207 Best Sights in Thailand

This crescent-shaped stretch of sand is the only real beach on the western side of the island, and it's a beauty. Quieter than the beaches in the island's northeast, it's a hit with couples who come for candlelit dinners on the sand, a real highlight for many. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: sunset.

This beautiful shoreline of a half-moon bay is packed with resorts and restaurants, so food and drink are never far away. Ao Vong Duan is the epicenter of water sports on Koh Samet, with Jet Skis and speedboats operating from the beach. The white sands and crystal-blue waters make the beach worth a visit, and the beaches of Ao Cho to the north and Ao Thian to the south are an enjoyable five-minute stroll away. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: sunrise; walking.

Former Prime Minister Kukrit Pramoj's house reflects his long, influential life. After founding Siam Rath newspaper in 1950 and writing several novels, he served as prime minister in 1975 and 1976. (Perhaps he practiced for that role 12 years earlier, when he appeared with Marlon Brando as a fictional Southeast Asian prime minister in The Ugly American.) He died in 1995, and much of his living quarters—five interconnected teak houses—has been preserved. Throughout his life, Kukrit was dedicated to preserving Thai culture, and his house and grounds are monuments to a bygone era; the place is full of Thai and Khmer art and period furniture. The landscaped garden with its Khmer stonework is also a highlight. It took Pramoj 30 years to build the house, so it's no wonder that you can spend the better part of a day wandering around.

It's a 45-minute trip by longtail boat to Bamboo Island, but there's a superb beach and the colors of the fish and the coral are brilliant. You can sometimes spot reef sharks, too. There are several places to get food and drinks. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; snorkeling; solitude. 

This two-room exhibition of 4,000-year-old Neolithic remains is 8 km (5 miles) from Muang Singh Historical Park. Cars and motorcycles are your only options for getting here.

There are many teak houses to admire all over Phrae, but none match this large one near the city's southern edge. Like many such houses, it's actually a reconstruction of several older houses—in this case nine of them supported on 130 huge centuries-old teak posts. The result is remarkably harmonious. A tour of the rooms open to public view provides a glimpse of bourgeois life in the region. The space between the teak poles on the ground floor of the building is taken up by stalls selling handicrafts, including carved teak.

The large, striking white building opened in 2008 and is the main showcase for cutting-edge contemporary art, music, theater, and film in Bangkok. Past exhibitions have included work by Thai and international artists. Inside, the curving stairway of the central atrium is reminiscent of the Guggenheim in New York City.

The summer residence of the royal family is a serene mansion that shares an exquisitely landscaped park with the more modest mountain retreats of the crown prince and princess. The palace itself cannot be visited, but the gardens are open to the public. Flower enthusiasts swoon at the sight of the roses—among the blooms is a variety created by the king himself. A rough, unpaved road to the left of the palace brings you after 4 km (2½ miles) to a village called Doi Pui Meo, where many of the Hmong women are busy creating finely worked textiles (the songthaew fare there and back is B300). On the mountainside above the village are two tiny museums documenting hill tribe life and the opium trade.

No shorts or short skirts, no bare shoulders.

Quaint and romantic Bophut has a devoted following of return visitors who enjoy its quiet vibe. This north-shore beach is narrow, but more than wide enough for sunbathing. The water is like glass, making it good for swimming, though it's deep enough to be unsuitable for young children. Bophut has a bit of nightlife. Central Bophut, known to everyone as Fisherman's Village, has a beachside strip of old houses that have been converted into restaurants, bars, and boutiques. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming.

A vivacious, charismatic Singaporean woman owns this gallery that often exhibits oversize artworks. Though based in Sukhumvit, her gallery displays works south of Silom in Vino di Zanotti, a wine restaurant.

Chanthaburi's French influence is evident in its dual-spired Catholic cathedral, across the river from the center of town. Christian Vietnamese who migrated to the area erected the first church on this site in 1711, and the cathedral has been rebuilt four times since. The present Gothic-inspired structure was completed in the early 1900s, when the city was under French control. The best time to visit is during the morning market, when local foods, fruits, and desserts are sold on the grounds.

