What do you need to know before visiting Thailand?

Entry and arrival

1. The visa-free stay is now 30 days. Since 15 September 2026, nationals of 60 countries and territories, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most of the EU, can stay up to 30 days visa-free for tourism, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand; the old 60-day exemption has ended. You can extend once inside Thailand, and if you enter overland the exemption covers only two land entries per calendar year. See do I need a visa for Thailand.

2. File the TDAC within 3 days of arrival. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card replaced the paper TM6 card on 1 May 2025 and applies to every foreign arrival by air, land or sea. It is free at tdac.immigration.go.th; sites charging for it are not official. Walkthrough: TDAC guide.

3. Carry proof of funds and an onward ticket. The UK Foreign Office says visitors may be asked to show at least 10,000 baht per person or 20,000 baht per family, plus onward or return travel, and that some travellers have been refused entry without them. Your passport needs six months of validity.

4. The 300-baht tourist fee has still not started. A 300-baht entry fee for air arrivals has been announced several times since 2023, but it had no confirmed start date when we checked in October 2026, and the Foreign Office's entry page does not list it. Ignore any site trying to sell it to you.

Money and tipping

5. ATMs charge per withdrawal. Thai bank ATMs typically add about 220 to 250 baht to every foreign-card withdrawal, and some now show more; AEON machines in supermarkets are among the cheaper ones. Take out larger amounts less often and always choose baht, not your home currency, on the screen. Daily budgets are in how much a trip to Thailand costs.

6. Read the "++" on menus. It means a 10% service charge plus 7% VAT will be added, so 1,000 baht becomes about 1,177. Where no service charge is added, small tips are appreciated but not required. Details in tipping in Thailand.

Laws visitors get wrong

7. Vapes are illegal, with no tourist exception. The UK Foreign Office says possessing or using any vape, e-cigarette or heat-not-burn device is illegal, with fines typically 5,000 to 30,000 baht, possible detention and court proceedings that can keep you in the country.

8. Cannabis is medical-only again. Since June 2025, the Tourism Authority of Thailand says visitors may only buy, use or carry cannabis flower with a Thai prescription, capped at a 30-day supply. Recreational use is illegal, and taking cannabis out of Thailand without a permit is a serious offence.

9. Do not criticise the monarchy. Criticising the king or royal family is a crime under Thailand's lèse-majesté law, which courts read broadly and which covers social media posts. Treat images of the king, including on banknotes, with respect. The social rules that are custom rather than law are in what is considered rude in Thailand.

10. Alcohol hours are now 11:00 to midnight. A Royal Gazette notice in May 2026 made the trial lifting of the old 14:00 to 17:00 ban permanent, so shops can sell from 11:00 to midnight without a break; hotels, licensed venues and airport terminals have their own exemptions. Some Buddhist holy days and election days have traditionally been dry days, so expect the odd day when shops will not sell.

Getting around and staying safe

11. Use Grab or Bolt in Bangkok. Metered taxis that refuse the meter and tuk-tuk drivers who detour to gem or tailor shops are the classic Bangkok scams. Ride apps fix the price before you get in. See Grab vs Bolt and Bangkok taxi scams.

12. Think twice before renting a scooter. The UK Foreign Office says many rental scooters in tourist areas are unregistered, helmets are compulsory, and riding without a valid licence for that vehicle (plus a 1968 international driving permit) could void your insurance. Never leave your passport as a deposit for a scooter or jet ski. More in is Thailand safe to visit, which also covers the closed Cambodian border crossings and the far south.

13. Take the train or a short flight for long legs. The overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is the classic route north, and budget flights cover the islands. See Bangkok to Chiang Mai sleeper train, Bangkok to Krabi and our 2-week Thailand itinerary.

Practicalities, etiquette and seasons

14. Plugs, data and water. WorldStandards lists Thai sockets as Types A, B, C and O at 230V and 50Hz, and many take both flat and round pins, so a universal adapter covers it. Tourist SIMs at the airport are registered to your passport, or install a travel eSIM before you fly. Drink bottled or filtered water rather than tap water.

15. Save the tourist police number. Call 1155 for the Tourist Police, which has English-speaking operators around the clock, 191 for general police and 1669 for an ambulance.

16. Cover shoulders and knees at temples. The rule applies to everyone, and the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew check at the gate. Take shoes off where others do and never point your feet at a Buddha image. See Thailand temple dress code and what to wear in Thailand.

17. November to February is the best and busiest time. Bangkok and the north are dry and at their least hot, and the Andaman coast has its calmest seas from December to March; the Gulf islands are the exception, with their wettest months from October to December. Northern Thailand's haze season runs roughly February to April. See best time to visit Thailand, Thailand in December and January and Chiang Mai burning season.

18. Know the festival dates. Songkran, the Thai New Year water festival, runs 13 to 15 April 2027 and fills transport for days either side. Loy Krathong and Yi Peng light up Chiang Mai each November. See Songkran 2027 and Yi Peng and Loy Krathong, and for where to go, our Thailand guide, Bangkok guide and Chiang Mai guide.

Frequently asked questions