✅ Article updated on October 25, 2024so you'll always have the latest news!

Which city to visit in Thailand in 2023?

[Updated November 16, 2023] Thailand is unquestionably one of the world's most popular travel destinations mainly thanks to its magnificent beaches, islands, temples and delicious street food, all at affordable prices.

With so many places to see in ThailandBut don't panic, thanks to this article you'll be able to decide which are the best places to visit on your first trip to Thailand.

Without further ado, here's which city to visit in Thailand in 2023.

Bangkok (central Thailand)

Bangkok is home to some of the world's the most astonishing architectures from Thailandlike the Grand Palais Royal and the gigantic reclining Buddha at Wat Pho.

And as this is where you'll probably arrive first in Thailand, it's an ideal place to start familiarizing yourself with Thailand's unique culture.

Thailand's capital in a lot of assets with its many magnificent temples, its markets and delicious street food, its gargantuan shopping malls, its crazy nightlife... there's always something to do! What to do in Bangkok. 

With so much to do and see in Bangkok, you can block out 2 to 5 days to explore this wonderful city, try all the dishes and learn how to negotiate, a skill you'll probably need throughout your trip to Thailand.

What to do in Bangkok

Find below my selection of things you absolutely must do in Bangkok in 2023.

Where to sleep in Bangkok

Bangkok is such a big metropolis, with so much to offer, it's not always easy to choose where to sleep. Find below an article that should help you on this subject.

Krabi (southern Thailand)

No trip to Thailand is complete unless you include Krabi in your itinerary.

For only one hour south of Phuketthis splendid province attracts travellers from all over the world thanks to its breathtaking landscapes and its more than 150 paradise islands.

From islands to rock climbing, from kayaking through mangrove forests to visiting historic temples, there's no shortage of activities to entertain you.

Your complete guide to Krabi province

Here's everything you need to know to make your vacation in Krabi a success.

Chiang Mai (northern Thailand)

Chiang Mai is considered the capital of the northern region of Thailand and lives up to its name.

Known for its picturesque landscape of misty mountains and forests, it's the ideal place if you're nature lovers.

Surrounded by the ancient walls of Lanna, Chiang Mai's old town is home to many truly amazing ancient structures, some of which are over 700 years old.

I recommend rent a bike to explore the city at your leisure, visiting places such as Wat Lok Moli, Wat Chiang Man, Wat Phra Singh or the Wat Doi Suthep on top of the imposing Doi Suthep mountain.

Chiang Mai also boasts one of the country's best night markets with the whole of the old town's main road transformed into a a lively pedestrian street every Sunday (the ideal place to buy souvenirs).

And don't miss the Khao Soi, a delicious noodle soup with curry and coconut.

All in all, Chiang Mai is a place that should be in the lead from your list of places to visit in Thailand. With its balance of tradition, culture and affordability, it's hard to find cities like this.

Examples of things to do in Chiang Mai

The best luxury hotels in Chiang Mai

Here are the most prestigious luxury hotels in Chiang Mai that I recommend in 2023:

The Mae Hong Son loop (northern Thailand)

The Mae Hong Son loop is probably one of the most popular best road trips you can do in Thailand.

Starting and finishing in Chiang Mai, the Mae Hong Son loop will take you on a road of 600 km which circumnavigates the remote northern province of Mae Hong Son.

You'll be able to take in some of the world's most breathtaking scenery. in Thailand.

The Mae Hong Son loop will take you to places like Mae Sariangthe peaceful isolated town on the banks of the Yuam River, the capital of Mae Hong Son province, home to numerous breathtaking Burmese templesthe Mexican sunflower field which is spread over several hills as far as the eye can see, the Chinese-influenced town of Ban Rak Thai and the famous city of Pai.

With so much to do at each of your stops on this loop and all the side trips you can make, you'll need to count on between 3 to 10 days to explore the Mae Hong Son loop and really see what this hinterland has to offer.

