Country guide · TH
11 destinations & festivals · 4 etiquette rules
Before you go
Fines of up to THB 100,000 or 5 years in prison, or both.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Thailand travel advice
Confiscation, fines (usually THB 5,000–30,000), detention and prosecution; no exceptions for tourists or personal use.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Thailand travel advice
The lèse-majesté law is interpreted very broadly and can bring long prison sentences; it applies to past and present members of the royal family.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Thailand travel advice
You will be refused entry and will need to rent or buy a sarong at the gate.
Not yet verifiedSource: Grand Palace dress code and visiting rules (travel guide)
Festivals
On the full-moon night of the twelfth Thai month, people float candlelit krathongs on the river to thank the water and s…
Thai New Year: bathing Buddha images at temples at dawn, pouring water on elders' hands for blessings, and in the aftern…
Places & local life
The glittering palace of the Chakri dynasty, a sacred place in Thai hearts
A 46-m golden Reclining Buddha, and the birthplace of Thai massage
Pearl of the Andaman Sea, a byword for southern Thai sunshine and beaches
Rose of the Lanna Kingdom: an old northern Thai city of temples, night markets and slow living
A luxurious island shaded by coconut palms: a paradise for honeymooners and divers
Muslim noodles that came down the trade routes from Yunnan became northern Thailand's signature dish.
A 'national dish' that only appeared in the 1930s, promoted to build national identity.
Chiang Mai's guardian temple: a long staircase lined with naga balustrades leads up to a golden chedi holding a relic of the Buddha.
A towering prang on the west bank of the Chao Phraya: King Taksin arrived here at dawn, giving the 'Temple of Dawn' its name.
