Thailand City Breaks

A guide to Thailand

Thailand has seen an explosion in visitor numbers over the past 20 years, and has fast become one of the most popular exotic holiday destinations for UK travellers. Gorgeous white sandy beaches, palm trees swaying in warm sea breezes, tropical sunshine and famously friendly people are synonymous with the country. It also boasts a unique and vibrant culture, stunning natural features including waterfalls, mountains, and caves, and some of the most delicious cuisine in the world. While many people will spend a fair amount of time relaxing on the beaches, experiencing the amazing cities here gives a real taste of what modern Thailand is all about. Bangkok, the nation's capital, is the most famous and oft-frequented of these.

Dazzling and colourful Bangkok

Bangkok is a bustling, hectic, sprawling metropolis; an eclectic mix of blaring traffic, glassy shopping malls, ancient temples, neon go-go bars, soaring 5-star hotels and ramshackle street hawkers carts. The pace of life here is phenomenal. The exchange rate is famously favourable to UK holidaymakers on a trip to Thailand, meaning visiting Bangkok makes and excellent choice once you’ve paid out the initial expense for flights. Accommodation here is varied, from top class hotels to budget backpacker accommodation, which can cost next to nothing a night. Must-see/do attractions here include going to a Muay Thai (kickboxing) fight, taking a tuk-tuk ride around the city, visiting the Chatuchak Weekend Market (one of the largest in the world), spending a night in Khoa San Road and visiting the many impressive temples in the city.

Laid-back and chilled Chang Mai

While Bangkok is indisputably the king of Thailand’s cities, there are a number of other urban destinations in the country to visit, each with their own distinct personality and charm. Chang Mai in the north of the country is Bangkok's sedate, chilled-out cousin, ideal for those for whom the non-stop pace of Bangkok is too much to handle. Chang Mai has a far more laid-back feel to it; perfect for relaxation. A great time of year to visit is mid-April, when the festival of Songkran occurs; this celebrates the traditional Thai New Year, and involves a number of religious and fun-related activities, including a good-natured city-wide water fight. The nightlife here is sedate, but boasts a number of bars and a few discos, as well as a laid-back area of outdoor reggae bars and pubs. Other destinations in Thailand worth visiting for just a few days include Nonthaburi, Pattaya and Phuket city.