The most popular Thailand cities and other cultural and natural tourist destinations in Thailand are listed below. In case you are looking for the best places to enjoy the sea, sand and sun during your holidays, check Thailand beach destinations instead. For the best experience, combine coastal resorts, picturesque islands with Thailand cultural destinations.
Cultural & Natural Tourist Destinations in Thailand
Discover the best cultural and natural tourist destinations in Thailand regions.
Bangkok
Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is one of the biggest and most vibrant cities in Southeast Asia. The city also known as the City of Angels and Venice of the East has many possibilities for sightseeing, shopping, eating, nightclubbing or just relaxing.
The most important cultural places of interest in Bangkok are situated in the old town and Chinatown.
Bangkok Old Town - Rattanakosin
Rattanakosin is the historic center of Bangkok, also called the Old Town, located in the Phra Nakhon district along the Chao Phraya River.
Rattanakosin area is the most visited area of the entire Thai capital, which contains some of the most famous historical attractions and important buildings in the capital, such as the iconic Grand Palace, the majestic Wat Phra Kaew, the famed Wat Pho, the famous Khao San Road, the National Museum and much more. If this is your first trip to Thailand, Bangkok Old Town is definitely one of the top places in the city that you shouldn’t miss.
Bangkok Chinatown
Bangkok Chinatown area, also known as Yaowarat, is one of the oldest and unique cultural areas of Bangkok.
The streets of Chinatown are full of colorful buildings and decorations. The area boasts its multi-cultural environment. Chinatown is a good place to stay for food lovers or people planning to visit all the main attractions of Bangkok. There are many boutique accommodations, garments and the prices here are affordable.
Destinations in Central Thailand
Central Thailand is rich in history with ancient city of Ayutthaya, Khmer temples of Lopburi and Death Railway in Kanchanaburi. It is also known for its natural beauty with its landscape of mountains, forests, rivers, caves and waterfalls.
Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya in Central Thailand is the old capital of Siam (old name of Thailand). The city was the richest and biggest in the country before being destroyed by Burmese.
Ayutthaya is located on an island surrounded by three rivers - Chao Phraya, Lopburi and Pasak. Ayutthaya Historical Park now is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can find still existing temples, palaces and other buildings, some of them well preserved. If you are interested in history and architecture, it will be a magnificent place for you to visit.
Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi is a city in Central Thailand and the capital of Kanchanaburi Province, located at the confluence of the Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai rivers. Kanchanaburi is not only interesting place to visit by itself but is also used as a base for exploring cultural, natural, and historical attractions found in the surrounding area.
Kanchanaburi was originally established by King Rama I as the first line of defence against the Burmese as the province is bordering with Myanmar, but the WWII history of the city is the main reason why it is famous now. In Kanchanaburi you can find a number of memorials dedicated to WWII and the infamous Death Railway. You can also get to know how the WWII prisoners of war suffered there. The city is the home of the famous Bridge on the River Kwai.
Kanchanaburi is an excellent tourist destination for nature lovers. The city itself is a place to relax on the banks of the River Kwai, inside a raft house or riverside restaurant. The surrounding countryside has many natural attractions to explore. You can visit several spectacular waterfalls at Erawan National Park, mountains, caves, forests and three of Thailand’s largest reservoirs.
Nakhon Pathom
Nakhon Pathom is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, located in Central Thailand, just 50 km west of Bangkok.
Nakhon Pathom is famous for its giant Phra Pathom Chedi which is one of the tallest in the world.
Lopburi
Lopburi is the capital city of the same named province in Central Thailand about 150 km north of Bangkok. Lopburi is the city influenced by Khmers and a number of Khmer temple ruins still exist in the city.
Nowadays the city is famous for its large monkey population. You can find many of them staying around Prang Sam Yot Khmer temple or just hanging around the streets of Lopburi.
Destinations in Northern Thailand
Northern Thailand is home to stunning natural scenery featuring dense jungle and stunning mountainous beauty. This part of the country offers a change of pace and is an ideal place to relax and soak up the local authentic Thai atmosphere.
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is the capital of Chiang Mai Province and the largest city in Northern Thailand. You can find amazing ancient architecture, fabulous food and real Thai atmosphere here will wandering around the backstreets of the city, while surroundings of the city are rich of impressive natural attractions.
Chiang Mai was founded in 1296 and became the new capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom. Traditional Lanna Thai culture can still be experienced here. The old city of Chiang Mai is a very scenic place to visit as it is full of impressive ancient temples and is surrounded by ancient walls and a lovely moat.
The city of Chiang Mai is relaxed by itself, but the best way to recharge your batteries is to get out outside the city where Chiang Mai’s green countryside and misty mountains offer limitless possibilities for nature explorations.
Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai is a city in Northern Thailand, where you can avoid the crowds while exploring nature of the region, visiting remote hill tribes and checking out the Golden Triangle, famous for being the former centre of the world’s opium trade.
