Best Cities in Thailand to Base Your Adventures From
While my family spends most of our time exploring more rural locations, the larger cities in Thailand have a lot of things going for them. For one, cities offer a lot more in the way of conveniences and amenities. And, if you’re looking for cultural experiences like visiting ornate temples or sampling the tastiest street food, Thailand’s cities are the place to visit!
Add to that the ability to easily book tours to some of the best nature destinations in Thailand, and it becomes pretty clear that Thailand’s cities are great places to experience the best of what Thailand has to offer.
Even so, deciding which city to visit can be a bit tricky.
Each of Thailand’s regions has its own different flavor that makes it worth visiting, so deciding where to visit depends a lot on what you want to do. Here are some of the best cities in Thailand to visit with kids along with some of the top destinations near those cities!
The Best Time to Visit Thailand’s Different Regions
In general, the best time to visit Thailand is from around mid-November until the end of January, though that could change depending on your goals.
- Thailand’s wet season is from mid-July until late October. Early in this season, rains can be heavy, but typically only last for a small part of the day. Closer to the end, rain can be both heavier and more consistent.
- It’s a good idea to avoid Thailand’s southern islands during the rainy season. There are often major storms during those months that can make ferry trips unsafe and beach days unpleasant.
- Likewise, you should avoid northern Thailand during the burning season (February-April). This is when many locals burn their gardens/crop lands in preparation for the new planting season. During these months, the air quality is among the worst in the whole world, and most people who do not need to be there choose to leave.
- April and May are typically the hottest months in Thailand, and temperatures will regularly top 100°F.
Bangkok – A thriving capital and a foodie’s dream
Located near the geographic center of the country, Bangkok is both Thailand’s capital and its largest city. It is a top destination for culture learners and for foodies, and makes a great travel hub thanks to the myriad of travel options available.
Top Destinations near Bangkok
Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn
Located just off the Chao Phraya river, Wat Arun Temple dates back to the Ayutthaya era of Thai history, making it nearly 400 years old, though the 70-meter tall Phra Prang spire wasn’t built until 1851.
Wat Arun is widely considered one of the most beautiful temples in Bangkok, and sees thousands of visitors from around the world every year. Ironically, many visitors say that it is best seen in the evenings, not at dawn, as the main stupa is stunning when lit up in the dark.
Wat Pho
Wat Pho is one of the oldest and largest Buddhist temples in Bangkok. Covering over 80,000 square meters (861,000 ft²), this is a huge temple filled with incredible, colorful sights. From the more than 1000 golden buddha statues to the 43-meter (141 ft) long Reclining Buddha Statue, there is plenty of amazing things to see here.
Alongside the beautiful Buddhist imagery, Wat Pho is also famed as one of the top Thai Massage schools, so be sure to leave plenty of time to schedule a relaxing massage at the end of your visit!
Khao San Road
If you’re preferred method of culture learning includes a deep dive on an area’s favorite street foods, Khao San Road needs to be on your itinerary.
While Khao San Road, and its surrounding neighborhoods, is a better representation of backpacker culture than Thai culture specifically, the wide array of inexpensive street food options and budget backpacker inns makes it an incredible place to eat your own weight in delicious Thai food!
Tha Kha Floating Market
If the hustle and bustle of Khao San feels like a bit much, it might be worth it to visit the Tha Kha floating market, outside of Bangkok proper.
Tha Kha floating market offers a much slower paced experience than the many street food stalls scattered around Bangkok. Instead of stalls lining a road, market goers can expect local boats floating along the river offering cooked foods, fresh produce, and colorful handicrafts!
The market is only open on the weekends, starting at 6am and it closes at noon, which means you’ll still have plenty of time to check out Bangkok’s other attractions later in the day!
Erawan National Park
Bangkok is an incredible city, with tons of cultural beauty, but if you’re looking to explore Thailand’s natural beauty it’s a good idea to head away from the city a bit.
Erawan National Park is a few hours drive outside of Bangkok, making it a perfect weekend getaway for tourists in the area. The park is noted for its beautiful waterfalls, including the 7-tiered Erawan waterfall for which the park is named. Wildlife is also abundant, and visitors to the park can expect to see plenty of animals, from beautiful birds, nimble deer, and even the giant Asian elephants!