Since your trip will start and end in Chiang Mai, you can easily make the loop by renting a car or motorcycle from one of Chiang Mai's many rental stores and simply drive around the loop, visiting each tourist attraction one by one.

What to do in Mae Hong Son

With an abundance of interesting things to do in and around the city, Mae Hong Son is a great place to visit to meet a local. more traditional lifestyle than you'll find in Pai or Chiang Mai.

Where to eat in Mae Hong Son

Find below the 4 places I recommend.

Where to stay in Mae Hong Son?

Here are the 5 hotels I recommend in Mae Hong Son in 2023.

Chiang Rai (northern Thailand)

Chiang Rai is another province in northern Thailand may seem boring at first, but this place has so much more to offer than it seems.

On the one hand, Chiang Rai is home to one of the world's largest the country's most beautiful and unusual templesthe white temple (Wat Rong Khun).

With its glittering silver skulls decorating the doors hands emerging from the groundto famous people on the walls (from Angry Birds and Keanu Reeves to Spiderman). temple is totally different of all the temples you've ever seen.

After the white temple, it's time for... the blue temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten). A true work of art which, unlike many of the region's temples, is quite recent.

As well as being renowned for its magnificent temples, Chiang Rai is also rich in history with the ancient city of Chiang Saen where you can witness a beautiful blend of cultures between Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, where the 3 countries share a border.

With so much area to cover and so many beautiful places and interesting towns to visit, you can expect to spend around 5 days to Chiang Rai to see them all.

If you're a little short on time, there's a day trip departing from Chiang Mai to discover Chiang Rai's must-see temples.

Examples of things to do in Chiang Rai

Sukhothai (northern Thailand)

This city will make you travel back in time.

Sukhothai was once home to Siam's first capital in the 13th century, founded by the great King Ramkhamhaeng, and is considered the cradle of Thai civilization.

It's the cradle of all things traditional, and there's no better place to learn about Thai history than in Sukhothai.

In Sukhothai, you'll find a huge historical park where you can cycle around the many well-preserved ancient structures from the 13th century, giving you a glimpse of what the kingdom of Sukhothai was like back then.

From Wat Maha Thatone of Sukhothai's oldest and most important temples, to the 15-metre high ancient Buddha statue of Wat Si ChumSukhothai, and its well-preserved ancient sites are all worth seeing.

Examples of things to do in Sukhothai

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Ayutthaya (central Thailand)

Sukhothai isn't the only ancient site you can visit in Thailand.

Ayutthaya is listed UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991 and was one of Siam's original capitals.

Today, only a few remains remain, but they're enough to give you a good idea of what this majestic city would have looked like back then.

Ayutthaya's proximity to Bangkok makes it an excellent day-out option. weekend if you're looking to get away from it all without going too far.

Examples of things to do in Ayutthaya

Kanchanaburi (central Thailand)

Located just 140 km from Bangkok, Kanchanaburi is another place to visit in Thailand if you want to escape the bustling city of Bangkok and discover one of the country's most beautiful landscapes.

The province is home to the famous Erawan waterfallsconsidered to be one of Thailand's most magnificent waterfalls.

With its 7 tiers and clear blue waters, it's not hard to see why people have come to think of it as such.

Kanchanaburi is also a historically important city during the Second World War, as the Japanese forced prisoners of war to build the railroad of death (The Death Railway) and Bridge on the River Kwai (River Kwai Bridge).

If you head further north, you'll find the beautiful town of Sangkhlaburi photogenically located on the northern tip of Lake Vajiralongkorn. This is where you can see the country's longest teak bridge, the My Bridge.

As you can see, there are many things to do in Kanchanaburi and if you want to see them all, plan to spend about 3 to 5 days to visit Kanchanaburi, Sangkhlaburi, etc.

Examples of things to do in Kanchanaburi

What are Thailand's most beautiful islands?

Now that you know the 8 best cities in Thailand, how about the 7 most beautiful islands?

When to go to Thailand

In the article below, I'll review the following seasons of each regionThis will help you determine the best time to go to Thailand in 2023.

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