Chiang Rai was established by King Meng Rai in 1262 as the first capital of the Lanna Kingdom. The capital was later relocated to Chiang Mai and since then Chiang Rai has been overshadowed by its sister city.
Nowadays, Chiang Rai is an excellent base for exploring the surrounding area. In the region you can find ancient temples, wonderful nature in the jungle, magnificent mountain scenery and hill tribe villages.
Sukhothai
Sukhothai is a small city in Northern Thailand, about 217 km south of Chiang Mai. The city is famous for the ruins of the ancient city Sukhothai.
Sukhothai Historical Park is about 12 kilometres from New Sukhothai. The historic town of Sukhothai with related areas is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sukhothai Historical Park covers about 70 sq km and the ruins of about 200 temples can be found in the area. The park contains ponds covered with lotus flowers and lots of greenery making it a very picturesque place.
Destinations in Eastern Thailand
Eastern Thailand is best known for its beautiful beaches. Pattaya is famous for its nightlife and seaside resorts, Koh Samet is a nice small island in a national marine park and Koh Chang is a big island with white-sand beaches, waterfalls and jungle. You can also find interesting cultural and natural destinations in this part of Thailand.
Pattaya
Pattaya is mainly known as the beach destination with a wild nightlife. However, there you can also find plenty of cultural and natural places to visit.
In Pattaya you can find The Sanctuary of Truth, which is one-of-a-kind 105-metre high teak structure of a temple, featuring intricate wooden carvings that are a good example of Thai craftsmanship. There's also one of the largest Buddha images in the world at Wat Phra Khao Yai, a huge unique temple complex of Wat Yansangwararam that comprises of many buildings built in Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Swiss architectural styles, and a 130-metre high hill called Buddha Mountain or Khao Chee Chan, with the Buddha image engraved on it.
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden is a recreation park with a lake, orchid nurseries, waterfalls and a nice landscape. It's a beautiful place that is worth to visit and spend few hours wandering around.
Koh Chang
Koh Chang is an island in Trat Province, Eastern Thailand. The island is also known as ‘Elephant Island’ named like this because of its shape of an elephant. Koh Chang is Thailand's second largest island after Phuket. Even if tourism and development has increased significantly over the last few years, Koh Chang is still not heavily populated.
Koh Chang is one of Thailand's most beautiful islands with long white sandy beaches, flourishing coral reefs, jungle covered mountains and spectacular waterfalls. The island is a great place for jungle trekking, snorkelling and scuba diving, making it one of the best natural destinations in Thailand.
Chachoengsao
Chachoengsao, which is about 60 kilometers from Bangkok, is another province to visit in Thailand because there are many unexpected hidden places.
Chachoengsao is distinguished by being the old town of Bang Pakong waterfront which has Luang Por Sothon Temple or Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan as the center of faith for Thai people.
Natural resources in Chachoengsao are considered to be rich in life. The main forest area is Khao Ang Ruenai Wildlife Sanctuary which is the last habitat of freshwater crocodiles in Thailand. The estuary of the Bang Pakong River is the place where many dolphins can be spotted every year during November-January.
Southern Thailand Destinations
Southern Thailand offers a huge variety of options for a perfect beach vacation. On the West coast you can find Andaman sea and it's beautiful limestone islands, on the East coast the Gulf of Thailand and Koh Samui archipelago is waiting for you. However, you can also find interesting cultural and natural destinations in this part of Thailand as well.
Phuket
Phuket is the largest island of Thailand. The island is situated in the Andaman Sea waters off the west coast of Southern Thailand. Despite being among the finest beach destinations in the world, Phuket is also one of the popular cultural and natural tourist destinations in Thailand.
Phuket’s Big Buddha or Wat Phra Yai houses the largest Buddha image in Phuket. The temple is situated on the top of Khao Nak Koet mountain and offers spectacular panoramic views of Phuket and the surrounding islands. Phuket Old Town is also an interesting cultural destination to visit.
Explore Phuket on a full-day group tour by van, which takes you to snap photos at viewpoints, visit Chalong Temple, see the biggest Buddha statue on the island, visit Phuket's Old Town, and shop at the Chillva Market.
Koh Samui
Koh Samui is an island located in the Gulf of Thailand, on the east coast of Southern Thailand. It is the third biggest island in Thailand and the largest in an archipelago of more than 80 islands.
In addition to wonderful beaches, the island has several impressive temples, jungle and waterfalls. The most important temple in the island is Wat Phra Yai, home of Big Buddha - 12 meter tall seated golden Buddha image. Another remarkable temple on the island is Wat Khunaram - temple famous for the 20-year-old mummified monk in meditation position kept on display here.
Main cultural attractions in Koh Samui are visited on this Half-Day Island Highlights Tour, which also takes you to visit Grandfather's Grandmother's Rocks, viewpoint, and Na Muang Waterfalls.
Krabi
Krabi Town is the administrative capital of Krabi province in Southern Thailand. The town itself is not the top destination but it‘s still a charming local town located along the banks of a river. Krabi Town is an important port for local fishermen and for tourists taking boats to the islands of province or other nearby attractions. Krabi Town is a perfect place to stay if you want to escape the crowds and be not too far from all the natural attractions the province has to offer.
