Thailand – General info

Thailand – General information

Area: 513,115 km².

Population: around 71.6 million (as of 2026).

Population density: around 140 per km².

Capital: Bangkok (Krung Thep). Population: approx. 5.6 million in the actual urban area, but the metropolitan area of Bangkok today has around 11.5 million inhabitants.

Geography: Thailand is bordered by Myanmar and the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) to the west, Malaysia and the Gulf of Thailand to the south, Cambodia to the east, and Laos to the north and east. The Chaophraya River and its tributaries flow through large parts of mainland Thailand. To the northeast rises the Khorat Plateau, which occupies about a third of the country’s area; forested hills and mountains in the north cover another third.

Form of government: Thailand has been a parliamentary monarchy since 1932. It is based on the constitution of 6 April 2017. Current head of state (king): Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X), since 2016. Current head of government (prime minister): Anutin Charnvirakul, since September 2025 – after the parliamentary elections of February 2026, from which his party Bhumjaithai emerged as the strongest force.

Political background: Thailand has experienced several changes of government in recent years (including court-ordered dismissals of prime ministers), which has made the political situation appear unstable at times. For travellers, this has not yet had a noticeable impact on the tourist infrastructure or everyday security; however, occasional political demonstrations in Bangkok should be avoided.

Language: The official language is Thai (Siamese). Colloquial languages include Malay and Chinese (Teochew/Cantonese). English is the language of trade and is widely understood in tourist centres.

Religion: Theravada Buddhism (approx. 93–95%); Muslim (especially in the extreme south), Christian and Hindu minorities.

Local time: CET + 6 hours, CEST + 5 hours (Thailand has no daylight saving time, UTC +7 all year round).

Mains voltage: 220 V, 50 Hz. In Thailand, different types of sockets are common (usually type A/B/C), a universal adapter is recommended.

Country code: 66.

Mobile phone: Prepaid SIM cards are available at airports and convenience stores (7-Eleven) nationwide. The major network operators today are AIS (Advanced Info Service), dtac (now operating as “True-dtac” or True Corporation after the merger with True) and True Move. Network coverage is also good in rural areas and on most islands.

Internet/E-Mail: Wi-Fi is available practically everywhere in hotels, cafés, restaurants and shopping centres, usually free of charge; in addition, a local data SIM or eSIM is recommended for travelling.

Mail: Airmail to Europe usually takes about a week. Opening hours: The main post office in Bangkok (New Road) opens Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–8 p.m., weekends and holidays 8 a.m.–1 p.m.; Post offices in other parts of the country usually open 8.30 a.m.–3.30 p.m.

Nightlife: Thailand’s and especially Bangkok’s nightlife is world-famous; nightclubs, sidewalk cafes, classical dance theaters and cinemas are open until late.

Shopping tips: Particularly beautiful souvenirs with memorable value are Thai silk and cotton fabrics, leather goods, silver, ceramics with green celadon glaze, dolls, masks, lacquer work and articles made of bamboo and bronze. The weekend market in Chatuchak Park in Bangkok is still wonderful to browse and marvel at – everything from antiques to betta fish is available here. Tailor-made clothing is still offered in many places and can usually be made within a few days; however, qualitative caution is advised with “express tailor-made suits” within 24 hours. In the case of branded goods outside authorized stores, counterfeits can generally be assumed – the purchase and import of such counterfeits into Germany is also punishable by law. Except in large department stores, bargaining is still common and expected when shopping at markets.

Opening hours of the shops: Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–7 p.m. (department stores/shopping centres, often until 9–10 p.m.), smaller shops often 8 a.m.–9 p.m.; most shops are also open on Sundays.

Thailand – Entry and Visa

For German, Austrian and Swiss nationals, visa-free entry for tourist stays currently (as of August 2026) continues to apply in principle – but this regulation is currently in upheaval:

Since July 15, 2024, travelers from over 90 countries, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland, have been subject to a visa exemption of 60 days (with the possibility of extending it for another 30 days on site). However, on May 19/20, 2026, the Thai cabinet decided to shorten this regulation again to 30 days . This change will not come into force until 15 days after official publication in the Thai Official Gazette (Royal Gazette) – this publication was still pending at the time of research (end of August 2026), so the 60-day rule has remained unchanged so far. Travelers should therefore inform themselves about the current status immediately before departure, for example at the Royal Thai Embassy, the Foreign Office or the Newsroom of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Regardless of the length of stay, the following requirements apply to entry:

• Passport with at least 6 months remaining validity and at least one free page.
• Proof of onward travel (return or connecting flight ticket) within the permitted period of stay.
• Sufficient financial resources (officially the equivalent of about 20,000 THB per person is required, but controls are rare).
• Since May 1, 2025, the digital Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) has also been mandatory for all entrants – visa-free or not. It replaces the previous paper entry card (TM6) and must be filled out free of charge online, no later than 72 hours before arrival. Without a TDAC confirmation, entry can be denied.
• For accompanying children, a separate children’s passport with photo is required; entries in the parental passport have not been accepted since 2012.