At Cha-am's broad town beach you can often see Bangkok families gathered at umbrella-covered tables for all-day meals, stocking up on fresh fruit and seafood and cold beer from wandering vendors. The beach's sand, though, is fairly dark and dirty. Most visitors head to one of the all-inclusive resorts farther away, where the sand is prettier and the water better for swimming. Amenities: food and drink; parking; toilets. Best for: walking.

A peaceful strand on Koh Tao's southern shore, Chalok Baan Kao has a relaxed, friendly vibe. The beach itself lacks the crystal-blue water and golden sands of other beaches in the region, but it's reasonably good for swimming. Budget accommodations surround the beach. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: solitude; swimming.

This museum on spacious grounds in the center of the Old City was opened by the king and queen of Thailand in 1961. Its many exhibits include Buddhist sculpture from the Dvaravati, Lopburi, Ayutthayan, and U-Thong periods. Also on display is a jewel-encrusted sword with which one Ayutthayan prince killed his brother in an elephant-back duel.

This long-established market is a favorite with locals and tourists. Residents come during the day to purchase meats, seafood, and produce; after 5 pm you'll find everything from jewelry and clothing to toys and artworks. The evening market also has interesting eats, including Thai kanom (sweets), exotic fruits, barbecued meats, and traditional Thai dishes.

The smaller and less developed of the east-coast beaches adjoining Chawaeng town, Chawaeng Noi lacks the charms and spectacular golden curve of its bigger brother, Chawaeng Yai. It's quieter and more relaxed, though, and there are nearby resorts where you can grab a snack. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: solitude.

Travelers in search of sun and fun flock here, especially during high season. The northern half of this beautiful east-coast beach is a hit with backpackers because it's lined with budget lodgings. The southern half, more popular with the package tourists, has more in the way of high-end resorts. Chawaeng Yai is a great swimming beach. The fine sand is brilliant white, and the waters are clear and usually calm. During the day, tourists pack in and the water buzzes with Jet Skis and banana boats. At night the streets come alive as shops, bars, and restaurants vie for your vacation allowance. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: swimming.

The handsome city museum is housed in a colonnaded palace that was the official administrative headquarters of the last local ruler, Chao (Prince) Inthawichayanon. Around its quiet central courtyard are 15 rooms with exhibits documenting the history of Chiang Mai. In another small, shaded courtyard is a delightful café. The palace was built in 1924 in the exact center of the city, the site of the ancient city pillar that now stands in the compound of nearby Wat Chedi Luang. In front of the museum sit statues of the three kings who founded Chiang Mai.

The varied collection at this museum, more than 1,000 pieces of traditional crafts from the hill tribes living in the region, is one of the finest in the country and includes farming implements, hunting traps, weapons, colorful embroidery, and musical instruments. The museum was extensively renovated in 2021. It's off the road to Mae Rim, about 1 km (½ mile) from the National Museum.

There aren't a lot of activities in Chiang Mai geared toward kids, so this is a good bet if you're traveling with children. The enclosures of this zoo on the lower slopes of Doi Suthep are spaced out along paths that wind leisurely through shaded woodlands. If the walk seems too strenuous, you can hop on a shuttle that stops at all the sights. The most popular animals are the giant pandas and and the koala bears.

The aquarium is within the zoo (additional cost) but is not worth a visit.

All Thai kings since Rama V have resided at this sprawling palace compound, where the residential part of the property is sometimes referred to as Chitralada Royal Villa. Although it's closed to the public, the surrounding walls and moat are a lovely sight, especially when lighted to celebrate royal-related holidays. The extensive grounds shelter a small herd of royal white elephants and a farm established by the late Rama IX, although these can't be seen from outside. A small, beautifully designed train station reserved for royal use can be seen along the rail line parallel to Kamphaeng Phet 5 Road.

A mellow spot on Samui's northeastern coast, this beach is blessed with crystal-clear water. Choengmon was once pitched as the island's next big thing. There's hardly a boom, but a few guesthouses, a handful of luxury resorts, and some restaurants are scattered along the wide shore. The sand is firm and strewn with pebbles and shells, but the beach is adequate for sunbathing. A few of its food options are right on the beach. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: swimming.

