Main Highlights:
- There is an abundance of things to do in Thailand
- Multiple Islands to visit, and The Floating Market brings the best of the island nation
- Enjoy the best of Thailand Platter and Taste the Street Food or take Thai Cooking Classes
- As leisure yet fun activity enjoy Muay Fight or visit the Grand Palace
Situated in Southeast, Thailand is an Asian country. Well known for tropical beaches, opulent royal palaces, ancient ruins, and ornate temples displaying figures of Buddha. In Bangkok, the capital, an ultramodern cityscape rises next to quiet canalside communities and the iconic temples of Wat Arun, Wat Pho, and the Emerald Buddha Temple. Nearby beach resorts include bustling Pattaya and fashionable Hua Hin. Traveling to Thailand and enjoying a vacation is an incredible idea but a confusing one too as one must decide what to do during this experience. Here is a list of adventurous things one can do in their travel to Thailand.
1. Multiple Islands to visit
There are over 300 islands in Thailand plan on visiting a few. Start by picking the #1 Thai island on your bucket list, then plan on island hopping from there. If you need some help deciding where to go, here are the best islands in Thailand.
If you ask us, one of the most amazing things to do in Thailand is out exploring their gorgeous islands. We just love renting a longtail boat for the day, embarking on a voyage, and finding our own private island. Our favorite island is Koh Lipe!
2. Taste the Street Food
The best way to try Thai cuisine is to take a street food tour. You’ll get to sample everything at affordable prices and have a local guide to explain what everything is and what’s in it. We think the street food in Bangkok is the best place to do this. Here is the street food tour in Bangkok we took.
If you’re spending two weeks in Thailand, try and do a street food tour the first few days of your trip. This will help you learn about the food and culture early on in the trip and help you find tasty food throughout. Make sure to read our street food safety article before hitting the streets.
3. The Floating Market
Jump in a boat, and you’ll feel like you’re on the canals in Venice, well, “same same but different.” We advise skipping lunch before visiting the Damnoen Saduak floating market. The market is full of fresh fruit, cooked foods, and local souvenirs.
There are several floating markets in Bangkok, but the most famous one is the Damnoen Saduak floating market, which is located 60 miles outside of the city. We suggest this tour which includes the floating market and the Maeklong Railway Market.
Private tours include a full Bangkok highlights tour ad Damnoen Saduak floating market for around $150 per person. And the best floating market in Bangkok is Khlong Lat Mayom.
4. The Grand Palace
Hands down, the number one thing to see in Bangkok is the Grand Palace. The detail and architecture are stunning. Give yourself at leave 2 hours to walk the grounds. Remember, both men & women need to cover their knees and shoulders. Make sure to read our best temples in Bangkok article for more information.
Beware, there are numerous ticket scams at the Grand Palace. We highly suggest hiring a private guide for the day. This way, you can spend as much time or as little time at the palace before moving on to the next attraction in Bangkok. If you ask us, this is the best way to explore Bangkok. We hired this private guide in Bangkok on three occasions.
5. Take Thai Cooking Classes
Learn how to cook all your favorite Thai dishes. Most Thai cooking classes start off at the market, so you can easily learn what goes into the dishes, and hopefully, you can then spot it at your local grocery store.
You can take a Thai cooking class in almost all the best places to visit in Thailand. However, we wouldn’t suggest taking one in Bangkok. The ONLY reason why is because there are so many things to do in Bangkok and you can easily take a cooking class in another city.
If you have a good amount of time in Bangkok, there are so great cooking classes like this one. We liked this cooking class in Chiang Mai.
In our Chiang Mai cooking class, we got to pick which dishes we wanted to cook, and we now have a new appreciation for the curry. Curry paste takes a lot of time and elbow grease to make.
6. Muay Fight
Watch an infamous Muay Thai fight, which is Thailand’s national sport. Muay Thai or Thai boxing is a full-contact sport known as “the art of eight limbs” because fighters use their fists, elbows, knees, and shins.
Almost all major cities in Thailand will have a ring; however, the best fights are in Bangkok. The best place to watch a Muay Thai fight in Bangkok is Lumpinee Stadium. You purchase VIP entrance tickets here. You can even take Muay Thai lessons for really cheap.
