthanon, Northern Thailand
- Mae Hong Son Loop, Northern Thailand
- Chiang Rai, Northern Thailand
- Sukhothai, Northern Thailand
- Ayutthaya, Central Thailand
- Kanchanaburi, Central Thailand
- Khao Sok Lake, Southern Thailand
- Krabi, Southern Thailand
- Thailand Travel Video
- Further Reading for Thailand
11 Best Places to Visit in Thailand
1. Koh Kood, Eastern Thailand
I've seen many islands in Thailand, but none compare to Koh Kood, the southernmost island of the Trat archipelago located in Eastern Thailand, and it is the fifth-largest island in the country.
Koh Kood, also known as Ko Kut, has some of the clearest water and most pristine white sand beaches I have ever seen. The best part is that it is not crowded at all, probably because it requires quite a bit of effort to get to, due to how remote the island is.
Ao Phrao Beach, for example, is one of my favorite beaches on the island. It is situated in the southernmost part of the island and is one of the longest and most spacious beaches in Koh Kood, spanning about 1 km along its southwestern coastline.
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Thanks to its remote location and expansive beach, Ao Phrao also doesn't feel as crowded as other beaches on the island. If you are looking for the best beach to stay on Koh Kood island, this is the place to be.
Not only that, but there are also several things you can do on the island, such as going waterfall hopping and jumping into the refreshing pools at Khlong Chao Waterfall and Klong Yai Waterfall, two of the most beautiful waterfalls on the island.
You can also take a break from the beach and rent a kayak to explore the estuaries and mangrove forests of the island. You might be able to spot some wildlife out in nature, such as monkeys, birds, and more.
If you are looking for a beautiful, quiet beach to live out your fantasy of living on a remote island in Thailand, you are going to love Koh Kood. With the amount of things to do here, you can expect to spend from 3 to 5 days here. Trust me, there is no other island quite like it.
2. Bangkok, Central Thailand
Bangkok is home to some of the most stunning architecture in Thailand, such as the extravagant temples at the Grand Palace and the gigantic Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho.
It is also a place where your journey in Thailand will likely start, which makes it a great place for you to start getting the hang of Thailand's unique culture.
Spending your first day in Thailand, exploring the old city area, visiting the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun, while enjoying a nice selection of cheap and delicious street food at Bangkok's Chinatown and sipping a drink at one of the many rooftop bars, is a great way to get a glimpse of what traveling in Thailand is all about.
With so many things to do and see in Bangkok, you can expect to spend 2-5 days exploring this wonderful city, trying all the food, and learning to negotiate, which is a skill you will likely need throughout your journey in Thailand.
And since Bangkok is the heart of Thailand, experiencing the city on your first day in Thailand means you are essentially looking into the lives of over 10 million Thais. There is no better way to learn about a place than to do that.
3. Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand
The once prosperous capital of the 700-year-old Lanna Kingdom, located in the northern part of Thailand, Chiang Mai, is an ancient city with a perfect blend of the laid-back north, incredible mountains, and an array of historically rich architecture and activities waiting for you to explore.
Chiang Mai is one of the best cities to visit in Thailand for those who are looking for a city with a laid-back and traditional vibe, different from the bustling city of Bangkok.
Surrounded by the ancient walls of Lanna, Chiang Mai's old city is home to many stunning ancient structures, some of which are over 700 years old. You can rent a bike for a day and explore the city at your own leisure, visiting places like Wat Lok Moli, Wat Chiang Man, Wat Phra Singh, or Wat Doi Suthep on top of the towering Doi Suthep Mountain.
Chiang Mai also has one of the best night markets and walking streets in the country, with the entire main road of the old city turned into a bustling walking street every Sunday where you can score great deals on goods and souvenirs.
Not to mention, Khao Soi, the delicious and unique noodle dish specific to this region, and Sai Au, the spicy Chiang Mai sausages, are must-try foods when you are in Northern Thailand.
All in all, Chiang Mai is a place that should be at the top of your list of places to visit in Thailand. With its balance between tradition, culture, and affordability, you won't find any other city quite like it.
4. Doi Inthanon, Northern Thailand
At 2,565 meters (8,415 ft), Doi Inthanon, located not too far from Chiang Mai, is the highest mountain in Thailand. It experiences the kind of weather you don't usually get in Thailand, from the cooler-than-usual breeze of the mountains to sometimes even frost in the early morning during the wintertime. It would be a shame to visit Northern Thailand and not go up this magnificent mountain.
Within Doi Inthanon National Park, you will find some of the most stunning waterfalls in Chiang Mai province, such as the mighty Wachirathan Waterfall and the stunning cascades of Mae Ya Waterfall.
At the top, there are also several hikes you can do, and one of the best hikes there is the Kew Mae Pan trail, where you can hike along the mountain ridge. From the highest point in Thailand, you will be able to witness the sea of clouds as they hover above the valley below.
There are countless things for you to do at Doi Inthanon, and due to how beautiful and accessible it is, recommending this place as one of the best places to visit is a no-brainer.