The serene and simple resting place of many of the soldiers forced to work on the Thailand-Burma Railway has neatly organized rows of grave markers. On the grounds of a former hospital for prisoners of war, the cemetery is a little out of the way, and therefore rarely visited. To get here, hire a tuk-tuk or moto-taxi for about B60.

King Rama V built this summer palace and named it after his son, Prince Chudhadhuj, who was born on the island on July 5, 1893. Earlier in the 19th century, King Rama V's father, King Rama IV, had learned that the island's residents lived longer than anywhere else in Thailand and had concluded that Koh Si Chang's climate was responsible. The palace was abandoned in 1894 when France blockaded the Gulf of Thailand during a political crisis. Few buildings remain today, but the palace gardens are great for a stroll. King Rama V also commissioned another residence here, Vimanmek Mansion, which in 1901 he had moved to Bangkok. All that remains is the mansion's beachside foundation. Nearby, an old wooden pier has been restored to its former glory.

Somewhat in the shadow of grander nearby attractions like the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, this shrine is one of the most historically and culturally significant sites in the city. Just east of the Grand Palace compound, the City Pillar Shrine contains the foundation stone (Lak Muang) from which all distances in Thailand are measured. The stone is believed to be inhabited by a spirit that guards the well-being of Bangkok. The shrine is free to enter and frequented by locals who come here to pray, so behave and dress respectfully (knees and shoulders should be covered).

About 4 km (2½ miles) from Lamai, at the small Chinese fishing village of Baan Hua Thanon, the road that forks inland toward Na Thon leads to the Coral Buddha, a small temple complex built on a natural rock formation carved by years of erosion. One of Samui's most serene and least touristy spots, the Coral Buddha provides a glimpse of a more fundamental, traditional world of Buddhism less apparent at brasher, more high-profile destinations.

A colorful market of produce and other foods sold by vendors on small boats, Damnoen Saduak is an icon of Thai tourism. Often overrun with visitors, these days the market pays lip service to the authentic commercial life of this canal-strewn corner of Thailand. On the other hand, even though it feels like a theatrical production, this is one of the few opportunities to witness a fading Thai tradition. And some of the food—including noodle soup, seafood dishes, grilled meats, mango ice cream, coconut pancakes, and fried bananas—is extremely tasty. The best way to enjoy the market is to come early and hire a boat. The area only becomes more crowded as the day progresses and ever more tour groups arrive.

This Lanna-style mansion was the last home of Jao Dara Rasamee, daughter of a late-19th-century ruler of Chiang Mai and the favorite wife of King Chulalongkorn. The low-eaved and galleried building has been restored and furnished with many of the princess's antiques, including clothes she designed herself. It's a living museum of 19th-century Lanna culture and design, and if you have extra time in Chiang Mai, it's worth the 35-minute drive.

One of Bangkok's biggest and best-known landmarks, the monument anchors a large traffic circle three blocks from the eastern end of Khao San Road. Not frequented much by tourists, it commemorates the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in Thailand in 1932.

You don't have to head to the distant mountains to go trekking during your stay in Chiang Mai. Doi Suthep, the 3,542-foot peak that broods over the city, lends its name to a national park with plenty of hiking trails to explore. One of these, a path taken by pilgrims over the centuries preceding the construction of a road, leads up to the gold-spired Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (see that listing for details). There's also an easy hiking trail (about 45 minutes) that'll bring you to one of Chiang Mai's least known but most charming temples, Wat Pha Lat. This modest ensemble of buildings is virtually lost in the forest. Make sure to explore the compound, which has a weathered chedi and a grotto filled with images of Buddha. After you leave Wat Pha Lat, the path becomes steeper. After another 45 minutes you emerge onto the mountain road, where you can flag down a songthaew if you can't take another step. Otherwise, follow the road for about 200 yards; a break in the forest marks the uphill trail to Wat Phra That. Keep a sharp lookout for snakes; they thrive on the mountain, and some of them are highly venomous.