Khao Yai National Park
Just two hours northeast of Bangkok, Khao Yai was the first National Park in Thailand and remains one of the best places in the country for spotting rare wildlife. Wildlife drives through the park regularly spot larger mammals like elephants and guar, but all sorts of animals can be spotted in the park!
Of course, adventure comes in many forms. If a jungle safari isn’t quite your cup of tea, consider checking out Khao Yai’s waterfalls, or even whitewater rafting the Hin Phoeng Rapids!
Koh Samet
One of the best parts of Thailand is the country’s wide array of tropical islands and pristine beaches. While many of the best islands in Thailand are located in the Andaman Sea, to the west, the Gulf of Thailand has its own assortment of islands perfect for families to explore!
Koh Samet, located about 3 hours from Bangkok, is just one such of those islands.
Pristine beaches, great diving and snorkeling, and relaxed beach vibes are all on the table here, making this an excellent choice of location for a beach day outside of Bangkok!
Chiang Mai – A city steeped in history and cooler weather
Chiang Mai is the largest of Thailand’s northern cities, and the second largest city in all of Thailand. It served as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom from its founding in 1296 until 1775 when the Lanna Kingdom became part of the Thonburi Kingdom.
With such deep, historical roots, it should come as no surprise that Chiang Mai is one of the best places in Thailand to visit for visitors looking to explore ancient temples, but the area’s higher elevation and cooler temperatures also help make the land surrounding Chiang Main into a wonderful location to explore the natural world!
Top destinations around Chiang Mai
Doi Inthanon National Park
Doi Inthanon mountain, located in Doi Inthanon National Park, is the highest point in all of Thailand. However, despite its great height (8,415 feet) the top of the mountain is relatively easy to access, with wooden boardwalks providing a walkway all the way to the top.
Doi Inthanon’s height means the area stays cooler than the surrounding lowlands, resulting in frequent cloud coverage and making it one of Thailand’s only cloud forests.
Wat Umong – The Temple of Tunnels
Chiang Mai is a city filled with temples, but Wat Umong remains one of the most unique temples you can visit in Thailand. However, the main draw is not the temple stupa that you can see above the ground, but rather the extensive network of tunnels beneath.
Legends say that the tunnels beneath the temple were built as a way of containing the monk Jan, who had a tendency to wander away from the temple in a dazed state. The tunnels, decorated to look like forest trees, gave him a place to wander without leaving the temple.
Whatever their origins, the tunnels of Wat Umong help it to stand out from the other Thai temples you can visit.
Chae Son National Park
Famed for its local hot springs, caves, and numerous waterfalls, Chae Son National Park is a perfect location for getting out into nature. Located a less than 100km away from Chiang Mai, it’s also an easy spot to visit on a day trip.
If you want to make the most of your trip, be sure to rent out one of the bungalow’s in the park with access to its own private hot spring!
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park
Chiang Mai is surrounded by national parks, filled with verdant forests, towering peaks, and waterfalls. Doi Suthep-Pui National Park is one of the easiest to reach of these parks, and features beautiful nature trails, swimming holes below waterfalls, and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a temple which is said to host part of the Buddah’s shoulder bone.
Chiang Rai and its sights
Chiang Rai, located just a couple hours from Chiang Mai, is renowned for its ornate temples, flavorful food, and for the area’s expansive coffee and tea plantations!
If you haven’t been on a coffee tour, it’s a wonderful educational experience that I would suggest for any coffee-lover. I haven’t had the chance to do the Doi Chang Coffee Tour, but I loved our tour of Finca Filadelfia in Antigua Guatemala, and so I’m looking forward to getting a chance to see how Thailand does coffee differently!
Also be sure to visit the White Temple, Black house, and Blue Temple, while in the area, as these buildings are beautiful examples of modern Thai architecture!
Hua Hin – A mid-sized city with a beach-town feel
Hua Hin is a mid-sized Thai city located a few hours to the south of Bangkok. Because of its proximity to the capital, several of the best things to see outside of Hua Hin could also be visited on a day trip from Bangkok. However, Hua Hin’s proximity to these attractions and general beach town vibes make it a worthwhile spot to base out of!