For longer stays, work or study, a regular visa (e.g. non-immigrant visa) is still required.

Thailand – Climate

The climate in Thailand is tropical, with temperatures of 30 to 35 degrees Celsius and very high humidity.

Rainy season: May to October.

When exploring the cities, closed-toe shoes should be worn. It is advisable to always take a (cardigan) jacket with you and preferably to wear zip pants (convertible between short and long) – this way colds and foot problems can be avoided by air-conditioned interiors.

With very short clothing, you will also not be admitted everywhere (e.g. when visiting temples). Thais attach great importance to well-groomed clothing; the more well-groomed the appearance, the higher the social reputation. Washed out T-shirts and very short shorts are accordingly not well received everywhere.

The right time to travel to Thailand is roughly from mid-November to mid-March – then it is hot and dry. The rest of the year is either very hot and humid or rainy. However, this does not apply uniformly to the whole of Thailand: The best time to travel differs significantly between the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi) and the Gulf of Thailand (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan) – while it can be particularly rainy on Koh Samui in November, at the same time Phuket is already in the dry main season, and vice versa.

Thailand – Fauna

Especially in the wooded areas, there is a species-rich fauna. Elephants occur both wild and domesticated; the former use as pack and working animals is now in sharp decline for animal welfare reasons, and has increasingly been replaced by ethically oriented elephant observation projects without riding.

Furthermore, rhinos, tigers, leopards, gaurs and water buffaloes live in Thailand (in some severely threatened and protected remnants). Primates are represented by langurs, macaques and javanese monkeys. Other interesting representatives of the mammal fauna are shrews (Tupaias), fruit bats and pangolins.

The diverse bird life includes hoopoes, black-naped orioles, gurials (from the kingfisher family), swallow starlings, hornbills and drongos.

Thailand is home to over 50 species of snakes, including several venomous snakes, as well as turtles, agamas (including kites) and crocodiles. A significant part of the country’s area is now protected, spread over more than 150 national parks and protected areas.

Thailand – Flora

In the southeast of the country and on the Malay Peninsula, tropical rainforest dominates. Evergreen hill forest is the name given to the dense, bushy forests at an altitude of about 800 m above sea level.

In other regions, there are species-rich, moist monsoon forests with deciduous trees, as well as mangrove swamps on the coasts and pine stands at higher altitudes.

Water hyacinths were once introduced to Thailand from Java, where they multiplied rapidly and were long considered an invasive problem. In the meantime, their advantages are also recognizable: With their roots hanging in the water, they act like a natural sewage treatment plant.

The woody plants of the coastal regions include red tang palms and ebony. Economically valuable trees of the highlands are teak trees, agarwood and oaks. In addition, a wide variety of tropical plants and fruits thrive, including orchids, gardenias, hibiscus, bananas, mangoes and coconuts.

Thailand – Country and People

The traditional customs in Thailand have been exposed to cultural influences from China, India and more recently from the West for centuries.

Western visitors often shake hands as a greeting; Thais traditionally greet each other with the “wai” – palms placed together, fingertips pointing upwards, combined with a slight bow. Western visitors do not have to be afraid to return this traditional gesture; Buddhist monks are always greeted in this way. The royal family still enjoys a high level of respect in large parts of society; public criticism of the monarchy is also punishable by Thailand’s strict lèse-majesté law (Lèse-Majesté, Article 112) – this expressly applies to foreign visitors, for example on social media, and should be avoided at all costs.

In general, Thais are reserved people who rarely lose their composure openly. Visible anger or frustration is considered rude and makes the person in question “lose face” – patience and composure are therefore also the appropriate manner for visitors, for example in the event of misunderstandings or delays.

Before entering a private house or a temple, shoes are always taken off. One should not point the finger at persons or objects and should not touch the head of Thais, especially children, as the head is considered the most sacred part of the body; the soles of the feet, on the other hand, are considered impure and should not be pointed at other people or Buddha statues.

