Food
Beach
Southeast Asia
Thailand
Current status
Safe to travel
Safety
Very safe
Thailand is generally manageable for travelers, but road accidents, petty theft, scams, nightlife risks, and border-area tensions are worth taking seriously.
- Check Travel.State.gov Thailand advice before border travel or if conditions change.
- Use registered taxis or trusted ride apps, and agree prices before tuk-tuk or boat rides.
- Be careful with scooter rentals, ferries, alcohol, and beach-party areas, where accidents are more common.
Police
191
Medical Emergency
1669
Tourist Police
1155
Entry Information
Many travelers can enter Thailand visa-free for short stays, but rules depend on nationality and can change.
- Check the official Thai e-Visa portal before booking longer stays or visa-dependent trips.
- Passport validity usually needs at least 6 months from arrival with one blank page.
- Complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card when required before arrival.
Vaccination
Mandatory
Yellow fever
*Required only for travelers arriving from countries with yellow fever transmission risk.
Recommended
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Japanese encephalitis
Regional Weather
Mild
Dry
Peak Season
Hot
Dry
Peak Season
Hot
Dry
Shoulder
Hot
Dry
Shoulder
Hot
Rain
Off Season
Hot
Rain
Off Season
Hot
Rain
Off Season
Hot
Rain
Off Season
Hot
Rain
Off Season
Mild
Rain
Shoulder
Mild
Dry
Peak Season
Mild
Dry
Peak Season
Prices
Level 2
Affordable
$$$$
$$$$
Must Know
Thailand is good value for most travelers, though Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, and luxury beach areas can cost much more than inland towns.
- Street food and local transport keep daily costs low in most cities.
- Beach clubs, islands, imported goods, and peak-season hotels raise budgets quickly.
Travel Hack
Carry cash for markets, street food, songthaews, small ferries, temples, and rural areas.
Cards work best in hotels, malls, larger restaurants, and tourist businesses.
Tipping Guide
Restaurants
10%
Cafes
No tips
Taxis
No tips
Hotels
No tips
Must Know
Tipping is appreciated but not required in Thailand, especially outside tourist restaurants and hotels.
- Small cash tips work best for guides, hotel staff, taxis, and good restaurant service.
- Street food stalls and small local cafes usually do not expect tips.
- In tourist restaurants, around 10 percent is enough when service was good and no service charge is added.
Pro Tip
Cash tips are easiest, but check restaurant bills because some places already include a service charge.
Currency
Thai Baht
THB
US Dollar Rate
$1 = THB 33.7
Euro Rate
€1 = THB 38.4
Select currency...
Pro Tip
Thai baht cash is still important, especially for street food, markets, taxis, temples, ferries, tips, and smaller towns.
- Use bank ATMs or official exchange counters, and check reference rates from the Bank of Thailand exchange-rate page.
- Cards are common in hotels, malls, and larger restaurants, but cash is safer for everyday local spending.
- If a card terminal offers conversion, pay in Thai baht rather than your home currency.
Traditional Food
Pad Thai
Stir-fried rice noodles with tamarind and peanuts
Tom Yum Goong
Hot sour shrimp soup with lemongrass
Gaeng Keow Wan
Green curry with coconut milk and herbs
Som Tam
Spicy green papaya salad with lime
Mango Sticky Rice
Sweet coconut rice with ripe mango
Massaman Curry
Mild coconut curry with potato and spices
Khao Soi
Northern curry noodles with crispy topping
Pad Kra Pao
Thai basil stir-fry served with rice
Satay
Grilled skewers served with peanut sauce
Panang Curry
Rich red curry with coconut and herbs
Power
Thailand uses 230V electricity at 50Hz.
Type A
Type B
Type C
Type O
Transport
Direction
Left side
Thailand is easy to travel without driving, with cheap domestic flights, buses, trains, ferries, taxis, ride apps, and city transit on major routes.
- Domestic flights save time between Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, and island gateways.
- Use the Tourism Authority of Thailand for destination planning and seasonal travel updates.
- Ferries and speedboats connect islands, but schedules depend on weather and season.
- Songthaews, tuk-tuks, and local buses are useful for short trips, but comfort and prices vary.
Language
Thai is the main language, while English is useful in major tourist areas but less reliable in rural places and local markets.
English language level
Moderate
Official
Common
Useful words and phrases
Sawatdee
Hello
Khob khun
Thank you
Khor thot
Sorry
Tao rai?
How much?
Hong nam yu nai?
Where is the bathroom?
Pai satanee rot fai
Go to the train station
Mai phet
Not spicy
Chuay duay
Help me