5. Mae Hong Son Loop, Northern Thailand
The Mae Hong Son Loop is probably one of the best road trips you can do in Thailand. With the starting and endpoints in Chiang Mai, the Mae Hong Son Loop will take you on the 600 km long road that loops around the far-flung northern province of Mae Hong Son, taking you through some of the most stunning landscapes you will ever see in Thailand.
The Mae Hong Son Loop will take you to places like Mae Sariang, the quiet remote town on the bank of the Yuam River, the Mae Hong Son Capital City of the province, home to many stunning Burmese-style temples, the Mexican Sunflower Field that spreads across several hills as far as the eyes can see, the Chinese-influenced town of Baan Rak Thai, and the famous tourist attraction, Pai, all in one go.
With so many things you can do at each stop on the loop and all the side trips you can make, it can take 3 to 10 days to traverse the Mae Hong Son Loop and truly see what this remote hinterland offers.
Just prepare to drive the 1860+ curves you will encounter on your way around the loop. Yes, they counted the curves, and you can even buy a t-shirt that says "I have conquered the 1860 curves of Mae Hong Son" at the night market in Mae Hong Son City.
Since your journey will begin and end in Chiang Mai, you can easily complete the loop by renting a car or a motorbike from one of the many rental shops in Chiang Mai and simply traverse the loop, visiting each tourist attraction one by one. For more details on how to travel the Mae Hong Son Loop, click the link below.
6. Chiang Rai, Northern Thailand
Chiang Rai is another must-visit province in Northern Thailand that may seem like a sleepy provincial town with not much to do, but the place has so much more to offer than it seems.
For one, Chiang Rai is home to one of the prettiest, most intricately designed temples in the country, the White Temple, with the entire structure covered in highly detailed sculptures and carvings all made out of glass and painted white. It is a temple unlike any other you have seen before.
Not too far, you will also find the all-painted-blue temple dubbed the Blue Temple, another great piece of art, the massive Wat Huay Pla Kang Chinese temple, home to the giant Guanyin Statue, and the colorful statues at Wat Saeng Kaeo Phothiyan.
As you can see, Chiang Rai is known for its beautiful works of art, which the province is known for. It is also rich in history with the ancient city of Chiang Saen, where you will be able to witness the boiling pot between Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, where the three countries share the border.
With such a large area to cover and so many beautiful places and exciting towns to visit, you can expect to spend around 5 days in Chiang Rai to see them all. There is also a day trip from Chiang Mai that will take you to the Blue and White Temple, but I highly recommend dedicating more time to Chiang Rai than just one day.
The place offers much more than just the White and Blue Temple. For more information about what you can do in Chiang Rai, click the link below:
7. Sukhothai, Northern Thailand
Sukhothai, a seemingly small town in the lower northern part of Thailand, was once home to the first capital city of Siam in the 13th Century. It was founded by the great King Ramkhamhaeng and is considered to be the cradle of Thai civilization.
This is the birthplace of all things traditional, from art to architectural style, that you would see across the country, and there is no better place to learn about the history of the Thais than in Sukhothai.
In Sukhothai, you will find the massive Sukhothai Historical Park, where you can bike around the many well-preserved ancient structures from the 13th century. This allows you to glimpse what the Sukhothai Kingdom was like back in the day.
From Wat Maha That, the main and largest temple complex in Sukhothai Historical Park, to the 15-meter-high ancient Buddha Image of Wat Si Chum, Sukhothai and its well-preserved ancient sites are quite a sight to behold.
8. Ayutthaya, Central Thailand
Sukhothai isn't the only ancient site you can visit in Thailand. Ayutthaya, which is only around an hour's drive from Bangkok, is another historical site where you will find tons of amazingly well-preserved ancient structures that are even bigger and more impressive than the ones in Sukhothai.
After Sukhothai was established in the 13th century, Ayutthaya was soon founded in the south not long after and became a competing city to Sukhothai. Ayutthaya came out on top a few centuries later and became the capital city of Siam, which in turn created a foundation that makes up the modern history of Thailand today.
In Ayutthaya Historical Park, you will find many monuments and temples built between the 16th and 18th centuries still standing, such as these spires of Wat Chai Watthanaram, the vast temple complex of Wat Maha That, and the white pagodas of Wat Phra Si Sanphet.
Due to how close Ayutthaya is to Bangkok, the city makes for a great weekend trip for those who are only in Thailand for a few days or for those who are looking for a fun short trip that they can do from Bangkok for a day. All you have to do is take the train to Ayutthaya, rent a bike, and you are ready to explore this ancient city at your own leisure.
9. Kanchanaburi, Central Thailand
Located only 140 km from Bangkok, Kanchanaburi is another great place to visit in Thailand for those who are looking to escape the bustling city of Bangkok and experience some of the most stunning nature in the country.
The province is home to the pristine Erawan Falls, which is considered to be one of the most magnificent waterfalls in Thailand. With its stunning layers of cascades, clear blue water, and over 7 levels for us to explore, it is not hard to see why people consider it as such.