Top destinations around Hua Hin
Kaeng Krachan National Park (UNESCO Natural Heritage Site)
If you’ve spent any time at all on my website, you’ll know that I love visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A large part of that is because these sites are where you can find some of the most unique and authentic experiences in the world. And a visit to Kaeng Krachan National Park is just another example of this.
Kaeng Krachan National park is the largest National Park in Thailand, and is home to several different endangered species, and eight different species of big cat. Hornbills, dusky langurs, and the ever present Asian Elephant also call the park home, and are commonly seen on trips into the park.
If you’re wanting to do some wildlife spotting while in Thailand, this definitely needs to be on your list.
Pranburi Forest Park
Mangroves are some of the most important tree species world wide, protecting our shorelines from erosion and sheltering a myriad of unique animal species. Pranburi Forest Park protects nearly 2000 acres of natural mangrove forest along the Pranburi River.
Raised boardwalks through the park gives visitors a convenient way to explore the park, while local fishermen will often take tourists on a river cruise to get an up-close look at the incredible bio-diversity on offer.
Phraya Nakhon Cave
Less than an hour to the south of Hua Hin city streets, one of Thailand’s most magnificent views is hidden away in a secluded cave in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park.
Phraya Nakhon Cave is a large cavern with holes in the cave roof that allow sunlight to flood down into the cave. Enough light comes into the cave to allow plant life to thrive, with whole trees growing alongside cave features like stalactites and stalagmites. But perhaps the most unique part of the cave is a small pavilion built inside to commemorate King Chulalongkorn’s visit to the spot in 1890.
While it is not a large construction, it looks absolutely magical, especially when the sunlight is streaming from above.
Cicada and Tamarind Night Markets
Night markets are a common sight throughout Thailand, but these two markets in Hua Hin were among my favorite that I’ve visited.
Located so close to each other that you might mistake them for a single market, these night markets still manage to have their own distinct feels. Cicada market feels upscale and artsy, with regular art exhibitions and demonstrations alongside the food and souvenirs common in markets. Tamarind night market, on the other hand, loses that upscale feel for a more relaxed vibe, with live music, tasty treats, and souvenir shops laid out around its namesake tamarind tree.
Both markets are open Friday-Sunday evenings until 11, and it’s worth checking them both out. Just be sure to come hungry!
Koh Thalu (Island day trip, Snorkeling)
If you went to Thailand and didn’t explore any of the country’s 1430 amazing islands, did you really even go to Thailand?
Well, yes.
But that’s no reason to miss out on a beautiful tropical island that’s both easy to get to and absolutely gorgeous!
Koh Thalu, located around 3 hours (200km) south of Hua Hin, makes an excellent choice of island get away for families. It isn’t as popular as some of the larger islands, which sounds like a bad thing, but really means that the crystal clear waters and beautiful coral reefs are less crowded and more accessible than at many of the more well-known spots.
Krabi – The convenience of the mainland with easy access to the sea
The last of the 4 main travel hubs I’m mentioning here is the town of Krabi in the (appropriately named) Krabi Province on the Andaman Sea coast. Krabi is often touted as a more nature-focused alternative for travelers looking at Phuket, and while it is that, it’s also an excellent location to base out of for families wanting to explore a few of the different island spots in the Andaman Sea.
It’s large enough to have many of the amenities that families want, like kid-friendly hotels, night markets, and even an airport to fly into. And since it’s on the mainland, prices tend to be less expensive than they are on the islands. But what about things to do?
Well, as it turns out, Krabi town has tons of great family-friendly things to do close by, and some of the absolute best places to visit in Thailand just a bit farther out!
Top destinations around Krabi
Ao Nang Beach
Ao Nang is the main beach strip in Krabi Town, and includes many of the best places for families stay during their visit. The beach itself isn’t the best beach in the area for swimming, but it does have a very relaxed vibe with plenty of places to eat or just to hang out. Plus, it’s where the long-tail boats leave to go to Railay and Phrang Na beaches.
