Explore this map, I made as the ultimate Thailand guide, to get inspired and discover the places that will become the highlight of your next trip. Many of the places in this map will have helpful booking links and/or links to social media posts with more inside information.
I see all my Guide Maps as perpetual works in progress and will do my best to add to and update them as my knowledge expands.
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Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, is a large city known for ornate shrines and vibrant street life. The boat-filled Chao Phraya River feeds its network of canals, flowing past the Rattanakosin royal district, home to opulent Grand Palace and its sacred Wat Phra Kaew Temple. Nearby is Wat Pho Temple with an enormous reclining Buddha and, on the opposite shore, Wat Arun Temple with its steep steps and Khmer-style spire.
Set among businesses, this casual hotel with an artsy vibe is an 11-minute walk from the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre subway station, 5 km from Lumphini Park and 7 km from centralwOrld shopping mall.
In a vibrant shopping and business district, this upscale hotel with direct access to the Phaya Thai train station is 4 km from the Wat Saket (The Golden Mount) Buddhist temple and 6 km from The Grand Palace.
Among eateries on a tree-lined street, this relaxed hotel is 17 minutes away on foot from Wat Saket (The Golden Mount) and 2 km from the National Museum. Suvarnabhumi Airport is 31 km away.
Affluent, busy Watthana is a shopping hub with huge malls offering luxury fashion and artisanal goods, plus food courts and posh international dining. There are stylish bistros and brunch cafes, and Japanese restaurants fill the buzzing Thong Lo district. Chic rooftop bars offer sweeping city views, while the area around Ekkamai BTS Station is known for its high-end nightclubs and innovative cocktail scene.
At Samphanthawong’s heart is Chinatown, with restaurants and night-time food stalls on Yaowarat Road, plus produce markets and traditional workshops tucked away in side streets. Ornate temple Wat Traimitr Witayaram Worawihan has a Buddha statue said to be made of solid gold, while Wat Mangkon Kamalawat is known for its New Year festivities. Row houses with hip cocktail bars and speakeasies line Charoen Krung Road.
Phuket, a rainforested, mountainous island in the Andaman Sea, has some of Thailand’s most popular beaches, mainly situated along the clear waters of the western shore. The island is home to many high-end seaside resorts, spas and restaurants. Phuket City, the capital, has old shophouses and busy markets. Patong, the main resort town, has many nightclubs, bars and discos.
Lively Phuket Old Town is known for brightly painted, century-old Sino-Portuguese townhouses, with a well-preserved row along Soi Rommanee. Main street Thalang Road has stores selling artisanal ice cream and batik fabrics and a Sunday market for souvenirs and street food like fried banana. The Thai Hua Museum features exhibits on Chinese immigrant culture, and Jui Tui Shrine displays colorful statues of Chinese gods.
Chiang Mai is a city in mountainous northern Thailand. Founded in 1296, it was capital of the independent Lanna Kingdom until 1558. Its Old City area still retains vestiges of walls and moats from its history as a cultural and religious center. It’s also home to hundreds of elaborate Buddhist temples, including 14th-century Wat Phra Singh and 15th-century Wat Chedi Luang, adorned with carved serpents.
Krabi, on southern Thailand’s west coast, is a province characterized by craggy, sheer limestone cliffs, dense mangrove forests, and more than a hundred offshore islands. Some of its most popular beach destinations include the Phi Phi Islands, which jut from the sea like giant rainforested boulders, and Railay Beach, accessible only by boat and a prominent rock-climbing spot.