Tiger Cave Temple or Wat Tham Suea, located close to Krabi town, is the temple is built in stunning natural surroundings consisting of tropical rain forest, caves and mountains. Wat Tham Suea is a Thai Buddhist meditation centre and home to monks who worship and live in this scenic environment.
Not far from Krabi Town in Railay Beach area you can also find the famous Phra Nang Cave, also known as “Phallus Shrine”, in a cave, which is famous for the beauty of stalactites and stalagmites and is worshiped by the locals since ancient times.
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Nakhon Si Thammarat is one of the most ancient cities of Thailand and the second biggest province in Southern Thailand after Surat Thani. There are plenty of wonderful cultural and natural attractions in Nakhon Si Thammarat but it is still not as well-known as other destinations in the south and quite rarely visited by foreigners.
Nakhon Si Thammarat, previously the Kingdom of Ligor, was an independent kingdom for many centuries. It has a long history as it is the land of predominant Buddhism from Lanka during the Srivijaya Period. The cultural heritage of Nakhon Si Thammarat City has been accumulated from the history of more than 1800 years.
Although most people know the province and the city but very few people know that there are many beautiful and unique places to visit. A rich and beautiful forest of Khao Luang, a sample development community of Khiriwong Village and numerous sources of art and culture can be found in Nakhon Si Thammarat province.
Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok National Park covers tropical forests with a very rich flora and wildlife. Waterfalls and caves are accessible by trekking routes in the lush forest. The highlight of the national park is its iconic limestone hills. It is best to go to the park with at least one overnight stay as you can choose a characteristic accommodation of Raft House (Floating Bungalow) in Cheow Lan Lake or the Treetop Hut in the jungle.
Ranong
Ranong is a small border city and a major fishing and trading port in Southern Thailand. It is the capital of the southern province named the same which is the northernmost province on the west coast.
The city itself has very limited tourist interest as it is only offering a peaceful atmosphere and not much more. However the surrounding area contains various natural attractions. In Ranong you can find hot springs, unspoiled mangrove forests, mountains, jungle, nice waterfalls, islands, scenic coastline and even a canyon.
Ranong is also a starting point of traveling to a pair of exceptionally laid-back nearby Thai islands of Koh Phayam and Koh Chang Noi.
Destinations in Northeast Thailand
Northeast Thailand, known as Isaan, is one of the most authentic areas that is often overlooked when traveling Thailand. If you want to experience Thailand as it once was, rural and agricultural Northeast Thailand should be your choice.
Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat, is a province in Northeastern Thailand (Isaan). The province is rich in Khmer culture and has a long history. All ranges of tourist attractions can be found throughout the province from beautiful landscapes, many waterfalls, forests and mountains.
Khao Yai National Park
Khao Yai National Park is one of the most unique areas to visit in Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima province in the northeast of Thailand. The name of Khao Yai, meaning "big mountain", is the name of the national park, covering an area of 2168 square kilometers. Khao Yai is an ideal destination for tourists and locals who want to relax within natural and a peaceful environment. There are different types of accommodations with hotels, resorts, bungalows, and cottages set along the road to Khao Yai National Park.
Udon Thani
Udon Thani is a big province in the northeastern region. Located on the north side of Korat, it serves as another center of transportation and tourism in Isaan of Thailand. The city is surrounded by agricultural areas and many prehistoric ruins with ancient history.
Phu Phra Bat Historical Park
Phu Phra Bat Historical Park is set down itself on a mountain called Phu Phra Bat, It is a part of sandstone mountain range of Phu Phan which is on the west side of Udon Thani Province, Referring to the past archeological examination, the area on Phu Phra Bat mountain has been proved for some activities of prehistoric humans taken place around 2,500 – 3,000 years ago. As for the sample of over 54 sources of art paintings that were uncovered on this mountain. Besides, the traditional rock shelters were also found and consequently adapted to be places of worship for people from Dvaravati, Khmer, Lan Chang and Rattanakosin cultures.
Chiang Khan
Chiang Khan is a small peaceful town in Loei province in Northeast Thailand, located on the bank of the Mekong River with Laos on the other side of the river.
Chiang Khan is an old town and a very popular destination for Thai tourists. The town is famous for its simple wooden houses adapted to be guest houses, coffee shops, and souvenir shops. There are several temples presenting the art of Lanna and Lan Chang in Chiang Khan. The town is also typified by local people and tourists giving alms to the Buddhist monks very early in the morning, ritual that can be seen in Luang Prabang, Laos.
Thailand Cultural Destinations Map
Beach Destinations in Thailand
In case you are dreaming of beach vacation, you have many options for it in Thailand. From remote beaches with just rustic bungalows on them to luxury resorts on famous worldwide beaches, just choose any you like. The variety of Thailand beaches is huge, making Thailand beach destinations and Thailand islands a perfect place for holidays.
