With great history that is spread over centuries, and having an extrinsic and peaceful culture, Thailand welcomes visitors with mountains, beaches, rich wildlife parks, and world-famous traditions. But with all the Thailand offerings, you might be curious about where to start your visit, especially if traveling with family. We will cover things to do, food options, and much more to determine the best places to visit in Thailand with your family.
Here is our list of the best places that can make your Thailand vacation amazing and joyful with your family. Plan your journey to the popular travel destination of Southeast Asia; the “Land of Smiles” will never disappoint you and your family.
Ayutthaya
People who are interested in the history of Thailand should consider visiting Ayutthaya. The UNESCO heritage listed the city as a must for the people interested in history. Ayutthaya is located north of Bangkok, at about a distance of 50 miles. It was once the capital of Thailand when the kingdom of Siam was at its peak. The expressive ruins will lead you and your family on a journey of Siam’s golden age. Ayutthaya Historical Park allows you to explore the ruins of the kingdom surrounded by three rivers and deep trenches covering about 714 acres.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet is the largest temple in the park. The Wat Phra Mahathat temple is one of the most popular temples here. There are hundreds of sitting Buddha statues that are surrounding the temple and are wrapped in golden clothes. The city can be easily reached from Bangkok by van, bus, or train without any hassle. After learning a bit about Ayutthaya’s history, you should head over to the Ayothaya Floating Market to shop around a bit and grab a quick bite.
Railay Beach
Krabi province, home to some of Thailand’s famous beach destinations, is a good destination for families. Railay Beach is a well-known place for incredible stretches of sand and being family-friendly. Considered as one of the best beaches in the country, Railay provides a feeling of peach and paradise at first glance.
It has beautiful turquoise-blue water and white sand. Railay beach is the destination for beach lovers and the perfect place to relax and enjoy with family. Railay beach is also a great place to have swim and go snorkeling. So if you family like to get under the water this destination may be a great fit for you!
Furthermore, if you or your family loves to rock climb, this may be the right place for you. Some of the rock formations here have attracted rock climbers from all over the world. However, some parts can only be accessible by using a boat due to towering limestone cliffs.
Hua Hin
In its past, Hua Hin was a fishing village in the past. It is easily accessible from Bangkok and an ideal place for families to visit and spend quality time together. The most common form of transport to Hau Hin from bangkok would be by bus. Monkey Mountain in Hua Hin, can be an attractive place for kids where they can feed bananas to monkeys. On the other hand, people can travel to Cicada Market. The Market contains all types of modern arts and is a highly suggested place for the people who have a creative nature. Hua Hin’s sandy beach is attached with upmarket hotels, including Hua Hin Marriot Resort & Spa and Hua Hin Hilton Resort & Spa.
They offer a kid’s club, menus, and outdoor pools to relax on a sunbed. All the facilities making them the prime family-friendly places to visit in Thailand. Also, beach sports like football and volleyball are also popular in Hua Hin. Day trips here can include the scenic Pa La -U waterfall and a wildlife park Krachan National Park. However, Vana Nava Water Jungle Park, offers waterslides and outdoor pools and is in walking distance of the beach.
Phuket
Rightfully so, Phuket is one of the most famous destinations in Thailand. It has lovely beaches , an aquarium, and horse riding. Older kids in your family will probably enjoy the experience of karting, and wakeboarding. Most of the island resorts offer children clubs and provide babysitting, allowing the parents to have a quality break.
The Trickeye Museum and Baan Teelanka Upside House offer many fun photo activities for the family. Mesmerizing shows, which include Siam Niramit and Phuket FantaSea, offer a great experience of the culture. New visitors mostly move to the thronging sands of Patong, an area which is popular for its pleasure-seeking nightlife and water sports, however, the beaches of the island suit everyone.
Your visit would not be completed to Phuket if you did not take a boat to tour the other islands in the area to swim. Phuket can be easily reached from all over Thailand through direct flights from many other countries and inside the country. Being the largest island of Thailand, it has plenty of offerings for families.
Bangkok
The capital city and the largest city of Thailand is nothing short of inspiring. Bangkok is a buzzing city known for the multiracial feel and vigorous street life. The heart of the city is on water, with many canals networking through the neighborhoods, and the vital Chao Phraya River, which can be visited on a long-tail boat journey.
The city is a vibrant hub of sensational and fun things to explore. It has many family-friendly activities that include theme parks, museums, aquariums, and green parks. Children love the Siam Ocean World which offer massive displays of under the sea life. However, if you are more an above the ground family you can visit Safari World. Safari world shows the wild and beautiful zoo animals and bird life.
Moreover, you should visit Chatuchak Market. You will find everything from unusual floating markets, mega malls, and the dining scene, which varies from fancy restaurants to plentiful street foods. It is one of the largest street markets in the world. However, another amazing part of Bangkok is Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise. Since most of the international flights to Thailand always land in Bangkok, most visitors often end up spending at least some time in Bangkok.
Chiang Mai
The city of Chiang Mai, also known as the Northern Thai capital, offers a more relaxed family holiday than Bangkok. The city is very well known and offers a more slow-paced vibe than Bangkok. It provides many fun and adventure activities to keep you and your family busy.
Chiang Mai offers many museums, local markets, a giant zoo, and much more. The mountainous hub surrounding offers trekking, zip-lining, sanctuaries of elephants, and the chance of visiting the remote hill tribe groups. Adventurous families can make fun day trips of these activities and maybe even combine a few in the same day.
Additionally, families can visit the ethical elephant camps, to bathe and feed elephants in Thailand’s majestic national park. While seeing the pandas is often a highlight for the kids, the Night Safari offers more animal fun. Finally, your family could end the evening doing some shopping at the Night Bazaar.
Chiang Mai is a culturally important city due to its historical and modern Thai architecture and traditions. However, modern-day Chiang Mai offers handicraft markets, massage and spa parlors, and many trendy cafes. All these things mentioned above combine is what makes Chiang Mai a perfect family destination.
In a nutshell, if you are looking for places to visit in Thailand to enjoy the breathtaking and mesmerizing views and experiences with your family in Thailand, you should visit the places mentioned above. For information on what to pack for your trip to Thailand checkout our article on the 8 Must Pack Items for Thailand Travel.