Casual clothing is acceptable in most situations; men are rarely expected to wear a suit, a traditional Thai shirt is well suited for special occasions. Swimwear belongs exclusively on the beach or in the hotel/pool area; “topless” is also not welcome on the beach. When visiting temples and palaces (including the Grand Palace in Bangkok), a strict dress code applies: shoulders and knees must be covered.

Smoking is now much more restricted indoors, restaurants, air-conditioned public buildings and on many beaches than before; it is advisable to pay attention to appropriate signage.

Tipping: Most upscale hotels and restaurants already charge a service charge (usually 10%) and VAT (7%) on the bill. An additional, small tip is still welcome in restaurants, but is not mandatory. Taxi drivers usually do not expect a tip, but rounding up the fare is gladly accepted.

Thailand – Food and Drink

There are a myriad of restaurants in Thailand. In hotels, the food tends to be more expensive; the numerous out-of-town restaurants are usually preferable, with something for every taste – from Italian, German, American, Greek, Chinese and Japanese to Thai cuisine.

You should definitely try Thai cuisine. The Singha beer is still popular and tasty. Tap water is not drinkable; in most hotels a free bottle of drinking water is provided in the room, as well as in restaurants. With ice in drinks – despite good hygienic standards in many places today – caution is still advisable, especially away from tourist centers.

Thai food is extremely tasty and is often spicy; however, most restaurants take into account that Europeans are often not used to spicy food. Pri-Kee-no, small red or green chili peppers, in particular, should be enjoyed with caution by newcomers. Specialties include Tom Kha (coconut milk soup with kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, ginger, and chicken or crab), Kaeng Phet (spicy “red” curry with coconut milk, herbs, garlic, chilies, crab paste, and cilantro), Kaeng Khiao Wan (“green” curry with eggplant, beef, or chicken), Gai Yang (grilled chicken), and Khao Phat (fried rice with crabs, chicken or pork, onions, eggs).

Among desserts, lot chong (sweet green noodles in coconut milk) and sangkhaya (pudding made from coconut milk, egg and sugar, often served in a coconut shell) are particularly recommended. Mangoes with sweet sticky rice (Khao Niao Mamuang) are also delicious for breakfast, but this is only offered in the best quality during the mango season from March to May.

Other exotic fruits are papaya, jackfruit, mangosteen, rambutan, pomelo (sweet grapefruit) and especially the durian, which is either loved or firmly rejected by foreigners (called “Farang” in Thailand) because of its intense smell. Many hotels still do not allow the storage of durian in the room.

Drinks: Coconut water is often offered directly from the shell. In addition to numerous local drinks, Singha beer and Thai whiskey (e.g. Sang Som) are worth a try.

Thailand – Accommodation

Hotels and other accommodations in Thailand are available in all price ranges. Most hotels have air conditioning, which has advantages and disadvantages: On the one hand, the tropical temperatures are more bearable for Central Europeans, on the other hand, a cold can occur more quickly, and since windows are rarely opened, it can smell musty in some rooms.

Hotels in Bangkok: Bangkok has some of the best hotels in Asia of international standard. Luxury hotels usually offer pools, air conditioning and round-the-clock room service. Hotels on the Chao Phraya River are a bit quieter with better air quality than in the city centre, but with slightly longer distances to many sights – better hotels often offer a free boat or bus shuttle here. The area around Banglamphu/Khao San Road still offers cheaper accommodation for backpackers. Compared to European prices, an overnight stay in an upscale five-star hotel in Bangkok remains comparatively cheap. When choosing a hotel in Bangkok, it is worth choosing a central location with good connections to BTS Skytrain or MRT subway.

Holiday homes and apartments: Today, they are mainly offered via relevant online booking portals as well as through local intermediaries in the holiday regions.

Youth hostels: There are hostels and cheap guesthouses all over the country, even away from classic YMCA/YWCA facilities; the selection via online booking platforms is much larger today than in the past.

Camping: Most of the campsites are located in national parks under the administration of the forestry authority, but there are also campsites in some holiday areas. Camping is still not very common in Thailand, as inexpensive rooms are available practically everywhere.

Note: All information on population figures, political offices, entry requirements and exchange rates is subject to change and has been researched to the best of our knowledge as of August 2026. In particular, the regulation on visa-free stays (60 vs. 30 days) was in a state of upheaval at the time of going to press – for binding, up-to-date information, please take a look at the website of the Royal Thai Embassy, the Federal Foreign Office and the TAT Newsroom.