Railay and Phrang Na Beaches
Railay and Phrang Na are consistently rated as being some of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand! Out of the two, Railay is typically considered to be the better, with gentle waves, white sands, and towering limestone cliffs covered in tropical greenery. If you’re a rock climber, be sure to check out the climbing routes up the limestone cliffs at Railay East!
Phrang Na has the advantage of being less visited, since many tourists opt to visit the Railay instead. However, it’s almost equally beautiful, and also features several small, natural caves in the limestone wall behind the beach. Just be aware that tucked inside one of these small caves is a local fertility shrine containing a large number of carved wooden penises. The shrine can be seen from the beach, so if that’s a deal breaker for you, I’d suggest sticking with Railay.
Longboats from Krabi town are the only practical way to get out to either beach, but the 10-15 minute journey is worth it.
Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea)
Wat Tham Suea, or the Tiger Cave Temple, is a Buddhist temple located at a mountain a little more than half an hour out from Ao Nang Beach.
The temple’s unique name comes from the network of caves in the temple that reach into the mountain where it was built. The story is that there was once a giant tiger that lived in the caves before the founding of the temple, and so the temple was named for it. The temple complex at the foot of the mountain has golden buddhas, green dragon statues, and, for those interested, places to meditate or receive blessings from the local monks.
However, the main reason to visit the temple doesn’t actually have to do with the tigers or the caves at all! For those willing to make the climb, there is a golden buddha statue and temple area at the peak of the mountain. The views from the top is beautiful, but in order to see them visitors have to climb 1237 steps up a 238 meter incline. To put this in perspective, you can expect to be climbing stairs for between 40 minutes to an hour before reaching the top. And then you have to go back down.
Needless to say, while this is an amazing spot, it’s one that should probably not be attempted with smaller children! Teenagers should be alright, though.
Emerald Pool and Namtok Ron Hot Springs Waterfall
The Emerald Pool and Namtok Ron hot springs waterfall can often be seen on the same tours, which is why they are together here. But they are two separate locations that are both worth a visit! (and a swim!)
The Emerald Pool is a spring-fed natural limestone pool with a turquoise-green color. It’s a beautiful spot, and a popular place to take a dip, especially after the short jungle hike to get there!
Similarly, the Namtok Ron hot springs are naturally fed springs, but these have been heated by volcanic chambers located deep under the ground. As the water gets heated, it rises to surface of the ground above the hot springs area and flows down as a hot river and becoming a small series of cascading falls that visitors can enjoy!
Khao Lak
If you’re looking for a chance to get away from the crowds and spend some time relaxing in near seclusion, I’d consider taking a few days to visit Khao Lak from Krabi.
Khao Lak is about 2 and a half hours to the north of Krabi, so you can technically visit for the day and come back. However, don’t. Khao Lak is absolutely worth taking a few days away from Krabi and taking things slow.
The area is best-known for its white sand beaches, incredible snorkeling, and jungle river cruises where you can spot animals.
Khao Sok
Depending on the route you take to Khao Lak, you may actually drive right through Khao Sok!
Khao Sok is right on the edge of Khao Sok National Park, and while it felt a bit touristy to me, it managed to do so in a way that made it fun. During my family’s time in Khao Sok, we spotted snakes and spiders on a night hike in the park, took the kids on a caving trip where we had to swim through underground pools and saw underground waterfalls, and took a longtail boat trip to floating bungalows where you can stay the night on a lake!
Thailand’s Andaman Sea Islands
Krabi is also an excellent launching off a point for visiting many of the best Thai islands in the Andaman Sea, including Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe, the Similans, Koh Phi Phi, and more!
There are too many to list out here, but if you’re interested in doing some island hopping, Krabbi is where you’ll want to start.
Honorable Mention: Phuket – A Luxury Island with easy access
If you’ve been looking at visiting Thailand, you’ve probably been told to check out Phuket. And, look. I’m not arguing against that logic.
Phuket is considered one of the best tourism locations in Thailand for a reason. It’s easy to get to, has tons of luxury lodging options, markets, beaches, theme parks, zoos and more.
However, I feel like many of the places that you would visit from Phuket are just as easy or easier to visit from Krabi town. So, unless you plan on spending most of your Phuket trip on Phuket, I’d personally head over to Krabi.