Kanchanaburi is also a historically significant city during World War 2 as the place where the Japanese forced POWs to construct the famous Death Railway and the River Kwai Bridge, so you will find plenty of museums like the Death Railway Museum and the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre to pique your curiosity.
If you go further north, you will also find a beautiful town of Sangkhlaburi located photogenically on the northern tip of Vajiralongkorn Lake. Here, you will be able to see the longest teakwood bridge in the country, the Mon Bridge, and experience the culture and the friendly Mon people all in one go.
As you can see, there are many things to do in Kanchanaburi. If you want to see them all, you can expect to spend around 3-5 days visiting Kanchanaburi City, Sangkhlaburi, and more.
10. Khao Sok Lake, Southern Thailand
Khao Sok Lake has got to be one of my favorite places in Thailand. Located deep within the Ratchaprapha Dam in Surat Thani, Khao Sok Lake offers you a chance to be as close to nature as one can get.
One of the best things you can do in Khao Sok is to go on a boat tour around the lake and spend the night, or three as I did, on one of these floating bungalows located deep inside the lake, surrounded by untouched forest, limestone mountains, and the calm and clear water of Ratchaprapha Dam.
What is so amazing about this is that once you are in Khao Sok Lake, spending the night at these floating bungalows, you will be completely off-the-grid and isolated from civilization.
You will not get any internet connection or phone reception inside Khao Sok Lake. All there is to do here is kayaking, take a boat safari, swim, and eat seafood. It is the ultimate digital detox place anyone can ask for.
If I have to pick one place from this list of best places to visit in Thailand, I would definitely pick Khao Sok Lake. It is, hands down, my favorite place in the country, and a trip to Thailand wouldn't be complete without visiting Khao Sok.
11. Krabi, Southern Thailand
Krabi is home to many stunning beaches and adventure activities where you can experience the calmness of sandy beaches and the adrenaline-pumping activities around breathtaking limestone cliffs and dense mangroves all in one trip.
Ao Nang Beach and Railey Beach are some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, and these places offer plenty of things to do, from relaxing by the beach and swimming in the ocean to more adventurous activities like kayaking, hiking, and rock climbing.
If your perception of Thailand is to relax by the beach, drinking coconut water straight from the coconut, and enjoy a laid-back beach lifestyle at your own leisure, this is the place to be.
That is it for the 11 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Thailand. Have we missed anything? Have you found the guide useful? Let us know in the comments below!
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to plan your trip to Thailand! Here are some resources to help you get your trip going:
Are you planning to travel to Thailand independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Thailand
Looking for more information for your trip to Thailand? Here are a collection of articles about Thailand that you might find useful:
- Looking for a complete travel guide to Southeast Asia? You should check out our 3 Months Backpacking Itinerary for Southeast Asia.
- Looking to go off the beaten path in Thailand? Check out the 10 Best Hidden Gems to Visit in Thailand.
- Visiting a country like Thailand, you are going to need a comprehensive packing list to make sure you bring everything you need for your trip. Check out: What to Pack for Thailand - The Essential Packing List.
- Wondering when is the best time to visit Thailand? Here is a complete guide on picking The Best Time to Visit Thailand.
- Want to spend one month backpacking around Thailand? Check out: One Month Itinerary for Thailand.
- Have 2 weeks in Thailand? Check out this itinerary: 2 Weeks Backpacking Thailand Itinerary.
- Have only 10 days in Thailand? This itinerary might be more suited for you: 10 Days Itinerary for Thailand.
- Thai Street Foods are among the best in the world, and to help guide you through the street food cuisine of Thailand, be sure to check out the 15 Best Street Foods in Thailand to Try.
- Learning a bit of Thai phrases will go a long way for you when you visit Thailand. Here are 15 Thai Phrases You Should Know.
- If you are traveling to Thailand, it is important for you to know what you should and shouldn't do. Here are 10 Tips for Traveling in Thailand.
- More often than not, your journey in Thailand will begin in Bangkok. Here is a One Day in Bangkok Itinerary.
- Have more than one day in Bangkok? I highly recommend you spend at least 3 days in Bangkok. Here is a complete 3 Days Itinerary for Bangkok.
- For more things to do in Bangkok, check out the 16 Best Things to Do in Bangkok.
- Wondering which temples are worth visiting in Bangkok? Check out: 10 BEST Temples to Visit in Bangkok.
- There is no need for an introduction to the renowned old capital city of the Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai. Here are the 20 best things to do in Chiang Mai according to the locals.
- One of the best road trips you can make in Thailand is traversing the Mae Hong Son Loop. Here's a complete backpacking guide and 10-day itinerary for the Mae Hong Son Loop.
- Want to explore other parts of Thailand? How about exploring Northern Thailand, Central Thailand, or Southern Thailand?
- Wondering where to go after Thailand? How about continuing on to Malaysia, Myanmar, or Indonesia?
- For all articles about Thailand, visit the Thailand Travel Guide page.
- Looking to travel to Southeast Asia? Check out all my articles about Southeast Asia here: Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
- You can see all my Asia-related articles here: Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.